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 here to receive these monthly updates on sustainability activities in our area.
American Rivers American Rivers believes that a future of clean water and healthy rivers for everyone, everywhere is essential. Since 1973, they have protected wild rivers, restored damaged rivers, and conserved clean water for people and nature. With headquarters in Washington, D.C., and over 300,000 supporters, members, and volunteers across the country, American Rivers is one of the most trusted and influential river conservation organizations in the United States, delivering solutions for a better future. Because life needs rivers. Their Southwest River Protection Program is headquartered in Durango, CO, with offices in Moab, UT, and Flagstaff, AZ. They are deeply committed to the conservation of the most ecologically and culturally important streams of the Southwest, nurturing long-term and supportive partnerships, and furthering environmental justice. Come learn about what they are up to and let them know the Southwest rivers that are most important to you.
Visit Durango Visit Durango, established on January 1, 2003, operates with the mission to promote La Plata County's multitude of tourism attractions, events, and services. The role of Visit Durango is to represent the entire breadth of all La Plata County businesses in the tourism and hospitality industry year-round. Visit Durango is funded by the City of Durango and La Plata County lodger's tax. This tax is paid by visitors and collected via the lodging facilities.
Visit Durango is here to promote tourism to benefit the community they serve. Visit Durango prioritizes education and mitigating the tourism impact through destination management. Their team provides sustainable tourism management to support residents and the economy. Part of their job at Visit Durango is to protect our environment and La Plata Country's Culture through their expertise and volunteer hours.
They are in the hospitality business and are here to serve locals, the community, visitors, and other stakeholders. Working with residents and other partners, they aim to make all their decisions inclusive and equitable. They extend this philosophy to projects to make La Plata County a desirable place to live, work and visit.
Give a Dam Give a Dam (GAD), is a new Durango-based organization serving the Four Corners region. Their mission is water restoration through beaver education, awareness, and coordination of on-the-ground water restoration projects that involve the most current scientific research on water resilience. At Give A Dam they provide education on the historical perspective of rivers, creeks, and wetlands in America through the lens of beaver ecology. They work to create a deep understanding of the ecological devastation that beaver trapping has wrought on our watersheds. They focus on how building beaver populations can answer many of the environmental issues we are facing by mitigating drought (beaver wetlands recharge water tables) and flooding; improving fire resilience; creating habitat for fish, birds, mammals, and insects that rely on beaver wetlands; and through water filtration (beaver wetlands naturally filter pollutants in the water).
The City of Durango - City Government has launched "Engage Durango," a webpage that provides details on current topics of high interest to the public, including a potential new fire district-police department facility.
Topics on the page include the study analyzing the look and feel of downtown ("Downtown's Next Steps"); the parking study under way, the potential for using the current River City Hall facility as a joint-use facility for the Durango Fire Protection District and the Durango Police Department, and the city's ongoing efforts to address the area's homeless needs. https://www.durangogov.org/1616/Engage-Durango
Durango Transit welcomed a new Main Avenue trolley into service during October, thanks to a competitive grant awarded by the Federal Transportation Administration and the Colorado Department of Transportation.
The grant award of $165,000 allows Durango Transit to replace aging vehicles and maintain its high level of safe service and reliability.
The City of Durango, the Durango Fire Protection District, and the Durango Police Department have launched a new website to provide the public with up-to-date information regarding the ongoing River City Hall Project,
Durango City Council on Thursday, Oct. 20, appointed Tony Maestas as interim city attorney and directed staff to work with an executive search firm to fill the position permanently. Maestas was recently hired as assistant city attorney and comes to the City of Durango from the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, where he served as legal counsel in the tribe’s legal department for the past seven years. As interim city attorney, Tony will be filling in for Dirk Nelson, who resigned on Oct. 19.
As required by the city charter, the City of Durango is requesting input on the city manager per the annual review process.This year, the city is partnering with a survey collection service to help compile the data and present it to City Council. Feedback is not anonymous; a name and email is required to help guide the process. By city charter, the City Council is required to solicit annual input from the public of the city manager. If you wish to provide feedback, click here. The survey will be open for until November 17 days.
City of Durango Sustainability Intern position is now open for applications! The Sustainability Intern works under the supervision of the Sustainability Manager and will primarily assist with projects, programs and events relating to waste reduction and diversion. Projects include expanding the use of reusable bags, improving waste data collection, updating the City’s website and ReCollect outreach platform, and representing the city at various sustainability and waste collections events. The internship is a paid, part-time, temporary position with an anticipated start date of January 1, 2023. The position hours and duration will be flexible to accommodate the right candidate and enrolled college students with relevant experience are encouraged to apply.
City Council Meetings
Durango City Council meets every other Tuesday from 5:30-8:30PM. Upcoming City Council meetings are Tuesdays November 15 and 29 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.
Multimodal Advisory Board - HYBRID - November 16, 2022, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM at Santa Rita Water Reclamation Facility Conference Room - 105 S Camino del Rio
Multimodal Advisory Board - HYBRID - December 21, 2022, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM at Santa Rita Water Reclamation Facility Conference Room - 105 S Camino del Rio
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 the County comment portal (here)
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
November 14 - 8:00am Special Planning Meeting - Special meeting to provide direction to staff on Chapter 90. Continuation of October 17 and November 4 meeting on financial assurance policy questions. At this meeting La Plata County staff will provide the Board answers to additional questions posed by the Board to staff at the October 17 meeting (and not addressed by the COGCC). The Board, at its discretion, may also direct additional questions to parties who testified on October 17 or provide the opportunity for rebuttal testimony. It is expected that the Board will provide formal direction to staff on the two policy questions and that direction will dictate changes, if any, to be made to the draft of Chapter 90.
November 18, 2022, 5:00 pm.: Deadline for initial public input on the first draft of Chapter 90, the conforming amendments to the remainder of the land use code and the visual mitigation guide.
December 7, 2022, 5:30-7:30 pm: Board of County Commissioners’ meeting to receive testimony on setback policy questions and provide policy direction. Staff will first present its staff report and then public comment and testimony will be taken. December 16, 2022, 10:00-12:00: Date for potential continuation of December 7, 2022 Board meeting on setback policy questions.
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.
Upcoming CDPHE mobile vaccine clinics: mobilevax.us/southwest and 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.
La Plata Electric Association
Updates
Find out about current LPEA happenings and news here and read the Watt's Up monthly Newsletters here.
La Plata Electric Association (LPEA), Atmos Energy, and Black Hills energy offer a variety of rebates and incentives for ways to make your home more energy efficiency. Atoms Energy is currently offering free home energy and water saving kits through their rebate website.
The next regular LPEA Board of Directors meeting is Wednesday, November 16 at 9:00 a.m. 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 (the next two meetings will be on November 29th and December 13th) 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.
A solar feasibility study is underway that should be done by the end of the year. In addition to assessing solar production, ROI, etc., the company will also advise regarding prioritizing energy efficiency upgrades prior to solar installation.
There is a website up now for the SOIL Lab, which is a joint project between 9-R, the City of Durango, and the Durango Education Foundation, where folks can learn more, see plans, and volunteer or contribute.
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.
