Sustainable Broomfield Community Task Force
DRAFT Minutes Meeting
#6
October
8,
2009
The sixth
meeting was focused on report outs from each sub-group: renewable
energy/energy conservation, community education, economic development,
transportation, and natural resources. Each group reported on vision
statements, goals, and potential policies. UCD gave a presentation on
transportation action plans and potential greenhouse gas savings.
Task Force Members Present:
Derek Okubo, Mayor Pat Quinn, Linda Fahrenbruch, Jean Wilkie,
Kevin Jacobs, Patrick Tennyson, Jennifer Kerr, Jini Bates, Irene Lalich,
Felix Flechas, Don Dunshee, Rick Ahrens, Geoff Urland, Roger Kelley,
Beverly Pneuman, Liz Law-Evans, Jeffery Kerrane, Jeremy Fancher, David
Hastings, Marcia Heiser, Klea Jones, Jeffery McPherson
Absent:
Aaron Loertscher, Susan MacGregor, Nicholas Fazzini, Judy Enderle, Bryce
Isaacson, Hal Lunka, Lisa Moore, Sam Taylor, Linda Reynolds, Mark Kuhl
Others in attendance:
Kevin Standbridge, Kathy Schnoor, Meghan Bernard, Shirley Garcia, Bob
Gaiser, Bette Erickson, Adam Schatz, Paul Madigan
6:30
– Announcements
6:35
– Approval of the August 17, 2009 minutes
6:36
– Report out by each sub-group
Renewable Energy Group – Beverly Pneuman
Other members: Linda
Fahrenbruch, Hal Lunka, Judy Enderle, Jeremy Fancher
The Energy group presented their vision statement, which focused on
reliable and affordable energies, minimizing environmental impacts and a
concern for the conservation of energy.
The group found that
Broomfield
has already taken many steps in the right direction for energy in the
Comprehensive Plan, however the group suggested more specific energy
action steps in the Comp Plan would be beneficial.
The Energy Group’s preliminary goals included aspects of
community education, conservation, building energy codes, and renewable
energy technologies. One
policy suggestion was to establish a municipally owned and operated
electricity service.
Another suggestion was to provide “green packets” to all new residents
on the energy programs and steps that could be taken in
Broomfield.
In the discussion on the Energy group’s progress it was brought up that
the vision statement does not address new technologies while the
preliminary goals do. One
Task Force member was concerned about the term LEED certified because
the certification may not necessarily mean that the building saves
energy. Another member was
concerned about the focus on new buildings and wanted to make sure there
was a focus on existing buildings as well.
Finally, it was suggested there be a focus on conservation vs.
technology-based solutions as the group develops their suggestions for
council.
6:55
- Education and Public Outreach – Jean Wilkie
Other members: Jeff McPherson, Kevin Jacobs, Klea Jones, Lisa Moore,
Mark Kuhl
The Education group looked at what the City and
County
of
Broomfield
is currently doing for sustainability education.
They also wanted to look into what schools are doing to educate
the students. The group
suggested that
Broomfield
have a sustainability logo that people can recognize to promote
sustainability. The group
also recognized that education interacts and should be discussed within
the four other committees.
Some other suggestions that came out of the group were recognition of
businesses and citizens for sustainable efforts and a hired staff
dedicated to sustainability in
Broomfield.
Some concerns that were brought up in discussion include the need to
outreach to the homeschooled population as well as the public schools to
include all members of the population.
It was suggested the education group should define sustainability
so that the public is clear on what the goals are.
One member reminded the Task Force of the agreed upon definition
of sustainability in the previous sections.
One member suggested making a contest to involve local artists in
creating a logo for sustainability.
7:15
- Economic Development – Patrick Tennyson
Other members: Don Dunshee, Linda Reynolds, Jessica Erickson, Jennifer
Kerr, Marcia Heiser
The Economic Development group defined their area of focus as the “360°
of Sustainability”. The
group wanted to look at growth as an opportunity to expand.
The group wanted to develop their ideas on incubator and diverse
business development, defining quality of life and what a diverse
employment base means. The
group also wanted to include job opportunities and job creation while
developing recommendations.
The triple bottom line was also a focus of concern.
Their next steps are to define the goals and objectives of the
group.
In discussing the Economic Development group’s progress there were
several clarifying questions.
One member was unclear on the definition of an incubator
business. The definition
was given as a start-up business that does not have the capital to
purchase space, so space is donated to them until they can get up and
running. It was clarified that incubator businesses are not frequently
successful and it is a risk to start such businesses, however it is
necessary because these businesses are our future.
There was concern that the Economic Vision did not address
existing businesses. One
member said that economic sustainability is less clear, so descriptions
of the goals need to be more careful and deliberate.
There was consensus that the aspects of social sustainability
need to be included in all groups’ recommendations.
Another member suggested taking fear out of the vision statement
and focus on what
Broomfield
wants to move towards instead.
7:42
– Transportation – Liz Law-Evans
Other members: Sam Taylor,
David Hastings, Rick Ahrens, Pat Quinn, Geoff Urland
The Transportation group reviewed the Comprehensive Plan Transportation
Vision. After reviewing
this vision, the group developed a Sustainable Transportation Vision
that included a diversity of transportation options, ability to choose
type of transportation, and alternate transportation.
The group presented two goals: to make it easier for people to
get around
Broomfield
and that
Broomfield
will take a leadership role in developing mass transit within and
outside
Broomfield.
Some policies the group wanted to investigate under the first goal were
the construction of trails and bike lanes, trails being used for
transportation rather than just recreation, developers focusing on
non-motorized transportation improvements and TODs.
With the second goal the group wanted to look at further
education of the public on mass transit, more RTD routes with more
frequency, taking a leadership role in regional transportation issues
and investigating the possibility of a locally sponsored mass transit
system.
In discussing the Transportation Group’s progress some concerns were
voiced. One was that bicycles are easy to get to the grocery store, but
it is difficult for people to take their purchases home.
Another concern was the vision did not address pedestrians.
One member spoke up saying there are not many trails in older
neighborhoods and there should be an effort to serve all Broomfielders
with trails. Another
suggestion was the possibility of car-pooling cooperatives or rent-a-car
programs. It was also
brought up that there needs to be communication with what the community
wants so the group can include those ideas in their recommendations.
8:10
– Natural Resources – Felix Flechas
Other members: Irene Lalich, Jini Bates, Jeffery Kerrane, Bryce Isaacson
The Natural Resources group reviewed the Comprehensive Plan and many of
the topics they had identified were included in the plan. The group
looked at the environmental stewardship section and identified goals
that were relevant and ones that need to be added.
The group decided there was significant work in the Environmental
Stewardship section on wildlife, water and land, but there needed to be
more focus on air issues.
There was a particular focus on waste reduction and the difference
between residential and commercial regulations.
This topic brought up some discussion on recycling and defining natural
resources. One member
expressed a need for metrics and measuring recycling and waste in order
to see reductions. Another
member suggested Town and Country Waste as an example of a company that
measures recycling and gives rewards as incentives for recycling.
It was suggested that when the group starts looking at goals,
they should separate them out into categories (waste, water, gas, etc)
that are important to
Broomfield.
One suggestion for the group was to come up with a specific
vision statement that they can work off of.
Several members were uncomfortable with defining the
responsibility of waste in
Broomfield
and separating residential and commercial recycling.
Someone suggested working with the city in partnership with the
community to reduce waste.
In discussing waste, there was concern with the definition of natural
resources and some members suggested renaming the group to something
more suitable, like Environmental Impact.
It was decided the group would meet to discuss the name of the
group and whether or not to change it.
8:40-Transportation
Presentation: Meghan Bernard, UCD Graduate Student
Transportation programs were
presented and their potential greenhouse gas reduction was shown.
These programs were split up into voluntary, behavior change,
policy, and market based programs.
There were several questions on cost per ton of the programs.
These calculations will be provided in the climate action
suggestions with both Buildings and Materials and Waste at a later date.
9:30
Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at
__9:30__
Minutes Prepared by _
_Meghan
Bernard__
Approved by
(Consideration of Approval 11/16/09)
Chair
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