PLANNING, RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Administrative Center – Room 3220

4:30 p.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT:  George Hammes, J. Terry Hanson, Tom Rauk, Don Meyer, Don Bina, Brian Kapanke  

MEMBERS EXCUSED:  Robert Keil and David Hansen (FSA rep.)  

MEMBERS ABSENT:  None

STAFF & GUESTS:  Jeff Bluske, Gregg Stangl, Mary Meehan-Strub, Mike Weibel, Bill Jung, Karl Green, Steve O’Malley, Cheryl Stephen

CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

Committee Chair George Hammes called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION by Rauk/Bina to approve minutes of December 3, 2007.  Motion carried unanimously; Keil, Hansen excused.

PUBLIC COMMENT

None requested.

At this time Jeff Bluske noted another Town has asked for 20-day deferral as they cannot meet within the 10-day statutory requirement; there are now three Towns who have requested such deferral, those being:  Towns of Burns, Campbell, and Onalaska.  The zoning recommendations from these 3 towns will generate County Board reports that will go on the next month County Board meeting.

UW EXTENSION REPORTS

Reports for October-December 2007, were distributed from the following UW Extension departments:    4-H & Youth Development, Family Living Education, Agriculture/Agri-Business, Community Resource Development, and WNEP.  Committee Chair Hammes noted as received and filed.

DISCUSSION ON SUSTAINABILITY AND THE NATURAL STEP

Karl Green, Community Resource Development Agent, presented a PowerPoint presentation and reviewed sustainability and “The Natural Step”.  Overview as follows:

·         The County and City of La Crosse have approved resolutions that support the principles of sustainable community development and to proceed with developing a strategic plan.

·         A Joint City/County Oversight Committee on Sustainability was formed and meets regularly.

·         The Natural Step is a framework for sustainability.

·         A set of sustainable objectives is needed to assist in the decision making process.

·         Need to avoid creating a new problem while attempting to solve another.

·         Sustainability is a set of four (4) guiding principles, including objectives of each:

1.      Eliminate our community’s contribution to fossil fuel dependence and the wasteful use of scarce metals and minerals

-          use of mass transit

-          use of renewable energy, e.g. RDF plant (reduce amount in landfill and provide energy)

-          alternate fuel for municipal fleets

-          incentives for organic agriculture that minimizes phosphorous and petrochemical fertilizers   

2.      Eliminate our community’s contribution to dependence upon persistent chemicals and wasteful use of synthetic substances

-          healthier building designs

-          better landscape designs (less mowing, less watering, and use of chemicals)

-          municipal purchasing guidelines to encourage use of low or non-chemical products

3.      Eliminate our community’s contribution to encroachment upon nature (e.g. land, water, wildlife, forests, soil, ecosystems)

-          Brownfield redevelopment over greenfield development

-          open space, forest and habitat preservation

-          reduce water usage

-          wastewater treatment by certain types of plants; stop heavy metal discharge; use rain

          gardens

4.      Meet human needs fairly and efficiently

-          affordable housing for a diversity of residents

-          locally based businesses and food production

-          using local waste as a resource

-          eco-industrial development

-          participatory community planning decision making

A diagram illustrated what sustainability is:  social objectives, economic objectives, and environmental objectives, and where they meet is sustainability in which meets the demands of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

How to implement sustainable practices – A,B,C, D model:

A.           Raising awareness 

B.            Inventory of present conditions

C.           Brainstorm visions and solutions

D.           Create an action plan

Discussion followed.  Noted that some other counties are doing the same.  Supervisor Hanson requested a copy of the presentation.

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Supervisor Hanson requested discussion on the committee’s duties and responsibilities.

RECESS (5:10 p.m.)

MOTION by Hanson/Bina to recess until the 6:00 p.m. public hearing.  Motion carried unanimously; Keil, Hansen excused.

Disclaimer:  The above minutes may be approved, amended or corrected at the next committee meeting.

Cheryl Stephen, Recorder