big picture #2--18march10

Sustainable Atwood

Big Picture 2: Sharpening Our Focus

18 March 2010

Sustainable Atwood

Sustainable Atwood is the SASY

neighborhood's plan to measure, evaluate,

expand and create sustainable practices,

designs and systems in our neighborhood of

6,000 residents.

First Visioning...

Big picture #1...

Commerce & Industry A-Team

Commerce & Industry A-Team

How does the business community help in development of a cooperative environment

✦ A Vision needs to facilitate/support a “give and take relationship” for business, residents, churches, etc.

Vision:

Commerce & Industry A-Team

✦ How does the business community help in development of a cooperative environment

✦ A Vision needs to facilitate/support a “give and take relationship” for business, residents, churches, etc.

Goal Thoughts:

Commerce & Industry A-Team

Business Symposiums for the SASY neighborhoods• Educational opportunity about the business• Perhaps in concert with a neighborhood festival

Evaluate opportunities to develop n-hood workforce• Measure number of employees who are residents within SASY

Possible Initiatives:

Commerce & Industry A-Team

What percentage of a business’ workforce live in the SASY neighborhood?

• Today’s percentage, • Evaluate goals• Develop long-term goals

Indicators:

Communications A-Team

Vision:

The SASY neighborhood is empowered to achieve sustainability through our vibrant nexus of creative, accessible and responsive communication.  

Communications A-TeamGoals:

Create a Listserve Create a website Create a Communications Team Create a Gmail Account Secure an SA page in the Eastside News Find SA Editors for Eastside News and for website Initiate or support SA blogs Educational events Social gatherings Celebrations Fundraising Outreach

Communications A-Team

Indicators:1. # of people joining Sustainable Atwood through list-serve (67?)2. # of people using website3. # of people responding "yes" to "Do you know about Sustainable Atwood?"4. # of people who can describe SA to another person5. Amount of diversity in SA membership as compared to neighborhood statistics (i.e. age, race, class, culture, differently-abled, sexual orientation, etc.)6. # of blog discussions7. # of responses to blog entries8. # of dollars raised9. # of stories about SA in general media10. # of times SA is mentioned in outside media11. # of links to our website12. # of SA events held13. # of different types of SA events held14. # of people attending SA events15. # of new groups re: sustainability issues in SASY n-hood vs. other neighborhoods16. # of different communication vehicles/formats utilized17. C-Team response time to SA teams' requests for assistance18. # of awards SA receives from outside organizations

Core Team

Vision:

The capacity of Sustainable Atwood continually increases.

Sustainable Atwood fosters a culture of innovation.

Sustainable Atwood is politically relevant.

Core TeamThe capacity of Sustainable Atwood continually increases...

Goals: •Increase the capacity/skill set of Core Team.

•Build associations/bridges with external organizations.

Indicators: •Educational contacts willing to partner with SA.

•Diversity of skill set of Core Team members.

•% of people who are satisfied with their involvement.

Core TeamSustainable Atwood fosters a culture of innovation...

Goals: • Value and ensure autonomy of teams.

• Guide a flexible and vigorous organization that can take advantage of diverse opportunities.

Indicators: • # of self-guided teams.

• # of unique goals and indicators developed by teams.

• # of members simultaneously active in more than one team.

Core TeamSustainable Atwood is politically relevant...

Goals: • Empower Sustainable Atwood and the SASY neighborhood via connectedness.

• Celebrate events, organizations, movements that intrinsically represent our neighborhood.

• Actively form relationships & associations with business owners & policy makers.

Indicators: • Number of co-sponsored events/initiatives.

• “Spotlight” awards given.

• # of media features/appearances.

• SA supported policy items that are adopted.

• # of mailings/notices received from City of Madison.

Core Team

Reasonable people doing well-intentioned

things.

Energy A-Team

Energy A-Team

Sustainable Atwood will maximize energy efficiency and use clean, renewable energy to create a carbon neutral neighborhood.

Vision:

Energy A-Team

Goal: Reduce fossil fuel use 80% from 2000 by 2050

Indicators: •Baseline measure•Percent reduction in greenhouse gases•% reduction in electricty use•% reduction in fossil fuel use

SASY use/emissions...

Energy A-Team

Goal: Develop plans to achieve visions and goals

Indicators: •Number of programs developed•Develop measurement indicators•Subteams developing plans

Planning...

Energy A-Team

Goal: Educate people about energy issues and goals

Indicators: • % of residents know how much energy they use• East Side News articles on energy use• % businesses with energy savings signs

Education...

Energy A-Team

Goal: Develop plans to achieve visions and goals

Indicators: • % residents who report action taken• # of Households with energy audit• SASY residents to assist with energy audits

Motivation...

Energy A-Team

Goal: Reduce energy demand 40% by 2030

Indicators:

• % houses with 25% reduced electricity use• % houses with 25% reduced natural gas use

Efficiency...

Energy A-Team

Goal: 70% clean energy use by 2030

Indicators:

• % houses signed up for MG&E Green power• % businesses with 100% Green power • % houses producing 100% of own electricity

Clean Energy...

Energy A-Team

Goal: Reduce gasoline use 30% by 2030

Indicators:

• Reduce vehicle miles traveled by residents• % of residents who ride the bus• % of residents who bike commute• % of electric or hybrid vehicles

Transportation...

Food A-Team

Food A-Team

Vision:We are not just looking at food in terms of production, but also education, community building, health, and nourishment.

“By 2020 the SASY Neighborhood will be producing significantly more food within the boundaries of the neighborhood (this includes gardening space, orchards, edible landscaping); the schools that educate our children will all have access to a garden space and will utilize it within their curriculum; our local businesses will have support and encouragement to source their foods locally; and all members of the community who want to garden will be able to.”

Food A-TeamGoals:

1. Complete neighborhood survey measuring baseline indicators/assets2. Map the SASY Neighborhood for all farmable land3. Begin a yard sharing project4. Create a volunteer garden corps of local residents supporting each other in out gardening projects (barn-raising concept)5. Engage with the schools that serve our children (Lowell, O’Keeffe, East)a. School gardens/orchardsb. Use gardens and growing food within their curriculumc. Actively participate in the schools current effort to overhaul their food system

Food A-TeamGoals:

6. Partner with the Goodman Community Center to also teach/support local food efforts7. Identify a site (or sites) to build a neighborhood “Food Hub” that could include:a. Community composting siteb. Food production garden (could this food go to the schools, the community center, the pantry, be sold at a very local farmer’s market??)c. Community tool shedd. Community greenhousee. Fruit Orchard

Food A-Team

Indicators:#3 – Begin a yard sharing project

•# of households who presently have a food garden.•#of households w/out a food garden but are interested in having one •# of households w/ space available for food gardening•#of households w/ an existing food garden and extra space available•# of households available w/ an outdoor water source•# of households requiring physical, educational and financial assistance•# of households willing to donate a portion of harvest to needy•# of households in need of food gardening space, and various assistance•# of households in need of garden food•How many people are engaged in the project?•How many yards are being shared?•How much food is being produced in the shared yards?

Food A-Team

Indicators:#4 – Create a volunteer garden corp

•# of households who presently have a food garden•#of households w/out a food garden but are interested in having one •# of households requiring physical, educational and/or financial assistance in installation• # of neighborhood residents who volunteer for the garden corp

Food A-TeamIndicators:

#5 – Engage with the schools that serve our children…

•# of schools would like a food garden.•# of schools with garden space on school grounds•How much garden space do the schools have access to?•What structures exist?•How many classrooms utilize garden space?•How many classrooms incorporate growing food into their curriculum?•How much do the school gardens produce?•% of the food produced is eaten by the school kids?•#schools that have an existing garden.•# of schools that have w/ school food garden into school food programs.•#of schools w/out garden but garden adjacent-w/in walking distance•# of schools involving before school, after school or summer programming into their garden.

Food A-TeamIndicators:

#6 – Partner with the Goodman Community Center

•How much local (neighborhood) produce is offered at the food pantry

•How much space is utilized for gardening/composting

•# of existing programs that incorporate a food garden into instruction or

activity

•How many community volunteers help support these programs

Food A-TeamIndicators:

#7 – Create a neighborhood “food hub” --- continued...

Compost:•# of households who make their own compost•#of households who currently buy compost•# of households interested in utilizing compost from a neighborhood “Hub”•# of households desiring assistance/education re: composting•# of local businesses willing to compost their food waste

Food Production Garden:•# of people interested in Food Garden space at Central Hub•# of people volunteering in community food production garden•# of people interested in volunteering to provide harvest for area food banks, neighborhood schools, neighborhood community centers etc.• # of people w/ an interest in volunteering to prep and sell harvest at area farmers market

Tool library:•# of neighborhood households interested in borrowing tools from a central tool library shed•# of people utilizing tool library•# of tools in library

Food A-TeamIndicators:

#7 – Create a neighborhood “food hub” --- continued...

Greenhouse:

•# of households interested in growing food year round•# of people volunteering to teach others in a green house setting•# of volunteers at neighborhood green house•# of households growing seedlings and starter plants for their own gardens

Orchard:•# of people interested in orchards at Central Hub•# of volunteers at neighborhood community orchard•# of people volunteering in an orchard to provide harvest for area food banks, neighborhood schools, neighborhood community centers etc.•# of people volunteering to prep and sell harvest at area farmers market•# of people possessing skills and knowledge of growing fruit and nut trees•# of fruit trees planted•Square footage for the orchard

Food A-TeamIndicators:

#8 – Have a SASY neighborhood farmer-in-residence

•Does the SASY neighborhood have a farmer•# of hours worked in season

Infrastructure A-Team

Infrastructure A-Team

Vision: Transportation

• Develop an integrated, inter-modal transportation system that makes it convenient & comfortable to live (and travel?) in our neighborhood without a car, and is safe for everyone.

• Cultivate a culture of respect for pedestrians and bikers.

• Reduce fossil fuel used in transportation

Infrastructure A-Team

Goals: Transportation

•Concentrate traffic along major arteries – Atwood, Fair Oaks, Milwaukee, Winnebago, Eastwood and First Streets.•Create safer crossings along major arteries.•Neighbors understand and chose transit options.•Better bikeability of neighborhood•Better bus system - More service frequency, more access, faster, longer hours, express service for frequently-used routes.•More people riding bus.•Create integrated transit system, easy to use for all modes.

Infrastructure A-Team

Indicators: Transportation

•Traffic counts on arteries and side streets.•Number of crossing guards.•Number of flagged crossings.•Educational efforts.•Review police reports.•Count single-occupancy cars.•Survey transit knowledge and use.•Number of bike racks installed.•Evaluate number/coverage of routes in neighborhood (for all needs).•Number using commute card.•Survey bus ridership.•New transit options in neighborhood.

Infrastructure A-Team

Activities: Transportation

•Work with City on signage, street changes.•Get more crossing guards; red flags at key crossings; better street painting; educate kids on safe crossings.•Articles in East Side News.•Develop Old Metro Bus for educational use at festivals.•More places to store bikes.•Develop free “red bikes” program. •Advocate for better bus service though Madison Metro and new Regional Transit Authority (RTA).•Begin commute card service and encourage use•Input to RTA process•Develop ferry across Monona

Infrastructure A-Team

Vision: Stormwater

Reduce polluted water going into Lake Monona and Starkweather Creek

Infrastructure A-TeamGoal: Stormwater

Reduce stormwater running into Lake Monona and Starkweather Creek by increasing infiltration and reducing impermeable surfaces.

Activities: Stormwater•More Rain barrels and gardens.•Encourage large parking lot owners to handle their own runoff.•Create bioswales along streets.•Educate neighbors about options.

Infrastructure A-Team

Indicators: Stormwater

• # of rain barrels.• # of rain gardens.• Area of permeable and impermeable surfaces.• # of improved lots.

Infrastructure A-Team

Vision: Waste/Recycling

Produce less trash, recycle & compost more to get to ZERO GARBAGE.

Infrastructure A-TeamGoals: Waste/Recycling

Collect and compost organics – food waste and leaves.

Activities:•Encourage home/business composting – education/assistance.•Establish neighborhood compost and mulch sites.•Encourage neighborhood to be compost collection pilot for city.

Infrastructure A-Team

Indicators: Waste/Recycling

• # of composters-survey.• Evaluation of distance to get city mulch.• Installed neighborhood compost/mulch sites.

Integrator Team

Integrator Team

Draft Vision:

A unified, coordinated Sustainable Atwood, empowered to achieve to achieve sustainability

Integrator TeamDraft Goals:

Consistent participation from Action TeamsContinuity of Team KnowledgeEnsure coordinated and connected Action Team goals and indicatorsIncrease capacity for Teams through integration and education of Teams to achieve vision and goals and the SA mission. Increase capacity of Sustainable Atwood to influence public policyProvide a forum for constructive dialogue

Integrator Team

Draft Tasks:Develop review process to track integration – e.g. for

empowerment, alignment, etc.Identify shared goals and indicators.Communicate overlaps with goals and to team membersDevelop creative conflict management processes for A-TeamsWithin two years, we have facilitated a project(s) that involves

every action team Coordinate with communication team for

social/inspiration/educational events

Integrator Team

Draft Indicators:# of valid shared indicators across action teams% of action teams with liaisons present at meetings# of data review meetings per year (assumption checking, etc.

This is not the regular trend analysis)% of action team members that feel content that necessary

skills are on their team# of months people stay actively involved on Integrator Team

Land Use A-Team

• map extent of permeable & impermeable surfaces• recommend strategies to increase ratio of permeable to impermeable surfaces

Goals:

Vision: Increase ratio of permeable to impermeable surfaces

Land Use A-Team

Activities:

•ID UW faculty & students already working on this•ID other soils, cartography resources working on this at DNR, state, city•ID GIS software & means of using it ourselves or at least interpreting it•May need fund raisers to hire consultants•review zoning req’mts for Madison parking, road width, paving of bike paths & width•compare Madison zoning requirements related to the above items to more progressive cities including Santa Cruz, Portland, Copenhagen, etc.

Land Use A-Team

Indicators:

•reduced ration of permeable to impermeable surfaces reported annually•changes in the Madison zoning requirements, that reduce impermeable surfaces such as parking, paved bike path width (and paving vs other surfaces used in Europe

Land Use A-Team

•Increase and improve accessability to bus service by using neighborhood streets for bus•Continue to increase bike paths•Protect the continuity and ped/bike crossings across the train lines

Goals:

Vision: Increase land use & infrastructure to promote non-auto transportation

Land Use A-Team

Activities:

•Work with Metro, possible RTA staff, UW committees to get favorable changes for SASYNA•Work with the Bike Ped and Engineering City Staff •Work with the Parks Dept, as well as Ped Bike Committee•ID UW Landscape Architecture student(s) who could be an intern with the Park Dept. to develop the walking map brochure(s)•ID the current potential barriers to link green spaces and negotiate with city engineering, park dept. to overcome these barriers (bridges, fences, rail road fences)•ID the crossings we most want, present these to all the planning and RR bodies who need to approve. (Keep our tempers!)

Land Use A-Team

Indicators:

•Monitor the annual changes in streets where bus service is available, the hours of availability, frequency of stops•Publish walking maps of the green corridors on public land•Monitor new linkages between green spaces and reduced barriers between accessing them (ie, Dempsey Ditch, etc.) to increased continuity•Monitor the number and placement of RR crossings in keeping with our preferred crossings.

Land Use A-Team

•Control soil erosion on lake shore, identify areas for pilot tests of erosion control methods•Re-introduce lake vegetation to trap waste away from shore•Photograph lake shore in winter for use in inventory and progress reports•Stop neighbor cutting of trees in park

Activities:

Vision: Swimmable Lake Monona

•Soil on Lake shore is stabilized and low maintenance•Cat tails and sedges•Photographs available on a web site•All residents in front of park land agree not to cut trees or shrubs unless part of an agreed-upon plan

Indicators:

Land Use A-Team

Provide neighbors with alternatives to perfumed fabric softener sheets and charcoal lighter fluid

Activity:

Vision: Fresh air to breathe

Less air pollution in neighborhoodIndicators:

Goal: Educate neighborhood on sources of air pollution that are easily controlled

Land Use A-Team

Stop hauling mulches and fertilizers into the neighborhood and hauling organic food wastes, wood, leaves and yard waste out

Goals:

Vision: Zero net organic matter loss from neighborhood

Land Use A-Team

•% reduction of leaf pick up•% reduction of garbage weight

Indicators:

•Don’t put leaves on curbs; instead use as mulch in backyard--”What grows in the yard, stays in the yard”.•Compost veggies rather than throw them out•Park tree cuttings should be made into chips there as model; don’t load into trucks•Block compost captains, groups collecting compostables and mulchables for those not interested or without ability to maintain•Maintain a community chipper, or neighborhood chipping service

Activities:

Land Use A-Team

1. Energy and matter (including soil and nutrients)flows rates through our

neighborhood are reduced.

2. Neighborhood acts as a nutreint sink instead of exporter, thorugh management of

yard/garden organic materials (OM) [nutrients] in ways which regulate OM export

3. Lakeshore restoration promotes ecosystem function, intergrity, and service

Goals:

Vision: Land Management works towards increasing ecosystem function (i.e. energy matter degradation) ecosystem integrity, and ecosystem services (i.e. supporting, provisional, and cultural services)

Land Use A-TeamActivities:

1. Matter recycling (composting) is accomplished through tight cycles that do not contribute to excess nutrient loads and leakage into lakes. 2. Afforested regions are restored to open savanna systems which provide adequate ground cover to stabilize soils and nutrients3. Excess woody material is thinned to increase light which stimulates ground cover vegetation 4. Excess woody debris is hauled off-site to reduce nutrient loads5. Remaining and introduced plant species are native and represent a functionally diverse group with long-lived recalcitrant species are keystone species. 6. Trees and shrubs are management by pruning to mimic browsing and fire lines, which will prevent tree shrub species from prostrated growth forms which inhibit ground layer vegetation

Land Use A-TeamIndicators:

1. Soils are stablized 2. Ground cover is > 90% 3. Nutrient inputs into the lake are reduced 4. Lake nutrient regulation mechanisms are restored

Land Use A-TeamVision:

Safe, interconnected walking/biking paths

•create map of existing paths•create safe road crossings•assure unobstructed rail crossings•create new paths along Lake Monona shoreline

Goals:

Land Use A-Team

•publish completed map for NA review and publication

•number of safer road crossings for pedestrians and bikers

•number of unobstructed rail crossings

•number of shoreline paths

Indicators:

•identify and summarize existing paths

•identity road crossings needing improvements, develop solutions and contact

NA/alder/city staff for implementation

•identify rail crossings and contact NA with list to present to DOT and RTA

•identify potential routes and present to NA, alder and parks department

Activities:

Land Use A-TeamVision:

Retain and attract sustainable businesses to provide local jobs and services

•generate list of available neighborhood properties•encourage Madison-Kipp to become sustainable, zero discharge, quiet factory

Goals:

Land Use A-Team

•publish list of available properties•DNR annual air pollution emission reports•noise complaints•adoption fo new city zoning for Madison-Kipp property requiring changes to receive city approval•adoption of city noise ordinance prohibiting excessive noise from factory operations located near neighborhood homes

Indicators:

•contact businesses, realtors and neighborhs to identify and summarize available

neighborhood properties

•present Madison-Kipp with zero discharge, quiet factory goals

•contact alder to change zoning of Madison-Kipp property from unrestricted

manufacturing to conditional use requiring city oversight

•contact NA and alder to update city noise ordinance

Activities:

Land Use A-Team

Vision: Reduce impacts of county airport

• Reduce noise generated by air traffic

Goals:

Land Use A-Team

• reduction in number of county airport passengers• updated noise abatement plan submitted to NA, city and FAA• updated noise modeling analysis submitted to NA, city and FAA• implementation of sound proofing program for neighborhood homes, schools and buildings• % elimination or reduction in military flights over neighborhood

Indicators:

•encourage busing or driving to other airports in Milwaukee, Rockford or Chicago•contact county board to request airport staff update the 15-year old noise abatement plan•contact county board to request airport staff update noise impact modeling analysis to determine areas impacted by noise•implement a home, school and building noise sound proofing program similar to the Twin Cities Metro airport program•contact Rep Tammy Baldwin to request that military aircraft be relocated to Volk Field

Activities:

Land Use A-Team

•develop list of alternatives to small engine appliances

•contact NA and alder to develop ordinance prohibiting the use of small engine

appliances

Activity:

Vision: Reduce impacts of small engines

•publish list of alternatives to the use of small engine appliances•adoption of city noise ordinance prohibiting small engine appliances

Indicators:

Goal: Identify small engine appliances such as leaf blowers and lawn mowers which generate noise, air pollution and are a neighborhood nuisance

Social / Cultural A-Team

Vision:The Atwood Neighborhood is a vibrant destination for arts and cultural events

Goals:By January 2011, the Atwood Neighborhood will coordinate, promote and host a series monthly art and cultural events at multiple venues