CA notes
From CFI
Civic Action – 5/2/06
Members of the GULP Civic Action group reported that it had been in contact with the City of Ukiah planning department regarding the development of Green Building guidelines. The group intended to follow-up by attending and supporting a Ukiah Staff proposal to the City Council on 5/3 to move forward planning green building education, incentives and, possibly, requirements. We can report that the effort was a great success. After public comment lead by GULP members Jeff Taylor, Orion Walker and Cliff Paulin, the City Council unanimously supported proceeding to work on green building issues. Council member McGowen suggested that the Ukiah Planning Department should consider using the speakers as the core of a citizen task force on the green building project. Hence, GULP appears to be on its way to being at the core of this important effort.
GULP is co-sponsoring an proposed County ordinance that would help control the entry of large, new formula stores. We hope it will be ready to forward to County Supervisors for support by mid-May. Please contact Scott at scratty@adelphia.net if you would like more information about that effort.
Civic Action – 4/4/06
Attendees: Evan J., Jeff T., Madelin H., Miles G., Orion W., Scott C.
The group was entirely different than those present at the initial GULP civic action group brainstorming session. The group noted that many (but not all) of the goals listed at the prior GULP Civic Action session overlap with Smart Growth activities. Hence, depending on what issue(s) get selected, GULP will need to coordinate with Smart Growth to avoid overlap.
The group added a few items to the possible civic action items:
Madelin H. suggested that we might take advantage of the current alternative energy credits in the state in conjunction with the City of Ukiah’s power utility to create a unique opportunity such as Ukiah financed solar panels for existing buildings and for construction projects. [Side note: this is, in theory consistent with the City of Ukiah General Plan (adopted by the City Council December 1995), which establishes as the City’s Goal GP-28 to “Make Ukiah a leader in the development of responsible, resource-conserving ways of living and doing business, giving fullest consideration to the impacts of our actions on future generations.”]
Miles G. suggested that whatever project GULP civic action might undertake, it should include a focus on bringing in and empowering new participants, who could then possibly continue with their own further projects. He also noted that GULP could build on work previously done to identify possible garden/growing locations in the City & to build on the existing City support for that effort. He will coordinate with the food group on this.
On a related note, Madelin agree to forward the link to Mendocino area land trust options that could be useful to the food group to Scott for posting on the GULP site.
Orion W. suggested researching and identifying a wider range of consultants that could add value to the Smart Growth/building code process.
Scott C. suggested a helping enact a County-wide formula store ordinance as a possible civic action item
Orion W. noted an interest in finding out more about green building/green building code options. Following that discussion, the group ultimately focused on issue of Green Building requirements as a promising short-term action and determined to investigate green building requirements and standards that could be incorporated into the City and County effort to revamp building codes using Smart Growth Principles. This research can be combined with the proposal to identify additional consultants that the Ukiah and the County might bring into the Smart Growth process. Jeff & Orion will meet to develop additional work plans for this effort. [Side note: The page linking to the various GULP working groups, including civic action, is: http://www.cloudforest.org/GULP_Greater_Ukiah_Localization_Project_Working_Groups_Link The top of the page provides directions regarding how you can create an account and, thereafter, make your own edits and additions to the GULP pages. It would be great if you can post any plans, observations or findings to the site.]
