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15 <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Bedford, seconded by Commissioner Fowler, for <br /> Commissioners Hamilton and Commissioner McKee to create a draft charge for review by the <br /> Board on November 15, 2022. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Bedford, seconded by Commissioner McKee, to <br /> appoint a facilitator to lead the Schools Safety Task Force. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> b. Consulting Services Award to Blue Strike Environmental Consulting for the Orange <br /> County Climate Action Plan and Approval of Budget Amendment#2-A <br /> The Board approved a Professional Services contract with Blue Strike Environmental Consulting <br /> for the preparation of an Orange County Climate Action Plan, and to approve Budget Amendment <br /> #2-A. <br /> BACKGROUND: As part of the County's, on-going efforts to accelerate climate change mitigation <br /> actions in Orange County, a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was issued to identify a consultant <br /> to help lead the climate action planning process. An evaluation review committee consisting of the <br /> Director of Asset Management Services, the Director of the Environment, Agriculture, Parks and <br /> Recreation, the Deputy Financial Services Director, the Sustainability Programs Manager, and a <br /> member from the Commission for the Environment evaluated Blue Strike's proposal. The group <br /> unanimously recommend Blue Strike Environmental Consulting to develop the County's climate <br /> action plan. <br /> Blue Strike Environmental has helped develop over 100 climate action plans and has local <br /> experience including a recently completed Renewable Energy Plan for Durham County, a Climate <br /> Action Plan for Research Triangle Institute, and a Solar Energy Development Evaluation for <br /> Chapel Hill Transit. The evaluation committee contacted both local and out of state references <br /> and was very impressed with the feedback received. Blue Strike Consulting demonstrated the <br /> desired knowledge, innovation, and proven track record of working with local governments that <br /> the review committee was looking for. <br /> The Climate Action Plan will lay the foundation and identify the specific strategies that will help <br /> the County meet the climate change mitigation goals set by the Board in recent years: <br /> • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions community-wide by 26 percent by 2025 (from 2005 <br /> levels). <br /> • Transition to a 100% renewable energy-based economy by 2050. <br /> Key elements of Blue Strike Environmental Consulting's proposal include: <br /> • project coordination <br /> • an updated Greenhouse Gas inventory <br /> • a robust community/stakeholder engagement process <br /> • review and synthesis of Town climate action plans <br /> • identification of specific climate actions <br /> • methodology for implementation, evaluation and updating, and <br /> • presentation of draft and final climate action plans. <br />