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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-02-08-2020-min Lexington 2020 Vision Committee February 8, 2007 Meeting Minutes 7:45 am – Room G-15 Members Present : Fernando Quezada, Peter Enrich, Marian Cohen, Stacey Hamilton, Charles Hornig, Ann Redmon Others : Candy McLaughlin, Stephen Hodson, George Burnell, Ingrid Klimoff, Wendy Manz, Andy McClaine, Keith Ohmart, Toby Sackton, Adam Sacks, Betsey Weiss The meeting was called to order at 7:45 a.m. Update on Economic Development Task Force sub-groups: Economic Development Officer sub-group 1. The recruitment for the EDO’s position is underway Finance/Economic Impact Modeling sub-group 1. The Lexington Planning Office is in the process of evaluating and providing feedback/details on the Buildout Diagram that the sub group constructed. 2. A master Buildout Diagram is to be presented in the near future. 3. The group is continuing work on a Request for Proposals portion for purposes of consultation. Permitting Regulatory sub-group 1. A permitting-regulatory flow chart has been resurrected and revised and the group is testing the process against experience. 2. There is no single “magic bullet”; a series of measures will be needed to promote commercial vitality and remove unnecessary barriers. 3. One small business (Rancotore’s Ice Cream) has been interviewed concerning issues of permitting/regulatory nature; more small businesses need to be interviewed 4. Larger businesses in the outer regions of town need to be addressed; in particular, issues including zoning restrictions should be targeted when interviewing these businesses. Communication sub-group 1. The first press release is being prepared for publication in next week’s Minuteman. 2. The expectation of the communication sub-group is to release a press release every two weeks, plus an article in the Colonial Times, so that the mission and actions of the Economic Development Task Force are well known. The Economic Development Task Force will report again to the March 2020 Vision Committee meeting. The EDTF’s future work plans and its expectation to provide a very brief report to Town Meeting are presently being discussed by the group. In addition, the creation of an EDTF logo has been proposed. Sustainable Development Task Force presentation: The Sustainable Development Task Force made a brief presentation to the 2020 Vision Committee and asked for feedback. (This presentation can be found online by viewing the Sustainable Development Task Force’s webpage accessed in the 2020 Vision Committee’s webpage.) The report was accepted by the 2020 Vision Committee. The Sustainable Development Task Force plans to present this report to the Board of Selectmen in late February/early March. The Task Force will also present an informational report at Town Meeting. The group recommends the following: 1. Lexington develop a Climate Action Plan 2. Lexington join the Cities for Climate Protection Program of the International Council for Local Environmental Inititatives 3. Lexington establish a Sustainable Lexington Committee The issues related to joining the Cities for Climate Protection Program are: 1. $600 to join ICLEI/CCP 2. Most of the work necessary to complete carbon footprint studies would be done by volunteers, but there needs to be an official liaison contact within local government. The reasons identified by the SDTF for creating a Lexington Climate Action Plan are: 1. Moral responsibility 2. Rising Energy Costs The SDTF described the steps that comprise a Climate Action Plan: 1. Baseline inventory of greenhouse gas emissions 2. Develop Climate Action Plan using ICLEI software 3. Propose target % of greenhouse gas emissions 4. Goal Setting 5. Measurements and reporting A discussion of where the proposed Lexington Sustainable Committee may be housed then began. One option is that it be a subcommittee of the Energy Committee. In response to George Burnell’s question as to why 2020 Vision would not continue this effort, the process focus of the 2020 Committee was emphasized – their charge does not include actual implementation. Community education to get people to buy in was recommended. One specific segment that must be engaged is the business community. The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 AM.