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Home My WebLink AboutCFE Meeting Summary 01082024 Orange County Commission for the Environment Meeting Summary January 8th 2024; 7:00 pm Hybrid Meeting Present: Kristie Mather, Mark Randall, Regina Baratta, Ian Morse, Jane Harris, Wilson Greene (via Zoom), Reade Oakley(via Zoom) Absent: Veronica Penn Beattie, Andrea Zimmerman Staff: Chris Himi, Wesley Poole, Kalani Allen, Amy Eckberg, Karina Nabors, Emma Hedinger(Intern, via Zoom) I. Call to Order Regina Baratta called the meeting to order at 7:04 pm. II. Additions or Changes to Agenda Karina Nabors asked permission to introduce Intern Emma Hedinger. Staff asked permission to remove Item IV from the agenda due to Veronica Penn Beattie not providing the September 18t', 2023 Special Meeting Summary for review/approval. III. Approval of DRAFT Meeting Summary-December 11t", 2023 Motion to approve by Mark Randall; seconded by Kristie Mather; all in favor; none opposed; motion passed. IV. Approval of September 18', 2023 Special Meeting Summary Removed from agenda. 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 Meetin,-Summaries Air&Energy Resources Subcommittee: Present: Kristie Mather, Ian Morse Absent: Veronica Penn Beattie Staff. Amy Eckberg, Karina Nabors, Emma Hedinger (Intern, via Zoom) Page 1 of 4 Orange County Commission for the Environment Meeting Summary January 8th 2024; 7:00 pm Hybrid Meeting Amy Eckberg suggested a number of possible endeavors. Ian mentioned outreach to schools regarding applying to Climate Action Grants. Kristie Mather suggested revising the grant application to make them simpler, especially the carbon accounting portion. Members asked to have a little more time outside of the meeting to discuss options further. Amy's Suggestions: • Presence at the Volunteers for community fair on 9121 o Booth at Eno River Park to recruit for CFE and community volunteers for projects below • Energy kits o Amy knows of a group in Florida that has created kits. She likes the idea of kits functioning like books checked out from a library. • Volunteers or "ambassadors"for drive electric week(same time as community fair). • owners of EVs display cars and answer questions. o City of Raleigh has EV playbook that we could adapt for Orange County • Anti-idling campaign at school carlines (Triangle Clean Cities) o Discussion about how this works • Earth Day and Earth Evening o perhaps each CFE subcommittee could have I person with a display • Promote Sustainable Business Tool Kit Water Resources Subcommittee: Present: Mark Randall Absent: Andrea Zimmerman Staff.• Wesley Poole Goals for Water Subcommittee • Work in conjunction with CAP on outreach and education promoting water conservation (involvement in Earth Evening/Earth Day with handouts, activities, and perhaps water conservation kits). Page 2 of 4 Orange County Commission for the Environment Meeting Summary January 8th 2024; 7:00 pm Hybrid Meeting • Review latest TAWSMP testing results regarding water quality monitoring; comment as appropriate. • Keep abreast of UNRBA and JLOW initiatives; comment as appropriate. Land Resources Subcommittee: Present: Regina Baratta, Jane Harris, Wilson Greene (via Zoom), Reade Oakley (via Zoom) Absent: None Staff: Chris Hirni Discussed 2024 goals for the committee and decided to focus on the following: • Work on refining and advocating for the No-Net Tree Policy including ways to integrate it with the County's Climate Action Plan (i.e.possible funding source for trees that will need to be planted in the future?). • Edit and Finish Non-native Invasive Species Policy, Chris will share the draft with Jane;No-Spray Task Force (dormant since 312020) seems to be beyond our advisory committee's reach so we will look for DEAPR staff, BOCC, or a partner agency to run this. • All of the land resource goals align with the County's Strategic Action Plan. VI. Updates and Information Items • Amy Eckberg gave the CFE an update on the Climate Action Plan. There is really nothing new,just that they are still working on it. • Amy Eckberg gave the CFE an update on the OC Volunteer Fair. Amy is chair of the new group and they will be promoting volunteer efforts at the fair on September 2Pt • Karina Nabors gave the CFE an update on the Sustainable Business Toolkit. It is meant to be a resource for businesses so that they can be more sustainable. It is currently 11-pages long and it will hopefully be a .pdf available on the web soon. Page 3 of 4 Orange County Commission for the Environment Meeting Summary January 8th 2024; 7:00 pm Hybrid Meeting • Amy Eckberg gave the CFE an update on the Climate and Art Event at the Mill. It will be held this coming April in collaboration with the Arts Commission. Goal is to get interpretation of climate change through art. • Amy Eckberg gave the CFE an update on the Community Climate Action Grants (CCAG). All CFE recommendations were approved by the BOCC on December 121n Chapel Hill inquired why they were not funded despite scoring high and Amy informed them that the CFE was trying to diversify the funding this year. Next round of grants will open June 2024. • Amy Eckberg gave the CFE an update on the Agrivoltaic Charette. She is working with Mike Ortosky to help coordinate this stakeholder event planned for February 7tn They hope to create a design concept for a pilot agrivoltaic program at Breeze Farm. • Karina Nabors gave the CFE an update on the Triangle ECycling Computer Donation. The County recycled 572 old computers. The company can recycle pretty much anything with a cord. • Regina Baratta mentioned putting together a newsletter to acclimate new members coming onto the CFE in the next couple of months. • Chris Hirni reminded the CFE of the involvement opportunity with the Land Use Plan. There are upcoming meetings on January 19th in Cedar Grove and January 201n in Chapel Hill. • Kalani Allen reminded the CFE of the Orange County Roadshow coming up on January 31st and February lst. It will highlight available government services for Orange County citizens. • CFE members and staff closed with a round-table introduction for Intern Emma Hedinger. VII. Adjournment Kristie Mather motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:46 pm; seconded by Ian Morse; all in favor; none opposed; motion passed. Page 4 of 4