Sustainability Alliance of Southwest Colorado

Policy Committee

• DurangoLand Use and Development Code (LUDC)
• Minutes
• July La Plata Sustainability Dialogue (LPSD)
• Sustainability metrics
• Next meeting, July 22

• Dick reported that the draft Sustainable Development Standards (Issue Papers #7 & #8, http://www.durangocodeupdate.com/library.htm) will be discussed at a public meeting in July. Originally scheduled for July 7 & 8, the meetings are now likely to be on July 21 & 22 instead. Committee members should be alert for the meeting announcements. (Dick will be on vacation and could not attend meetings on July 7 or 8.) Jenny Wrenn and Ann Christianson are sustainability-minded individuals on the citizens advisory committee.
• Chris expressed her concerns that the citizens advisory committee may represent a pro-growth attitude in the community and that the LUDC update may go beyond consolidating code to altering recently established policy decisions.

• Schedule: Thursday, July 8, 5:30-7:30 p.m., DurangoCity Council Chambers.
• Format: Rebecca will moderate; Donna Graves, probably with Ed Morlan will make a presentation of the new Economic Driver study, along with discussion of the economic multiplier effect. In addition, Donna offered to include mention of the Southwest Colorado Index study (see below).
• Publicity
  • Dick has drafted a flyer. Following review and completion by Donna, it will be available for distribution to various networks. He will forward to Eliza Searles for posting on the SASCO website and to the SASCO mailing list.
  • Donna will distribute the announcement to an appropriate Region 9 contact list.
  • Rebecca will arrange PSAs for KSUT, the Durango Herald, and the Telegraph. She also will contact Local First, the Downtown Business Improvement District, Durango Mountain Resort, and Dale Rodebaugh of the Durango Herald.
  • Corey will contact KDUR, the local CEO network, the Chamber of Commerce, and the FLCSmallBusinessDevelopmentCenter.
  • Candee will contact Buzztown.
• Chris raised the larger issue of buying local, which is challenging when online purchases are so easy. It was agreed that we should note this issue in the committee “parking lot” for future attention.

• Dickpresented a draft of a proposal to Region 9 for the Policy Committee to actively participate in the upcoming revision of the Southwest Colorado Index report.
• The effort could take a lot of work and we must be mindful that what we agree to undertake is actually doable in the time individuals have to contribute.
• The final proposal will have to include a compensation framework.
• Dick will email the draft for internal review by the Policy Committee. Following further discussion with Donna/Region 9, we will review the proposal at the July 22 meeting before forwarding to the SASCO Executive Committee and Board. 
• All should review the 2008 Index report (http://scan.org/2008sci.html) to assess what is already there, particularly in the 5 areas that we propose to work on, and consider what individuals or groups might be well-positioned to contribute the needed research.