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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCFE agenda 061019AGENDA Orange County Commission for the Environment June 10th, 2019 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 7:34 III. Approval of Draft Minutes – May 13th 2019 The CFE will consider approval of minutes from the last meeting. Action needed (Attachment 1) 7:35 IV. CFE Activities Update The Chair and members will briefly discuss progress on the list of activities included on page 2 of this agenda. 7:50 V. Preliminary Discussion of Orange County Development Process Staff will lead an introductory discussion of the review process for development projects in Orange County. 8:05 VI. SOE 2019 Event Discussion The CFE will discuss the latest concerning the Fall 2019 release of the State of the Environment 2019 report. 8:20 VII. SOE Report Update The senior editorial committee will update the CFE about the status of the SOE 2019 report. (Attachment 2) 8:40 VIII. Updates and Information Items Staff and/or CFE members will provide updates on the following items: ¾ Updates: ¾ Any other new information from CFE members and staff 8:45 IX. Adjournment x Next Meeting: August 12th, West Campus Office Building, Room 302, 131 West Margaret Lane, Hillsborough CFE Activities – 2019 Item Resp. Party Next Steps SOE issue pages Exec. Editors Executive editing group plans to finish the review of the draft SOE issue pages before the June 10th mtg. SOE website B. Saul Others Collect images SOE event C. Fletcher L. Gronback Partner with other groups for event? Eco-tips for county newsletter K. Piracci B. Bouma Find source(s). Compile in Google Docs. Forest Management Policy Land Resources Land Resources has prepared draft. Pending CFE review and comment. Rural Buffer Research Project B. Saul B. Bouma UNC student may begin working on this in August 2019. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory B. Ward B. Bouma Submit request to MPOs for transportation data. Get Solid Waste, utilities data. Finalize report. Fossil Fuel Divestment Resolution B. Ward Parry editing. CFE review. Carbon Fee and Dividend Resolution Ward/Parry Resolution will be provided to the CFE for review pending Parry’s edits. Web site for bill: https://energyinnovationact.org/ Climate Action Plan Parry/Bouma Idling Campaign B. Bouma Received signs, need to deliver to schools. Sent a draft cover letter to schools for their use. Discuss expansion to drive-thru establishments. Landscape corridor planning Future update from Collaborative Conservation Group? Other x DEAPR annual photo contest Recent Achievements ● BOCC unanimously passed “Best Practices on Roadsides and Rights-of-Way” resolution ● CFE mentioned by BOCC members several times during recent Our Climate Resolutions event ● 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 Attachment 1 Orange County Commission for the Environment Draft Meeting Summary May 13, 2019 West Campus Office Building, Room 302, 131 West Margaret Lane, Hillsborough Present: Bradley Saul (Chair), Jeremy Marzuola (Vice Chair), Bill Ward, Kim Piracci, Alan Parry, Matt Crook,Jeremy Marzuola, Jody Eimers, Laura Doherty, Jim Eichel, Lynne Gronback, Will Stanley Absent: Bill Newby Staff: Tom Davis, Brennan Bouma, Dave Stancil I. Call to Order – Saul called the meeting to order at 7:30. II. Additions or Changes to Agenda – Alan requested that we add a discussion of the draft Carbon Fee and Dividend resolution. Kim P requested that she be allowed to introduce an issue to the CFE members for them to possibly consider for the agenda of the next meeting. If time allows at end of meeting, it was agreed that she could do so. Appreciation gifts from the BOCC were distributed to the members. III. Approval of Draft Minutes from April 8, 2019. Crook made a motion to approve the minutes as written. Fletcher seconded. Approved unanimously. IV. Activities Update The Chair stated that the next goal for the State of the Environment report is to have a new draft ready for the members to review at the June meeting. The executive editorial committee is meeting next week to discuss the report. Eco tips- nothing new on this item currently Forest management policy- The land resources committee has completed a draft policy, but since the land resources coordinator position is currently vacant, this item is waiting for the next staff person to pick up the issue. Brennan related how several sustainability staff in the triangle area are currently working on this same issue. Jody asked if Dave had spoken with Ruth Rouse at OWASA about this since they are currently beginning to develop a similar policy for their properties. Dave said yes he is aware of OWASA’s process on this. Rural Buffer Research project - Brennan discussed the fact that we may potentially have an intern from UNC-CH to work on this project in the fall. Attachment 1 The anti-idling campaign - Alan indicated that he and his wife have discussed this with some local bike groups. They are interested in putting together an event to raise awareness of this campaign. V. BOCC Abstract - Environmental Impact Item Brennan discussed his presentation to the BOCC on this issue which occurred on April 16th. He presented the option that was preferred by the County Manager. The BOCC approved the County Managers recommended version - which is just a simple one line item. Brennan also presented a proposed prompts page for use on future abstracts that is based on the Environmental Responsibility Goal document that was approved by the BOCC in 2005. The approved version is simple, maintains an open response format, provides for statements on environmental impacts, and helps avoid staff confusion and conflict with development impacts assessment process that already has to be completed. Dave discussed the sheer volume of BOCC abstracts that are generated every two weeks, and that their authors have varying degrees of expertise, as well as the potential for creating a potential liability issue with a more extensive impact assessment. Several commissioners indicated that they thought that the approved format is a good start and worth initiating, and maybe this can be reviewed and possibly modified in the future. Dave and Brennan are going to develop some examples this summer for staff to consider. Dave then discussed the BOCC agenda review process and the oversight that is built into this process. Bradley indicated it might be a good idea to reconsider this item in 6 months or so to see if some revision may be needed at that time. VI. Proposed Rights-of-Way (ROW) Committee Update Dave provided some background of how BOCC advisory boards can function, their setup, etc. much of which was revised about 8 years ago by the BOCC. In summary, the BOCC tightened up the rules somewhat as to how advisory boards can operate. Upon consideration of the proposed ROW committee- it was feared that the only way for this group to be formed would be through a formal process that would need the blessing of the BOCC. Dave thinks it would be much easier to initiate this committee as a subcommittee of the CFE at this time. This would essentially mirror the process previously used to create the bicycle safety task force. The ROW subcommittee could investigate the issue of roadside herbicide usage, prepare a report, and then present the report to the BOCC. Bradley discussed the proposed original make-up of the group and stated that he is interested in serving on this group. He also discussed how to proceed. Matt asked what happens if one of the proposed membership entities (Duke Power, PSNC, etc.) decides not to participate. Then additional sources of members were discussed, including The Town of Hillsborough, Verizon, Spectrum, etc. Brennan talked about the initial members of the group developing a report of some type, and then possibly use the document to essentially recruit additional members in the future. Jeremy moved to establish a subcommittee, this was seconded by Lynne Gronback, and then unanimously approved. Bradley asked for volunteers, and Carrie F. and Lynne G. indicated that while they are not Attachment 1 experts on this issue, they are willing to volunteer. Carrie said she might be able to provide administrative assistance especially with the setup of the group. VII. SOE Event Bradley indicated that he is worried about the event intended to serve as the rollout for the pending SOE report, especially now that Kim L., our former Land Resources Coordinator, no longer works for the County. Before she left, Kim emailed several members of the New Hope Collaborative Conservation Group on May 1st concerning the development of an event in conjunction with the CFE. Only one member of that group has apparently replied to that email to date. Carrie stated she had spoken with some people that may be available to speak at the event. The event was originally tentatively planned for the end of October. Bradley asked Brennan to follow up with the Collaborative Conservation Group, and include CFE members Lynne and Carrie (who previously expressed interest in helping with the development of the event). Davis stated that he has requested funding in next year’s budget for the event. VIII. Updates and Information Items Draft Carbon Fee and Dividend Resolution - Alan Parry prepared a draft CFD resolution, based on a presentation that was made to the CFE in 2018. Several local municipalities have approved a similar resolution. Alan indicated that in general Republicans are in favor of this approach because it is a free market solution. Alan discussed some of the background on this item, including that the City of Durham just recently approved a similar resolution supporting the bill that is referenced in this resolution (HR 763). Alan stated that the Town of Chapel Hill is considering a similar resolution. A carbon fee would be assessed at the point of entry of the fossil fuel into the economy, and the overall idea is to dis- incentivize the use of fossil fuels. Jody asked how this would affect Orange County and would we need to consider the environmental impact such as what is proposed for the BOCC agenda. The county would face higher fuel costs and would not get a dividend since only households would receive a dividend as this is currently envisioned. Jeremy made a motion to approve the draft resolution pending the addition of a paragraph or sentence stating that Durham County has also approved a similar resolution, per Dave’s suggestion, as well as adding links to similar adopted resolutions. This was seconded by Jody and then approved unanimously. Alan will make the approved changes to the document and send it to Bradley for him to forward to the BOCC. As time allows it, Kim wants to discuss the proposed Fairway Hills development in Orange County, as she is also on the County planning board. She began by telling members that the proposed development is located along Highway 70 east of Hillsborough. Carrie said this development would dramatically impact the drive along Highway 70 and that she supports Kim “110%” in her opposition to the planned development. 20 houses are proposed- some on 1.5 acre lots and the parcel is 42 acres in size. Kim was concerned with the lack of affordable housing in the proposed development, the traffic impact, stormwater runoff (1 Attachment 1 inch of rain in 24 hours is exceeded), the clearcutting of site, “the yardstick that is being used is a yardstick for the 20th century”. She asked if there is any interest in the CFE in trying to do something about this proposed development. She stated that Craig Benedict, Planning Director, said that someone will go back and look at the runoff calculations for this development, and maybe the County could change their rules for how much rain to consider in the runoff calculations. Kim also lamented the fact that the impact fee has been eliminated in Orange County. Alan asked what the process would be from here on out for this proposed development. Matt thought there should be more consideration for the environmental impact of future developments. Alan asked if there are more steps that the BOCC must vote on or not? If so, does the CFE want to weigh in on this? Bradley then tried to curtail the discussion at 9:00. Jeremy then said the entire SOE is going to be geared towards advising the BOCC and maybe this should be added to the report somehow. Kim said that this plan “is the perfect example of what not to do”. Dave stated that the Dillon Rule prevents local governments from enacting rules that exceed the state requirements on some things. Local governments now are more restricted than they were in the past. Alan asked if the BOCC is going to weigh in on this planned development. If it is a major subdivision it will have to be approved by the BOCC. Bradley tabled further discussion at 9:08. Dave suggested reviewing the UDO for relevant information concerning the development process. IX. Adjournment –Crook motioned to adjourn, and Parry seconded. Meeting adjourned at 9:10. 2019 STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT "UUBDINFOU DRAFT 2019 STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT 5 Long-running local study of bird populations highlights changes to our local environment and illustrates the global connectedness of the natural world. Each Spring, a group of volunteers travel the roads of Orange County to listen for who has chosen to make a nest in our neighborhood. The mini-bird breeding survey (MBBS), a regional version of the long-running national survey, has tracked local bird populations since 1999. Such systematically collected data makes it possible to examine trends in bird biodiversity on a local scale. Local Declines; Global Connections The MBBS documents declines of over 50% over the last 20 years in iconic specialist species such as the Wood Thrush. Anyone who has enjoyed a summer hike in one of our local parks will certainly recognize the Wood Thrush’s fluty song. Loss and fragmentation of local deciduous forests have certainly contributed to Wood Thrush decline. However, like all migratory birds, its winter range and travel routes are equally important, and land use changes in other regions may be the primary driver of some declines. Changes to a local ecosystem can indeed have global consequences. Ecological Government From backyard plantings to new development to urban sprawl, changes in land use at multiple scales drives loss of habitat and biodiversity. As a primary policy maker regarding land use at a county level, the Orange County government can have tremendous influence on biodiversity. The county’s 2030 comprehensive land use plan adopted in 2008 includes a biodiversity-related goal of “a balanced and healthy diversity of native plant and animal populations.” While work toward some of the objectives, such as the conservation of high-priority natural LAND RESOURCES Common Name Trend Annual Rate of Change Wood Thrush -0.055 Chimney Swift -0.043 Eastern Bluebird -0.012 Eastern Meadowlark -0.004 Field Sparrow 0.003 Brown-headed Nuthatch 0.019 Red-headed Woodpecker 0.296 areas is ongoing (see also land use topic), the status of other objectives is unclear. One objective is to develop “way to measure the ‘state of biodiversity’ in Orange County.” The MBBS provides some clues about a particular aspect of biodiversity, but a full picture is lacking. Another objective calls for a “detailed and consistent methodology for monitoring changes in forest cover throughout the County.” For the State of the Environment report, we used a simple methodology to measure tree cover, but the method misses important metrics such as hardwood forest extent. In the coming years, the Board of County Commissioners and the Commission for the Environment should to revisit the objectives State of Birds in Orange County "UUBDINFOU DRAFT 6 2019 STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT in the Natural & Cultural Systems Goal and plan for how to achieve biodiversity goals. Ecological Citizens At the individual level, land owners can enhance or diminish wildlife habitat through their landscaping practices. Native plants tend to have more wildlife value than introduced species -- even those that appear to be good for wildlife. For example, Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii) is a popular shrub whose abundant nectaries attracts swarms of butterflies in the summer. Its foliage, however, is a food desert for caterpillars, which are a critical food during breeding season for many bird species. Native herbaceous forbs such as Joe-Pye Weed and shrubs like Mapleleaf Viburnum are both aesthetically pleasing and adapted to our climate and local food web. Recommended Actions Actions for BOCC • Work with the Commission for the Environment to review the status of objectives under Natural & Cultural Systems Goal 7. • The current UDO specifies that the list of preferred plants for development projects “shall include…native species.” It is unclear whether such a list is actually available. Based on anecdotal observations by CFE members, native species are often underutilized new developments. The BOCC should consider a policy that encourages landscaping with native species. • On all new county buildings, especially those with designs that include large windows, consider requiring measures that prevent bird-window collisions. • Free-roaming and feral cats are a predation threat to ground and shrub nesting birds such as Eastern Meadowlarks and Wood Thrush, two species in decline locally. The Free Roaming Cats Task Force charge included wildlife protection. The BOCC should continue to support the Animal Services Board in working on this problem. Eastern Bluebird Joe-Pye Weed Actions for citizens • Monitor your local environment and contribute to science through citizen science projects like ebird and inaturalist. • Replace landscaping plants with native species. The NC Cooperative Extension Going Native site and the NC Botanical Gardens are excellent resources for planting ideas. "UUBDINFOU DRAFT AIR & ENERGY RESOURCES LAND RESOURCES WATER RESOURCES "UUBDINFOU DRAFT