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Orange County Agricultural Preservation Board <br /> Approved Meeting Summary: July 30', 2025 <br /> ***Bonnie Davis Center, 1020 US 70 West, Hillsborough *** <br /> 6:30 pm <br /> Members Present: Compton, Hooten, Hughes, Miller, Ranells, Wagger, Weitzel, Woods <br /> Members Absent: Taylor, Totten <br /> Guests: None <br /> Staff: Jessica Perrin, Soil and Water Conservation Manager, Peter Sandbeck, Cultural Resources <br /> Coordinator <br /> 1. Call to order: Chair Hughes called the meeting to order at 6:34 pm <br /> 2. Chair Comments/Introductions: None <br /> 3. Considerations of Additions to Agenda: Hughes asked to add a discussion about a future <br /> educational initiative. <br /> 4. Meeting Summary/Minutes: Woods moved to approve the meeting summary for March 19tn, <br /> 2025, seconded by Compton; motion passed. <br /> S. Items for Decision: <br /> a) Updated/revised draft of Ag Viability and Stewardship Plan: Staff provided an overview of <br /> the current status of the draft plan. Hughes opened up the floor for discussion. Members <br /> posed a number of questions, generating lengthy discussion. There was a question about <br /> the Orange Conservation Alliance mentioned in the text—what is that?This was a group <br /> formed back in the early 2000s to help with advocacy/outreach for our 2009 plan, but then <br /> died out. General agreement that we need advocacy, either independently or as a coalition, <br /> to help push the plan goals. Hughes referenced the recent efforts to form the "One Orange" <br /> group and how it struggled to reach a consensus. The proposed "farmland stewardship <br /> coordinator" position—where based?All current staff involved in farmland preservation will <br /> collaborate to determine where best to locate within DEAPR and to develop a solid job <br /> description in advance. Staff noted that ultimately, this plan is the APB's plan, and the group <br /> may want to promote concepts that not everyone is in favor of. Remember, our big goals <br /> only get implemented when the APB makes a specific "ask" for the BOCC to <br /> consider/fund/approve/reject. Funding for the new position, for instance, will only be <br /> possible if we get approval to have the recaptured PUV revenue allocated toward farmland <br /> 7 <br />