HomeMy Public PortalAboutAB 06-040 attachmentCity of McCall, Idaho
Memo
To: City Council
From: Lindley Kirkpatrick, AICP
Date: February 3, 2006
Re: Possible Environmental Advisory Committee
Several issues have been raised by the public in the last few months that may merit
increased attention from the City. In no particular order and certainly an incomplete
list, the issues include:
• Limited opportunities for recycling: The Lakeshore Disposal/Valley County
facility does not accept a large number of recyclables and many people drive
to New Meadows to recycle.
• Wood Stove permitting: There is currently no mandate to use only EPA -
approved (less polluting) wood stoves and fireplaces.
• Slash Pile burning: This forestry practice has generated many complaints
about air pollution.
• Valley Asphalt and Paving: A citizens group (McCall Citizens Againt Asphalt
Pollution) has formed in objection to noise and air pollution from the plant.
• Rowland Brothers Concrete: Several complaints have been received about
noise and fugitive emissions from the plant.
• Big Payette Lake water quality: Issues include stormwater runoff, increased
boat and jet ski use, development of additional marinas, watershed protection,
and other issues.
• Green Buildings, Energy Efficiency, and Solar Access: Current building and
development standards do not address these issues directly.
In some cases, these issues are at least partially addressed by existing citizen
committees or staff resources, e.g. land use issues and some water quality issues. In
all cases, however, citizens have expressed a desire for solutions that exceed
available staff resources and/or code requirements.
There are a number of potential responses to this situation. Some communities
dedicate staff resources, such as a new Environmental Planner position, to these
issues. Other communities rely on existing or newly created non -governmental
organizations to explore environmental issues and recommend appropriate policy
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solutions. In other communities, environmental issues and sensitivity are integrated
into virtually all aspects of City policy and operations. In still more communities, an
advisory committee is created to examine environmental issues and make
recommendations for action to the City Council and staff. Below is a list of examples
of each approach:
• Charlottesville, Virginia uses staff:
http://www.charlottesville.orq/default.asp?pagel D=84FC38B0-4382-4B 13-8EBA-
4FFDF408132D
• The Wood River Valley uses an NGO:
http://www.ercsv.org/index.html
• The Santa Monica Sustainable City Plan integrates the issues throughout City
operations:
http://santa-monica.org/epd/scp/index.htm
• Carbondale, Colorado uses a committee:
http://www.envirocarbondale.org/
Each of these approaches has plusses and minuses. Staff recommends that an
advisory committee with a well -crafted and Council -defined mission statement,
representative membership, Council oversight, and appropriate staff support is the
appropriate solution at this point in the community's evolution.
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