Agenda 05-24-22; 8-a - Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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6 1 start reviewing the 2024 state of the environment report. She said they want to move to 2 actionable recommendations as opposed to a statement on the environment. She said that 3 there have been recent developments on their workplan. She said just this week, Chris Hirni 4 spoke to them about the roadside wildflower preservation program and that she spoke with 5 Johnnie Randall about this, and he is very enthusiastic about getting it going again. She said 6 that will include many members from lots of different boards and commissions. She said that 7 Johnnie Randall said he felt that they could get a lot more if a county commissioner sat on the 8 committee. She said they are updating their bylaws. She said the biggest update is including 9 climate change in their bylaws. She listed some of their emerging issues. She said they would 10 like to support the commissioners and staff in creating a climate action plan. She said climate 11 change has urgent impacts on public health and they would like to work with the Board of 12 Health on that. She said they would like to expand compost collection. She said they would 13 like to participate in the county's long-term transportation plan. She said they would equity to 14 inform all their recommendations and they look forward to using the tools provided by the racial 15 equity plan. She said they would like to improve the diversity of their commission. She asked 16 that the Board wait for the commission to make a recommendation for filling vacancies so that 17 they can make sure they are filling their diversity goals. She said they are participating in the 18 earth day celebration on April 22 with two tables and the evening event three tables. There will 19 be an outreach table to help recruitment. 20 Chair Price asked for the dates and locations for the Earth Day events. 21 Kim Piracci said the Earth Day celebration is on April 22 from 5:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. at 22 the Carrboro Town Commons. She said there will be a children's parade, raffle, activities, and 23 live music. She said there is a lot of interest in the event. She said that the Earth Evening 24 coincides with the Last Friday celebration in Hillsborough on April 29th at 6:00 p.m. 25 Commissioner Richards said she hoped the work on the Greene Tract engages with the 26 community that will be residents there. 27 Christian Hirni said the commission's work is related to the development of the 28 Headwaters Preserve within the Greene Tract. 29 Commissioner Richards said she just wanted it to include the community, whatever that 30 it is. 31 David Stancil said staff understands that it is not quite time for developing the preserve. 32 He said they want to develop a plan to be ready for when the time is right, and that they planned 33 to work with the community. He said there are steps that must happen first but there will 34 certainly be community engagement for that. 35 Chair Price said it would be part of the Greene Tract process. 36 Commissioner Fowler said she was pleased that they included work on the climate. 37 Commissioner McKee said he appreciated the comments about the Board being more 38 deliberative in the process for filling vacancies. 39 Chair Price thanked the commission for moving along with the times and including the 40 climate in their bylaws. 41 Fred Joiner and Katie Murray presented the work plan for the Arts Commission. 42 Fred Joiner read some of the accomplishments by the Arts Commission in the previous 43 year. He said they paid $68,835 in direct payments to individual artists and programs. He 44 highlighted points from the work plan for the Arts Commission, which was included in the 45 agenda packet. He said the arts programs in Orange County have grown, and as a result, they 46 are operating at capacity. He said they were hoping for increased funding to the arts through 47 hotel occupancy tax, but due to the pandemic their budget is facing an estimated 70% 48 reduction. He said the budget for the arts increased 126% over the last 5 years, but only has 49 one full time employee and two part time employees. He said that staff is not able expand and 50 provide more services that are in demand. He said he is proud of the work the Arts Commission 51 has done and is proud of staff.