Natural Resources

Natural Resources

Mission

Florida's Natural ResourcesAdvocacy and education in support of expedited, just and effective policies and actions to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change and thereby restore and protect our area’s land, water, and air.

Leadership

Co-Chair: info [at] lwv-alachua.org (Roberta Gastmeyer)

Co-Chair: info [at] lwv-alachua.org (Jay Rosenbek)

Ongoing Activities

  • Advocating with City Commission for hiring a Climate Officer and creation of a publicly available dashboard of the City’s goals, actions, and deadlines for reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2045
  • Similar advocacy with Alachua County Commission
  • Advocating for an end to GRU’s natural gas subsidies and extension of gas pipelines
  • Study of University of Florida’s proposed natural gas plant
  • Active monitoring of City and County Commission, Utility Advisory Board, Citizens Climate Action Committee meetings, including joint and subcommittee meetings and advocacy where appropriate
  • Active monitoring of environmental bills introduced into the State of Florida legislative session and advocacy where appropriate
  • Meet with local political leaders and attend League Lobby Days in Tallahassee
  • Advocacy for electrification of transportation
  • Advocacy for GRU to create new revenue streams and end reliance on expanding natural gas use

Recent Successes

Active Collaborations

  • League of Women Voters of Florida (LWVFL) Natural Resources Committee, all NR Committee Chairs statewide participate
  • NR Regional Working Group, a subgroup of especially zealous NR chairs in the state
  • North Central Florida Climate Action Team, a group of local environmental activists
  • NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Committee, a subcommittee of NAACP dedicated to clean air and water and healthy food
  • Suwannee-St. Johns Sierra Club

How You Can Help

  • Join the League of Women Voters of Alachua County
  • Join the Natural Resources Committee and attend our monthly meetings
  • Volunteer to attend local policy meetings and summarize deliberations
  • Be part of our periodic letter-writing campaigns
  • Contribute Letters to the Editor of The Gainesville Sun
  • Show up

Meetings

Meetings are typically held by Zoom on the 4th Wednesday of each month. Check the calendar for specific dates. Contact the info [at] lwv-alachua.org (Committee Co-Chairs) for more information
Committee Contact
Contact Name: 
Roberta Gastmeyer and Jay Rosenbek
League to which this content belongs: 
Alachua County

All Posts Related to this Committee

Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) Sign brown background with gold logo and brick base with gold letters
News

Gainesville Residents United, Inc. provides updates on the litigation related to Gainesville Regional Utilities.

Right to Clean Water Logo
News

LWV of Florida and Leagues in counties across Florida, including Alachua County, have joined the effort to get a constitutional amendment, called the Right to Clean Water, on the 2024 ballot. We need you!

Powerlines in background with purple overlay and Stop the GRU Takeover Bill text on top
News

The League of Women Voters of Alachua County appreciates that the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee has rightfully expressed concerns about the debt of the Gainesville Regional Utility. Our concern is that a suggested solution is to take management of GRU away from the city. Recently there have been credible reports that Representative Chuck Clemons intends to file a bill that would transmit GRU management to the state. As an organization that supports home rule and democracy with government serving those who are governed, the LWV of Alachua County firmly opposes any such move, as is detailed in the attached letter. 09/20/23 UPDATE: Gaineville Residents United, Inc. provides an update and timeline for the city lawsuit regarding the takeover of Gainesville Regional Utilities.

Map of Lee Property and Hickory Sink
News

The Lee property development effort has now entered what will likely be a protracted and unpredictable final stage. As many of you know, Special Area Planning, required since 2,279 acres of the 3,006 acres of the Hickory Sink Strategic Ecosystem are within the Lee Property, is in three steps as outlined in the article. The League of Women Voters of Alachua County’s Natural Resources Committee will be advocating for a golf course and supporting infrastructure that sets the standard for environmentally conscious courses nationwide. Simultaneously, we will support the search for conservation easement funding.

Three women at LWV table with red table cloth
Event Date: 
Nov 18 2023 10:00 am to Nov 19 2023 05:00 pm
Event location: 

Downtown Gainesville (near The Hippodrome)

LWV of Alachua County is tabling at Gainesville's Downtown Festival and Art Show. Join us to assist attendees with voter registration (training required) and voter education. We will also be collecting petition signatures. 

CCOA Logo of colorful abstract cartoon people figures with CCOA in blue font and Community Coalition for Older Adults in black font below
Event Date: 
Nov 08 2023 01:45 pm to 03:30 pm
Event location: 

Senior Recreation Center

The Community Coalition for Older Adults (CCOA) presents, "Climate Impacts in Alachua County" with Stephen Hofstetter on November 8th at 1:45 p.m. at the Senior Recreation Center, 5701 NW 34th Blvd., Gainesville, Fl 32653.

Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) Sign brown background with gold logo and brick base with gold letters
News

Bryan Eastman provides updates on the takeover of Gainesville Regional Utilities.

Exclamation point inside a red triangle

Action Alerts

The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) will soon be reviewing proposals for the Lee Property. There are upcoming meetings discussing this property and LWVAC encourages everyone to attend any and all of the meetings.

Map of Lee Property and Hickory Sink
News

The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) will soon be reviewing proposals for the Lee Property. There are three upcoming meetings discussing this property and LWVAC encourages everyone to attend any and all of the meetings.

Image of springs with bird in foreground. Text overlay "Natural Resources Committee Meeting"
Event Date: 
Oct 25 2023 05:30 pm

Join the Natural Resources Committee to discuss and take action on issues related to natural resources in Alachua County.

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