HomeMy WebLinkAboutCFE Meeting Summary 03132023 Attachment 1
Orange County Commission for the Environment
Meeting Summary
March 13th 2023; 7:00 pm
Hybrid Meeting
Present: Veronica Penn Beattie, Kristie Mather(via Zoom), Mark Randall, Regina Baratta,
Reade Oakley, Jessie Birckhead, Kim Piracci, Jane Harris (via Zoom), Andrea
Zimmerman
Absent: Ian Morse, Kim Livingston, David N. Mcnelis, Geneva Gray
Staff: Wesley Poole, Chris Hirni, Amy Eckberg, Kalani Allen
I. Call to Order
Veronica Penn Beattie called the meeting to order at 7:03 pm.
II. Additions or Changes to Agenda
Jessie Birckhead requested to make the following changes: start with a brief introduction
of all the CFE members and staff for the newest member, Andrea Zimmerman; discuss
CFE applicants during CFE Recruitment Timeline and Application Review due to a
recent appointment recommendation declining. Veronica Penn Beattie agreed to the
change.
III. Introductions
All of the CFE members and staff introduced themselves and gave a brief background in
order to orient the newest CFE member, Andrea Zimmerman.
IV. Approval of DRAFT Meeting Summary—February 13t', 2023
Motion to approve by Kim Piracci; seconded by Mark Randall; all in favor; none
opposed; motion passed.
V. CFE Recruitment Timeline and Application Review
Veronica Penn Beattie presented and discussed the CFE recruitment handout that she had
prepared. Veronica also presented a potential process for candidate review that would
allow applicants to attend a meeting in person or virtually to see if they are really
interested in serving on the CFE in the future. CFE agreed to give the new process a try.
CFE discussed current applicants in order to fill two current vacancies and decided to
recommend appointment to Jo Leslie Eimers for Position#5 (Water Resources) and
Wilson Greene for Position#7 (At Large). Motion to approve recommendation by Jessie
Birckhead; seconded by Kim Piracci; all in favor; none opposed; motion passed. Wesley
Poole will draft the recommendation letter.
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Orange County Commission for the Environment
Meeting Summary
March 13th, 2023; 7:00 pm
Hybrid Meeting
VI. Earth Evening/Day Celebrations -Discussion
Earth Evening in Hillsborough will be celebrated on Friday April 281h at the Farmer's
Market Pavilion 6-8PM. Amy Eckberg will have a Climate Action Plan/ Solarize the
Triangle table there. Earth Day in Carrboro will be celebrated on Saturday April 22 3:30-
6PM. CFE members were asked to be thinking about who could volunteer for either/
both events.
VII. No Net Loss Tree Canopy Policy—Discussion
Jessie Birckhead presented a first draft of the No Net Loss Tree Canopy Policy that was
put together by the Land Resources Subcommittee so that the CFE could provide input
before it was given to the DEAPR director for review. This policy is only for Orange
County owned properties and does not include schools. Comments will be incorporated
and the Policy will be brought back for approval at a future meeting.
VIII. Sub-Committee Breakouts
The CFE broke out into committee assignments and discussed goals/projects for the
year. Afterwards, subcommittees came back together and reported information discussed
to the overall CFE (see below).
Sub-Committee Breakout Meetinz Summaries
Air& Energy Resources Subcommittee:
Present: Kristie Mather(via Zoom), Veronica Penn Beattie
Absent: Ian Morse, Geneva Gray, David N. Mcnelis
Staff: Amy Eckberg
• Address the List of CAP Measures currently under review
• Climate Action Plan:
o Focus Group Sessions:
■ Business Group Tuesday 3114 9AM
■ Community Wednesday 3115 IPM
• Student Voices 3123 IPMfocused on college students. Also considering
opportunities to bring in HS students.
• Survey is in 4 languages: Chinese, Spanish, Burmese, English
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Orange County Commission for the Environment
Meeting Summary
March 13th 2023; 7:00 pm
Hybrid Meeting
Water Resources Subcommittee:
Present: Mark Randall, Kim Piracci, Andrea Zimmerman
Absent: None
Staff.• Wesley Poole
• Mark had called the River Keeper, Emily Sutton of the Haw River Assembly. She is
working with the city of Burlington regarding the PFAS and PFOA chemicals in their
water. Bio sludge run-off from the Burlington water treatment plant is polluting fields
and water ways in Alamance and Orange Counties. Ms. Sutton has offered to speak to
the Commission for the Environment about this issue.
• Kim spoke with Jamezetta Bedford, OC Commissioner. The commissioners are aware of
the 'forever chemicals"problem.
• The group discussed how this water can be treated, and other concerns regarding the
chemicals.
Land Resources Subcommittee:
Present: Jessie Birckhead, Regina Baratta, Jane Harris (via Zoom), Reade Oakley
Absent: Kim Livingston
Staff: Chris Hirni
• The Land Resources subgroup discussed comments from the CFE on the no-net loss of
forest canopy policy proposal. The subgroup will be sharing the policy proposal with
David Stancil for his review and feedback before bringing it back to the CFE for
approval. The subgroup will begin work on a county invasive species management
proposal in the coming months.
IX. Updates and Information Items
• Wesley Poole informed the CFE of the upcoming Orange County Creek Week that
will be held March 17-26. Staff will be doing a separate cleanup of local streams on
March 30.
• Amy Eckberg updated the CFE on the Solarize the Triangle campaign. They
currently have 146 contracts so far and are expecting more by the March 31 deadline.
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