HomeMy WebLinkAboutCFE Meeting Summary 03112024 Orange County Commission for the Environment
Meeting Summary
March 11', 2024; 7:00 pm
Hybrid Meeting
Present: Kristie Mather, Mark Randall, Ian Morse, Jane Harris, Wilson Greene (via Zoom)
Absent: Veronica Penn Beattie, Andrea Zimmerman, Regina Baratta, Reade Oakley
Staff: Chris Hirni, Wesley Poole, Amy Eckberg, Karina Nabors
I. Call to Order
Chair Regina Baratta is out of the country, so Vice Chair Jane Harris called the meeting
to order at 7:04 pm.
II. Additions or Changes to Agenda
Chris Hirni requested to strike Item IV(Approval of September 181h, 2023 Special
Meeting Summary) from the agenda due to never receiving it from Veronica Penn
Beattie. Motion to approve by Mark Randall; seconded by Ian Morse; all in favor; none
opposed; motion passed.
III. Approval of DRAFT Meeting Summary-February 12th, 2024
Motion to approve by Kristie Mather; seconded by Mark Randall; all in favor; none
opposed; motion passed.
IV. Approval of September 18t'', 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, Mark Randall (sat in from Water Resources
Subcommittee)
Absent: Veronica Penn Beattie
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Orange County Commission for the Environment
Meeting Summary
March llt', 2024; 7:00 pm
Hybrid Meeting
Staff: Amy Eckberg, Karina Nabors
• We discussed possible revisions to the Climate Action Grant application. Amy and
Karina suggested including an example of a successful application. They also
suggested listing contact info for themselves and perhaps CFE members, so that
applicants have a resource if they have questions.
• Kristie Mather suggested reordering some of the questions. For a few questions we
wondered if they were necessary or redundant. Kristie Mather wondered if moving
the "social justice and racial equity"section to later in the application might have a
streamlining effect. Amy Eckberg pointed out the application lay-out is from high to
fewest points. There was discussion about clarifying language on page five question 3
about organizational achievements. We also discussed weather page 6 second row
question V."about living wage was necessary since it's more or less asked about
again later in the application on page 6 2nd row question D. We ran out of time and
resolved to request to work for an additional hour at the April meeting and finalize
all proposed revisions at the April meeting.
Water Resources Subcommittee:
• Did not meet due to only one CFE member present
Land Resources Subcommittee:
Present: Jane Harris, Wilson Greene (via Zoom)
Absent: Regina Baratta, Reade Oakley
Staff Chris Hirni
• We discussed the non-native species land policy and some of the non-native species
prevalent in the area (wisteria, bamboo, Japanese stilt grass, etc). In addition, we
discussed some of the non-native pests and integrated pest management for insects
such as the gypsy moth and emerald ash borer.
• In terms of next steps for the non-native plant species policy we are reviewing the
policy as a subcommittee and plan to include some parameters on implementation
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Orange County Commission for the Environment
Meeting Summary
March 11', 2024; 7:00 pm
Hybrid Meeting
and partnership with local organizations (i.e. Master Gardeners)for training and
volunteering.
VI. Updates and Information Items
• Amy Eckberg gave the CFE an update on the Climate Action Plan. They found some
errors in the plan/dashboard and are making repairs. They also did some outreach
on the Plan at the recent Ag Summit.
• Amy Eckberg gave the CFE an update on Earth Day/Evening. A signup will be
coming around for volunteers.
• Amy Eckberg gave the CFE an update on the 1 %2 Degree Art Event. Opening night
will be on April 51h. Jane Harris volunteered to help with a table for CFE.
• Amy Eckberg gave the CFE an update on the Agri-voltaic Grant she is working on. It
is for$500,000 and the deadline for submittal is May 3.
• Amy Eckberg gave the CFE an update on the Governor Cooper Initiative. It was an
Executive Order on February 121h that set statewide goals for North Carolina public
and private partners to collectively achieve the following by 2040: permanently
conserve 1 million new acres of forests and wetlands; restore 1 million new acres of
forests and wetlands; plant 1 million new trees in urban areas. It encouraged groups
to go after funding.
• Chris Himi gave the CFE a status update on a few of the conservation easements he
was working on. The Moorefields Easement is finally getting ready to close.
• Krisie Mather gave the CFE an update on events that she had recently went to:
BOCC Boards and Commissions Annual Report and Work Plan presentations;
Orange County Land Use Plan 2050 outreach event.
• Wesley Poole notified the CFE that the recommended re-appointments and new
appointments had been approved by the BOCC and new members would be joining
the group in April.
VIL Adjournment
Ian Morse motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:28 pm; seconded by Mark Randall; all in
favor; none opposed; motion passed.
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