HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem V-GTLC Write UpJoin Wisconsin’s Most Innovative
Counties and Municipalities
The Green Tier-Legacy Communities is a network focused on advancing sustainable practices. The
mission of the Charter is to assist municipalities to move faster and to go further with their sustainability
goals. Members work together to share information and work towards sustainable practices. The
network allows for collaborating amongst communities where best management practices and new
techniques are shared. The network also allows for some friendly competition where communities
challenge themselves to become even greater environmental stewards.
Membership:
In the 5 years since the Charter was first developed, membership has grown to include many of
Wisconsin’s most innovative communities and counties. Members include:
Cities: Appleton, Ashland, Bayfield, Eau Claire, Fitchburg, La Crosse, Monona, Middleton, Port
Washington, Sheboygan, and Wisconsin Rapids;
Villages: Weston and Bayside;
Counties: Eau Claire, Bayfield, and La Crosse;
The Wisconsin Counties Association;
1,000 Friends of Wisconsin;
The League of Wisconsin Municipalities;
Wisconsin Counties Association;
Municipal Environmental Group – Wastewater;
Center on Wisconsin Strategy;
Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation;
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Benefits:
Benefits of membership include access to NGO resources, a single point of contact within the DNR along
with agency technical assistance, networking opportunities with municipalities and counties across the
state, access to the monthly Sustainable Strategies Webinar Series for Municipal Professionals, use of
the Green Tier Logo for promotional use, and additional points on grants1. Here are some examples:
Acknowledgement on certain Urban Forestry (UF) grants ranking process. Appendix E, page 26, table 3
describes the ranking criteria in the UF Grant application guide
(http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/UrbanForests/grants/documents/RegularGrantAppGuide.pdf )
Bonus points for members in the Urban Nonpoint Source & Storm Water Management grant evaluation
process. (applicant must affirmatively answer question 6 (proposed project implements a water quality
recommendation from a locally approved resource management plan)
http://dnr.wi.gov/files/PDF/forms/8700/8700-299.pdf?p=q
Additional points awarded from the Wisconsin State Energy Office on the Municipal Energy Efficiency
Technical Assistance Program (MEETAP) grants process.
http://www.stateenergyoffice.wi.gov/section.asp?linkid=1844&locid=160
i Not all members will be eligible for all incentives
Join Wisconsin’s Most Innovative
Counties and Municipalities
Requirements:
There are a few steps that a municipality or county need to do
to join Legacy Communities. Those steps include:
Resolution with their city council expressing intent to
become a Legacy Community;
develop a baseline assessment, using the Green Tier
Legacy Communities Charter’s Best Management
Practices (Appendix 3 Sustainability Strategies Matrix),
Commit to submitting an annual report to document
accomplishments, hurdles and address future goals. To
see examples please go to:
http://greentiercommunities.org/links/non-profit-
annual-reports/
Governance:
Governance decisions and direction are set by all of the Charter participants where each signator is
given an equal vote. Governance of the Charter is directed through quarterly Member’s Meetings.
These meetings are rotated around the state; hosted by participating Legacy Communities.
Current Activities:
Per our member’s direction, task forces have been created to focus on specific issues, strategies and
opportunities. Current topics include:
Healthy Communities – Holistically addresses the health of communities by looking at factors
like city planning, infrastructure, food accessibility, resource allocation and building/leveraging
relations with heath care providers.
Energy – Working to better benchmark energy use, prioritize investments, promote efficient but
low cost strategies and develop guidance to incorporate sustainable practices into capital
investments.
The Green Tier Legacy Communities Charter provides opportunities for face-to-face engagement,
technical sessions and resource sharing; municipalities share and work to foster superior environmental
performance – and maybe a few bragging rights.
For more information on the Green Tier Legacy Communities Charter, please contact Laurel Sukup, at
608-267-6817 or by email at Laurel.Sukup@Wisconsin.gov.
The links to the Legacy Communities Charter websites below contain more details:
http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/greentier/participants/legacycommunities.html
&
http://greentiercommunities.org/
Legacy Community Representatives on a Tour of Ashland