In Ferndale, a citizens board sustains environmental action

Douglas Christie lives near well-traveled Woodward Avenue in Ferndale, north of Detroit, but he rarely contributes to the motor traffic unless absolutely necessary.

He would rather walk or ride his bicycle. In fact, he incorporates a slogan as part of his e-mail address: "Go feet."

Christie is chairman of the Ferndale Downtown Development Authority's Environmental Sustainability Commission, a group of 11 volunteers formed in the fall of 2007.

He doesn't look askance at motorists, and he emphasizes that environmental activism need not always involve questions of sacrifice.

"It's all about enhancing people's lives," Christie says. "Ferndale is a walkable community where I can buy organic groceries, attend a movie or a concert, visit the library, or enjoy a cold one, all within two or three blocks from my home. I can walk, ride my bicycle or hop on my skateboard. Ferndale is a city where I can have a low carbon footprint."

Christie runs his own consulting design business from his home and says many of his clients also are within walking distance or just an e-mail away.

The idea for forming the Environmental Sustainability Commission came from a group of citizens. Former Mayor Robert Porter, current Mayor Craig Covey and the City Council offered prompt support for the advisory panel.

The Downtown Development Authority already was taking initiatives, such as placing containers for recyclers and putting bike racks in the business district.

Some of the environmental activities are basic, while others are more creative. One original idea from the commission, for example, waives parking meter fees for cars that attain more than 30 miles per gallon. Ferndale's municipal car fleet is also high-mileage.

Ferndale is among more than 500 towns that are following the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which adopts Kyoto Protocol principles, even though the United States did not agree to Kyoto standards while George W. Bush was president. Christie and other members of the Ferndale Environmental Sustainability Commission advise the City Council on Kyoto goals, such as:

- Reducing urban sprawl by promoting central city enterprises and housing.

- Reducing 1990 levels of greenhouse gases by 7 percent heading into 2012.

- Encouraging Congress to pass bipartisan greenhouse gas reduction laws.

Ferndale's group also continues to work with the Sierra Club, which promotes a Cool Cities Program.

Steps that the City Council will consider, based on advice from the advisory group, include the banning of phosphorus in lawn fertilizer and a plastic bag reduction ordinance.

Commission members present a monthly "green tip" at City Council meetings, which are broadcast on cable access television and placed on Ferndale's municipal website, Ferndale-MI.com.

The city's Kulick Community Center, 1201 Livernois Ave., hosts "Green Tuesdays" sessions from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. The July 13 topic is eco-friendly barbecuing.

Residents can contribute ideas at FESC.freeforums.org, and they have access to free compost. In addition, Ferndale is among partner communities that offer curbside recycling.

Many communities offer annual Earth Day celebrations each spring to follow in the spirit of the original Earth Day on April 22, 1970. Christie proudly notes that Ferndale is the only Michigan community to devote seven full days during Ferndale Green Week, which honors local businesses for steps they have taken to become more environmentally friendly.

"Markets and stores in downtown Ferndale specialize in products that are more healthy for yourself and healthy for the environment," Christie says. "The world changes one day at a time, one minute at a time. The big picture is saving the planet, and it starts one person at a time."

Sources:

http://ferndale-mi.com
http://fesc.freeforums.org
http://www.usmayors.org/climateprotection/agreement.htm