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KC Climate Protection Forums » Policy & Outreach Work Group

1. ronmclinden
   Member

   I'm on the transportation group, but I'm going to be presumptuous and initiate the policy discussion anyway.

   I think of "policies" as the official (as well as the totally unofficial) "rules" that determine how we all live our lives -- and thus, how much GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions we are cause. A first step, of course, is to realize that these policies even exist.

   For example, our "streets" (by which I mean the total right-of way, not just the vehicle travel lanes) tend to be "managed" to favor people-in-vehicles over people-on-foot (or bike). (If you have any doubts, go to the intersection of Volker Boulevard and Brookside Boulevard.) The result is that streets are hostile to non-motorized people, and thus people (at least those who have a choice) choose to drive without even thinking about it.

   I'd like this "Policies We Might Change" topic to invite lots of thoughts about how the official (and unofficial) "rules" shape our individual and collective lives, and about what we might like to change.

   So here's a suggested "policy change:" Let's decide we're going to make the heart of the city (if not the entire city) a "Feet First District" within which accommodations for walkers and cyclists -- and their need for mobility and safety and security -- will be paramount.

   Posted: 2007-01-20 15:31:51 #

2. catwiskers7
   Member

   I have a friend who rides her bike to work and everywhere else as much as she possibly can. I admire her for that. She would have a few things to say on this post. I think a "Feet First District" is a good vision to convey. How would it go about being implemented?

   Posted: 2007-01-21 19:07:33 #

3. ronmclinden
   Member

   Reply to catwiskers7:

   For starters, the City Council might adopt a resolution to express that intent, and to direct the Public Works (traffic engineers) and Planning departments (working with a citizen advisory committee) to assess the "friendliness" of the city's streets and formulate new operating policies and practices to make walking and cycling more attractive. (Just changing the operation of existing traffic signals would be a major step.)

   Posted: 2007-01-22 19:02:07 #

4. ronmclinden
   Member

   Putting strings on tax incentivized development projects.

   Whenever the City grants TIF (tax increment financing) or other incentives to developers, we ought to require
   [1] - Adherence to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - <http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19> ) building standards -- at least at the Silver level.
   [2] - That the project be located no more than one half mile from a transit route that runs at least hourly, at least 12 hours a day, at least five days a week.

   Posted: 2007-01-22 19:11:12 #

5. bhugh
   Member

   So here's a suggested "policy change:" Let's decide we're going to make the heart of the city (if not the entire city) a "Feet First District" within which accommodations for walkers and cyclists -- and their need for mobility and safety and security -- will be paramount.

   Ron,

   I really like your idea about "Feet First Districts".

   I suggested "congestion charge" in the central city like they do in London but I think the Feet First Districts are the same general idea in a much more palatable form (the "charge" for driving a vehicle in the Feet First District is the fact that you have to drive around that area at a slower speed, thus taking a couple more minutes and putting walking/bicycling/transit that much closer to parity.

   The other good thing is we already have a couple of areas like that--the Plaza, for instance (at least in theory . . . )--so it's not a completely foreign idea.

   It would be great to see that in areas like UMKC/Rockhurst/nearby student housing . . . taking in, for instance, the nearby sections of Troost & Oak, where there have been so many ped. problems yet city engineers won't do anything because it's "not policy".

   Posted: 2007-01-30 17:40:54 #

6. katiegrotegut
   Member

   Howdy,

   How does one start a citizens advisory committee? And is there a centeral list of those that already exist? What are some other tools for public engagement?

   Katie

   Posted: 2007-02-01 13:45:08 #

7. katiegrotegut
   Member

   Policies we might emulate

   Paris Exposed
   As world awaits climate report, French capital sends a message
   from Grist
   All eyes are on Paris this week as the world waits en retenant son souffle for tomorrow's release of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. (That means "with bated breath." We love the Google!) So Paris, ever obliging, is doing a banana dance to keep the masses entertained. Tonight, the Eiffel Tower and other landmarks in the City of Lights will go dark for five minutes to draw attention to energy consumption. The symbolic gesture "is not an exercise without risk," says a worried grid operator, "but we will do our utmost to prevent a blackout." President Jacques Chirac is also going dark, grimly warning the U.S. to join Kyoto or face a European carbon tax on imports. While no such tax exists yet, Chirac says it's "inevitable." His term ends this spring, but his potential successors are also leaning green. Says Daniel Richard of the French chapter of WWF, "The French are waking up to the reality of environmental destruction."

   straight to the source: The New York Times, Katrin Bennhold, 01 Feb 2007

   Posted: 2007-02-01 13:51:16 #

8. katiegrotegut
   Member

   More emulatable policies and ideas.

   Sarah McGauhey and Kyle Glover have a project for 2007: generate absolutely zero waste, no garbage, nothing. According to the Globe and Mail, the project has changed how they shop, eat and work. “Adjusting is hard,” Ms. McGaughey says. “You can’t get hungry in the middle of the night and go to the convenience store.” Read more at Say no to Trash. ::more

   Of course, it's a hard sell to the world's poor.

   Posted: 2007-02-01 13:54:51 #

9. MartyKraft
   

   We need to legalize backyard clothes lines in any neighborhoods that outlaw them.

   Posted: 2007-02-01 16:34:48 #

10. ronmclinden
    Member

    Katie quoted from Grist (above):
    "Tonight, the Eiffel Tower and other landmarks in the City of Lights will go dark for five minutes to draw attention to energy consumption."

    Surely some creative "use" of the lights on Channel 5's "eye full" tower might be devised.

    Posted: 2007-02-02 17:11:51 #

11. TomNeff
    Member

    Personally, as much as it is a landmark, light pollution is pollution.

    HEY!! Why doesn't Channel Five go LED if they are going to continue to put lights all the way up! That would be a tremendous reduction in use and, would surely pay for itself in very short order. I am not certain how "robust" LED systems have gotten thus far but, worth checking into

    To take it a step further, what about all of those beacons on top of towers, any "channel signs" or back-lit signs the City uses, and any other similar uses...

    Posted: 2007-02-13 18:27:36 #

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