KFNA Green Committee
MINUTES 02/08/08
Present: Dave Saddoris, Dave Potosky, and Karen Pieper
Absent: Darrell Gerber
Temporarily on leave: Tom Parent
Also Present: Sarah Linnes-Robinson
Garages Behind Grand Café being Torn Down:
We have nothing in writing that really clarifies what the owner of the property is supposed to do with this property—we just have hearsay that the garages are finally coming down and there is some landscape requirement. Knowing the property owner, however, both Mary Hunter and Sarah Linnes-Robinson are concerned that the project will not be done environmentally “correctlyâ€. After much discussion, Saddoris felt this was really a Redevelopment Zoning issue not a green issue and that if we want to pursue the concerns it should be done through the Redevelopment Committee and the Zoning regulations for the site. Linnes-Robinson said she will continue to see what she can find in writing from the City or the neighboring property owners to see if there is anything the owner is beholden too in the demolition/rehab.
Bike Rack Program:
The City has money for matching bike racks purchase and installation again. Linnes-Robinson has had 3 businesses approach her asking how they can get bike racks since the fall. She asked the committee if they are interested in supporting this program or simply facilitating the relationship between the businesses and the City. Although in the past KFNA has matched the City money, the committee felt it was more conscientious at this time to simply offer a rebate toward the racks. $25 per rack was the number proposed by the committee. Additionally, KFNA will promote the City match and facilitate the meetings and placements of the racks with the City.
2008 Funding Potentials and Events:
The committee talked at length about ideas for 2008 events with Linnes-Robinson reminding them that whatever is chosen needs to have volunteer time committed to, or attract volunteer capacity. The more involved ideas included:
developing a truly environmentally green, affordable home (Linnes-Robinson will check into if there is NRP Affordable Housing funds remaining) in partnership with a developer (such as E2 Homes);
signing every one in the neighborhood up for Xcel’s windsource program (Saddoris will review his bills and see if there is cost savings / Linnes-Robinson will see how much capacity Xcel has for new wind customers)
making KFNA events 100% green and waste free (Linnes-Robinson will continue seeking for grants to do this);
making the Farmers’ Market 0 waste including zeroing out electricity use with carbon credits, composting on site, donating extra food to food shelf, and using a composting hauler for trash;
holding a Green concert with Cloudcult and their bio-bus.
Simpler ideas included:
continuing the Pledge to Unplug loans via the Farmers’ Market in the summer;
partnering with churches to do a trash pickup and/or stormdrain stenciling;
Getting people to sign up for Green Dimes or a similar program that halts junkmail delivery.
Meeting adjourned.
Minutes provided by Linnes-Robinson, 2/8/08.