Viewpoints of MayorsCities around the Valley are taking diverse steps to make their communities more sustainable. Following are the views of select mayors participating in the Sustainable Cities Network. |
City of Phoenix
The measure of a great city in the future will not be its population or square miles. The greatness of a City will be determined by its ability to sustain a great quality of life. Phoenix is proud to be part of the Sustainable Cities Network — and is leading with 'Green Phoenix' — a 17-point plan which is designed to make Phoenix America's first Carbon-Neutral City — America's Greenest City. Green Phoenix is training unemployed workers to rehabilitate distressed homes for water and energy efficiency. It's converting public outside illumination to very high-efficiency, dark skies compliant lighting. It's expanding our creative recycling private-public partnership to every residence and business in the City. It's developing our canal system for recreation and non-motorized transportation. It's bringing all our public buildings up to new LEED retrofit standards—and painting Phoenix rooftops white. And it's turning Phoenix into a "Solar City". Phil Gordon, Mayor, |
City of Chandler
Chandler is committed to sustainability and doing business in a more environmentally friendly manner. As a member of the Sustainable Cities Network, and in cooperation with Arizona State University, we are working harder than ever to ensure a successful future. Organizationally, we are committed to reducing our usage of energy and we are developing LEED-certified buildings. We are also building on our history of leadership in partnering with emerging technologies as we welcome the solar industry to Chandler. Solar will provide us with a clean and renewable energy source and it will diversify and strengthen the region in terms of sustainable, well-paying jobs. As a state, we must move quickly and in unison to take full advantage of this powerful new resource for energy and jobs. Through collaborations like the Sustainable Cities Network, there is no doubt we will succeed in making Arizona a leader in sustainable technology. Boyd Dunn, President, League of Arizona Cities and Towns and Mayor, |
City of Peoria
Peoria's sustainability efforts are focused on producing both environmental and fiscal benefits while making sure the impact to our residents is positive. We have made great strides in water and energy conservation and in the use of alternative fuels in city vehicles. We also have short-term plans to implement high efficiency lighting in street lights and traffic signals, increase transit options and incorporate more transit-oriented development in our Transportation Plan, and achieve a Tree City USA designation. Future priorities include increasing redevelopment, especially in our downtown; implementing green building standards for future and existing developments; installing solar panels on city parking structures and on city buildings; preserving our desert environment and creating open space in Peoria's residential areas through more active land management; and initiating an ongoing community dialogue on living and growing sustainably. Our greatest challenges will be balancing opportunity costs and prioritizing these efforts. Bob Barrett, Mayor, City of Peoria |
City of Maricopa
A new hub of clean and green industry is emerging in northwestern Pinal County, transforming a traditionally agricultural community into a home for cutting-edge arid-land research, water reclamation facilities, and alternative fuel production. In concert with these innovations, local leadership is embracing the opportunity to build a sustainable community from the ground up. Working with the Sustainable Cities Network will enable the City of Maricopa's government to develop and adopt sustainable practices to ensure the City's economic, social and environmental well-being. Ripe with opportunity in the midst of stunning hypergrowth, Maricopa is a community of committed and caring citizens that are eager for their city to lead the way for these initiatives in Pinal County. Anthony Smith, Mayor, City of Maricopa |
City of Mesa
As part of our efforts to deal with the new economy, Mesa has created the Development and Sustainability Department. Its mission is to have environmentally and economically sustainable development techniques integrated in our new and developed neighborhoods. The goal is to have Mesa look at land use decisions, the permitting process and redevelopment planning in a way that provides for both the current and future health of our communities. Additionally, we are working to create public private partnerships that will generate and maintain high quality jobs and promote renewable energy sources. For example, Mesa is partnering with Solfocus, a local solar manufacturer, in a research and application project for new technologies at one of our water treatment plants. Moving forward, we are committed to working with ASU and the Sustainable Cities Network as we prepare to make the valley a leader in sustainable development. Scott Smith, Mayor, City of Mesa |
Viewpoints of LeadersCities around the Valley are taking diverse steps to make their communities more sustainable. Following are the views of select mayors participating in the Sustainable Cities Network. |
Despite the economic recession, businesses are investing heavily in initiatives to reduce their carbon footprint. States and cities also have an extraordinary opportunity to leverage Federal stimulus funds to advance their sustainability agendas. Sustainable communities will hold a competitive advantage over other places and will be better positioned to attract new jobs and top talent. Now is the time for Arizona and its cities to utilize their public infrastructure projects — not only to help the environment, but to also build the capacity for a full economic recovery. Ioanna T. Morfessis, Ph.D., President, |
Sustainable cities are not defined by a single definition, nor crafted from a single mold; rather, we know them by their livability and the efficiency of their infrastructure. They offer robust economies, proficient schools, healthy air and water and the ability to provide opportunities to all. They also share a commitment from their local businesses to support these attributes. At APS, we believe strongly in implementing business practices that create a more sustainable future for Arizona cities and towns. That is why APS, along with Intel, founded Arizona Businesses Advancing Sustainability — a group of companies focused on making Arizona businesses more sustainable and partnering with others, including cities and ASU's Global Institute of Sustainability, to bring a more promising future to our state. Bill Post, Chairman and CEO, |
For Phoenix to survive the future we must focus on countering the sprawled, broken city that will fail to connect commuters when gas is $8/gallon. Finding ways to proactively encourage density, infill, and the adaptive reuse of existing buildings should be at the top of the city's sustainability list. Arizonans should also consider the economic, environmental and cultural benefits of supporting local businesses. Dollars spent locally support important community services like fire departments and parks. Choose to go local for a vibrant and sustainable future. Kimber Lanning, Director, |
When we see that smoggy haze hovering over the city, it's evident that how we design our cities eventually impacts our health — not only our lungs but also our hearts and waistlines. Research shows that community design influences how we engage, or not, in exercise as part of our everyday routine which in turns affects our health. Sustainable decisions about the form of our streets, buildings and communities, therefore, are not simply decisions about the health of the planet's environment, but also that of our children. Sherry Ahrentzen, PhD, Associate Director, |
Sustainability is living smarter. Smarter homes, smarter meters, smarter grids, smarter choices. Homes built with state-of-the-art, energy-efficient construction techniques and solar energy systems. Real-time electric meters that show the cost of our electronic devices — just as speedometers show actual speed — will help customers better manage their energy use. Smarter electric grids can program refrigerators, air conditioning or other high-use electrical appliances to reduce usage during peak hours. It's all about smarter energy choices for a sustainable future. Lori Singleton, Manager of Sustainable Initiatives |
We've been on a binge — consuming and sprawling at unprecedented rates, creating an inefficient global economy, and putting at risk both our natural and climate systems. We need transformational change that fosters diversity and resiliency, builds in equal opportunity for a healthy quality of life across cultures and generations, and returns to the notion of the common good to our communities. We need to mandate sustainable practices in all we do. Sustainability needs to become a way of life and not just a word. Jeff Williamson, President, |
Recent changes to Arizona's economy provide an opportunity to re-think our traditional patterns of development in the Valley. We must provide realistic alternatives to sprawl. We must start by capturing the imagination of the public and stimulating creative thinking for how to make changes at a neighborhood scale. Ultimately, we must align housing, transportation, land use and energy policies to create sustainable communities. A civic engagement strategy is a necessary first step, but political will is needed to implement a new vision. Teresa Brice, Executive Director, |
The time for sustainability is now and more than ever a driving opportunity for our financial solvency. Green is good for the economy and the environment. Our spending habits are fueling the eco-friendly product market. Surveys indicate people are willing to spend more, even in financial hardship, if it means purchasing something green. The economy is forcing less wasteful, more green consumption from all ends of the spectrum, bringing to life what will imminently dictate our delicately balanced future. Diane Brossart, President, |