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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCFE Meeting Summary 06102024 Orange County Commission for the Environment Meeting Summary June loth 2024; 7:00 pm Hybrid Meeting Present: Kristie Mather(via Teams), Mark Randall, Ian Morse, Jane Harris, Wilson Greene, Reade Oakley, John Bucher, Matthew Ferguson, Patrick Fn'Piere, Regina Baratta, Lily Schacht, Veronica Penn Beattie (via Teams) Absent: Aimee Vandemark,Nicholas Stover Staff: Chris Himi, Wesley Poole (via Teams), Amy Eckberg, Kalani Allen, Karina Nabors, Melony Gilles, Valeria Gabriela Rico (Intern) I. Call to Order Chair Regina Baratta called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm. II. Additions or Changes to Agenda Amy Eckberg asked to introduce Summer Intern, Valeria Gabriela Rico, as an addition to the agenda. III. Approval of DRAFT Meeting Summary—May 13t', 2024 Motion to approve by Matthew Ferguson; seconded by Mark Randall; all in favor; none opposed; motion passed. IV. 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: John Bucher, Veronica Penn Beattie (via Teams), Ian Morse, Matthew Ferguson, Kristie Mather (via Teams) Absent: Nicholas Stover Staff Amy Eckberg, Valeria Gabriela Rico (Intern) Page 1 of 4 Orange County Commission for the Environment Meeting Summary June loth 2024; 7:00 pm Hybrid Meeting • The Climate Action Grant will open at the end of this week, and close on Aug. 16th. The current budget proposal before the BOCC has the schools no longer getting funds allocated just for them. We discussed ideas for promotion of the grant that include reaching out to local new organizations and previous applicants. • Trees of the Triangle working to plant trees at schools was discussed. The idea would be to teach students how to plant and care for trees. Members of the subcommittee are reaching out to contacts to see if we can get this off the ground. • Anti-idling Posters were discussed again this time with focus on where the posters should be and how to organize a competition for it. • Discussed creating an energy efficiency table with information to be displayed at local community events was discussed. Water Resources Subcommittee: Present: Mark Randall, Patrick Fn'Piere, Lily Schacht Absent: None Staff Wesley Poole (via Teams), Kalani Allen, Melony Gilles • No summary submitted. Land Resources Subcommittee: Present: Regina Baratta, Wilson Greene, Jane Harris, Reade Oakley Absent: Aimee Vandemark Staff Chris Hirni, Karina Nabors No Net Loss Tree Canopy Policy and Discussion of 10,000 Trees Volunteer program coordinator needed to help draft Invasive Species Policy, help with monitor parks within county, and plant 10,000 trees Page 2 of 4 Orange County Commission for the Environment Meeting Summary June loth 2024; 7:00 pm Hybrid Meeting Where to plant 10,000 trees?? • No open land that will not be developed • Can trees be added to parks where infrastructure is there? • Can the public plant the trees individually? • 2029 Tree Master plan • Organize biannual tree giveaway • Assemble local native plant nursery lists within SO miles 1,000 trees/year to be planted($600.00 for hardwoods Forest Service—Tree Seedling) ONLY NATIVES!! 33 bags of soil= $330-400 or 26.001 Cubic Yard of Soil and Cubic Yard of(Rock Shop) JV Brockwell Dump truck of Soil Forest service nursery grows saplings in bulk(possibly where we should get ours) Hardwood trees buy in July delivered Dec.-March Best time to plant bare root seedlings Mid-Nov. Late March; Could they be stored at Reade Oakley's?? Twin Creeks? Possible Tree Fund donation from small businesses and individuals V. Updates and Information Items • Amy Eckberg provided the CFE with a history of the Climate Council. They recently had their first meeting and it was great for networking and beginning conversations for future collaboration. • Kalani Allen provided the CFE with an update on the Intergovernmental Parks Work Group. She discussed the meeting topic about connectivity and partnerships with jurisdictions and nonprofits within Orange County. She also mentioned the creation of the Orange County Interactive Open Spaces and Trails Map subcommittee. • Amy Eckberg provided the CFE with an update on the C-Site Grant. It was a recent joint grant application by Orange, Durham, Carrboro, and Chapel Hill to hopefully get funding to create resilience hubs at local senior/community centers. • Kalani Allen provided the CFE with an update on the Nature of Orange Contest extension. She explained that the contest was extended through June 301h and that an Page 3 of 4 Orange County Commission for the Environment Meeting Summary June loth 2024; 7:00 pm Hybrid Meeting updated contest flyer had been e-mailed to CFE members by DEAPR Administrative Assistant, Abby Mattingly. VI. Adjournment Matthew Ferguson motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:58 pm; seconded by Wilson Greene; all in favor; none opposed; motion passed. Page 4 of 4