HomeMy WebLinkAboutCFE Meeting Summary 04132026 ORANGE COUNTY—ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES Commission for the Environment I April 13, 2026
ORANGE COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
Commission for the Environment-April 13, 2026
Meeting Information
Board Name: Commission for the Environment
Meeting Date: Monday,April 13,2026
Meeting Time: 7:16PM -8:58PM EST
Location: Bonnie B. Davis Environment and Agriculture Center and Microsoft Teams
Chair: Regina Baratta
Staff Liaison: Wesley Poole,Water Resources Coordinator, Department of Environment,
Agriculture, Parks&Recreation; Chris Hirni, Land Conservation Manager, Department
of Environment,Agriculture, Parks&Recreation; Kalani Allen, Communications
Manager, Department of Environment,Agriculture, Parks&Recreation
Minutes Recorded Wesley Poole,Water Resources Coordinator
By:
Next Meeting: May 11, 2026, 7:OOPM EST, Bonnie B. Davis Environment and Agriculture Center
Attendance
Board Members
: . . Absent Excused
Leto Copeley Member At-Large X ❑ ❑
John Bucher Member At-Large ❑ ❑ X
Matthew Ferguson Member At-Large ❑ ❑ X
Ian Morse Vice Chair X ❑ ❑
Patrick Fn'Piere Member At-Large ❑ ❑ X
Kristie Mather Member At-Large X ❑ ❑
Veronica Beattie Member At-Large ❑ X ❑
Jeffrey Ryan Member At-Large ❑ ❑ X
Aimee Vandemark Member At-Large X ❑ ❑
Mark Randall Member At-Large X ❑ ❑
Lily Schacht Member At-Large X ❑ ❑
Regina Baratta Chair X ❑ ❑
Staff&Guests Present
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ORANGE COUNTY—ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES Commission for the Environment I April 13, 2026
OrganizationName Role/
Wesley Poole Water Resources Coordinator/Department of
Environment,Agriculture, Parks&Recreation/
Orange County
Chris Hirni Land Conservation Manager/Department of
Environment,Agriculture, Parks&Recreation/
Orange County
Kalani Allen Communications Manager/Department of
Environment,Agriculture, Parks &Recreation/
Orange County
Mel Gilles Sustainability Projects Analyst/County Manager's
Office/Orange County
Karina Nabors Sustainability Specialist/County Manager's Office
/Orange County
Amy Eckberg Sustainability Program Manager/County
Manager's Office/Orange County
Quorum & Call to Order
Quorum established:X Yes❑No Members present: 7 of 12 required for quorum.
Meeting called to order at 7:16PM EST by Chair Regina Baratta.
Request to add announcements regarding Forest Bathing at the Eno Confluence and National County
Government Month recognition for Mel Gilles.
Approval of Previous Minutes
Minutes from the March 9, 2026 meeting were:
• X Approved as presented
• ❑Approved with the following corrections: [Note corrections]
• ❑ Deferred to next meeting
Motion to approve: Chair Regina Baratta I Second:Vice Chair Ian Morse I Vote:7-0-0 1 Carried
Public Comment (Non-Agenda Items)
X No public comment received.
Agenda Items— Discussion &Action Summary
Agenda Item . . Owner
4. CFE Membership CFE discussed recruitment Chair Regina None None
and member retention. Baratta asked
members to share
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ORANGE COUNTY—ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES Commission for the Environment I April 13, 2026
Agenda Item . . Owner
interest with
potential
applicants.
5. Earth Day and Ripple Chair Regina Baratta led a CFE members are None April
Award Presentation discussion of the upcoming needed to volunteer 22nd
Earth Day event planned for so Aimee
Blackwood Farm Park on Vandemark and Ian
April 22nd along with Morse volunteered
presentation of the first to assist Chair
Ripple Awards. Regina Baratta.
6. State of Environment CFE discussed Continue working None None
Discussion recommendations for State on report.
of the Environment report.
Aimee Vandemark provided
an update on the Tree
Canopy study.
7.Sub-Committee Each sub-committee This review process None April
Breakouts started to review and takes time, so 27th
comment upon another members will be
group's State of the given until April
Environment Draft. 27t"to submit their
Feedback from each sub- feedback.
committee is recorded in
the shared Google Folder.
Motions &Votes
Motion/Resolution Moved By Seconded By Vote(Y-N-A) Result
Motion to follow 2014 format for State Chair Regina Leto Copeley 7-0-0 X Pass
of the Environment report. Baratta ❑Fail
Action Items & Follow-Up
Action Item Responsible Date
None None None
Announcements & Next Meeting
1. Chair Regina Baratta provided an update on Hillsborough Climate Challenge Events planned for
April.
2. Kalani Allen provided an update on the Draft Trails Plan to be presented to the BOCC on April 14th.
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ORANGE COUNTY—ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES Commission for the Environment I April 13, 2026
3. Wesley Poole notified the CFE that Creek Week went well for Orange County back in March.
4. Mel Gilles notified the CFE that Repair Cafe went well and there will be more to come.
5. Karina Nabors notified the CFE that there would be an EV101 webinar on April 22"d at 2:OOPM for
people to learn more about electric vehicles.
6. Aimee Vandemark notified the CFE that there would be a Forest Bathing opportunity coming up at
the new certified trail at the Eno Confluence.
7. Chris Hirni provided an update on Land Use Plan 2050.
8. Amy Eckberg acknowledged Mel Gilles for her National County Government Month recognition.
9. Leto Copeley notified the CFE of the "Faucets to Floods" panel discussion that would be held on
April 22"d by the Hillsborough Climate Challenge.
Next Meeting: May 11, 2026, 7:OOPM EST, Bonnie B. Davis Environment and Agriculture Center
Adjournment
Motion to adjourn: Chair Regina Baratta I Second:Aimee Vandemark I Vote: Unanimous/7-0-0
Meeting adjourned at 8:58PM EST by Chair Regina Baratta.
Certification &Approval
IThese minutes are a summary record of the meeting proceedings and formally approved on May 11,2026.
Prepared by: Approved by Members
Wesley Poole,Water Resources Coordinator Chair Regina Baratta
Date:April 28, 2026
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