HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 12082025 AGENDA
Orange County Commission for the Environment
December 8, 2025
7:00 p.m., Bonnie B. Davis Environment and Agriculture Center
Time Item Title
7:00 I. Call to Order
7:01 II. Additions or Changes to Agenda
7:03 III. Approval of DRAFT Meeting Summary — Nov. 10, 2025
The CFE will consider approval of meeting summary from the last meeting.Action needed
(Attachment 1)
7:05 IV. Nature of Orange Photo Contest
Abby Mattingly will present the winning photos for this year's contest and request the CFE
continue sponsorship.Action Needed
7:20 V. CFE Annual Report and Work Plan
The CFE will discuss the edits and inclusions for the Annual Report and Work Plan. Final Draft to
be approved for January submittal.Action Needed
7:40 VI. Climate Action Grant Petition
The CFE will discuss supporting a petition by BOCC member Sally Greene to include
Climate Adaptation as well as Mitigation.Action Needed
8:00 VII. State of the Environment Report Round Table
The CFE Members will discuss status of SOE sub-topics, missing materials,and decide on
emerging issues to cover.
8:15 VIII. Sub-Committee Breakouts
The CFE will break out into committee assignments and discuss goals/projects for the year.
Committees will report on projects upon returning to the main meeting.
8:50 IX. Updates and Information Items
Staff and/or CFE members will provide updates on the following items:
• Committee Summaries
• CFE Environmental(RIPPLE)Awards
Any other new information from CFE members and staff
9:00 X. Adjournment
*Next Meeting Date: January 12, 2026;(Bonnie B Davis
Environment and Agriculture Center)
Orange County Commission for the Environment
Meeting Summary
November 10', 2025; 7:00 pm
Hybrid Meeting
Present: Kristie Mather, Ian Morse, John Bucher, Regina Baratta, Aimee Vandemark,
Patrick Fn'Piere, Mark Randall, Matthew Ferguson, Jeff Ryan, Margot Lester,
Lily Schacht, Leto Copeley, Veronica Penn Beattie (Teams)
Absent: Mayur Lodaya, William Branch
Staff: Chris Hirni, Kalani Allen, Wesley Poole, Amy Eckberg, Melony Gilles, Karina
Nabors (Teams)
Guests: None
I. 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—October 43th 2025
Motion to approve by Matthew Ferguson; seconded by Mark Randall; all in favor; none
opposed; motion passed.
IV. CFE Membership and Introductions of New Members
Chair Regina Baratta introduced the newest member to join the CFE, Leto Copeley. The
group went around the room and introduced staff and current members. The group then
discussed next year's Chair and Vice-Chair. Aimee Vandemark motioned to keep Regina
Baratta as Chair; seconded by Jeffrey Ryan; all in favor; none opposed; motion passed.
Lily Schacht motioned to keep Ian Morse as Vice-Chair; seconded by Kristie Mather; all
in favor; none opposed; motion passed. Chair Regina Baratta asked recent addition
members to be thinking about which sub-committee they would like to join.
V. CFE Environmental Awards
Amy Eckberg notified the group that everything was ready to go on the CFE
Environmental Awards. The Ripple awards are on track to roll out the first of December
and the application submittal timeframe will be December 1st thru February 1st
VI. 2025 Climate Action Grant
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Orange County Commission for the Environment
Meeting Summary
November loth, 2025; 7:00 pm
Hybrid Meeting
The group finished up grant application discussions and decided how to allocate the
$267,750 between the selected applicants. Chair Regina Baratta motioned to approve the
selections/allocations; seconded by Lily Schacht; all in favor; none opposed; motion
passed. The group will continue working on feedback comments for the applicants. They
also began discussing potential improvements needed for next year's scoring,but they
tabled that to a later date.
VII. CFE Annual Report and Work Plan
The group began discussing the Annual Report and Work Plan. Chris Hirni showed
everyone the new, simplified template and noted that it was more focused on goals and
recent achievements vs. more dated achievements. They will work on it in preparation for
a deadline to the Clerk's office by Friday, January 16, 2026.
VIII. Sub-Committee Breakouts
The CFE decided to skip Sub-Committee Breakouts due to a time shortage.
IX. Updates and Information Items
• Chair Regina Baratta asked for volunteers to help her began sorting through the State
of the Environment Report data and several members volunteered.
• Melony Gilles reminded the group of the upcoming Repair Cafe on November 15th
• Amy Eckberg notified the group that they were co-writing an Agrivoltaics Grant with
Cooperative Extension for$765,000.
• Amy Eckberg notified the group of the projects that their(3) Sustainability Interns
were currently working on.
• Chair Regina Baratta asked if members would like to bring refreshments to the
December meeting and most said they were interested.
• Chair Regina Baratta notified the group that the Hillsborough Climate Challenge
would be happening again in 2026 and encouraged partnering for ideas.
• Kalani Allen reminded the group that the Trees for the Triangle Giveaway would be
happening on November 30th in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation.
X. Adjournment
Chair Regina Baratta motioned to adjourn the meeting at 9:01 pm; seconded by Margot
Lester; all in favor; none opposed; motion passed.
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