We continue to be intrigued with how communities are aligning their sustainability goals with their financial realities. How does sustainability compare (and/or compete) with other priorities, and how are communities able to focus spending towards the achievement of sustainability related objectives?

We offer two stories about what we’re learning: one from Boulder, Colorado, and the other currently developing in Edmonton, Alberta. http://fiscalhealthandwellness.blogspot.com/2013/03/city-of-edmontons-pbb-focus-on.html

Through our work in Priority Based Budgeting, what we’re finding is that while so many communities are working to achieve “Results” like Sustainability (Preservation of a Sustainable Environment in the City of Edmonton, AB; Healthy and Sustainable Environment in the City of Sacramento, California; and even Stewardship of the Natural and Built Environment in the City of Walnut Creek, California), we’re also seeing elements of sustainability incorporated into the definitions of “Public Safety” and “Economic” oriented Results.

In other words, the breakthrough we’re witnessing is that some aspects of “sustainability” appear to be intrinsic to how other Results are accomplished – and through the Priority Based Budgeting process we’re able to see how dollars that are invested to achieve one Result are actually leveraged as they influence the achievement of multiple Results. “Bang for the buck?”

Joseph,
I enjoyed viewing your website and gleaned the pubic sector communication and coordination framework diagram to show our internal team as we came up with something very similar. I noticed that your website has not been updated recently...are you continuing to update? Your thought process is a true one and I'd be interested in your progression outside of planning and into community services (particularly in the health and education arenas). Thanks for sharing!

Sergio,

Dubuque has had sustainablity as a top priority for the past 8 years. I am currently in Kansas CIty attending the Annual New Partners for Smart Growth: Building Safe, Healthy, Equitable and Prosperous Communities Conference (where Dubuqe is presenting at three break out sessions). When I return to Dubuque I will send you some information. I also encourage you to contact Tad Mc Galliard, the ICMA Sustainability Director, and City of Dubuque Sustainability Coordinator Cori Burbach (she is off on maternity leave for the next few weeks). Michael Willis is a former ICMA President and is considered the "father"(or "grandfather"" depending on youur age) of sustainability in our profession. Good luck, it is a jouirney well worth taking!

Mike

On our website that's devoted to sustainability practices, you might see something in the materials there that provides some ideas or general direction. Feel free to contact us direct, too. http://www.developforthelongterm.com

Hello to the group.
I would like to initiate a sustainability program in my city, starting with small actions. Could help me starting from their experiences already applied.
Thanks.

I am currently working on a business model to turn specific green urban waste into either raw biomass material or pellets. The project has the potential to divert approx. 1 million tons of waste/year from area landfills. If anyone has an interest or has had experience implementing such programs I would appreciate any insight.

I'm involved with our HUD sustainability grant in Southern Maine and hope to learn more about best practices.

I spent the last 8 years researching the cause of differences in levels of quality of life in cities in order to find an underlying factor which could be applied to other cities in order to improve their quality of life. I found that the difference between cities that succeed and those that do not lies in the percentage of a specific type of individual who lives in that city. These individuals differ from others because of the way that they think. I found that not only is it possible to encourage these types of individuals to locate to your city, but, by providing the right infrastructure it is also possible to encourage a psychological development within the population to generate these vital societal members. Should you be interested, my book is entitled : Inclusivism - The World on the Brink of a Social Revolution and is available through Amazon or through my publisher Trafford.

Mike:

In many cities, fire protection is the second highest cost in general budgets, police protection being the highest. I have written about how cities can maintain adequate levels of fire protection while reducing fire department salaries and pension burdens. Please see my post titled "Sustainable fire protection" at www.fdexcellence.com.

The June edition of PM will be focused on Sustainability. It will contain a number of feature articles, as well as other supporting columns and stories. You can help.

I am writing a feature article with a working title: "Refreshing the Concept of Sustainability as a Core Concept of Local Government Management", and it will take a bigger picture look at the issue.

In February 2007, the ICMA board decided to make sustainability a priority. It directed staff to launch efforts to position ICMA as a leader on the issue.

Five years on, a lot has happened. I'd be interested in your thoughts on sustainability, or any others you may have on the matter:

•What progress have we made as a profession?

•Is it still the issue of our age, or has life passed it by?

•What do you think needs to be done to ensure that it remains at the forefront of what we do a professional local government managers?

Look forward to hearing from you!