HomeMy WebLinkAboutCFE minutes 111212
FROM: Commission for the Environment
SUBJECT: Monthly Meeting Summary
DATE: November 12, 2012
LOCATION: Southern Human Services Center, Chapel Hill
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MEMBERS PRESENT: Renee Price (Chair), Gary Saunders (Vice Chair), May Becker, Peter
Cada, David Neal, Bill Kaiser, Tom O’Dwyer, Jan Sassaman, David Welch
MEMBERS ABSENT: Lucy Adams, Michele Drostin, Loren Hintz
STAFF PRESENT: Rich Shaw, Tom Davis GUEST: Terri Bucker
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
I. Call to Order: Price called the meeting to order at 7:32 pm. She introduced Buckner.
II. Additions or Changes to Agenda – Two information items were added to Item VII.
III. Approval of Minutes – The October 8 meeting summary was approved unanimously.
IV. CFE Annual Report and Work Plan (2012-13) – CFE members discussed a draft report
prepared by staff. CFE members recommended several edits and additions. Price
asked members to submit further additions and comments to staff so that a final draft
could be circulated for CFE review and approval prior to November 30 due date.
V. Proposed Alternative Energy Task Force – CFE members continued their discussion of
expanding its Energy Resources Committee or forming a new committee to discuss and
formulate recommendations concerning alternative energy issues. CFE members
discussed the committee inviting other interested CFE members and outside
stakeholders as needed. Price asked the Energy Resources Committee to consider
these matters during the committee breakout session and report back in December.
VI. Election of Officers – Neal was elected Chair and Sassaman was elected Vice-Chair.
VII. Committee Meetings – The committee meetings were delayed until after adjournment.
VIII. Updates and Information Items – CFE members received updates and information on
the following issues: a) CFE member appointments, b) newly-approved CFE policies &
procedures, c) CFE meeting calendar for 2013, d) the new transit sales tax, e) permitting
of solar arrays, f) proposed new site plan requirements to comply with the Falls Lake and
Jordan Lake rules, and news articles about “fracking” for natural gas extraction in NC.
CFE members discussed new standards and procedures for approving solar arrays, two
recent articles about the importance of forests for carbon sequestration and Duke
researchers visiting Northeastern states to discuss hydraulic fracturing, and an idea for
converting the southern rail spur from a coal transport line to public transportation.
IX. Adjournment – Price adjourned the regular meeting at 8:45 pm.
CFE members met in committees to discuss ongoing and future tasks until 9:30 pm.
Minutes by Rich Shaw, DEAPR Staff