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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCFE agenda 100818AGENDA Orange County Commission for the Environment October 8, 2018 7:30 p.m. Southern Human Services Center, 2501 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill Time Item Title 7:30 I. Call to Order 7:32 II. Additions or Changes to Agenda 7:35 III. Approval of Draft Minutes – September 10th 2018 The CFE will consider approval of minutes from the last meeting. Action needed (Attachment 1) 7:40 IV. Review of Advisory Board Member Roles and Responsibilities The Chair will lead a discussion of CFE meeting Ground Rules and member responsibilities. (Attachment 2) 7:50 V. Rural Buffer Research Proposal The Chair will lead a discussion concerning the proposed study of the environmental impact of the Rural Buffer. (Attachment 3) 8:00 VI. Committee Meetings Following a brief presentation, CFE Committees will meet to discuss the 2019 State of the Environment report. (Attachment 4) 8:55 VII. Updates and Information Items Staff and/or CFE members will provide updates on the following items:  Continuing Action Items from previous CFE meetings:  Updates: o Updated CFE Roster (Attachment 5) o Divestment Resolution Update o Idle Reduction Petition Update  Any other new information from CFE members and staff 9:00 VIII. Adjournment  Next Meeting: November 12th, Richard Whitted Building, 300 West Tryon Street, Hillsborough CFE Meeting Ground Rules (Adopted 9/12/11) 1. Keep to agenda topic under discussion 2. Share relevant information 3. One person speaks at a time after recognition by the Chair 4. Everyone is invited to participate in discussions/no one person should dominate discussions 5. Strive to reach consensus first before voting Activities the CFE expects to carry out in 2018:  Continue to plan for and prepare the 2019 State of the Environment report  Continue to prepare articles on environmental issues of importance to Orange County, including climate change, energy conservation, and other important topics.  Recommend ways to reduce the County’s “carbon footprint” and ways to implement the County’s Environmental Responsibility Goal (BOCC Priority #10)  Participate in a County effort to identify and preserve important landscape corridors that connect significant natural areas and open space (BOCC Priority #1)  Co-sponsor the annual DEAPR photography contest (The Nature of Orange).  Participate in the County’s annual Earth Evening event. Concerns or emerging issues the CFE has identified for 2018:  Water Supply – Strive to educate county residents about their source of water, especially those residents utilizing groundwater for their supply.  Request the BOCC sign on to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, which includes committing to completing a greenhouse gas inventory within a year. Upon signing, the committee will assist staff, as appropriate, with the associated Greenhouse Gas inventory update and climate action planning.  The CFE will continue to learn about environmental justice matters and incorporate relevant information and considerations in the next State of the Environment report (2019) and its other activities.  Develop plan for researching potential environmental impacts of the rural buffer.  Develop methodology for monitoring changes in forest cover/land cover in Orange County and also tie into the “No Net Loss of Tree Canopy” petition. Attachment 1 Orange County Commission for the Environment Draft Meeting Summary September 10, 2018 Richard Whitted Building, 300 West Tryon Street, Hillsborough Present: Bradley Saul (Chair), Bill Newby, Bill Kaiser (Vice Chair), Alan Parry, Kim Piracci, Bill Ward, Carrie Fletcher, Bill Eichel, Jeremy Marzuola, Jody Eimers Absent: Lynne Gronback, Matt Crook, Will Stanley, Laura Doherty, Emily Mixon Staff: Kim Livingston, Brennan Bouma I. Call to Order – Saul called the meeting to order at 7:31. II. Additions or Changes to Agenda – After a brief background discussion the draft roadside wildflower conservation resolution was approved unanimously following a motion to do so that was offered by Marzuola and seconded by Ward. III. Approval of Draft Minutes from August 13th, 2018 – The minutes were approved unanimously following a motion to do so as offered by W ard and seconded by Kaiser. IV. Idle Reduction Petition Update Bouma shared that there were some delays as he was waiting to get a count of the signs needed from the schools. Eimers suggested that a good starting point might be to go ahead and put up 2 signs per school as low-hanging fruit. This would move the project forward while other steps were finalized. There was a desire to review model idle reduction programs, perhaps Park Cit y, Utah, to get best practices. Ward mentioned that implementing this program could be a learning opportunity for the students. Piracci discussed whether there could be a place for parents to come inside to pick up kids where it was climate-controlled. It was noted that parents would still need a place to park but their cars could be off. Marzuola suggested that there could be useful partnerships between schools and Orange County’s strong bike riding organizations to promote additional alternatives to driving in. Eichel mentioned that safety is likely to be a key concern in any non- automotive mode of travel. Staff agreed to ask the state Division of Air Quality to receive two signs per school and about successful models and strategies for implementation. Attachment 1 V. Fossil Fuel Divestment Resolution Ward re-introduced the CFE to the climate change drivers behind this pro posed resolution, particularly in electricity generation and transportation, and how the resolution proposes to impact them through redirecting County and state financial resources away from fossil fuel companies. Parry noted that in the context of the em erging lawsuits seeking damages from oil companies for contributing to climate change, these companies can be considered increasingly risky investments. Eimers and Saul commented that they’d like to see a resolution that was shorter and more uniformly specific. Eimers will help Ward in creating this, and potentially the accompanying agenda item to include some further details. VI. Committee Meetings Saul proposed a change to the timeline of rolling out the State of the Environment report to shoot for October-November of 2019 in order to avoid trying to compete with budget discussions during the spring. Then in the following spring of 2020 there could be an update and a reminder. This delay would also provide time to plan an event to accompany the release if desired. Marzuola suggested that the debut of the report could coincide with an existing fall event such as Local Fest. Saul noted that the CFE could also partner with other like-minded organizations such as the Triangle Land Conservancy similar to their “Wild Ideas” event. Saul then shared a potential outline for the State of the Environment Report itself. Each of 3 committees would have 2-4 main issues to present and each would get a page. There may be multiple indicators wrapped into a single issue. There would also be a summary page with a note about the process and the CFE. CFE members liked the idea of a brief report. Committees broke out and met for 30 minutes and then came back together and provided brief summaries of their discussions. VI. Updates and Information Items None were included. VII. Adjournment – Saul adjourned the meeting at 9:10 following the unanimous approval of a motion to adjourn the meeting which was offered by P iracci and seconded by Kaiser. Attachment 2 CFE Member Roles and Responsibilities October 2018 1. Excerpts from: Orange County Commission for the Environment Policies and Procedures, Adopted by the BOCC November 8, 2012 Purpose: The purpose of the Commission for the Environment shall be to advise the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) on matters affecting the environment, with particular emphasis on environmental protection. The Commission for the Environment shall have the following specific duties: 1. To advise the BOCC with regard to environmental policy, with particular emphasis on environmental protection. 2. To educate the public and local officials on environmental issues. 3. To perform special studies and projects on environmental questions as requested by the BOCC. 4. To recommend environmental initiatives to the BOCC. 5. To study changes in environmental science and environmental regulations in the pursuit of their duties. 6. To perform other duties as requested by the BOCC. CFE Meeting Ground Rules (Adopted 9/12/11) 1. Keep to agenda topic under discussion 2. Share relevant information 3. One person speaks at a time after recognition by the Chair 4. Everyone is invited to participate in discussions/no one person should dominate discussions 5. Strive to reach consensus first before voting 2. Excerpts from: Advisory Board Policy, Adopted by the BOCC March 3, 2015 SECTION II. (B.) Primary Responsibilities 1. Individual advisory boards shall maintain awareness of their goals and objectives as those goals are related to the Orange County Board of Commissioners’ adopted overall goals and objectives for Orange County. Attachment 2 2. All actions or recommendations of the advisory board shall be communicated to the Orange County Board of Commissioners as provided herein. SECTION V. (C.) Confidentiality 1. The Chair shall serve as the spokesperson for the advisory board. SECTION IX. Ethics (C). Code of Ethics 1. Advisory board members should act with integrity and with independence from improper influence as they exercise the functions of their offices. Characteristics and behaviors that are consistent with this standard are: b. Behaving consistently and with respect towards everyone with whom they interact. e. Using their best independent judgment to pursue the common good as they see it, presenting their opinions to all in a reasonable, forthright, consistent manner. h. Treating other advisory boards and advisory board members and the public with respect, and honoring the opinions of others even when they disagree. i. Being careful not to reach conclusions on issues until all sides have been heard. k. Recognizing that they are part of a larger group and acting accordingly. l. Recognizing that individual board members are not generally allowed to act on behalf of the board, but may only do so if the board specifically so authorizes, and that the board must take official action as a body. o. Faithfully attending and preparing for meetings. p. Carefully analyzing all credible information that is properly submitted to them, and when applicable, being mindful of the need not to engage in communications outside the meeting in quasi-judicial matters. q. Being willing to bear their fair share of the board’s workload. r. To the extent appropriate, they should be willing to put the board’s interests ahead of their own and shall avoid the appearance of a Attachment 2 conflict of interest and shall, under no circumstances, use their position on any board for personal gain or profit. SECTION XI. (C.) Limitation of Power and Authority Advisory Boards and any members thereof shall not (and shall not have the express or implied authority to): 2. Identify or release any draft document that has not been approved for release by the Orange County Board of Commissioners or County Manager. 3. Take positions, in their capacity as an advisory board member, on any political issue or support or oppose any candidate for public office. 6. Conduct any activity that might constitute or be construed as establishment of Orange County or departmental policy. SECTION III. (H.) Removal 1. Members of Orange County’s advisory boards serve at the pleasure of the Orange County Board of Commissioners and may be removed for any reason or no reason with or without cause. 2. Members of Orange County’s advisory boards are expected to abide by the highest ethical and professional standards. 3. In addition to Section III (H) (1) above, the Orange County Board of Commissioners shall remove any member of an advisory board for neglect of duty, nonparticipation that becomes problematic to the advisory board’s functioning and purpose. Neglect of duty and nonparticipation are defined as follows: a. Missing three (3) consecutive meetings; or b. Missing twenty-five percent (25%) of meetings within any twelve (12) month period. c. For this section III (H) (3) to apply, the missed meetings in question must be unexcused. 4. The advisory board Chair shall notify a member if the member is at risk of being removed pursuant to section III (H) (3). 5. The advisory board Chair shall notify the Clerk to the Board of Orange County Commissioners if a member has violated section III (H) (3). Attachment 3 Environmental Impacts of Rural Buffer In 1987, the governments of Orange County, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro adopted a land use plan that created a rural buffer around the two cities. The rural buffer limits development to maintain the area’s rural character. Due in part to a growing population, pressure to modify the rural buffer has grown in recent years. However, the buffer’s environmental impacts and potential benefits such as improved surface water quality are largely unquantified. In conjunction with the Orange County Commission for the Environment and county staff, the student would design and implement a study of one or more environmental impacts of the rural buffer, such as water quality, biodiversity, or environmental justice. Attachment 3 RURAL BUFFER. Land adjacent to an Urban or Transition area which is rural in character and which should remain rural, contain very low-density residential uses and not require urban services during the plan period. Attachment 4 SOE 2019 Issues and Indicators Table October 2018 Purpose: To begin to formalize the format and content of the SOE document. Land Resources Committee Issue Indicator(s) Facilitator(s) Water Resources Committee Issue Indicator(s) Facilitator(s) Air and Energy Resources Committee Issue Indicator(s) Facilitator(s) 9/28/2018 Orange County COMMISSION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT (updated August 7, 2018) NAME POS # HOME ADDRESS DATE OF APPOINTMENT COMMITTEE (Representation) TERM ENDS TELEPHONE E-MAIL TOWNSHIP OF RESIDENCE Jody Eimers #1 3120 Landeau Dr. Hillsborough NC 27 02/06/18 Water Resources (At Large) 12/31/20 919-245-8442 Joleslie98@aol.com Eno Laura Doherty #10 612 Sugarberry Road Chapel Hill, NC 27514 02/06/2018 Air & Energy Resources (At Large) 12/31/20 919-260-8808 ljdoherty@earthlink.net Chapel Hill Lynne Gronback #14 2420 Sunnyfield Court Hillsborough, NC 27278 3/17/15 & 12/15/15 Land Resources (At Large) 12/31/18 919-219-3219 Lgronback@gmail.com Bingham Bill Kaiser (Vice Chair) #5 2112 Markham Dr. Chapel Hill, NC 27514 12/15/15 Water Resources (Water Resources) 12/31/18 919-933-9794 w_mckaiser@hotmail.com Chapel Hill Jeremy Marzuola #11 705 W. Main Street, Unit D Carrboro, NC 27510 12/13/16 & 12/4/17 Land Resources (At Large) 12/31/20 510-435-9685 jlmarzuola@gmail.com Chapel Hill William Newby #2 2821 Becketts Ridge Road Hillsborough, NC 27278 5/20/14 & 12/13/16 Air & Energy Resources (Air Quality) 12/31/19 919-541-5296 newby.william007@gmail.com Hillsborough Will Stanley #7 201 Alabama Avenue Carrboro, NC 27510 10/3/2017 Water Resources (At Large) 12/31/19 919-714-9455 stanlwi@gmail.com Chapel Hill Kim Piracci #9 101 Flamingo Rd. Durham, NC 27705 12/4/17 Air & Energy Resources (At Large) 12/31/20 919-260-3686 piraccik@gmail.com Eno Alan Parry #6 210 Oxford Hills Drive Chapel Hill, NC 27514 12/13/16 Air & Energy Resources (At Large) 12/31/19 919-523-7521 aparry@ptwfirm.com Chapel Hill Bradley Saul (Chair) #15 1329 Beechwood Lane Chapel Hill, NC 27516 10/3/2017 Land Resources (At Large) 12/31/18 707-360-8511 bradleysaul@gmail.com Chapel Hill Carrie Fletcher #8 6420 Sykes Glen Trail Mebane, NC 27302 5/1/18 Land Resources (At Large) 12/31/19 919-304-0666 Carriefletcher1@yahoo.com Bingham Emily Mixon #3 1204 Drew Hill Lane Chapel Hill, NC 27514 5/1/18 Water Resources (Land Resources) 12/31/20 843-670-5521 emilykaidon@gmail.com Chapel Hill Matt Crook #13 105 Barrington Hill Rd Chapel Hill, NC 27516 3/7/17 Air & Energy Resources (At Large) 12/31/18 704-965-5406 crookm@gmail.com Chapel Hill James Eichel #12 621 Tinkerbell Lane Chapel Hill, NC 27517 5/1/18 Air & Energy Resources (Engineer) 12/31/18 919-818-7622 jimeichel@gmail.com Chapel Hill Bill Ward #4 107 Forest Ridge Drive Chapel Hill, NC 27514 11/02/17 Air & Energy Resources (Biological Resources) 12/31/19 919-960-2587 sandbward@mindspring.com Chapel Hill David Stancil 245-2522 Tom Davis 245-2513 Brennan Bouma 245-2626 Kim Livingston 245-2514 Director, Dept. of Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Rec. Water Resources Coordinator Sustainability Coordinator Land Resources Manager dstancil@orangecountync.gov tdavis@orangecountync.gov bbouma@orangecountync.gov Klivingston@orangecountync.gov