Sustainability Board Meeting

Oregon Sustainability Board Meeting
March 10, 2006
9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Meeting Location:
Hearing Room F, State Capitol Building
900 Court Street NE
Salem, Oregon

Members Present:
Bill Bradbury
Susan Anderson
Martin Goebel
Annabelle Jaramillo
Pete Kratz
John Ledger
Tracey Liskey
Tom Nygren
Eric Schooler
Trey Senn
Sara Vickerman

Members Absent:
None

Agenda:

• Welcome and Introductions
• Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems
• Review of Executive Order
• Board Business
• Announcements
• Adjourn

1. Welcome and Introductions

• Bill Bradbury introduced himself and the Board members introduced themselves and gave a brief history of their current efforts and interests in sustainability.
• Lindsay Ball, Director of Administrative Services, introduced himself and expressed his interest in working with the Board and continuing efforts related to Sustainability.
• Stephanie Hallock. Director of Environmental Quality introduced herself and talked about some of her previous and current work on sustainability issues, including Toxics Use Reduction Act, Opportunity to Recycle Act, etc.  She also discussed some of the internal efforts within the Agency to implement sustainable practices.
• Mike Grainey, Director of the Department of Energy, highlighted the key programs in the Agency that work on sustainability, including energy efficiency, renewable energy, building design.  He also discussed several of the internal activities to improve energy efficiency and increase the purchase of renewable energy.
• Matthew Garret, Director of the Oregon Department of Transportation, discussed the Oregon Transportation Plan which embraces the concept of sustainability, the bridge program, the creation of a full-time sustainability coordinator position.
• Lynn Beaton, the Assistant Director of the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department, discussed the agency’s efforts on behalf of Bob Repine the Director.  She discussed the areas where OECDD is looking to further incorporate sustainability, including business recruitment, infrastructure development and industry cluster groups.
• Governor Kulongoski said a few words about the importance of citizen volunteers that help the state work on complex issues, including the issues related to sustainability.  He expressed his appreciation for the willingness of the Board members to volunteer their time.  Governor Kulongoski also expressed his appreciation for the Agency Directors and their ongoing efforts and leadership on sustainability.   He also outlined his plan for Oregon to gain energy independence which includes promoting greater energy efficiency, developing comprehensive bio-fuels and bio-energy facilities, and the development of renewable energy goals and standards.  He asked the Board to help State government to accelerate efforts to use 100% renewable electricity by 2010.  Including, develop a State renewable energy facility (e.g. a wind farm that generates the electricity for State government) and expanding the use of cost-effective solar energy in State facilities.
• Guests and visitors introduced themselves.  Including Tara Wefer from The Holland Group discussed Burgerville’s efforts to source local foods, use of renewable electricity, affordable employee benefits, biodiesel, etc.  

2.  Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems

• Steve Greenwood and Rick Jacobson with Oregon Solutions gave an update on OSARC (Oregon Sustainable Agriculture Resource Center) which will draw together the education, information and technical support needed by Oregon farmers and ranchers who wish to capture the opportunities related to sustainable agriculture.  On February 16, 2006, several partners came together and signed a “Declaration of Cooperation” to outline the mission, vision, team members, structure and cooperative activities.  The group is currently seeking external funding to help get the center off the ground.  Partners include NORPAC Foods, Inc., Tillamook-Country Creamery Association. Wilco Cooperative, Pendleton Grain Growers, Inc., Oregon Cherry Growers, Inc., Agricultural Cooperative Council, Food Alliance, Salmon-Safe, Oregon Tilth, Inc., Defenders of Wildlife, Oregon Water Trust, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Celilo Group Media, Inc., Eugene Water and Electric Board, Oregon Association of Conservation Districts, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Oregon Department of Energy, Oregon Occupational Safety & Health Division, Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Oregon Water Resources Department, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board and the Governor’s Office and the Economic Revitalization Team.
• Patty Whitney Wise with Oregon Hunger Relief Task Force talked about the idea of creating a State Food Policy Council.  They are currently working on seeking external funding for a position to facilitate the Council.  The Council will likely begin by focusing on creating urban and rural partnerships, eliminating hunger in Oregon, increasing purchase of local foods, expanding local food related jobs, etc.  While there are many local efforts, there currently isn’t a Statewide focus that could help share best practices and help address shared barriers.
• Eileen Brady, formerly with Ecotrust, gave a presentation about a project in California called Vivid Picture, to design a sustainable food system ( www.vividpicture.net ).  She discussed the history of the project and how it got started.  An 18 month research project was conducted that resulted in a vision for “a new mainstream” and the creation of an action plan of opportunities for making that a reality.  Three initiatives that emerged where:  1) develop a respected, competent, mission-driven leadership and workforce; 2) focus on community-based food systems; 3) build a new urban-rural partnership.  The Board discussed issues around worker benefits, subsidies, use of the term “organic”, etc.  There is interest in trying to do a similar effort in Oregon and the Board may be able to play a role in helping to convene, possibly along with the future Statewide Food Policy Council. 

3.  Review of Executive Order

• David Van’t Hof gave a general overview of the Executive Order (EO).
• The Executive Order touched on some of the achievements by the State Agencies over the past years, especially as a result of the development of Sustainability Plans as part of a previous Executive Order. 
• Some of the key components in the EO that relate specifically to the work of the Board included:
•  Assist local governments and the private sector with the development sustainability practices.
• Development of a “Sustainable Practices” toolbox
• Development of a Statewide sustainability awards program
• Promote sustainable economic investment and development.
• Priority to efforts related to renewable energy and working landscapes.
• Including developing viable bioenergy markets in Oregon
• Supporting OSARC and other partnerships to promote practices that help agricultural, ranching, forestry and fishing sectors achieve value-added market opportunities.
• Advance sustainability performance by State Government
• Continue to work with state agencies to implement, update and improve sustainability planning.
• DAS will coordinate a State Procurement Interagency Team that will include DOE, ODOT and DEQ.
• DAS will coordinate a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Interagency Team to include DOE, ODOT and DEQ.
• DAS fleets will assess their greenhouse gas emissions from vehicle fuel use and each agency that operates fleet vehicles will develop reduction targets.
• Collaboration and coordination of regional purchasing strategies.
• DOE will coordinate an Energy Efficiency Interagency Team to include DAS and the Oregon University System to achieve 20% energy savings in 10 years.
• OECDD, with DOE, establish and administer a renewable energy feasibility revolving loan fund to assist community renewable energy projects.
• DSL is encouraged to coordinate an interagency team including ODF, DOE and DLCS to develop a streamlined process for developing renewable energy on state lands.
• Board Discussion:
• Board members wanted to be sure that the Governor’s Office communicated to the agencies (those called out in the previous EO) that were not specifically called out in this more recent EO to ensure they understand that they were expected to maintain and update their sustainability plans and to designate sustainability coordinators.
• Board members expressed an interest in seeing future sustainability plans to include a focus on effectively incorporating the agency’s mission.  Several agencies have started doing this very effectively, including DAS, OWEB and ODOT.
• It may be useful to create an updated guidance document for the agencies to incorporate a mission related concepts and potentially a template to streamline the plan and reporting documents.
• Explore the possibility of the OSB playing a role in the OECDD revolving loan program.
• The Board discussed a variety of issues around the Governor’s goal for 100% electricity for government operations by 2010 and what role the Board could play.
• With respect to helping local governments and businesses through the development of a “sustainable practices toolbox”, Darcy Hitchcock with Axis Performance Advisors has offered to assist the Board with development of a guidebook, which could be a part of the final toolbox.
• The Board would like to discuss this issue further via a sub-committee that will include:  Susan Anderson, Annabelle Jaramillo, Martin Goebel, John Ledger and Sara Vickerman.  The sub-committee will follow-up with DAS and OECDD to discuss this further, David Van’t Hof will facilitate that meeting.  This sub-committee will report back at the next OSB meeting.
• John Ledger will give the Board a briefing about the Pollution Prevention Tax Credit program.
• The Board would like Glenn Montgomery to present the draft ideas for a proposal for a statewide sustainability awards as a starting point for discussion.  A sub-committee made up of Trey Senn, Eric Schooler, Martin Goebel’s designee (to provide background context from Founder’s of the New Northwest) and Stephanie Swanson in the City of Portland’s Office of Sustainable Development  (to provide background context from the BEST Awards) will work with Glenn on that proposal.
• The Board will ask biofuels stakeholders to give briefings at future meetings to assist the Board in determining how they might best assist efforts to develop viable bioenergy markets in Oregon.
• Michele Crim will send the Board a weblink to the location of the State Agency plans, summaries and updates.
• Sara Vickerman motioned to have the Agency submit a one-page summary update on their progress on their sustainability plan.  John Ledger seconded.  The Board asked Damon Forham (ODOT) to develop a concept paper about how to approach future updates and reports of the Agencies plans to share with the Interagency Network group.  Passed.
• The Board would like to further discuss the EO directive related to promoting sustainable practices that help natural resource sectors achieve value-added market opportunities.

4.  Board Business

• Bill Bradbury will draft letters of appreciation for Bill Blosser, Ned Dempsey, Darcy Hitchcock.
• Selection of a Vice Chair:  Susan Anderson nominated Martin Goebel to be the Vice Chair.  John Ledger moved to elect Martin Goebel, Trey Senn seconded. Passed.
• Ecotrust update from Helyn Trickey gave the Board an update on the future plans for SustainableOregon.net, including making the Governor’s sustainability efforts more prominent, adding new monthly features, etc.
• Future meetings and formats:  The Board explored the meeting schedule for the next year and to see which meetings they might hold outside of Salem and where those meetings might be held. 
• June 2 – Corvallis
• October 20 – Prineville
• The Board is invited to attend an event being organized by Sustainable Northwest at the end of June (28th & 29th) in Wallowa.
• The next meeting is Friday, April 14th.  Martin Goebel, as Vice Chair, will be chairing that meeting as Bill Bradbury will be out of town.