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Statewide Engagement to Shape Community Sustainability Policy 2011 RSS-CDS Annual Meeting July 30, 2011
Statewide Engagement to Shape Community Sustainability Policy
2011 RSS-CDS Annual Meeting
July 30, 2011
JERRY HEMBD
State SpecialistCommunity and Economic Development
University of Wisconsin-Extension
Associate Professor of EconomicsDepartment of Business and Economics
University of Wisconsin-Superior
Co-ChairUniversity of Wisconsin-Extension Sustainability Team
In a Nutshell
• Growing and evolving community-based sustainability efforts
• University-led public policy forums• Sustainable Communities a chosen policy theme• Statewide engagement used to guide and shape
forum• Two underlying currents
o State and local policyo Institutional change – university extension
• Report /recommendations next steps
Wisconsin Eco-municipalities
Town of La PointeCity of WashburnCity of AshlandCity of MadisonCity of BayfieldTown of BayfieldDouglas CountyVillage of Johnson CreekCity of MarshfieldCity of ManitowocCity of NeenahCity of MenashaTown of MenashaCity of Eau ClaireTown of Cottage GroveCity of La CrosseLa Crosse CountyCity of Stevens PointCity of WausauCity of BeloitCity of BarabooCity of SheboyganDunn CountyVillage of Spring GreenVillage of ColfaxTown of GreenvilleVillage of Shorewood
Community-based Sustainability Efforts in Wisconsin
• Eco-municipalities and The Natural Step• Transition Towns and the Transition
Movement• ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability• Buy local and the Business Alliance for Local
Living Economies (BALLE)• Energy Independent Communities• Green Tier Legacy Communities• Other efforts
Wisconsin Idea
The Wisconsin Idea signifies a general principle: that education should influence people’s lives beyond the boundaries of the classroom. “The boundaries of the university are the boundaries of the state.”
New “Wisconsin Idea” Forums
The Public Policy Forums focus UW System resources on Wisconsin’s most vexing social, environmental, and economic challenges.
Forum Basics
• UW Colleges/Extension queued up for third Forum – Building Sustainable Communities
• Forum set for March 2010 at UW-Fox Valley• Regional roundtables engagement to guide
process• Post-forum web-based input• Post-forum document and recommendations• Post-forum educational programming and
involvement
Regional Roundtables
• Central Wisconsin February 26
• De Pere March 2
• Southeast Wisconsin March 2
• Chequamegon Bay March 3
• Chippewa Valley March 3
• Rhinelander March 5
Roundtable Agenda content
• Why are we here today? o Background on roundtables and forum
• Why are we talking about sustainability? o Sustainability basics
• How are sustainability questions being approached and responded to at the community level? o The Natural Step and Transition Townso Community engagement
Roundtable Questions process
1. What policies are hindering local sustainability efforts?
2. What policies are helping sustainability efforts?
3. What additional policies are needed to support sustainable communities in Wisconsin?
Community Engagement
• Modeling sustainability physical design• Cultivating community connections social
capital• Localizing economic production
relocalization• Mobilizing community funds finance• Mobilizing society broader sustainability
efforts Source: Assadourian, E. (2008). Engaging communities for a sustainable world. In G. Gardner & T. Prugh (Project Directors), 2008 State of the World: Innovations for a Sustainable Economy (pp. 151-65). New York: W.W. Norton & Company.
Themes
1. Policies that promote more sustainable patterns of land use and urban form
2. Policies that improve government leadership on sustainability issues including leading by example, transparency, and efforts to green government
3. Policies that encourage more inclusive, responsive, and sustainable decision making
4. “Stick and carrot” policies to encourage more sustainable practices
Themes
5. Economic development policies that encourage more local production and consumption
6. Policies that promote sustainability education and celebrate community
7. Policies that lead to more sustainable transportation systems and regional cooperation
8. Policies that encourage clean energy and energy conservation, or reduce waste
Forum Agenda content
• Provost of UW-Extension as MC• David Morris (ILSR) keynote (New Rules)• Wisconsin Community Case Studies
Chequamegon Bay, Neenah, and La Crosse• Out-of-state Case Studies
Duluth, MN; Northfield, MN; and Greensburg, KS• Satya Rhodes-Conway (COWS) keynote• Overview of Roundtables and results• Michael Dombeck (UWSP GEM) keynote
UW-Extension
• Cooperative Extension• Continuing Education, Outreach and E-
Learning• Broadcast and Media Innovations • Entrepreneurship and Economic Development
Forum Agenda content
• Provost of UW-Extension as MC• David Morris (ILSR) keynote (New Rules)• Wisconsin Community Case Studies
Chequamegon Bay, Neenah, and La Crosse• Out-of-state Case Studies
Duluth, MN; Northfield, MN; and Greensburg, KS• Satya Rhodes-Conway (COWS) keynote• Overview of Roundtables and results• Michael Dombeck (UWSP GEM) keynote
Forum Questions process
1. Building on what we have learned and heard from the roundtables, is there anything missing from the list of policy options/ideas for this theme?
2. Which ideas/policies have most promise? Select the best policy ideas from the Theme worksheet. Then evaluate each idea using these three questions:
a) How do you see it moving us in the direction of sustainability?
b) What other actions or steps does it provide for as a platform in the future?
c) What kind of returns do you see from implementing this policy?
Web-based Input
• Widely circulated message and link• Additional ideas• Prioritization or ranking of ideas
www.capacitycenter.org
Sustainable Community Policies
• Description• Why it is important• What is working• What is hindering• Recommendations
Sustainable Community Policies
1. Promoting more sustainable patterns of land use and urban form
2. Improving government leadership on sustainability and sustainable decision making
3. Economic development policies encouraging more local production and consumption
Sustainable Community Policies
4. Promoting sustainability education and local engagement
5. Leading to more sustainable transportation systems and regional cooperation
6. Encouraging clean energy, water conservation and waste reduction
Current Steps
• Posted on Capacity Center (www.capacitycenter.org)
• Contacted Roundtable and Forum participants• Contacted broader participant lists• Shared findings with Legislature
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Next Steps
• Let legislative dust settle • Follow-up local events • UW-Extension Sustainability Initiative• Educational resources and programming
o Foundations of Practice Sustainable Communities curriculum
• Continue to collaborate and build partnershipso Multi-state Sustainable Cities Regional Collaboration
