HomeMy WebLinkAboutCFE Meeting Summary 10092023 Orange County Commission for the Environment
Meeting Summary
October 91h 2023; 7:00 pm
Hybrid Meeting
Present: Veronica Penn Beattie (via Zoom), Kristie Mather, Mark Randall, Regina Baratta,
Jessie Birckhead, Kim Livingston(via Zoom), Ian Morse, Jane Harris (via Zoom),
Wilson Greene, Kim Piracci, Reade Oakley, Andrea Zimmerman
Absent: David N. Mcnelis
Staff: Chris Himi, Wesley Poole (via Zoom), Amy Eckberg, Kalani Allen
I. Call to Order
Veronica Penn Beattie called the meeting to order at 7:04 pm.
II. Additions or Changes to Agenda
None.
III. Approval of DRAFT Meeting Summary—September 11', 2023
Motion to approve by Jessie Birckhead; seconded by Kristie Mather; all in favor; none
opposed; motion passed.
IV. CFE Recruitment
Veronica Penn Beattie notified the CFE that there are five members whose term will
expire on 12/31/23. They are Ian Morse, Kim Piracci, Kristie Mather, Kim Livingston,
and Veronica Penn Beattie. Kristie Mather stated that she would like to return. This will
be the completion of Kim Piracci's 2nd term so she will not be eligible for re-appointment
and Kim Livingston stated that she does not plan to return. There are now two open seats
in the CFE, one in air quality and one in water resources, and at least two more seats will
be opening after the December expirations. There are currently six applicants for the
CFE but the group would like more to choose from, so they brainstormed ideas for
recruitment. Veronica Penn Beattie asked everyone to let the CFE know their intentions
of staying on/getting off the board ASAP. Jessie Birckhead stated that the CFE will
have to vote in a new Chair/Vice Chair at the November meeting and neither her nor
Veronica Penn Beattie plan to keep those roles, so be thinking about who would like to
step up.
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Orange County Commission for the Environment
Meeting Summary
October 91h 2023; 7:00 pm
Hybrid Meeting
V. 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, Veronica Penn Beattie (via Zoom), Ian Morse
Absent: David Mcnelis
Staff: Amy Eckberg
• NO SUMMARY SUBMITTED.
Water Resources Subcommittee:
Present: Mark Randall, Kim Piracci, Andrea Zimmerman
Absent: None
Staff Wesley Poole
• The CFE water subcommittee talked about the Hydrilla Program in Orange County. We
discussed possible ways the subcommittee could help resolve this issue. We may be able
to encourage people with ponds to have them checked and if they have hydrilla, have
them treated. More discussion is needed.
Land Resources Subcommittee:
Present: Jessie Birckhead, Regina Baratta, Jane Harris (via Zoom), Kim Livingston (via
Zoom), Wilson Greene, Reade Oakley
Absent: None
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Orange County Commission for the Environment
Meeting Summary
October 91h 2023; 7:00 pm
Hybrid Meeting
Staff., Chris Hirni
• The Land Resources subcommittee reviewed comments on the draft no net loss of canopy
policy and discussed additional needed edits.
VI. Updates and Information Items
• Amy Eckberg gave the CFE an update on the Climate Action Plan. They received
great feedback from the recent survey, and they are moving forward with edits to the
DRAFT. They are currently on target to meet their one-year deadline.
• Amy Eckberg gave the CFE an update on Solarize the Triangle program that wrapped
up on September 30th. They reached Tier 8 pricing and have 948.1 kilowatt hours of
solar that is going to be installed and 473 kilowatt hours of battery storage that people
signed up for. They don't have another Solarize the Triangle program scheduled for
the coming year, and instead they are going to focus on an Electrify the Triangle
program.
• Amy Eckberg notified the CFE that Solid Waste was having their annual Shred-a-
thon event coming up on October 2 1" and 28th and they are looking for volunteers.
VII. Adjournment
Mark Randall motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 pm; seconded by Ian Morse; all in
favor; none opposed; motion passed.
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