St. Charles city officials joined nearly 500 local officials, community partners and students in Portland, Ore., for the National League of Cities’ (NLC) first-ever Green Cities Conference and Expo, held April 18-21.  Conference participants heard from experts in sustainability and green practices about how “going green” can strengthen the economic, social and environmental health of cities.

Attending the conference representing St. Charles were Laurie Feldman, vice president of the City Council, Bruce Evans, director of Community Development, and Debra Aylsworth, director of Public Works.  “It is important that sustainability is a constant conversation not a set definition,” said Feldman on behalf of the local contingency.  “Each community is unique so our sustainability plan will be based upon the needs of what’s happening right here in St. Charles,” she said.

Speaking at the Green Cities Conference and Expo was Douglas Farr, architect and author of “Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design with Nature.”  Farr is best known for applying the principles of LEED at the neighborhood level and for designing green buildings in urban areas.  Joining Farr during the conference was Samuel W. Bodman, secretary of the Solar Energy Initiative at the US Department of Energy, as well as Portland, Ore., Mayor Sam Adams; Salt Lake City, Utah, Mayor Ralph Becker; Apple Valley, Minn., Mayor Mary Hamman-Roland; and Annapolis, Md., Mayor Ellen Moyer.
 
“NLC’s Green Cities Conference marks the beginning of a new stage in the green cities movement by engaging cities and partners in efforts to share green best practices.  ‘Going green’ can help a city generate new jobs and create a vibrant, livable community for all who live there,” said Kathleen M. Novak, NLC President, mayor, Northglenn, Colo.

In addition, Feldman participated in the Solar Energy Facilities Tour and Aylsworth participated in an Ecosystem Restoration Tour of Stephens Creek, mobile workshops around the City of Portland to see first-hand why Portland is one of the country’s “greenest” cities.  Evans attended a Leadership Training Institute Seminar entitled Leading Innovation and Change:  The Imperative for Sustainable Cities while at the conference.

The conference’s Eco-Focused Exposition featured businesses, non-profit organizations and government agencies supporting livable green cities with products and services including recycling, environmental engineering, solar energy, sustainability consulting and energy efficient lighting.

The National League of Cities is the nation’s oldest and largest organization devoted to strengthening and promoting cities as centers of opportunity, leadership and governance. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans.