Statewide Engagement to Shape Community Sustainability Policy 2011 RSS-CDS Annual Meeting July 30, 2011

JERRY HEMBD State Specialist Community and Economic Development University of Wisconsin-Extension Associate Professor of Economics Department of Business and Economics University of Wisconsin-Superior Co-Chair University 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 policy o Institutional change – university extension Report /recommendations next steps

Wisconsin Eco-municipalities Town of La Pointe City of Washburn City of Ashland City of Madison City of Bayfield Town of Bayfield Douglas County Village of Johnson Creek City of Marshfield City of Manitowoc City of Neenah City of Menasha Town of Menasha City of Eau Claire Town of Cottage Grove City of La Crosse La Crosse County City of Stevens Point City of Wausau City of Beloit City of Baraboo City of Sheboygan Dunn County Village of Spring Green Village of Colfax Town of Greenville Village 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 peoples 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 Wisconsins 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 Towns o 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 ). 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

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 ( 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 partnerships o Multi-state Sustainable Cities Regional Collaboration

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