UPDATED (8/12): At the Redmond City Council Derby Days booth our representatives weren't just handing out ice-cold "Otter Pops" ! Councilmembers also listened to comments from passing citizens..
According to a Council report, one citizen wanted to learn more about the Planning Commission and how to connect to them.
Presto! Wouldn't you know it? Council invited the Planning Commission to their study session meeting last night - to address the value and need for "Sustainability" in Redmond. Commission Chair Tom Hinman masterfully lead the thought provoking conversation. Do you care to listen in?
Tom's 4+ minute talk begins right at the start of the meeting. The entire council joins in. This is one of the most revealing Council meetings (video) I've seen.
Definition of "Sustainability": "to satisfy the needs of today without compromising the future's ability to meet its needs." The three components of sustainability are: environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Ref. United Nations.
Reported By Bob Yoder
Commission Photo on City Website - Tom Hinman (purple shirt)
Rough notes on the meeting (read more)
Rough Meeting Notes of Council comments, By Yoder
Vache: United Nations definition of "sustainability": 3 pillars Vache - should be interwoven in the comprehensive plan- not a separate item.
Margeson - decisions we are making today is what will the impact us tomorrow - need to sustain new ideas. human services. Job growth.
Cole - Sustainability is about "re-using stuff." I look at dirt as being good. Heard someone say the orientation of a building- saves more money on energy efficiency than most anything. Focus on hydroelectric power. .
Myers - speech - first do no harm (Hippocratic oath); awareness of sustainability and the environment is broad based, not focused alone by government. general operative principle is to educate vs. advocate
Hinman - Sustainability is overarching to our Comprehensive Plan- sustainability permeates throughout the Comprehensive Plan - take a while for -legs to catch up. environment in forefront than human services.
Mayor - building construction and land use has one of biggest impacts on our environmental resources. need policy
Vache - has insightful, thoughtful comments. education is more important than rules and regulation.
Myers - need to retrofit homes not just look at just new homes. evolution of what works.
Franz - Margeson - agreed on a connected community as part of the sustainable piece.
Franz (vice chair of commission) - include neighbors in process; need images of the comprehensive plan
Stilin- perpetual motion machine (sustain the feel of Redmond)
Mayor wants policy goals to allow for broad and innovative techniques.
Hinman - environmental pillar - the value of urban form (compact development, green infrastructure)
Need to factor ROI for clean water, green jobs, green infrastructure
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Mayor: how do we measure the value and need for manufacturing land in our city? "encroachment of housing or other uses", should we have more or less manufacturing?
Vache: manufacturing definition different from l950's -- from sand to software. It matters where you make it (ref. Times).
Stilin: MSFT example. - look at land two ways: land that generates revenues vs. land used to produced revenue so Zone land accordingly. Revenue producing (manufacturing land) vs. expense producing (residential land).
Vache - sees manufacturing land as value producing.
Cole - leverage what we've got ; Digipen. (least prepared)
Margeson: what are our needs? encourage innovation.
Myers - pejorative elements that we have to pay a price for? Likes Vache's idea of manufacturing.
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Hinman - sustainability does not end at the city limits. think of a regional fit.
Carson -last to comment. single best way to attract business is to move CEO here. single reason why business is here. Jennies parking lot activity - amazed at activity. impressed with operation and tons of things going on. How do we stay ahead of changing types of manufacturing. Do we know it (manufacturing) when we see it? How do we attract it?
Hinman - need regional plan for sustainability
Vache - geographical borders - outside.
Colleen - Human Resource Planner addressed the Social pillar - - affordable housing, urban form, public health - Vancouver B.C.is a model - social sustainability is a direction rather than a destination (long term vision) requires integrated decision-making. basic needs must be met - need resources to develop individual human capacity and community capacity.
STIILIN - referred to Wisconsin - tearing down housing projects in Wisconsin - caused social problems rather than fixed them. Described sustainability should behave as well balanced wheel that rolls right down the hill so need to instill sustainability values in people (younger)
Hinman - culture, enrichment. walkable community; bring human dimension forward - places initial emphasis on environmental leg.
Commissioner Bontadelli (developer type) asked to say something.
I watched over a half hour of the Planning Commission presentation by Tom Hinman and other members to the Mayor and the City Council. I agree that it was an interesting and informative discussion. One thing I learned is that currently, Redmond City code does not permit 'green roofs' to be built on top of flat-roofed buildings within the city. Presumably this will change when the new planning regulations go into effect late next year.
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