Agenda 05-03-22; 8-a - Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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6 1 VOTE: UNANIMOUS 2 3 Chair Price invited Terri Buckner to address the Board. She noted this proclamation was 4 brought to the Board through Terri Buckner's efforts. 5 Terri Buckner thanked the Board for recognizing the importance of native plants. She 6 said that native plants provide nectar and pollen for pollinators and seeds for wildlife. She said 7 the recent loss of monarch butterflies has resulted in high demand in local nurseries for 8 milkweed plants. She noted that pollinators are vital for pollinating food baring plants. She said 9 that native plants have evolved over centuries to be in harmony with the environments around 10 them. She said there is still a lot to learn about the role the native plants play. She said that non- 11 native plants often spread rapidly and displace native plants that cannot compete with the new 12 introductions. She said that she hopes to have a local program to educate landowners, 13 gardeners, and nursery buyers on the importance of native plants in landscaping in 14 environmental protection. She thanked the Board again for this proclamation. 15 Christian Hirni, Land Conservation Manager, said staff supports the promotion of 16 planting native plants on public and private lands. He also said that they support the removal or 17 mitigation of non-native species. He said staff takes this issue seriously and there have been 18 several workdays and efforts over the years to address non-native plants on county park lands 19 and reserves. He said that county staff are part of campaigns to eliminate and mitigate the 20 spread of several non-native and invasive plant species, including hydrilla in the Neuse River 21 basin, and the fig buttercup. He said staff have drafted a proposal for an invasive species 22 management policy for county-owned lands, and the policy is awaiting approval from the 23 Commission for the Environment, and will likely come to the Board for adoption in the future. He 24 said staff are also in the final stages of creating a countywide park and conservation 25 stewardship volunteer program with a focus on identifying and locating invasive species. 26 Commissioner Greene explained that native species are frequently found along 27 roadways and often have power lines running along them. She said power companies like to 28 eradicate plants below and can either do it chemically or by chopping. She asked if there has 29 been any effort to eliminate use of herbicides by power companies in Orange County. She also 30 asked if the county has any power to prevent them from using herbicides. 31 David Stancil, Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation Director, 32 said he and the Commission for the Environment members spent time working on this issue 33 with the Department of Transportation and the energy companies around ten years ago. He said 34 they had a heavy spraying policy at that time along some of the most prominent roadways. He 35 said he has not had a recent conversation with energy providers, but his understanding is they 36 are taking a more multi-faceted approach now, focusing more on traditional practices. He said 37 the Commission for the Environment passed a resolution about that in 2010 with the Board's 38 support and he could mention the conversation again. 39 Chair Price said she worked for an organization in the 1990's that asked Duke Energy to 40 mow instead of using herbicides. She said if the property owner requested it, they would mow 41 rather than use herbicides. She said if areas can be identified and convince landowners to 42 request companies mow rather than use herbicides, it may make some headway. 43 David Stancil said rights of way are important breeding areas for native species, and he 44 will investigate this issue again. 45 Commissioner Richards asked if there are programs actively engaged in promoting 46 native species. 47 David Stancil said the county has a sustainable landscaping policy, which means when 48 the county builds parks and properties, native plants are used. He said this is done effectively 49 on county-owned lands, and there are agencies locally that are great partners in educating on 50 planting native species. He said staff could do a better job of reaching out to the community at 51 large.