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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCFE Agenda 05082023 AGENDA Orange County Commission for the Environment May 8th, 2023 7:00 p.m., Bonnie B. Davis Environment and Agriculture Center Time Item Title 7:00 I. Call to Order 7:01 II. Additions or Changes to Agenda 7:03 III. Approval of DRAFT Meeting Summary — April loth, 2023 The CFE will consider approval of meeting summary from the last meeting.Action needed (Attachment 1) 7:05 IV. "Industrial Toxins in Drinking Water" - Presentation Emily Sutton from the Haw River Assembly will present material regarding PFAS and other industrial containments in drinking water. 7:40 V. Triangle Area Water Supply Monitoring Project W. Poole will update the CFE on County participation in the Triangle Area Water Supply Monitoring Project. 8:00 VI. Eno-New Hope Landscape Conservation Plan Kim Livingston will lead a presentation of the Eno-New Hope Landscape Conservation Plan.The CFE will discuss a future resolution to recommend to the BOCC for adoption in future plans and documents. 8:30 VII. Earth Day/Evening Celebration- Overview The CFE will discuss the events and success/opportunities for next year. 8:40 VIII. Updates and Information Items Staff and/or CFE members will provide updates on the following items: • June 3rd Little River YOT Hike • Solarize the Triangle • Climate Action Plan • Intergovernmental Parks Working Group Any other new information from CFE members and staff 9:00 IX. Adjournment *Next Meeting Date: June 12rh, 2023;Bonnie B Davis Environment and Agriculture Center Attachment 1 Orange County Commission for the Environment Meeting Summary April loth, 2023; 7:00 pm Hybrid Meeting Present: Veronica Penn Beattie, Kristie Mather, Mark Randall, Regina Baratta, Reade Oakley, Jessie Birckhead (via Zoom), Jane Harris, Andrea Zimmerman (via Zoom), Kim Livingston, Geneva Gray Absent: Ian Morse, Kim Piracci, David N. Mcnelis Staff: Wesley Poole, Chris Hirni, Amy Eckberg, Kalani Allen I. Call to Order Veronica Penn Beattie called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm. II. Additions or Changes to Agenda None. III. Approval of DRAFT Meeting Summary—February 13t', 2023 Motion to approve by Geneva Gray; seconded by Mark Randall; all in favor; none opposed; motion passed. IV. CFE Recruitment Applications Review Veronica Penn Beattie notified the CFE that Jo Leslie Eimers had withdrew her application after the group had recommended her for appointment at the last meeting. A new applicant, Wilson Greene, was invited to attend this meeting to see if he was interested in being recommended for appointment in the future. Veronica Penn Beattie hoped this process would ensure applicants were truly interested considering the time and energy it takes to appoint them to the CFE. V. Earth Evening/Day Celebrations—Discussion and Sign Up Amy Eckberg informed the CFE of the upcoming 2 events that were scheduled: Earth Day in Carrboro on April 22nd 3:30PM—6:00 PM and Earth Evening in Hillsborough on April 28th 6:OOPM— 8:00 PM. Amy Eckberg will have a Climate Action Plan/ Solarize the Triangle table at each and will have room for CFE members to join and help do activities. Andrea Zimmerman and Kristie Mather volunteered for the April 22nd event. Regina Baratta and Geneva Gray volunteered for the April 28th event. VI. Sub-Committee Breakouts Page 1 of 4 Orange County Commission for the Environment Meeting Summary April loth 2023; 7:00 pm Hybrid Meeting 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: Geneva Gray, Kristie Mather, Veronica Penn Beattie Absent: Ian Morse, David N. Mcnelis Staff Amy Eckberg CAP Update-Amy • Survey has 314 responses so far. We want to increase engagement and ensure it is a sample that reflects the diversity of Orange Co. Members brainstormed different methods on increasing engagement for the survey which is due April 30, 2023. UNC Climate Action Day-Bladen • Engaging students on filling out the CAP survey. Internal Staff Engagement-Amy • 60 staff responses on an internal version of the CAP survey. Focus groups to follow. Water Resources Subcommittee: Present: Mark Randall, Andrea Zimmerman (via Zoom) Absent: Kim Piracci Staff: Wesley Poole • Discussed upcoming presentation by Emily Sutton, Haw Riverkeeper. Scheduled for 518 on PFASIPFOS. Fifteen minute presentation and fifteen minutes for questions. Page 2 of 4 Orange County Commission for the Environment Meeting Summary April loth, 2023; 7:00 pm Hybrid Meeting • Discussed information on PFAS/PFOS impact on composted materials. Talked about information sent to Kim Piracci from Brooks Composting and whether there is a need to eliminate PFAS/PFOS sources form compost. Needs further study. • Discussed ground water testing for PFAS/PFOS to occur in the third quarter 2023. • Discussed the need for increased public awareness relating to the PFAS/PFOS issues. Needs further discussion. Land Resources Subcommittee: Present: Jessie Birckhead(via Zoom), Regina Baratta, Jane Harris, Reade Oakley, Kim Livingston Absent: None Staff: Chris Hirni • Discussed current draft of the Tree Policy which is under review by Orange County staff. • Discussed the need for an invasive plant species policy for use by DEAPR. Committee plans to start drafting this policy once the tree policy is completed. • Discussed the need to present the recently completed Eno-New Hope Landscape Conservation Strategic Action Plan to the entire CFE. Committee hopes to gain support of this work and present a Resolution of Support to the BOCC at an upcoming meeting. VII. Updates and Information Items • Amy Eckberg updated the CFE on the Climate Action Plan. They are currently working on the strategy and April 30th is the deadline to take the survey. They are also doing 1 on 1 calls to get the word out. A survey has been sent out to Orange County staff and there will be an upcoming focus group for them as well. • Amy Eckberg updated the CFE on the Solarize the Triangle campaign. March 31 st was the last day of the first round and they finished strong. They had 63 contracts and Orange County was 2nd in the region. The second round will be starting up soon. Page 3 of 4 Orange County Commission for the Environment Meeting Summary April loth, 2023; 7:00 pm Hybrid Meeting • Wesley Poole updated the CFE on the success of Orange County Creek Week. Orange County staff cleaned up 3 truckloads of trash on March 30th from local streams and waterways. • Kalani Allen updated the CFE on planned hikes for the Year of the Trail. On April 28th there will be a hike at River Park and on June 3rd there will be a hike at Little River Park. • Kim Livingston notified the CFE that the Panther Branch Natural Area would be opening on April 22nd VIII. Adjournment Geneva Gray motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:53 pm; seconded by Reade Oakley; all in favor; none opposed; motion passed. Page 4 of 4