Agenda - 11-18-2014 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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I Voluntary Agricultural District and Present Use Value Taxation programs. 2 3 3. Orange County should increase efforts to encourage homeowners and businesses to 4 choose regionally native species for landscaping. 5 6 Water Resources 7 1. Orange County should increase efforts to gather information related to water resources in 8 Orange County; including data about surface water and groundwater quality, as well as 9 concerning groundwater quantity. State -led efforts in these areas continue to decline due to 10 budget and staff reductions. 11 2. Orange County should undertake a campaign to inform the public about invasive aquatic 12 species, including their current extent in our waterways, the likely ramifications of the 13 occurrence of these species in Orange County, and what steps can be undertaken to slow 14 their spread or eliminate them locally. 15 3. Orange County should continue to increase public awareness and understanding of 16 water supply sources, related concerns, and what steps can be undertaken to improve 17 or maintain the quality and quantity of our water supply resources. 18 19 Jan Sassaman said one thing that comes out of this report is the importance of thinking 20 globally and acting locally. 21 Rich Shaw said each of the above recommendations is spelled out throughout the 22 report. He staff tried to incorporate any references to the 2030 comprehensive plan, and there 23 was more emphasis on providing information regarding what citizens can do to address the 24 issues. 25 Commissioner Gordon said the CfE and staff did a great job presenting this report at the 26 summit. She said the quantity and quality of Orange County's surface water and ground water 27 is a critical issue, and she hopes the County will do what it can to monitor this. She said 28 surface water and groundwater are important for life. 29 She said one thing to do about the fracking issue is to educate the public about the pros 30 and cons and make them aware of the options. 31 Commissioner Gordon said climate change is a serious issue, and something needs to 32 be done soon. She said things can be done to think globally and act locally. 33 Commissioner Gordon said it is important to educate people about climate change. She 34 also said Orange County has done many things to be proactive in the area of energy efficiency 35 and conservation. 36 Commissioner Gordon referred to the recommendations page, and she noted that there 37 was a study about greenhouse gas emissions that should be completed. 38 Commissioner Gordon said it is important to protect the County's natural and cultural 39 resources, and the Lands Legacy Program has done a good job of this. 40 Commissioner Gordon said this is overall a wonderful report. 41 Commissioner Rich referred to the recommendations on air and energy, and she 42 said Chapel Hill has updated some of their data on this. She urged staff to get this information. 43 Commissioner Rich referred to recommendation #4 and questioned what the solution or 44 option would be to the trucking of solid waste to Durham. 45 Loren Hintz said the last item will go into that issue in more detail. He said the short 46 answer is for all entities that supported the solid waste group to come up with the ideas. He 47 said there is a lot of sentiment that the County has a responsibility to better figure out what to 48 do with its solid waste. He said the Durham transfer station should only be a short term 49 solution, but there is no long term answer.