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<br /> <br />FROM: Commission for the Environment <br />SUBJECT: Monthly Meeting Summary <br />DATE: October 8, 2012 <br />LOCATION: Environment and Agricultural Center, Hillsborough <br />_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />MEMBERS PRESENT: Gary Saunders (Vice Chair), May Becker, Loren Hintz, David Neal, Bill <br />Kaiser, Jan Sassaman, David Welch <br /> <br />MEMBERS ABSENT: Lucy Adams, Peter Cada, Michele Drostin, Tom O’Dwyer, Renee Price <br /> <br />STAFF PRESENT: Rich Shaw, Tom Davis GUEST: Dan Derby, Logan Derby <br />_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br /> I. Call to Order: Saunders (Acting Chair) called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm. <br />II. Additions or Changes to Agenda – None <br />III. Approval of Minutes – The September 10 meeting summary was approved unanimously. <br /> <br />IV. Blackwood Farm habitat enhancement project – Shaw provided background information <br />about Orange County’s Blackwood Farm. Dan Derby, County Parks Superintendent, <br />described plans to convert a hayfield to a native grass meadow. He explained DEAPR <br />had assembled an advisory committee with a variety of professionals. Derby said he <br />plans to remove fescue grass (using herbicide treatment), perform a controlled burn, see <br />what plants respond naturally, and supplement with native plantings. He noted staff <br />would need to burn the site every two or three years. Derby hopes the site will become <br />a suitable habitat for quail and other native wildlife. The consensus of CFE members <br />was that the project was worthwhile and the CFE is supportive of this proposal. <br /> <br /> V. CFE Annual Report and Work Plan (2012-13) – Shaw called attention to the BOCC <br />Clerk’s request for an annual report of the past year’s activities and plan of anticipated <br />tasks for 2013. He noted that the CFE Chair would be invited to attend the BOCC’s <br />January 2013 work session. Shaw offered to prepare a draft report for CFE <br />consideration at its November 12 meeting. The final report was due November 30. <br /> <br />VI. Proposed Alternative Energy Task Force - Saunders called attention to the BOCC <br />Chair’s letter in which she said the BOCC referred a request for the creation of an <br />Alternative Energy Task Force to the CFE to work through alternative energy issues. <br />Saunders suggested it would be appropriate for the CFE’s Energy Resources <br />Committee to consider alternative energy issues and report back to the CFE and BOCC <br />as needed. He suggested inviting other interested CFE members and outside experts <br />as needed. Saunders recommended the group be limited to five to seven members plus <br />invited guests. The CFE discussed the committee structure, member qualifications, and <br />the kinds of issues they envision for the committee’s purview. Saunders asked the <br />Energy Resources Committee to consider these matters and report back to the full CFE. <br /> <br />VII. Updates and Information Items – CFE members received updates and information on the <br />following issues: a) CFE memo re forestry impacts on water quality, b) revised CFE <br />policies & procedures, c) the upcoming election of new officers, and d) the status efforts <br />to establish a section of the NC Mountains-to-Sea Trail through Orange County. <br /> <br />VIII. Committee Meetings – Three of the four committees met for 30 minutes. There were no <br />members of the Water Resources Committee present. The CFE reconvened and heard <br />reports on various work tasks from committee representatives. <br /> <br />IX. Adjournment – Saunders adjourned the meeting at 9:35 pm. <br />Minutes by Rich Shaw, DEAPR Staff