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• ~ <br />r <br />• <br />• <br />POLICY FOR INSERTION INTO THE POLICY MANUAL <br />MEETING DATE: June 6, 1994 NUMBER: P:0070 <br />EFFECTIVE DATE: June 6, 1994 REVISIONS: <br />POLICY: Toward a Sustainable Community <br />Orange County is committed to the concept of a sustainable <br />community. A sustainable community uses and protects its human and <br />natural resources to meet the current needs without compromising the <br />ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It seeks <br />improved public health, an informed citizenry, and a better quality <br />of life for all of its residents while promoting efficiency, <br />conservation, pollution prevention, and' developing local resources <br />to strengthen the local economy. <br />SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY PRINCIPLES <br />Sustainability is a fundamental organizing concept against which <br />to evaluate proposed programs and policies in the areas of land use <br />planning, environmental protection, economic development, housing, <br />transportation, solid waste management, health and social services, <br />and public safety. Such programs and policies should therefore be <br />prepared in a manner which addresses the following principles of <br />Sustainability: <br />INTERDEPENDENCE: Integrate long-term economic, environmental, and <br />social considerations into all decisions to reflect their inherent <br />interdependence. <br />PARTNERSHIP: Invite cooperation and unify efforts between govern- <br />ments, business, environmentalists, non-profit organizations, <br />citizens, and others to address interdependence. <br />STEWARDSHIP: Balance resource use and conservation between present <br />and future generations so that future generations are not <br />compromised. <br />DIVERSITY': Maintain diverse biological, economic, and social <br />systems. <br />PREVENTION: Anticipate and prevent social, economic, and environ- <br />mental problems rather than attempt to solve them after the fact. <br />EQUITY: Insure all community members equal opportunities to <br />contribute to the economy, enjoy the environment and participate in <br />decisions that affect them. <br />RESPONSIBILITY: Ask all community members to take responsibility for <br />sustaining their community and environment. <br />