October Regular Sustainability Meeting - One Year in Review

When: Tuesday, October 6, 2009, 6:30-7:50pm
Where: Central Public Library, Meeting Room A (630 W. 5th Street)
Celebrating One Year

MEETING MINUTES SC-15-100601

1. Welcome.
2. Cookies baked by Sustainability Committee member Gunnar Hand. Thank you.

3. Public Comment on Non-agenda items including community announcements. DLANC Transportation Committee Chair suggested a collaboration to solicit feedback on the LA Bicycle Plan. However, because the City of Los Angeles has already scheduled several feedback opportunities which are included on the Sustainability Committee calendar, it was decided that there may be more productive ways of providing feedback. Ginny Brideau recommended letter writing as a strong strategy. Sustainability Committee members encouraged to review bike plan and email any comments to Mark at sportbiker@mac.com

4. Review of meeting minutes from the September meeting deferred until November meeting.

5. Sustainable Community Projects Internship update. Marc Ross has been chosen among three very qualified candidates for this new position. Marc introduced himself to the committee and highlighted his interests.

6. 2009 Projects – Year in review
a. Project 1: Rooftop Edible & Composting Containers (Dawna Nolan) Plans to host rooftop container classes with master gardener to be announced shortly. Met with CD14 office who is interested in helping identify potential rooftops for gardens. Ordinance study is necessary for greater long-term impact.

b. Project 2: Tree Planting – Skid Row Pilot (Gunnar Hand) Partnership with Los Angeles Conservation Corps has resulted in the identification of a pilot for the Skid Row Area along S. Alameda. Designated a Signature Tree Project by Million Trees LA, we will be planting 24-gallon trees along S. Alameda on October 24. Need help with applications for tree maintenance grants. Currently has six letters of support from community stakeholders. Sustainability Committee approved a letter of support for the Signature Project designation by Million Trees LA.

c. Projects 3: Increase Participation in Cost-Saving Efficiency Programs: Energy & Water Focus/ Project 4: Increase Participation in City & Private Recycling and Food Waste Programs (Corey Prost) – Looking to host a community meeting soon with information on the many programs. Small business “primer” program will be developed to encourage commercial program participation. Working group to meet soon to start designing the program.

d. Project 5: Online Toolkit of Existing Resources (Ryan Saucerman). Additional update on progress of Sustainability Committee website. Goal is to launch Sustainability Committee website in January 2010. Still need to finalize budget allocation for this project.

e. Project 6: Community Greening Strategy & The Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) Grant (Veronica Siranosian). Preliminary visit was a great success and there will be a great deal of planning for the full SDAT visit December 2-4. There will be a project team meeting in the next two weeks to start planning.

f. Project 7: Event and Education Programming & Calendar. Los Angeles Bioneers Beaming Conference to be hosted at the Downtown Independent on October 14-16. Ashley Zarella will be presenting as a panel member and DLANC Sustainability Committee members are encouraged to vlunteer – two complimentary tickets are available. Check out the new location of the calendar on the website for more information about this and other events around Downtown.

i. Park[ing] Day LA 2009 Follow-Up: There is a group of organizers meeting on October 15 at Barnsdall Park to discuss how to continue Park[ing] Day LA throughout the year.

g. Project 8: Green Living Program (Pamela Tuttle). Pamela introduced Scott from the LACC who is interested in setting up something similar to Sustainable Works. Looking to have events hosted Downtown. Additional educational partner to be considered: UCLA Extension. Natalia would like to get more involved with education, particularly for children (coloring book initiative, for instance). Central Public Library would be a great venue for future educational events.

7. Adjournment