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Climate Council Meeting Agenda for

Orange County · Climate Council
Thursday, May 14, 2026

Other Environment and sustainabilityHealth and human servicesIntergovernmental agreementsWater and sewer

Agenda document Minutes Watch Meeting recap

What's on this agenda

The Orange County Climate Council met May 14 with staff from the county, Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough around one table. Drought and water conservation took a block of the agenda, led by OWASA, and staff from three governments reported jointly on the Heat Action Plan.

Chapel Hill briefed the group on its electrification program and Hillsborough on Climate Challenge 2026. The council then broke into small groups for what the agenda calls barrier buster conversations. It does not meet again until November 18.

Summarized from the published agenda. Read the agenda itself before acting on it.

Meeting recap

What happened, drawn from the records published after the meeting. Minutes

Staff from Orange County, Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough gave the council a joint update on the Heat Action Plan, which the Orange County Board of Commissioners approved in March and each town ratified in April. OWASA's Mary Tiger presented on drought conditions and the reservoirs behind the region's water supply: Cane Creek, University Lake and the Quarry Reservoir. Hillsborough's Cathy Vinski walked through the town's Climate Challenge 2026 campaign and played one of its videos.

Chapel Hill's John Richardson updated the group on the town's planned electrification program, saying Chapel Hill is working with Central Pines to settle on an approach and hopes to launch it by the council's next meeting. Members set their next meeting for November 19.

How the votes went

The Climate Council is an advisory body; its minutes record no votes, only staff reports and discussion.

From the published minutes.

Speaking at this meeting

Orange County's own rules for public comment — check them before you rely on anything here.

Agenda items (6)

Staff or committee report · 4Discussion item · 2
  1. II Heat Action Plan Update
    Staff or committee report Environment and sustainabilityHealth and human servicesIntergovernmental agreements
    A joint update on the Heat Action Plan from Orange County, Carrboro and Chapel Hill staff.
  2. III Drought/Water Conservation Measures
    Discussion item Environment and sustainabilityWater and sewer
    OWASA led a discussion on drought conditions and water conservation measures.
  3. IV Electrification Program Update
    Staff or committee report Environment and sustainability
    An update on Chapel Hill's electrification program.
  4. V Climate Challenge 2026
    Staff or committee report Environment and sustainability
    An update from Hillsborough on Climate Challenge 2026.
  5. VI Barrier Buster Small Group Conversation
    Discussion item Environment and sustainability
    Small group conversations on the obstacles to climate work across the member governments.
  6. VII Upcoming Event Updates
    Staff or committee report
    Updates on upcoming events. The council next meets November 18.

Agenda changes

What moved between published versions of this agenda. Item numbers shift constantly as things are inserted, so only genuine additions and removals are listed.

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