Envision Spokane, Sustainablity Task Force looking for support, input

Spokane is known for many things — its winding river, spanning bridges, bustling downtown and unique neighborhoods. But it could soon take on another title: as the green-friendly, locally sustained capital of the country. At least that’s the driving purpose behind several groups that presented at the recent Bioneers Conference at the Spokane Falls Community College. The three-day annual event also took place in 18 locations across the country and emphasized a “revolution from the heart of nature” and “inspiring a shift to live on Earth in ways that honor the web of life, each other and future generations.” Broken down into workshops, films, vendor displays and live coverage of national seminars, the conference’s topics ranged from worldwide issues like global climate change and the current economic situation, to more local themes including protecting the Spokane River and encouraging community gardening. Of the Spokane-oriented workshops, two in particular focused on making the city a model for community activism, while finding ways to restore the planet and its people: “Envisioning Spokane” and “Preparing for a Green Spokane.” The first workshop, held by the Envision Spokane organization, was an attempt to gather public feedback on a “Bill of Rights” amendment for the Spokane City Charter. Created by the organization to protect the rights of people, communities, neighborhoods and the natural environment, Envision Spokane’s goal is to place the 12-amendment proposal onto the general election ballot in November 2009, for approval by the residents of the city. Envision Spokane, a mix of neighborhood councils, community organizations and labor unions run by representatives from each, formed more than a year ago to create and propose the “Bill of Rights.” Since taking shape, more than 24 organizations have voted to take part. Taking inspiration from similar initiatives in small towns in Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and Virginia, the collection of community-based groups seeks to give “a voice for the vision that has been conceived by residents of the City of Spokane.” “The way city government, and the way the structure of law is set up is such that there are always obstacles in the way. The structure itself posed a problem,” said Thomas Linzey, founding member of Envision Spokane and executive director of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, which serves as an advisor to the organization. “What’s erupting in these smaller communities, and what’s starting to erupt in Spokane is a challenge to that structure of law and government,” he said. Linzey offered a scenario where a big-box store had plans to open in one of Spokane’s 27 distinct neighborhoods. Under current law, and Corporate Constitutional Rights rulings, residents wouldn’t have options to fight it. Enter Envision Spokane and the “Bill of Rights.” The proposed amendments cover a broad range of local issues, including allowing neighborhoods the right to determine their own futures. They also guarantee a resident’s right to a vibrant local economy, preventative healthcare and a healthy environment, and give a voice to the environment, so ecosystems have the right to “exist, flourish and naturally evolve.” Perhaps most important, Linzey said, the proposal would give residents, workers, neighborhood councils and the City of Spokane the right to enforce the dozen amendments. So if residents in a neighborhood don’t want a corporate chain moving in, they have a legally recognized avenue to pursue it. “It gives control back to the citizens in the neighborhood,” he said. However, with such a frontal attack on established corporate laws, putting the proposal into practice is not small work, the panel members said. Throughout the workshop, the presenters answered various questions, including how the new form of community activism has been accepted in other states. In smaller communities, the presenters said the group’s authority has been challenged, and cases are still in litigation. Spokane, however, could become a beacon in the way forward, they said. “This is the most cutting-edge organizing that is taking place in the United States right now. Spokane is the place where it is happening,” Linzey said. The 90-minute-long workshop was meant to be “the launch of a broader conversation,” said Kai Huschke, an Envision Spokane member and Bioneer presenter. “We want and encourage as much input as possible. We don’t own this. Our bigger job is to get more and more people to know about this.” To actually bring about change, Linzey said, “I think there has to be a cultural shift.” Envision Spokane offers a locally minded answer by way of democracy-in-action. “Hope is about hoping someone else will step in to save you. What happens when people realize that no one is going to step in to save them is they start doing it themselves,” he said. “It comes down to us: How badly do we want it? And what will we let stand in the way?” Over the next year, Envision Spokane members will try to collect the 10,000 signatures needed to place the “Bill of Rights” on the general election ballot. In the “Preparing for a Green Spokane” workshop, presenters from Mayor Mary Verner’s Sustainability Task Force were on hand to share the findings of the city’s strategic plan, which is set to launch citywide early next year, as well as gather feedback. The task force was formed in an effort to identify and address the ways that climate change and rising energy prices will impact the city government’s operations, services, programs and policies. “The city of Spokane is unique because it’s the first city in the U.S. to tackle peak oil, climate mitigation and climate adaptation together in one strategic planning initiative,” said Susanne Croft, the Mayor’s Sustainability Coordinator. “With this plan in hand, Spokane will be able to manage future challenges while increasing our competitive advantage over other cities.” Funded by a $75,000, one-year state grant, the Sustainability Task Force is led by Roger Woodworth, Vice President of Sustainable Energy Solutions at Avista, and has sought input from a dozen local sustainability specialists, including Juliet Sinisterra, an architect with the non-profit Community-Minded Enterprises and co-editor of the Go Green Directory, and Larry Luton, an Eastern Washington University Public Administration Professor, who were both presenters. The task force’s draft report contains three key elements: The climate is changing, the era of cheap oil is becoming a thing of the past, and the time to act is now. To offset Spokane’s role, the task force will present a list of proposals next year, including reducing idling in motor vehicles within the city, installing LED bulbs in stoplights and signing onto the nationwide Cities for Climate Protection program. However, the group’s Bioneer appearance was to gather ideas from the public. “We’re trying at all steps to involve the community,” Croft said. Guests offered a variety of visions for a future “green” Spokane. Ideas included a light rail transportation system, community gardens on every block, offering incentive programs to recycle, establishing the city as the capital of green business practices and containing urban sprawl within pre-defined limits. “I don’t want anyone in this room to have the idea that we have all the best ideas yet,” said Eastern Washington University’s Luton. In creating the strategic plan, he added, “We’re trying to find a way to work with both science and democracy, which isn’t always easy…Which means one of the things we need a lot more of is imagination-slash-creativity.” Public comments will be taken into consideration before the Spokane Strategic Action Plan is unveiled in February.