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

Three women at LWV table with red table cloth
Event Date: 
Apr 15 2023 12:00 pm to 06:00 pm
Event location: 

Depot Park

Unfortunately, due to a lack of volunteers, LWVAC will not be attending this event. 

Image of springs with bird in foreground. Text overlay "Natural Resources Committee Meeting"
Event Date: 
Apr 26 2023 05:30 pm

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

Image of springs with bird in foreground. Text overlay "Natural Resources Committee Meeting"
News

On February 22, 2023, Alachua County Commissioner Anna Prizzia spoke with the LWV of Alachua County Natural Resources Committee about how the increased surtax to support Wild Spaces & Public Places will be distributed; more generally on the preservation of environmental and agricultural lands in the county; and on the importance of local agriculture and the infrastructure to support it. A recording of the meeting is now available.

Image of springs with bird in foreground. Text overlay "Natural Resources Committee Meeting"
Event Date: 
Mar 22 2023 05:30 pm

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

Supreme Court Panel
Event Date: 
Mar 02 2023 01:30 pm to 04:00 pm
Event location: 

Santa Fe College

You may have heard that the LWV of Alachua County and Santa Fe College Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences are co-hosting an in-person panel discussion regarding the U.S. Supreme Court Case, Moore v.

People signing petitions at display table with blue table cloth
Event Date: 
Feb 25 2023 09:30 am to 01:00 pm
Event location: 

Various

LWV of Alachua County is joining LWVFL in supporting the Florida Right to Clean Water campaign (RTCW), which is a constitutional amendment to clarify our priorities and a civil action to enforce our right to clean and healthy waters.

black and white pencil drawing of a woman's head looking off to the right
Event Date: 
Feb 19 2023 02:00 pm
Event location: 

Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center

LWV of Alachua County is joining LWVFL in supporting the Florida Right to Clean Water campaign (RTCW), which is a constitutional amendment to clarify our priorities and a civil action to enforce our right to clean and healthy waters.

LWVStPete Clean Water Zoom 230215
Event Date: 
Feb 15 2023 05:30 pm

The League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area and League of Women Voters of North Pinellas County are hosting a virtual event on the Right to Clean Water campaign on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Learn about the campaign to amend the Florida Constitution with a fundamental 'Right to Clean & Healthy Waters'. The speaker is Joe Bonsai, Chair of SWFL Regional Director, Florida Rights of Nature Network. RSVP to request a zoom link.

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.

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