Overview

The Environmental Sustainability Council (ESC), formerly known as the Falls Church Recycling and Litter Prevention Council, was established in 1989 for the purpose of planning and promoting a comprehensive program of recycling and litter prevention activities. As it expanded and evolved, the ESC and its subcommittees have increasingly addressed a wide range of environmental and sustainability issues important to the quality of life in our community. Areas of focus include:

• Climate, Air and Energy
• Stormwater, Streams, and Natural Springs
• Urban Forest and Biodiversity (working with the Urban Forestry Commission)
• Consumption and Waste
• Community involvement

Meetings

• Environmental Sustainability Council
  • 7:30 p.m., third Thursday of each month, excluding August
• Energy Transition Subcommittee
  • 7:30 p.m., first Thursday of each month, excluding August
• Education Task Group
  • Scheduled as needed
• Habitat Restoration Task Group
  • Scheduled as needed and for events; see Environmental Volunteer Opportunities for more information.

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.
View All Agendas and Minutes
 

ESC Members

The nine member Environmental Sustainability Council (ESC) is appointed by City Council for three-year terms, with the City's Environmental Programs Coordinator serving as Staff Liaison. Volunteers from the community serve as associate members on the subcommittee for Energy Transition, and the Habitat Restoration and Education Task Groups. View our ESC Organizational Chart for additional details.

 

Liaisons

• Staff: Kate Walker, Environmental Programs Coordinator
• City Council: Dan Sze
• Planning Commission: Tim Stevens 

Special Events

Panel discussion on Sustainable Stormwater and Energy Infrastructure

On May 24, 2018, the ESC hosted a follow-up to our February 2018 panel discussion on sustainable and resilient development at the West Falls Church site.  Sustainable infrastructure has the potential to create value and reduce risks for this project and the City as a whole - and must be included at the earliest stages of project planning to be effective. This second panel addressed two important environmental impacts and opportunities in depth: sustainable stormwater capture and sustainable energy infrastructure.

Review the presentations and watch a video of the event online.

Panel discussion on Resilient, Sustainable Development for the West Falls Church Economic Development Project

On February 15, 2018, the ESC hosted a panel discussion to engage City decision-makers and the broader community in a discussion of how the City can integrate environmental and economic sustainability principles into the West Falls Church Economic Development Project, driving resilient development, maximizing environmental benefit, creating place and reducing financial risk.

The panel was recorded and is available to watch on YouTube.

Green Schools Panel

To contribute to community discussion of the November 2017 high school bond referendum, the City of Falls Church Environmental Sustainability Council (ESC) hosted a green schools panel at its October 2017 meeting. With this panel, the ESC sought to engage decision-makers, the community and sustainable buildings experts in a discussion of how the Falls Church City Public Schools system can incorporate high performance, low environmental impact design into its facilities, maximizing benefit to the entire school community.

A summary of the discussion is available for download.

Letters and Reports to Council

Periodically, the ESC is comments to City Council or other bodies regarding ordinance changes, commercial development applications, or environmental issues. The ESC has provided multiple comment letters. Click each link below to read the comment letters. To view letters from previous years submitted to City Council, contact the City Clerks' office.