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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: March 7, 2019 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 6-b <br /> SUBJECT: Proposed Formation of a Climate Committee <br /> DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Commissioner Mark Marcoplos, (919) <br /> Proposed Membership 245-2130 <br /> Ad Hoc Committee Notes from January Brennan Bouma, (919) 245-2626 <br /> 29, 2019 Assembly of Governments Donna Baker, (919) 245-2130 <br /> Meeting <br /> PURPOSE: To discuss the potential formation of a Climate Committee and review and consider <br /> approving a proposed membership composition. <br /> BACKGROUND: At the January 29, 2019 Assembly of Governments meeting, Commissioner <br /> Mark Marcoplos presented an update from the Climate Change Ad Hoc Committee. The Ad Hoc <br /> Committee is a group of elected officials who came together in the fall of 2018 in the wake of <br /> hurricane season to explore opportunities to accelerate collaborative action on climate change. <br /> The members of the ad hoc committee are: Council Member Rachel Schaevitz (Chapel Hill), <br /> Aldermen Sammie Slade (Carrboro), Commissioner Jenn Weaver (Hillsborough), and <br /> Commissioner Mark Marcoplos (Orange County). The Ad Hoc Committee presented a report <br /> outlining relevant climate change commitments and highlighted climate change mitigation <br /> actions from each of their jurisdictions. <br /> During the discussion of the report, Ad Hoc Committee members confirmed that climate change <br /> was a top priority for all of their respective Boards and expressed a desire to establish a more <br /> formal and inclusive committee as soon as possible. The members suggested that that a newly- <br /> formed committee should be supported by staff and include representatives from both school <br /> systems, the University of North Carolina, and include input from County residents. It was <br /> acknowledged that the composition and charge for the new committee would need to be <br /> discussed and approved by the boards of the constituent jurisdictions. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with discussion of a potential <br /> Climate Committee. <br /> SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to <br /> this item: <br />