— Photo by Sara Hall ©
The Environmental Quality Affairs Committee discussed the proposed Newport Beach Sustainability Plan during a meeting Tuesday.
The plan was prepared by a citizen’s steering committee led by former councilwomen Nancy Gardner and Jean Watt.
This is so the city has an action plan, Gardner said Tuesday. There are already numerous sustainable features and projects within the city, she added.
“The thinking behind this was: If we have a plan that everybody’s on board with, the communication will be better, there will be more synergy, and it will be more effective,” Gardner said.
City Council discussed it earlier in the year and requested EQAC – and several other city committees – review it and make recommendations regarding the plan’s implementation.
EQAC is the first committee to discuss the plan, Planning Program Manager Patrick Alford said. Gardner was on hand Tuesday to discuss the plan and answer questions.
The key elements to the plan include: Education, building/development, waste reduction, transportation, energy, water conservation/quality, and urban outdoors.
Programs within the plan focus on promotion, partnerships, services, development, monitoring, incentives, and more.
The discussion revolved around air quality, water usage, development, small business, working with other agencies, and EQAC’s role.
EQAC members decided to take about a month to review the plan independently and then re-group to share their comments. The next meeting will likely be Sept. 20, but the date is not confirmed.
For more information, visit newportbeachca.gov.
