HomeMy WebLinkAboutCFE Meeting Summary 03092026 Orange County Commission for the Environment
Meeting Summary
March 9th, 2026; 7:00 pm
Hybrid Meeting
Present: Kristie Mather, Ian Morse (Teams), John Bucher, Regina Baratta, Aimee
Vandemark, Patrick Fn'Piere, Mark Randall, Matthew Ferguson, Mayur Lodaya,
Lily Schacht, Leto Copeley, Jeffrey Ryan
Absent: Veronica Beattie
Staff: Wesley Poole, Chris Hirni, Kalani Allen,Amy Eckberg, Mel Gilles
Guests: Gary Sawhney, Luke Pangle
I. Call to Order
Chair Regina Baratta called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm.
II. Additions or Changes to Agenda
Chair Regina Baratta stated that we would need more time for Sub-Committee Breakouts
so we will extend the time allocation by 15 minutes.
III. Approval of DRAFT Meeting Summary—November 1011, 2025
Motion to approve by Chair Regina Baratta; seconded by Matthew Ferguson; all in favor;
none opposed; motion passed.
IV. CFE Membership
Chair Regina Baratta introduced two new applicants, Gary Sawhney and Luke Pangle.
Staff and members went around the room and did brief introductions. Members provided
suggestions for making future orientations smoother. Chair Regina Baratta and Wesley
Poole followed with a discussion of the new advisory board policy on attendance
requirements.
V. RIPPLE AWARD
Chair Regina Baratta notified the group that voting had yielded Laura Janway as winner
of the Environmental Leadership in Government Award, Jeanette O'Connor as winner of
the Individual Environmental Impact Award, Madison (Vee) Edwards as winner of the
Next Generation Environmental Leadership Award, and Endswell, A Modern Funeral
Home as winner of the Sustainable Business Impact Award. The group had to do a final
vote on the Community Environmental Excellence Award and Steven Feuerstein was
named the winner. Winners will be recognized at the Blackwood Farm Park Earth Day
celebration where they will be given their awards.
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Orange County Commission for the Environment
Meeting Summary
March 9th, 2026; 7:00 pm
Hybrid Meeting
VI. Sub-Committee Breakouts
The CFE broke out into committee assignments and each Sub-Committee read and made
editing suggestions in the Drafts Folder for another group's work on the State of the
Environment.
VII. State of the Environment Discussion
CFE members began discussing input/feedback on the State of the Environment.
Indicators suggested at the beginning were checked against what was in Drafts. Sub-
Committees will submit Draft#2 by April 13th (next CFE Meeting)using input from CFE
members.
VIII. Updates and Information Items
• Kalani Allen gave updates to the CFE on Earth Day activities planned for Blackwood
Farm Park on April 22"d
• Wesley Poole reminded the CFE of Creek Week coming up on March 21 st—29th and
invited members to join staff for the March 24th stream cleanup.
• Mel Gilles notified the CFE that there would be another Repair Cafe coming up on
April 1 lth at the Whitted Human Services Center.
• Chair Regina Baratta notified the CFE that there were lots of activities planned for
April by the Hillsborough Climate Challenge and invited members to come out.
• Kalani Allen notified the CFE that the County would be practicing No Mow March.
• Amy Eckberg reminded the CFE of the Tree Giveaway coming up on March 20th
IX. Adjournment
Chair Regina Baratta motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:59 pm; seconded by Lily
Schacht; all in favor; none opposed; motion passed.
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