City of Lawrence - Sustainability Advisory Board

October 11, 2017

 

Members Present - Sharon Ashworth, Michael Steinle, Dale Nimz, Rachel Kraus, Travis Robinett, Jackie Carroll, Ma Ko Quah Jones

 

Staff Present – Eileen Horn, Helen Schnoes, Kathy Richardson

 

Public Present - Three members present

 

ATTENTION TO THE COMMISSION: Will be submitting comments on comprehensive plan. Highlights of our discussion include to change the “Natural Resources” section should change to “Environmental Stewardship.” We very strongly support section 6.1, adopt a Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Plan.

 

I. Bring meeting to order

 

II. Approve September Minutes

  1. Sharon, Michael seconds

 

III. Administrative items

  1. Update on open SAB position
    1. Will be going through for next meeting.
  2. Update on Sustainability Director position
    1. Still in hiring process; may be opportunity for SAB members to engage with finalists
  3. Official transition from Eileen to Helen as SAB liaison from now until new Sustainability Director hired and up to speed. Helen in new role with Douglas County as Sustainability & Food Systems Planner.

 

IV. Reports from Committees

  1. Land Use
    1. Update on Comprehensive Plan comments. Dale found SAB goals in document and commented whether SAB is working or planning to work on those goals. Also recommend adding “100% Clean Energy by 2030” goal. Michael noted that sustainability has no definition in the document.
  2. Water Conservation
    1. FAQ in progress
  3. Energy Conservation
    1. E-mailed commission and candidates about LEED policy. Responses from some but not others.

 

V. Comprehensive Plan

  1. How to go about comments
    1. Suggestion to get main points together and submit to city, then individually comment on specifics.
    2. Comments discussed for approval:
      1. Implementation plan’s intention and future use not clear. Struck some members as repetitive with no tactics. Group questioned if implementation should be separate section or integrated into chapters.
      2. Could be helpful to have clearer linkages to relevant city / county documents related to the Comp Plan, to show where the details of implementation are located. Mapping across documents needs to be made explicit and easy.
      3. The vision under Chapter 6 Natural Resources reads like a sustainability vision -- balancing economics, equity and environment -- which is good. However, the group noticed that in other sections, like economic development, the vision is not couched in terms of “balancing” economic growth with environmental and social concerns. Group thought the sustainability framework could be more evenly integrated throughout the document. For example, expand the introduction of document to include sentiment of sustainability within the Natural Resources section intro.
      4. Add a definition of sustainability in the document. Perhaps even a graphic sidebar with a descriptor, like the “What’s a watershed?” graphic. It can be the City’s current definition on the sustainability site.
      5. Natural Resources section should be renamed “Environmental Stewardship,” as waste management and air quality aren’t necessarily natural resource issues, environmental stewardship is more encompassing.
      6. Climate Change Adaptation Plan should be emphasized as a key priority with strong SAB support, including mitigation.
      7. SAB will share with the Steering Committee how current board goals (short term and long term) and successes connect to components of the comp plan.
      8. Some discussion of level of inclusion concerning traffic and gentrification in Neighborhoods chapter.
      9. Sustainability Advisory Board should be included for all sections, sustainability touches every topic in the document, such as economic and social sustainability.
    3. Approved all comments to submit by Oct 23. Dale makes motion, Ma Ko Quah seconds. Comments due to Travis by Oct 18th.

VI. Food Policy Council update:

    1. Subcommittee meeting for food waste reduction goal. Nicholas Ward presented on vermiculture (using worms to break down organic food waste), has worked the past several years with Lawrence school district. Operating out of Sunrise Project. Discussed further options with loss of grant funding. Schools have a different grant to conduct food waste audits, perhaps the school can help continue the process. All part of food waste reduction goals of the Food System Plan. Will update SAB when there are opportunities to collaborate.
    2. Kathy shared that Solid Waste is in a much better position now that compost pickup of yard waste has changed to match trash days.

VII. Staff Report:

    1. Helen is into her first weeks as Sustainability and Food Systems Planner.
    2. New staff team on Multi-Modal Transportation, new Sustainability Director or Helen will be on it.

VIII. Action items:

    1. Make comp plan comments

 

IX. Member Updates

  1. Sharron giving presentation on Monday (Oct. 16) at Library on water and Kansas.

 

X. Adjourn meeting

  1. Michael moves, Travis seconds.