Hello,
Please see below for Durango-area sustainability updates, events, and ways to take action. Feel free to pass this newsletter along to others who might be interested and please encourage folks to sign up hereto receive these monthly updates on sustainability activities in our area.
Good Food Collective The Good Food Collective works together with partners ranging from farmers to food assistance providers to policy makers to -- together - build a resilient and just regional food system. Envision a reality where our small-scale farmers are practicing carbon-sinking/water-restoring ag practices that feed our community and that also allow them to earn a viable living; Envision a reality where everyone is able to access the fresh, healthy food that supports their health, well-being, and culture; Envision a reality where food is source of community building, leadership development, and empowerment. That's where we're headed! Join the Good Food Collective in the journey! At this coming Green Drinks, they are eager to share about the amazing Systems Change work underway with the La Plata Food Equity Coalition, Farms to Food Assistance Food Hub, Gleaning Program ...and of course, the 14th Annual Apple Days Festival slated for 10/8! If you are keen to do some prep-work to learn more, check us out at www.goodfoodcollective.org or @goodfoodcollectiveco on Insta/FB.
The Wilderness Society is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to unite people to protect America’s wild places toward a future where people and wild nature flourish together, meeting the challenges of a rapidly changing planet. Since 1935, The Wilderness Society has led the effort to permanently protect 109 million acres of wilderness in 44 states, along with numerous other protective designations including national monuments and national conservation areas. They believe clean air and water and access to nature are basic rights, and strive for equity and justice in everything they do and seek to reflect the many communities with whom they work. The Wilderness Society has been part of the Durango community for years and has a regional office here in Durango. Come learn more about the organization and meet the local Wilderness Society staff.
COMMUNITY NEWS
City of Durango
Updates
City of Durango staff will be providing updates on the Energy Performance Contract (EPC) at the October 4th and November 1st regular meetings. The EPC has been under evaluation as an opportunity to improve energy and water efficiency and install solar PV at multiple city facilities.
During the month of August, Durango Transit participated in the statewide Zero Fare for Better Air initiative, which was a program to encourage ridership on Colorado’s public transit systems in an effort to reduce ground-level ozone. Approximately 85% of the greenhouse gas emissions that come from transportation are due to day-to-day commutes. By leaving the car at home, a person can save up to 20 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions every day.
After seeking public input, Durango City Council voted to adopt a ballot language that would dictate how excess Lodgers' Tax fundswill be spent if approved. If the ballot measure is approved 66% of the excess revenue collected will be spent on workforce housing projects; 20% to transportation, parking, and transit services, equipment and facilities; and 14% for arts and culture events, programs, and facilities. If the ballot measure is not approved by voters a utility rebate will be paid to residential utility account holders.
The City of Durango will pursue amendments to Horse Gulch open space easements to provide limited access to e-bikes, but the research required could take more than a year. In the meantime, lace up your hiking boots for guided tours to rarely visited sites in Canyons of the Ancients this fall.
The second public meeting to receive feedback on parking priorities for Durango was held on Sept. 13. The meeting took a look at the city’s development of a Comprehensive Parking Master Plan, using the parking study's initial survey. A second survey is now available at the City of Durango's Parking website.
Durango City Council meets every other Tuesday from 5:30-8:30PM. Upcoming City Council meetings are Tuesday, October 4 and 18 at 5:30 p.m. Study Sessions are the same days starting at 2:15 p.m. Find the agenda and meeting link at DurangoGov.org/meetings. Durango City Council regular meetings and study sessions can now be viewed live on the city's YouTube channel.
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.
Update to Chapter 90, Oil and Gas Regulations - La Plata County Staff has been working on a rewrite of the Oil and Gas Regulations (Chapter 90) in the Land Use Code. They are seeking public input on the draft. Click here to see the draft. Please provide comments via our comment portal (here). Anyone interested in keeping up on the oil and gas regulations process, can sign up for this newsletter.
La Plata County Commission Meetings
Here is the schedule for upcoming County Commission Meetings. All meetings are held at 10 a.m. in the County Administration Building, 1101 E. 2nd Ave. Meetings are accessible via Zoom using the links or phone numbers below. Join the meeting at https://zoom.us/j/819094582
La Plata County is now offering translation at meetings where the Board of County Commissioners make a decision.
A Scoping Notice with initial information about the proposed Junction-Falls Integrated Resource Management (J-FIRM) Project has been released, on the Columbine Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest. People are invited to submit scoping input through October 14, 2022. There will be further opportunities for public comment, but early involvement is encouraged. Please submit input through the on-line comment form on the project webpage here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=62825 .
Questions about project details should be directed to the project leader Tim Leishman at timothy.leishman@usda.gov or Cam Hooley at camela.hooley@ysda.gov, or by calling the Columbine Ranger District at 970-884-2512.
COVID-19 Vaccines and Testing
Omicron-specific COVID-19 booster shots are in La Plata and Archuleta counties! The vaccine is formulated to provide maximum protection against the omicron variant, the predominant strain of COVID-19 circulating in the United States. Anyone aged 12 years and older who has completed a primary series of COVID-19 vaccines should receive an omicron booster.
To be eligible, you must have finished your primary vaccination series and be at least two months out from your last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine. If you’ve recently had COVID-19, you should consider waiting three months after testing negative before getting your updated booster.
CDPHE temporary vaccine clinic at the La Plata County Fairgrounds starting Monday, September 12: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Monday through Saturday. Appointments can be scheduled now: click here to register. Walk-ins welcome, registration preferred.
A limited number of COVID-19 omicron boosters are available at SJBPH's Durango (281 Sawyer Drive) and Pagosa Springs (502 S. 8th Street) offices: Call 970-247-5702 to schedule an appointment or determine eligibility
Additional clinic locations and providers are available at sjbpublichealth.org/covid-19-vaccine/. For questions about vaccine types, safety and eligibility: 1-877-268-2926.
Drone surveys of electrical lines they have found a number of damaged insulators, including some on high-voltage transmission lines, whereby insulators have been damaged from gunshots. This is dangerous and costly to the coop and members, so if anyone sees or learns of this please report it to law enforcement.
LPEA held a webinar in our “Electrify and Save” Beneficial Electrification - you can watch it here.
LPEA offers many rebates - check them out here and here for new outdoor equipment and E-Bikes rebates.
Find out about current LPEA happenings and news here and read the Watt's Up monthly Newsletters here.
Meetings
The next regular LPEA Board of Directors meeting is Wednesday, October 19 at 9:00 a.m. via zoom. Input from Coop members is always welcome. Comments or questions to the board can be made shortly after 9 a.m.
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. If you wish to participate, you much fill out this form 24 hours in advance.
The preliminary results of a facilities sustainability audit has been completed by a 3rd party (Veregy) that the sustainability group is working with.
The ground breaking for the Impact Center at the high school was on Monday, September 19. This innovative project will be verified by the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS).
Here are the dates to save for Durango Green Drinks in 2022! We'll start up again on the last Thursday of the month from 5-7PM outside at 11th Street Station in March.
Know an organization that might be interested in hosting a Green Drinks in 2023? Please have them reach out to DurangoGreenDrinks@gmail.com!
Looking for some good news? Sign up for Durango's Darcy Hitchcock's blog here.
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.
