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Home My WebLink AboutCFE Meeting Summary 05112026 ORANGE COUNTY—ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES Commission for the Environment I May 11, 2026 ORANGE COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES Commission for the Environment-May 11,2026 1 Meeting Information Board Name: Commission for the Environment Meeting Date: Monday, May 11, 2026 Meeting Time: 7:04PM -9:01 PM 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: June 8, 2026, 7:OOPM EST, Bonnie B. Davis Environment and Agriculture Center Attendance Board Members :.. Absent 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 ❑ ❑ 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 Department of Environment,Agriculture, Parks&Recreation I Page 1 of 4 ORANGE COUNTY—ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES Commission for the Environment I May 11, 2026 Name Role/Organization 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 Mel Gilles Sustainability Projects Analyst/County Manager's Office/Orange County Amy Eckberg Sustainability Program Manager/County Manager's Office/Orange County Sonia Rovner Applicant for Commission for the Environment Quorum & Call to Order Quorum established:XYes❑No Members present: 10 of 11 required for quorum. Meeting called to order at 7:04PM EST by Chair Regina Baratta. Request to add agenda item regarding PFAS Well Study. Approval of Previous Minutes Minutes from the April 13, 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: Kristie Mather I Vote: 10-0-0 X Carried ❑ Failed Public Comment(Non-Agenda Items) X No public comment received. Agenda Items— Discussion &Action Summary Agenda Item/Topic Summary of Discussion Action/Decision Owner Due 4. CFE Membership CFE introduced new Chair Regina None None applicant,Sonia Rovner, Baratta asked and went around the room members to introducing members/ continue sharing staff. interest with potential applicants. Department of Environment,Agriculture, Parks&Recreation I Page 2 of 4 ORANGE COUNTY—ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES Commission for the Environment I May 11, 2026 Agenda Item/Topic Summary of Discussion 0 Action/Decision 5. Earth Day and Ripple Chair Regina Baratta led a Event went well but None None Award Presentation discussion of the Earth Day discussed ways to event held at Blackwood make things flow Farm Park on April 22Id better and reach along with presentation of people that didn't the first Ripple Awards. know it was occurring. 6. PFAS Well Study Jeff Ryan led a discussion None None None about NC Collaboratory's upcoming PFAS Well Study to sample wells in OWASA biosolid application areas. 7. State of Environment CFE discussed progress Continue working None None Discussion made on State of the on report. Environment report. Chair Regina Baratta asked for 1 person/Sub-Committee to help with final edits.Aimee Vandemark provided an update on the Tree Canopy study. 8. Sub-Committee Each Sub-Committee If not yet None None Breakouts worked on their portions of completed, please the State of the add threats/ Environment report and recommendations discussed Top 3 threats to shared Google and Top 5 Folder. Matthew recommendations. Ferguson will draft a statement regarding emerging issue data centers. Motions &Votes MotionSeconded By None None None None ❑Pass ❑Fail Action Items & Follow-Up Action Item ResponsibleDate None None None Department of Environment,Agriculture, Parks& Recreation I Page 3 of 4 ORANGE COUNTY—ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES Commission for the Environment I May 11, 2026 Announcements & Next Meeting 1. Leto Copeley provided an update on how well the Faucets to Floods Forum went and Chair Regina Baratta stated that the Climate Challenge had several good events throughout April. 2. Mel Gilles notified the CFE that a Clothing Swap would be held in July at the Eno Arts Mill. 3. Amy Eckberg notified the CFE that the CCAG would be accepting applications starting in mid-June so please share. 4. Mel Gilles shared the Water/Rest/Shade Flyer with the CFE. Next Meeting:June 8,2026,7:OOPM EST, Bonnie B. Davis Environment and Agriculture Center Adjournment Motion to adjourn:Chair Regina Baratta I Second:Vice Chair Ian Morse I Vote: Unanimous/ 10-0-0 Meeting adjourned at 9:01 PM EST by Chair Regina Baratta. Certification &Approval IThese minutes are a summary record of the meeting proceedings and have been formally approved. regular meeting. Prepared by: Wesley Poole,Water Resources Coordinator Chair Regina Baratta Date: May 13, 2026 Department of Environment,Agriculture, Parks&Recreation I Page 4 of 4