The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
CB council must consider single-use plastic reduction…
by Mark Reaman
The towns of Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte along with Gunnison County were awarded $2 million from the Colorado Energy Office and they are now figuring out how to utilize the funds equitably.
In a report to the council, Crested Butte sustainability coordinator Dannah Leeman Gore said “the award expands regional building energy efficiency incentives, electrification programs, workforce development and waste policy initiatives. Staff seeks council’s feedback on the regional funding approach and any desired ‘levels of service’ assurances in the intergovernmental agreement (IGA).”
Leeman Gore said the three entities have already agreed to pursue a regional strategy to reduce building emissions rather than dividing the award by jurisdiction. “The partners propose a fully regional model for building and workforce development measures,” she relayed. “Gunnison County (via GV-HEAT) would administer rebates and workforce programming, with funds sub-awarded to Gunnison County. Through this regional structure, all Gunnison County residents would be eligible recipients of grant funds.”
Leeman Gore emphasized to council the intent of the program is meant to move policy forward. “So, the Crested Butte council must consider a jurisdiction-wide waste policy before more funding is released. All the award money must be spent by June of 2029,” she said at the August 4 council meeting.
“In earlier discussions the council discussed the need to consult the local business community on things like implementing a single-use plastic regulation,” said councilmember John O’Neal.
“It’s part of the feasibility study,” said Leeman Gore.
In her report to the council Leeman Gore explained that a single-use plastic reduction ordinance feasibility study, provided for free through the state, is underway and is meant to provide focused waste-audit data, business feedback and case studies. She indicated staff anticipates presenting the findings to the council in December or early January to inform a policy discussion.
Mayor Ian Billick clarified that the council must “consider” such a policy but was not obligated to enact one.
“I’m reluctant to give any assurance (on any of this topic) at this point,” said councilmember Kent Cowherd.
“The county and Mt. Crested Butte are great partners with this,” said Leeman Gore. “I don’t anticipate any squabbling over money with this.”
“For me it is critical we understand where people are dropping out of the (sustainability) process,” said Billick. “Why are people dropping out? I’m struggling with public confusion of who is responsible with the finances for all of these things. At the end of the process, I would like to have data on the progress.”
Billick expanded on the thought after the meeting saying he would like the staff “to explicitly track everybody who enters the process, what they were trying to achieve, whether they achieved it and if not, why not? Are people dropping out because of upfront costs, long term value, a lack of contractors, too difficult of a process or other reasons? That information will be important to informing investments and policies going forward.”
