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<br /> <br />FROM: Commission for the Environment <br />SUBJECT: Monthly Meeting Summary <br />DATE: December 12, 2011 <br />LOCATION: Environment and Agricultural Center (Hillsborough) <br />_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />MEMBERS PRESENT: Renee Price (Chair), Michael Hughes (Vice Chair), Chris Adams, Lucy <br />Adams, May Becker, Peter Cada, Clay Hudson, Bill Kaiser, David Neal, Tom O’Dwyer, Gary <br />Saunders, David Welch <br /> <br />MEMBERS ABSENT: Michele Drostin, Loren Hintz <br /> <br />STAFF PRESENT: Rich Shaw, Tom Davis, and David Stancil GUEST: Jae Furman <br />_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br /> I. Call to Order: Price called the meeting to order at approximately 7:35 pm <br /> <br />II. Additions or Changes to Agenda – None <br /> <br />III. Approval of Minutes – The Nov 14 meeting summary was approved as drafted. <br /> <br />IV. 2012 Meeting Calendar – The CFE meeting calendar for 2012 was approved. <br /> <br />V. Annual Report and Work Plan – The CFE reviewed a revised draft of its annual report <br />and work plan. Shaw reported that he incorporated the many edits received from <br />members and shared by email. After further discussion, some final edits were approved <br />and the CFE voted unanimously to approve the document for submittal to the BOCC. <br /> <br />VI-II. Committee Break-out and Reports – The four standing committees met separately for 20 <br />minutes and then reconvened to report on the status of various projects underway. <br />Saunders and Cada reported on ongoing initiatives by the Air Resources and Water <br />Resources committees, but neither item was ready for action by the full CFE. <br /> <br />O’Dwyer reported on three initiatives from the Energy Resources Committee pertaining <br />to solar energy generation, energy conservation in buildings, and the composting of food <br />waste. O’Dwyer presented a draft memo outlining a proposal to preserve solar energy <br />sites within new developments. He reported on his efforts to share his idea with <br />Planning Board members and staff, and answered questions from CFE members. <br />O’Dwyer offered to work with Shaw to refine the memo based on comments received. <br />The CFE agreed to have a revised draft memo circulated via email for final comments by <br />December 15 and the final memo from the Chair sent to the BOCC Clerk as an <br />attachment to the CFE annual report and work plan. Neal and Becker provided updates <br />on the other initiatives, but neither was for action by the CFE at this meeting. <br /> <br />Welch reported on two initiatives from the Biological Resources Committee. He and <br />Shaw presented edits to the CFE memo (approved in November) about plans to protect <br />native plant habitat along county roadsides from herbicide application. The CFE <br />approved sending the revised memo to the BOCC and requesting time on an upcoming <br />BOCC agenda to present this plan. Welch then updated the CFE on plans to develop a <br />comprehensive conservation plan with assistance from outside entities. <br /> <br />VIII. Updates and Information Items – CFE members received written materials and brief <br />updates on the following: County landfill gas to Carolina North, UNC Bingham facility, <br />EPA decision about “fracking”, improvements to Triangle ozone levels, regional transit <br />news, electric vehicle charging stations, and the Eno River capacity use area agreement. <br /> <br />The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:20 p.m. Minutes by Rich Shaw, DEAPR Staff