Tri-City Sustainability Plan Minutes
Development Team Meeting - Tuesday, April 7, 2009
www.alherbel.com/SustainableCommunities.htm
Attendees: H.Brandt,
C.Conway, L.Cooper, H.Duncan,
A.Herbel, L.Herbel, G.Jordening, R.Lyles, R.Manasek, R.Moore, L.Morrison,
J.Rogers. Excused: D.Gentry, J.Haberman, J.Velde
Public attending: H.Buhr, S.Klassert, K.Kropuenske, J.Metcalf, S.Weideman.
Definition of Sustainability / discussion
“Meeting our needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” – from the 1987 World Commission on Environment and Development (Brundtland Report)
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Our Community Sustainability Mission:
“The mission of the Tri-Cities sustainability effort is to promote the healthy well-being of its citizens in a sustainable environment that brings economic benefits to the citizens and governmental entities, now and in the future.”
Approval of Minutes
Motion made to approve March 3 minutes by L.Cooper, B.Manasek second, motion passed. Motion made to approve March 17 minutes by H.Brandt, C.Conway second, motion passed.
New Business
A request of guests to attend our meeting and provide input to the Tri-City Sustainability Plan development, keys toward Inventory of Sustainability, was met by four people representing Keep Scottsbluff Gering Beautiful (Kathy Kropuenske), Gering Landfill (Henry Buhr), Gering Building Inspection (Sam Klassert), and Scottsbluff Recycling (Jerry Metcalf). Mayor of Gering Susan Weideman came to this meeting at the request of L.Danielzuk.
Direction was underway about how a sample template was to be utilized in the Resource Management goals/strategies, and then to be followed by the Built Environment. As this direction was being introduced, Kropuenske declared herself a hostile attendee and requested co-chairs Al and Lois Herbel to give everyone present an explanation as to what this meeting was all about. Kropuenske ensured everyone that subject matter in the template provided was what she was already doing, these were her programs, and that she wanted to know why we did not volunteer for her programs such as Valley Vision, recycling efforts, etc. We tried to explain the TCSP encompassed more areas than just recycling. Sustainability is defined as equal representation of people, profit and planet considerations in decision making and community development. TCSP progress to this point included community self-examination for what the community had in place and what could make it better. (ex. Recycling – Keep America Beautiful has established many recycling programs for various items such as plastic, paper, electronics, medications, etc. The plan could encourage the city employees to recycle in their daily operations through the Keep America Beautiful program, thus enhancing that program by having more community members involved in recycling and hoping that the city could model best practice so more of the community would recycle.) While Kropuenske was asked to serve on the original TCSP team, she declined.
Weideman questioned the steps taken toward authority for TCSP team development, the team membership itself, and that “baby steps” were not being taken in regard to this plan. She indicated she could only support some parts of the plan but did not indicate what those parts were.
Kropuenske and Buhr were asked to share data to help establish a baseline for measurement of success. Both refused to share data to be used as indicators for the communities’ sustainability plan. This first section of two parts exceeded time allotted by 30 minutes.
Sam Klassert indicated that there were no requests for building permits to renovate downtown apartments. (Built Environment - walkable community)
Jerry Metcalf provided the list of materials he recycles at his business but did not have records on amounts of recycling by tons.
Review of the vision statement was tabled. TCSP team work on Resource Management and Built Environment action parts of the Tri-Cities Sustainability Plan will be revisited later.
Closing Remarks / Next Team Meeting
Meeting adjourned at 8:30pm. Next meeting: April 17th at 7:00 Ref: 20090407MinutesTSCP.doc