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6 <br /> Kim Piracci said the commission will be working on several projects that align with <br /> BOCC goals in the next year. She said they will review applications for the climate grants, <br /> review the tree policy for county-owned lands, work with staff to develop a Greene Tract <br /> Headwaters preserve, form a joint subcommittee with the Parks and Recreation Council, and <br /> support the county's work in water quality issues in the Falls Lake Watershed with the Upper <br /> Neuse River Basin Association using the interim alternative implementation approach. She said <br /> they would like to review and comment on county rezoning requests. She said they are going to <br /> start reviewing the 2024 state of the environment report. She said they want to move to <br /> actionable recommendations as opposed to a statement on the environment. She said that <br /> there have been recent developments on their workplan. She said just this week, Chris Hirni <br /> spoke to them about the roadside wildflower preservation program and that she spoke with <br /> Johnnie Randall about this, and he is very enthusiastic about getting it going again. She said <br /> that will include many members from lots of different boards and commissions. She said that <br /> Johnnie Randall said he felt that they could get a lot more if a county commissioner sat on the <br /> committee. She said they are updating their bylaws. She said the biggest update is including <br /> climate change in their bylaws. She listed some of their emerging issues. She said they would <br /> like to support the commissioners and staff in creating a climate action plan. She said climate <br /> change has urgent impacts on public health and they would like to work with the Board of <br /> Health on that. She said they would like to expand compost collection. She said they would <br /> like to participate in the county's long-term transportation plan. She said they would equity to <br /> inform all their recommendations and they look forward to using the tools provided by the racial <br /> equity plan. She said they would like to improve the diversity of their commission. She asked <br /> that the Board wait for the commission to make a recommendation for filling vacancies so that <br /> they can make sure they are filling their diversity goals. She said they are participating in the <br /> earth day celebration on April 22 with two tables and the evening event three tables. There will <br /> be an outreach table to help recruitment. <br /> Chair Price asked for the dates and locations for the Earth Day events. <br /> Kim Piracci said the Earth Day celebration is on April 22 from 5:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. at <br /> the Carrboro Town Commons. She said there will be a children's parade, raffle, activities, and <br /> live music. She said there is a lot of interest in the event. She said that the Earth Evening <br /> coincides with the Last Friday celebration in Hillsborough on April 29th at 6:00 p.m. <br /> Commissioner Richards said she hoped the work on the Greene Tract engages with the <br /> community that will be residents there. <br /> Christian Hirni said the commission's work is related to the development of the <br /> Headwaters Preserve within the Greene Tract. <br /> Commissioner Richards said she just wanted it to include the community, whatever that <br /> it is. <br /> David Stancil said staff understands that it is not quite time for developing the preserve. <br /> He said they want to develop a plan to be ready for when the time is right, and that they <br /> planned to work with the community. He said there are steps that must happen first but there <br /> will certainly be community engagement for that. <br /> Chair Price said it would be part of the Greene Tract process. <br /> Commissioner Fowler said she was pleased that they included work on the climate. <br /> Commissioner McKee said he appreciated the comments about the Board being more <br /> deliberative in the process for filling vacancies. <br /> Chair Price thanked the commission for moving along with the times and including the <br /> climate in their bylaws. <br /> Fred Joiner and Katie Murray presented the work plan for the Arts Commission. <br /> Fred Joiner read some of the accomplishments by the Arts Commission in the previous <br /> year. He said they paid $68,835 in direct payments to individual artists and programs. He <br />