Maricopa County’s significant population growth is historic and well-known. After adding approximately one million people in the 1990s, the County added another one million people in the first decade of this century. With a current population over four million and long-term projections showing the population nearly doubling again in less than 40 years, it is clear that strategies to help maintain a vibrant quality of life will be even more important in the future. An important part of these strategies will be maintaining a healthy and sustainable environment. Recognizing the relationship between a healthy environment and the County’s long-term success, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors directed County departments to prepare and implement a long-term strategy whereby the County will improve the quality of life for both the residents and employees, save money, and help protect the region’s delicate Sonoran desert. Several months of collaboration and coordination between its departments and community stakeholders has resulted in a new and innovative plan known as the Maricopa County Green Government Program 3.0. Since the program’s beginning in 2008, a new program has been developed every two years. The County is currently on version three of the program. Visit the website here to learn more. You can also follow their twitter here. Click here to view the 2012 advancement report.

Meet your local sustainability manager! About Jonce Walker, Sustainability Manager, Maricopa County

Jonce Walker, a LEED Accredited Professional, and a Certified Sustainable Building Professional, is the Sustainability Manager for Maricopa County Arizona which employs over 14,000 people and is the 4th largest County in the United States. Jonce developed and manages the Maricopa County Green Government Program, a comprehensive policy document designed to lead by example in furthering regional sustainability. Jonce is also responsible for interacting with the sustainable business community and continuing to transition the County towards more energy efficiency and sustainable business practices. Additionally, Jonce manages the Green Government Council, a group of Maricopa County management representing various internal departments in their sustainability efforts.

Jonce currently serves on the steering committee of the Sustainable Cities Network through ASU, on the Sustainable Communities Collaborative, and on the Sustainable Advisory Committee for the City of Phoenix Mayor’s Office. Jonce previously served on the Livable Communities Coalition through the Sonoran Institute, the Local Advisory Committee for LISC, the Vice Chair on the GreenBuild 2009 Legacy Committee, a Member at Large on the Board of Directors for the Phoenix Green Chamber of Commerce, and a Member at Large on the Board of Directors for Keep Arizona Beautiful. He provided the Network with the following insights on program successes, highlights, challenges, and takeaways for cities:

Program Successes and Highlights:
- LEED Silver certified building minimum for all new buildings. This has been in place since 2009.
-The largest PV solar array in downtown Phoenix at 580 KW.
-Revenue positive single stream recycling program in most of our buildings.
-The Maricopa County Planning and Development Department has amended the Zoning Ordinance to be more solar friendly.
-Maricopa County has adopted an Environmentally Preferred Purchasing Policy. This was adopted in 2010.
-Bike lockers and numerous covered bike racks have been installed at several downtown county buildings.
-One of the largest solar thermal hot water systems in the country has been installed.

Challenges
“Some of the largest challenges continues to be creating a true sustainability culture within an organization of 14,000 employees. We have completed some very impressive sustainability related actions in the past five years but my desire is for these to become common sense strategies and not exceptions to business as usual. I want the pursuit of true sustainability first and foremost as business as usual.”

Takeaways/Lessons Learned
-Create policy that will benefit specific departments from a triple bottom line perspective and be able to articulate that.
-Create policy and build buildings that benefits people first.
-Discover your true internal sustainability champions and tap that resource to make improvements.
-Realize that you will not get it perfect and remember the saying “perfect is the enemy of good”.

• Climate neutrality
• Zero waste
• Active engagement
• Principled practice

Download a PDF of the pamphlet from this Web page , or view a virtual version of the pamphlet on this Web page.

Please visit sustainability.asu.edu/practice to learn more about the university’s sustainability goals and how individual ASU community members can help ASU achieve climate neutrality.

Find the source of this article at this link.

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized Arizona State University’s Sustainable Cities Network and its efforts in educating and promoting sustainability throughout the state.

On March 4, Jared Blumenfeld, the EPA’s Region 9 administrator and former director of the San Francisco Department of the Environment, presented the Network’s program manager Anne Reichman with the Pacific Southwest Region’s 2012 Green Government award at ASU’s Global Institute of Sustainability.

Reichman says the past four years have been busy for the Network, and collaborations outside of Phoenix have increased.

“The Network shows what can happen when organizations and individuals come together and focus on the positives and the things they share in common,” says Reichman. “Sustainability is a very broad topic so it’s exciting to convene the cities on some very specific areas such as solar and energy efficiency.”

The Network was developed as a program within the Global Institute of Sustainability in response to challenging sustainability issues surrounding Arizona. Through local partnerships, the Network brings together experts, community members, tribal leaders, and city officials to gather lessons learned and share them with neighboring cities. Work groups collaborate on sustainability issues such as solar installation, urban heat island mitigation, city-wide recycling initiatives, and neighborhood design.

“Sustainability is really about where you live,” says Blumenfeld. “And the network that’s been created from in and around metro Phoenix is really a testament to what the Sustainable Cities Network has been willing to do, and also a testament to ASU’s work in the community and ability to think about not just global issues, but local issues.”

Since the Network’s inception in 2008, volunteers have connected with local and tribal sustainability practitioners from more than 25 jurisdictions and Maricopa County. The Network is an excellent example of ASU leveraging its place and supplying research to surrounding communities.

“It’s nice to see the cities use the Network as a vehicle by which they can share what they’ve learned,” says Reichman.

Since 1999, the EPA has acknowledged scientists, organizations, teachers, journalists, and others for their significant contributions to “protecting public health and preserving our natural surroundings” through its Environmental Awards.

Together, the EPA and the Sustainable Cities Network provide real-world solutions in ways that are applicable, adaptable, and resourceful.

Click here for the article source.

Click this link to view an ASU News video feature on SCN and the EPA award.

Join us as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 Administrator Jared Blumenfeld presents ASU’s Sustainable Cities Network with the EPA’s Environmental Award for Green Government.

This award recognizes programs that promote collaboration, cost-savings, and sharing of best practices with other governmental organizations. Share in the success of the Sustainable Cities Network at the award presentation.

As former director of San Francisco’s Department of the Environment, Jared Blumenfeld focused on environmental-justice issues, working with residents and businesses, other city agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community groups to promote air quality, food availability, renewable-energy systems, sustainable land use, and greenhouse gas reduction. He joined the U.S. EPA in 2010.

Parking is available at the Fulton Center garage on the northeast corner of University and College Avenue. Your ticket can be validated at the event.

Monday, March 4, 2013
3:30 – 4:15 p.m.
Wrigley Hall, Room 481
Arizona State University, Tempe campus
(refreshments will be provided)

Please RSVP here: http://sustainability.asu.edu/events/rsvp/epa-green-government-award

City of Phoenix: Planning the Urban Forest Lysistrata Hall, City of Phoenix
“Speak for the Trees”: Developing a Tree and Shade Plan, Richard Adkins, City of Phoenix
From Quartzsite to Phoenix, You Too Can Become a Tree City USA, Donna DiFrancesco, City of Mesa
It Takes a Village to Plant Trees (And Grants Help), Joanne Toms, City of Glendale
Green Infrastructure and the Urban Forest – Thinking Outside the Planter Box, James DeRoussel, Watershed Management Group

Resource Group Presentations

Urban & Community Forestry –Arizona State Forestry: Alix Rogstad, Program Manager; Tree City USA, Federal and State Grants
Arizona Community Tree Council: Heilee O’Quinn, Community Development; Membership Benefits, Certified Arborist Training, Tree Care Workshops
Valley Permaculture Alliance: Debbie Fishell, Shade Tree Program Director; APS and SRP Shade Tree Programs
Susan Chase, Communication and Education Director; Plant Something campaign, Container Grown Tree Guide
Janet Waibel and Judy Gausman, Sustainable Landscape Management Certification Program

March 27th 2013, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

1 E. Main St., Mesa, AZ 85201

Outcomes:
-Provide municipal and tribal communities with steps that can be taken to develop a Tree and Shade Plan.

-Show how a Tree and Shade Plan ties into general plans, compliance issues, heat island concerns and Low Impact Development (LID).

-Demonstrate local success stories through presentations from other communities.

-Offer communities the available Tree and Shade Plan resources.

View the flyer for the event here.

Agenda:

7:30-8:00 a.m.: Registration, networking and refreshments

8:00-8:15 a.m.: Welcome, Anne Reichman, Program Manager – ASU’s Sustainable Cities Network; Dave Richins, Councilmember, City of Mesa

8:15-9:30 a.m.: “Speak for the Trees”: Developing a Tree and Shade Plan, Lysistrata Hall, Richard Adkins, City of Phoenix

9:30-9:45 a.m.: Break, refreshments, visit resource booths

9:45-10:00 a.m.: From Quartzsite to Phoenix, You Too Can Become a Tree City USA, Donna DiFrancesco, City of Mesa

10:00-10:20 a.m.: It Takes a Village to Plant Trees (And Grants Help), Joanne Toms, City of Glendale

10:20-11:00 a.m.: Green Infrastructure and the Urban Forest – Thinking Outside the Planter Box, James DeRoussel, Watershed Management Group

11:00 a.m.-Noon: Growing Connections to Achieve Goals: Tree and Shade Plan Resources
-Urban & Community Forestry –Arizona State Forestry: Alix Rogstad, Program Manager; Tree City USA, Federal and State Grants
-Arizona Community Tree Council: Heilee O’Quinn, Community Development; Membership Benefits, Certified Arborist Training, Tree Care Workshops
-Valley Permaculture Alliance: Debbie Fishell, Shade Tree Program Director; APS and SRP Shade Tree Programs
-Arizona Nursery Association: Susan Chase, Communication and Education Director; Plant Something campaign, Container Grown Tree Guide
-Arizona Landscape Contractors Association: Janet Waibel and Judy Gausman, Sustainable Landscape Management Certification Program

Noon-1:00 p.m.: Lunch, networking, visit resource booths

Sponsorship Opportunity:

The anticipated attendance for this workshop is between 50-70 municipal employees and/ or tribal community members. Sponsorships are available and sponsors will receive recognition on promotional materials at the workshop.

-Morning refreshments sponsor: $400-$500

-Lunch sponsor: $500-$800

*For more information on the workshop and/or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Donna DiFrancesco at (480) 644-3334 or at Donna.DiFrancesco@mesaaz.gov.

Presentations
-Brad Lancaster, Regenerative Rights-of-Way: Local Harvests and Enhancements in Our Community Commons
-Eileen Dunn, LID and MS4 Stormwater Permit Nexus
-Kimberly Brewer, Implementing Existing LID Tools for the Community and Region
-Jenna Cleveland, Water Resources Research Center: Utility Guide to Rainwater and Stormwater Harvesting
-James DeRoussel, Community Based Green Infrastructure in Arizona’s Public Rights-of-Way
-Grant McCormick, LID Examples in Public Settings
-Tom Kaczmarowski, Permeable/Porous Pavement
-Richard Adkins, The Urban Forest Resource: A Critical Component of Developing Sustainable Infrastructure and Healthy Living

Date: Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Time: 8:30am-4:00pm
Location: Glendale Public Library Main Auditorium
5959 West Brown Street, Glendale, AZ 85302

Who Should Attend?
Municipal professionals in storm water management, engineering, planning, landscape architecture, parks and recreation, and other departments associated with infrastructure management.

What is LID?
Low Impact Development (LID) is comprised of a set of site-design approaches and small-scale practices to manage, capture, and infiltrate storm water for beneficial use as close to its source as possible. A good LID plan provides integrated solutions to reducing storm water pollutants, improving water quality and watershed conditions, and preserving trees and natural vegetation. Ideally, LID would decrease the cost of municipal storm water infrastructure and help preserve and/or enhance our urban green spaces.

Why Attend?
Within the next 5 years most cities in the Valley will be required to submit LID plans as a part of their storm water permitting process. A good municipal LID plan requires the cooperation of many internal and external development-related professionals and departments. This one-day workshop provides the opportunity for you to enhance your understanding of LID and to network and learn from other professionals working in our region.

Preliminary Agenda
8:30 – 9:00 Registration and Refreshments

9:00 – 9:15 Welcome

9:15 – 10:00 Keynote speaker – Brad Lancaster, Designer, Consultant and Co-founder of Desert Harvesters non-profit organization.

10:00– 10:30 What is LID? Why is it Important regionally?
Eileen Dunn, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

10:30-10:45 BREAK

10:45– 12:00 Existing Regional Tools
Kimberly Brewer, Tetra Tech – examples from San Diego to Phoenix
Jenna Cleveland, Graduate Student, The University of Arizona, Water Resources Research Center – Tool kit

12:00 – 1:00 LUNCH

1:00 – 1:30 ROW Examples
James DeRoussel, Watershed Management Group

1:30 – 2:00 Public Facility Examples
Grant McCormick, Campus Planner, The University of Arizona

2:00 – 2:30 Permeable Paving Examples
Glendale Park & Ride – Tom Kaczmarowski,Sr. Civil Land Development,Engineer, City of Glendale

2:30 – 2:45 BREAK

2:45 – 3:15 Urban Forest and Urban Heat Island
Richard Adkins, Parks and Recreation Department, Forestry Supervisor, City of Phoenix

3:15 – 4:00 Barriers & Solutions Panel Discussion
Maintenance – Irene Ogata, Urban Landscape Manager, City of Tucson
Watershed Management Group – James DeRoussel
Codes / ordinances – Tetra Tech – Kimberly Brewer

Stay tuned for more details on the workshop and CEU/PDU opportunities.

To register early for this free workshop, please email Anne Reichman at scnevents@asu.edu. Seating is limited and attendance will be on a first come, first serve basis. Questions? Please contact Anne Reichman, Program Manager for ASU’s Sustainable Cities Network at anne.reichman@asu.edu/480-965-2168.

This event is sponsored by
-STORM: Stormwater Outreach for Regional Municipalities: azstorm.org

-AMEC: amec.com

-SRP: srpnet.com

-Engineering and Environmental Consultants inc. eec-info.com

-Watershed Management Group watershedmg.org

CEUs Approved for Professionals of:
Arizona Landscape Contractors Association (ALCA)
American Planning Association (APA) – CMs
Association of State Flood plain Managers (ASFPM) – CECs
Western Chapter International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)

CEU Approval Pending for the following organizations:
American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) – CESs

Join The Watershed Management Group on Friday, January 18, 2013 (8am-5pm) to learn hands-on, small-scale urban stream restoration techniques from Van Clothier of Stream Dynamics, Inc. Watershed Management Group is hosting this special 1-day session geared toward property owners and professionals alike. The training will cover how to read and assess landscape form and processes, restoration design and layout, and actual implementation of upland and in-stream restoration features. A locally-sourced, gourmet lunch and snacks are included. More details about the training can be found here.

A bonus 1/2 day workshop will be available to course participants (no additional charge) on Saturday, January 19th, 8am-1pm to complete additional features at the course site under course instructor Van Clothier. This will be a great chance to learn about additional features and put your newly learned skills to work, hands-on.

Continuing Education Options:
• Certified Floodplain Managers can receive 6 core CECs for day 1 and 4 core CECs for the ½ day bonus. Total for both = 10 core CECs.
• Arizona Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects (AzASLA) members can receive CEUs.

Register now to reserve your spot — early registration rate of $75 (just $65 for WMG training alumni,CFMs, and AzASLA members) available through December 10.

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Save the dates – March 15 – 16th, 2013 – WMG’s Community-based Green Infrastructure Training
James DeRoussel, RLA, will be leading a 2-day “How to” course on designing and implementing small-scale stormwater management features known as “green infrastructure”. Green Infrastructure makes use of natural soil and plant processes to filter and absorb stormwater in an urban setting. The training will include how to 1. build local capacity in implementing green infrastructure, 2. identify retro-fit opportunities, 3. design low-cost, multi-benefit systems, 4. address barriers to community adoption of GI, and 5. actually implement a green infrastructure retro-fit. Learn more about the offered training.

Continuing Education Options: Arizona Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects (AzASLA) members can receive CEUs.

Register now to reserve your spot — early registration rate of $95 (just $85 for WMG training alumni, and AzASLA members) available through January 4th, 2013.

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Water Harvesting Certification Course Coming to Phoenix in February – Apply Now for Early Registration Discount!
The most comprehensive water harvesting training in the nation is being offered in Phoenix February 22 – March 2, 2013. Apply by December 10, 2012 to take advantage of the $150 Early Registration Discount and to defray some of the cost of the course for participants in need, we are offering scholarships up to $300.

The certification, led by Watershed Management Group (WMG), includes nine days of training in the assessment, design, integration, and implementation of passive rainwater earthworks, greywater systems, and roof-top rainwater catchment cisterns. This training is only held once a year in Phoenix, and to ensure high quality instruction, the course is limited to 15 participants. Apply now to ensure you can participate!

Applications are processed on a first-come-first-serve basis until January 21st or when the course is full; the regular registration fee is $1,250. Visit watershedmg.org/tech-trainings for more details and to apply.
A Tucson-based Water Harvesting Certification Tucson course will be held April 5 – April 13, 2013. Mark your calendar and apply by January 21st, 2013 to receive the early registration discount.

View the flyer for these classes here.

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Arizona’s desert cities face many unique challenges associated with planning and achieving sustainability, particularly in urban areas. The downturn in the economy coupled with environmental changes and shifts in population and resources create unparalleled obstacles for local cities. What are communities doing to improve their livability in terms of social equity, environmental responsibility, and economic impact considering the current conditions?

Rob Melnick, executive dean of the Global Institute of Sustainability, leads Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell, Mesa Mayor Scott Smith, and Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton in a discussion that addresses the challenges and opportunities that face their respective cities. The mayors’ discussion was coordinated by ASU’s Global Institute of Sustainability and the Sustainable Cities Network.

Critics say the Valley is among the nation’s most unsustainable regions, warning that if the Phoenix metro area continues on its current path it will exhaust its resources and become a mirage in the desert.

On Tuesday, mayors from Phoenix, Mesa and Tempe fought that criticism, touting recent land-planning, conservation and preservation efforts to build a more sustainable region.

The mayoral panel, sponsored by Arizona State University’s Global Institute of Sustainability at Mesa Arts Center, addressed sustainability challenges and opportunities for cities.

Addressing the audience of about 250 people, Mesa Mayor Scott Smith acknowledged that the Valley’s expansive development is a “miracle in the desert.” But he said that responsible land planning can ensure that the region will thrive for future generations.

Smith said Valley cities are working locally and regionally to build more sustainable environments.

That effort has grown in recent years as more residents and municipal leaders say it makes economic sense to conserve and develop sustainable land-use and transit plans.

The urban sprawl that spread throughout the Valley during the real-estate boom is not a sustainable model, he said.

“We’ve gotten a little lazy … recognizing how fragile our lifestyle is,” he said. “We can’t continue (on this path) … and expect us to remain a miracle in the desert.”

Mesa now has city-development and sustainability officials work together to ensure that sustainability is factored into land-planning and growth opportunities.

Smith said it’s important to boost downtown-infill projects because sprawling Valley municipalities can’t afford to provide services across such widespread city boundaries.

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton shot back at one of the region’s biggest critics, Andrew Ross, a professor of social and cultural analysis at New York University.

Ross’s book, “Bird on Fire: Lessons From the World’s Least Sustainable City,” ripped the region for mismanaging the natural flows of the Salt River, for creating a sprawling overpopulated Mecca and for favoring commercial growth over sustainable growth.

Ross singled out Tempe’s man-made Town Lake as a waste of precious water.

Stanton said he is not focused on Phoenix’s standing in national sustainability rankings.

“I don’t particularly care where my city is ranked next to Chicago,” he said. “The question really is, are we doing all we can to advance sustainability?”

Stanton said that Phoenix has an ASU sustainability adviser providing input on land-planning, transit, and other growth and conservation issues.

He said Phoenix has boosted bus and light-rail options as transit alternatives to cars. He also touted historic-preservation and water-conservation efforts.

Stanton said he aims to brand Phoenix as a sustainable city to attract industries expanding or opening new businesses.

The mayors agreed municipalities must create regional-sustainability partnerships.

“The more we work regionally, the more success we’ll have,” Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell said. Mitchell spotlighted Tempe’s efforts to install energy-efficient street lights, a multi-modal transit system and a recycling program.

Noting Tempe’s 175 miles of bike paths, Mitchell said the Valley should consider the benefits of creating a network of connecting bike paths, which would make bicycling a more viable option for people who want to ditch their cars.

Smith said Valley residents travel so much between cities that regional cooperation is essential.

“City lines only exist on maps anymore,” Smith said.

The link to the article can be found here.