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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08. 17-123 MARCH 28, 2017 17-123 RESOLUTION (CARRIED 7-0 LOST LAID OVER WITHDRAWN ) PURPOSE: APPROVE PARTICIPATION IN WISCONSIN GREEN TIER CHARTER FOR LEGACY COMMUNITIES REGARDING SUSTAINABILITY INITIATED BY: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WHEREAS, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in partnership with the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, 1,000 Friends of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corp, Center on Wisconsin Strategy, Wisconsin Counties Association and the cities of Appleton, Bayfield, Fitchburg, Middleton, Ashland, Monona, Eau Claire, Bayside, Port Washington, Sheboygan, La Crosse and the Village of Weston have created a Wisconsin Green Tier Charter For Legacy Communities with goals of: 1) To assist (municipalities, counties) in achieving superior environmental performance in one or both of the following two areas: (a) water resource management; (b) sustainability practices; and goals relating to economic development, public health and social equity; and to recognize their efforts and progress; 2) To improve the quality of life and economic vitality of communities; 3) To help (municipalities, counties) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources address wastewater, stormwater, drinking water, wetlands and other water issues in a holistic, watershed-based manner; 4) To assist (municipalities, counties) in preparing, implementing, and improving an overall watershed plan(s) that integrates the municipality's full range of water resources issues; 5) To assist (municipalities, counties) in preparing, implementing and improving over time a sustainability plan that reduces a (municipality's, county's) impact on the environment; MARCH 28, 2017 17-123 RESOLUTION CONTD 6) To facilitate access to state and federal funding for projects and activities related to achieving the purposes of this charter, such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, greenhouse gas reductions, comprehensive planning, transportation policies, and integrated planning for wastewater treatment, storm water treatment and management; and drinking water; 7) To realize taxpayer savings through reduced municipal expenditures on motor vehicles fuels and energy resulting from efficient development patterns; 8) To help (municipalities, counties) comply with various water regulations in a more efficient, cost effective and flexible manner; 9) To achieve other demonstrable and measurable environmental improvements beyond what is required by local, state, or federal law. and WHEREAS, the City of Oshkosh was invited to join in this voluntary program and believes participation will further enhance the City of Oshkosh's current commitments to sustainability, and WHEREAS, the City of Oshkosh will benefit from such a partnership with the Wisconsin Green Tier Legacy Communities Program by receiving positive recognition, gaining access to a DNR staff liaison and their resource team, receiving prioritization in applying for certain grants and streamlining in certain DNR permitting processes, and WHEREAS, by adopting this Resolution the City of Oshkosh agrees to sign and hold to the Green Tier Charter for Legacy Communities, will participate in quarterly meetings, networks and share information with the public and the communities in said Program, and provide an annual report noting the progress in its goals, baselines and sustainability plans. MARCH 28, 2017 17-123 RESOLUTION CONTD NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of Oshkosh that the City hereby accepts membership in the Green Tier Charter and hereby declares itself a signatory to the Wisconsin Green Tier Charter for Legacy Communities and authorizes the appropriate staff to execute any and all documents necessary for purposes of same. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the appropriate staff are directed to assist with meeting the Charter goals and to submit an annual report to the Organizational Signatories. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that upon adoption of this Resolution, the appropriate City staff is hereby directed to send a certified copy of this resolution to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Legacy Communities Green Tier Steering Committee. Mission Statement Our mission is to,help communities across the state ofWisconsin move continuously toward a sustainable future throuigh initiatives,that promote environmentall stewardship,economic growth,public health,and sociall equity. Legacy Communities are Leaders in Sustainable limplemientation The sustalinability movement is dedicated to creating better places for living Sustainability efforts focus on improving the environment,as WeIll as the financiall and sociiall well-being ofcommunities.Many communities in Wisconsin are novo adopting sustainability pil-irciples for their growth management.Most oftlinese communities develop a Smart Growth plain as their foundation. The Legacy Community program works cooperatively with other sustairiiability efforts taking Iplace in Wisconsin.The program uniquely supplements,ongoing sustal efforts i focusing on achievable benchmarks and through raising community awareness of sustainable rai procedures.Legacy Communities can he a good starting point for a community wanding to create a pathway towards sustainabillity. More About the Charter Green Tier Legacy Communities demonstrate leadership in improving the economy,the emeiror ment and the quality of life iin their communities.Moving forward,we will be continuously work!ng to increase the number of municipalities participating in thlis innovative program. 1000 Frien is of Wisconsin announced the formation of the Charter in December 2010.lit was signed by the DNIR:1000 Friends of Wisconsin; League of Wisconsin,MUrildpalitiES;Mur cilloal Ervironmentall Group-Wastewater;Center on Wisconslir,Strategy and Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corp.They aligned their efforts in support of Sustainable Community development;dvorkiing together with the Cities of Appleton,Ashland,Bayfield,Bayside,Eau Claire,Fitchburg,La Crosse,Middleton,Moroina,and the Village of Weston. Communities participating in the charter will have direct access to a Wisconsin DNR resource team that will provide technical assistance to communities and act as single(point of contact for All interactions between the community and the delpartrn Pint.Other nongovernmental partners in the charter will allso provide technicall assistance to participating Communities. =111111I i :! ii;:iliii!lllllllllllllllllllmiii'lliillli= s Why Become a Green Tier(Legacy Community? The future of our landscape can be predicted by the health of our communities today.If we value the communities where we live and invest in their future,we will have a place that can proudly he left for future generations.. When our Communiities,deteriorate we hook for new places on the landscape to develolp.This practice typically involves farmland lost to subdivisions,new roads to carry more cars and the decay of neighborhoods that are left belhiind.Ilf we cane abouit Wisconsin,we must tend to our neighborhoods. Green Tier Legacy Community Process: 1. develop a plan that enables a continuous improvement process in all proposed action areas. 2. Engage and train employees to facilitate Charter goals and objectives. The"Seven-Step"Process: 1, define charter and planning area boundary 2, Collect,enter and evaluate environmentally related)beinchrmark)data 3. Evaluate current and desiired trends based on city reports and commissions 4. Evaluate current comprehensive(plan in light of current and desired trend Mines 5. develop and implement policies and programs to enable desired trends 6, Evaluate effeetuveness and resullts of programs,and policies 7. Make improvements to goals and programs IMEM Step l: 'SteStep S:ep 3: Step 7: Define your Evalluate Develop New Make Policies Charter Trends Improvements Programs Step 4. Step�: Step 6. Evaluate Collect Evaluate Benchmark Data CampneN7einsive (Results Plla�n Six(Benefits of participating in Legacy Communities: 1. direct access to the(Department of Naturall Resaunces(QNR)expertise and technical assistance 2, Potentpall to receive discretionary funding and preference in awarding state grants 1 Creates a forum to be recognized for achievements in sustainable development 4. Advances position amongst competitive communities 5, Provides collaboration and information networking with experienced municipalities 6, Allows for"enlightened self interest"