Council discusses sustainablity

Ensuring the future prosperity of Bloomington might involve drastic community improvements in global environmental attitude and industrial resource usage.\nThe city's Common Council decided 4-0-3 Wednesday night to progress their discussion of a sustainable local community -- despite national and international consumption trends -- toward a vote in the coming weeks. Ordinance 05-15, sponsored by council member David Rollo, would amend Title 2 of the Bloomington Municipal Code by creating the Bloomington Commission on Sustainability, according to the Common Council. \nRollo started the night's discourse with a presentation on the need for improved citizen perceptions about humans living in balance with the Earth. He provided his fellow council members with "global indicators" about "disturbing trends" affecting the current and future quality of human life on the planet.\nThe focus of the proposed Commission on Sustainability is to foster a three-pronged approach to the long-term viability of the community -- one that simultaneously considers Bloomington's social, environmental and economic future, according to the Common Council. The Sustainability Commission would have two primary roles: provide education to Bloomington and work to advise the city on sustainable practices. \nCouncil member Jason Banach seemed especially impressed by the amount of sustainability information provided throughout the discussion by Rollo. He said council approval for the BCS is the "right thing to do" for Bloomington. He also reminded the public about the role the BCS would provide for the city: an advisory board with "no sort of elected power." The BCS reports their advice to the planning commission and the city council for "final say." \nBloomington resident Heather Reynolds, vice chairwomen of the city Environmental commission, told the council she hopes the BCS would bring "harmony" to the dominant social-environmental-economic paradigm.\n"Our earth, our species, our city is faced with an awesome challenge in the new millennium -- forming a sustainable (human) relationship with the biosphere," Reynolds said. "Humanity has to change its destructive course. Two-thirds of the (earth's) resources are used unsustainably. It's necessary to change course."\nCouncil member Chris Sturbaum said the BCS could "tap" into a "local source" of human energy, the volunteer community, who is concerned about sustainable living for the city. He also said certain world economic circumstances often encourage the desire to plant "local" seeds in the ground.\n"The idea of sustainability is an idea we'll be understanding for the next century," Sturbaum said. "When we look at sustainability in 20 years, we'll be wondering why there was any question."\nBloomington resident Isabel Piedmont, who is the secretary and treasurer of the Bloomington Environmental Commission, said the proposed BCS is "vitally important to the well being of the community, and to the future of our children, and our grand children." She shared her vision of a typical American day in town to persuade council members of the benefits residents, IU students and guests will experience by striving to not leave big "footprints" behind. \nCouncil member Chris Gaal told the council the BCS will "not solve problems." Instead, he said he looks for Bloomington to make "small steps" by contributing solutions to sustainable living issues worldwide.\n-- Contact Staff Writer David A. \nNosko at dnosko@indiana.edu