Sustainability Committee Meeting - Tuesday at the Central Public Library

Join us this Tuesday, December 1 at 6:30pm at the Central Public Library (Meeting Room A) for our final regular meeting of this year. We'll be starting our planning process for the 2010 projects, discussing the details of the upcoming SDAT visit, and much more. For the complete agenda, please click here.

Next Committee Meeting - Tuesday, December 1

When: Tuesday, December 1, 2009, 6:30-7:50pm
Where: Central Public Library, Meeting Room A (630 W. 5th Street)

Celebrating One Year

MEETING AGENDA SC-17-120109

1. Welcome.
2. Public Comment on Non-agenda items including community announcements (3 minutes).

3. Review meeting minutes from the November meeting. Action Item: Approve minutes SC-16-091103 (all meeting attendees - 3 minutes).

4. Presentation by Zane Tatum on upcoming Green Block Party to be hosted Downtown on Saturday, December 12. More information about how the Sustainability Committee can get involved and support this effort to be presented. Motion: Sustainability Committee to consider partnering to provide outreach support. (5 minutes)

5. Sustainability Committee Public Vice Chair. Jennifer Regan is tendering her resignation effective immediately. We will be accepting nominations and letters of interest at sustainability@dlanc.com (1 minute)

6. Update: Harlem Place Project community meeting overview. Survey feedback will be online next weekend in a full report on the responses thus far. The Sustainability Committee has been invited to a meeting with CD9 the week of December 7 to present initial feedback and Bren School Project. (3 minutes)

7. ADDED: Big Bellies as a way of controlling litter and managing costs for street clean-up. Motion: Sustainability Committee to write a letter of support for co-support by the DLANC Public Health & Safety Committee.

8. Sustainable Community Projects Internship update. Marc Ross is working on an ordinance study for Project 1: Rooftop Container Gardens & Composting. (3 minutes)

9. The national SDAT (Sustainable Design Assessment Team) professionals will be in town on December 2-4, 2009 to meet with stakeholders and begin the planning process in our community. Sustainability Committee members are invited to participate throughout the process including a dinner on Friday, December 4 before the final public presentation. Please RSVP by December 2. (15 minutes) We still need your help organizing the visit – including venues, community participation, etc. Please contact Ashley Zarella Hand and Veronica Siranosian at sustainability@dlanc.com if you would like to get involved.

10. 2010 Project Discussion. In light of our learnings from the 2009 Projects, we are considering four projects for the next year. Discussion of our committee priorities, which projects can/should be continued, and how we will continue to meet our mission. (45 minutes) Committee mission: The Sustainability Committee is dedicated to empowering the downtown community to create a culture of sustainability. We will work with the community to increase accessibility to existing programs and services through outreach and public education. We will identify and create opportunities for new programming and partnerships to meet our goals for a more livable, affordable, and efficient urban center.

11. Agenda items for next meeting?
12. Adjournment

The public is requested to fill out a “Speaker Card” to address the DLANC SUSTAINABILITY Committee on any item of the agenda prior to the Committee taking action on an item. Comments from the public on agenda items will be heard only when the respective item is being considered. Comments from the public on other matters not appearing on the agenda that is within the Committee’s subject matter jurisdiction will be heard during the public comment period. Public comment is limited to 2 minutes per speaker, unless waived by the presiding officer of the Committee. As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, or other auxiliary aids and/or services may be provided upon request. To ensure availability of services, please make your request at least 3 business days (72 hours) prior to the meeting you wish to attend by contacting Committee Board Chair Ashley Zarella at ashley.zarella@DLANC.com.

SI REQUIERE SERVICIOS DE TRADUCCION, FAVOR DE NOTIFICAR A LA OFICINA 3 dias de trabajo (72 horas) ANTES DEL EVENTO. SI NECESITA ASISTENCIA CON ESTA NOTIFICACION, POR FAVOR LLAME A NUESTRA OFICINA AL 323-224-2316.

June Meeting Agenda Tuesday, June 2 6:30-8:00pm

Where: Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Office (453 S. Spring Street, Suite 1020)

1. Welcome
2. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items, including Community Announcements (5 minutes).
3. Review meeting minutes from the May meeting (5 minutes). Action Item: Approve minutes SC-10-090505 (all meeting attendees).
4. Ginny Marie Brideau to present community project idea: Historic Bid Clean-up. Action Item: Approve next steps for committee on this issue (5 minutes).
5. Stanley Michaels to introduce research on packaging. Action Item: Approve next steps for committee on this issue (10 minutes).
6. Project Updates including status report, project teams and leadership, and kick-off meeting schedule (45 minutes).
7. Presentation of Communications Plan. Action Item: Approve implementation recommendations of proposed communications plan. Will need Board approval (15 minutes).
8. Outreach bin and other updates (5 minutes).
9. Agenda items for next meeting?
10. Adjournment.

Meeting Minutes - May Regular Meeting 050509

1. Welcome.
2. The Sustainability Committee has been recognized by the LA Section of the American Planning Association with a 2009 Planning Excellence Award for Grassroots Initiative.
3. The bus stop requested by community member Daveed Kapoor, as presented at the last Committee meeting, has been approved and started running last Monday. Sustainability Committee to amend letter to be a thank you to the Metro Board for their responsiveness.
4. Meeting minutes SC-09-090420 approved without objection.
5. Gary Jacoby presented his experience from the Municipal Green Building Conference and Expo which covered a renewable energy, LEED for Public Agencies, Beyond the Green Building Program and a presentation on LACCD by Larry Eizenberg.
6. Project 1 Update: Rooftop Edible and Composting Containers (Jennifer Regan): first meeting planned for last week of May/first week of June; three models under consideration including community garden, SRO rooftop, and business roof. American Apparel being considered as a business partner and prospective site. Other suggestions for consideration include: 9th Street Elementary School, Santee Alley, 945 Mateo, Weingard. A permaculture event is tentatively planned for the weekend of the Summer Solstice (June 19-20).
7. Project 2 Update: Treeplanting (Gunnar Hand): first meeting planned for first week of June; project description draft has been developed; community member Lawrence Lawdry recommended Skid Row Brigade as potential community partner.
8. Project 7 Update: Event and Education Programming: Earth Day (Jennifer Regan presented committee work at Green Drinks which had a record turnout; Ashley Zarella presented the SDAT at the LA County National Conversation on Climate Action); upcoming events (Placemaking Series planned for expansion to the rest of the neighborhood, Summer Solstice Event in support of Project 1); Sign-ups: Tanner Blackman, Pamela Tuttle and Natalia Aguilar volunteered to assist with future events
9. Other Project Updates (20 minutes)
i. Project 6: SDAT (Sustainable Design Assessment Team) Grant: still stuck in agreement limbo as it is being reviewed by the City Attorney’s office.
ii. Projects 3-4: Increase participation in cost-saving efficiency programs and recycling/food waste programs: to focus on identifying programs.
iii. Project 8: Green Living Program: Pamela Tuttle expressed interested in getting involved with this project.
10. Bren School of the Environment Project Introduction: school project to investigate environmental and economic impacts of transforming Harlem Place into a more sustainable alley.
11. Community member Lawrence Lawdry requested that the Sustainability Committee investigate how we might address the waste left behind by people distributing food and clothes on Skid Row. Next steps: determine if there can be more centralized areas for distribution that could include recycling and trash receptacles.
12. Goals for next meeting: project template drafts to be developed; additional Outreach events scheduled
13. Next Meeting Proposed Agenda Items: Committee member Stanley Michaels to present research on biodegradable packaging.
14. Adjournment

First Meeting Agenda - Monday, October 20, 6:30pm at Ardas Cafe

MEETING AGENDA - Our first meeting!
Ardas Cafe is located at 418 W6th Street across the street from Pershing Square.

• Welcome and Initial Comments.
• Public Comment on Non-agenda items
• Presentation by the City of Los Angeles Department of Sanitation on recycling resources including the 3-bin program, multi-family residential recycling, LAUSD recycling, Safe Centers, and Composting. Guest speakers: Benet Sanchez and Cathleen Chavez
• Discussion of the Committee Mission Statement. Action item: approve statement or next steps.

Draft statement: The Sustainability Committee is committed to providing tools to all Downtown stakeholders to make more sustainable choices where they live, work and play. We will work with the community to develop a building-by-building greening strategy for Downtown Los Angeles through partnership and planning to empower stakeholders foster a healthy, sustainable environment.

• Outline of objectives for the Sustainability Committee regarding the building-to-building strategy for Downtown Los Angeles, including projects such as the Huntington Hotel Proposal (Natalia Aguilar). Action item: Designate committee roles and responsibilities.
• Future agenda items.
• Adjournment.

The public is requested to fill out a "Speaker Card" to address the DLANC SUSTAINABILITY Committee on any item of the agenda prior to the Committee taking action on an item. Comments from the public on agenda items will be heard only when the respective item is being considered. Comments from the public on other matters not appearing on the agenda that is within the Committee's subject matter jurisdiction will be heard during the public comment period. Public comment is limited to 2 minutes per speaker, unless waived by the presiding officer of the Committee. As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, or other auxiliary aids and/or services may be provided upon request. To ensure availability of services, please make your request at least 3 business days (72 hours) prior to the meeting you wish to attend by contacting Committee Board Chair Ashley Zarella at ashley.zarella@DLANC.com.

SI REQUIERE SERVICIOS DE TRADUCCION, FAVOR DE NOTIFICAR A LA OFICINA 3 dias de trabajo (72 horas) ANTES DEL EVENTO. SI NECESITA ASISTENCIA CON ESTA NOTIFICACION, POR FAVOR LLAME A NUESTRA OFICINA AL 323-224-2316.

October 20 Meeting - Location confirmed

We have confirmed a location for our meetings:

October 20, 2008 at 6:30pm
Arda's Cafe (http://www.ardascafe.com/)
418 W 6th StreetLos Angeles CA, 90014

The cafe closes at 5:00pm but we'll be there to let you in. It is easily accessible from the Pershing Squre Red Line stop and other public transit. Click here for a map.

An agenda will be available by October 13. See you then!

First Meeting Announced - Location To Be Determined

Our first meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 20 at 6:30pm. We plan on meeting the Third Monday of the month thereafter. We hope you will be able to attend.

We are still looking for a location for this meeting so please let me know if you have any ideas. In order to comply with the Brown Act, we must be in a place that does not require identification to enter and is accessible to the general public. However, if you are not sure if your suggestion meets these requirements, I encourage you to still let me know and I will help make that determination.

Our first meeting will cover the mission statement of the committee and outline a general scope of work for the next few months. I am also hoping to invite someone from the Department of Public Works to discuss recycling programs downtown. A formal agenda will be issued by October 13.

If you have any questions, please let me know. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you on Monday, October 20!