So all the talk around town has been about the sustainability proposals and what it is really about. The best information that we have on the subject is what was put out by Councilmember Walker in her presentation to the City Council and rather than hear it from me let's look at what she put out. Below are a few of the points she made.
"What is Sustainability?
Creating the kind of world we want for ourselves, our neighbors, and future generations
Meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs
A sustainable world is one in which we do not deplete, dump, degrade or demean"
"Sustainability Committee and appropriate staff lead utilize the sustainability ‘filter’:
Comprehensive Plan Updates
Transportation
Housing
Arts and Culture
Celebrate successes now with:
Main Street Project
Waste Management"
"Objectives
City Sustainability Commitment
Form the Sustainability Committee in place of the ED Committee"
So there is a sample. What do you think?
Thomas and the great people of Duvall, has anyone articulated what is broken that we need to cure with this initiative? From what I can tell we were successful with the Main Street Project and being sustainable as well as something evidently that happened with Waste Management and these happened without spending time and resources on a new committee pushing sustainability.
ReplyDeleteSo I ask all you very smart Duvall(ites) please explain to me why is this important to do right now?
-JonB
Jon - I too would like to hear more about why this is necessary. I have a lot of concerns about how we can possibly predict what future generations will need. At best we can predict one or two generations into the future - anything beyond that the crystal ball gets very foggy.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea why Waste Management is listed as a success - From where I sit, all I can see is a higher waste bill each month, and more restrictions on what I can throw away with no alternatives available about the trash that gets generated. When the green movement can provide a means to paint my house, remove moss from the roof and yard, and mow my lawn or drive my car in ways that don't depend on petroleum for gas / oil and do so at a comparable price tag then I'll be happy to use those methods. Until then - how am I supposed to dispose of things that WM won't pick up, or the government agencies won't allow to be disposed?
Jon,
ReplyDeleteThe only explanation I have heard is that we are apparently depleting our natural resources, producing too many chemicals that the earth can not absorb, and having too many kids because the population growth is unsustainable.
This is a lot like the United Nations Agenda 21. Take some time to look it up. It is an interesting and quite honestly a little frightening read.
I am more than a little bothered that a city council member thinks they have any say over how big my family is. If I can provide for my family and give them what they need why is it the business of anyone else?
ReplyDeleteBarry
Barry,
ReplyDeleteI have not heard Council Member Walker actually say that you should limit how many kids you have but she did talk about population growth and how it is vital to limit it. I do not know to what extent this idea would extend but I would assume that this would need to be very wide spread to be effective.
Economic development committees are important for a lot of reasons. Environmentalism isn’t one of them.
ReplyDeleteSomeone here once denied that the Economic Development Committee is “morphing” into the sustainability committee. They said it will stay the economic development committee. If that’s true, why did Walker’s council presentation spend so much on justifying the change to the “sustainability committee?”
Walker talked about restructuring all the city’s committees to fit under a new sustainability umbrella. But she didn’t discuss how much of our money is going to be used (staff time, resources, council wages) to implement something she says is going to “create the kind of world we want for ourselves…”
Hold on, "we?"
Before we get too far into a discussion, can someone (anyone?) please define “We” – does this mean “We the People?” If yes, then at what point are “We the People” brought into this 'on-going conversation' so that those who are going to be impacted by these changes can give input as to what “We” (the People) really want?
First, what does she (Walker) mean by "demean?" How do you "demean" the environment? Is this a technical term or just a misuse of the word? I don't believe I have ever heard the word "demean" applied to the environment...?
ReplyDeleteSecond, people can't walk on wetlands even if its on property they own - I understand how that works. It's an environmental policy. But how does Walker's sustainability filter apply to the arts and culture? Do you have any info from her presentation that talks to that?
Third, what is Walker saying exactly about how big or small families should be? How big is her family? How many kids does she have - anyone know? Just curious about who is trying to make judgments about how all the rest of Duvall should live.
I can only speculate on the meaning of the word demean. I was concerned about the expectation that we should balance the needs of humans plants and animals but I am not entirely sure that this is what she was talking about.
ReplyDeleteThere was no information regarding how to make arts and culture sustainable. This is a great question to ask.
As far as I know she does not have any children.
I have said lots in past posts about this proposal, and so will not repeat myself here (especially since we're not hearing anything new). But I do want to echo the concern that we are voicing: even the good ideas contained within a "sustainability" focus get scarey when the scope and specifics are not explained.
ReplyDeleteWalker has voiced concerns about family size. She's entitled to her opinions . . . but then what ARE the implications of that for a committee and a CAG that focus on such things?
It's ridiculous to go down this path. Let's stick with the nuts and bolts of operating a town. - Carolyn Durant
I was speaking to a Duvall city employee the other day about this and he and I both couldn't figure out how Duvall Sustainability plan couldn't be a document of principles we should strive for in all aspects of their day to day work. This shouldn't be yet another set of positions trying to add value. Sometimes the best solution isn't always solved by large committees. Heck look at the "Value" that the current federal congress and President have just added to our "Failing" health care system.
ReplyDeleteIf I were a city employee I would be more than perplexed by what council member Walker proposed on sustainability - I'd be worried about the council's priorities and (lack of?) concern for the job security of city employees. The city had to reduce its budget and cut jobs about a year ago. Walker's sustainability project creates more layers of bureaucracy. It calls for resources (money, staff time) even just to implement the restructuring of committees / city departments let alone manage it over time. It also seems to be a way to use sustainability as an excuse to grab control of every aspect of city government. When departments are doing everything they can with fewer resources (money, time, staff) it seems out of touch with reality to put more on their plates. Maybe it is useful to take a closer look at the motives driving this giant realignment of priorities. Let's take a look at it before we go too far down a path, committing resources we don't have, to something that hasn't yet been vetted by the community at large.
ReplyDeleteSustainability is not new. It is a part of our daily lives to the degree that we may not even be aware of it. Many companies are now embracing sustainable practices since it saves money and enhances profits. Colleges are even offering classes and degree programs in sustainability. Companies that we are familiar with such as Microsoft, Nordstroms and Whole Foods all use sustainable practices in varying degrees.
ReplyDeleteHere are just a few of the things in daily life that are sustainable practices:
Duvall's efficient and high tech sewer treatment plant
Yard waste bins
Recycling bins
Organic farming
Organic gardens
Personal composting bins
Fuel efficient vehicles
Microsoft commuter bus
Good financial planning
Cutting down on waste and redundancy
Reusable shopping bags
Kindle
Paperless information systems
Efficient landscaping that cuts down your water and maintenance bill.
Donating used goods to churches and non-profit organizations.
Participating in special waste collection programs for disposal of chemicals and toxic products.
Conservation
National Parks
Carpooling
Some of you may have participated in the activities listed above and hopefully benefitted.
So shouldn't the question then be asked: Why do we need another layer of government if we are already doing all these things?
ReplyDeleteI have yet to see a cost benefit analysis for these proposals or even a list of ways that Duvall can improve by creating this new govermental process. Until the ideas are brought out into the open and discussed with the public then I will not be on board.
FYI not pulling from an agenda of a public meeting would be a good place to start.
You say “proposals” as if something has already been brought forward. Other than early discussion, what formal proposals have been presented for which you would like a cost benefit analysis?
ReplyDeleteHere are a few of the proposals that were outlined in the presentation Councilmember Walker gave to the city council during the retreat.
ReplyDelete"City Sustainability Commitment
Form the Sustainability Committee in place of the ED Committee
Approve the Governance approach with the forming of the CAG
Allow the SC to begin work with staff
Survey
Summit
ICSP for ED
Identify and communicate existing successes"
"Create a Business Case to continue ICSP process
Expand process and plan for other community systems"
"Sustainability Committee and appropriate staff lead utilize the sustainability ‘filter’:
Comprehensive Plan Updates
Transportation
Housing
Arts and Culture"
I consider these formal proposals because Councilmember Walker wanted the Council to take action on this during the retreat. It was only after several Councilmembers had concerns and objections that it was decided to continue the discussion at a later time.
Have you had a chance to look at the complete presentation that Councilmember Walker presented to the city Council? If you would like a copy please let me know and I fill forward a copy for you to look at. My email is goneright@live.com
Since the discussion has been delayed due to concerns of other councilmembers, the level of criticism in the blog seems a bit premature at this point.
ReplyDeleteI do not think it is premature because councilmember walker has made more than one presentation about it in public meetings. and i should add that she decided to no longer discuss it when she pulled it from the agenda at a recent city council meeting . It appears that the discussion was only "premature" when it received public scrutiny. This is a dangerous path to take.
ReplyDeleteCan someone please explain to me how a kindle is an example of sustainable behavior?
ReplyDeleteFrom my perspective it's a poor choice from a sustainable mindset...
It's an electronic device, and therefore contains something like a lead acid battery, consumes electricity, and will eventually break down / wear out / cease to function. Anything that consumes electricity will consume resources to generate the needed electricity. These resources include oil (lubrication of generator parts), possibly coal for fuel, and the electrical generation process produce wastes (smog, nuclear by-products, etc). The kindle is made, in part, from plastic which cannot degrade quickly or easily once the kindle has ceased to function, and because it is an electronic device cannot just be thrown in the trash and requires special recycling efforts. When we have large winter storms which take power out for a week or more, the kindle is only as useful as it's battery life. After that, it's a piece of dead weight.
Books printed on paper on the other hand consume rapid growth trees (see the stand of them just north of Woodinville-Duvall Road) which can be sustained easily. A printed book requires no additional electricity to read unless you wish to read at night, or in a dark room.
April 13th Cedarcrest High School will kick off 'Earth Week' by engaging in Green events such as walking, biking and car pooling. The community is invited to join in and support healthy and sustainable practices.
ReplyDelete20 years of corporate life have taught me one thing -- beware a plan that proposes process without introducing any specific ideas. correct me if I am missing something here, but Walker's plan is all about creating a process, hoping that the right ideas will fall out of it. sort of the 'build it and they will come' mentality. i'm all for improving/streamlining/upgrading process, but its best achieved when there are actual ideas behind it, driving it forward. is there something inefficient about the way we are selecting/prioritizing our current road or park projects? if so, be specific, and let's make some changes. are other towns doing something we aren't? what are those things? let's get them out on the table and talk about how our current mechanisms aren't allowing us to move forward on these good ideas.
ReplyDelete