Over 95 people attended the Sustainable Development Meeting on April 23, 2008. They broke into tables of ten people each, and provided valuable information and proposals on how we could collectively improve our city and region. This information is summarized below.

TABLE 1

INCENTIVES
Low impact development ordinances
Street size – reduce width
Parking – less
Green Commission – See Springfield
EDUCATION
TIFF – Increase % to developer for LEED incentives to meet LEED Standards
Permit fees
Accelerated schedule
No inspections
Property tax credits
REQUIRE/MANDATE COMPLIANCE W/ENERGY STANDARDS (Over certain SF development)
LEAF PICK-UP TO PREVENT FILLING RAVINES
ENERGY USE REDUCTION – WAYS?
Shared Bikes
Bike Paths/lanes
Road Safety
Home<<<-->>> Work
Parking
Residential close to work (downtown)
GREEN POWER
Solar
Geothermal-River
Wind Farm – for Peoria
REQUIRE RECYCLE
EXIST HVAC UPGRADES
Test existing buildings
INCENTIVES FOR UPGRADING EXISTING
Green upgrade low interest loans

TABLE 2

"THE GREENOVATORS"
WHERE ARE WE NOW?

Lack of knowledge – alternatives/opportunities
Behind?
WANT TO GO? GOALS
Education
Cost-benefit analysis
Implementation
Limit barriers + bureaucracy to achieve sustainability – lift it up (can’t be a "cash cow")
Energy efficiency – buildings new and retro
Incorporating new technology
EDUCATION – REALIZE OPPORTUNITIES
Carry message beyond stakeholders
Make economic/financial sense
More/improved mass transit
More downtown living-appeal and critical mass to thrive & maintain
Green space, especially downtown-make desirable, user-friendly
Change mindset – lifestyles
Create "safe" green space downtown – crime
Water quality/storm water
Reduce run-off, CSO, infiltrate water
Water quality, life of infrastructure
Re-use of water
Prove alternatives work and develop model ordinances to guarantee that (practical)
Drivers: regulatory, economic, environmental, social-leverage
Wooded bluff management (along river)
Peoria Pool – lack thereof – need buy-in, forward movement "Riverfront Community, not a mud flat"
Collaboration
Recycling
Build understanding, more green work, energy efficiency, recycling, water infiltration for storm water, economic, etc.
Driver for region
Riverfront
Recycle back into system
Provide opportunities for state/federal dollars
Re-use resources
Dependence on fossil fuels/limited resources

TABLE 3

TRANSPORTATION
Fuel efficient buses, city services, snow plows
User friendly bike paths (all season bike paths or walkway)
Recycled material (Infrastructure, construction materials)
Company or public owned fleet vehicles use natural gas, etc. (Police, delivery services, taxi, city services, snow plows)
Visit-ability (wheelchair accessible)
Connect bike paths
BIKE PATH
Goals
Improve conditions by using recycled material
Connect throughout city to promote use
Make use all seasonal
Incentives
Company friendly by having shower facilities
2 free vacation or personal day off
Health club membership discount
RECYCLED MATERIAL (INFRASTRUCTURE)
Goal
Use recycled material in the construction of driveways, roadways
Incentive
Requirement
FLEET VEHICLE USE ENERGY EFFIENCE FUEL
Goals
Police, taxi, delivery, snow plows, mail, buses, (public service vehicles, private vehicles) (company owned vehicles greater than 10)
Incentives
Waive parking meter fees
DEVELOPMENT
Goals
Use separate dumpsters to recycle building material scrap or waste (copper, plastic, etc.)

TABLE 4

KEYS
Integrate building design efficiency program/audits
Structural – energy efficiency evaluations
EDUCATION
Conflicting sources
Lack of Energy Professionals
Average person not aware of dollar savings from Green Development
SOLUTIONS
Marketing
Street Fairs- Green vendors
Classes
Better define "Green"
Educate through utility bills
Low income families
Education w/energy assistance program
Education w/first time home buyers classes
LACK OF RESOURCES (TODAY)
Problems:
Tax credits end soon
Not utilizing recycling effectively
1 million tv’s to recycle in 2009, tires
SOLUTIONS
Utility rebates
Identify more ways to utilize recyclables locally.
Tires
Manure
Glass
Iron
Aluminum
Use it to Make energy!!

TABLE 5

Government bodies to take the lead
Taking school energy efficiency into consideration when closing
City to mandate curbside recycling
Bike path
Encourage community involvement
Act on community suggestions
Walk-able communities/high schools at all hours of day
Train all city staff on sustainability
Utilize church to help train community on energy & sustainable ideas
Practice what you preach
Preserve existing parks and develop new parks
Provide more mixed use subdivisions
Street friendly for pedestrians downtown
City and employees to encourage incentive car pooling
Flextime to aid carpooling
Telecommuting
Promote "Energy Star" homes
Rate efficiency of homes ‘A’ ,’B’ or ‘C’
Tax incentives for ‘A’ homes
Cut property taxes?
Life cycle costs
Information on various tax incentives for building types
Support local/small business
Incentives to fill empty store fronts w/needed business
Large attractions to pull/keep people downtown to encourage more development
GOVERNMENT BODIES TO TAKE THE LEAD – DON’T RELY JUST ON DEVELOPERS
PROVIDE TRAINING AND INFORMATION THROUGH TOWN MEETINGS, CHURCHES, AND SCHOOLS ON SUSTAINABILITY AND TAX INCENTIVES
INCENTIVES FOR WALKABLE COMMUNITIES, SMALL BUSINESS AND CAR POOLING

TABLE 6

Urban Renewal
Stormwater Management
Capture at source
Aquafer recharge
Filtration
Issues of combined
Reuse of Natural Resources
Dredging material
Promoting Alternative Transportation
Biking/walking (targeted)
Comprehensive plans
Buses
Increase routes/frequency
Reduce transit time
Target Development
Starting places
Seeding grounds (parks)
Public Education
Schools
City sponsored project w/school
Innovation in school systems
Fed/state grants
Follow-through
Energy Management/conservation

TABLE 7

Citizen involvement
Incentives for green technology installment
How to educate about all rebates/incentives available
Need comprehensive communication/advertising plan
Consider specific zones w/incentives for green building certified buildings
Incentives-not all cash-flexibility in building codes
Capitalize on what we are already doing – awareness/marketing
Inventory of what’s done and in process (i.e. Innovation center and civic center)
Inventory of technology/companies in area leading in this area
Knowledge sharing
Professionals sharing info
Training
General awareness on SD
Specific LEED training
Renewable energy
Wind
PV
River/water turbines
Renewable – pv on roofs
Prioritize warehouse district plan
Multi-prong strategy
Internal to organization
Outreach to citizens
Economic development
Federal/state incentives