City aims to excel as ecological example.

Byline: Edward Russo The Register-Guard

No mandates.

That's the first thing members of Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy's Sustainable Business Initiative want business people to understand about their recommendations.

Rather than telling employers what to do, Piercy's 16-person committee proposes that Eugene city government lead the way in encouraging businesses and residents to adopt environmentally friendly practices.

For example, some of the 22 recommendations released Tuesday call for city government to stop sending waste to landfills or incinerators by 2020 and to dramatically reduce carbon dioxide emissions so city operations become "carbon neutral" by the same year.

Eugene would not tell businesses that they must recycle or use alternative energy, but the committee recommended city government buy products and services only from firms that follow "sustainable practices."

The city, with more than 1,400 employees, buys millions of dollars in goods and services annually, so it has the ability to influence the marketplace and set an example, said Bob Doppelt, the committee's coordinator.

Through a sustainability board or commission, and working with other local governments, Eugene could encourage the creation of well-paying jobs at environmentally friendly businesses, the committee said.

"We hope that more happens than the city's purchasing policy," said Doppelt, who is the director of Resource Innovations in the Institute for a Sustainable Environment at the University of Oregon.

The committee's goal has been to encourage ways to achieve what Piercy calls the "triple bottom line" - protecting the environment while providing well-paying jobs but still allowing employers to profit.

"My point of view is that if we were going to try and strengthen the economy, let's do it in a way that works for Eugene," she said.

The committee's research involved more than 750 people, included dozens of meetings and took more than a year.

The ideas in the 42-page report wrap up a major effort by the first-term mayor, but the committee said the work is far from over.

The ideas "provide a starting, not ending point for making Eugene one of the nation's most sustainable mid-sized communities by 2020," its report said.

The City Council is to review the recommendations next month.

Councilors would have to agree with the goals for city government, including creating an "Office of Sustainability" and adopting the goals on waste and carbon dioxide emissions, for the recommendations to take effect.

Doppelt said it would be difficult for the city to completely eliminate its carbon emissions by 2020 but it could reach the desired "carbon neutral" status by getting "credits" for certain environmental initiatives.

The committee's recommendations will be vetted by interest groups such as the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce and the land use watchdog group Friends of Eugene.

Chamber President Dave Hauser said the Sustainable Business Initiative has its strengths, but more economic development efforts are needed to create and sustain a healthy local economy.

"I think the SBI can play a role as one piece of an overall economic development strategy for our community and region," he said.

Friends of Eugene President Kevin Matthews called the committee's work "a good start and a great educational experience for key segments of the community."

"Ultimately, triple bottom line analysis and systems thinking should simply be our standard practice in decision-making processes citywide," he said.

GREEN GUIDE

Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy's Sustainable Business Initiative committee has 22 recommendations for city government, businesses and other local governments. They include:

City government

Adopt a goal to become "carbon neutral" in all city-owned facilities by 2020 and develop an internal "city climate action plan" to achieve that goal.

Create an "Office of Sustainability" to promote and coordinate the city's internal sustainability efforts.

Establish a "Sustainability Board" or commission to expand sustainability efforts among private businesses.

Adopt the goal of "zero waste" to landfills and incinerators from city operations by 2020.

Support businesses that use sustainable practices or produce sustainable products.

Businesses and nonprofit groups

Start efforts to inform the public and expand the market for sustainable products and services.

Local governments

Support a local consortium on sustainability in public education organized by Lane Community College.

Develop metro-area consortiums with goals to become "carbon neutral" by 2020 and to achieve "zero waste" to landfills and incinerators by same year.