Port Moody city hall means it when it says when it wants residents' input on how to make city operations sustainable.
Problem is, folks aren't very enthusiastic about weighing in on the topic, according to a recent survey.
Only 123 people started a recent survey on the city's sustainability plan and only 69 finished. Many who quit part-way through stopped at the question that asked about residency, according to the city.
Still, PoMo is determined to press ahead with its plan, which will be updated regularly and will find ways to encourage people to be more sustainable in their actions.
Last Tuesday, council asked staff to explore incentives and subsidies to encourage people to take action on energy reduction and other green or health-related activities and will share residents' success stories. Handing out prizes might be one idea but acting city manager Colleen Rhode said council is looking at bigger plans, similar to those incentives used to promote heritage conservation.
According to the survey, 48% of residents believe financial incentives or subsidies are necessary to encourage people to be more sustainable (for example, walk or cycle more, compost, reduce plastic bag use, buy energy efficient appliances, conduct a house energy audit).
As well, half said they wanted to see more success stories of other residents while 46% recommended using regulation to make sure sustainable practices are adopted by all; as well, 43.3% would like the city to share information on sustainability workshops, 40% want to see success stories of other businesses and 35% want more information and links to resources.
Rohde said the sustainability plan has been in the works for three years and residents have had other opportunities to comment on the plan, which would guide city operations and make sure decisions are made to ensure environmental, economic, social and cultural sustainability.
"It's really an ongoing process, it's like a living document," Rohde said, noting that it will be updated regularly.
In fact, staff members and the public will be encouraged to forward their sustainability recommendations via online forms or forms available a city hall in the future. Those ideas will be reviewed by staff on a quarterly basis for possible inclusion in regular plan updates.
In addition, all budget items, reports to council, projects and policies will have a section on sustainability.
The city is using former World Health Organization director general Gro Harlem Bruntland's 1987 definition of sustainability: "Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
