Minutes-11-02-2023-Business Meeting

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19 Commissioner Fowler clarified that it was a GHG reduction equivalent to the reduction of cars not the actual removal of that many cars. Chair Bedford asked how to think about, and weigh, economic development with climate action. She said they are doing economic development around the western part of the county, and she is trying to figure out how to do this with environment in mind while the need is also there to diversify the tax base. Kristen Cushman said ICLEI recommends using the Google Environmental Insite Explorer, an online software program by Google that uses satellite imagery to track movement of vehicles within a certain jurisdiction. She said you can upload county fleet information to it. She said it would reflect all of the cars coming through the county and it only captures if the vehicle makes a stop. She said she is unsure exactly how the technology works but it is a guideline everywhere but California. She said that economic development, in terms of building, she suggested a level of emissions per square foot for measurement. She said that she can provide that number and if that is agreed upon, that might help when the board is considering new developments. PUBLIC COMMENT: Regina Baratta asked the Board to support and approve the Orange County Climate Action Plan. She said the plan is comprehensive and inclusive. She said that input was sought from stakeholders and residents. She said it will help offer high impact methods on ways to reduce energy use, waste produced, GHG, and it helps increase resiliency against climate disasters. Kristie Mather said she is also on the Commission for the Environment. She said it is critical to take action on GHG reductions. She said that this is a good plan. She said the climate action tracker is a great way to stay accountable and keep on track. She said setting out the governance strategies is significant. She said the plan also considers those communities most impacted by climate, which is critically important. She encouraged the Board to adopt the CAP as presented and prioritize its implementation. Chair Bedford said she thinks sprawl needs to be defined. She said while they might support density in towns, she needs to know how to think about it with impacts on rural buffer, affordable housing, and economic development. She said that this would be a future discussion. Kristen Cushman said it goes back to 2008 and that there was a focus on sustainability in the plan. She said the land use consultant and team can use this as a guidance document. Chair Bedford said while they are not directly responsible for schools, they completely fund the capital needs, and she thinks the county can have more control. She said that they have been using the Article 46 sales tax for updates and she suggested that the schools be included in the future and that they work more closely with them. Commissioner Hamilton said she also wanted to underline the issue of schools. She said that she thinks it is important to understand the impact of development decisions around the capital needs of schools. She said that understanding the energy savings around that and if that can be added to the dashboard, it would be very helpful. Kristen Cushman said that can be done. Commissioner Fowler said she is pleased with how it is aligned with all of the other plans. She said that the strategies seem achievable, it assigns specific people to complete tasks, and this seems very approachable and doable. She said the dashboard will also help with engagement. She said that she supports funding the additional staff to make sure this happens. She said the county already has a lot of things in place that are suggested, such as land conservation and the rural buffer. She said that vehicle miles and affordable housing are related, and it aligns with so many of their existing goals. Commissioner Greene said she agrees with Commissioner Fowler's comments. She said that she appreciated that it points out partners throughout levels of government, private, and non-