Commission reviews standing community projects; members announce composting seminar, little-library rollouts and Earth Day plans

Commissioners and community volunteers gave updates on ongoing neighborhood sustainability projects and announced events for spring.

A commissioner reported a small sustainability grant supporting “little libraries” focused on sustainability; one library is installed with two more planned, including a public opening at the Englewood Recreation Center expected in March and a third at Baird Park tied to a neighborhood planting. The presenter said she is coordinating with a garden volunteer (Joe Fleener) at the Urban Garden and plans informal monthly summer composting demonstrations.

In the public forum, departing commission chair Michael Chisholm commended the commission’s growth and education, encouraged continued engagement on tree and other sustainability issues, and said he will host a composting seminar the last Saturday in March at the Depot urban garden.

Staff outlined Earth Day planning for April 26, noting the event follows the South Platte Renew River cleanup and will include demonstrations, vendor and business engagement opportunities, and contingency indoor locations in case of bad weather. The commission’s sustainability grant program will run again this year; staff said previous projects included an induction-stove lending program run through the library and that residents used roughly $1,000 grants for small grassroots efforts.

No formal action was taken; staff asked commissioners to propose March meeting topics and said the utilities department could brief the commission on a water-efficiency plan in July or August.