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

Chair: 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 Committee Chair for more information
Hide Committee Contact
Contact Name: 
Roberta Gastmeyer and Jay Rosenbek
League to which this content belongs: 
Alachua County

All Posts Related to this Committee

Image of springs with bird in foreground. Text overlay "Natural Resources Committee Meeting"
Event Date: 
01/24/2024 - 5:30pm

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

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: 
11/18/2023 - 10:00am to 11/19/2023 - 5:00pm
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: 
11/08/2023 - 1:45pm to 3:30pm
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

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

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: 
10/25/2023 - 5:30pm

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

Three women at LWV table with red table cloth
Event Date: 
10/21/2023 - 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Event location: 

Bo Diddley Plaza

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

Pages