Agenda- 04-20-2018 12-2 - Information Item - Orange County Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility Goal Update

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Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks, and Recreation: • Lands Legacy Action Plan Update: Updated the County’s Lands Legacy Action Plan for 2018-2021 which prioritizes conservation of lands for protection of natural areas and wildlife habitat, prime and threatened farmland, watershed riparian buffers (water quality), parks and nature preserves, and historic and cultural/archaeological resources. This updates was then adopted by the Board of Orange County Commissioners. • Eno River Hydrilla Management Task Force: This two year pilot study was continued for another two years based on the substantial progress made during the initial study. The aim of the study is to evaluate management of invasive aquatic plant Hydrilla Verticillata in a section of the Eno River. • Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP): Maintenance was completed on all existing BMPs (e.g. – retention ponds, engineered infiltration zones, etc), and an additional BMP was put into use at Fairview. DEAPR staff also worked with design teams concerning upgraded provisions for stormwater management at three major County facilities projects: 1.) The renovation of the Southern Human Services Center; 2.) The expansion of the Seymour Center; and 3.) The Sportsplex Field House construction. • Commission for the Environment (CFE) Support: Supported the enthusiastic civic participation of County residents in providing guidance and information to the BOCC on Orange County environmental issues in collaboration with the Sustainability Program. County staff has connected the CFE with a team of UNC students to analyze and improve upon the environmental indicators racked in the Orange County State of the Environment report ahead of the planned 2019 update. The CFE has also reviewed or created several resolutions for the BOCC to consider concerning a move to 100% renewable energy, divestment from fossil fuel companies, and supporting a federal carbon fee and dividend program. Human Resources: • Collaboration on telework and subsidized bus passes: Collaborated with the Sustainability Program, Information Technologies, Risk Management, and the County Attorney’s Office to create a new administrative Telework Policy, application process, and training program. Over 100 County employees have received telework training since the program began in late 2016. HR staff is currently collaborating with the Sustainability Program and Orange County Public Transportation to establish a subsidized bus pass program for County staff to promote the bus as a commute option and improve air quality. Information Technologies-Updates: • Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) Systems: IT staff is supporting several AVL projects across the County including those in Emergency Services, the Sheriff’s Office, Orange County Public Transportation, and Asset Management. AVL technology feeds vehicle location data into specific departmental applications that can then be used to optimize vehicle routes saving fuel and staff time and assist with incident response. • County Surplus Computer Re-use Program: Regularly diverts hundreds of surplus county computers for re-use by an Orange County student training program in partnership with the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools system and Orange County Sustainability Program, under the guidance of Solid Waste Management. • Electronic Content Management Projects: Increasing resilience and efficiency of accessing County data, while decreasing the need to maintain on-site paper-based archives by establishing electronic content 5