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January 19, 2007 (Recessed Meeting - Retreat) Page 223 requirements, ensure public safety, determine county needs, and provide services that continually enhance quality of life." 5. How should Cabarrus County Government carry out its mission? Board members identified four core values to guide how county government should carry out its mission: accountable/responsible; collaborative; integrity (principled); and respect. Vision, Goals and Guiding Principles - Crafting a Shared Vision for Cabarrus County Government Next, Mr. Boyle asked Board members to answer a series of questions to help develop a shared vision into the future. The questions were as follows: 1. What do you value about Cabarrus and what makes Cabarrus "Cabarrus?" Board responses were as follows: "it's like a breath of fresh air"; a sense of community,=bf'connection - "we belong"; civic-minded; "familyness"; feels like home; it's history and heritage as an agricultural and mill community; its roots - extended families; no frills, not fancy, middle-class - "what you see is what you get"; physical beauty; proud, strong-willed - "the Cabarrus way"; religion and faith; value and preserve our identity - physical, cultural, heritage; we stand on our own; we're conservative - reticent to change for change's sake; and we're not Charlotte. 2. What major issues and challenges does county government face in creating and sustaining, the Cabarrus you described? Board responses were as follows: accommodating differences in culture, background, speech, and expectations that newcomers bring; adapting to the new economy; homogenization; immigration and in-migration; loss of tree cover; newcomers bring .new ways - not the Cabarrus way; sprawl, density and congestion; transient population with less identification with Cabarrus; and what makes Cabarrus "Cabarrus" is being diluted through growth. 3. How would you like to see county government respond to these issues and challenges in order topreserve what you value about Cabarrus County, what is your vision for Cabarrus County, what difference do you want county government to make, what should Cabarrus County government aspire to and what legacy do you wish to leave as a board for those who will follow you? Board responses were as follows: assist organizations and institutions in making the transformation from the old Cabarrus to the new Cabarrus, e.g., NorthEast Medical Center; collaborate with transportation planning and decision making entities to strengthen our ability to influence transportation decisions about where roads should go and when; continually enhance quality education; create arts, dining, retail, and cultural opportunities and activities to build stronger connections with transient residents; create jobs and economic opportunities to strengthen connections with residents who work outside the county; create opportunities for the Board of Commissioners to have substantive public discussions about significant county issues and to learn more about these issues from county staff and other stakeholders; educate residents about the new economy; engage builders, developers, and other interested parties to create a dynamic vision of what Cabarrus should/will look like in 15-20 years and how to get there; guide growth that enhances physical beauty and a sense of community; help residents make the shift from the old physical/labor economy to the new brain economy; inform and educate the public and other public officials, e.g., legislative delegation, about critical issues, needs, and concerns affecting the county, making sure to represent the full range and diversity of views and opinions; lead and facilitate a countywide planning process that includes municipalities and all other stakeholders to address school capacity needs and minimize less desirable short-term reactions and changes; move beyond replacing the mill economy with a sales/retail economy that creates less wealth; and work to more closely align county and municipal land use/planning to achieve a common vision for Cabarrus and minimize development that runs counter to this vision.. Draft Vision Statement Based on the above responses, the Board drafted the following vision statement: "Our vision for Cabarrus is a county in which our children learn,