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Board of Commissioners — BOC Growth, Sustainability & Economic Strength Committee

Wake County · Board of Commissioners
Monday, October 26, 2026 at 2:00 pm · Wake County Justice Center

Committee meeting Environment and sustainabilityArts and public artCybersecurity and IT systemsEthics and transparencyPublic facilities

Agenda document Meeting page Watch

What's on this agenda

Wake County government gets 22 percent of its energy from clean sources, by staff's count, against a goal of 80 percent by 2035 and 100 percent by 2050. The sustainability update to this commissioners' committee says the figure has barely moved since FY2019. Staff call progress flat and point to a fleet that grew 18 percent since FY2019, with 80 percent of the growth in vehicles that get under 10 miles per gallon. They also say Senate Bill 266, which removed an intermediate goal of a 70 percent cut in carbon emissions by 2030, "could stall progress". Building energy use per square foot has fallen 15 percent, and the county has more than 1.4 megawatts of solar on its buildings.

The committee also asks for direction on the arts. Assistant County Manager Michael James and Jenn McEwen of United Arts Wake County review the county's arts support, including $553,620 for United Arts in FY2027, and the Cultivating Creativity arts plan. The chief information security officer reports on a September phishing scheme in which fake permit invoices carrying real application details were emailed to contractors. The county says its systems were not breached and it never emails invoices.

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

Speaking at this meeting

Public comment runs 5:30 to 6 p.m. at the first regular meeting of the month and 2:30 to 3 p.m. at the second. Speakers get three minutes. Written comments can be submitted online between 9 a.m. and noon on the day of a regular meeting.

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

Agenda items (7)

Procedural · 3Staff or committee report · 2Minutes approval · 1Discussion item · 1
  1. Meeting Called to Order: Committee Chair Shinica Thomas
    Procedural
  2. 1. Agenda
    Procedural
  3. 2. Approval of the Minutes of the Growth, Sustainability & Economic Strength Committee Meeting of March 23, 2026
    Minutes approval Environment and sustainability
  4. 3. Cybersecurity Updates
    Staff or committee report Cybersecurity and IT systemsEthics and transparency
    Chief Information Security Officer Lisa Jones describes fraudulent emails sent from September 16, 2026 to contractors with active permit applications, carrying accurate application details and fake fee invoices. The county says it never emails invoices and that it can be impersonated without its systems being compromised.
  5. 4. Cultivating Creativity Arts Plan and Strategic Plan Considerations
    Discussion item Arts and public art
    Staff and United Arts Wake County review the county's arts spending, from the public art policy for new buildings to hospitality tax projects and a $553,620 FY2027 allocation to United Arts, and present the Cultivating Creativity arts plan. The committee is asked for direction on whether arts and the creative economy belong in the county strategic plan.
  6. 5. Sustainability Updates
    Staff or committee report Environment and sustainabilityPublic facilities
    The county's clean energy share stands at 22 percent against an 80 percent goal for 2035. Staff cite a fast-growing, low-mileage vehicle fleet, an 8 percent larger building portfolio and swings in Duke Energy's generation mix, and preview energy projects such as the detention center.
  7. Adjourn
    Procedural

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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