HomeMy WebLinkAboutCFE Meeting Summary 03102025 Orange County Commission for the Environment
Meeting Summary
March loth 2025; 7:00 pm
Hybrid Meeting
Present: Kristie Mather, Mark Randall, Ian Morse, John Bucher, Matthew Ferguson,
Regina Baratta, Lily Schacht, Veronica Penn Beattie (Teams), Aimee Vandemark,
Patrick Fn'Piere
Absent: Jane Harris, Reade Oakley
Staff: Chris Hirni, Wesley Poole, Kalani Allen, Amy Eckberg, Karina Nabors, Melony
Gilles (Teams)
L Call to Order
Chair Regina Baratta called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm.
II. Additions or Changes to Agenda
None.
III. Approval of DRAFT Meeting Summary—February 10', 2025
Motion to approve by Lily Schacht; seconded by Mark Randall; all in favor; none
opposed; motion passed.
IV. CFE Introductions /Candidate Recruitment
Chair Regina Baratta led a discussion of the current applicants for CFE membership.
Motion to recommend appointment of Mayur Lodaya by Mark Randall; seconded by
Vice-Chair Ian Morse; all in favor; none opposed; motion passed. Motion to recommend
appointment of William Branch by John Bucher; seconded by Matthew Ferguson; all in
favor; none opposed; motion passed. The CFE discussed the possible recruitment of a
future youth CFE delegate and Kalani Allen informed them of the process. Chair Regina
Baratta motioned to move forward with the youth CFE delegate idea; seconded by Vice-
Chair Ian Morse; all in favor except for Patrick Fn'Piere who abstained; motion passed.
V. State of the Environment Report-Discussion
The CFE discussed the State of the Environment Report and expectations for the sub-
committee breakout discussions. Matthew Ferguson with the Air& Energy Resources
Sub-Committee notified the CFE that their group had recently met independently and
informed everyone of their progress. The CFE agreed that some topics did not fit in just
one group and could be tackled jointly.
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Orange County Commission for the Environment
Meeting Summary
March loth 2025; 7:00 pm
Hybrid Meeting
V1. Sub-Committee Breakouts
The CFE broke out into committee assignments and discussed goals /projects for the
year.
Sub-Committee Breakout Meetin,-Summaries
Air& Energy Resources Sub-committee:
Present: John Bucher, Veronica Penn Beattie (Teams), Ian Morse, Matthew Ferguson,
Kristie Mather
Absent: None
Staff: Amy Eckberg
• Talked about trends that will impact the environment over the next few years.
• Talked about how to acquire different resources needed for the report.
• EBURP Grant is back on.
Water Resources Sub-committee:
Present: Mark Randall, Lily Schacht, Patrick Fn'Piere
Absent: None
Staff: Wesley Poole, Melony Gilles (Teams)
• Water section of SOE will be split into groundwater quantity (Patrick) and quality (Lily),
surface water quantity and quality (Mark), and emerging issues.
• Each subsection will contain background, current state of the topic, trends, conclusions,
and recommendations.
• By next meeting, high level summary of each subsection and potential data sources.
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Orange County Commission for the Environment
Meeting Summary
March loth 2025; 7:00 pm
Hybrid Meeting
Land Resources Sub-committee:
Present: Regina Baratta, Aimee Vandemark
Absent: Jane Harris, Reade Oakley
Staff: Chris Hirni, Karina Nabors (Teams)
• Discussed whether to use Tree Canopy data or some other source for the Forested Land
Section. Since there is no new data on tree canopy, Aimee will refocus on Status of Rare
Plants and Animals/Invasive Species for now. One of our suggestions for 2025126 SOE
will be to have the County possibly undertake a tree canopy study (like Wake County).
• Discussed other topics and sources for data; Christian will share protected land data and
connect us with some of the other data sources we need to discuss such as Changes in
O.C. Farmland, Acres in Present Use Value Program, etc.
VII. Updates and Information Items
• Chris Hirni notified the CFE of the upcoming Earth Evening event planned for April
25th. Amy Eckberg will have a table there like before and told the CFE they are
welcome to come help. Chair Regina Baratta will send out an email to request
volunteers.
• Chair Regina Baratta reminded the CFE that the Hillsborough Climate Challenge
begins at the end of March.
• Karina Nabors and Melony Gilles reminded the CFE of the upcoming Tree Giveaway
/Repair Cafe on March 151h and invited CFE members to come help.
• Amy Eckberg notified the CFE that the CCAG application process was getting
revamped with a more efficient streamline portal system.
• Amy Eckberg notified the CFE that the EBURP grant is back on.
• Staff notified the CFE that Orange County Creek Week was coming up on March 15th
-22"d and DEAPR is hosting a staff creek cleanup event on March 181h from 9am—
12pm.
• Chair Regina Baratta reminded the CFE that it was No Mow March.
• Kristie Mather notified the CFE that UNC pulled their request to test a new fuel at the
Cogeneration Plant, saying the pellets fell short of requirements.
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Orange County Commission for the Environment
Meeting Summary
March loth 2025; 7:00 pm
Hybrid Meeting
• Aimee Vandemark notified the CFE of the community meeting being held to fight the
proposed Union Grove Amphitheater.
VIII. Adjournment
Kristie Mather motioned to adjourn the meeting at 9:00 pm; seconded by John Bucher; all
in favor; none opposed; motion passed.
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