HomeMy WebLinkAboutCFE Meeting Summary 01122026 Orange County Commission for the Environment
Meeting Summary
January 12th, 2026; 7:00 pm
Hybrid Meeting
Present: Kristie Mather, Ian Morse, John Bucher, Regina Baratta, Aimee Vandemark,
Patrick Fn'Piere, Mark Randall, Matthew Ferguson, Mayur Lodaya, Lily Schacht,
Leto Copeley, Margot Lester, Jeffrey Ryan
Absent: Veronica Beattie, William Branch
Staff: Wesley Poole, Chris Himi (Teams), Kalani Allen, Karina Nabors, Amy Eckberg,
Abby Mattingly(Teams), Mel Gilles, Isis Mateos-Guevara(Teams)
I. Call to Order
Chair Regina Baratta called the meeting to order at 7:06 pm.
11. Additions or Changes to Agenda
Kristie Mather asked to add an item to the Updates and Information Items regarding the
Sierra Club...granted. Amy Eckberg asked to introduce their intern, Isis Mateos-
Guevara...granted and followed with introduction.
III. Approval of DRAFT Meeting Summary—November loth, 2025
Motion to approve by Vice-Chair Ian Morse; seconded by Mark Randall; all in favor;
none opposed; motion passed.
IV. Nature of Orange Photo Contest
Abby Mattingly presented the winning photos from last year's Nature of Orange Photo
Contest and followed with a request that the CFE continue sponsorship this year. Motion
to approve by Chair Regina Baratta; seconded by Margot Lester; all in favor; none
opposed; motion passed.
V. CFE Annual Report and Work Plan
The group discussed edits and inclusions for the Annual Report and Work Plan that is
due in January. Once a final draft was created, the group voted on the document that will
be submitted. Motion to approve by Chair Regina Baratta; seconded by Kristie Mather;
all in favor; none opposed; motion passed.
VI. Climate Action Grant Petition
Amy Eckberg presented a petition written by BOCC member Sally Greene to expand the
CCAG funds from the BOCC to include climate adaptation as well as mitigation. After a
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Orange County Commission for the Environment
Meeting Summary
January 12', 2026; 7:00 pm
Hybrid Meeting
discussion on the way the grant process currently works versus the proposal, the group
agreed that some things needed to be tweaked before next year's grant process.
Regarding Sally Greene's petition, the group voted on whether or not to support it. Chair
Regina Baratta motioned to support it; seconded by Mayur Lodaya; Vice-Chair Ian
Morse abstained from voting; Kristie Mather voted no; remainder of group in favor;
motion passed.
VII. State of the Environment Report Round Table
The group discussed the status of State of the Environment Report sub-topics, missing
materials, and emerging issues to cover. Chair Regina Baratta stated that she would like
to be done by June. Aimee Vandemark asked members for help with the Tree Canopy
Study and stated that Bradley Saul (previous CFE member) is planning to help assimilate
the data for the report. Some members expressed concern over the amount of time it
would take to complete.
VIII. Sub-Committee Breakouts
The CFE broke out into committee assignments and worked on State of the Environment
sub-topics.
Sub-Committee Breakout Meetin,-Summaries
Air& Energy Resources Sub-committee:
Present: John Bucher, Ian Morse, Kristie Mather, Matthew Ferguson, Margot Lester
Absent: Veronica Beattie
Staff: Amy Eckberg
• Discussed the state of all the topics currently drafted and those in progress. Drafts
have been produced for the majority of topics. Those that do not have a full draft
have a significant portion already created. We addressed questions of scope for the
remaining topics to help them get to draft status sooner. We will have a subcommittee
meeting on January 26th to address progress, and to move towards the creation of
our final draft for the group.
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Orange County Commission for the Environment
Meeting Summary
January 12', 2026; 7:00 pm
Hybrid Meeting
Water Resources Sub-committee:
Present: Patrick Fn'Piere, Mark Randall, Mayur Lodaya, Lily Schacht, Jeffrey Ryan
Absent: None
Staff Wesley Poole
• Discussed status of data collection, approach to combining documents, how to make
the report accessible and interesting. Status updates on reports being written by other
groups. What would it take to replicate Wake County groundwater study in Orange
County?
Land Resources Sub-committee:
Present: Regina Baratta, Aimee Vandemark, Leto Copeley
Absent: William Branch
Staff: Chris Hirni (Teams), Karina Nabors, Kalani Allen, Mel Gilles
• Discussed what organisms to include in the indicator species section of the SOE.
Aimee will reach out to Natural Heritage Site on indicator species. Planning a
Thursday morning meeting with OC staff to help plug holes and answer questions on
land use,protected land, etc. Mel gave Leto some insight into Solid Waste
Management research and contacts. As we put our work together, we are to be
mindful of ADA compliance with visuals.
IX. Updates and Information Items
• Chair Regina Baratta passed out flyers advertising the RIPPLE award and asked CFE
members to share at least (2) flyers each. Amy Eckberg notified the group that they
had received(8) applications so far and the deadline to submit was February lsc
• Kristie Mather notified the CFE that the Sierra Club was looking for questions to ask
BOCC candidates to see if they would endorse certain items.
• Kalani Allen notified the CFE that DEAPR staff had an Earth Evening discussion
coming up and the format would be different this year so be thinking how the CFE
would like to participate.
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Orange County Commission for the Environment
Meeting Summary
January 12t'', 2026; 7:00 pm
Hybrid Meeting
X. Adjournment
Chair Regina Baratta motioned to adjourn the meeting at 9:04 pm; seconded by John
Bucher; all in favor; none opposed; motion passed.
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