YVSC Community Meeting Agenda
February 6, 2013, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Rooms 113-114
Inspiring our Community for Future Generations
I. Call to Order
II. Introductions– 27 ATTENDEES
III. Approval of Minutes from January 3, 2012
IV. YVSC Updates
1. Energy Roundtable – March 6 in Citizens’ Hall replacement of monthly meeting, talking about
energy reduction plan what it looks like on a
state level and a county level. 12-1
2. Talking Green – In Transition 2.0 Feb 26 5:30 8:00 Crock Potluck and brainstorming session,
March 26 Local Food panel with Natural
Grocers, Ag Alliance, and CSU Ag Extension,
barriers, action items. April: Green Cars.
3. Sustainable Schools – Energy education at all
four schools in the district, all students, with
CMC for the Two Weeks to Take Charge Energy
Challenge to see who can reduce their energy
use the most in 2 weeks. Green Team summit
March 23 before Earth Hour to engage students
to make change in our community.
4. Green Building/Energy – See ICAST below for
update on EnergyFIT program launch. Energy
Group also involved regularly with YVEA, same
status as last month on Solar Garden and
manager hiring
5. Zero Waste - Wedding Fair – reducing your
impact form now on ZW page
6. Yampa Valley Recycles – Meeting tomorrow 121 here, no lunch anymore. Park and Rec
meeting for recycling and water monsters at all
parks events this summer (as part of the
permitting process), finalizing strategic plan,
including moving forward with Recycling
ordinance.
7. Sustainability Working Group – focusing on
energy and zeroing in on March 6 presentation for
roundtable, statistics. Next meeting Feb 21
8. June 9 Retree – Stagecoach, High School, and Mt
Werner. Descriptions of trees, planting,
committees now online. Helpers needed. Next
Meeting March 5th.
V. Partner Updates
1. Barb Parnell/Karen Massey - LiveWell Food Assessment Results – Final results linked now to YVSC Blog in post
dated 2/7 – also the Powerpoint shown in today’s meeting. Strategic group formed into Northwest Colorado
Food Coalition. Goal: Resilient, sustainable, locally supported food system. For shocking statistics about food
poverty levels see the Powerpoint. Also see the online survey and please participate about local food
regulations for CSU Ag Extension Office. Next NWCFC meeting Feb 19 12:30-2 Trout Room – email
livewellbparnell@gmail.com
2. Sasha Nelson - Conservation Colorado (Formerly Colorado Environmental Coalition and Colorado Conservation
Voters)”because the future is worth the fight,” www.conservationco.org, signup for the newsletter and sign up
for Facebook – need 1500 likes on FB in Feb for a $1500 private donation. Wilderness, Clean Energy, and Water
are current focuses. State leg is session: 2 priorities are Oil and Gas and Clean Energy. Recently lost fights on
land and water quality/protection for oil and gas permitting. GEO had an audit that showed some neglect that
needs to be addressed. Diane Mitsch Bush District 26, environmental champion – “Adopt a Legislator” through
CC, see #4, also for Lobby Day on March 18th carpool to Denver to show support. Feb 20 Conservation
Telesummit phone call, briefing from Becky Long, opportunity for suggestions and questions. Greater Sage
Grouse mating ritual tours (endangered species), March 15th – April 8th, see their website for more info soon.
Ask items: see below sasha@conservationco.org
3. Steve Ivancie - Routt County Commissioner representing YVSC and YVR, past member of YVR when a City Council
member, gives a unique perspective. Yesterday Commissioner had Ag Alliance presentation RE local food
production etc., and what Commissioner are looking at are the issues and incentives for Ag Tourism, Cottage
Industry and local food production and sale. Working through some challenging barriers and confusion and
reviewing what they can do to encourage this. Instructed Ag Alliance for an outreach to community on cottage
industry questions, needs, etc. Oil and Gas, Land Use, Clean Air, issues also all coming forward and will let us
know more.
Heather Savalox: Routt County Enviro Health: please also provide link to state health regulations on the local
foods resource page (YVSC to do by end of month, for now you can find it on the RC page), these changes will
take change in March. New cottage bill rules: If you’re going to be a local producer, you need a 3rd party
certification (thru CSUE such as serve safe). These many regs are confusing, so the more we have out there to
educate, the better.
4. Town Hall Meeting with Rep. Mitsch Bush
Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013; 3:30 p.m, Bud Werner Library Hall
Discussion on the 2013 Legislative Session
Please join Rep. Diane Mitsch Bush for a town hall focusing on the 2013 legislative session. This is an opportunity
for constituents to openly share their ideas, questions and comments with their local citizen legislator in a town
hall discussion about the 2013 legislative session.
5. Lyn Halliday – Sustainable Business Consortium - 84 members, latest meeting talked about landscapers buying
the compost from Twin Enviro. Spare the Air was our champion project in 2012, looking for new projects in 2013. Spare
the Air: 85 signs now. A lot of conservation about air quality, and we can all help that by reducing idling to 30 seconds,
and morning warm ups to 5minutes. 20 sponsors/partners. Newspaper is recent education partner. English signs $11
and bilingual signs $0. Great response. Green teams are also educating. Last big push.
VI. Open Forum
1. John Elliott and Barret Ramey – iCAST – Resource Smart program. Non profit. 11 yrs old.
Primarily focus on energy efficiency and green jobs and renewable energy with farmers
(biodiesel). Resource Smart is a turnkey program for retrofitting existing buildings through
energy assessments, reporting, energy efficiency modeling to create savings, and reporting for
upgrades. Local contractors do the work, ICAST manages that process, inspects projects, and
certifies projects. Case studies follow projects for one year. Also bring financing piece to make
projects “cash neutral” with help from financial institutions. Work with low income properties,
non profit commercial buildings. Have grants through HUD. Doing a behavioral science project
as well. Gates Foundation revolving loans at 3.5% at 10 yrs for non profit and low income. Goal:
to make energy efficiency easier. Still looking for buildings for the Pilot Program. Here for 3
days: meeting with YVEA, would like to meet with Atmos, and anyone who wants more info.
2. Tracy Zuschlag – Yampa Valley CoOp – started as Ageria Family CoOp for South Routt to get
food at a lower price, dealing with UNFI (purveyor for natural food sources). Tracy is liaison for
producers and consumers. Now it’s on a monthly cycle – first Friday order, first Tuesday
delivery. New drop-off in Steamboat: Community Extension office on 6th. Mission: to get back
to the historic sustainability, to connect consumers and producers, and to keep it affordable.
www.yampavalleycoop.com
3. CMC upcoming events: 2/28 Dr Lee Ball – more info: all on YVSC calendar
VIII. Action Items needing helping hands
1. Conservation Colorado: Adopt A Legislator program: http://ow.ly/huofI , send Sasha links or knowledge about local
labor unions, and any Eagle County connections, and “like” them on Facebook and Twitter @ConservationCO
2. Spare the Air: help with the last big educational push – any locations for signs or education leads, please send to Suzie
Romig: suziecr@q.com. Need particular help with idling shuttles in front of City Market
3. ICAST: looking for pilot program members.
4. YV CoOp: please help get the word out, link above
5. ReTree helpers! Get involved! Join a committee and help make this event the best it can be: www.yvsc.org/retree
VIX. Upcoming Events
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7.
February 15: Happy Hour with Peter Brandom – Sustainability Manager for Hillsboro, OR, 5p Smokehouse
February 19: Food Coalition meeting – 12:30-2 Trout Creek Room, email barb (above)
February 26: Talking Green - Transition 2.0 Movie and Crock Potluck, 5:30 Olympian Hall
March 5: ReTree Colorado strategic meeting, location TBD
March 6: Energy Roundtable replaces monthly meeting, more info to follow soon
March 23: Youth Eco Summit, 4pm CMC – still need breakout leaders for this event to talk on various subjects
March 23: Earth Hour, 8:30pm - BIGGER - all the lights are going off on Lincoln (except traffic lights)
Next meeting
April 3, 2013
11:30-1pm
Centennial Hall room 113