Who is the Eco-Municipality Task Force?
"Eco-Municipality" is an important label for the Task Force. Its name comes from both 'economics' and 'ecology'. This Task Force has begun an important process to create an economically, environmentally and socially healthy community; and it will only happen with cooperation and involvement from all aspects of our community. In 2008, the task force will: 1) develop an eco-municipality resolution for Stevens Point Common Council; 2) develop specific policy recommendations for municipal government; and 3) develop specific community projects and education programs.
An eco-municipality requires the support of the entire community; therefore eight subcommittees have been formed to help with the development of this sustainable framework. Click on each link at the left to see what each issue area has been working on.
1. Development and Land Use
2. Water and Wastewater
3. Parks and Tourism
4. Civic Involvement
5. Food
6. Green Building & Energy
7. Transportation
8. Waste & Recycling
The Stevens Point Eco-Municipality Task Force consists of 13 members. The Task Force was appointed by Mayor Andrew Halverson in June 2007.
Mayor Andrew Halverson, Task Force Chair
Alderperson Amy Heart, Task Force Vice-Chair
Alderperson Hans Walter, Stevens Point City Council President
Tom Barrett, Stevens Point Convention and Visitor Bureau
Bill Berry, Plover River Alliance
Erik Carlson, Ellis Stone
Jackson Case, Architect, Architectural Service
Anna Haines, Director, UW-Stevens Point Center for Land Use Education
John Jury, Community Foundation
Lynn Markham, Land Use Specialist
Gene Numsen, Citizen Member
Carie Winn, Portage County Boys and Girls Club
What is sustainability?
Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
What is an eco-municipality?
A city or other municipality that aspires to develop an ecologically, economically and socially healthy community for the long term. An eco-municipality develops from the "Natural Step" framework, which uses a democratic, highly participative development process.
GUIDING OBJECTIVES FOR A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY BASED ON THE NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK:
Develop policies and practices that ultimately...
1) Eliminate our community's contribution to fossil fuel dependence and to wasteful use of scarce metals and minerals;
2) Eliminate our community's contribution to dependence upon persistent chemicals & wasteful use of synthetic substances
3) Eliminate our community's contribution to encroachment upon nature (e.g., land, water, forests, soil, ecosystems)
4) Eliminate conditions that undermine the capacity for people to meet basic needs.
What's different about this?
Many communities in the US a have initiated sustainable projects. While these have made progress toward sustainable goals, they largely are occurring on a project-by- project basis. Frequently these efforts are unconnected and un-integrated throughout municipal governments and the larger communities.
In contrast, the eco-municipality model uses a systems approach. Key elements of the system's approach are widespread community awareness-raising and integrated municipal involvement, using a common “sustainability language.” Using this common language brings about a shared understanding of what sustainability means and how to achieve this throughout all sectors of government
and the wider community.
Who else has done this?
There are at least 11 eco-municipalities in Wisconsin including: City of Washburn, City of Ashland, City of Bayfield, Town of Bayfield, Douglas County, Village of Johnson Creek, City of LaCrosse, City of Madison, and the City of Marshfield.
Resources
Natural Step - To learn more about the Natural Step Concept, visit www.naturalstep.org.