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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCFE Agenda 08142023 AGENDA Orange County Commission for the Environment August 14t", 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 —June 12t", 2023 The CFE will consider approval of meeting summary from the last meeting.Action Needed (Attachment 1) 7:05 V. Eno-New Hope Landscape Conservation Plan- Update The CFE will review the draft Plan and discuss the manner of recommendation and presentation the BOCC. 7:30 VI. Community Climate Action Grant Round 3- Discussion CFE will discuss both grant funds,and review and discuss the score sheet for the third round. The CFE will schedule a tentative"Special Meeting"to review and discuss the applications, preferably virtual.Action needed 7:55 VII. Committee Breakouts A The CFE will break out into committee assignments and discuss goals/projects for the year. Committees will report on projects upon returning to the main meeting. 8:40 VIII. Updates and Information Items Staff and/or CFE members will provide updates on the following items: • OC Comprehensive Land Use Plan(CLUP) • Solarize the Triangle • Aging Plan Work Group • Climate Action Plan Any other new information from CFE members and staff 9:00 IX. Adjournment *Next Meeting Date: September 11 th, 2023;Bonnie B Davis Environment and Agriculture Center Attachment 1 Orange County Commission for the Environment Meeting Summary June 12t"9 2023; 7:00 pm Hybrid Meeting Present: Veronica Penn Beattie (via Zoom), Kristie Mather, Mark Randall, Regina Baratta, Reade Oakley, Jessie Birckhead, Kim Livingston, Geneva Gray(via Zoom), Ian Morse (via Zoom), Jane Harris, Wilson Greene Absent: David N. Mcnelis, Andrea Zimmerman, Kim Piracci Staff: Wesley Poole (via Zoom), Chris Himi, Amy Eckberg, Kalani Allen I. Call to Order Veronica Penn Beattie called the meeting to order at 7:06 pm. II. Additions or Changes to Agenda None. III. Approval of DRAFT Meeting Summary—May 8th, 2023 Motion to approve by Mark Randall; seconded by Reade Oakley; all in favor; none opposed; motion passed. IV. CFE New Member Introductions The CFE welcomed new member, Wilson Greene, and all current members introduced themselves by name, location in County, Sub-committee, and a 30-second summary as to why they joined the CFE. Amy Eckberg's intern, Angie Delgado, also introduced herself and informed everyone what she was doing with her internship. V. Eno-New Hope Landscape Conservation Plan -Resolution Kim Livingston presented a DRAFT Resolution to "Incorporate the Landscape Plan for Wildlife Habitat Connectivity in the Eno River and New Hope Creek Watersheds,North Carolina into the Update of the Adopted Comprehensive Land Use Plan". The CFE had signed a resolution of support of this Landscape Plan back in 2020. CFE members made minor edits to the document and agreed on a final version that will be accompanied by a cover letter from CFE chair, Veronica Penn Beattie. Jessie Birckhead made a motion that the CFE vote to approve sending this DRAFT Resolution to the BOCC for approval; seconded by Kristie Mather; all in favor; none opposed; motion passed. VI. Community Climate Action Grant Round 3 -Discussion Page 1 of 3 Attachment 1 Orange County Commission for the Environment Meeting Summary June 12th9 2023; 7:00 pm Hybrid Meeting Round 3 of the Community Climate Action Grant is coming up and Veronica Penn Beattie began by discussing the previous concern that the Orange County School System was not able to apply for the funds set aside for schools due to not having dedicated staff to do so. The CFE had entertained the idea of putting forth a resolution to the BOCC to change the way the school funding worked, but it was never taken to the next level. Amy Eckberg notified the CFE that the grant application period would open June 19th and close August 18th. Feedback from the BOCC implied there was no easy answer for schools, but they did want to increase diversity of applicants. The CFE discussed ways they can improve diversity of applicants. VII. Orange County Master Aging Plan—Volunteer Needed Veronica Penn Beattie informed the CFE that a volunteer was needed for the upcoming Outdoor Spaces and Buildings Task Force within the Orange County Master Aging Plan. They will meet quarterly and the first meeting is June 27th. Veronica asked if someone could at least go to the first meeting to see if it was even beneficial for the CFE and Kristie Mather agreed to do so. VIII. Updates and Information Items • Chris Himi updated the CFE on the status of the Orange County Comprehensive Land Use Plan(CLUP). The Planning Department is preparing to put out a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) in order to secure a consultant to update the current 2030 Comprehensive Plan. • Amy Eckberg updated the CFE on the Solarize the Triangle program. They are at 222 registrants and have a virtual information workshop scheduled for June 27th There will be lots of upcoming outreach efforts in Durham and Orange County. • Amy Eckberg updated the CFE on the Climate Action Plan. The greenhouse gas inventory has just been completed. The consultant's Project Manager resigned, so Amy will be working directly with the CEO, Kristen Kushman. A community wide symposium is scheduled for September 6. • Amy Eckberg updated the CFE on the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Application. It is available to the DOT and Chapel Hill has been leading the charge on the regional effort to apply for this grant. If approved it will get a lot of chargers installed in Orange County, including DC fast chargers. • Amy Eckberg updated the CFE on the Agrovoltaic Program that they are trying to get off the ground at Breeze Farm. They are working on a concept paper to submit to Page 2 of 3 Attachment 1 Orange County Commission for the Environment Meeting Summary June 12th9 2023; 7:00 pm Hybrid Meeting North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives who may be interested in partnering with them to provide some financial support as well as electrical connection support. • Amy Eckberg notified the CFE that the Strategic Plan would have in-person/virtual meetings coming up on June 21st, 22"d, and 23rd at various locations around the County. • Chris Himi informed the CFE about the Blackwood Farm Park Grand Re-opening. It was held on May 19th and despite the rain, it was a great event that brought out a large crowd of close to 140 people. • Kalani Allen notified the CFE of the upcoming June 24th Bird Hike @ River Park in Hillsborough. • Reade Oakley gave an update to the CFE on the PFAS testing he is working on with an employee at the Town of Valdese. IX. Adjournment Kim Livingston motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 pm; seconded by Reade Oakley; all in favor; none opposed; motion passed. Page 3 of 3