Sustainability
Advisory Committee
We’re the on-the-ground experts driving strategy and results. The Sustainable Advisory Committee provides formal advisement to the Town of Eagle. Manages the grant process and assigns funding through a comprehensive process, clear and public facing. Committee of nine, that meets quarterly.
Agendas & Minutes
Q1 - 2025
Q2 - 2025
Q3 - 2025
Q4 - 2025
Q1 - 2026
Q2 - 2026
Coming Soon…
Q3 - 2026
Coming Soon…
Q4 - 2026
Coming Soon…
Ready to Apply for a Grant?
Through the approval of the Sustainability Advisory Committee The Palmer Fund offers over $34,000 in sustainability grants, on a rolling basis throughout the year. This year's grant awards will be determined at the regular SAC Meetings.
Your application shows commitment to sustainability in the Town of Eagle. Please head over to our prospective partners page to learn more about our Scoring Rubric and to find the link to our application.
Scoring Rubric 2026
-
SCORE OF 5 | EXCEPTIONAL
Clear, demonstrated reduction in GHG emissions.SCORE OF 4 | PROFICIENT
Moderate to substantive potential for GHG emissions reduction.SCORE OF 3 | DEVELOPING
Some evidence of GHG reduction potential.SCORE OF 2 | EMERGING
Little potential for GHG emissions reduction.SCORE OF 1 | MINIMAL
No anticipated reduction in GHG emissions detailed. -
SCORE OF 5 | EXCEPTIONAL
Long-lasting, or diverse community involvement/education with a clear plan.SCORE OF 4 | PROFICIENT
Comprehensive community engagement and education strategy.SCORE OF 3 | DEVELOPING
Education and/or engagement strategy is included.SCORE OF 2 | EMERGING
Some components of community engagement and education incorporated.SCORE OF 1 | MINIMAL
Little to no opportunity for community education & awareness. -
SCORE OF 5 | EXCEPTIONAL
Complete budget with high potential for wider economic returns (for residents/local economy).SCORE OF 4 | PROFICIENT
Complete budget with high likelihood of financial returns (for applicant or project beneficiaries).SCORE OF 3 | DEVELOPING
Complete budget with strong financial viability and/or cost-benefit analysis.SCORE OF 2 | EMERGING
Complete project budget is supplied.SCORE OF 1 | MINIMAL
No budget supplied, or project is unlikely to be financially successful. -
SCORE OF 5 | EXCEPTIONAL
Clearly explains how the project advances at least one NAP strategy or contributes to net-zero goals.SCORE OF 4 | PROFICIENT
Directly relates to an NAP strategy or net-zero goal, but with a less clear explanation of advancement.SCORE OF 3 | DEVELOPING
General understanding of NZAP strategies/goals, but alignment is unclear.SCORE OF 2 | EMERGING
Vague understanding of NZAP strategies with little articulation of project advancement.SCORE OF 1 | MINIMAL
No alignment with NAP strategies or goals. -
GHG Reduction Potential: Scoring will consider the cost per metric ton of GHG reduction (for comparison) and be scaled to the funding request (larger requests need greater reduction).
GHG Methodology: A separate checkbox will confirm if the applicant explained their GHG calculation methodology and cited sources:
*GHG calculation methodology is explained within the application, and sources are cited or mentioned.Community Education & Awareness: Scoring will be adjusted based on the funding ask; larger requests will be scored more critically.
Examples of engagement channels include newsletters, social media, press releases, planned events, and staff support.
The Committee
The committee meets for a "SAC lunch" every three months to stir up ideas, vote on funding, and advise the town council.
Tez Hawkins
Planner + Planning Consultant
Tez is a well-respected local planner who has led numerous projects for the Town of Eagle, Eagle County, and as a private consultant. A meticulous researcher, Tez can provide guidance to the SAC around codes and GHG reduction. Tez enjoys superb relationships with elected and staff government officials as well as key partners on the private side. Tez can help us design walkable spaces during development and redevelopment, add a bike path, or predict utility demands. This might help while siting solar + storage, electrifying housing stock, or adding EV chargers. Tez has a strong background in transportation planning.
Kira Koppel
Town of Eagle
Kira was a high performer at Eagle River Water & Sanitation before accepting the first sustainability staff position in the history of Eagle, in 2023. Before that, she advised local businesses on how to incorporate sustainability best practices through the Actively Green Program. She will have an outsized voice when it comes to TOE board approvals and ways the town can achieve NZ2030. She has a great handle on who does what at the town and will keep us above board on any of the governance expectations the town has. Kira organized and executed the town’s first solar array at the water and wastewater treatments facility. She is no stranger to infrastructure stuff and has been a joy to work with in my short time as the APSF Director.
Kate Kirkman
Eagle County
Kate has dedicated her career to fostering a connection between people and their environment, both as a river guide and a science teacher. In 2022, she joined the Eagle County Resiliency Department, where she champions climate action as part of a small but dedicated team. Kate's collaborative approach and successful fundraising efforts support a variety of projects and programs, including the installation of EV charging stations, the launch of ReEnergize Eagle County, and the initiation of timely RFPs. She is keen to engage with the upcoming geoexchange system in Eagle and is poised to support the Town of Eagle in replicating County initiatives while staying actively involved in numerous local and broader sustainability committees and departments.
Gerry Lopez
My Future Pathways
Gerry was raised here in the valley (the eagle valley) and attended BMHS and EVHS. Gerry is finishing an MBA while he mentors full-time at My Future Pathways, and serves on numerous boards that champion Latino opportunities. Gerry will approach climate solutions from the perspective of both cost effectiveness and social inclusivity. Gerry shared, “I am particularly passionate about these kinds of benefits to underrepresented communities, making sustainability a shared and accessible priority.” Gerry is fluent in spanish and can connect the right people with the right opportunities…at the right time. Gerry got a front row seat on the local sustainability machine during a recent WMSC fundraiser.
Gina McCrackin
Climate Action Collaborative
Gina has turned heads as a regional leader and founder of the Regional Climate Solutions group that has secured over $2m for climate actions in Eagle, Garfield and Pitkin counties. This group is bigger than a county but smaller than NWCCOG. It takes advantage of common priorities and strengths of its members. Gina is the Manager of the Climate Action Collaborative and facilitates the implementation of the Eagle County Climate Action Plan, keeping a pulse on the local government drama. Gina has researched and written extensively about the way Indigenous perspectives are underrepresented by western news media. She has one of the best perches in the county when it comes to climate action funding opportunities, feasibility, and impact.
Beth Markham
Town of Vail
Beth is the Environmental Sustainability Manager with the Town of Vail, hired in 2019. She has had a front row seat on the most consistent and effective sustainability staff in the county, the Town of Vail. Beth can help us coordinate events to maximize participation, expand initiatives from up to down valley, and include Eagle in municipal level solutions that matter. Sustainable Destinations, Zero Waste events, Shift Bikes, and many more programs have benefited by Beth’s leadership and passion. Everyone is glad to meet quarterly with Beth because she consistently brings the steady stoke.
Chatam Mayberry
Habitat for Humanity
Bio coming soon.