Agenda - 05-18-2021; 8-a - Minutes

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4 1 Chair Price congratulated Eugenia Floyd, a 41" grade teacher at Mary Scroggs 2 Elementary, and a graduate of East Chapel Hill High, who was named 2021 NC Teacher of the 3 Year. 4 Chair Price noted the guilty verdict today during the Derek Chauvin trial in Minnesota. 5 Chair Price said it was nice to see that Thomas Ruffin Lane has been renamed Lydia 6 Lane. 7 8 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations 9 10 a. Earth Day 2021 Proclamation 11 The Board considered voting to approve a proclamation related to Earth Day and 12 environmental protection actions, including declaring April 2021 as "Skip the Stuff Month," July 13 2021 as "Reduce Single Use Plastics Month," and recognizing April 22 as Earth Day 2021 - 14 encouraging County residents to participate in planned Earth Day activities. 15 16 BACKGROUND: Thursday, April 22, 2021 is the 51s' celebration of Earth Day, which was first 17 identified and acknowledged in 1970 to give voice to a growing awareness of the importance of 18 the planet's finite resources and public consciousness about the state of the planet. 19 20 A number of events will be occurring locally during April and beyond, to celebrate Earth Day and 21 promote efforts to protect and conserve natural resources. 22 23 Related to these efforts a proclamation has developed for the Board's consideration. 24 25 The proclamation includes: 26 27 A request from the Solid Waste Department to declare "Skip the Stuff Month" for April 28 2021 and "Reduce Single Use Plastics Month" for July 2021. These efforts are focused 29 on reducing the reliance on non-recyclable plastics such as straws, cups, utensils and 30 containers. Since the Covid pandemic of the last year, there has been a significant 31 increase in the use of disposable plastic items. Non-reusable plastics have a myriad of 32 negative effects, from harming wildlife to degrading water quality, and creating public 33 health concerns. The proclamation encourages County residents and businesses — in 34 the spirit of Earth Day—to promote the reduction of single-use plastics by not purveying 35 or accepting these products when offered, and offering compostable or reusable 36 alternatives. 37 Recognition of April 22 as Earth Day 2021, encouraging residents to participate in a 38 number of planned activities designed to celebrate the planet and the natural resources 39 that sustain us, including local efforts such as: 40 A daylong Orange County Facebook "Earth Day Blitz", streaming live and including 41 interactive children's games and other opportunities for action - both locally and 42 nationally, 43 Shred-A-Thons for recycling of confidential papers, Saturdays, April 24 and May 1, 44 The second annual Creek Cleanup sponsored by Carrboro and Chapel Hill Stormwater 45 (more info at: 46 https://www.townofchapelhill.org/government/departments-services/public- 47 works/stormwater-management/public-education-and-participation/annual- 48 cleanup-with-carrboro#ad-image-0, and 49 Other activities and opportunities that are being created by many partners (to be 50 announced)