News Archive

WG Commission To Examine Issues On Environment

The Webster Groves City Council this week decided to create a new, temporary commission charged with examining activities and processes within the city relative to environmental issues.

On Tuesday, the council adopted an ordinance establishing a commission on sustainability whose purpose will be to foster policies and programs that promote energy conservation, environmental improvement, and sustainability of resources in the city.

Over the past five months Council Member Jeanne Kirkton has been working with a six-member task force to determine the need for such a commission and how it would function.

The commission will identify opportunities to improve the environment in the city and recommend policies to the council that encourage the promotion of practices that efficiently utilize city resources.

When introduced, the bill called for a commission composed of from five to seven members. Kirkton said there has been considerable support among Webster residents for such a body and, at her request, the council agreed to expand the commission's size to not less than seven or more than nine members.

Because the council expects the commission's work to be completed within three years, it will be disbanded automatically in April 2011 unless the council extends its authority beyond that date.