Laserfiche WebLink
CITY OF SOUTH BEND j OFFICE OF THE CLERK <br /> that I covered in the inventory last week. Although we won't know what the South Bend specific <br /> strategy will be, I do have some resources from 2018 that have done a literature review of what <br /> other communities have done. They have good executive summaries which I have prepared for <br /> you, but you can also read the full report by following the links in the slide of the presentation. It <br /> is really just a list of the types of strategies that cities are commonly considering to give you a <br /> sense of where our Climate Action Plan might end up. I talked a little bit about prioritizing <br /> strategies and it is a lot harder to do that when you have a long list,but there are going to be factors <br /> that we should consider. First(1St) and foremost, is the strategy that we're considering going to be <br /> effective in reducing emissions and how much emissions reduction should we expect? Is it <br /> feasible? Can we get it off the ground with existing resources and partners, or is it going to take a <br /> lot of development or some major funding rocks to be overturned? Can we tweak existing policies <br /> and programs to make the solution low cost, or is it going to require a significant investment like <br /> a construction project? Then also thinking about what the financial impact will be on individuals <br /> and businesses. We want to make sure any time you're doing a plan, and I know that the Council <br /> reviews several plans,but anytime you are doing a plan it is an opportunity to align with other City <br /> priorities. I would think about storm water management,providing mobility for all kinds of people, <br /> workforce development and supporting new industries that are growing here in South Bend, <br /> ensuring quality neighborhoods. So, one (1) of our priority filters can be the other things that are <br /> important to the Council and to the Administration. It's always important to hold an equity lense. <br /> Does the strategy that we're selecting better the lives of the most vulnerable and reflect the assets <br /> that the neighborhoods bring to the table? Does it address the needs that the community has <br /> highlighted that they are experiencing? So, it can be very reflective of the truths that are brought <br /> to us by area residents and businesses, and I think that will make it a stronger, less painful process <br /> for everyone. <br /> She continued, In order to get to this short list of really effective strategies, we want to weigh and <br /> consider all of these things. We'll develop that process with the consultant,but I just wanted to let <br /> you know that this is where I am thinking of prioritizing what we should be considering in our <br /> prioritization, and I would be open to adding others. The last thing I wanted a couple of things <br /> beyond how we would actually do this to prepare for the future, we may see recommendations for <br /> everything from low-cost educational programs to brand new City ordinances. South Bend's <br /> approach should be measured to make sure we understand the costs and benefits of each, and I <br /> have a diagram to help us visualize that this could be a phased approach. We have already covered <br /> a lot of the fundamentals. We've looked at our operational emissions, we've done our inventory, <br /> we're going to be setting goals and making commitments. That is the foundation, and we have <br /> already checked,or are checking,a lot of those off. Some of the others will be an easier lift because <br /> we can use existing policy tools and the established authority that the Administration and the <br /> Council has. We should focus on our biggest sources of community emissions, but we can use a <br /> lot of the tools in our toolbox already. Planning and zoning, Public Works investments, Parks, <br /> VPA and tree canopy projects,the massive stormwater infrastructure investments that we're going <br /> to be making, and the economic development tools that we commonly use already. We don't <br /> necessarily have to build something brand new to be able to get started with climate action, it can <br /> be tweaks to existing. Now, there are some things that other communities have tried that can be <br /> extraordinarily impactful that require more consideration and more planning. Any new policies or <br /> significant expansion of existing policies,incentive programs that are extremely effective but need <br /> a funding source, public private partnerships are a huge opportunity and an area of strong interest <br /> to many cities as you'll see from the U.S. Conference of Mayors Report. Advocacy, which would <br /> involve working with regulators to help remove some of the barriers that keep us from making <br /> EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT <br /> 455 County-City Building 1227 W.Jefferson BvId South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 I I D574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov <br /> 14 <br />