On the agenda: Hillsborough meeting — data center (Jun 8)

AGENDA
Orange County Commission for the Environment
June 8, 2026

7:00 p.m., Bonnie B. Davis Environment and Agricultural Center

Time Item Title
7:00

I.

Call to Order

7:01

II.

Additions or Changes to Agenda

7:03

III.

Approval of DRAFT Meeting Summary – May 11, 2025

7:05

IV.

Piedmont Wildlife Center Presentation

7:25

V.

Orange County Trails Plan Presentation

7:50

VI.

CFE Membership and Recruitment

8:00

VII.

County Climate Action Grant

8:10

VIII. PFAS Update

8:20

IX.

State of the Environment Updates

8:30

X.

Sub-Committee Breakouts

8:50

XI.

The CFE will consider approval of meeting summary from the last meeting. Action needed (Attachment 1)

The CFE will receive a presentation for a proposal to turn the farmstead at Twin Creeks into an operations base for
Piedmont Wildlife, with a nature center located within the park

The CFE will receive a presentation from Dave Stancil of the draft County Trails Plan and provide comments.

Introduce three new applicants (2 confirmed attending the meeting on Monday and one more possible candidate to
consider). Vote on last month's applicant: Sonia Rovner. Action Needed

The CFE will discuss status of Board of County Commissioner Funding for Climate Action Grants.

CFE Member Jeff Ryan to give short update on UNC Well Collaboration Study and PFAS Remediation Tour.

The CFE will discuss the final versions of each section due on 06/15 and the summer editing schedule.

Each group will address any missing materials, data, and provide updates for State of the Environment
Report.

Updates and Information Items

Staff and/or CFE members will provide updates on the following items:
•
Committee Summaries
•
No July Meeting
•
July Clothing Swap at Eno Mill
•
Promote Heat Action Flyer
Any other new information from CFE members and staff

9:00

XII.

Adjournment
* Next Meeting Date: August 10, 2026; (Bonnie B Davis Environment
and Agricultural Center)

ORANGE COUNTY — ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Commission for the Environment | May 11, 2026

ORANGE COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD
MEETING MINUTES

Commission for the Environment - May 11, 2026 | DRAFT – Pending Approval

Meeting Information
Board Name:

Commission for the Environment

Meeting Date:

Monday, May 11, 2026

Meeting Time:

7:04PM - 9:01PM EST

Location:

Bonnie B. Davis Environment and Agriculture Center and Microsoft Teams

Chair:

Regina Baratta

Staff Liaison:

Wesley Poole, Water Resources Coordinator, Department of Environment,
Agriculture, Parks & Recreation; Chris Hirni, Land Conservation Manager, Department
of Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Recreation; Kalani Allen, Communications
Manager, Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Recreation

Minutes Recorded Wesley Poole, Water Resources Coordinator
By:
Next Meeting:

June 8, 2026, 7:00PM EST, Bonnie B. Davis Environment and Agriculture Center

Attendance
Board Members
Board Member Name

Title / Designation

Present

Absent

Excused

Leto Copeley

Member At-Large

X

☐

☐

John Bucher

Member At-Large

X

☐

☐

Matthew Ferguson

Member At-Large

X

☐

☐

Ian Morse

Vice Chair

X

☐

☐

Patrick Fn’Piere

Member At-Large

X

☐

☐

Kristie Mather

Member At-Large

X

☐

☐

Jeffrey Ryan

Member At-Large

X

☐

☐

Aimee Vandemark

Member At-Large

X

☐

☐

Mark Randall

Member At-Large

X

☐

☐

Lily Schacht

Member At-Large

☐

X

☐

Regina Baratta

Chair

X

☐

☐

Staff & Guests Present

Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Recreation | DRAFT — Pending Approval | Page 1 of 4

ORANGE COUNTY — ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Commission for the Environment | May 11, 2026

Name

Role / Organization

Wesley Poole

Water Resources Coordinator / Department of
Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Recreation /
Orange County

Chris Hirni

Land Conservation Manager / Department of
Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Recreation /
Orange County

Mel Gilles

Sustainability Projects Analyst / County Manager’s
Office / Orange County

Amy Eckberg

Sustainability Program Manager / County
Manager’s Office / Orange County

Sonia Rovner

Applicant for Commission for the Environment

Quorum & Call to Order
Quorum established: X Yes ☐ No Members present: 10 of 11 required for quorum.
Meeting called to order at 7:04PM EST by Chair Regina Baratta.
Request to add agenda item regarding PFAS Well Study.

Approval of Previous Minutes
Minutes from the April 13, 2026 meeting were:
• X Approved as presented
• ☐ Approved with the following corrections: [Note corrections]
• ☐ Deferred to next meeting
Motion to approve: Chair Regina Baratta | Second: Kristie Mather | Vote: 10 – 0 – 0 | X Carried ☐ Failed

Public Comment (Non-Agenda Items)
X No public comment received.

Agenda Items — Discussion & Action Summary
Agenda Item / Topic

Summary of Discussion

Action / Decision

Owner

Due

4. CFE Membership

CFE introduced new
applicant, Sonia Rovner,
and went around the room
introducing members /
staff.

Chair Regina
Baratta asked
members to
continue sharing
interest with
potential
applicants.

None

None

Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Recreation | DRAFT — Pending Approval | Page 2 of 4

ORANGE COUNTY — ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Commission for the Environment | May 11, 2026

Agenda Item / Topic

Summary of Discussion

Action / Decision

Owner

Due

5. Earth Day and Ripple
Award Presentation

Chair Regina Baratta led a
discussion of the Earth Day
event held at Blackwood
Farm Park on April 22nd
along with presentation of
the first Ripple Awards.

Event went well but
discussed ways to
make things flow
better and reach
people that didn’t
know it was
occurring.

None

None

6. PFAS Well Study

Jeff Ryan led a discussion
about NC Collaboratory’s
upcoming PFAS Well Study
to sample wells in OWASA
biosolid application areas.

None

None

None

7. State of Environment
Discussion

CFE discussed progress
made on State of the
Environment report. Chair
Regina Baratta asked for 1
person / Sub-Committee to
help with final edits. Aimee
Vandemark provided an
update on the Tree Canopy
study.

Continue working
on report.

None

None

8. Sub-Committee
Breakouts

Each Sub-Committee
worked on their portions of
the State of the
Environment report and
discussed Top 3 threats
and Top 5
recommendations.

If not yet
completed, please
add threats /
recommendations
to shared Google
Folder. Matthew
Ferguson will draft
a statement
regarding emerging
issue data centers.

None

None

Motions & Votes
Motion / Resolution

Moved By

Seconded By

Vote (Y–N–A)

Result

None

None

None

None

☐ Pass
☐ Fail

Action Items & Follow-Up
Action Item

Responsible Party

Target Date

None

None

None

Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Recreation | DRAFT — Pending Approval | Page 3 of 4

ORANGE COUNTY — ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Commission for the Environment | May 11, 2026

Announcements & Next Meeting
1. Leto Copeley provided an update on how well the Faucets to Floods Forum went and Chair Regina
Baratta stated that the Climate Challenge had several good events throughout April.
2. Mel Gilles notified the CFE that a Clothing Swap would be held in July at the Eno Arts Mill.
3. Amy Eckberg notified the CFE that the CCAG would be accepting applications starting in mid-June
so please share.
4. Mel Gilles shared the Water/Rest/Shade Flyer with the CFE.
Next Meeting: June 8, 2026, 7:00PM EST, Bonnie B. Davis Environment and Agriculture Center

Adjournment
Motion to adjourn: Chair Regina Baratta | Second: Vice Chair Ian Morse | Vote: Unanimous / 10 – 0 – 0
Meeting adjourned at 9:01PM EST by Chair Regina Baratta.

Certification & Approval
These minutes are a summary record of the meeting proceedings and are DRAFT until formally approved at the next
regular meeting.

Prepared by:

Approved by (Chair):

Wesley Poole, Water Resources Coordinator

Chair Regina Baratta

Date: May 13, 2026

Date: ___________________________

Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Recreation | DRAFT — Pending Approval | Page 4 of 4