Kaye Beach
Dec. 30, 201o
This is a collection of links and info that I have gathered pertaining to Oklahoma, (The City of Edmond in particular) and Sustainable Development since the Dec 6, 2010 Edmond Forum on Sustainability.
There is a list of resources and information about “sustainable development” at the bottom of this page.
For those researching this issue, I hope this info proves helpful to you.
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EDMOND City Government Defines Sustainability-
Defining Sustainability
Sustainable development can be defined as meeting the needs of the present without jeopardizing the needs of future generations. For the City of Edmond this concept applies to municipal operations, land use decisions, transportation choices, and natural resources.
Read More
December 17, 2010
City defines ICLEI ties
James Coburn The Edmond Sun
Shannon Entz, community development manager, said the City of Edmond is a member of the International Council of Local Environmental Governments, which became a source of contention with some residents at a public forum Dec. 6.
. . .Entz told The Edmond Sun that the City of Edmond became a member of ICLEI USA in November 2009 and renewed this November. The dues are $1,200 per year, she said. (paid by public-tax payer monies)
The city has not decided on a date or format for the next Sustainability Forum, she said.
“This will take some thoughtful consideration given the outcome of the first forum,” Entz said.
I guess people actually showing up with all of those questions and opinions screwed up the consensus process. They need to gain your agreement (your silence will suffice) to give everything the appearance of legitimacy. You try to gripe later and they will say –
“Sorry, you should have said something when you had the chance”
Are questions from the taxpayers of Edmond about the use of their money and plans that might affect their lives and property inappropriate? Who is Shannon Entz answerable to? Obviously NOT the citizens of Edmond.
The Edmond Sun explains;
That Dec. 6 forum ended abruptly after about 200 residents broke into arguments with city staff members about the definition of sustainability and concerns about individual property rights. Some attendees also contended that ICLEI is part of a United Nations program they referred to as Agenda 21.
Read More City defines ICLEI ties
Listen to and learn from the Experts.
ICLEI-USA says;
Municipal codes are the legal mechanisms by which local governments implement goals for sustainability.
With few exceptions, state statutes require localities to regulate community development through code provision.
Ideally, zoning code directives originate from consensus-driven policy planning for land use, transportation, housing, natural resources, economic development, social equity, culture, and so on. For many communities, coordinating these efforts is best done through one overarching policy plan. Master plans (i.e., comprehensive plans, general plans) are a framework to achieve community goals.
Sustainability plans take a similarly holistic approach—though in a different style. Divided into three areas, these plans typically address the “three pillars” of sustainability: environment, economy, and society.
Goals for transportation, land use, housing, culture, and so on, are incorporated across the pillars.
Sustainability plans also address contemporary issues such as climate change, carbon emissions regulation, globalization, and energy in greater detail.
Read More
The International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) is the international environmental agency for local governments. It was established in 1990 at the World Congress of Local Governments for a Sustainable Future. The congress was held at the United Nations in New York in response to the needs of local authorities;cities, towns and counties;that are taking on increasing responsibility as managers of both the local and global environment.
ICLEI and its membership are currently acting in response to several of the objectives established for the world community at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. (Emphasis mine)
UN Conference on Environment and Development
At UNCED, ICLEI, along with local authorities and other local authority associations, played an active role in raising the profile of local governments as managers of the local and global environment. Chapter 28 of Agenda 21, which resulted from these efforts, calls upon local authorities around the world to undertake a consultative process with their communities to establish their own local Agenda 21s by 1996. This Local Agenda 21 mandate, introduced and championed by ICLEI in the Earth Summit’s preparatory process, has been taken up by more than 1200 local authorities around the world.(Emphasis mine)
In the early stages of the project, ICLEI developed and presented a general approach to local sustainable development planning called Strategic Services Planning (SSP). The SSP approach was then presented to prospective participants through a series of regional workshops. During the workshops, participants reviewed and revised the planning elements in order to adapt the SSP to their own unique needs. They exchanged planning ideas and experiences and began to prepare work plans for their Local Agenda 21 efforts
The United States campaign was introduced in November 1994 at the annual conference of the National League of Cities. Eight months later, the local councils of 15 cities had agreed to the campaign commitments.
Results
ICLEI and its members of local authorities from large and small communities around the globe are rising to the challenges identified in Rio and achieving concrete results. (Emphasis mine)
In doing so, we should expect that, in combination, the independent actions of local governments and their communities that are responding to the objectives identified at UNCED will produce a ripple effect of responsible social and environmental behaviour that will ultimately encompass the globe.
Read More
From ICLEIUSA.org
by Samantha Hughes, South Central Regional Intern, Apr 04, 2010
Congratulations to the 17 local governments across Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Arizona that have received an ICLEI Milestone Award to recognize their achievements through our Five Milestones for Climate Mitigation process or our Five Milestones for Sustainability process.
In addition to our congratulations, we’d also like to say thanks to staff from these local governments, who conducted check-in calls with us in the first quarter. We appreciate your willingness to communicate what’s going on in your community — it gives us that much more of an opportunity to highlight your success. Click below to view the local government winners and see what Milestones they have achieved…
Read more »
What Is ICLEI’s Five Milestone Process?
A little refresher:
Five Milestones for Climate Mitigation
- Milestone One: Conduct a baseline emissions inventory and forecast
- Milestone Two: Adopt an emissions reduction target for the forecast year
- Milestone Three: Develop a local climate action plan
- Milestone Four: Implement policies and measures
- Milestone Five: Monitor and verify results
Five Milestones for Sustainability
- Milestone One: Conduct a sustainability assessment
- Milestone Two: Establish sustainability goals
- Milestone Three: Develop a local sustainability plan
- Milestone Four: Implement policies and measures
- Milestone Five: Evaluate progress and report results
http://www.icleiusa.org/blog/archive/2010/04/04/milestone-award-winners-in-the-south-central-region
ARRA, EECBG, DOE funds and more. ICLEI shows local governments how to really go “green”!
ICLEI USA is committed to helping its members access this funding and use it wisely.
Bookmark and check this page often for the latest economic recovery funding updates and application instructions.
ICLEI Explains:
The Basics – International Climate Negotiations and the UNFCCC Explained
What is the UNFCCC?
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international treaty with the objective of addressing climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the inevitable challenges that will arise from a warming planet. Nearly every country on Earth is a party to the UNFCCC, and each year they meet at a Conference of the Parties (COP). For example, COP16 was the 16th meeting of the Parties, held in Cancun.
-Our Agents of Change program brings delegations of U.S.-based youth to conferences and summits related to international policy, primarily at the United Nations. Our delegates work with government delegates, fellow civil society members, and other youth to promote youth-friendly and future-focused policies related to sustainable development and climate change. Follow the links below to learn more about our involvement:
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD)
UN Commission for Social Development (CSocD)
What role does Oklahoma have at a conference like this?
Eric Pollard-
Oklahoma could play a huge role in the domestic advancement of action on climate change through renewable energy policy and infrastructure development in the US … http://pollardtopoland.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-12-11T02%3A33%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=7
One of the technological tools used to implement sustainable development is GIS
ESRI’s commitment to developing interoperable technology sets the stage for cooperation between organizations so that they can make well-informed decisions. GIS software allows users across the globe to share ideas on how to meet their resource needs, plan efficient land use, and protect the environment to guarantee the survival of future generations.
Read More about GIS, Sustainable Development and its use in Edmond.
When and Where are Meetings and events held in Edmond?
Calendar of Events
http://edmondok.com/service/calendar
Meeting notices (be sure to refresh)
http://edmondok.com/government/cityclerk/meetings
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Edmond Email Updates
Stay informed by signing-up for City of Edmond email updates.
http://edmondok.com/service/email
Edmond City Data
Stay in touch with city government
From the City of Edmond home page-We operate under a Council-Manager form of government established by the 1925 Charter. The Mayor and Council are the policy-making and legislative body, and appoint the City Manager as well as the City Attorney and Municipal Judges. The City Manager provides centralized direction and leadership for the day-to-day administration of city services. Link
Directory
Research City Laws
The City Clerk is the legal custodian of Edmond’s official records, including the Code of Ordinances enacted by Edmond City Councils since 1925, when our city was chartered.
As a convenience for our citizens who may like more information about specific laws or regulations, an online database is available for research.
The link below will take you to a non-city web site.
Edmond Code of Ordinances
Who’s Who?
These are some of the people that appear to have a significant role in Edmond’s Sustainability effort.
Edmond’s Sustainability Planner is Phil Jones
Former GIS Analyst II at City of Edmond link
The Oklahoman2010-03-20
EDMOND — Edmond is earning a reputation for its “green infrastructure” development in changes to its transportation, drainage, energy, water and waste management systems. Thanks to a grant from the state Department of Agriculture, Forestry Services, the city is widening its vision and plans to share the details during the Green Infrastructure Initiative’s Annual Stakeholder meeting from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the Downtown Community Center. Edmond Sustainability Planner Phil Jones said the event will “educate people and give them the direction we’re heading.”
Mr Wantland (I did not make this up!) is a member of Sustainable Edmond
Russell serves on the Central Edmond Urban Development Board, is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association, the Urban Land Institute, Oklahoma Venture Forum, Sustainable Edmond, and recently served as a steering committee member for development of the City of Edmond’s 50-year water supply plan.
Wantland was named to Oklahoma Super Lawyers – Rising Stars in 2009.
Broken links Contact Russell Wantland > http://www.palmerwantland.com/PW_RWantland.html
Linked in http://www.linkedin.com/in/russellwantland
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Citizens Participation Committee (CDBG)
There are six members on this committee.
The HUD Citizens Participation Committee reviews all items to be funded with City of Edmond CDBG dollars.
The CPC Committee makes recommendations to the City Council concerning our Community Development Block Grant programs for the next fiscal year.
Link
What is a Planning Commission and What do Planning Commissioners do?
Oklahoma Planning Commissioners
Handbook The Origin Of The Planning Commission
•The idea of the planning commission originated in the Standard Planning and Zoning Enabling Acts developed under Herbert Hoover in the 1920’s.
•These model ordinances were drafted in order to standardize land use planning procedures across the US.
• These acts defined and established the essential duties of planning commissions, boards of zoning appeals or adjustment, and legislative bodies as they address planning and development issues.
•Oklahoma was one of the states that adopted the “Standard Enabling Act,” which is the basis for our zoning and planning legislation and practice. (Emphasis mine)
Read more
Follow the money
Nov. 18 2010
The City has been awarded nearly a million dollars in Recovery Act funds from the US Department of Energy and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Staff developed a strategy for allocating those funds, which included the development of the Edmond Sustainability Plan. The remainder of the funds is being spent on energy saving technologies for city facilities and water wells, CNG conversion kits, energy building code training and equipment for inspectors. http://s3.amazonaws.com/content.newsok.com/documents/20101118-092402.docx
CDBG’s- Community Development Block Grants.
Background
The Constitution provided the federal government with a modest array of enumerated powers and left most government responsibilities to the states.
During most of the nation’s history, local units of government were not financially tied to the federal government. The New Deal of the 1930s started to change that with major federal encroachment into formerly state and local policy areas. The federal government’s micromanagement of local affairs accelerated in the 1960s with President Lyndon Johnson’s “Great Society” and the creation of the Department of Housing and Urban Development in 1965.
The idealistic plans of the 1960s for federal aid to solve local problems have not panned out. Federal meddling has been high in taxpayer cost and low on accomplishment. Indeed, federal subsidies and regulations have often contributed to the very urban decay that federal involvement was supposed to fix. The following six HUD programs should be high on the list of programs for federal policymakers to put on the chopping block.
While CDBG funds are initially handed out to state and local governments, the ultimate beneficiaries are usually private businesses and organizations working on particular projects, such shopping malls, parking lots, museums, colleges, theaters, swimming pools, and auditoriums.
All these activities are purely local in nature, and there is no national interest in funding them. CDBG funding runs completely counter to the federalist model of American government.
Federal policymakers are supposed to make decisions on national issues such as defense and security; it makes no sense for them to be city planners, but that’s what the CDBG program effectively lets them do.
Read more about CDBG’s
The City of Edmond- CDBG Community Development Block Grants
The City of Edmond is one step closer to addressing these needs, thanks to citizen participation and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. The CDBG program was authorized by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.
Each year, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development provides eligible metropolitan cities with CDBG funds to revitalize neighborhoods, develop affordable housing, expand economic opportunities and provide public services, principally to benefit low and moderate income persons or households.
All projects and programs must meet ONE of three national objectives:
- A benefit to low and moderate (L/M) income persons or households;
- Aiding in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight; or,
- Urgent Need (Meeting other community development needs having a particular urgency because existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community, such as natural disasters).
Link
Oklahoma City, OK: The City of Oklahoma City is currently working on a sustainability plan using EECBG funds, lighting upgrades to City facilities, and Energy Management System Upgrades to City Facilities. In addition, the City is preparing to advertise for bids for our compressed natural gas fast fill fueling station and bike share program.
http://www.icleiusa.org/blog/sustainability-progress-across-the-southwest-and-south-central-u.s/?searchterm=oklahoma
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants Program-EECBG
Award(s): 56 totaling $36.5 million, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants Program (EECBG)
LINK
Location: Statewide
Fifty‐six communities in Oklahoma received a total of $36.5 million for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants Program (EECBG) to develop, promote, implement and manage local energy efficiency programs.
Oklahoma is using this funding to support various energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The State is competitively awarding 60 percent of the funding to local cities and counties, prioritizing projects based on measures like energy and cost savings, job creation, renewable energy generation and carbon emissions reductions. EECBG funds also allow Oklahoma to upgrade the electrical distribution system in Waynoka, where the installation of new transformers will result in a 25 percent reduction in power consumption. The remaining funds are being used to install solar and wind technologies in jurisdictions across Oklahoma and enhance local recycling programs
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Planning and Zoning
Review Criteria
In determining whether to approve, approve with conditions or deny a site plan application, the Planning Commission will consider the following factors:
Consistency with the applicable provisions Chapter 4, Chapter 5 and Chapter 6 of Title 22;
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AN ORDINANCE REPEALING THE EXISTING TITLE 22 ZONING ORDINANCE ORIGINALLY ADOPTED IN 1972 AND AMENDING TITLE 22 TO READ AS HEREIN SET OUT.
Purpose
This Ordinance classifies and regulates the use of land, buildings and structures within the city limits of the City of Edmond, Oklahoma. The regulations in this Ordinance are necessary to:
(A) Promote the health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants;
(B) Implement the policies found in the current version of the Edmond Plan;
(C) Encourage the most appropriate uses of land by dividing the City into zones and regulating therein the use of the land;
(D) Maintain and stabilize the value of property;
(E) Reduce fire hazards and improve public safety and safeguard the public health;
(F) Facilitate the flow of traffic and decrease hazards;
(G) Prevent undue concentration of population; and
(H) Create a comprehensive and stable pattern of land uses upon which to plan for transportation, water supply, sewage, schools, parks, public utilities and other facilities.
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FEMA National Flood Insurance Program
“Since the Federal Government does not have land use authority, the NFIP is based on the Federal government’s power to spend under the Constitution rather than any Federal authority to regulate land use.” Link
“When a community chooses to join the NFIP, it must adopt and enforce minimum floodplain management standards for participation.
“‘Floodplain management’ refers to an overall community program of corrective and preventive measures for reducing future flood damage. These measures generally include zoning, subdivision, or building requirements, and special-purpose floodplain ordinances.” Link
Recommendations by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for local landowners to purchase flood insurance are nothing more than a scam, a levee district official told a crowd of concerned residents Saturday.
Some communities are very unhappy with how FEMA is re-drawing their flood maps.
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ARRA Stimulus funds
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Stimulus Applications
City of Edmond EECBG Application June 2009 EECBG-Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant
Other reports or articles that may be of interest:
Monthly Progress Report – August 2009
2009 Edmond Oklahoma EECBG Fund Proposal Presentation
Edmond Oklahoma Budget and Financial Plan FY 2010 – 2011
Edmond Public Works Authority Meeting June 2010
What Is Health Equity?
Health equity is a new idea for most people. It’s not hard to grasp, but it does require us to reframe the way in which health differences are usually presented and perceived.
Tackling health inequities requires widening our lens to bring into view the ways in which jobs, working conditions, education, housing, social inclusion, and even political power influence individual and community health. When societal resources are distributed unequally by class and by race, population health will be distributed unequally along those lines as well.
What is Health Equity?
Partner Contact List
CITY OF EDMOND
Shannon Entz
405-359-4789
shannon.entz@edmondok.com
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City Charter
The Edmond City Charter was first adopted by the voters in 1925 and approved by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in 1926. The Charter provides the basis for Edmond government as its organic law and structure as a home-rule city under the laws of the State of Oklahoma
There is a Charter Review Committee:
The Charter Review Committee is composed of citizens appointed by the City Council by action taken on April 9, 2007. The members of the Committee are shown on the attached exhibit 1.
The Committee includes broad experience in Edmond municipal affairs. The Committee membership includes one former mayor; five former city council members; two former Edmond City Attorneys; one former city manager, one University Professor expert in municipal affairs; and all have experience in affairs of the City of Edmond over a period of many years.
Here are some of the recommendations of the Charter Review Committee from 2008:
- The Committee recommends that Section 9 of the Charter omit the requirement that a candidate be a freeholder in the city of Edmond.
- office of Treasurer would in the future be appointed by the City Manager
- the Charter that would allow the Edmond City Council to have the ability by ordinance to consider such additional campaign finance rules and regulations as it may desire in the future.
Read the 2008 Charter Review Committee’s recommendations for changes to the Charter
HOME RULE background
“It’s a shame that we have to ask the Legislature for permission to change our form of government.” Sen Leftwich 2006
County home rule amendment fails in Oklahoma on parliamentary move
Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Mar 7, 2006 by Marie Price
An attempted rehearing of a bill to which state Sen. Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City, added a county home rule proposal last week was quickly tabled Monday on a vote of 27-10.
Some 300 officials from mainly rural counties were at the state Capitol Monday to lobby senators against the home rule idea.
Leftwich’s amendment to Senate Bill 1763, by state Sen. Todd Lamb, R-Edmond, would allow Oklahoma and Tulsa counties to adopt a home-rule type of government. The language was attached to Lamb’s bill last week, but the bill itself was defeated, with Lamb serving notice to reconsider.
Former state Sen. Dave Herbert, now with the County Government Legislative Council, charged that the home-rule proposal was a move by local chamber officials to get their hands on county money.
You don’t know what it’s going to do once they pass it, he said What they’re saying is, give us permission to change government, but we’re not going to tell you how it’s going to be changed, and that’s just a bad idea.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4182/is_20060307/ai_n16168841/
Kay County Officials Pleased With Defeat of Home Rule Bill
By MARK GALVIN
News Staff Writer
NEWKIRK — Kay County officers here say it’s just fine with them that the Oklahoma House has rejected two “county home rule” bills that would allow restructuring of county government.
Kay County Treasurer Pat Schieber, who was outspoken lately against the two House bills voted upon Monday, said officers had not just simply been opposed to the bill because they have a vested interest.
“We have a vested interest (but) our citizens have elected us, so we feel it’s our duty to watch over something that could ultimately be very bad. The way I interpret it, it would take the vote away from them on who their officials are at the courthouse.
“It’s the first step to the people losing their local control,” she said.
“The ultimate goal (of such bills),” Schieber said, “is to consolidate offices, then to consolidate courthouses, and eventually move everything to the control of the state.”
link
Home Rule in Midwest City Oklahoma causes some consternation….
Wed Jul 15, 2009
“Really, probably the key thing about this case is that it’s not about dogs,” said Katherine Bolles, city attorney for Midwest City. She said the city is most interested in having the courts define the powers of a home-rule charter city, which Midwest City is. (Emphasis mine)
A home-rule charter city is one which has adopted a charter that allows them to rule over local issues. As far as state concerns, state laws and statutes still trump home rule municipalities. Bolles said, however, that the safety of citizens against dogs is a municipal concern.
“If a home rule charter can’t regulate animals in a city, what can it regulate?” she asked. This is the question she wants to take to the court.
More
So MWC admits that this case was ultimately about control, not safety. Interesting…
CHARTER OF THE CITY OF EDMOND, OKLAHOMA
As Last Amended
April 7, 2009
We, the people of the City of Edmond, Oklahoma, in order to form a more modern government, facilitate civic improvement and promote the general welfare, do ordain and establish this Charter for The City of Edmond, State of Oklahoma.
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Reports
Edmond Sustainability Key Documents
Green Infrastructure Initiative Report to Stakeholders
City of Edmond and Edmond Land Conservancy Facilitated Meetings Summary
March 27th – 28th, 2009
March 26th, 2010
Definition of Green Infrastructure
Green Infrastructure is defined as a “strategically planned and managed network of natural lands, working landscapes, and other open spaces that conserves ecosystem values and functions and provides associated benefits to human populations.” The network consists of Hubs, Links, and Sites.
The Green Infrastructure Initiative Vision
Create a plan and process that commits Edmond to preserving, protecting, and restoring its interconnected natural resources for the future development of the community.
The long term vision in creating a plan will accomplish the following:
1.It will create a GIS layer for the city that can be used by staff, planning commission, and the city council to make decisions and guide policy.
2.It will allow the ELC to better focus their efforts in acquiring conservation easements.
3.It will create changes in city code to provide approaches to construction that are environmentally sensitive, economically viable, and that comply with federal requirements.
4.It will make specific recommendations that lead to more sustainable practices and a more livable community for the long-term.
You can download the entire report here
According to the Edmond report the ” Top Priorities for the Green Infrastructure Initiative” are:
- Conserve forest lands in Edmond through a combination of regulations and incentives.
- Educate landowners and promote use of conservation easements through educational materials and ongoing public awareness efforts.
- Preserve floodplain and watershed lands through acquisition of conservation easements or, when necessary, whole properties.
Important information about Conservation Easements HERE
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Edmond Plan IV (also Edmond Plan III)
The Edmond Plan IV is the City’s comprehensive plan, which acts as a general guide for how the City should grow and develop over the long-term.
Edmond Plan IV builds upon previous plans, incorporating elements that remain relevant and revising others that require updating to reflect current conditions.
What has Changed?
- A General Plan has been added to depict the desired general vision for physical development and growth in Edmond. The General Plan is supported by the various goals and policies found throughout Edmond Plan IV, and considers constraints (such as protection of natural areas or anticipated availability of infrastructure), trends, desired growth patterns and preferred community character.
- The site-specific land use map, previously known as Edmond Plan III, has been updated and the name has been changed to the “Ordinance Plan”. Updates to the Ordinance Plan reflect the vision and desired character of the “General Plan”, particularly in regards to east Edmond where the majority of change will occur.
- A Preface has been added to provide a quick overview of the plan and how it is intended to be used by stakeholders.
- A Community Profile section has been added (Chapter 2), which provides a current “snapshot” of Edmond examining demographic and development trends, key community features, and current development-related issues. The Community Profile provides the context for the long and short range goals and policies throughout the rest of the document.
- The Transportation chapter (Chapter 5) has been revised to reflect the Edmond Transportation Plan.
- The Utilities chapter (Chapter 7) provides an analysis of the City’s sewer and water infrastructure and its capacity to handle projected growth.
- An Implementation chapter (Chapter 9) has been added to the plan to cover all remaining bases needed to move from plan to reality. Administrative goals and policies, as well as other tools to implement the plan are discussed.
- Policies have been revised to provide stronger direction for decision-making.
- The community vision, developed by citizens through the Tomorrow’s Edmond process in 1996, continues to provide the guiding vision for Edmond Plan IV.
Edmond Plan IV
Edmond Plan IV Ord. Map
http://edmondok.com/communitydev/planning/edmondplan
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See also Conservation Easements and Your Property Rights
From the Executive Summary:
To develop a long-term plan for enhancing outdoor recreational amenities and preserving natural resources, the City appointed a task force to explore these issues and develop a “greenprint” which will guide future growth and development.
The Green City Task Force, made up of 17 civic leaders, spent roughly one year exploring existing City plans, efforts, and needs, and developing a series of recommendations to the City for future efforts.
The ultimate goal of the Green City Task Force and this Greenprint is to ensure that the best natural areas which still exist are not lost
Read More
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Financial
Look for The Triple Bottom Line
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The triple bottom line (abbreviated as “TBL” or “3BL“, and also known as “people, planet, profit” or “the three pillars” captures an expanded spectrum of values and criteria for measuring organizational (and societal) success: economic, ecological and social.
With the ratification of the United Nations and ICLEI TBL standard for urban and community accounting in early 2007, this became the dominant approach to public sector full cost accounting. Read More
What’s Wrong With the “Triple Bottom Line”? A critique from the accounting perspective
The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
What is it?
“Each year all State and local governments prepare a financial report on assets, liabilities, revenues and expenditures in more or less a standardized format that must conform to the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) accounting and financial reporting standards. This financial report is called the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR, pronounced “cay-fer”). Most people have heard of the budget, which is the document that plans and authorizes the spending of money. The CAFR describes what actually was spent and the status of assets and liabilities at the end of the fiscal year.”
Read More about CAFR’s
COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT for the City of Edmond Oklahoma 2009
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Oklahoma State Energy Office
Operated by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, the State Energy Office looks at energy efficiency as a tool for economic development to help sustain and grow Oklahoma communities.
NGO’s-Non Governmental Organizations
ELECTRONIC GLOBAL NETWORKING AND THE NGO MOVEMENT:
THE 1992 RIO SUMMIT AND BEYOND
by Shelley Preston
The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development was unprecedented in bringing together people from all walks of life, cultures, political systems, and environment-development experiences. Because the gathering cemented relationships and forged new alliances, international networking and mutual understanding of common problems or national predicaments are bound to flourish. As electronic communication becomes more available, a basis of international consolidation and reciprocal respect also will become more firmly established. Without that basis, there cannot be an effective transition from unsustainable to sustainable development.(1)
Link
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Going Green – Sustainability
Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce
http://www.edmondchamber.com/programsgo-green/going-green-sustainablility/
“Oklahoma Sustainability network is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about implementing more earth-friendly policies. “
In 2010 The OSN received a $493,000 stimulus grant
Sustainability chapter started in Edmond
Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Jun 21, 2007 by David Page
Jeff Tate first learned about the Oklahoma Sustainability Network from Harlan Hentges.
Tate and Hentges are both attorneys with Mulinix Ogden Hall Andrews & Ludlam, a law firm with offices in downtown Oklahoma City. Hentges is general council for the Oklahoma Sustainability Network and is a member of the group’s board of directors.
“It was through my friendship with him (Hentges) that I gained exposure to the Oklahoma Sustainability Network,” Tate said. “I realized I had a lot more in common with the group than I realized.”
Tate, a resident of Edmond, attended the group’s annual conference in April. Hentges also lives in Edmond.
“I decided it was important to begin an Edmond chapter,” he said.
. . . “We will discuss how to improve our quality of life and our community in ways that make sense economically, environmentally and socially,” Tate said. “We also want to promote environmental stewardship through individual, community and business understanding of long-term consequences associated with climate change and other environmental issues.”
Sustainable Edmond is the state group’s seventh chapter. Other chapters are based in Oklahoma City, Norman, Tulsa, Stillwater and Shawnee. There is also a Green Country regional chapter. Other chapters are being formed. The nonprofit Oklahoma Sustainability Network actually got its start in Edmond. In 2001, a small group started meeting at the 501 Cafe in Edmond to discuss what could be done to “green” up Oklahoma, according to the state group’s Web site.
Those small meetings in Edmond resulted in the first Oklahoma Sustainability Network conference in May 2002 at Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City. About 125 people attended the first conference, “Sustainable Solutions: Envisioning Oklahoma’s Future. LINK
OSN Programs and Projects
Consolidated Appropriations Act 2010 Sustainable Communities Initiative
Sustainable Edmond
ACOG “Association of Central Oklahoma Governments”
About ACOG
Established in 1966, the Association is an association of city, town and county governments within the Central Oklahoma area. ACOG works on mobility, public safety and quality of life issues that impact Central Oklahoma.
We are the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Central Oklahoma. The MPO is a federally recognized entity that coordinates transportation planning and determines priorities for transportation funding.
INTERMODAL TRANSPORTATION TECHNICAL COMMITTEE VOTING MEMBERS AND ALTERNATES
http://www.acogok.org/Newsroom/Downloads10/may10ittc.pdf
Oklahoma Renewable Energy Council
OREC is a broad coalition of individuals, companies, organizations, and agencies working to develop Oklahoma’s bountiful renewable energy resources. These resources include wind, solar, biomass, Geothermal and small-scale hydroelectric.World-Wide Sustainability Resources Inventory
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I will be adding information that seems relevant to this posting.
For your further research-Here is a collection of some of the documents pertaining to Oklahoma and sustainability that I have gathered so far
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Additional Resources and Reading:
Alabama Property Rights GLOSSARY OF TERMS YOU NEED TO KNOW
TAKING LIBERTY How Private Property is being ABOLISHED in America
What is Communitarian Law
Understanding Sustainable Development Agenda 21
Sustainable Development Global to Local Action Plans
A selection of papers about dealing with predetermined consensus, the Delphi Technique and group manipulation tactics .
Sustainable Development or Sustainable Freedom
Smart Growth shows its ugly side in South Carolina
