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

ESC Members

The nine members are appointed by City Council for three-year terms. Volunteers from the community serve as associate members on the subcommittee for Energy Transition, and the Habitat Restoration and Education Task Groups. View the ESC Organizational Chart for additional details.

Staff Liaison

• Kate Walker, Environmental Programs Coordinator

City Council Liaison

• Debbie Hiscott

Planning Commission Liaison

• Cory Weiss

Special Events

• Webinar on Bicycle Infrastructure
  In March 2022, the ESC and CACT jointly hosted a webinar addressing the multiple challenges of building safe bike infrastructure in an already dense urban environment. Local planning experts presented their experience, and a lively panel discussion enabled us to learn from others’ successes and explore how we can effectively implement our community goals for bikeability. A recording of the webinar is available here, and a summary of lessons learned was presented to City Council in a letter from CACT, endorsed and supported by the ESC.
  
  
• Panel Discussion on Sustainable Stormwater and Energy Infrastructure
  In May 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
  In February 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 Clerk’s Office.