Mayor & Council » Boards, Commissions & Committees » Citizen Advisory Boards and Commissions » Environmental Advisory Board » EAB Annual Reports

2011 Annual Report

Print
Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option
Font Size: + -
RSS

STAFF REPORT
Town Council, September 8, 2011

Environmental Advisory Board Annual Report (AD12-002)
Consideration of the annual report from the Environmental Advisory Board (EAB)
Speaker: Mr. Oliver Pau, EAB Chair

From: Emily Barrett, Sustainability Manager
Prepared by: Oliver Pau, EAB Chair and Emily Barrett, Sustainability Manager
Approved by: Benjamin T. Shivar, Town Manager
Approved by: Michael J. Bajorek, Assistant Town Manager

Executive Summary: Council requested that all Town boards and commissions make an annual report to the Town Council. This report details the activities of the board.

Background: Council established the EAB on March 13, 2008. The Environmental Advisory Board is made up of nine members. Members are appointed from the community at large, technical/professional and affiliate partner institutions. Current members, along with their appointment category, interest and/or expertise and personal and/or professional affiliations are listed below:

Name Appt Type
 Interest/Technical Expertise
Personal/Professional Affiliation 
Elizabeth Adams  At large  Transit-oriented development and stormwater  UNC Institute for the Environment, Black Creek Watershed Association 
Judith Analco, Vice Chair  Technical Expert  Human exposure and infectious disease outbreaks  EnviroKey, LLP 
Christopher Flythe  Partner  Stormwater
Mulkey Engineers and Consultants 
Stephen Johnston
Technical Expert  Energy and public utility economics  Veritas Economic Consulting, LLC 
Dan McFarland
Technical Expert  Energy efficient building  Southern Energy Management 
Kellie Milam
At large  Agricultural biotech  Bayer Crop Science 
Robert Myer
Partner
Landscape architect/ green contracting  Skanska USA Building 
Oliver Pau, Chair  At large  Brownfield redevelopment  Cherokee 
Amanda Zidek-Vanega  At large  Energy policy  The North Carolina Solar Center
Reid Miner  Alternate
Carbon accounting 

Forest Products Professional

Council Liaison : Julie Robison
Staff Liaison: Emily Barrett

The EAB was established to provide feedback and advice to council on policies, ordinances and administrative procedures regarding environmental protection and conservation of energy and natural resources. The board meets monthly, typically the first Tuesday of the month, with the exception of no meeting in July and December.

The EAB established a guiding principle that the Town of Cary should lead by example. Increasing the environmental stewardship of the community will enhance the quality of life of all who live and work in the Town by making it cleaner, more pleasant and healthier. The Town of Cary must ensure that its own projects, initiatives and operations are sustainable – environmentally, economically and socially – as it encourages and regulates such sustainable actions throughout the community.

Highlights of the board’s activities over the past year include:

1. Responded and gave advice to council and staff on the following items:

  1. Sustainability Communications Plan
  2. Sustainable Site Design Standards
  3. LED Streetlight Pilot Project
  4. Emissions Inventory of Town Operations
  5. C-Tran Services and Transportation Demand Management Efforts
  6. Town’s Solid Waste and Recycling Program
  7. Solar Development Possibilities
  8. Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Master Plan

2. EAB Initiatives:

  1. Per EAB recommendation, Town applied for and received the NCLM Green Challenge Advanceddesignation (10/2010), the greenhouse gas emissions inventory was finalized (3/2011), and strategic energy planning is taking place.
  2. Stormwater Master Planning Involvement
  3. Green Building Policy Recommendation
  4. Prescription Drug Take Back Events & Communication—expand focus to include environmental aspects

3. Community Engagements:

  1. Staffed the first Sustainability Tent at the 2011 SpringDaze Event and served as Ambassadors to the Earth Day Lane. 
  2. Participated in Town board, committee and public comment meetings to provide environmental input on relevant topics (e.g. Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory Board)
  3. Provided standing public comment agenda item to enable community participation in EAB meetings

4. Evaluated Governance of Board to enable board progress and knowledge transfer for future boards:

  1. Issues Index.
  2. Repository of EAB-related documents.

5. Identification of emerging environmental issues.

Fiscal Impact: N/A

Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends that Council accept the report of the Environmental Advisory Board.