Hello, Please see below for local sustainability updates, ways to take action, and a reminder to join us this Thursday, October 28 from 5-7PM, for Durango Green Drinks at 11st Street Station. The hosts this month are the Grand Canyon Trust and American Rivers. Please feel free to wear a mask and social distance if vaccinated and that would make you most comfortable and note that you must wear a mask and social distance if you aren't vaccinated.
Please pass this newsletter along to others and encourage folks to sign up here to receive these monthly updates on sustainability activities in La Plata County and Durango!
Grand Canyon Trust
Grand Canyon Trustis a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to making sure the region’s natural wonders, communities, and cultures thrive. Founded in 1985, their mission is to safeguard the wonders of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado Plateau, while supporting the rights of its Native peoples. They envision and work toward a Grand Canyon and Colorado Plateau where:
Wildness, the diversity of native plants and animals, clean air, and flowing rivers abound.
Sovereign tribal nations thrive.
A livable climate endures.
People passionately work to protect the region they love for future generations.
They have a staff of more than 30 (including two in Durango) that works on issues ranging from cultural landscape protection to forest restoration, to uranium mining and milling reclamation to environmental justice action. They stand behind Native Nations across the plateau by supporting tribal life ways, uplifting Indigenous knowledge, and collaborating on shared conservation goals. They have a membership of more than 3,000 and an active volunteer base of more than 400 strong. Together, they work tirelessly to protect the Colorado Plateau’s remarkable landscapes.
American Rivers
American Rivers is a leading conservation organization working to protect and restore the nation’s rivers and streams. Their mission is to protect wild rivers, restore damaged rivers, and conserve clean water for people and nature. Since 1973, they have conserved more than 150,000 miles of rivers through Wild and Scenic River (WSR) designations, dam removals, on-the-ground projects, and advocacy efforts. Their Colorado River Basin Program is headquartered in Denver, CO, and their Southwest River Protection Program has locations in Durango, CO; Flagstaff, AZ; and Moab, UT.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Durango City Council
City Council Meetings
Durango City Council meets every other Tuesday from 5:30-8:30PM. The next regular City Council meeting is Tuesday, November 2 at 5:30 p.m. Find the agenda and meeting link at DurangoGov.org/meetings.
There will be a public hearing for the proposed 2022 Budget at the next City Council meeting. This is an opportunity for citizens to provide their input on the proposed spending plan for next year. View the budget proposal through the city's new OpenGov Financial Transparency portal at DurangoGov.org/Budget
At the Oct. 20, 2021 City Council meeting, councilors heard a presentation from staff on a preliminary minor subdivision of Buckley Park. During the public hearing, residents expressed concern about the loss of trees and park space. See more meeting highlights in the Oct. 22 episodeof Council Connection.
Public Commentcan be shared at a meeting with a scheduled Public Participation agenda item. If the meeting does not have Public Participation scheduled, comments can be submitted via email to: PublicComment@DurangoGov.org. Comments must be submitted no later than noon on the Monday preceding the meeting. Anyone attending a meeting at City Hall must wear a mask. Council Chambers is limited to 20 attendees.
Get Involved
As part of City Council's annual review of the City Manager, the city has launched a survey gathering feedback from residents on their interactions with City Manager José Madrigal. The feedback will the city guide the review process. The survey is open through Nov. 1, 2021.
Feed pigs not bears! The city and community partners are hosting the annual Pumpkin Drop-Off. Bring jack-o-lanterns and other fruits and leaves Monday, Nov. 1 or Tuesday, Nov. 2 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.at La Plata County Fairgrounds in Durango or Pine River Shares in Bayfield. Pumpkins will be donated to local farmers and ranchers for use as animal feed. Volunteers interested in helping can sign up for a two- or three-hour shift here.
Current City Board Vacancies: Durango’s boards and commissions provide a foundation for public input and are a great way for citizens to get involved with their community. Boards and commissions generally meet monthly. For more information and to apply, visit DurangoGov.org/Boards
Is it difficult to get around Durango without a car? Do you wish your neighborhood was more walkable or accessible? Do you have ideas on how to make Durango’s transportation network more equitable? The city is updating the Multimodal Transportation Plan, and they want your feedback.
A series of neighborhood meetings are being held this year. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, Oct. 26, at 5 p.m. at 20581 Highway 160 West in the training room. Snacks will be provided, and Spanish interpretation will be available. Durango residents are encouraged to attend and share their ideas for better transportation connectivity in the city.
A schedule of more upcoming meetings is available at DurangoGov.org/MTP. Residents can also share ideas using an interactive map and/or by emailing comments/ideas to multimodal@DurangoGov.org
Multimodal Advisory Board- November 17, 2021, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM @ Virtual Meeting. The Multimodal Advisory Board meets the third Wednesday of every month at 4:00 PM.
*Please see agendas for how to participate in these virtual meetings. The link to the virtual meeting is available here: https://durangogov.org/zoom or click on the links to specific meetings above.
Durango School District 9-R
Remember to turn in your ballots for the Durango 9-R Board of Director Elections. Ballots should be returned by mail no later than October 25th or voters may use 24 hour ballot drop boxes up until 7 pm on November 2nd.
La Plata County Clerk & Recorder, 679 Turner Drive
County Administration Building, 1101 E 2nd Ave, Durango
During the past few months, our 9-R School District has made great strides in support of integrating sustainability as it applies to the bond approved by the voters last fall and the district. The bond applies to energy efficiency, renewable energy generation, high-performance construction, ventilation, lighting and more.
Watch the presentation on 9Rs Sustainability Goals. It can be found here at minute 46:49. http://youtu.be/7kuv5lmh_dg
To visit the 9-R Bond Sustainability page click HERE
Durango 9R Board of Education meetings are generally held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month starting at 5:30 and are always open to the public. The 2nd Tuesday of the month is usually a work session while the 4th Tuesday is the official public meeting where actions are taken and there is always an opportunity for public input.
ARPA Funds: The County has been allocated $10,900,000 in Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and is now accepting applications. You can contact the Board of County Commissioners to give your ideas here and/or if you would like to request funds, click here.
Oil and Gas Regulations Update - In response to a Senate Bill passed in 2019 (SB 181) that placed public health and clean air and water on par with production, La Plata County has started the process to update its oil and gas rules through revising "Chapter 90" of the current land use code. Community engagement will be crucial to get this right. If you want to follow the process, sign up for the Community Development Department's newsletters.
COVID-19 Vaccines and Testing
All Coloradans age 12 and older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Find local vaccine providers and clinics, and make an appointment at sjbpublichealth.org/covid-19-vaccine.
San Juan Basin Public Health (SJBPH) provides free COVID-19 testing in partnership with COVIDCheck Colorado.
Since 2019, LPEA has been exploring three options to power our communities with affordable, reliable, and low-carbon electricity. After much work and negotiation, they have some developments to share on one option, which would allow LPEA to secure half our power needs from our current power provider Tri-State and half from other sources.
LPEA and Tri-State want to update you on these developments and hear your questions and comments before the LPEA board votes on a path forward. Join LPEA for a virtual town hall meeting on either Monday, October 25th, or Wednesday, October 27th at 6 p.m. Register for 10/25/21andRegister for 10/27/21
Find out about current LPEA happenings and news hereand read the Watt's Up monthly Newsletters here.
We are looking for new board members! If interested, please reach out here: SustainableSWColorado@gmail.com
The Sustainability Alliance of Southwest Colorado (SASCO) networks with local organizations, businesses, governments, and individuals to create a more just society which prioritizes environmental stewardship, social equity, and a thriving local economy.
