"Green' forum brings golden ideas

New city slogan? 'The City Without Cars'

A BrentWord exclusive
A smaller-than-hoped-for crowd of about 50 people attended the city's Environmental Quality Coordinating Committee's first public meeting Tuesday night. Which was too bad for the city's remaining 36,450 or so residents. They lost out because the informative meeting was also downright entertaining.

Like most public forums, it kicked off by offering citizens an opportunity to speak. They did.

"In my view this committee has it within its power to effect the single-most critical change in direction in the city’s 40-year history," John Logan, always entertaining when he steps up to the city board room's podium, expressed. "What is needed, and eminently possible, is a vast expansion of the city’s network of walkways and bikeways which would make it possible for us to become 'The City Without Cars.' Imagine other possible catchy slogans: 'Brentwood: The City That Walks.' Better perhaps, 'Brentwood: The City That Conserves.' Best, 'You Need Your Car Only When You Leave Brentwood.'

Logan urged the committee to recommend that the city make the acquisition of new greenways by way of acquisition, easements and other creative means a priority. This land would be used to develop an expanded path system used by the public for everyday transportation, via foot or bike, as well as for recreation. He went on to outline how this could be accomplished by the city's existing planning and engineering staffs though he acknowledged it won't be easy.

"...We must also honestly confront the fact that our city is chopped into pieces by the interstate, two rail lines, and several heavily traveled roads, all of which impede pedestrian access from one section to another," he said.

Marshall Shumate, representing the Brentwood Cool Springs Chamber, urged the city to become a proactive leader and in turn, "the business community must lead by example" as well. He noted that Comdata and Tractor Supply Company, both headquartered in Maryland Farms, are already doing this.

Citizens for Brentwood Green Space board member David Kumatz urged the committee to recommend that a qualified planner be hired to guide the city in acquiring more visible, accessible green space. "Once open space is developed, it's gone forever," he said.

Then came the fun part.

"One, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1, 2, 3 ...," committee chair Joe Herrud counted the crowd down, beginning with the committee members themselves. Five groups of about 9-10 people were each given the task of brainstorming ideas in four areas: reuse and recycle, preservation, conservation and education. Sheet after sheet of white paper marked up with colored markers soon covered the Municipal Building's annex room walls.

Next each group had to pick five favorite ideas from among the four categories. Not an easy task. They then shared their top five with the other groups.

But that wasn't the end of the fun. Herrud and his volunteers gave everyone five colored stickers and asked participants to put their stickers on their favorite ideas -- they ones they felt should get the highest priority. It was like being at a child's birthday party, with everyone playing Pin the Tail on the Donkey all at once. Stickers went up right and left. No report yet on what items got the most "votes."

While the process was fun, the ideas generated are far more important that how they were conceived. Here is a sampling of each group's Top Five in no particular order:

• Promote use of rain barrels and other rainwater collection devices
• Educate businesses on how to recycle and conserve energy
• Partner with schools, youth for community cleanup days and similar programs
• Create a ridesharing website
• Establish connected greenways
• Increased mobility (developing mass transit systems and better utilization of bike trails, sidewalks, etc.)
• Develop green building standards for new and retrofitted buildings.
• Promote of xeriscape (water-saving) landscaping techniques
• Curbside recycling
• Require connectivity in all new developments
• More passive parks
• Promote use of gray water (treated wastewater) for commercial, residential and governmental irrigation systems.
• Modeled after the DARE program, develop an AWARE program in middle and high schools to promote environmental awareness .

Guests attending the forum went home with cloth grocery bags donated by Kroger and reusable water bottles, courtesy of REI.

After the meeting, committee member Gil Hutchinson said, “Brentwood has a reputation as a city that cares about the environment and quality of life issues. It was exciting to see people come out on their own personal time to assure that Brentwood’s best days are ahead of it.

"This public forum was an important first step in hearing what the community has to say. The input provided was invaluable in terms of helping us outline the steps needed to sustain the environment and enhance the overall quality of life in Brentwood.”

The ad-hoc committee was appointed in March by the City Commission to oversee and coordinate efforts by the city to identify, facilitate and promote continuous improvement to the community’s environment. It currently is surveying citizens to access individuals priorities when it comes to environmental concerns here. If you have not completed the survey, here is a link: www.brentwood-tn.org/greensurvey.