Agenda 09-03-19 Item 8-a - Minutes

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4 1 One important way to push Duke Energy to change its fossil fuel plans is to reduce our 2 countywide carbon footprint and render them unable to argue that energy use is likely to rise 3 and require new centralized fossil fuel baseload dinosaurs. 4 The proliferation of energy efficiency measures, solar, and storage in Orange County will 5 do just that. 6 7 Thank you for your time. 8 -Kathy Kaufman 9 10 Donell Kerns said many of her comments have already been made, and she 11 supports Commissioner Marcoplos' proposal and wishes the increase would be more 12 significant. She shared a quote from Greta Thernburg, a teen climate activist: "we need to 13 focus every inch of our being on climate change, because if we fail to do so then all our 14 achievements and progress have been for nothing, and all that will remain of our political 15 leaders' legacy will be the greatest failure in human history." 16 Tom Farkas thanked Commissioner Marcoplos for this initiative. He emphasized if 17 national leadership is in denial about climate change, then state and local governments 18 need to step up. He said these projects are investments in their community. He said this 19 proposal is a win-win, and the tax increase should be more. 20 Jean Hamilton said she is here to talk about the proposed amendment to reduce the 21 Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) district tax, and she wants to keep it as is. She 22 said this has been brought up before years ago. She said the BOCC does not provide 23 resources by limiting funding, and this is an issue of funding both school districts instead of 24 just reducing this tax. 25 Mark Smith said he lauds Commissioner Marcoplos' proposal, and he held up two 26 examples of electric car technology. He said this technology is largely out of reach for 27 many, because there are no more tax incentives or pilot projects in place. He said he 28 hopes some of this funding can go to spur on more creative solutions in the future. 29 Suzy Lawrence said she supports Commissioner Marcoplos' proposal. She said 30 she is part of Seniors and Law Enforcement Together (SALT), and has visited many rural 31 households and this tax would help them weatherize their homes. She said she just 32 returned from Haiti, where they took solar panels and light kits. She said this community is 33 eager for solar energy. She said Orange County needs solar energy on County buildings, 34 and that which is done in the United States has impact on the entire world. 35 Mary Parry said she has been an organizer in Orange County for many years, and 36 climate change has been one of her hardest challenges. She is supportive of 37 Commissioner Marcoplos' proposal of a tax increase. She said Orange County needs to 38 lead, and this can be a teaching moment. 39 Joal Broun, CHCCS Board Chair, said she is speaking on behalf of her Board, and it 40 has determined it is bad short-term policy to not fund the district at least at the continuation 41 level. She said the district is trying to meet the needs of all of its students, and investing in 42 education is an investment in their future. She said both school districts are the 2"d and 3rd 43 largest employers in the community, and people move to this community because of the 44 schools. She said CHCCS has worked hard to put sustainability programs in place to 45 reduce its carbon footprint. She said CHCCS would prefer to receive full funding, but if the 46 BOCC cannot maintain the current level of funds, the CHCCS ask that the County find ways 47 to support students and families with resources for mental health needs, summer 48 programming, and safety. She said without the continuation budget, some positions will 49 have to be frozen, as the district plans to emphasize maintaining teachers in the classroom. 50 Edward Mann said he is here on behalf of his aunt and mother, who both own 51 property near for the Mountains to Sea trail (MST). He said he would like to speak about