Translating sustainability goals into action

1. Scott Turner, AICP, PE
Nitsch Engineering
Thomas Bott, AICP
Kingston, Massachusetts
George C. Homsy, PhD, AICP
Binghamton University
Worcester, Massachusetts
October 20, 2016
Translating Sustainability Goals into Action

2. • Sustainable Communities Division
• Translating a Goal into Action
• Sustainability Survey & Discussion
Agenda

3. Sustainable Communities Division
“The APA Sustainable Communities Division (APA-SCD) supports
planners who are committed to planning for sustainable
communities by integrating all aspects of sustainability into our work
through the combined economic, social, and ecological factors that
shape our communities.”
SCD Leadership is Building the Division
Add Value to Members Planning Efforts

4. Sustainable Communities Division
DIVISIONS
VS.
CHAPTERS

5. Sustainable Communities Division
Executive Committee:
Chair: Scott Turner
Secretary-Treasurer: Jennifer Koch
Incoming Treasurer: Merrill St. Leger Demain
Past Chair: Rob Kerns
Communications & Outreach Ctte Chair: Beth Otto
Policy & Leadership Ctte Chair: Anne Miller
Education & Practice Ctte Chair: Jennifer Koch
Coordinators:
E-Bulletin: Stephanie Weigel
Website & Publications Design: Andrew Parish
Newsletter: Beth Otto, Andrew Parish
Social Media: Kevin Cook
APA Conference Coordinator: Open
Sustainability Champions: Anne Miller
Smart Cities & Sustainability: Rob Kerns
Sustainability Policy Guide: Rob Kerns

6. Sustainable Communities Division
Sustainability Champions:
Scott Edmondson – California
Waverly Klaw – Colorado
Kevin Coyle – Delaware
Rebecca Keifer – Georgia
Malika Hainer & Andrew Meindl – Illinois
B. Scott Southall – Kentucky
Angie Vincent - Massachusetts
John Hoal – Missouri
Marco Velotta – Nevada
Joanna Nadeau – New York
John Zeanah - Tennessee

7. Sustainable Communities Division
• Newsletter Published Twice a Year
• Website
• Over 4200 LinkedIn Members
• Twitter – Up to 1,011
• 1400+ E-bulletin Subscribers
Members – Add your voice online, writing articles & passing on news
LinkedIn
Communicating…to Inform & Promote Dialogue

8. Sustainable Communities Division
Leading…with Local & National Initiatives
• Sustainability Champions
• APA Sustainability Policy Guide Update
• APA Smart Cities & Sustainability Initiative
Members – New leaders wanted to advocate for sustainability
“We want representation and action across
the Country and in each APA chapter”

9. Sustainable Communities Division
Educating…by supporting research and practice-building
• 3rd Annual Awards for Excellence in
Sustainability
• Webinars
• LEED ND Case Studies in Fall Newsletter
• 2015 IUCMA Local Government Sustainability
Survey
Members – Access the latest research & best practices for sustainability
[caption]

10. Sustainable Communities Division
We’re Growing…
• Over 560 SCD Members – Up from 450 in 2015
• 12 Sustainability Champions
• Widening Membership Through Action – New
Volunteers

11. Sustainable Communities Division
Where are we headed…
 Continue Growth
 Expand Membership
 Increase Volunteer Base
 More Webinars
 Increase Sponsorship Prgram

12. Sustainable Communities Division
Why get involved…
Network with professionals across the country who share the
same passion for sustainability issues
Volunteer and become highly involved in the Division at either
the state or national level.
Opportunities include:
• Help with the newsletter
• Help with annual awards
• Assist with communications
• Become involved with the Sustainability Champions program
• Assisting with the national conference
• Opportunities to propose by-right conference session and
facilitated discussions.

13. Sustainable Communities Division
Why get involved…
Divisions provides opportunities for those who want to get
involved.
If you have a great passion or idea and have the time and desire
to Champion that idea, we are all for it and welcome your ideas.

14. ICMA Sustainability Survey 2015
Figuring out what’s happening….

15. ICMA Sustainability Survey 2015
• n = 1,899
• Surveyed all counties, all
municipalities and towns
>25,000, and a 1 in 2.5 sample
of small municipalities
• 22% response rate
• Follow up to 2010
Sustainability Survey
• Funded by USDA

16. Putting it together…
Sustainability Survey 2015
• Some continuity to 2010 Survey
• Focus groups: ICMA, American
Planning Association
• Practitioner interviews
• APA Division input

17. Urban Suburban Rural
N= 1,899
County Municipality
60% council manager governments
Who Answered the 2015 Survey?
Suburban
54%
Rural
31%
Urban
15%
County
22%
Municipality
78%

18. 49% Metro core
28% Suburbs
28% Rural
Sustainability Plans
Has your jurisdiction adopted a sustainability plan?
Yes
31%
No
69%

19. 0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
2010 2015
19%
31%
2010 to 2015 Changes in Planning
Has your jurisdiction adopted a sustainability plan?

20. Priorities more balanced with a sustainability plan.
Community Priorities

21. 77%
50%
56%
46%
43%
36%
25% 25% 25% 27%
31%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Population group
Percentageofrespondents
withasustainabilityplan
Larger Communities are more likely to have a sustainability plan
Sustainability Plans

22. • Do you have a sustainability plan?
• What form does it take? (Stand alone, in comp plan, etc.)
• What challenges did you face drafting and adopting it? How did
you overcome them?
Discussion 1
Sustainability plans

23. Action Groups Items
Percent of
communities
Tracked?
Positive
results
Recycling / Waste mgmt. 10 5% to 66% 45% 85%
Govt. Energy Cons. 15 6% to 64% 29% 91%
Transit / Alt. transport 8 5% to 64% -- --
Land Use 8 1% to 46% -- --
Social Equity 6 12% to 30% 27% --
Water Conservation 5 8% to 27% 22% 72%
Comm. Energy Cons. 10 6% to 24% 8% 59%
Sustainability Actions
• A few others as well
• Total of 80 actions

24. Average Adoption Rate - 2015
80 items
2015
Average
Adoption
Rate

25. 80 items
Average Adoption Rate - 2015
2015
2010
109 items
Average
Adoption
Rate
Average
Adoption
Rate

26. Sustainability plan
6%
8%
8%
9%
14%
14%
17%
18%
28%
35%
45%
49%
63%
64%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80%
Require govt renovation projects be certified green
Generate electricity through waste
Install a geo-thermal system
Require govt construction proj. be certified green
Establish a fuel efficiency target for govt vehicles
Purchase energy star equipment
Install charging stations for electric vehicles
Install solar equipment
More efficient pumps in water or sewer systems
Upgrade traffic signals
Upgrade streetlights or other exterior lighting
Upgrade HVAC
Conduct energy audits
Purchase energy efficient appliances
Energy Projects undertaken by government

27. Percent of
communities
Adopted a climate mitigation plan 6%
Adopted a climate adaptation plan 3%
Local government GHG inventory 14%
Community wide GHG inventory 9%
Local government GHG targets 11%
Community GHG targets 7%
Climate Change Policy

28. • Have you planned (in any document) for a
changing climate?
• What kinds of things are in the plan?
• What challenges did you face drafting and
adopting a climate plan? How did you
overcome them?
Discussion 2
Planning for Climate Change

29. CEO/CAO office
7%
Multiple
departments
9%
Within one
department
9%
Task force
9%
No dedicated staffing,
but have goals
24%
No staffing or goals
42%
24%
This is down a bit
from 2010. When
27% had dedicated
staffing
What are the staff for sustainability?
of local governments
dedicate no human
resources to sustainability
66%

30. • Do you have staff dedicated to sustainability?
• Where are they stationed? What department
do you think they should be in? Why?
Discussion 3
Sustainability Staffing

31. 16%
20%
53%
48%
61%
68%
80%
68%
82%
73%
9%
12%
50%
55%
65%
82%
84%
85%
85%
91%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Climate change adaptation
Climate change mitigation
Provision of affordable housing
Open space/farmland preservation
Environmental protection
Storm water management
Hazard mitigation/evacuation planning
Seeking funding and grants
Economic development
Land use planning/permitting
Departments Coordination Regional Coordination
Breaking through Silos

32. Factors Motivating Sustainability
6%
6%
8%
10%
14%
23%
18%
15%
31%
20%
37%
46%
46%
19%
25%
31%
32%
37%
40%
42%
47%
41%
48%
38%
36%
38%
34%
49%
42%
39%
33%
26%
31%
28%
18%
24%
17%
12%
10%
42%
20%
20%
19%
15%
12%
10%
10%
11%
8%
8%
6%
6%
0% 50% 100%
Threat of lawsuits
Pressure from advocacy groups
Desire to promote social equity
Pressure from business/industry
Pressure from residents
Federal or state policies
Leadership of regional/state officials
Desire/expertise of municipal staff
Potential to attract development projects
Concern over the environment
Federal or state funding opportunities
Leadership of local elected officials
Potential for fiscal savings
Very Significant Significant Limited significance Not significant

33. 6%
6%
8%
10%
14%
23%
18%
15%
31%
20%
37%
46%
46%
19%
25%
31%
32%
37%
40%
42%
47%
41%
48%
38%
36%
38%
34%
49%
42%
39%
33%
26%
31%
28%
18%
24%
17%
12%
10%
42%
20%
20%
19%
15%
12%
10%
10%
11%
8%
8%
6%
6%
0% 50% 100%
Threat of lawsuits
Pressure from advocacy groups
Desire to promote social equity
Pressure from business/industry
Pressure from residents
Federal or state policies
Leadership of regional/state officials
Desire/expertise of municipal staff
Potential to attract development projects
Concern over the environment
Federal or state funding opportunities
Leadership of local elected officials
Potential for fiscal savings
Very Significant Significant Limited significance Not significant
Factors Motivating Sustainability
Economic factors help drive environmental sustainability

34. 6%
6%
8%
10%
14%
23%
18%
15%
31%
20%
37%
46%
46%
19%
25%
31%
32%
37%
40%
42%
47%
41%
48%
38%
36%
38%
34%
49%
42%
39%
33%
26%
31%
28%
18%
24%
17%
12%
10%
42%
20%
20%
19%
15%
12%
10%
10%
11%
8%
8%
6%
6%
0% 50% 100%
Threat of lawsuits
Pressure from advocacy groups
Desire to promote social equity
Pressure from business/industry
Pressure from residents
Federal or state policies
Leadership of regional/state officials
Desire/expertise of municipal staff
Potential to attract development projects
Concern over the environment
Federal or state funding opportunities
Leadership of local elected officials
Potential for fiscal savings
Very Significant Significant Limited significance Not significant
Factors Motivating Sustainability
Local leadership important

35. 6%
6%
8%
10%
14%
23%
18%
15%
31%
20%
37%
46%
46%
19%
25%
31%
32%
37%
40%
42%
47%
41%
48%
38%
36%
38%
34%
49%
42%
39%
33%
26%
31%
28%
18%
24%
17%
12%
10%
42%
20%
20%
19%
15%
12%
10%
10%
11%
8%
8%
6%
6%
0% 50% 100%
Threat of lawsuits
Pressure from advocacy groups
Desire to promote social equity
Pressure from business/industry
Pressure from residents
Federal or state policies
Leadership of regional/state officials
Desire/expertise of municipal staff
Potential to attract development projects
Concern over the environment
Federal or state funding opportunities
Leadership of local elected officials
Potential for fiscal savings
Very Significant Significant Limited significance Not significant
Factors Motivating Sustainability
Community pressure is not a big motivator

36. Factors Motivating Sustainability
6%
6%
8%
10%
14%
23%
18%
15%
31%
20%
37%
46%
46%
19%
25%
31%
32%
37%
40%
42%
47%
41%
48%
38%
36%
38%
34%
49%
42%
39%
33%
26%
31%
28%
18%
24%
17%
12%
10%
42%
20%
20%
19%
15%
12%
10%
10%
11%
8%
8%
6%
6%
0% 50% 100%
Threat of lawsuits
Pressure from advocacy groups
Desire to promote social equity
Pressure from business/industry
Pressure from residents
Federal or state policies
Leadership of regional/state officials
Desire/expertise of municipal staff
Potential to attract development projects
Concern over the environment
Federal or state funding opportunities
Leadership of local elected officials
Potential for fiscal savings
Very Significant Significant Limited significance Not significant

37. Economy
Environment
Equity
What is sustainability?

38. Economy
Environment
Equity
What is sustainability?
Sustainability

39. Social Equity Still
Not on the Radar
Social Equity and Sustainability

40. • Do your written plans refer to social equity?
• If yes, in what way is the concept mentioned?
• What drove you to include it? Or what slows
you from considering the concept?
Discussion 2
Planning for Climate Change

41. George Homsy
Department of Public Administration
Binghamton University
ghomsy@binghamton.edu
Masters Degree
• Public Administration
• Geography
• Environmental Studies
Master of Sustainable Communities

42. Translating Sustainability Goals into Action
Scott Turner, AICP, PE
Nitsch Engineering
sturner@nitscheng.com
Thomas Bott, AICP
Kingston, Massachusetts
tbott@kingstonmass.org
George C. Homsy, PhD, AICP
Binghamton University
ghomsy@binghamton.edu
Worcester, Massachusetts
October 20, 2016