January Regular Monthly Sustainability Meeting

1. Welcome.

2. Presentation by the Erik Knutzen, co-author of The Urban Homestead on sustainable urban living. Discussed the importance of action on multiple levels: the individual, the neighborhood and city.
i. Individual opportunities: growing food; rooftop garden kits (see Chicago examples); self-watering containers; herbs on windowsill and balcony; fermentation
ii. Neighborhood opportunities: referenced work by Nancy Klem in Chicago where a homeless shelter has begun food composting/worm bins on site and sell bags of compost at a farmer’s market; complete street strategies; and the need to serve businesses as well as residents
iii. City opportunities: referenced the City Repair Movement in Seattle; neighborhood orchards
iv. For more information: www.homegrownrevolution.com

3. Henry Proctor raised his concern about trash on the street at 5th and Los Angeles Streets during public comments. May be due to the BID no longer being in place. Brady Westwater offered to follow-up with Henry for more information.

4. Alex Brideau and Ginny Marie Case presented the e-Waste Recycling event to be held at Olympic and Flower Streets on Saturday, February 28, 2009 from 9:00am-3:00pm. Sustainability Committee will be providing support.

5. Minutes (SC-03-081117) approved for the November 17, 2008 meeting. Minutes (SC-04-081208) approved for the December 8, 2008 meeting.

6. Letter received from AIA in recognition of receipt of the 2009 AIA SDAT (Sustainable Design Assessment Team) grant. To be passed to DONE and City Attorney’s office for review.

7. Gunnar Hand, Stanley Michaels, Athenel Ocampo, Jennifer Regan, Veronica Siranosian, and Ashley Zarella met to reorganize the office and begin planning for sustainable enhancements to the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Office at the Spring Arts Tower.

8. Proposed committee structure and rules (10 minutes) – to be deferred until February 2009.

9. List of goals of sustainability objectives developed at the November 17, 2008 meeting were reviewed and discussed with more focus on categorizing our efforts and establishing attainable goals. The discussion focused on creating a sustainable live-work community, urban beautification, trash/recycling, green roofs, outreach/advocacy/education.
i. Sustainability Committee agreed to support the eWaste Recycling Drive in support of the Los Angeles Morning Rotary Club.
ii. The Morning Rotary Club has begun surveying downtown in anticipation of our upcoming tree planting initiative

10. Committee approved the proposed $1,500 budget outline and reimbursements. Ashley Zarella will receive $65.59 in reimbursements for work done for the SDAT grant application and meeting preparation. The Committee agreed to allocate $1,200 to the AIA SDAT visits and the remaining funds will be used for future outreach events.

11. Adjournment