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CEL Energy Team Notes (Sept.)

Lorrie Carlson — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 12:46:02 -0700

C.E.L. Energy Committee Notes 9-28-06

Present: Claire, Gary, Josh, Lorrie

1. Task Reporting/Recap
-Ride Share- The team felt that this is a very important and achievable goal- Lorrie will check in with Jose and also research models herself. Pick-up/Drop-off point may be future RFTA - Park and Ride lot at Dolores Way.

-Horse Hitching Posts- Team feels that while potentially a good P/R opportunity we don’t have a lot of time to work on this. But Josh will write a questionnaire for the Potato Days crowd. Josh will also check with Pete Mertes at CDOT about any prohibitions or concerns about horses and highway use. Josh will also check on horse use on RFTA trails with their trail coordinator.

-Post Carbon Study, Claire will ask Joani to take a second look at the Willits, CA study with an eye towards future large scale energy production (including liquid fuels) that may go beyond the present TOC energy plan. The primary author of the Willits Energy Plan, Brian Corzelius could also be a good resource.

-Community Bikes. Mike Chamness had such a program in TOC- bikes were stolen. Josh reports a wide variety of tracking/security measures. Claire interested in how much carbon savings would result….if significant then a lever with the town. Josh will ask Alice Hubbard Laird of NCTF. Easy measures include bikes with non-interchangeable parts and solid wheels and solid rubber tires. Sponsorhips would help defray expenses.

-CREBS. Claire reports that negotiations continue with Xcel Energy re. how much they will pay. While designed to be tax neutral….or even revenue producing this effort must still go to a public vote. On Oct. 9th there is a meeting at 6:00 pm (town hall)? and if the bonds go on the ballot then we will need to help promote the idea to TOC voters quickly and effectively. All- please attend this meeting. Additionally it was noted that additional grant funds may be available from the 2005 Energy Bill ….we need a grant writer who knows the fed. system.

-Hydro/Water Plant. Joani will report on this.

-RFTA Shuttle/ Feeder Routes, Joani to discuss with Scott Chaplin

2. Review of TOC Energy Plan/Priorities
Gary will send out plan link. CEL energy team members to prioritize actions using a scoring system.

3. Potato Days (Oct. 7th)
-Bond information if ready (we will not know until after event is over)
-Solar Information- Gary
-Rebate Applications- Gary
-Energy Plan- Claire to draft Executive Summary of Plan
-Horses- Josh to provide questionnaire as mentioned above

4. Reporting for Oct 5th General Meeting- will use these notes as a report.

5. Strategic Planning
-Education-Tie in with other committees
-Public Policy
-Public Relations
-Technical Assistance- provide DVD’s to Local Video Stores for free distribution (Sounds Easy Store offers this)
-Research & Resources- link CEL site to member organizations and businesses
(Suggest selecting an activity for each category)

6. Additional Business- none noted

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C.E.L. Energy Committee Meeting 1 Agenda 8-11-06

Participants: Josh, Soozie, Lisa, Jose and Gary

1. Scope/Purpose/Reporting

Committee Organization:

A mission statement is needed for the group which addresses: scope/scale and territory. The Willits effort provides some useful ideas. Efforts on energy conservation and renewables are needed at the municipal, residential and commercial levels yet the Energy Committee will have to look at what is needed in the big picture and work the timelines for the most critical energy items.

All agreed that the Energy Group would meet once a month for now. The next Energy Group meeting will be held at 6:00 pm at the Carbondale Community School prior to the General CEL meeting, Gary will act as chair. It was noted that the Energy Group will need to prepare a written report for the September 7, 2006 General CEL meeting. It was also noted that there is clear overlap with a number of other CEL groups but for now Josh will be our liaison to the Shelter Group as he is currently in both Groups.

2. Review of previous ideas:

Organized ridesharing/hitchhiking: In spite of the current price of gasoline most vehicles in the valley carry one person. Other towns and nations have organized ways to make the most of vehicular flow, plus it would cuts down on traffic congestion. Jose will research options and report back to the group.

The hitching post(s): Many Carbondalians own horses. Yet rarely ride them for their basic transportation needs. Horses offer a way to reduce fuel use while providing a great press opportunity. Costs would be minimal: hitching posts and water troughs in front of some volunteer vendor stores. Josh to research model statutes, old and modern.

Transportation: All agreed that more bike racks and shelters are needed (especially near Catherine Store). Also, Alice Hubbard Laird would like to provide an update on the work being done by the New Century Transportation Foundation. Another idea that was floated earlier is to make Colorado St. a bikes only venue. The Community Bikes concept will be explored by Josh.

Biodiesel: A B-100 fuel co-op exists now, it will need to expand so that it can provide reliable sources of ASTM quality fuel, adding additional local capacity, and adding staff to support this all-volunteer effort. Such an organization could also support future ethanol manufacturing and distribution.

3. Strategic Planning

It was agreed that the Willits Energy Independence plan offers a good model for Carbondale….at least as far as an outline and source of ideas. Such a report would build upon the earlier work by Joani Matranga inventorying our existing energy sources (and resulting green house gas emissions) and develop a future energy portfolio that meets the needs of a post-peak world. Gary has been in contact with the author of the Willits plan, Brian Corzilius, an electrical engineer who is available to assist us if we need help. This could also be let as an RFP to firms like Earth Tech and CH2M Hill. Such firms may also be able to work on a phase II for implementation.

Gary noted that a good list of categories to use for the energy group efforts includes:

I. Education

II. Public Policy

III. Public Relations

IV. Outreach

V. Technical Assistance

VI. Research and Resources

General News:

Town of Carbondale Energy Plan passes Board of Trustees. All agreed that CEL should be supportive but help build on plan with a much greater emphasis on Economic Localization.

Randy Udall would be happy to provide an overview/update of the current energy situation. This could be proposed as a General Meeting agenda item.

Great resource: Lisa Wright, is the Press Secretary for head of the House Peak Oil Caucus, Congressman Roscoe Bartlett: She provides an incredible source for up to minute Peak Oil News, Lisa.Wright@mail.house.gov (e-mail to get on her press list)

Community Economic Localization (Colorado)

CEL Water Team Notes (Aug.)

Lorrie Carlson — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 12:53:02 -0700

September 12, 2006
Note from Louis:

Good News from Mark Fuller:
"You will be happy to learn that the RWAPA Board endorsed moving forward with the Watershed Plan with a slightly modified funding scheme that called for a slightly higher contribution from the RWAPA reserve fund and a slightly small one from the member municipalities. I will be contacting the member governments today to get agenda time for a presentation/request. Will let you know when those get scheduled.
Thanks for all your contributions and assistance, another hurdle crossed!" - Mark
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CEL Water Committee Meeting
August 30, 2006

Presentation/Discussion with Mark Fuller Watershed Committee member
The Watershed Committee has the goal to develop a plan for water in Roaring Fork valley. Currently there is no vision for watershed or preserving resource.
The committee has been working on a watershed plan, which they are approaching in phases:
1st. Phase (currently happening)
~ public outreach - gather stakeholders, create a constituency
~ state of water shed support - gather studies and data and put in order that makes sense, boil down to a useable piece of information in written, graphs, network - so ordinary citizens can understand the watershed 2nd phase -(in the future) - series of recommendation for policies and action/ regulations, programs to bring consistency to water management up and down the valley - up to down stream (water use) consideration
How can CEL Participate? By being a part of the network and, when the time comes, by showing up at the towns' meetings to show support.
There is a need for grassroots citizens' support to gain strength.
The
watershed information needs to be presented in layman's language in order to raise the general understanding of the threats, the need to preserve and the need to change.
How will you get to the community? By finding stakeholders - those who are affected by the water - and soliciting ideas from them. Some of those stakeholders are: agriculture people, ranchers, ditch companies.
What are missing are citizens as a group of stakeholders Additional Information:
The Regional Quality Water Management Plan (208 plan) was not user friendly.
CEL's interconnectedness can help to raise public awareness.
Water in the state of Colorado is a property right - if you don't own it you have no say in what happens to it. If it falls out of public hands it falls out of public use.
Gas and oil companies are buying up water rights and drying out land.
Ruedi Water and Power Authority has uncontracted water available for purchase from Bureau of Reclamation. $12,000. Ruedi W & P Authority has a need to sell so as to pay off dept. This dept has grown from 4 million to 11 million due to interest on federal loan.
Currently the water is released so wells with junior rights keep pumping, but this may be required to stop by demand of senior water rights.
One consideration is the economic value of water leaving valley verses keeping it here.
At this point Garfield County is not represented at state level in water negotiations. John Martin has shown some interest.

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Notes from the CEL Water Discussion at Joani's house, July 27, 2006

Roaring Fork Collaborative - provides educational component, recommended collaboration with CEL Water
PSOP – Preferred Storage Option Plan, provides for the enlargement of the Turquoise and Pueblo Reservoirs, negotiated by the River District, often without the knowledge of the public.
ACTION POINT: challenge the River District to improve their relationship to the public
Immediate issues – PSOPs and Shoshone Water Right
Water is highly contested and coveted because WATER = DEVELOPMENT = PROFIT
Garfield County is the least progressive county in water issue participation, lacks involvement and engagement in the public process of decision-making regarding water.
Northwest Council of Governments – administers the 208 plan (under Clean Water Act) for the Roaring Fork Valley. However, Garfield county is excluded from this group despite containing the senior Shoshone water right.
ACTION POINT: go to Commissioner and request involvement with the NW Council of Gov'ts
Garfield county lacks influence in water discussions due to a lack of knowledgeable/passionate water representatives.
ACTION POINTS: elect a new River District representative.
Gina: contact water recreation users for their support/knowledge
Will Evans - variables are population growth, climate change and peak oil. A protected water source is essential to forming a localized economy. We have to engage farmers and ranchers in this process.
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Notes from the Water Discussion at Carbondale Town Hall, August 7, 2006

John Wesley Powell – suggested watershed as the most important community boundary. His recommendations were not taken in drawing up municipal boundaries.
Dan Richardson, City of Aspen Canary Initiative – Over the past 25 years there has been a 3 deg. F increase in average temps and a 20 day change in frost duration.
2100 projections – continued temp increases; more rain, less snow; earlier spring run-off, end of ski industry in this valley due to less snow depth and an earlier melt.
Ecology – species move further up mountains; increase in invasive species; increase in wild fires; earlier insect hatches.
Pressure experienced with climate change – Skico will need to make more snow; municipal demand will increase with increasing population growth; water will need to be stored for agricultural purposes with earlier run-off date; tourism industry will be hurt by altered run-off periods, industry skiing may disappear altogether.
Local Energy Source – provides security, revenue, savings and a cleaner environment.
Obstacles – the tendency for people to focus on the short-term and the familiar.

Louis Meyer, CO Riverbasin Roundtable – this is an issue of environmental science, policy, sociology, law, etc.
THE INTER-STATE PICTURE:

CO moisture comes from the Pacific in the winter, the Gulf of Mexico in the summer. This can and will change with increasing temperatures and altered global wind/water currents.
More water will come as rain, less as snow. This results in changes in ecological, agricultural, tourist (and more) cycles.
A 2 deg. F change in the CO Riverbasin (CO RB) will result in a 4-15% decrease in water (source: EPA).
The Crystal River in particular is very dependent on snow because there is no upstream reservoir.
Reservoirs will fill quicker in the spring and less later on.
2001-2003 are the driest years on record for the CO RB
"CO River Compact" : CA early development resulted in senior rights for the entire western region. A 1922 state-drawn agreement for water estimated 16 million acre-ft of water to the Divide. In 2001-2003, that figure was closer to about 3 million acre-ft.
Lake Powell – benefits upper basin states by supplying the lower basin during times of drought. A downward trend has the Lake currently at about 38% capacity. If this continues, upper basin states will be required to provide water to senior right lower basin states without the help of the reservoir. The Compact doesn't specify upper basin states' share, except the "left over." This is bad news for CO.
State-wide water committee – concluded there will be a "gap" in water supply/deman for 7 CO watersheds by 2030.
Ag conversions – conversion of agricultural land to municipal uses.

THE LOCAL PICTURE:
Trans-Mountain Diversions – impact the CO River and the Roaring Fork River
Moffet Tunnel – Denver Water is taking more water through this diversion
PSOP – see above. There is currently legislation allowing for the study of these types of storage expansion projects.
Shoshone Water Right relaxations – increase the likelihood of the Cameo call, both impact the Roaring Fork River. This will especially impact Rifle's drinking water quality, which may require desalination technology as a result. Salinity is an issue in every case of displaced water.
ACTION POINTS: CO River Roundtable – set up in each watershed and holds political influence (Louis is Garfield County rep). In Garfield County we need increased public involvement with water decision-making, elected official involvement with the general public, and county involvement with the NW Council of Governments (a product of the CWA 208 Plan). Garfield's lack of overall involvement in watershed issues has already resulted in several losses for our community, including the Shoshone/Excel agreement with Denver Water.
The public can demand more transparency from the River District, which makes too many decisions behind closed doors.
The Roaring Fork Conservancy is working on creating a watershed plan. This should be distributed widely.
Talk to the Commissioners about joining the NW Council of Gov'ts
VOTE!

Will Evans, CEL - there are 2 events to consider: Peak Oil and Global Warming
CEL – can we be sustainable in the face of outside unsustainable development and the pressures that are exerted on our essential systems?
"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."
CEL – represents alliances and partnerships
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Water Committee Report (8/3/06)
Since the last CEL meeting, the Water Committee has communicated through email and met for a roundtable session (July 27, 2006 at Joani's house) to discuss the current state and future prospects for water in this valley. Here are the results of these discussions:

The purpose of the Water Committee is to create a network for building alliances, educate ourselves and the rest of the community, and take action when an opportunity presents itself. At this early stage, we wish to keep our mission broad and flexible in order to allow co-evolution with the larger group, and to foster a healthy and creative adhocracy.

The identified variables to achieving a localized economy, to which water is essential, are population growth, climate change and peak oil.

OPPORTUNITIES:
The Roaring Fork Watershed Collaborative
– provides an educational component related to water quality and quantity issues, led by Roaring Fork Conservancy, USFS and Pitkin County. Promotes regional cooperation and integrated planning in the Roaring Fork Valley to balance development, ecology and community values. Joining this group is a must for the Water Committee, and the website is a wealth of information: http://www.roaringfork.org/sitepages/pid169.php
Recreation Group Collaboratives

- Raise awareness among those who use water for their recreation (ie. rafters, kayakers, anglers) of the water issues facing the valley. These are our supporters and they are often a great source of knowledge.
Ranchers and Farmers – a group that has a lot to teach us about the importance of water and its history in the valley; often the hardest group to reach because they're busy working!

VULNERABILITIES:

PSOP (Preferred Storage Option Plan)
– enlargement of certain reservoirs (ie. Turquoise and Pueblo) so that a district can "firm up" their water rights. These developments are negotiated by the River District, often without public participation or knowledge. Opportunity: challenge the River District to increase its public presence and bring this process to our attention.
Shoshone Water Right

– Denver voters decide on November 6th whether to ratify an agreement between Xcel Energy in Glenwood and the Denver Water Board, which would result a relaxation of Xcel's senior water right and increased storage of CO River water in upstream reservoirs (Green Mountain and Dillon.)
NEEDS (especially in Garfield County):

increased education/awareness of the complicated processes involved in water distribution
increased engagement between communities and their water officials
involvement with the Northwest Council of Governments (NW COG)
knowledgeable and passionate water representative to speak for the needs of the community
connect with water recreation people, ranchers and farmers (emphasis on ranchers)

NOTES:
A valuable inventory of local water resources can be found the Roaring Fork Conservancy website (www.roaringfork.org), and specifically at http://www.roaringfork.org/sitepages/pid137.php

There is a free water conservation workshop being held by the Great Western Institute on August 7 and 8 at the Glenwood Community Center. Information can be found at http://www.greatwesterninstitute.org/workshops.html.

Community Economic Localization (Colorado)

CEL Currency Team Notes (Aug.)

Lorrie Carlson — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 13:35:16 -0700

The Alternative Currency subcommitte met at Laurie Stone's home on 8/31 to discuss next steps relating to becoming more self sufficient. Attending the meeting were Laurie Stone, Will Evans, Rick Carlson and Amy Kimberly.

We decided to begin implementing Time Dollars. Action Item: Rick Carlson to contact Time Banks and get the start-up package. Laurie Stone and Rick will work together to get the web-based package up and running and to report on progress at the next CEL meeting. People should be thinking about unmet needs unused resources.

We discussed the possibility of having Edgar Cahn of Time Banks come to Carbondale and speak at a community event in late September, possibly in conjunction with the KDNK fall fundraising campaign, pershps as part of a panel discussion on alternative currency. Amy mentioned having Edgar speak on a Saturday KDNK radio show. Rick to contact Edgar Cahn about logistics.

Amy Kimberly, discussed her Telluride experience with alternative currency.

Laurie mentioned that Boulder has implemented a form of Ithaca bucks and will contact them regarding possible participation in the September event.

The Alternative Currency subcommitte will update CEL at the next meeting on all of the above.

Community Economic Localization (Colorado)

CEL Built Environment Team Notes (Sept.)

Lorrie Carlson — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 13:50:10 -0700

Notes from CEL Built Environment Group Meeting (formerly Shelter Group)
9/14/06

Members present:
Jay Murphy: jay@resortrenovations.net 379-5347
BJ Schmidt: howbj@hotmail.com 319-2498
Laura Bartels: laura@greenweaverinc.com 963-0905

Goals-
1. Plan for Potato Days
2. Mission Statement for committee

Areas of importance identified to be-
1. Education
2. Regulation
3. Creating programs that use local resources to meet local needs
4. Creating programs that build community strength (ala Portland’s City Repair Project & Village Building Convergence)

Decided to rename committee. “Built Environment” was chosen because it encompasses much more than the term shelter.

Education approach for contractors, architects and the public will be developed in next meetings.

Tasks-
1. Investigate the realities of sourcing and distributing construction waste. Possibly create link between construction waste and affordable housing projects in the area. – Jay to begin. (How did Ski Co deal with reuse in Sundeck remodel? What can we learn from PitCo landfill?)
2. What are the current status of building codes in Carbondale and Garfield County in relationship to use of local materials and sustainability?- BJ to begin.
3. Statement of purpose to be handed out at Potato Days along with energy savings shopping list. – Laura to write

Next meeting Oct 12th, 6:00 pm , 717 Lincoln Ave. at Laura’s house
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Here are the notes from the Shelter group...September meeting.
Thanks,
Laura Bartels

The focus areas identified were:
1. Identify and encourage local materials
2. Use of local and regional waste materials- research/develop system for sourcing, advertising, distribution
3. Identify goals for improving building codes for sustainable building
4. Create and/or identify models of good practices as a means for educating about sustainable building and explore ways to bring models to the public
5. Address how the built environment creates or destroys social relations such exploring the effect of public gathering spaces (look at City Repair Project in Portland)
6. Address obstacles to cohousing and other forms of community living

Sidenotes included
1. Show Village Building Convergence (from City Repair) DVD to community and town council, environmental board
2. Creating a map within each neighborhood of residents and their talents/professions to encourage local bartering, etc.
3. Book sharing within CELL members of privately owned related texts
4. Larger and more prominent community free box
5. Tool sharing program

Community Economic Localization (Colorado)

CEL Food Team Notes

Lorrie Carlson — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 08:35:40 -0700

Update coming soon.

Community Economic Localization (Colorado)

CEL Steering Committee Notes 1/9/07

Lorrie Carlson — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 13:31:05 -0700

Mandy, Jennifer, Lorrie, BJ and Joani were in attendance.

The steering committee is reforming and we reviewed the outcomes from the January meeting:

1. Full meeting was mostly a new group of people= good response .It was difficult to handle this meeting due to need to answer questions on CEL focus, strategic issues and communication methods. Steering committee proposed methods to relive this problem- develop an information packet, including facilitators box, and have informational meeting for new people at 6:30pm, before the full regular meeting at 7PM- Jennifer is interested in the packet development.

2. New people at the full meeting were committed to overcoming storming- people voiced need for vision, strategic approach: suggestions from the full group included holding a strategic retreat for the full group, and using the assistance of organizational facilitators or organizational development professionals. The steering committee discussed Brian Weller’s visit, his skills and methods are a Marketing 101 class for how to establish networks in the community on issues of global warming and oil peak. Joani advised that the focus of CEL is set in the Statement of Intent on the Web site: www.relocalize.org under Carbondale. Lorrie brought up the Boulder Localization group, they have a newsletter and highly visible work plan. We discussed the roles of the committees in supporting the work of CEL. Lorrie will call the head of Boulder Michael Brownlee to discuss a possible visit to our group – their next meeting is Jan 17th and full meeting Feb 1. Manddy will check on a place for a steering committee retreat.

3. Next meeting – we will focus on agenda for the next CEL meeting. Everyone will write their paragraph and submit it for participating. Everyone please dig into your records and resubmit to the full group.

4. We discussed the strategy to meet the promise of the STATEMENT OF INTENT. This is the educational partnership we have made with the Town and out promise to outreach to the community and form partnerships – The Chamber is asking for more information, Mission, Business Plan etc. – We are nto ready with a packet to answer these questions. We spoke about the DVD equipment for the Crystal and other ways to show films to educate the community.

Community Economic Localization (Colorado)

CEL Event Team Notes

Lorrie Carlson — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 10:23:07 -0700

Check back later.

Community Economic Localization (Colorado)

CEL Communication Team Notes

Lorrie Carlson — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 10:24:09 -0700

9/20/06 meeting notes...

Three categories of communicating:
Among the group members, the large group and the subgroups
Public relations: between the group and the public
Archives: maintaining records of communications

Between the group and the public:
Press releases to encourage newspaper articles and calendar mentions, maybe even magazine articles in locally published magazines if and when the group is ready for that much attention.
PSAs (Public Service Announcements) to radio and television stations (Aspen has three stations now!).
Topical interviews of CEL representatives by the press and media.
Public Information Officers (PIOs) who are responsible and knowledgable enough to represent the group in the most accurate and best light. Individuals will say things, but the official representation to the press should be consistent and constructive.
A CEL web site (in addition to the current general web site) with control over who preps the official copy and a forum or chat room that's open to the public.
Educational presentations at events, group meetings (like Rotary), and schools. An education coordinator could work with reps from each team for this purpose.
Maintain relationships with groups and individuals who are already doing localized sustainable projects and might be willing to have a representative attend CEL main group or subgroup meetings to give presentations or help in their specialized arenas but who may not want to attend regularly (like the Carbondale Tree Board or the Peach Valley CSA or local ranchers).
Provide a resource library with DVDs, videos, books, CDs, tapes on related topics.
Present periodic workshops for the general public on related topics like creating a local currency, community gardening, or care of livestock, etc.

Archives:
Maintain a membership list with contact information in an Excel spreadsheet.
Archive agendas, handouts, and meeting minutes of main group and subgroup meetings.
Maintain press archives about the CEL history and about the various topics (teams should help track news about their special interests).

Among group members:
The purpose of the main group meetings should be determined and presented to the group so people know what to expect from the main group.
Possibilities:
An umbrella or hub that oversees and connects the subgroups or teams, which will do the bulk of the work and give reports at main meetings.
Education of group members about what they can do to localize their own lives (by the teams or special visitors)
Emotional and psychological support for those who are struggling with the realities of this task in this world.

We've already lost several productive, knowledgable people who got impatient with the group meeting round robins. Things have been moving slowly and have mostly been focused on organization and rules of order rather than productive action. Some people have told me they think we should be moving along a little more rapidly. Perhaps we are organized enough to take the group to the next level of shifting the focus to education and action.

Community Economic Localization (Colorado)

CEL Monthly Meeting Minutes 11/2/06

Lorrie Carlson — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 10:20:33 -0800

CEL General Meeting minutes, November 2, 2006

DISCUSSION: Brook LeVan led discussion on how the CEL Group can flow more freely in the area of personal relations and community spirit. More transparency, opening up the Steering Committee membership to all interested parties, more time for Team reports in Group meetings were all agreed upon. We are building a new way to exist together and all need to remember to keep our spirits open!

TEAM REPORTS:

FOOD: Malcolm McMichael is heading up developing a food model outlining the carrying capacity for the greater Carbondale area for food. What would it take to feed 10,000 people?

ENERGY: Reviewed Carbondale energy plan. Has list of priority projects. Will make recommendation to environmental board on priorities. The Board will be recommending how to spend $29,000 balance of franchise fee budget for energy in 2006. Town budget has energy budget for $140,000 for 2006. Work will be coordinated by CORE. Ballot initiative 2F has no apparent opposition. Vote YES for 2 large solar systems in Carbondale!

WATER: Water meeting with Jim Pokrandt had a positive response from other stake holders. Formed important relationships within the water community. Colorado River Round Table task force consists of representatives from water basins studying use patterns, future distributions and projects throughout the state. Colorado Basin focused on 2 sectors: users and non-consumptive uses. Key issues include minimum stream flows for water quality, avoiding trans-mountain diversions, future energy demands for oil, gas and oil shale. Next meeting for Round table is public: Deciding on projects within basin with existing budget of $600,000 and grant opportunities of $14 million at state level. Next meeting November 27, Monday, 1-4pm at GWS Community Center.

BUILT ENVIRONMENT:

CURRENCY: The currency team has chosen to expand it’s focus to include business development based on the WELL Business Group. Adding the business focus will allow us to expand the influence and energy of CEL much more rapidly and will get more of the business community educated and empowered to participate. We have discussed the potential value that TimeBanks gives us in terms of allowing people to people and potentially business to person, person to business service exchange and have decided to go forward. We have purchased the initial package for 35 members and are getting familiar with how it works. Additionally, we have chosen to follow the lead from Boulder TimeBanks and implement a similar policies and procedural approach. During the next several days, we will be writing up a budget and exec sumary and plan to propose this to various funding sources to include CORE, Manaus Fund and Carbondale Rotary.We will initally propose a part time person to work alongside volunteers from CEL to implement the initial plan. In the absence of getting funding we will use a volunteer approach.

COMMUNICATION: Continue to collect descriptions of each Team including a current project and future goal. Will post on website. Sustainable movie ideas tossed around. Will research Sierra Club's traveling sustainable film fest to bring to Carbondale. SEI has capacity to show movies - will research starting a film night there and talk with Crystal Theatre for future showing possibilities.

Community Economic Localization (Colorado)