Meeting comes to order
Subcommittee update:
Master planning and public works
Progress is being made in the framework of incorporating sustainability to the master planning process.
City has identified a planning director: Maurice Cox
They wish to share ideas with the director and looking at how to share these ideas with the public. Inviting director to meeting.
Rhona Anderson – Sierra Club – Beyond Fossil Fuels Campaign
14 years with Environmental Justice
Presented on pollutants in the area:
– Most polluted area in Michigan is Detroit – has worked around the issuer of toxic emissions from coal, steel, and fuel plants.
– Detrimental impact on the public, and is working on the coal campaign as it is the worst toxic problem we have in Wayne County.
– Sulfur dioxide is coming from DTE, Coal power plant, Trenton Channel, EES Coke Battery, Zug Island, Lime company and U.S. Steele.
– Smaller amounts from AK Steele and Marathon.
MDEQ has been told they must get area back to attain and lower emissions from SO2, which causes asthma and cardio-vascular disease.
– Met 5 times with DEQ, also EPA, and 2 reps. They state they are doing the best they can, but Rhona feels this is not enough and we should be looking for more. Permits were given despite the fact that the companies involved had consent agreements against them.
Working with 2 professors out of The Universities of Michigan and Maryland for new policy, as there are 92 schools in close proximity to the SO2.
There are hundreds of toxic emissions that could be lowered if there were a plan devised to change the rules.
Campaign to send post cards to Dan Weiss of MDEQ.
Only a few permits have been denied
The best opportunity to create impact on health and safety is:
Paul Moehies
Research shows that impact on students in schools is neurological. This affects cognitive learning abilities. Continues to speak about lead and soil issues as well as suggesting taking your shoes off when you get in the house because of the toxins in the streets.
River Rouge, city hall, March 11th there will be discussion, people are asked to attend and join in support.
Consideration is not being taken in regards to accumulative impact by MDEQ.
Kathy speaks of her educating experience – get information from her
Why not find financial incentives to switch from coal…
Who is going to change the look of industry and impact the community??
– DTE, Marathon, all have deep influence. We are asking for just one toxic emission. There are added potential benefits. Costs of making the changes are crucial to moving forward.
(Get information from Mr. Rick Bowers and Ms. Wheeler)
GISTP plan – Cities green sustainable plan –
New charter to Green Initiative and Sustainable Technologies Plan – Rick Bowers in lead.
One of the things that the charter describes is that the mayor task force put this together and the city council will be ask to coordinate the work.
– Work on getting involved and connecting the organizations
– Ask Mr. Bowers to present on the plan.
o Benson asks that he give a quarterly update.
– Rick came to the Blue Green infrastructure meeting.
More introductions made.
Discussion of implementation and enforcement of rules and laws
Verna – Subcommittee update blue green – Met Tuesday, twice since last meeting, turnout was good. 2 different groups demonstrated goal of map of green infrastructure
– Data driven Detroit, Detroit Green Map, and MEECO
o Please get information from her on names of those involved
– Summary of maps is being created.
Supporting watershed management approach – discussing all existing plans to create citywide infrastructure.
– Research and encourage water policies for the city, post construction work being done.
– Detroit is the only large city without water policy.
– Goal setting for 2015 was discussed. Tetratec did this and found we don’t have many codes at this time, so baseline has been created.
– Incentives for residences and businesses for strategy, they may get a financial break for implementing infrastructure.
– Encourage all public and private organizations to use Ecomap to show their work with Green Infrastructure. General public does not have enough education in regards to why they should use this.
Working to create guide on urban gardening.
– ask Councilman Benson for more goals.
Storm water planning MOU from New Orleans looked at by committee.
How we can give people options for storm water capture??
Invite Mr. Bowers to all of your sub-committees to help take part in the GISTP plan.
March 17
Save the date April 22, Wayne County Comm. College – Earth day conversation for Detroit’s Future
March 26 @ 4pm – Race and Environment Event
Catherine – Education on storm water thought; during clean up and planting days; give demonstration and installation of storm water capture experience while the public are there. Could be fundable.
Pete, Friends of the Detroit River –
– Flyers for next meeting American Chemical Society has event at Traffic Jam on Third Tuesday of the month, 7pm, next event on St. Patrick’s Day. Speaker to discuss the habitat for fish.
– Speaks of new habitats for fish and spawning beds.
– Opening Detroit River to lagoon
– Discussion on government project research on invasive species.
Kathy – SEMCOG is doing mapping
Next Energy has a meeting tonight
Fundraiser for Friends of Detroit River — and annual river clean up will bring info to next meeting.
Tomorrow – – Valerie Brader at Wayne State University
Details at USGBC WEBISITE