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<br /> <br />FROM: Commission for the Environment <br />SUBJECT: Monthly Meeting Summary <br />DATE: January 13, 2013 <br />LOCATION: Environment and Agricultural Center, Hillsborough <br />_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />MEMBERS PRESENT: David Neal (Chair), Jan Sassaman (Vice Chair), Lucy Adams, May <br />Becker, Peter Cada, Loren Hintz, Bill Kaiser, Tom O’Dwyer, Gary Saunders <br /> <br />MEMBERS ABSENT: Lucy Adams, Terri Buckner, David Welch, Sam Yellen <br /> <br />STAFF PRESENT: Rich Shaw, Tom Davis GUEST: Michael Harvey <br />_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br /> I. Call to Order – Neal called the meeting to order at 7:45 pm following refreshments. <br /> <br />II. Additions or Changes to Agenda – Added a discussion of committee reorganization. <br /> <br />III. Approval of Minutes – The December 10 meeting summary was approved unanimously. <br /> <br />IV. Proposed New Stormwater Management Plan Requirements – Michael Harvey provided <br />an overview of proposed new requirements for the submittal of stormwater management <br />plans for new development projects. He explained the proposed amendments to the <br />UDO would require that the stormwater management plan be submitted along with the <br />formal site plan, thereby improving the coordinated review of the project by departments <br />and avoiding some of the time and expense of having to modify the site plan at a later <br />date. CFE members asked questions of Harvey and thanked him for the briefing. <br /> <br />V. Proposed Renewable Energy and Efficiency Work Group – CFE members continued <br />their discussion of forming a new committee to discuss and formulate recommendations <br />concerning alternative energy issues. Neal asked CFE members for feedback on a draft <br />memo proposing a Renewable Energy and Efficiency Work Group (REnEW). Members <br />discussed the proposed work group’s name, focus, timeframe, membership, and need <br />for staff assistance. They stated a preference for the CFE to invite experts to serve on <br />and meet with the work group on an issue-by-issue basis rather than members having to <br />be appointed to the work group by the BOCC. The CFE approved sending the CFE <br />memo, as amended, to the BOCC and requesting feedback and guidance from the <br />BOCC for CFE consideration and implementation. <br /> <br />VI. Updates and Information Items – CFE members received updates and information on <br />the following: a) a draft CFE recruitment flyer, b) ICLEI membership, c) new NCDENR <br />Secretary, d) Sustainable Energy Conference, e) a recent fracking panel meeting, f) the <br />UNC Bingham facility, and g) a forestry best management practices newsletter. <br /> <br /> The CFE approved a memo to the board of county commissioners recommending <br />Orange County renew its ICLEI membership for one year during which the CFE and its <br />staff would utilize ICLEI resources and assess whether it would be worthwhile to <br />continue the membership in the future. <br /> <br />VII. Committee Reorganization – The CFE decided to reorganize its four standing <br />committees into two: the Air and Energy Resources Committee and the Water and <br />Biological Resources Committee, both of which would include public education. <br /> <br />VIII. Adjournment – Neal adjourned the meeting at 9:20 pm. <br /> <br /> Minutes by Rich Shaw, DEAPR Staff