Agenda 01-20-2026; 8-a - Minutes for November 14, 2025, November 18, 2025, November 21, 2025, December 1, 2025, and December 9, 2025 Meetings

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3 1 million in energy burden and energy reduction program grant with Durham and Granville counties. 2 She also highlighted the Town of Chapel Hill Tree Planning project, initially kick-started by the 3 Community Climate Action Grant. The success of this initiative paved the way for applying for and 4 receiving a $25,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation. With this in mind, she petitioned for 5 Sustainability staff and the Commission for the Environment to consider expanding grant offerings 6 to include climate change adaptation programs. 7 Vice-Chair Hamilton said she weeps for our county, for our country, and for our residents, 8 immigrant and non-immigrant who are being traumatized by the actions of our federal 9 government. Recognizing November as Native American Heritage Month, she remembered the 10 Trail of Tears and noted that many soldiers who defended this country were immigrants and Native 11 Americans. She emphasized that America's success was based on the labor and talents of 12 diverse people who came both voluntarily and involuntarily, and that this success is now at risk. 13 Commissioner McKee said he attended both Veteran's Day events. He shared that his 14 draft number in 1970 was 296, with the draft reaching 292 before being halted after Christmas. 15 He said his grandfather served in World War I in France and came closer to dying from the 16 Spanish flu than from combat action. Commissioner McKee reported being contacted by several 17 people about housing issues in Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough, and planned to visit these 18 sites. Having voted for the noise ordinance, he indicated he might petition at the next meeting to 19 reconsider it after being contacted by many farmers. 20 Commissioner Fowler shared that she attended Veterans Day events, the Board retreat 21 on wells and septic systems, as well as Tax Assessment Work Group meetings. At the Triangle 22 West TPO meeting this morning, they received a presentation from Molly DeMarco about social 23 marketing and education to enhance public transit use. The TPO granted pre-authorization to 24 release the 2025 MTP plan, adopted FY 26-35 TIP amendment one, and approved three projects 25 for express design. They also reviewed a draft fund balance policy for January approval. She said 26 she feels sad that Triangle residents feel scared and vulnerable, and is grateful for the sharing of 27 resources that residents can turn to. She welcomed attendees in multiple languages, including 28 Tutelo, Cherokee, and Lumbee, in honor of Native American Heritage Month. 29 Commissioner McKee added that he had spoken with Sheriff Blackwood and was 30 confident the Sheriff would take his responsibilities seriously to ensure the safety and security of 31 everyone in Orange County. 32 33 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations 34 a. Native American Heritage Month Proclamation 35 The Board approved a proclamation recognizing November 2025 as Native American Heritage 36 Month. 37 38 BACKGROUND: Native American Heritage Month, observed each November, honors the 39 history, culture, and contributions of Native American and Indigenous peoples, acknowledging 40 their significant influence on the formation and development of the United States. This observance 41 recognizes the perseverance and resilience of Native peoples who have maintained their identity 42 and traditions despite centuries of hardship, including forced removal, assimilation, and systemic 43 injustices. 44 45 This month-long recognition highlights the diversity of Native nations, languages, customs, and 46 histories across the United States, which includes the eight state-recognized tribes of North 47 Carolina. The Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, whose ancestral homeland includes what 48 is now Orange County, continue to be an integral part of the County's cultural and historical fabric.