(Little Rock, AR – April 25, 2008) In conjunction with activities surround this week’s Earth Day celebrations, Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola today announced the members of a Sustainability Committee which will examine and advise the City on policy areas decisions pertaining to sustainability, including the links between environment, economy, and equity.

“Sustainability is a crucial component to the quality of life in a community,” said Mayor Stodola. “But it is more than just quality of life. The economy and environment must be viewed collectively. I look forward to the Sustainability Committee taking a comprehensive approach to examining sustainability issues.”

In 2006, City Manager Bruce T. Moore formed a task force of concerned citizens and City staff to discuss the opportunities and benefits of a sustainability policy for the City of Little Rock. This group concluded its work in late 2007. One of the recommendations was the creation of a Sustainability Committee.

The members of the commission are:
• April Ambrose, Arkansas Earth Day Foundation
• Sylvia Blain, environmental educator
• Kinsey Daven, public policy student; Junior League of Little Rock
• Shelly Green, Green & Associates; Arkansas Earth Institute
• Jennifer Heselmeyer, Heifer International
• Ron Hughes, HERs, Inc; certified energy rater
• Kwendeche, architect
• Nancy Mancilla, Winrock International
• Jennifer Powers, Arkansas Sustainability Network
• Mark Robertson, landscape architect
• Jim von Tungeln, community planner
• Ron Woods, architect

“I am appreciative that these citizens have agreed to serve,” said Mayor Stodola. “With their advice and leadership, Little Rock will be a municipal leader not only in Arkansas, but throughout the country in advocating, educating, and adopting environmental policies that reduce the City’s carbon footprint.”

The Sustainability Committee is the most recent effort by the City of Little Rock to promote sound environmental practices. Among those other efforts are:

• City Hall Annex and District Courts buildings are Energy Star certified buildings
• Various lighting and HVAC control retrofits have saved over $320,000 per year since 2003
• In 2006, the City adopted an ordinance adopting the US Green Buildings Council’s LEED-NC rating for all new city buildings and adopted LEED-EB requirements for work that is done on existing buildings
• Fire Station 17 has an engine room that uses a geo-thermal pump to heat the floor
• The Public Works Administration building has a solar hot water panel
• Methane recovery system installed at the City landfill
• All city signal lights, pedestrian crossing lights, and building exits lights have been retrofitted with LED
• Fleet Services currently operates four hybrid vehicles and 10 Alternatively Fueled Vehicles with lower emissions than unleaded and diesel fueled vehicles


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