HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-01-25 - MinutesMEMO
Environmental Action Committee (EAC) - 2009 Year-end Report January 25, 2010
From: Sarah Lewis, Chair of EAC, City Council Liaison
To: EAC Members and John Coleman
Purpose: This memo is intended to share the accomplishments of the City of Fayetteville Environmental
Action Committee during the 2009 calendar year, as well as to share the objectives of the coming 2010
calendar year. The contents of this memo were developed during an EAC meeting on January 14, 2010.
2009 Accomplishments:
1. The committee adopted new goals and a vision statement.
2. The committee adopted a new name, changing it from Environmental Concerns Committee to
Environmental Action Committee. This change came as a result of the new goals of the committee
which were to become more action oriented in advising the City Council and educating the public about
environmental issues.
3. The EAC created partnerships between the Fayetteville Forward Economic Accountability Council
Green Infrastructure and Land use committee, the Tree and Landscape Committee, and the Natural
Heritage Association Green Infrastructure Plan.
4. Members of the EAC gathered information on native and invasive plants of the Ozarks and
distributed information through the City's website with the purpose of providing educational
information and raising awareness for the public. This project is on-going.
5. Members of the EAC contributed comments to the City Council agenda items in regard to
environmental issues. These comments were then sent out to the City Council members prior to the
council meetings. This project is on-going.
6. The EAC partnered with Louise Mann to develop a Watershed Luncheon Series for Fayetteville
residents. These are monthly workshops in which the curriculum is focused on watershed resources
education. On average, forty participants have regularly attended the sessions, had lunch, and learned
more information about the topic of watershed resources. They are then expected to take the
information out to their networks and share it with the people they know. This project is on-going.
7. EAC members worked with the FFEAC Green Infrastructure/Land use Committee, the UA Cooperative
Extension, and the Tree and Landscape Committee to develop a packet of research for City staff to use
in the development of a streamside protection ordinance. This packet was intended to facilitate the
work put on staff to research the science and policy behind establishing healthy streamside protection
zones with an urban setting.
8. EAC members and Watershed Luncheon Series participants took part in a field trip to the King's River
to observe bald Eagles with Rimkus family, local naturalists and educators. This trip was open to the
public and an educational video was developed by Frou Gallagher as a teaching tool for others.
9. At the close of 2009, the City of Fayetteville Nominating Committee recommended that the EAC
membership number be expanded to 10 members and 1 City Council member, which added 2 additional
members to the committee. This is a significant step towards achieving the goals laid out by the
committee at the start of 2009. The City Council voted unanimously in favor of this change.
Objectives for 2010:
1. The EAC members have indicated an interest in continuing the following activities from 2009;
a) Watershed Luncheon Series
b) Streamside Protection Ordinance (aka Riparian buffer ordinance)
a. The City staff will need help with public meetings
b. EAC members can continue to provide insight and research for this process.
c) Native/Invasive plant educational materials for the public
a. Website link on www.accessfayetteville.org
d) Commenting on topics for the City Council agenda
2. EAC members have indicated interest in exploring the following topics for 2010.
a) Transportation and trails
b) Erosion control and grading ordinance
a. EAC members can contribute comments and help with public meetings.
c) EAC members will help with the recycling drop off center and its educational materials.
d) ADEQ stormwater permit changes for this year. EAC members would like to learn about
the former permit language as it compares to the new permit language in order to
provide educated comments during the public comment period.
e) Expand the Watershed Luncheon Series into a new topic with the same people OR new
people with the same topic.
f) EAC members will provide feedback to City staff during the LID ordinance review
process and public meetings.
g) Expand the sustainability link on the City website to include more information for
citizens about environmental topics.
Looking forward to working with all of you.
Sarah Lewis
