Tuesday, March 19, 2013
FAYETTEVILLE — Studying public transportation, reducing plastic foam packaging and keeping more construction and demolition waste out of the landfill are some of the items members of the Environmental Action Committee plan to discuss this year.
The volunteer committee, formed as an advisory group to the City Council in 1995, reviewed a list of 2013 goals Monday. Ward 1 Alderwoman Sarah Marsh, the City Council’s liaison to the group, encouraged committee members to review an issue each month and make more regular recommendations to the council.
Environmental Action Committee
The Environmental Action Committee was created to “address environmental concerns, promote a safe and healthy environment and maintain the natural beauty of the environment within the city.” The committee is an advisory group to the City Council.
According to Fayetteville ordinance, the nine-member committee is comprised of one City Council member, one member from a local industry, one member from a science discipline and six residents at-large.
Regular meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month.
Source: accessfayetteville.org
The five committee members present Monday unanimously backed Marsh’s proposal to recommend that the City Council hire a consultant to conduct a comprehensive transportation study in Fayetteville. Marsh has advocated for getting people out of their cars and onto sidewalks, trails and buses since announcing her bid for City Council last year.
“I’m tired on waiting for the rest of Northwest Arkansas to get around to transit,” Marsh said. “It’s time for Fayetteville to move forward.”
Marsh said city officials could seek grant opportunities to fund a comprehensive study or reallocate money in the Transportation Improvement Bond Program that voters approved in 2006.
Peter Nierengarten, Fayetteville sustainability and strategic planning director, suggested coordinating efforts with the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission, which is using a $200,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration to conduct a transportation alternatives analysis. The study will explore the need “for a major transit investment in a north-south corridor in Northwest Arkansas concentrated along Interstate 540 in Benton and Washington counties,” according to a grant description from the transit administration.
Environmental Action Committee members also heard concerns Monday about a nearly 6-month-old feral cat ordinance from members of the Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society.
Bird enthusiast Joe Neal asked the committee to support an amendment to the ordinance requiring cat caretakers to confine animals and prevent them from preying on wildlife.
The committee voted to table the issue for one month and suggested the city’s Animal Services Advisory Board review any potential ordinance changes.