Policy Committee Minutes, July 22

Sustainability Alliance of Southwest Colorado

(Dick White)

• Minutes
• July La Plata Sustainability Dialogue (LPSD)
• September LPSD
• Sustainability metrics/Region 9

• Attendance for the Region 9 economic drivers presentation was modest (~10 at any one time, possibly as many as 18 overall), but the dialogue went well.
• The basis for the study was enumeration of jobs, without consideration of their quality or compensation level. There is an appealing opportunity for Region 9 to use a sustainability lens for its ongoing work.
• The major drivers in the 2006 data (new homes, oil and gas production, household spending, and tourism) all have suffered serious declines since then. There’s a need for an update, particularly with a sustainability umbrella.
• There is a need to educate policy-makers on new kinds of jobs. Local sovereignty, especially regarding food, is not currently considered, even given the higher local multiplier for ag jobs.
• Kinds of new businesses to attract include high tech (although some don’t have deep roots) and FLC-related start-ups.
• High level of health outcomes in La PlataCounty, like educational opportunities, is a draw for businesses.
• We need to promote this new kind of thinking about economic development, but we need data to make a strong argument.
  • John Byrd and his students might be able to provide develop suitable data.
  • Region 9 serves as a collator of information rather than a source, but has strong credibility for dissemination. Its loan program is an avenue for fostering innovation.
  • Bellingham, WA, was able to raise money through the Chamber of Commerce to support such studies.
  • The 8/19 regional sustainability roundtable is an opportunity to broach these ideas and get feedback.
  • Arthur Brock from Denver will be speaking at the Green Business Roundtable about alternative economic development and local economies.
  • Eventually, we would want to make a presentation of these ideas to the Region 9 Board of Directors.

• There was agreement that the September event should be a “members” dialogue.
• Possible components of the discussion include social interactions, presentation and feedback on the SASCO strategic plan, and conversation about sustainability metrics.
• We can finalize details at the August 26 Policy Committee meeting, but owing to the short lead-time remaining, Dick will begin an email conversation about them beforehand.

• Groups/individuals who we might enlist to research metrics.
  • Energy: 4CORE
  • Health: Healthy Lifestyles La Plata
  • Transportation: SUCAP
  • Waste: City of Durango
  • Water: Chester Anderson, Denise Rue-Pastin, Ryan Huggins
• Other possible topics
  • Food, especially local vs. non-local
  • “Sustainability sector” jobs, particularly energy and agriculture
  • Social metrics: tobacco and drug use, unhealthy consumption, education
• Does Bhutan have metrics for Gross National Happiness? Dick will contact Gunter Pauli to inquire.
• Dick will consult with Donna Graves about our proposal in preparation for presentation to the SASCO Board on August 12.
• Dick also will draft a task list suggesting how we might proceed.