Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
<br />fulfilling both the Environmental Responsibility Goal as well as the U. S. Mayors Climate <br />Protection Agreement. <br />Our suggestion for such an action involves retrofitting the older schools in the Orange <br />County and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School systems and other County buildings to be more <br />energy efficient. This action will shave that our local government is an example of environmental <br />responsibility. In addition, this action can be used to educate young students who represent the <br />next generation of environmentally responsible citizens. <br />Global warming and energy are top priorities of the Sierra Club at the national, state, and <br />local level. The "Cool Cities" campaign of the Sierra Club, where municipalities have signed the <br />U. S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement is how many local leaders are taking the lead to <br />curb global warming. The agreement includes a commitment to reducing carbon dioxide <br />pollution to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. <br />More than 200 mayors in 38 states have signed this agreement. The "Coal Cities" <br />campaign has focused to date on cities and towns, but is now including other governmental <br />entities such as counties. Our goal in Orange County is to have all the governments sign onto <br />this agreement. To date Chapel Hill and Carrboro have signed the agreement and UNC-Chapel <br />Hill has signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment." <br />Chair Carey said that this item will be considered at a subsequent meeting. <br />b. Matters on the Printed Agenda <br />(These matters were considered when the Board addressed that item on the agenda <br />below.) <br />3. Board Comments <br />Commissioner Foushee said that she was able to attend the dedication of the OCS <br />Partnership Academy last Sunday. She congratulated the former and current OCS Boards of <br />Education on this project. <br />Commissioner Foushee said that there was a meeting of the Ena EDD Task Farce and <br />they looked at the permitting process far Durham and Chapel Hill. The next meeting is April <br />16t". The issue will be transportation. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that in late February he met with Senator Ellie Kinnaird and <br />Agriculture Commissioner Troxler to discuss the value-added processing center proposal and <br />how the County is pursuing apublic/private partnership. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that there was also a Library Services Task Force <br />reconvening meeting. In the interim, there will be a proposal coming forward to the Board of <br />County Commissioners to fund a consultant to do a 3-5 year strategic plan far library services. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that he and Commissioner Gordon attended the <br />Intergovernmental Parks Work Group meeting, and soccer was discussed. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that he, Chair Carey, and the Manager met with the <br />Chatham County Commissioners' Chair, the Mayor of Pittsboro, and the Manager of Chatham <br />County. They discussed mutual interests and agreed to have staffs work to arrange a joint <br />meeting to discuss transportation and open space before budget season. The Mayors of <br />Chapel Hill and Carrboro will also be invited as well as the Director of OWASA. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that on March 15t, the Budget Director talked about how there <br />was a movement in the legislature to provide tax relief in an arbitrary manner, which would not <br />be replaced by other funding sources from the State. He said that the same thing is happening <br />in Florida. He said that the county and state legislatures are freaking out because same places <br />are losing $16 million because of this. He said that the Republican leadership will not even <br />discuss it with the Democrats. He asked Greg Wilder to find out from the National Association <br />whether this is a national movement. <br />