As colleagues and I have discussed strategies for brainstorming and providing feedback to the PO task force, I'm proposing a collective outlining and drafting group to share and improve language that may ultimately be used as a position paper for the parties involved (whether PPO or some other group wants to adopt the paper can be decided later).
So this is a solicitation for interested participants to begin drafting an outline of whatever strategies you think would be appropriate for the task force to adopt. I hope to begin brainstorming a collective draft outline within two weeks and have a first draft in the works by the time the task force meets again. This may seem an ambitious effort but I feel it's better to have tried and have something than to have nothing at all. The quality of this paper is reflected by the diversity of strategies – no one could ever be expected to list all the methods – so the more people chime in with one or two concrete ideas, the more comprehensive the outline will be. Also, anyone with experience or interest in mind-mapping could be beneficial to this project – is there a wiki with this capability?
Thanks to all for being a part of this movement.
Second Outline (includes comments from cnaylor384 and our Aug. 9 general meeting discussion).
FOOD&WATER
CSA's
Re-examine Diggable City survey to correct for deficient info from the Bureaus.
Neighborhood gardens - more funding/resources for groups like Growing Gardens
Neighborhood water systems
Neighborhood composting, distribution
Metro-wide distribution of rain barrels - fund soil and compost testing at the neighborhood level
Fruit tree site coordination
Improve landscape design standards to encourage groundwater replenishment and/or irrigation
Brownfield and groundwater system mapping
Animal care (chickens, goats, bees, worms, etc.)
Street Reclamation
Plant fruit and nut trees after any tree removal
SHELTER
recreate PDC into Portland Sustainable Environments Commission – under the auspices of OSD (responsible for integrating food and housing cultivation in a socially and ecologically responsible manner).
Dignity Village expansion into "Big Box" stores
Comprehensive review of building codes for energy efficiency and water conservation (require solar footings on new construction)
Provide incentives for green building techniques and materials
"Autonomous green building" zones requires no permitting
No permits for green building projects
Non-asphalt roofing
Civil service housing for volunteers
Modify zoning to encourage efficiency in housing and optimize concentrations of residential /commercial /industrial development for sustainability
NEIGHBORHOOD SYSTEMS
neighborhood watch
recycling
health and healing services
communications - Village Information Systems integrated with block captains and Neighborhood Emergency Teams (NETs)
Test communities utilizing intentional dispersion of decision-making and responsibility
Volunteer Networks
education - transition coordinators/facilitators
markets
TRANSPORTATION & LAND USE
bike-ped blvds (non-motorized streets)
more bikes on buses
commuter bike sharing (similar to European models or like "flex bike")
rail & barge infrastructure
bus route efficiency - service based on ridership
City fuel reserve for essential services
Automobile dismantling/steel smelting for rail tracks
Free transit subsidized by gas tax
Goods transport by light rail and bus
Increase city/state-sponsored efforts to incentivize renewable fuel use, adopt a target for renewable energy (both for city services and for the area population)
AWARENESS
environmental holidays
school curriculum overhauls (PPS)
community-based communications (MHCRC)
PSA campaign - half of all billboards, half of all radio and TV commercials
City and business energy audits and analysis
ECONOMY
Vouchers for labor system
Local currency based on regionally produced biofuels
Barter systems
Modeling to forecast rate increases and liquidity
Prioritization of services for managed restriction of non-essentials
Alternate plans for providing certain services
Consumption tax
Luxury tax
I look forward to your feedback. Thanks to those who already contributed!