Orange County Commissioners Review Strategic Plan and New Communications Vision
The Orange County Board of Commissioners reviews early progress on its first strategic plan, highlighting gains in sustainable farming, mental health training, housing, transportation satisfaction, and digital literacy alongside challenges in food security and permanent housing. Commissioners also hear about a new countywide communications plan that treats communication as a core public service, clarifies how leaders should respond to residents, and seeks more accessible, inclusive outreach, including to younger community members. 22mins
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Original Meeting
Thursday, September 10th, 2026
7919.7118
BOCC Work Session - September 10, 2026
In This Video
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The Strategic Planning Manager Kelly Guadalupe presented a mid-plan progress report highlighting gains in sustainable farming practices, mental health training, permanent supportive housing placements, transportation satisfaction, and digital literacy outreach across county ZIP codes.
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Strategic Planning Manager Guadalupe reported high one-year survival rates for small businesses and farms receiving county grants, then outlined ongoing challenges with declining food security participation and limited permanent housing openings, along with strategies staff were using to address these gaps.
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Strategic Planning Manager Guadalupe explained how the county tracked affordable housing units it helped fund and confirmed, in response to Commissioner Portie-Ascott, that partner organizations served residents at or below 80% of area median income.
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Chair Hamilton and Commissioner Portie-Ascott emphasized that the board’s first strategic plan would need future review and updated performance measures, both to reflect countywide partner efforts and to make progress on gaps more visible to the public.
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Community Relations staff introduced a new county communications plan that framed communication as a core public service focused on accessible, coordinated outreach to help residents understand government actions, access services, know their rights, and participate in decisions.
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Community Relations staff summarized how countywide listening sessions and surveys shaped a new communications framework, highlighting calls for more accessible, respectful, consistent, and accountable communication and outlining initial goals focused on accessibility, user experience, tools, and two-way engagement.
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Chair Hamilton and Commissioner Portie-Ascott emphasized that the new communications plan should clearly define the board’s role in responding to residents, improve the county website, and ensure outreach partnerships include organizations representing the full community, including younger residents.
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