Sustainability Spotlight - October 2024 - Sustainability with Councilmember Rachel Hultin
Sustainable Wheat Ridge committee member, Britt Guimond (District IV), asked Councilmember Rachel Hultin (District II) a few questions about the councilmember’s opinion of sustainability in Wheat Ridge, as well as her experience engaging with Sustainable Wheat Ridge — Wheat Ridge’s resident-led, volunteer-based committee whose purpose serves to (1) advise the City of Wheat Ridge on matters pertaining to environmental sustainability, and (2) to promote sustainability programs to residents and businesses within the City of Wheat Ridge through engagement and outreach. Here’s what Councilmember Hultin had to say:
1. What do Wheat Ridge City Council members like to hear about from our community?
Councilmember Hultin: The core of what city councilors do is solve problems so we depend on our community to let us know when things don't meet expectations. It's not surprising that the overwhelming majority of what we hear are concerns and complaints, but this is only part of the information we need to make good decisions. We need to hear what is working and ideas about how to build on successes. We also need more personal stories.
What are the day-to-day aspects of living in Wheat Ridge that contribute to your quality of life?
How did a special event or experience deepen your appreciation for living here?
What are the opportunities we might be overlooking?
The value of hearing hopes, ideas, and expectations helps us craft policies that not only address problems, but helps us shape the city for future generations.
2. In your opinion, how has Sustainable Wheat Ridge helped improve the city since it began in 2018?
Councilmember Hultin: Sustainable Wheat Ridge has made sustainability an integral part of our identity. Before the original committee members began their work in 2018, the city lacked a visible, coherent, and inclusive sustainability program. We were doing some good, even great, things to advance conservation and resilience. We have a long history as a designated Tree City USA, the preservation of the greenbelt as a naturalized area, celebration of our agricultural heritage; but they were disjointed. The development of the first Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) in 2018 created a container for community members and city leaders to initiate measurable successes. Despite not being officially adopted by City Council, Sustainable Wheat Ridge implemented the majority of goals from the SAP and, more importantly, elevated sustainability as a tangible community identity. I'm looking forward to adopting the updated SAP this fall to deepen our mutual accountability to center climate action and sustainable practices.
3. In your opinion, what is your favorite program, policy or improvement made to our community that was inspired by Sustainable Wheat Ridge?
Councilmember Hultin: With so, so, SO many successful programs and policies inspired by Sustainable Wheat Ridge, this could be a difficult question to answer. But I'm a Swiftie-level fangirl of Sustainable Neighborhoods. Places, people, and planet all benefit when neighbors across a spectrum of perspectives work together to turn ideas into actions in their own backyards (and front yards and neighborhood parks.). IMHO, the City of Wheat Ridge is notably responsive, but it's burdened with standards of accountability that limit municipal government. The Sustainable Neighborhoods program lets the city be a backseat partner supporting neighbors to find shared values through project- based efforts. The result? Places that center sustainable principles and people with increased civic capacity to affect meaningful change on behalf of the planet and future generations. Everyone wins today and tomorrow!
Want to be part of sustainability conversations happening in Wheat Ridge right now? Here are a few different ways to get involved:
Visit our webpage and stay tuned for the new SAP launching in fall 2024
Check out other articles we’ve written on What’s Up Wheat Ridge
Attend city council meetings on Mondays at 6:30pm either in-person, by phone or on TV/YouTube
