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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-20-2023; 8-i - Orange County Climate Council Memorandum of Understanding 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: June 20, 2023 Action Agenda Item No. 8-i SUBJECT: Orange County Climate Council Memorandum of Understanding DEPARTMENT: Asset Management Services ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: 1. Orange County Climate Council Amy Eckberg, Sustainability Programs Memorandum of Understanding Manager, 919-245-2626; 2. Climate Council Sub-Committee Steven Arndt, Asset Management Report Services Director, 919-245-2658 3. Town of Chapel Hill and Hillsborough Resolutions to Adopt Climate Council MOU PURPOSE: To approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the restructuring of the Orange County Climate Council. BACKGROUND: In Fall 2021, the Board of County Commissioners created a sub-committee consisting of Commissioners Jamezetta Bedford, Amy Fowler and Anna Richards to assess, review and consider the restructuring of the Orange County Climate Council. The Sub-committee reviewed background materials, conducted a survey of current and former Climate Council members, interviewed Climate Council members, and reviewed other models for intergovernmental information sharing and coordination. The Sub-Committee recommended that the Climate Council be restructured and remodeled similar to the Intergovernmental Parks Work Group and expressed that the charge of the group should be focused on information sharing and not on joint action or programming (Attachment 2). The Sub-committee also recommended that the participating jurisdictions create a Memorandum of Understanding to govern the new Climate Council. (This was consistent with the request from the initial Climate Council and the direction from the Mayors and Chair to their respective attorneys). It was stated that the MOU should detail the membership, charge and boundaries of work, meeting frequency, appointment process, and an understanding of staff responsibilities. Pending completion of that MOU, the County's participation in the Climate Council was suspended. In Fall 2022, staff attorneys from the County and participating municipalities developed a draft MOU, which was then reviewed and finalized by Town and County sustainability staffs (Attachment 1). In Spring 2023, both the Towns of Chapel Hill and Hillsborough approved the MOU. However. the Town of Carrboro has not approved the MOU at this time. 2 FINANCIAL IMPACT: There are no financial impact associated with this item. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goals are applicable to this item: • GOAL: ENSURE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY The creation and preservation of infrastructure, policies, programs and funding necessary for residents to provide shelter, food, clothing and medical care for themselves and their dependents. • GOAL: ESTABLISH SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE LAND-USE AND ENVIRONTMENTAL POLICIES The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people of all races, cultures, incomes and educational levels with respect to the development and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, policies, and decisions. Fair treatment means that no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, governmental and commercial operations or policies. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The following Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal impacts are applicable to this item: • ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND WASTE REDUCTION Initiate policies and programs that conserve energy, reduce fuel/utility/resource consumption, increase the use of recycled products and renewable energy services, and minimize waste stream impacts on the environment. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign the Memorandum of Understanding for the Orange County Climate Council. 3 Memorandum of Understanding Creating the Intergovernmental Climate Council of Orange County THIS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ("MOU") is made and entered into this day of , 2023 between and among the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough, North Carolina, municipal corporations in Orange County, North Carolina (hereinafter referred to collectively as the "Towns"), and Orange County, a political subdivision of the State of North Carolina (hereinafter referred to as the "County"), for the purpose of creating a joint climate council to explore climate change issues in and their impact on Orange County and its residents. (County and Towns may be referred to individually as "Party" and collectively as the "Parties"). The Parties also acknowledge that the University of North Carolina — Chapel Hill, UNC Healthcare, the Orange Water and Sewer Authority, Orange County Schools, Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Durham Technical Community College, and The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill Carrboro Partnership for Sustainable Community are important member entities (stakeholders) in the County and the Towns and though not parties to this MOU, the Parties acknowledge the vital role they play and further acknowledge their intention to invite full participation by these member entities with respect to the issues covered by this MOU. The purpose of this MOU is to foster the cooperation and collaboration between the County and the Towns, which has proved so successful on many issues and topics, to provide flexibility to explore the impacts of climate change and the mitigation of those impacts in Orange County. This collaborative agreement is established and maintained based on the cooperative trust among the Parties that is essential to the effective implementation of this MOU. WITNESSETH WHEREAS, the County, and Towns are public bodies, politic and corporate, under the laws of the State of North Carolina and are vested with the power and authority by Article 20 of North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 160A to enter into this MOU; and WHEREAS, at the January 29, 2019 Assembly of Governments, the County and Towns discussed the formation of a climate committee to explore issues related to climate change; and WHEREAS, a climate council was subsequently created with input from the Parties and began meeting in the Fall of 2019; and WHEREAS, the County and Towns determined that the climate council's purpose and function were unclear and jointly desired to formally establish an Intergovernmental Climate Council (the "Council") and impart to it a clear charge and purpose. 4 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual promises and obligations set forth herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the County and Towns agree as follows: 1. Charge and Goals of the Council The charge/goals of the Council are to coordinate on climate related issues and opportunities. More specifically, the Council shall: • Exchange information on climate justice, climate change mitigation, resiliency, and adaptation; • Maintain and update an inventory of climate change initiatives of the entities represented on the Council that can be used to advance climate action plan strategies; • Promote communication between the Towns and the County on future opportunities and collaborative efforts; • Provide informational updates on the Climate Action Plans of the entities represented on the Council; • Share public education and outreach opportunities conducted by the entities. 2. Term and Termination This MOU shall continue in full force and effect until such time as it is terminated by mutual agreement of the Parties or until such time as two or more of the Parties withdraw from participation. A Party may withdraw from participation upon thirty (30) days written notice to the other Parties. Upon withdrawal by a Party, that Party shall have no further responsibilities or obligations under this MOU and that Party's appointees shall no longer have membership on the Council. 3. Membership The Council shall have 16 members, as follows: Organization Representatives # of Positions Orange County Board of Commissioners 1 Orange County Commission for the Environment Representative 1 Hillsborough Board of Commissioners 1 Hillsborough Parks and Recreation Board Representative 1 Carrboro Town Council 1 5 Carrboro Climate Action Team 1 Chapel Hill Town Council 1 Chapel Hill Environmental Stewardship Advisory Board Representative 1 CHCCS Board Member 1 Orange County Schools Board Member 1 UNC Sustainability Lead 1 UNC Health Sustainability Lead 1 OWASA Sustainability Lead 1 NC Cooperative Extension Representative 1 Durham Tech Sustainability Lead 1 The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill Carrboro Partnership for a Sustainable Community Representative 1 Members may be removed and replaced at any time for any reason by the entity that appointed the member. If an elected and/or advisory board member's term ends, a new member shall be appointed by the entity. The Council shall select a meeting facilitator and co-facilitator. The Climate Council is inter-jurisdictional, providing information to elected boards on the areas listed in Section 1. It is not a formal advisory board and therefore not subject to voting and quorum requirements. Advisory board and elected representatives from each Party to this Agreement shall be appointed by the elected board of that Party. All other member entities shall choose and appoint their own representative. The Managers of each local government will select the staff who will participate in the Council. 4. Meetings and Nature The Council will meet two (2) times per year; Spring and Fall. The Council may meet remotely as authorized by the County Manager. A remote meeting is an official meeting, or any part thereof, with a majority or all of the members participating by simultaneous communication. a. Simultaneous communication is any communication by conference telephone, conference video, or other electronic means. The Council is a public body and its meetings are subject to North Carolina Open Meetings Law and shall be open to the public to engage with concerns and ideas regarding climate change, climate justice and resiliency whether the meetings are conducted in person or remotely. The Council shall coordinate with the Clerk to the Board of Commissioners to notify the public of the means by which the public may access the remote meetings. All documents created by or for 6 the Council are presumed to be public records unless an exception to North Carolina Public Records Law applies. 5. Work of the Council and Staffing Arrangements The Council is a multi-jurisdictional entity and is not an advisory board to any of the Parties. Staffing for the Council shall be of a joint venture, including staff from: • Orange County • Town of Carrboro • Town of Chapel Hill • Town of Hillsborough Orange County staff will be responsible for administration, agenda preparation, meeting coordination, and meeting notes with support from other Town staff. The Council shall faithfully adhere to its charge and purpose, shall not have supervisory authority over any Town or County staff who may be assigned to provide assistance to the Council, shall not have authority to incur any costs on its own behalf or any costs to the County or Towns, and shall meet regularly, with County staff support, to pursue its charge and goals. 6. Responsibilities of the Towns and County The Towns and County shall: Provide meeting space and remote meeting capabilities for the meetings of the Council Provide staff assistance as described herein to support the Council Provide appointments to the Council as provided herein Continue to support the Council for the duration of their participation in this MOU [SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW] 7 Wherefore the Parties hereto have set their hands and seals on the day and date first above recorded. CARRBORO Damon Seils, Mayor Clerk-Attest CHAPEL HILL Pam Hemminger, Mayor Clerk-Attest HILLSBOROUGH Jenn Weaver, Mayor Clerk-Attest ORANGE COUNTY Jamezetta Bedford, Chair Clerk-Attest Attachment 2 8 Report of the Climate Council Review Sub-Committee April 2022 The Board of Commissioners created a sub-committee to review the Orange County Climate Council in the Fall of 2021. The Board appointed Commissioners Bedford, Fowler, and Richards to serve on the sub-committee. The petition that initiated the sub- committee stated that the sub-committee may recommend a restructuring of the Climate Council as a result of this assessment. The sub-committee reviewed background materials, conducted a survey of current and former climate council members, interviewed Climate Council members, and reviewed other models for intergovernmental information sharing and coordination. Climate Council Background The Orange County Climate Council began as an Ad Hoc Climate Change Committee. The original informal group was composed of four elected officials to explore opportunities to accelerate collaborative action on climate change. The Committee provided a report to the Assembly of Governments meeting on January 29, 2019 where the concept of establishing a more formal committee structure was discussed noting that the composition and charge for the new committee would need to be discussed and approved by the boards of the constituent jurisdictions. Following the Assembly of Governments meeting, each jurisdiction took different approaches to their appointments to the Climate Council • Orange County Orange County approved the formation of a Climate Council and proposed membership structure of thirty-one (31) positions. • Hillsborough On April 8, 2019, the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners reviewed the proposed membership list of thirty-one (31) positions with no formal action to approve the composition and appointed a representative. • Carrboro At the May 7, 2019 meeting, the Board of Aldermen endorsed a participant list of 26 positions, rather than the 31 positions approved by Orange County. The list the Board of Aldermen endorsed did not include 4 at-large positions for each jurisdiction or a representative from UNC Hospital. On March 19, 2019, the Board of Aldermen appointed a representative. 1 9 • Chapel Hill On April 10, 2019, the Chapel Hill Town Council passed a resolution approving the membership list of 31 positions and appointed a representative. The current membership structure is included in the following table: Organization Representatives # of Positions Orange County BOCC Sustainability Director, Commissioner 2 Hillsborough Designated staff, Commissioner 2 Carrboro Sustainability Director, Alderperson 2 Chapel Hill Sustainability Director, Council person 2 CHCCS Sustainability Director, Board member, 3 Student Orange County Schools Designated staff, Board member, student 3 UNC Sustainability Director, Student 2 OWASA Sustainability Director, Board member 2 CH-Carrboro NAACP Representative, youth 2 Northern Orange NAACP Representative, youth 2 Orange/Chatham Sierra Club Representative 1 NC Cooperative Extension Representative 1 Durham Tech Representative, student 2 At Large Appointments Orange County, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, 4 Hillsborough UNC Hospital Representative 1 Total Members 31 County records indicate that the Council met seven times during 2021 with an average attendance of 15.9 members at each of the meetings. Mission Statement The Climate Council has adopted a mission statement to, "...accelerate joint action addressing the climate emergency by sharing successful strategies and identifying equitable opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide stewardship of the natural world, and protect all County residents from climate impacts. Recent Accomplishments The Climate Council prepared a report for the Board of Commissioners in April of 2021 that outlined the following accomplishments. 2 10 • Created the Climate Action Reporting Database (CARD) where all 12 active member organizations documented over 200 climate actions taken to date by at least one of our members. • Generated a list of climate actions and policies which might be used by local governments in North Carolina, and categorized by cost estimates, general impact on emissions, and additional benefits: • Consulted a local communication professional to identify the most impactful and appropriate way for the Climate Council to communicate. • Won a technical assistance grant from the US Green Building Council to pursue LEED certification for Orange County under the new LEED for Cities and Communities Rating System. • Conducted our First Annual Community Update on Thursday, October 22nd, engaging with more than 80 participants to share our work to date and answer community questions. Request for Memorandum of Understanding In December of 2021, the Climate Council submitted a letter to the Mayors, Chair, and Managers requesting a process to develop a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would govern the work of the Climate Council moving forward. The letter proposed an eight member Climate Council Executive Committee composed of the Climate Council governing body liaisons, the Climate Council Chair, Vice-chair and two other representatives from the Climate Council elected by that body. That group would draft an MOU based on the experience of the Council to date, the latest draft Climate Council bylaws, and other intergovernmental governing documents that may serve as appropriate models. The letter indicated that the draft MOU would be shared with the other Climate Council members for feedback, followed by a potential presentation to the Assembly of Governments meeting or to each governing board detailing the Climate Council's work, and, finally, distribution to each governing board for approval. The Mayors and Chair discussed the request for an MOU and subsequently asked their attorneys to begin the drafting process using the Intergovernmental Parks Work Group as the model structure. Feedback from Current and Former Climate Council Members The Sub-Committee sought feedback from current and former Climate Council members regarding what work is going well and what could be improved. That feedback took the form of a survey that was distributed to 48 current and former members as well as a 3 11 meeting with the Council Chair and Town of Carrboro representative with the members of the Sub-Committee. The Sub-Committee received a total of twelve responses from elected officials, a community organization, at large members, and staff. Commissioners Richards and Bedford received the survey as former members of the Council, but they did not complete it. What was/is your role on the Climate Council? Elected DfficialfBoard Member Community Drganization Representative $-30 - At-Large Resident Appointee 41_679'a 5 Staff 1fi_679'a 2 Student 0-0wo 4 Intern P TOTAL _ Seventy percent (70%) of those respondents indicated that the Climate Council added value to the existing work on sustainability and climate change. Does the Climate Council add value to existing work on sustainability and climate change happening in public sector or in non-governmental organizations? 10% 20% 30% 40% 5 C% 6 c% 70% 8 0% J 0% 100% The survey also asked more qualitative questions from which themes could be discerned. 4 12 • From your perspective, what is the primary purpose of the Climate Council? Primary Themes: Collaboration, Information Sharing • What elements of the Climate Council's work are going well? Primary Themes: Collaboration of technically competent council members, development of relationships between members, foundational work of council • What elements of the Climate Council's work are not going well? Primary Themes: No clear understanding of mission, purpose, goals and responsibilities. Inconsistent attendance/participation by some council members. • What is your perspective on the size, structure, and representation on the Climate Council? Primary Themes: No consistent opinion on size. Many commented on representation, indicating the council should seek wider representation outside of government, and more diversity. • What role should staff play? Primary Themes: Pretty evenly split between active members and technical support only. • What would be included in an ideal Climate Council work plan? Primary Themes: A specific charge from the governments, Definition of the relation of the council to the county (i.e., advisory?) and municipal governments, Brainstorming Existing Models for Collaboration Based on the feedback from members, the Sub-Committee recognized the value of an intergovernmental group focused on information sharing and collaboration. The County and the Towns currently have three formal models for collaboration. • Intergovernmental Parks Work Group The Intergovernmental Parks Work Group was created through a resolution that was adopted by the elected boards of Orange County, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough and Carrboro. That resolution was accompanied by a governing document that outlined the membership, detailed a meeting frequency of three times per year, and established the group's charge. The charge to the Intergovernmental Parks Work Group included seven (7) goals. 1. To gather, exchange and share information on parks planning and development in the municipalities and County. 5 13 2. To maintain and update the Inventory of Parks and Recreation Facilities developed as part of the Joint Master Recreation and Parks report, including new properties acquired or dedicated 3. To foster communication between the municipalities and County on future opportunities and collaborative ventures 4. To provide a coordinating mechanism for updates to parks and recreation plans in each jurisdiction 5. To review and inform the municipalities and County concerning parks needs and potential opportunities 6. To develop parameters for parks standards (leaving flexibility for the actual standards to vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction within these parameters) 7. To develop and coordinate public education and public outreach on parks issues (coordinated brochures, etc) The governing document also indicated that the Intergovernmental Parks Work Group is inter-jurisdictional group, providing information to all elected boards on the areas listed above. It is not a formal advisory board of any jurisdiction. • Partnership to End Homelessness The Partnership to End Homelessness started in April 2008 as the Orange County, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough endorsed the Orange County 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness and entered into a formal memorandum of understanding (MOU) to fund and support the Plan's implementation. The 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness has evolved into a living document that the Partnership updates over time to reflect its accomplishments and the evolution of policies, evidence-based practices, and funding. It is currently supported by two professional staff and program expenses funded by the County and Towns through a population based funding formula. The County provides administrative support and oversight of the staff. The Partnership to End Homelessness MOU created a Leadership Team consisting of representatives appointed from each of the above governmental partners and a cross- section of community representation, charged with providing oversight and direction to the Plan. 6 14 The MOU also designates the four elected appointees to serve on the OCPEH Executive Team to ensure that the interests of all four funding jurisdictions are consistently represented and clearly specifies the role of the Towns and the County. • Food Council The Orange County Food Council was formally created in June of 2015 as each jurisdiction approved an MOU specifying the role, governance, and funding model to support the work of the Council. This MOU modeled on the Partnership to End Homelessness MOU. Although the Food Council did not have a ten year plan to guide its initial work, the MOU specifies that the Council's role is to "...provide advice and recommendations to the four jurisdictions on issues related to the county community food system and also facilitate communication between community groups, committees, commissions, and other boards whose work supports a thriving local farm economy, access to healthy food, food related economic development, strong communities, sustainable ecosystems, and healthy people. The MOU also specifies a sixteen member Council consisting of elected representatives appointed from each of the above governmental partners and a cross-section of community members, food access and food provider representation, charged with providing direction for the council's work. Sub-Committee Recommendations The Sub-Committee recommends that the Climate Council be modeled after the Intergovernmental Parks Work group. Both groups serve as forums to share information, promote communication among jurisdictions, identify areas of potential collaboration, and educate the public. The Partnership to End Homelessness conducts these activities but also serves a more formal role as the County's designated Continuum of Care under rules established by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and both the Partnership to End Homeless and the Food Council have staff dedicated to implement programming and funding from each of the jurisdictions to support those staff. The Climate Council offers an important opportunity for communication but does not have the same level of responsibility. The Sub-Committee also recommends that the participating jurisdictions create a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to govern the new Climate Council. This is consistent with the request from the Climate Council and the direction from the Mayors and Chair to their respective attorneys. The MOU should detail the membership, charge and boundaries of work, meeting frequency, appointment process, and an understanding of staff responsibilities. Pending completion of that MOU, the County's participation in the Climate Council should be suspended. 7 15 Suggestions for Moving Forward The Sub-Committee also offers the following suggestions regarding the content of the MOU. Membership The Sub-Committee suggests that the overall size of the Council decrease to increase the number of meetings at which a quorum of members is present. More specifically, the membership should be limited to the government agencies that create the group and the entities and employers that could have the most impact on operations and behaviors that drive climate change. Organization Representatives # 0'f Positions Orange County BOCC Commissioner 1 Orange County Commission for the Representative 1 Environment Hillsborough Commissioner 1 Hillsborough Parks and Recreation Board Representative 1 Carrboro Alderperson 1 Carrboro Environmental Advisory Board Representative 1 Chapel Hill Council person 1 Chapel Hill Environmental Stewardship and Representative 1 Advisory Board CHCCS Board member 1 Orange County Schools Board member 1 UNC Sustainability Lead 1 UNC Health Sustainability Lead 1 OWASA Sustainability Director 1 NC Cooperative Extension Representative 1 Durham Tech Sustainability Lead 1 The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill Carrboro Representative 1 Partnership for Sustainable Community Total Members 16 Charge The Charge to the group should be focused on information sharing and collaboration and not on joint action or programming. Like the Intergovernmental Parks Workgroup, goals should include • Providing opportunities to engage with the community on concerns and ideas regarding climate change and climate justice; • Gathering and exchanging information on climate change mitigation and prevention; 8 16 • Maintaining and updating an inventory of climate change initiatives of the entities represented on the Council; • Promoting communication between the municipalities and the County on future opportunities and collaborative efforts; • Providing updates on the Climate Action Plans of the entities represented on the Council; • Providing feedback on public education and public outreach conducted by the entities represented on the Council or any collaborative education and outreach activities as requested by those entities. Meeting Frequency The Sub-Committee suggests a meeting frequency similar to the Intergovernmental Parks Work Group of three times per year. This will provide a meaningful interval for updates while not consuming a considerable amount of staff time. Appointment Process Appointments should be made through each entity's respective appointment process. The Board of County Commissioners will appoint its own member. The Town of Carrboro will appoint its own member, etc. The Clerk to the Board of Commissioners will coordinate this process with the Town Clerks. Nature of the Work Group As an intergovernmental entity, the Climate Council should not be considered to be an advisory board of any of its constituent entities. Staffing Arrangements County staff will work with the appointed County representatives to prepare agendas and coordinate meetings. Each entity represented on the Council will be responsible for providing individual agency updates and engaging in collaborative activities. Importance of a County Climate Action Plan The Sub-Committee also recognized the need for the County to create its own Climate Action Plan to identify the County's goals and strategies. This Plan is a prerequisite to successful information sharing and collaboration with other jurisdictions. 9 17 I, Amy T. Harvey, Deputy Town Clerk of the Town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, hereby certify that the attached is a true and correct copy of (2023-02-22/R-6) adopted by the Chapel Hill Town Council on February 22, 2023. This the 23rd day of February, 2023. e Amy T. Harvey Deputy Town Clerk fi 18 A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING TO CREATE THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL CLIMATE COUNCIL OF ORANGE COUNTY (2023-02-22/R-6) WHEREAS, in January of 2019, at the Assembly of Governments meeting, the County and Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough (herein "Towns") discussed the creation of a climate committee; WHEREAS, in the fall of 2019, a climate council was formed by the County and Towns and began meeting; WHEREAS, in April of 2021, the Town of Chapel Hill adopted a Climate Action and Response Plan, which charts a course for reducing the emissions that cause climate change and adapting to our changing climate; WHEREAS, the County and Towns agree that there is an opportunity to clarify the purpose and function of the climate council by formally establishing an Intergovernmental Climate Council; and WHEREAS, the County and Towns developed the attached Memorandum of Understanding that describes the charge, goals, terms, membership, meetings, staffing and responsibilities of an Intergovernmental Climate Council of Orange County. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council authorizes the Mayor to execute a Memorandum of Understanding to create the Intergovernmental Climate Council of Orange County. This the 22nd day of February, 2023. 19 tiySg0R�G RESOLUTION Authorizing the Mayor to Execute a Memorandum of Understanding to 0�17 ' �54- Create the Intergovernmental Climate Council of Orange County TH CA WHEREAS, in January 2019, at the Assembly of Governments meeting, Orange County and the towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough (herein "towns") discussed the creation of a climate committee; and WHEREAS, in the fall of 2019, a climate council was formed by the county and towns and began meeting; and WHEREAS, the county and towns agree that there is an opportunity to clarify the purpose and function of the climate council by formally establishing an Intergovernmental Climate Council; and WHEREAS, the county and towns developed a Memorandum of Understanding that describes the charge, goals, terms, membership, meetings, staffing and responsibilities of an Intergovernmental Climate Council of Orange County; NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners authorizes the mayor to execute a Memorandum of Understanding to create the Intergovernmental Climate Council of Orange County. Approved this 13th day of March in the year 2023. Jenn Weaver, Mayor 54 Q Town of Hillsborough C Alp