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Orange County Commission for the Environment approves annual report, photo-contest sponsorship and backs petition to expand climate grant eligibility
Summary
At its Jan. 12 meeting the commission approved its Annual Report and Work Plan, renewed sponsorship of the Nature of Orange Photo Contest, and voted to support a BOCC petition to expand Climate Action Grant funding to include adaptation; the climate petition passed with one no vote and one abstention.
The Orange County Commission for the Environment voted Jan. 12 to approve its Annual Report and Work Plan, to continue sponsoring the Nature of Orange Photo Contest, and to support a petition asking the Board of County Commissioners to expand Climate Action Grant (CCAG) funds to cover adaptation as well as mitigation.
Chair Regina Baratta opened the hybrid meeting at 7:06 p.m. and led members through routine business before the group considered program and policy items. Vice-Chair Ian Morse moved to approve the draft meeting summary from Nov. 10, 2025; Mark Randall seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Abby Mattingly presented last year’s winning images from the Nature of Orange Photo Contest and asked the commission to continue sponsorship. Chair Regina Baratta moved to approve continued sponsorship; Margot Lester seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
Members then discussed edits and inclusions for the commission’s Annual Report and Work Plan, which is due in January. Once a final draft was prepared the commission voted to approve the document for submission; the motion was made by Chair Regina Baratta, seconded by Kristie Mather, and carried with no opposition.
Amy Eckberg presented a petition authored by Board of County Commissioners member Sally Greene proposing that CCAG funds be expanded to include climate adaptation activities in addition to mitigation. After discussion about how the current grant process works and what changes the proposal would require, Chair Regina Baratta moved that the commission support the petition; Mayur Lodaya seconded. Vice-Chair Ian Morse abstained and Commissioner Kristie Mather voted no; the remainder of members present voted yes and the motion passed. Recorded votes for the petition were: yes — Regina Baratta, John Bucher, Aimee Vandemark, Patrick Fn’Piere, Mark Randall, Matthew Ferguson, Mayur Lodaya, Lily Schacht, Leto Copeley, Margot Lester, Jeffrey Ryan (11); no — Kristie Mather (1); abstain — Ian Morse (1). The commission did not specify implementation steps beyond the vote of support.
The meeting concluded with routine updates and an adjournment at 9:04 p.m. by motion of Chair Regina Baratta and second by John Bucher; the adjournment motion passed unanimously.
