Orange County NC Website
~Ylforma-Pion ='I'e,v, <br />OIdANG~ COUNTY <br />department of environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation <br />Memorandum <br />TO: Frank W. Clifton, County Manager <br />FROM: David Stancil, Director <br />Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Recreation <br />DATE: May 3, 2010 <br />SUBJECT: Environmental Responsibility Goal <br />In January 2009, the Board of County Commissioners (Board) established a set of <br />Guiding Principles and identified Priorities for the 2009-2010 Budget. As we approach <br />the end of fiscal year 2009-2010, I wanted to provide you and the Board with an update <br />on progress toward Priority P-12 for FY 2009-2010 "Implement Environmental <br />Responsibility Goal," and offer a series of potential next steps for consideration at a <br />future meeting(s). <br />Since the Board adopted the Environment Responsibility Goal (December 2005), staffs <br />from a number of departments have begun collaborating on activities that are linked to <br />environmental responsibility. Aprogress report on some of those efforts was provided at <br />the November 2009 work session, including: <br />1) the work of the Climate Change Committee and the completion of a countywide <br />Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Forecast; <br />2) the formation of an in-house Environmental Stewardship Action Committee <br />(ESAC) composed of representatives from each department; <br />3) ways to engage County employees in activities promoting environmental <br />responsibilities, including mechanisms to promote carpooling such as the Best <br />Workplaces for Commuters national program; and <br />4) a draft Environmental Leadership Policy (ELP), designed to help Orange County <br />become a model government and to serve as an internal guide that would <br />parallel external policies outlined in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. <br />Staff also shared with the Board a sample entry from an Action Strategy Feasibility <br />Chart. Presented as a list of draft action strategies grouped into like topical areas (with <br />links to the 2030 Comprehensive Plan); the feasibility chart offered some initial <br />assessment of "doability" with regard to staffing and budgetary needs to refine the <br />action strategies for future implementation consideration. The Board adopted the draft <br />Environmental Leadership Policy (attached) in principle in November, and identified <br />ways to improve the feasibility chart. <br />-1- <br />