7/31/2019 Meeting Summary 07.24.12

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300 East Main Street ~ Suite 406 ~ Johnson City, TN 37601

423.202.3510

Livable Communities Development Group

Meeting Summary

07/24/12

Present:

Jenny Lockmiller

Steve BaldwinJoe Hoffman

Mary Lee Jondahl

Brenda Warner

Justin Tipton

Alexis CloseKanwaldeep Singh

Charis Hickson

Dan Reese

The group was pleased to hear a presentation by Mr. Joe Hoffman on his proposal to begin aCommunity Food Waste Composting program in Washington County. Mr. Hoffman has been in talkswith Johnson City and Jonesborough about a collection system that would divert a significant amount of

restaurant, supermarket, and institutional food waste to a site he has secured and reduce the amount ofwaste being trucked to the area landfill. He explained that this would show a cost savings for the

businesses involved and for the municipalities that pay fees for solid waste disposal. While in its

preliminary stages Mr. Hoffman expressed hope for wide community support for this entrepreneurialeffort and has developed a business plan with the help of Bob Justice of the Small Business

Administration. The project has the potential to be profitable to Mr. Hoffman to profit the community as

successful livable community initiative in economic development. A motion to support Mr. Hoffmans

efforts by means of a group letter was accepted by the group. A lively discussion of the significant positive impact of the many current public and private initiatives

related to downtown and community-wide business investment, infrastructure, green space,

connectivity, and safety led to suggestion that we have a bold story to be told and that it needs to becommunicated more broadly. The effect of these efforts was seen as creating a dramatic change in

quality of life of our city and county and making the area a more inviting place to live, work, study, and

play. Significant national exposure by means of the Live Streaming of the ASA Girls National 18 andunder softball tournament in July and the Economic Summit in October were recognized as strong

formats to get the message of our community out to individuals, businesses, and potential employers

nationally who might look to visit and invest in a community with a strong quality of life.

An initiative has been started with ETSU, TVA, the First Tennessee Development District, and JohnsonCity to propose a study of the effects on water quality by uncovering two urban streams in thedowntown area. This may be the first time such a project has been attempted nationally from pre-construction to near-completion. Dr. Phil Scheuerman of the ETSU Dept of Public Health is facilitating

the effort and the hope is to have a pilot grant in coming months followed by a possible ten year EPA

grant. The stakeholders in the water quality proposal expressed support to include significant elementsof the state STEM program (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) to involve university

students and faculty and Johnson City public school students and faculty in experiential aspect of the

study. It was felt that the grant might support laboratory upgrades and faculty enrichment on all level.

7/31/2019 Meeting Summary 07.24.12

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300 East Main Street ~ Suite 406 ~ Johnson City, TN 37601

423.202.3510

A report on AgriBusiness and AgriTourism efforts recently was given by Dan Reese. The groupexpressed strong interest in supporting local farms and the farmers market program and encouragingeducational efforts to increase the supply of regional organic and sustainably grown food. An increase in

market demand for quality farm and garden products by the community, farmers markets, restaurants,and grocers was noted. Communication of the areas AgriTourism resources was seen as a priority andas a way along with AgriBusiness to increase local farm incomes.

Representatives of the JC Bike Party reported on the now-operating Bike Kitchen which serves to re-cycle used bicycles and parts and get them into the hands of the community. A small facility on E.Unaka has recently been acquired and stocked with repair and rebuilding tools. The Bike Party is

partnering with staff at the Carver Recreation Center to teach bike safety to youth and adults in coming

months. Monthly urban bike rides are being led by the group in an effort to get the community up and

active using alternative modes of transportation. Steve Baldwin reviewed plans for the Economic Summit 2012. The group discussed the proposed

format of the Livable Communities Development Group break-out session. Keeping in mind the

entrepreneurial theme of the summit the group felt that this might be a good time for individuals to tell

their stories of entrepreneurial efforts that had led to a more livable community. The group agreed thatthe wider community had profited by having a better quality of life due to these and other proposed

projects. The group proposed telling the story of the wider benefits to quality of life of increased water

quality, safety, stronger neighborhoods, sustainable and smart growth, and community connectivity.Goal setting for the next year would close the session.

The next meeting of the group will be August 28th at 4:00pm.

Dan ReeseGroup Facilitator

07/25/12