Sept-Oct 2020 / Volume 20 / Issue 4
City of Elk Grove
NEWSLETTER Erase Food Waste “Don’t waste food.” It’s something we’ve all been told, or told someone else, and yet the average American household spends more than $1,800 per year on food that is thrown away. In fact, Californians throw more than 30 percent of their food in the trash. Food waste is bad for the environment and air quality. The City is taking steps to “Erase Food Waste” by launching a long-term education and awareness campaign that will support statewide efforts to cut down on food waste. A few simple changes will help you save money, reduce food waste, and divert food waste from the landfills. • Shop smart. Plan ahead, make a list, and buy only what you need. • Eat perishables first. Save canned or frozen options for when fresh food is gone. • Eat your leftovers. Look for ways to incorporate leftover ingredients into other dishes for a fresh take on what’s left in the fridge. • Don’t let good food go to waste. Donate to the Elk Grove Food Bank. • Learn to compost. The City and Elk Grove Community Garden offer free composting classes. Taking steps to reduce and eliminate food waste can offer many positive impacts to our community. To learn more about ways to Erase Food Waste, visit elkgrovecity.org/recycle.
INSIDE:
Page 2 • Introducing NeighborGood Market
Planning for Housing for All
• The Preserve at District56
ENGAGE
The housing crisis is impacting Elk Grove—affecting many of the people working in jobs that support Elk Grove’s quality of life. People like retail clerks, preschool teachers, landscapers, truck drivers, medical assistants, EMT/paramedics, mail carriers, administrative assistants, electricians, and auto mechanics earn between $25,750 to $66,900 annually, making it difficult to find affordable housing. Their housing choices are limited considering Elk Grove’s median home price of $450,000, and often requires them to spend more than fifty percent of their income on housing. As a community, Elk Grove is stepping up to help with an updated plan for housing. Part of the City’s General Plan, the housing plan is updated every eight years. It identifies ways the City can support housing development and, most importantly, designates sites that allow for different types of housing for the full range of incomes. Selecting these sites, particularly those that might support lower income households, is a challenging task. The City needs your help! What sites would you select and how would you allocate them across the City? Would you increase density on some of the existing sites? The draft housing plan will be ready for public review and comment in early 2021. Share your input by using the City’s interactive site feedback tool by visiting elkgrovecity.org/housingelement. This feedback will be considered as the City develops the overall Draft Housing Plan, which is expected to be released in early 2021.
elkgrovecity.org
• Recognize Those Who Go Above and Beyond Page 3 • Elk Grove Police Department: Combining Compassion and Care • National Night Out • Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence • Your Guide to Elk Grove Services Page 4 • Military Street Banner Program • Region Prepares Groundwater Sustainability Plan • Presidential General Election • Book Your Event Venue Tour