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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCFE 120897 ORANGE COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT 306F REVERE ROAD HILLSBOROUGH , NORTH CAROLINA 27278 t e po At b Re, C . V 4 MEMORANDUM '�'` ' ' � �- TO : Orange County Commission for the Environment t t FROM : Gene Bell , Planner III SUBJ : Agenda for Second Meeting of the Commission for the Environment DATE : December 3 , 1997 The second meeting of the Orange County Commission for the Environment is scheduled for Monday , December 8 , 1997 at 7 : 30 PM . The meeting will be held in the Homestead Community Ccnter 'located approximately 0 . 6 mile east ul Calvander on Homestead Road (please refer to map on back) . Agenda materials for the meeting are enclosed . If you have questions , I can be reached at extension 2589 at 7320m8181 (aillsborough) , 96700so9251 ( Chapel Hill/Carrboro ) , and 68 & 7331 (Durham) . 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Consideration of Additions to Agenda 7035 ITT . rApproval of Minutes - November 10 , 1997 7 * 40 IV . Overwiew of the County Decision - Making Process as it Relates to Plans , Ordinances , and Development Proj ects - Gene Bell 8 : 25 V . Review of Selected. Environmental Information from the Land Use Element - Orange County Comprehensive Plan - Gene Bell 9 : 10 VI . Administrative Matters : a . Permanent Meeting Date - Returned calendars indicate the first and second Mondays of the month as preferred dates (with a slight preference for the first Monday) . b . Draft Rules of Procedure - A draft set of Rules of Procedure has been prepared based on those used by the Planning Board . Review and comment by CFE is needed prior to final review by County Attorney and adoption by CFE . 9 * 25 VII . Next Meeting 9 : 3 0 VIII . Adjournment 1 I I p � o ORANGE COUNTY COMMIS SION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT Meeting One , November lo , 1997 Summary of Conference Room , Hillsborough , NC Held in Orange County EDC Con (Prepared by Gene Bell , planne r III , Orange County Planning Department) June Dunnick, Roy Fortmann, Alice Gordon, Annnette Members Present : Andrew Burke , t Martini Daniel Okun, Richard Pratt, Kris Price , Jurgelski , Loraine Kohorn , Rosalinda Lldh, Scot Jane Sharp -MacRae , and Stephen Whalen . Members Absent : William Glaze and Lee Rafalow er III , Orange County Planning Department Staff Present : Gene Bell , Plann Welcome Dr . Alice Go rdon called the meeting to order at 7 * 3 0 PM • II , Introductions for seven years • Interested in schools/education, Commissioner prompted creation of Alice Gordon: Been County Stanford . Employed at es and growth Interest in environmental issues pphD r p environmental issu g psychologist by training , PI Board for six years . Commission for the Environment (CFE) • Center . Orange Count' son Frank porter Graham Child DevelopmentTransportation ed on regional issues and environmental issues . s Serves As commissioner , has concentrated Durham" Chapel Hill- Carrboro Tran Committee , the Board of Health; Triangle Trans le J Council of Governments , and the Water Resources integrate their work Advisory Council , Triang County hop focus of which is groundwater resources in OrangeCounty in Joint Planning Area. primary art of Orange with CFE eventually . Live in southeastern p en cademics . Started out as fisheries biologist , then largelyin forest Stephen Whalen : Background is Ina es and limnologlst, and oceanographer . From there moved to wetlands Now working ant rofessor, Department of Environmental Sciences and agri-ecosystems . As off p - � 01 toward Pittsboro . Engineering at UNC . Lives dro eologist by training . Been in this field for approximately 25 years . Have Richard Pratt : Hy g doin this) and well public sector (consultant to g pollution,, non-point worked in private sector as consultant (currently national studies on groundwater p EPA for many years) . Been involved inn diverse background as point source high level nuclear . Have had very company in Orange source pesticides as well p sues . Currently has own environmental data management for private in groundwater is reports and environme el Hi ? . Involved in preparing regulatoryWhitfield Road north of Chap County . e/ Sedgefield community along industry . Lives in Stoneridg ent Meeting 1 se November 10 , 1997 0range County Commi ssion for the Environm - 0 � 2 Scot Martin : Assistant professor in Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at UNC . In process of moving to area south of Carr Mill Park Mall in Carrboro . Background in chemistry . BS from Georgetown, PhD Cal Tech, and post doc in chemistry at MIT . Research now on aquatic side in dissolution of aquifer material and on atmospheric side in changes in physical state of particles from liquids to solids and solids back to liquids . Loraine Kohorn : Instructor and research associate at Duke , plant ecologist . Has lived in Orange County for 10 years in Eno Township north of Hillsborough. Research has been in plant reproduction and effects of carbon dioxide on plant communities . Very interested in plant conservation ; working on conservation plan for plants for Peoples Republic of China. Jane Sharp -MacRae : Past president of Conservation Council of N . C . , also Consumer Council of N . C . Also work with Haw River Assembly . Background in chemistry , Cornell , ` 38 . Have taken graduate courses since then . Has lobbied General Assembly extensively on environmental issues . Worked in state government from 1977 - 81 as advisor in policy development in environment/water quality . Environmental quality chairperson for League of Women Voters of N . C . Lives in Chapel Hill . ' Daniel Okun : Has lived in Chapel Hill for 45 years . Retired professor, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at UNC . Interested in water-related issues throughout career . Active role in local issues - Cane Creek probably biggest. Special interest in asking to be on CFE - perceive we are running into water resource problems . Very familiar with this , done much work abroad and in California, places with water shortage problems . In N . C . always had plenty of water and taken for granted . Not much been done in terms of resource conservation . Water reclamation is special interest ; worked on for last 20 years . Rosalinda Lidh : Masters in environmental resource policy from George Washington University . While there , did work in alternative energy . Currently researcher for non-profit focusing on reproductive policy . Main focus on population and environmental policy . Roy Fortmann : Senior scientist with a company named Direct Environmental , a contract research organization. About 75 % of his work is for the EPA . Background in environmental chemistry and analytical chemistry . Lot of background and expertise in ambient air quality and monitoring and hazardous air pollutants . Present focus is on indoor air quality . Pollution prevention is large focus of his company . Lives north of chapel Hill in County near current landfill off Rogers Road . Andrew Burke : New to the area . Moved to Chapel Hill four months ago to start an office equipment service and supply business in RTP . Business degree from Georgetown in 1985 ; from there to Fordham law School . Became interested in environmental issues there and was editor of Environmental Journal . Worked for two summers with EPA in hazardous waste section . Impressed with CFE members ' backgrounds in sciences and hopes to learn much . Orange County Commission for the Environment - Meeting I - November 10 , 1997 3 June Dunmck : Undergraduate work at Cornell in biology and chemistry . PhD in medical sciences from Cornell medical school . Now a scientist (toxicologist) at NIEHSa have worked a lot on carcinogenic agents in the environment. Live in Chapel Hill in the Lake Forest neighborhood off Weaver Dairy Road . Worked on the Water Resources Committee for Chapel Hill and a member of the Chapel Hill Planning Board . Kris Price : Masters in environmental studies and has taught environmental studies at community college level . Fairly new in Orange County - lived here two years . Also lived in Colorado , Washington state , Florida, and Maryland . Very interested in urban and regional studies . Belongs to Sustainable Triangle Network, a citizens forum promoting sustainable development in Triangle area . Lives in Carrboro . Gene Bell : Planner III for Comprehensive (long range) Planning in Orange County Planning Department . Will be serving as primary staff to CFE . Worked in Orange County since late 1984 ; work is challenging , but never boring . Lives in northwest Durham County in Bahama community . Annette Jurgelski . Background in journalism and English . Former English teacher . Works at Duke . Deep interest in environment . Membership chair for Eno River Association . Serves on Excom for Orange County Sierra Group and was on state Excom . III . Role and Mission of the Commission for the Environment Alice Gordon : Brief overview of goals and objectives related to the environment (agenda item III attachment) . There has not been a central review agency to advise BOCC on environmental issues/questions . Reviewed specific duties of CFE under section B on page 2 of attachment . One of the first formal activities for CFE will be advising BOCC on upcoming Natural Areas Element of Comprehensive Plan . IV. Members ' Comments Alice Gordon : Preserve the most important features of the natural environment as we grow - grow smart ! Identify the most precious things and develop ways to preserve them . Annette Jurgelski . Echo what Alice said . Thinks rivers especially important . Likes idea of educating people . Stephen Whalen : Wants to maintain the quality environment in which he is living . Has always lived in places more sparsely developed . Ten to 15 years from now doesn ' t want to see wall-to - wall development . Water quality is a key interest ; he is a limnologist . Richard Pratt : Consciously moved here from Florida 12 years ago . Has presented lot of technical data to governments representing clients . Has found that people weren ' t asking the right questions concerning environmental issues , especially in relation to putting in municipal water systems . Was appalled by growth in Florida . What he considers most important is Orange County Commission for the Environment as Meeting I we November 10 , 1997 hydrogeology . Quantity and quality of water available is primary issue in dealing with growth . One of the things he finds lacking in N . C . is water management districts (quantity is key word) . If there is one single issue that needs to be protected is water quality and capacity . In terms of government, everyone has their own little domain . Need to take a regional view. Needs to be some body to provide sound technical basis for politicians to consider . Scot Martin : Wants to provide service to community ; feels it should be interesting experience too . Wants first few meetings to be a learning experience . Loraine Kohorn : Interested in biological resources in Orange County . Identifying priority areas for protection. Number one thing she would like to see is containing urban sprawl . Thinks we can grow intelligently . Teaches course at Duke - wants to apply what she ' s learned and teaches to real life . Alice Gordon : Comments about Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC) report, A Landscape with ffildlife for Orange County. Will ask TLC to come and give a presentation . After TLC does more work on how plan can be operationalized wants them to present to CFE . Jane Sharp-Mac-Rae : Wants to see a large chart on the wall at each meeting with headings of Water, Air, Energy , and Land Fill/Recycling, i . e . , all initiatives the CFE is qualified to deal with. What is possible (politically and economically) ? What is necessary ? Daniel Okun : What he wants to see is most difficult - regional management . Thinks we are in good shape with water ; however, no pipe , no growth . Example of Chatham wanting OWASA water and not getting it, didn ' t stop them . Have ad hoc relationships , e . g . , Hillsborough - OWASA, not real efficient. Particularly need regional management relating to wastewater . His major aim is regional . More specifically why he came on board is because water supply and wastewater have traditionally been treated as two separate issues - separate funding , separate departments in government, etc . In Florida (water short) they have adopted wastewater reclamation . Have a chance to do it here . Time to do it is before development takes place . Involves two systems , one for potable water, other for non- drinking uses such as watering gardens, fighting fires . Easier to do up front rather than retrofit. Rosalinda Lidh : No specific goal . would like to see good advice given and good advice taken . Volunteered because environmental issues have always been a key interest and there are few minorities involved . Roy Fortmann : Wants to give something back . Doesn ' t know what County is doing , but perceives it as being proactive . Wants to see County being proactive . There are opportunities for reducing pollution as well as pollution prevention . Feels he can make strongest contribution in air quality, but interested in water too . June Dunnick : Reference to Pearson Stewart and New Hope Corridor Study of several years ago . Much of what has been said has been done in some way . There is plenty of documentation . The problem in protecting the environment is one of execution ; there is no shortage of principles . Orange County Commission for the Environment - Meeting 1 - November 10 , 1997 � � e 5 Information gathering is not the problem, getting things done is (the problem) . Seems to be a lack of desire , biggest impact could be to get politicians to & take action . Needs to be some incentive , reference to Southern Village in Chapel Hill . There is never a lack of understanding . Kris Price : Two points : maintaining a long-term view and asking the right questions before development happens ; and urban development and management of growth - protection of land resources is number one . Andy Burke : Because of legal background, execution is where he thinks he can serve best . Maybe he can put options on paper, do research . Annette Jurgelski . Added that Eno River State Park is very important to her . V. Relationship of the CFE to Orange County Government _Gene Bell of the Orange County Planning Department handed out organizational charts of Orange County Government and the Planning Department . Highlighted on the charts were committees , boards , departments , and staff in Orange County Government who were involved in environmental issues to one degree or another. Specifically , he identified the following . Environment and Resource Protection Committee of the Shaping Orange County ' s Future ( SOCF) project ; the Water Resources Committee ; the Environmental Health Division of the Orange County Health Department ; the Cooperative Extension Service ; the County Engineer ; the Planning Department and Planning Board ; and the Soil and Water Conservation Office and Soil and Water Conservation Board . At a future meeting , representatives of the various committees , boards , and departments could be invited to give in-depth presentations on their functional areas . Spoke briefly about the Planning Department and identified the Planning Director, Current Planning Division, Comprehensive Planning Division , and Erosion Control Division as the key areas dealing with environmental issues . As with representatives of other departments , Planning staff with environmental responsibilities could be scheduled to meet with the CFE in the future for in- depth presentations and question/answer sessions . Following Bell ' s comments there were questions from several CFE members : Dan Okun : Who appoints the OWASA board . Alice Gordon : Chapel Hill , Carrboro , and Orange County . Chapel Hill appoints five members , Carrboro two , and Orange County two . The control Orange County has is in the appointments . Until the last election, don ' t think a CFE could have been appointed ; feels that now the political environment is favorable for CFE to be listened to . Annette Jurgelski . Will there be any coordination between the SOCF Environment and Resource Protection Committee and the CFE ? Alice Gordon : Yes . Output of SOCF will be input for CFE . Orange County Commission for the Environment - Meeting I - November 10 , 1997 6 Richard Pratt : How does it (CFE) work? Alice Gordon : Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) will ask for comments . Preparation of ill be one of first areas for CFE involvement . Would Natural Areas Plan is a BOCC goal and w like for this group to develop some concrete initiatives , do overview of county and find gaps . Richard Pratt : Referring to June Dunnick ' s comments on data collection. No difference in little environmental issues and big environmental issues to someone who doesn ' t know how to priortize . Don ' t want to do "busy work, " but when asked to do something , want to do it right . Alice Gordon : BOCC is environmentally friendly , thinks they will listen . Dan Okun : Who regulates septic tanks ? Alice Gordon : Environmental Health Division of the Health Department and the State . -Dan Okun : Comments about need for inspections of septic tanks and alternative systems (package treatment plants) . ' Alice Gordon : Time is right to take environmental issues to BOCC . Education required because some people will say you ' re trying to stop development . VI . Next Meeting Scot Martin : Spend some time on what is already available . Richard Pratt : Geographic Information System (GIS ) environmental layers developed for County . June Dunnick : Rewards/incentives for doing things right . Gene Bell : Based on responses , first or second Monday of the month are best meeting dates . First Monday in December not good because of BOCC meeting and insufficient turn- around time Y g g to prepare/mail agenda and do other necessary meeting preparations . Will try to locate site closer to Chapel Hill for next meeting . Will reserve Homestead Community Center just east of Calvander if available . Alice Gordon : Hold meeting on December 8 . Get together (Bell) with Scot Martin and Dan Okun (unable to meet on 8th) on December 15 to review results , respond to questions, receive comments . VII . Adjournment : 9 : 20 PM . r, Orange County Commission for the Environment we Meeting I an November 10 , 1997 County of Orange , Commission for the Environment Rules of Procedure , Adopted , 1998 RULES OF PROCEDURE M � ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT ARTICLE I - PURPOSE AND DUTIES A. Purpose mmission for the Environment shall be to advise the Board of The purpose of the Co County Commissioners (BOCC) on matters affecting the environment, with particular emphasis on environmental protection . B . Duties 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 . :a ARTICLE II - OFFICERS A. Officers The elected officers of the Commission for the Environment shall consist of a Chair and a Vice Chair . 1 . The Chair shall preside at all meetings and hearings of the Commission for the Environment and have the duties normally conferred by parliamentary usage on such officers . . 1 County of Orange , Commission for the Environment Rules of Procedure , Adopted , 1998 2 . The Vice Chair shall serve as Acting Chair in the absence of the Chair, and at such times shall have the same powers and duties "as the Chair . B . Election Procedures and Terms of Office The procedures for election of the Chair and Vice Chair shall be as follows : 1 . These officers shall be elected by the Commission for the Environment from among its members at the regular meeting in November of each year. 2 . The candidate for each office receiving a majority vote of the Commission for the Environment members present shall be declared elected . 3 . The officers shall be elected for a term of one year . They shall be eligible to succeed themselves for not more than three consecutive terms . 4 . Vacancies in the office shall be filled immediately for the unexpired term by the regular election procedure . ' ARTICLE III = MEMBERS A. Membership 1 . Members of the Commission for the Environment shall be Orange County residents . 2 . Members of the Commission for the Environment shall be appointed by , and serve at the pleasure of, the BOCC . 3 . The Commission for the Environment shall have eleven appointed members plus one County Commissioner as follows : i a . Five members with specific expertise in . • Air Quality • Biological Sciences • Engineering , in a field related to the environment • Land Resources • Water Resources b . Nine at4arge members with some knowledge of environmental science and/or environmental issues including , but not limited to experts in the following fields : • Education • Energy • Law .. 2 County of Orange , Commission for the Environment Rules of Procedure , Adopted , 1998 • Public Health p • Public Policy • Solid Waste • Other areas that overlap with the five areas of specific expertise 4 . Members shall serve a term of three years with initial terms staggered as follows : a. Air Quality - one year ; thereafter three years b . Engineering and Land Resources - two years ; thereafter three years c . Biological Sciences and Water Resources - initial term three years d . At-Large Members : • One year for four members • Two years for three members • Three years for two members -Be Attendance 1 . Any member of the Commission for the Environment who misses more than three consecutive meetings or more than one -half of the meetings in a calendar year, for something other than an approved absence as determined by the Chair, may lose their status as a member and may be replaced by the BOCC . 2 . Absence due to sickness , death of an immediate family member, professional leave , or other valid reason shall be considered an approved absence and shall not affect the member' s status . 3 . In the event of a long illness or other cause for prolonged absence , the member may be replaced . ARTICLE IV - ADMINISTRATION A. Staff i The Orange County Planning Department shall serve as staff to the Commission for the Environment . Be Secretary The Comprehensive Planning Supervisor or designee shall serve as Secretary to the Commission for the Environment . The Secretary shall keep all minutes and records of the Commission for the Environment and provide proper and legal notice of regular and special meetings to members and the public . 3 County of Orange , Commission for the Environment Rules of Procedure , Adopted , 1998 ARTICLE V an MEETINGS � � e A. Regular Meetings Regular meetings of the Commission for the Environment shall be held the of each month at 7 * 30 p . m . at the Homestead Community Center north of Chapel Hill or other place within Orange County designated by the Chair . The meetings shall adjourn not later than 100. 30 p . m . unless extended for the meeting in session by vote of the members . Be Special Meetings Special meetings may be called by the Chair or by the written request of at least three other members of the Commission for the Environment . The notice of such a meeting _ shall specify the purposes of the meeting and no other business may be considered except mmission for the Environment members present . by unanimous consent of the Co C . Meeting Notice The Secretary shall give five days notice for both regular and special meetings . D . Quorum 1 . A quorum shall consist of a majority of the regular appointed members of the Commission for the Environment . 2 . A quorum shall be present for conduct of formal business . E. Voting The vote of a majority of those members present shall be sufficient to decide all matters before the Commission for the Environment, provided a quorum is present . F . Conduct of Meetings 1 . All business to be considered shall be listed on the agenda. To secure such consideration, a request must be received by the Chair or Secretary at least seven days before any regular scheduled meeting . No other business may be considered except by unanimous consent of the Board members present . All special business or items not specifically noted on the regular meeting agenda may be deferred by the Commission for the Environment until the next regular meeting date . 4 County of Orange , Commission for the Environment Rules of Procedure , Adopted , 1998 2 . The order of business at regular meetings shall be : O D a. Call to order and roll call . b . Call for approval of minutes of previous meeting . c . Consideration of additions to the agenda . d . Consideration of items on the agenda. e . Adjournment . 3 . The order of business for special meetings shall be as set out in the meeting call . 4 . All meetings of the Commission for the Environment shall be open to the general public . 5 . For procedures not covered by these rules , the Commission for the Environment shall follow the rules contained in Roberts Rules of Order, Revised. G . Cancellation of Meetings mmission for the Environment, the Chair may Whenever there is no business for the Co dispense with a regular meeting by giving notice to all members not less than twenty-four hours prior to the time set for the meeting . ARTICLE VI - AMENDMENTS These Rules of Procedure may , within the limits allowed by law, be amended at any time by an affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the regular appointed members of the Commission for the Environment provided that such amendment shall have first been presented to the membership in writing at a regular or special meeting preceding the meeting at which the vote is ided further, that any amendment shall be reviewed by the BOCC . taken, and prov 5 . l . �