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4 <br /> Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked how the VAD program benefits farmers. <br /> Kim Woods said it is a pride in agriculture program by showing a sign and people can see <br /> that. She said that it can also potentially protect the farm owner from nuisance issues in the future. <br /> Regina Baratta of the Commission for the Environment reviewed some of their biggest <br /> accomplishments in the previous year: <br /> • Provided ranking and comments to the BOCC for four cycles of the Climate Action Fund <br /> program. <br /> • Reviewed and submitted recommendations for the two cycles of Climate Action Tax Grant <br /> application for Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools <br /> • Reviewed and provided recommendations for the Orange County Climate Action Plan <br /> • Created a draft No Net Loss Canopy Policy for Orange County Government <br /> • currently under staff review <br /> • Reviewed and submitted recommendation for Piedmont Wildlife Center Outside Agency <br /> Funding Request Application <br /> She said that they perform the following tasks: <br /> • Co-sponsor"Nature of Orange" Photography Contest <br /> • Liaison to Intergovernmental Parks Work Group <br /> • Review and comment on environmental issues <br /> • Identify priorities for the Lands Legacy Action Plan <br /> • Conduct special studies pertaining to Orange County environment <br /> • Conduct environmental education outreach <br /> She said that they plan to do the following in the next year: <br /> • Provide support to Climate Action Plan implementation <br /> • The CFE will review and rank grant applications for the fifth cycle of the County Climate <br /> Action Grant <br /> • Engage with the right of way task force <br /> • Involvement with the development of the update Land Use Plan <br /> • Progression on no net loss tree canopy retention <br /> • Introduction of an Invasive Species Management Policy <br /> • Advocate for the incorporation of the Eno-New Hope Landscape Connectivity Report in <br /> future county documents and plans <br /> • Continue to support the Upper Neuse River Basin Association and their approach to <br /> solving water quality issues in the Falls Lake Watershed <br /> The CFE will work with staff to develop a Greene Tract "Headwaters Preserve" <br /> She said they would like to revisit the scoring criteria for the climate action plan grant. She said <br /> the commission would like to review and comment on county rezoning requests. She said they <br /> would like to monitor federal regulations and enforcement for PFAS. She said they would like to <br /> continue to address equity and inclusion across all plans. She said they will have several new <br /> members and they have created an orientation sheet to explain what the commission does. She <br /> said that may be helpful for other advisory boards. <br /> Chair Bedford requested that Regina Baratta send the orientation sheet to Deputy Clerk <br /> to the Board Tara May. <br /> Vice-Chair Greene said the state of the environment report should be updated in 2024. <br /> She said the update probably isn't going to happen this year, but it's a valuable document. She <br /> said that she hopes that the commission will update that in the future. <br /> Regina Baratta said that the plan is to update the document in 2025 using data from the <br /> land use plan and climate action plan. <br /> Commissioner Richards said that as the county adopts its strategic plan, it will be helpful <br /> for all advisory boards and commissions to align future activities with the objectives in the strategic <br /> plan. <br />