Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCFE minutes 040918Attachment 1 Orange County Commission for the Environment Meeting Summary April 9, 2018 Richard Whitted Building, 300 West Tryon Street, Hillsborough Present: Bradley Saul (Chair), Bill Kaiser (Vice Chair), Bill Ward, Alan Parry, Lynne Gronback, Jody Eimers, Laura Doherty Absent: Kim Piracci, Matt Crook, Jeremy Marzuola, Will Stanley, Bill Newby Staff: Tom Davis, Brennan Bouma, Kim Livingston I. Call to Order – Saul called the meeting to order at 7:32. II. Additions or Changes to Agenda – Two new members were introduced; Jody Eimers and Laura Doherty. Parry would like to include information concerning the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy to the BOCC. III. Approval of Draft Minutes from January 8, 2018 – Saul requested one change to the draft minutes. Ward made a motion to approve the minutes as amended. Gronback seconded. Approved unanimously. IV. SOE 2019 – UNC CH Capstone Students: Process: Conducted a literature review, evaluate various criteria for selecting indicators, created a candidate indicators database, and are in the process of evaluating each of the candidate indicators using selected criteria and will use this to choose final indicators for CFE consideration. Methods used: 1) Orange County Profile 2) Criteria Analysis and selection- 19 criteria chosen. Each criterion was analyzed by vetting it through a series of assessments. 3) Candidate Indicators- Added numerous potential indicators to try to capture all aspects of the environment including social justice issues. All 71 indicators will be assessed through each of the 19 criteria. 4) Indicator Analysis- There will be a qualitative component to determine if an indicator is kept or rejected. There may also be a quantitative component as a means of weighing each indicator. Format: Key elements of science communication, key elements of a successful policy message, etc. were discussed. Attachment 1 Favorite case studies-  Mecklenburg County, NC- web based document, infographic  OECD Report- excellent graphics  LA SOE- Simple one page summary displaying indicators with a more detailed 2 page document  Malta- Smiley faces to indicate progress  Ireland- Cartoon art to describe progress of indicators- infographic Next Steps: Evaluate candidate indicators, design format based on feedback from the CFE, write technical report and discuss at presentation in May. Students asked how the CFE would like to present this data to the identified audience- the BOCC. Bouma- usually report to the BOCC with a 1-2 page report with a good visual. This is a good way to communicate to policy makers. Saul - would like to provide a suite of options: possibly use a cover page that includes an infographic providing a good summary, with the option for readers to dig deeper, if interested. Students suggested that they could analyze different formats and give the pros and cons to the CFE to determine which format they would prefer. May 4, 2018 is the date of the student’s final presentation with technical report. V. Discussion of Draft Fossil Fuel Divestment Resolution – Ward gave an overview of the issue and the draft resolution. Eimers- does the County have any investments? Our County is managed by the State pension fund; therefore, we have standing. Kaiser- do we know how our county has invested in energy companies? Saul- Are we the only county doing this or is this part of a larger movement? There is strength in numbers; maybe we should get more local governments involved. Ward- 350.org has been doing this for years. Parry- would be useful to see if other counties have done this and include that in the resolution. Saul- Would be nice if state employees had an option as to where the investments in their pension plan are directed. Parry- Add a “Whereas” to state what Orange County has already done with the first resolution. Saul- It would be good to reach out to NACo to see which counties have done a similar resolution. Ward- the resolutions that he has reviewed, none of them included the economic angle only the environmental angle. Kaiser- how often does the BOCC get a resolution? Ward- could we reach out to one of the BOCC commissioners to see if there was an interest? Ward will reach out to a commissioner and gauge their interest in this resolution. No action taken at this time. VI. No Idling Campaign Petition – Bouma presented background on the no idling campaign petition. Commissioners are focused on an educational campaign and policy internal to County operations. Educational campaign focused on drive - thrus and schools. Policy focused on county staff and fleet. There was a suggestion to engage the help of the arts community. There are some excellent existing resources that the CFE could use to develop an educational campaign. Attachment 1 Gronback suggested a campaign to encourage parents to have their kids take the bus rather than using the “kiss and go” lane. Kaiser asked about using public service announcements (PSAs). Bouma mentioned that the County has a standing arrangement with WCHL to air PSAs. Kaiser and Saul asked if the BOCC would spend money to make public service announcements. Saul suggested preparing an analysis to provide to the BOCC concerning the cost to expose X number of people to a PSA. Saul asked if a policy through the Board of Health may be more appropriate. Gronback asked about evidence of idling causing direct health impacts at schools or other locations. Bouma will search for other campaigns in schools and reach out to community relations folks to see which outreach routes have the best impact for the cost. Parry asked Bouma to provide his sources to the CFE so that they can research which outreach avenues may be best to communicate this information. No action was taken. VII. Discussion of Committee Priorities and Functions – Air and Energy Resource Committee- Ask the BOCC to sign on to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, which entails committing to complete a greenhouse gas inventory within the first year. Free software is provided to develop the required climate action and adaptation plans within the third year. Ward moved to have Bouma bring the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy forward to the BOCC for consideration. Gronback seconded. Approved unanimously. Land Resources Committee- 1) Develop research plan for environmental impacts of the rural buffer; 2) Reduce herbicide spraying along county ROW ; 3) Develop methodology for monitoring changes in forest cover/land cover in Orange County and also tie into the “No Net Loss Tree Canopy” petition; 4) Support continued expansion of composting/elimination of food waste in the County; 5) Create connections with the development board and Commissioners to encourage progressive land use and watershed issues to be carefully incentivized in future development projects; and 6) Send resolutions to County Commissioners moving towards banning single use plastics and plastic bags a landfill issue/water safety issue. It was decided that items 1 through 3 would be the current priority for the committee. Water Resources Committee- 1) Educate residents about our groundwater supply VIII. Earth Evening 2018 – Bring map of Orange County with all the parks and develop a questionnaire for kids to answer how many parks they have visited. Several members will plan to attend. A table will be needed. IX. Updates and Information Items  Inaturalist  GenX/Emerging contaminants X. Adjournment – Parry moved, Ward seconded. Meeting adjourned at 9:44.