Developing Environmental Policy at the Local Level: Charlottes Experience

1
Developing Environmental Policy at the Local
Level Charlottes Experience

• Julie Burch
• Assistant City Manager
• Charlotte, NC
• May 3, 2007

2
Quick Facts about Charlotte

• 2007 664,000
• 950,000 by 2017
• 270 square miles
• 21st largest city in the country
• 5th largest urban area
• 2nd largest banking center
• 11th most active airport

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Charlotte Prouds

• Pro-business and development climate
• Public Private partnerships
• Strong neighborhood identities
• High quality of life
• Stable government Council-Manager form
• AAA Bond Rating

4
Our Environmental Challenges

• Balancing growth and economic development with
  the need to protect and preserve our natural
  assets
• Putting regional collaboration to work
• Finding appropriate level of regulation
• Answering the question who should pay?

5
How Charlotte Impacts the Environment

• Land use and zoning
• Transportation system roads, bikes, pedestrians
  and transit
• Water and wastewater treatment
• Storm water quality and quantity
• Tree canopy
• Solid Waste collection/recycling
• City buildings and fleet
• Leader and participant in regional initiatives

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Policy Framework to Tie the Impacts Together

• Developed a simple framework for Council
  discussion
• Four components air quality, water resources,
  land preservation and energy and resource
  conservation
• Three policy levels compliance, proactive and
  leadership
• Two policy roles community and corporate

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Environment Becomes A City Priority

• April 2006 Council approved Environment as a
  Focus Area
• One of five priorities for City government
• Established City Council Environment Committee

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Bringing Focus Area to Life

• July 2006 Council approved set of Environmental
  Principles
• Direction to staff for drafting the first Focus
  Area Plan
• Principles form basis for specific initiatives,
  measures, targets

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• Charlotte will safeguard the environment,
  balancing environmental health, sound fiscal
  policy and growth

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Five Major Initiatives of Plan

• Support sustainability by making wise decisions
  regarding growth and development
• Protect natural ecosystems and habitats,
  including tree canopy
• Lead by example in City facilities and operations
• Collaborate with local and regional public and
  private partners
• Increase City employees awareness

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Plan Approval and Implementation

• March 2007 Focus Area Plan approved by Council
• Baseline targets in the first year
• Multi-discipline Environmental Cabinet (staff
  team) oversees achievement of targets
• Three green teams to push down and across the
  organization

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Greenhouse Gas Emissions

• Sierra Club Cool Cities Initiative
• Proposed resolution to conduct greenhouse gas
  emissions inventory, City operations
• City Council will consider on May 14

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Developing Environmental Policy Lessons
Learned

• Political climate and timing for local officials
  has to be right
• Global and national attention increases local
  interest
• Need to translate complex subject into everyday
  language
• Process both with elected officials and staff
  is as important as the outcome

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• ???s
• Thank you!