A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A TOWN SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE (2007-05-07/R-15)

WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill established a Sustainable Development Task Force in the late 1990’s to draft a set of principles of sustainable development for consideration by the Council for inclusion as part of the 2000 Comprehensive Plan; and

WHEREAS, the Sustainable Development Task Force identified “fundamentals of a sustainable community”, as listed below, which were later incorporated into the 2000 Comprehensive Plan as “Major Themes”:

• Create healthy living environments.
• Protect, restore, and maintain ecological integrity.
• Conserve energy and natural resources, and use them efficiently.
• Balance social, economic, and environmental concerns in decision making.
• Promote equity, human dignity, and social justice; and

WHEREAS, the Sustainable Development Task Force developed indicators for each of the “Major Themes” for inclusion in the Comprehensive Plan; and

WHEREAS, the Council has endorsed the addition of sustainability as a Major Theme in the revision of the Comprehensive Plan, with accompanying sustainability goals, objectives, and indicators; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill has set a goal of reducing carbon emissions attributed to the municipal, commercial, residential, and institutional sectors of the Town by 60 percent by 2050; and

WHEREAS, the Town anticipates the development of other goals to address aspects of sustainable development in the future;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that a Sustainability Committee be created and classified as a standing advisory board to address sustainability within the Town of Chapel Hill. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Sustainability Committee be composed of nine citizens and one Council Member liaison, and that three citizens be chosen to represent environmental protection, economic vitality, and social justice, respectively.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Sustainability Committee be charged with maintaining a general overview of the sustainability of the Town, to specifically include the following responsibilities:

• Provide guidance to the Planning Board regarding sustainability principles to be adopted as part of the Comprehensive Plan review process. 
• Monitor implementation of principles and policies as adopted by the Council as part of the Comprehensive Plan review process by performing the following tasks: 

1. Review and make recommendations on sustainability principles, plans, and policies established by the Council.

2. Coordinate with Town boards and commissions to advance sustainability principles, plans, and policies established by the Council.

3. Seek information from other organizations to aid in the development of strategies, programs and initiatives that will further the sustainability goals established by the Council.

4. Provide a representative to the Town’s Community Design Commission to review, as appropriate, proposed development projects in keeping with the sustainability goals established by the Council.  

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the new committee build on reports produced by the Sustainable Development Task Force from 1995 to 1998. 

BE IT FUTHER RESOLVED that the Town Clerk will solicit applications to be considered by the Council for appointment to the Sustainability Committee 

This the 7^th day of May, 2007.