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Home My WebLink AboutCFE Meeting Summary 09082025 Orange County Commission for the Environment Meeting Summary September 8', 2025; 7:00 pm Hybrid Meeting Present: Kristie Mather, Ian Morse, John Bucher(Teams), Regina Baratta, Aimee Vandemark, Patrick Fn'Piere, Mark Randall, William Branch, Matthew Ferguson, Mayur Lodaya, Veronica Penn Beattie (Teams), Lily Schacht Absent: None Staff: Chris Hirni, Kalani Allen, Karina Nabors, Amy Eckberg Guests: Jeff Ryan, Margot Lester I. Call to Order Chair Regina Baratta called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm. II. Additions or Changes to Agenda None. III. Approval of DRAFT Meeting Summary—August 11th 2025 Motion to approve by Chair Regina Baratta; seconded by Vice-Chair Ian Morse; all in favor; none opposed; motion passed. IV. CFE Membership and Introductions of New Members Chair Regina Baratta discussed putting recommendations forward for new appointments to the CFE. She asked members if they wanted to vote or hold off on nominations to discuss at a later meeting, and the members decided to wait. V. CFE Environmental Awards Discussion and Vote Amy Eckberg led the discussion on the awards and stated that it will be titled The Ripple Award. Ripple standing for"Recognizing Inspiring People Protecting Local Environments or Rewarding Innovation in Protecting People, Land, and Ecosystems." She shared that her office is working with a local glass blower to design the physical award that will be given to winners. Amy Eckberg shared that the award would not need BOCC approval. The goal is to have a roll out of the award by the end of the year. The application deadline was set for February 1, 2026, and they hope to have winners announced during Earth Week. William Branch inquired about the 5 categories of the award and Chair Regina Baratta provided a summary. Chair Regina Baratta put forward a motion to move forward with the creation of the awards; seconded by Mayur Lodaya; all in favor; none opposed; motion passed. Amy Eckberg added that she will do an Page 1 of 5 Orange County Commission for the Environment Meeting Summary September 8', 2025; 7:00 pm Hybrid Meeting information item to the BOCC so that they are aware of the creation of the award program. VI. 2025 Climate Action Grant Amy Eckberg and Karina Nabors led a discussion on this year's Climate Action Grant. Amy Eckberg shared that the Human Relations Commission is currently scoring the applications and it is not ready for the CFE to score yet, so she suggested that Chair Regina Baratta send an e-mail to members when it is open to score. There is a new software application called Submittable that the CFE will use to score the applications this year. Lily Schacht inquired if there were any conflicts of interest this year and Amy Eckberg said there were none. VII. State of the Environment Discussion Chair Regina Baratta opened the floor for discussion about the State of the Environment Report. She shared that there is a document in the minutes folder with goals and a mission statement. CFE members discussed progress, successful methodology, setbacks, and due dates for materials. VIII. Sub-Committee Breakouts The CFE broke out into committee assignments and went through topics for the State of the Environment Report, % of progress, missing information, and which member is covering that topic. Information was organized into charts. They also discussed topics yet to be covered. Sub-Committee Breakout Meeting Summaries Air& Energy Resources Sub-committee: Present: John Bucher(Teams), Ian Morse, Kristie Mather, Matthew Ferguson, Veronica Penn Beattie (Teams) Absent: None Staff: Amy Eckberg Page 2 of 5 Orange County Commission for the Environment Meeting Summary September 8', 2025; 7:00 pm Hybrid Meeting Topics covered Estimated% What's done Missing Info.?? Facilitator(s) Complete Transportation (Vehicles 0% Research Kristie miles traveled, and bus (Public charging ridership, and public stations and EV charging sites) registrations Amy has the data) Nuclear Energy 75% Draft done Matthew CO2 generation 75% Draft done Matthew Housing 75% Draft Questions Ian Air Pollutants 100% Draft- John Ready for editing Energy Creation 50% Ready to write Research Veronica (Agrivoltaics, draft Conserving Energy, and Energy Insecurity) Heat Mitigation Dependent on heat mitigation plan Water Resources Sub-committee: Present: Patrick Fn'Piere, Mark Randall, Mayur Lodaya, Lily Schacht Absent: None Staff: Kalani Allen Topics covered Estimated % Missing Info.?? Facilitator(s) Complete Groundwater quantity 90 Updated numbers + Patrick longitudinal comparison Surface water quantity 97 None! Mark Page 3 of 5 Orange County Commission for the Environment Meeting Summary September 8', 2025; 7:00 pm Hybrid Meeting Groundwater quality 62 Longitudinal data Lill- Surface water quality 2 Everything but USGS Mark may be helpful PFAS 0 :( Jeff(upon BOCC approval) • Land Resources Sub-committee: Present: Regina Baratta, Aimee Vandemark, William Branch Absent: None Staff: Chris Hirni, Karina Nabors Topics covered Estimated % Missing Info.?? Facilitator(s) Complete Bird/Indicator Species 50-60 One Indicator Aimee Species (Pollinators? Caterpillars?) Tree Canopy/Land Cover TBD Possible reach out to Aimee Analysis Update B. Sauls Biosolids Trends —75 Maps not available William (yet) Pie graphs as alternate? Missing info. 2020, 22-25 (needs tinkering in 2025) Class B (2025) PFAS Land Use/Protected Land, 50-60 PUV data, final Regina Heritage Sites, PUV protected land data Page 4 of 5 Orange County Commission for the Environment Meeting Summary September 8', 2025; 7:00 pm Hybrid Meeting IX. Updates and Information Items • Karina Nabors reminded the CFE of the upcoming October 41h event planned for National Drive Electric Month. • Amy Eckberg notified the CFE of the projects that the Sustainability Intern is working on, one being water conservation kits and stickers. Amy also mentioned the new EV playbook for Orange County along with the development of a green team that will meet quarterly to discuss sustainability...the kicker will be later this Fall. • Kalani Allen reminded the CFE about the Trails Plan Community Workshops coming up on September 24th and 281h X. Adjournment Chair Regina Baratta motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:56 pm; seconded by Vice- Chair Ian Morse; all in favor; none opposed; motion passed. Page 5 of 5