Freedom of Information Request - City of New Rochelle Communications with ICLEI

Some readers have been inquiring about ICLEI or seeking further information or asking me about information I obtained.

About a year ago, I made a Freedom of Information request for all New Rochelle Communications with ICLEI. Below is the result — for those who are interested, this is the raw material for my reporting. Have it.

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Forwarded message:
From: Gilwit, Kathy
To: Robert Cox <>
Date: Friday, April 27, 2012 4:28:12 PM
Subject: FOIL #19 FW: ICLEI and

From: Melissa Stults [mailto:melissa.stults@iclei.org]
Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 12:02 PM
To: Newborn, Deborah
Cc: ‘Anna Frankel’
Subject: ICLEI and

Hi Deb,

Great to chat with you. I’m delighted to hear that New Rochelle is officially becoming a member of ICLEI and how wonderful that the New York Institute of Technology is ready and willing to assist. In order for the University to get access to the software, we need you (or whomever is listed on the application as our primary liaison) to fill out the enclosed third party authorization form. Once you’ve filled that out, just send it back to myself and Anna Frankel (copied above) and we will move forward with processing their request for the software.

If you have any questions, please let me know. Otherwise, I will be in touch as soon as I receive your fax with your application and a copy of your membership dues.

Thanks and have a wonderful day.

Best Wishes,

Missy

Missy Stults
Senior Program Officer
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability U.S.A., Inc.
180 Canal Street, Suite 401
Boston, MA 02114

Tel +1 (617) 960-3420 x203
Mobile +1 (617) 717-8776
Fax +1 (617) 248-3974
www.icleiusa.org

ICLEI U.S.A.’s mission is to build, serve and drive a movement of local governments to advance deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and achieve tangible improvements in local sustainability.

This e-mail is intended only for the individual or entity named above. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and may be confidential. ICLEI U.S.A. does not accept liability for any loss or damage that may result from this e-mail or any attached document.

[Date]

Anna Frankel
Program Associate
ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, Inc.
436 14th Street, Suite 1520
Oakland, CA 94612
anna.frankel@iclei.org

Dear Ms. Frankel,

I’m writing to confirm that [Name of Individual] of [Name of Company/Private Consultant] should be authorized to use [City/Town/County of X] registration for the ICLEI software to complete the greenhouse gas emissions inventory for [City/Town/County of X]. Below is their contact information:

[Mr./Mrs./Ms.] [Name of Individual]
[Title]
[Address]
[Email Address]
[Phone number]

The [City/Town/County of X] has retained [Name of Company/Private Consultant] for this work on our behalf.

Sincerely,
[Signature]

Primary Staff Liaison
[City/Town/County of X]

]

Fw: FOIL #18 FW: [BULK] CACP 2009: Presenting Our New Emissions Analysis Software

Forwarded message:
From: Gilwit, Kathy
To: Robert Cox <>
Date: Friday, April 27, 2012 4:27:50 PM
Subject: FOIL #18 FW: [BULK] CACP 2009: Presenting Our New Emissions Analysis Software

From: ICLEI USA [mailto:ICLEI_USA@mail.vresp.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 4:05 PM
To: Newborn, Deborah
Subject: [BULK] CACP 2009: Presenting Our New Emissions Analysis Software
Importance: Low

Screen Shot 2013 06 30 at 5 30 40 PM

Fw: FOIL #17 FW: Department Director meeting on 4/20

Forwarded message:
From: Gilwit, Kathy
To: Robert Cox <>
Date: Friday, April 27, 2012 4:27:18 PM
Subject: FOIL #17 FW: Department Director meeting on 4/20

—–Original Message—–
From: Jennifer Ewing [mailto:jennifer.ewing@iclei.org]
Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2009 5:20 PM
To: Strome, Chuck; Newborn, Deborah
Subject: Department Director meeting on 4/20

Dear Deborah and Chuck,

Attached please find a copy of the Project Plan that was distributed at
the council meeting. Could you please print this for the departmental
director meeting Monday morning?

Deborah, I think it would be good for us to touch base before the staff
meeting. I will take a train that arrives at 9:10, so I should be at
city hall by 9:20. I will call you when I arrive. Here is the agenda
for what I am planning to talk about.

1. Purpose of the sustainability plan
2. Planning process
a.Five Milestones
b.Timeline
c.Team – SAB, coordinator, and interdepartmental team
3. Role of interdepartmental team
a.Responsibilities
b.Expected time commitment
c.Benefits
4. Next steps:
a.Inventory existing initiatives
b.Ideas for new initiatives
c.Define scope of the plan
d.Develop timeline for public outreach

I think it would be good for you to do some of the talking as well, to
demonstrate that you will be coordinating the entire effort. We can
chat tomorrow about how best to split up the agenda.

Regards,
Jennifer

Jennifer Ewing
Project Manager
ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability U.S.A., Inc.
Hosted by the City of New York
Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability
253 Broadway, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10007
jennifer.ewing@iclei.org
(w) 212-788-1629
(c) 917-318-4241
www.icleiusa.org

Please join us for ICLEI USA’s 2009 events in your community, your
region and Washington, D.C. Learn more about these exciting
opportunities at www.icleiusa.org/2009events

ICLEI U.S.A.’s mission is to build, serve and drive a movement of local
governments to advance deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and
achieve tangible improvements in local sustainability.

This e-mail is intended only for the individual or entity named above.
Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and may
be confidential. ICLEI U.S.A. does not accept liability for any loss or
damage that may result from this e-mail or any attached document.

City of New Rochelle Sustainability Plan
Project Plan

Introduction

This document provides an outline for the goals, scope, timeline and overall planning strategy for the development of a Sustainability Plan for the City of New Rochelle. These recommendations are modeled on ICLEI’s Five Milestones for Sustainability, which involve assessing the sustainability issues and existing initiatives in the city, defining the scope and goals of the plan, developing the specific strategies in the plan, and then releasing the plan. Following the release of the plan, the City should begin implementing initiatives and monitoring progress using a set of sustainability indicators.

Goal of the Sustainability Plan

A sustainability plan provides a framework for action intended to make a community more economically vibrant, socially equitable, and environmentally friendly. New Rochelle’s plan should include a set of overarching sustainability goals along with specific initiatives or measures that the City can take to achieve these goals. A central component of the plan will be the indicators and targets associated with each initiative: it should be the aim of this plan to inspire action and to define metrics for measuring progress and ensuring accountability.

Guiding principles

The planning process and the sustainability plan should adhere to the following guiding principles:

The City will lead by example
The concept of sustainability will guide City policy and decision-making
Metrics and targets will be used to define goals and measure progress
Initiatives in the plan will be designed to be aggressive but achievable
Transparency and accountability will guide the City’s sustainability actions
The City will act as a leader in Westchester County, the region, and nationally
Partnerships between the city, non-profits, and the private sector are necessary to achieve sustainability goals
The City will work to distribute the benefits of sustainability policies to residents on an equitable basis

Integration of the sustainability plan with other relevant plans

The sustainability plan should be developed to align with Westchester County’s 2008 Action Plan for Climate Change and Sustainable Development. The action plan provides short (1-3 years), medium (3-8 years), and long-term (8+ years) recommendations for municipalities in the areas of energy, transportation, land use, water resources, and recycling. New Rochelle should use these recommendations as a starting point for identifying initiatives to include in the plan.

Proposed scope of the plan

The city is in the process of defining the scope of the plan and is considering including the following key sustainability components addressing both city operations and the community as a whole:

Energy supply and demand
Planning and development
Parks and open space
Waterfront enhancement
Water quality, stormwater management, and sewer
Waste and recycling
Transportation, fleets, and transit
Air quality
Ecosystems and habitat
Climate change mitigation
Climate change adaptation
Green procurement
Affordable and middle income housing
Civic engagement
Public education
Public health

Roles and responsibilities

The Sustainability Coordinator and the City Manager, with input and guidance from the Mayor, City Council, and community, should manage and coordinate the planning process, by developing and managing the timeline and ensuring the appropriate internal and external stakeholders are involved in the planning process. The Sustainability Coordinator should lead the process in defining the scope of the plan, developing the goals and initiatives in the plan, and ensuring that all initiatives in the plan are measurable, actionable, and achievable. The Sustainability Coordinator should work closely with the City Manager to ensure that staff is committed to developing the plan, and to verify that the initiatives in the plan are implementable. The City Manager should lead the process of organizing and convening the sustainability advisory board and facilitating the advisory board meetings.

Each city department should be charged with identifying initiatives to make their operations more sustainable or “green”. A core group of departments responsible for the key infrastructure and operational services in the city should be part of the interdepartmental team responsible for developing the plan. These departments include:

Public Works
Parks and Recreation
Purchasing
Development
Marinas, Docks, and Harbors

Timeline for Plan Development

The city should move forward with developing a plan on an aggressive timeline to enable implementation to begin in early 2010. However, in order to ensure the various city departments and the public at large are supportive of the plan, the city should include a broad public outreach component in their planning process. New Rochelle should follow ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability Five Milestones for Sustainability planning process, which involves:

Milestone One: Conduct a sustainability assessment
Milestone Two: Set sustainability goals
Milestone Three: Develop a sustainability plan
Milestone Four: Implement the sustainability plan
Milestone Five: Monitor/Evaluate progress

The proposed timeline below aims for a final release of the plan for Earth Day, April 22, 2010, and assumes that a draft plan will be released for public comment at the beginning of 2010.

Forming a sustainability advisory board

The City Manager will lead the process to identify a group of local leaders to be appointed to the sustainability advisory board. The Sustainability Advisory Board should be composed of individuals with relevant expertise and/or representatives of key community institutions, with the charge of guiding the development and implementation of the city’s sustainability plan. The role of the board will be to advise the city on the goals and initiatives for the plan and to support the various departments in researching best practices and analyzing initiatives for the plan.

Collaboration with ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability

New Rochelle has been selected to participate in the pilot of ICLEI’s Sustainability Planning Toolkit. This was a highly selective process in which twenty-four local governments around the country applied for three positions in the pilot project. ICLEI selected New Rochelle for the pilot because it views the city as a model small to medium sized community that is promoting transit-oriented development and has strong local leadership that will enable the city to develop in a sustainable manner. As part of the pilot project, ICLEI will help the City launch its planning process and will provide strategic planning advice on how to structure the planning process and what initiatives to include in the plan.

Approach to public outreach

The city should undertake a broad public outreach process that will involve the public at large and key stakeholder groups in the community. More information about the approach and objectives of the outreach process will be added as the planning process progresses.

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DRAFT Page PAGE 3 of NUMPAGES 3

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Fw: FOIL #16 FW: Follow-up and Templates

Forwarded message:
From: Gilwit, Kathy
To: Robert Cox <>
Date: Friday, April 27, 2012 4:26:52 PM
Subject: FOIL #16 FW: Follow-up and Templates

—–Original Message—–
From: Jennifer Ewing [mailto:jennifer.ewing@iclei.org]
Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 2:24 PM
To: Newborn, Deborah
Cc: nbramson@optonline.net
Subject: Follow-up and Templates

Hi Deborah,

To follow up from our meeting on Monday, I am sending you the following
resources:

1. Template for gathering information on New Rochelle’s existing
inititives 2. Target setting guidance 3. Long Island Green Homes
Program, started by Babylon:
http://www.townofbabylon.com/whatsnew.cfm?id=287&searchDate=03/10/2009

As for next steps, here are a few suggestions:

1. Confirm that the NY Institute of Technology is developing a
greenhouse gas inventory for both government operations and for the
community as a whole.
2. Fill out template of existing initiatives. I think you have already
compiled some of this information, so you could begin to populate the
template and then have the various departments add in anything that is
missing.
3. Brainstorm initiatives to include in the plan (I can help you with
this).
4. Begin to analyze options for short and long-term emissions reduction
targets.

Let me know if you would like to set up a call to touch base, perhaps
late next week.

Regards,
Jennifer

Please join us for ICLEI USA’s 2009 events in your community, your
region and Washington, D.C. Learn more about these exciting
opportunities at www.icleiusa.org/2009events

ICLEI U.S.A.’s mission is to build, serve and drive a movement of local
governments to advance deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and
achieve tangible improvements in local sustainability.

This e-mail is intended only for the individual or entity named above.
Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and may
be confidential. ICLEI U.S.A. does not accept liability for any loss or
damage that may result from this e-mail or any attached document.

Setting a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Target

An increasing number of local governments are taking bold action to address the threats and challenges of global climate change. Nearly 900 mayors in the United States have signed the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement (MCPA), which harnesses the vision of the international Kyoto Protocol at the local level. One of the key components of both the Kyoto Protocol and the MCPA is the setting of a specific quantified goal for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by a certain date. This goal is what is referred to as the emissions reduction target, and it is a central component to a comprehensive climate protection program.

Most often, the emissions reduction target is the percentage by which a local government plans to reduce total GHG emissions in its community and/or government operations below base year levels by a chosen future target year. An example target might be a 30% reduction in GHG emissions below 2005 base year levels by the target year 2020. With such a target, if the jurisdiction’s 2005 emissions equaled 250,000 metric tons of CO2e, its aim would be to reduce total emissions by 75,000 metric tons, reaching 175,000 metric tons CO2e by 2020. In most cases, achieving the target will also demand the negation of any growth in emissions that might occur between the base year and the target year.
EMBED PowerPoint.Slide.8

Many of the local governments addressing climate change worldwide utilize the ICLEI Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Five Milestone method as a road-map for their work. The Five Milestones of the CCP provide a simple, standardized way to effectively reduce, measure, and verify greenhouse gas emissions. Setting an emissions reduction target is a key component to this system. The Five Milestones are:

Milestone 1 – Conduct a baseline emissions inventory and forecast
Milestone 2 – Adopt an emissions reduction target
Milestone 3 – Develop a local Climate Action Plan
Milestone 4 – Implement policies and measures
Milestone 5 – Monitor and verify results

Why Set a Target?
A successful climate and sustainability program hinges on strong political and community commitment to the program’s core goals. The emissions reduction target plays an important role in establishing such commitment by setting a clear benchmark for success that everyone can have a role in creating and achieving.

An emissions reduction target is also an important component to the climate action planning process, in that it creates the framework for emissions reduction strategy-building. Without this framework we may not know how extensively we will need to reduce our emissions, and, therefore, what programs ought to be implemented. With a target in place, we can identify a specific quantity of emissions to tackle, which then enables us to outline a circumscribed set of policies, programs and projects whose cumulative emissions reductions will take us to our goal. The target sets a tangible focal point, without which the climate action plan would merely be a collection of nice ideas and strategies.

Setting an emissions reduction target also allows a local government to ensure that its efforts accord with state level policy, as well as the most recent science pertaining to climate change and dangerous atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases.

In summary, a target provides an objective toward which to strive and against which to measure progress. It allows a local government to quantify its commitment to fighting global warming—demonstrating that the jurisdiction is serious about taking action.

What to Consider When Setting a Target?
Should the target be low and easy to achieve? Should it be ambitious and require innovative efforts? Should one target be set for local government operations and community operations, or should there be two separate targets? There are several factors involved in choosing a reduction target. The following is a summary of the most common issues considered when setting an emissions reduction target:

When to set the target
Target period time frame (long term? short term?)
Setting sector-specific targets
The relationship between community scale targets and government operations targets
Scientific imperatives for reducing emissions in order to avoid catastrophic climate change
State targets and climate protection policies (identifying actions that will be required, and opportunities for support)
Federal climate change policy (identifying actions that will be required, and opportunities for support)
Political feasibility
Financial feasibility
Technical improvements that are in the pipeline (electric cars, better landfill methane capture, energy efficiency, cleaner power generation, etc.)
Existing low-carbon policies and programs that will help achieve reductions
Expected growth in your jurisdiction that may create a jump in emissions over the target period
Peer communities’ targets
The level of commitment/buy-in from different stakeholder groups
Targets relative to 1990

When to set the target?
Each local government follows a different process for establishing government operations and/or community-scale emissions reduction targets. There can be compelling reasons for choosing to establish a target at any point during a local government’s climate work. Some communities adopt an emissions reduction target at the outset. Others prefer to conduct an emissions inventory and forecast and evaluate existing and potential measures before officially adopting a target. Some may find that the best approach is a hybrid of these two options – where initial target options are identified at the outset, but not adopted formally until detailed analysis (often in the form of a climate action plan) has taken place. ICLEI’s general advice is to choose the path that best fits the local circumstances.

Target period time frame (long-term? short-term?)
It is possible to set both short-term (e.g. next 5-10 years) and long-term (next 30-40 years) targets. Your local government will want to give itself enough time to implement the measures in its climate action plan and achieve its reduction goal, however the farther out the target year is, the more your local government might be pledging to reduce (depending on growth patterns). ICLEI recommends that local governments set both long- and short-term targets, with potential mid-term targets as well. Adopting a long-term target sets the bar for the ultimate achievement, while short-term targets help to closely monitor progress and foment momentum, ensuring that the goal is met.

Long-Term Targets
To date, most ICLEI local government members have chosen to establish long-term GHG emissions reduction targets of approximately 20% below baseline emissions to be met within a 15 to 20 year period. ICLEI recommends considering a long-term emissions reduction target of at least this level, and is now encouraging local governments to consider the larger commitment of targets relative to recent science — specifically an 80% reduction from base year emissions by the target year 2050. By referencing a long-term goal that is in accordance with current scientific understanding of the magnitude that emissions will need to be reduced in order to avoid dangerous climate change, local governments will be showing that they are committed to seeing that these reductions take place. As more local governments formally adopt or reference aggressive long-term targets, a strong message will be sent to state and federal policy makers that there is political support for such goals, and an urgent need for new government programs and policies.

Short-Term Targets
ICLEI recommends that regardless of your chosen long-term (e.g., 20 year, 40 year) emissions reduction target, it is advisable to establish interim targets for every 2-3 year period. Short-term emission reduction targets should be in line with the long-term target. If a long-term target of an 80% reduction in emissions from 2005 levels by 2050 is chosen, then the jurisdiction will need to reduce emissions an average of 3.6% per year. The jurisdiction may then, for example, decide to set a 2-year emission reduction target of 7%, or a 5-year target of 18%, which follow the 3.6% per year trend line.

Adopting a significant reduction target is an important beginning. Because climate mitigation efforts are currently voluntary, a local government can refine and change its goal in the future as scientific understanding of the problem evolves and new state and federal assistance and programs come on-line.

Setting sector-specific targets
In addition to setting multiple targets across a timeline continuum, it can be powerful to set benchmarks for emission reductions in specific sectors (such as transportation, or commercial energy use). These benchmarks are often set in the climate action plan, where actions are chosen and tailored to reduce emissions within individual sectors. By setting aggressive sector-specific emission reduction goals, the jurisdiction can make a powerful statement that it intends to be a local or national leader in a given field. For example, a number of cities have established zero waste targets. Portland, Oregon and San Jose, California have set short- and medium-term goals to reduce their emissions in the electricity sector by 100%. Setting sector-specific targets can also help you strategize, determining where various percentages of your overall reductions will come from.

The relationship between community scale targets and government operations targets
Many local governments will adopt a single target for both the community at large and government-owned operations. It is important to note, however, that it is possible to set two separate targets for the community and government. The target should reflect the likely magnitude of reductions, and this likely magnitude may differ between the community and the government. If the community is strongly engaged in reducing emission, but there is a lack of leadership from within the government, then it may make sense for the community target to be more aggressive than the government operations target. Generally this will not be the case, as the government is often taking the lead on these efforts and has direct control over many activities that result in the emission of greenhouse gases, and is therefore in a favorable position to decisively reduce these emissions.

Despite government operations accounting for only an average 0.5% to 4% of communities’ total emissions, it is important that cities and counties set ambitious emission reduction targets for their own operations. Government staff and elected officials are in a powerful position to show the rest of the community that they are committed to leading the way on climate protection and that they are willing to make changes to government operations in order to reduce emissions.

Scientific imperatives for reducing emissions
Ecological necessity presents a compelling argument to go further and adopt a more aggressive goal, even if it means a jurisdiction must work harder. According to a large international body of scientists, in order to slow global warming the human community must achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and must achieve these reductions soon. The preponderance of scientific opinion is in agreement that we must reduce greenhouse gas emissions a minimum of 80% below 1990 levels in order to stabilize the Earth’s climate.

Today, human activities are producing about twice as much CO2 as the earth’s various natural carbon sinks (oceans and forests) can absorb. That means that even if we were to stabilize emissions at current levels, greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere would continue to increase markedly.

There is growing consensus among climate scientists that in order to avoid a dangerous future climate change scenario, the global concentration of greenhouse gases needs to stabilize at 450 parts-per-million by volume (ppmv) CO2e by mid-Century. In order for this to happen, emissions from Western industrialized countries would need to be reduced between 25 percent and 40 percent below 1990 levels in 2020, and between 80 percent to 95 percent below 1990 levels in 2050. This range is based on the range of error in the climate models and on the specific per capita emission levels of each country. The United States, for example, would need to reduce its emissions closer to 95% below 1990 levels, as it is one of the highest per capita emitters of CO2 among nations in the world.

The longer we wait to achieve serious reductions in greenhouse gas emissions relative to “business-as-usual” practices, the more drastic those reductions will need to be. Local governments can take a leadership role in combating global warming by adopting an aggressive, ecologically meaningful target that will prompt creativity and innovation, along with near term benchmark targets to build momentum. As such, ICLEI recommends that local governments adopt long-term targets that reflect the scientific imperatives for emissions reductions.

State targets and climate protection policies
An increasing number of states throughout the U.S. have begun to forge their commitment to climate protection by setting their own emissions reduction targets and by developing policies and programs to reduce emissions.

In California, the State has taken action on climate change in a range of ways, from developing regulatory frameworks under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), to driving incentive programs that bolster the adoption of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies. In considering an emissions reduction target, local governments should identify what their state is doing to address climate and energy issues. For example, a local government may find it prudent to establish a target that will enable them to adhere to any existing or proposed regulatory frameworks. If your state has set its own emissions reduction targets you may want to consider adopting a target of similar scope and scale.

In addition to increasing regulation, a growing number of states are offering programs to assist local governments–and the business and residential communities they serve—in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The California Solar Initiative is one such program, which makes it easier for California residents and businesses to purchase solar power systems. California is also rolling out a number of policies that remove barriers to local government financing and regional energy management. Any such program will increase the feasibility of more aggressive targets, and it is therefore important for a local government to know what support it can expect from the state.

Federal climate change policy
At this point in time there is limited engagement from the United States Federal Government on the issue of climate protection. Nonetheless, there are existing policies and programs in fields such as air quality and energy that bear upon local emissions levels – both from the regulatory and incentive standpoint. With this in mind, and with the likelihood that federal engagement on this issue will increase in the coming years, it is important to consider the ways in which federal policy and programs will either hinder local ability to reduce emissions or bolster local ability to reduce emissions. If the Lieberman-Warner Bill were to have passed, for example, local governments would have had access to a new source of funding to bolster local emissions reductions, and there would have been a new fuel efficiency standard in place for automobiles that would have the effect of reducing local greenhouse gas emissions without the local government exerting any effort. There are also cases where federal policy could hinder local ability to achieve emissions reductions. It is important to consider all of these inputs when determining the level of reductions that can be expected.

Political feasibility
Regardless of scientific imperatives and trickle-down incentives from state and federal government, if the emissions reduction target does not harmonize with the local political theater then the target is likely to be more of an obstacle to success than a vehicle to success. As such, it is important to ensure that your emissions reduction target is responsive to local political sensitivities, as well as opportunities. The best way to ensure that there will be political support for your emission reduction target is to 1) engage the community in establishing the target, and 2) engage elected officials in the process, perhaps with the end goal of establishing the target by council resolution or some other formal measure.

Financial feasibility
As with any government initiative, it is essential that your climate protection initiatives – and, therefore, your emissions reduction target– make financial sense. Many climate protection measures, such as energy efficiency upgrades, will have the effect of reducing costs; however, other important actions will demand significant investment from government and community alike. A powerful and meaningful emissions reduction target will be one that charts a course that will make financial sense.

The best way to ensure that your target will be financially realistic is to conduct thorough cost/benefits analyses as part of your climate action planning process. The financial feasibility of a target is a reflection of the financial feasibility of the climate action plan. It is possible to do a cursory analysis of costs prior to the climate action plan, but a more detailed perspective will result from a thorough action planning process. The importance of ensuring financial feasibility of a given target is one good reason for waiting to set an emissions reduction target until after a climate action plan has been developed.

Technical improvements that are in the pipeline (electric cars, better landfill methane capture, energy efficiency, cleaner power generation, etc.)
Similar to the value of considering how state and federal policy may influence local capacity to meet reduction targets, it is useful to assess potential technological developments that will also impact the ease of achieving a given target. Thankfully, we are living in age of rapid development in renewable energy technologies, higher efficiency appliances and equipment, higher efficiency automobiles and public transit options, low carbon fuels, etc. As technologies are developed the range of emissions reduction potentials is broadened and the affordability of those options is often enhanced. These developments are taking place on many scales, from single-family home technologies, to the power plants that fuel our cities. As you set your target it is good to consider what technological developments may take place during your target period and how these developments will accelerate your strides towards achieving your emission reduction target.

Existing low-carbon policies and programs that will help achieve reductions
In addition to assessing what in the outside world (i.e. state & federal policy, technological development, etc.) will impact your local reductions of greenhouse gas emissions, it is important to reflect on what is already taking place within your jurisdiction that will have similar impacts. For example, if your government is already rolling out a solar financing program for residents, and it is expected to increase the rate of solar adoption by 30% then this is an important thing to know when considering what target will be feasible. Similarly, if you learn that the city has already retrofit all of its buildings to peak energy efficiency standards, then your emissions reduction potentials are reduced, as that low-hanging fruit is no longer on the vine. Assessing what has already been implemented will help you identify opportunities for further reductions, and therefore, what level of reductions are realistic for your government and community.

Expected growth in your jurisdiction that may create a jump in emissions over the target period
Growth in your jurisdiction will in most cases lead to an increase in emissions. You may recall from the diagram on page 1 that achieving the emissions reduction target involves negating any potential growth in emissions that may take place under a business-as usual scenario between your base year and you target year. Certainly, if we were to all continue to drive our vehicles with current frequency, and if we were all to continue to consume the amount of power in our homes that we currently consume, a growth in population alone would alone significantly increase the level of emissions that we generate each year. Therefore, it is wise to consider what plans there are on the books, and what projections there are in population growth that will have the impact of increasing emissions. If there is an update being done to your circulation or transportation plan ask yourself: Is this going to increase automobile use in my jurisdiction, or is it going to prioritize public transit, bicycle and pedestrian transit, and in-fill development? The direction of your local land use and transportation plans, and the projections of population growth with tell you an important story about how your emissions may grow between your base year and your target year. Take the time to assess this story, and your target will be that much more informed.

Peer communities’ targets
When setting an emission reduction target many local governments like to look at what peer municipalities or counties have set for their emissions reduction targets. It is good to get a sense of what levels of emissions reductions have made sense to other jurisdictions; however one should keep in mind that these targets were set according to the unique circumstances within the original jurisdiction, and that comparability only goes so far. If you are a municipal government whose presiding county has set emissions reduction targets, it would especially behoove you to consider these county targets. It is also good practice to consider targets set by other local governments in your region. In both cases, there is a good chance that you will have opportunities to collaborate with these proximate governments, and there is therefore rationale to setting congruent targets. That said, there is always room to lead and push the edge towards more aggressive and meaningful reductions. Whatever targets other communities may have set –either aggressive or conservative—it is more important to forge a target that is tailored to your local circumstances than to adopt a goal set by others.

The level of commitment/buy-in from different stakeholder groups
The success of your target will greatly depend on the buy-in and commitment from key stakeholders in your community. The target-setting and climate action planning processes are crucial times to engage these stakeholders so that they can truly have a ‘stake’ in setting the tenor of your endeavors. If you doubt that you will be able to engage many of the core stakeholders in your government or community, you may want to set a more conservative target, as you will not be able to count on broad-spectrum adoption of the initiatives that will reduce emissions and take you to an aggressive target. If, on the other hand, you anticipate strong support and enthusiastic buy-in from the community and your local leaders then you can rest assured in striving towards a robust target that you will all rally to achieve!

Targets Relative to 1990
When the delegates to the 3rd Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change settled on 1990 as a reference year for reducing greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol, a baseline was set for all signatory nations. Subsequently, a number of organizations and sub-national government bodies have crafted agreements in the spirit of the Kyoto Protocol, including the use of 1990 as a baseline year. The U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (MCPA) (mentioned above) is one such agreement, which was created to give local government political leaders in the United States a vehicle for joining the global commitment to combating climate change, in solidarity with the Kyoto Protocol and in face of and despite a lack of action from the U.S. federal government. Signatories of the MCPA often pass a resolution stating that the local government will strive to reduce, meet, or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets in their own communities; lobby their state governments and the federal government to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the greenhouse gas emission reduction target suggested for the United States in the Kyoto Protocol — 7% reduction from 1990 levels by 2012; and call for the U.S. Congress to pass greenhouse gas reduction legislation. In addition to the MCPA, state governments across the U.S. are setting emission reduction targets, a number of which use 1990 as baseline year.

While the federal government and state governments often have access to complete datasets going back to 1990, local governments rarely have data going back more than 5 years. Without complete or accurate data for emissions in the baseline year the entire exercise of setting a target and monitoring progress becomes destabilized, as it is very difficult to monitor progress because of imprecise data on the baseline emission levels and the inability to compare the baseline emission level to present day and future emission levels on an “apples-to-apples” basis. Between 1990 and present day, monitoring and collection standards and methods for most types of data that go into an emissions inventory (electricity, natural gas, vehicle emissions, waste, etc) will have changed. For these reasons, it is in the best interest of local governments to set targets that are relative to a baseline year with emissions levels that are well documented and understood.

Because the MCPA is a non-binding agreement, the signatories are not committed to reducing emissions relative to a 1990 baseline year. The spirit of the agreement is more important than following its exact letter. With regards to the California state level targets, it is clear from recent comments made by the California Air Resources Board that the State recognizes the difficulties that would be posed on local governments if they were to be required to conduct 1990 baseline inventories, or meet targets relative to 1990. Thus, ICLEI recommends choosing an emission reduction target relative to a near-term base year – ideally 2005 — rather than the year 1990, for which little, if any, data exists.

A Vision of the Future
In concert with the research that is taking place to better understand climate change, scientists, engineers, and policy makers have been modeling and conceptualizing scenarios that describe what communities will need to do in order to achieve deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. For most, it is difficult to envision how our communities will undergo the changes that will be necessary, and even what those changes will be. Below is an outline for the type of changes that will need to take place by the year 2020 to achieve a 25-30% reduction below present day levels.

Local Government
Local elected officials and the voters will have passed a variety of ordinances and measures that employ a mix of incentives and mandates for reducing energy use, changing transportation patterns, reducing waste, and improving building standards.

Individuals
– Residents will replace older, less fuel efficient cars with newer, more fuel efficient cars, including plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles.
– The number of people who walk, bicycle, and take public transportation to work and to run errands within the community and between neighboring communities will increase by 50%.
– There will be an increase in the use of locally produced biofuels.
– Through taking advantage of rebates and state programs people will switch over to more energy efficient electronic equipment and appliances, and will install renewable energy systems (photovoltaic, solar hot water, wind turbine, etc.) on their homes.
– Residents will contribute to a substantial decrease in peak electricity demand through making informed decisions about the type of appliances they buy and the time of day that they use energy intensive electronics and appliances. The use behavior changes will come about by the installation of real-time electricity use and pricing meters in all homes by the electric utility.
– Residents will no longer have “garbage cans” as all materials will be re-used, recycled, or composted.
– All new homes that are constructed will be designed to be capable of “net-zero” energy consumption.

Businesses
– More large employers will operate shuttles that connect their employees with local and regional transportation hubs.
– Local energy service providers will equip all homes with real-time electricity use and pricing meters.
– HVAC upgrades/retrofits will be performed on all facilities.
– Telecommuting and teleconferences will reduce air travel by 50%.
– 95% of waste will be diverted from landfills
– All business will have energy management plans in place.
– All facilities will be upgraded with energy efficient electronic equipment and appliances.
– All new commercial facilities constructed will be built to the highest energy efficiency and water use standards.

Measuring Progress
When selecting an emissions reduction target, establishing an effective process by which target achievement will be demonstrated can be just as important as the numerical target itself. The process of setting an emission reduction target offers an opportunity to help build an institutional culture around climate work. Local governments should re-inventory emissions approximately every two to three years to regularly check on progress and to take into account developments at the regional, state, and federal levels. As the field of climate science continues to evolve, along with technologies and state and federal policies, so too should a jurisdiction’s emissions reduction targets, priorities and plans. Examining progress relative to established targets roughly every three years can enable reflection on the efficacy of implemented emissions reduction strategies, new opportunities and needed adjustments. While aggressive, long-term reduction targets can be valuable, local governments should also be sure to set meaningful short-term targets and get started on the work to meet those targets. These efforts can then be evolved and augmented.

The most convenient way to report on GHG reduction progress is to update the data on the measures in your climate action plan. As a part of the creation of the climate action plan, measures data collection forms and methods should be developed and integrated with existing tracking/reporting systems that exist in the city. ICLEI’s Clean Air and Climate Protection (CACP) software can be used as an annual emissions tracking tool. The software calculates a number of useful indicators—such as per capita GHG emissions or GHG emissions per commercial building square foot—that you can use in monitoring and reporting broad trends in the jurisdiction’s progress. You may decide to track emission on a quarterly or monthly basis, which can be accomplished through developing a simple spreadsheet based off of the CACP software. ICLEI is here to help you set a target that is meaningful and appropriate for your locale, and to provide the tools and support that will help you to reach your proclaimed goals.

APPENDIX A – Example Targets

Local Government Targets in the Bay Area

Government Operations Targets
San Francisco – 40% below 1990 levels by 2010.
Palo Alto – Short Term: 5% reduction below 2005 by 2009 (3,266 metric tons)
Marin County – 15-20% below 2000 levels by 2020

Community Targets
San Francisco – 20% below 1990 levels by 2012.
Sonoma County – 20% below 1990 by 2015.
Palo Alto
Medium Term Goal: By 2012 the City and Community will reduce emissions by 5% from 2005 emissions levels for a total reduction of 39,702 metric tons of CO2.
Long Term Goal: By 2020, the City and Community will reduce emissions by 15% of 2005 levels, equal to 119,140 metric tons of CO2, and bring the community in line with State reduction goals.
San Jose – Reduce per capita emissions 50% from 2007 levels by 2022.
Oakland – Oil independent by 2020.
Berkeley – 80% reduction by 2050.
Marin County – 15% below 2000 levels by 2020.

State of California Targets and Climate Protection Activities Summary

AB 32 Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006
On September 27, 2006, Governor Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 32 to create a comprehensive statewide program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and charged the California Air Resources Board with implementing it.

Executive Order S-3-05
On June 1, 2005, Governor Schwarzenegger signed Executive Order S-3-05 establishing climate change emission reductions targets for the state of California. The greenhouse gas reduction targets are:
– Reduce emissions to 2000 levels by 2010
– Reduce emissions to 1990 levels by 2020
– Reduce emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050

The Executive Order directed the Secretary of California EPA to create a multi-agency Climate Action Team to meet the directives of the Executive Order. In March 2006, the Climate Action Team issued a report to the Governor and the Legislature which lays out a strategy to achieve the emission reduction targets established in the Executive order.
Appendices

See Appendix A for a list of emission reduction targets set by local governments in the San Francisco Bay Area.
IPCC 2007. Fourth Assessment Report.
Schnellnhuber, H. J. and W. P. Cramer 2006. Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change. Cambridge University Press.
Hare, B. and M. Meinshausen 2004. “How Much Warming are we Committed to and How Much Can be Avoided?” October 2004, http://www.pik-potsdam.de/research/publications/pikreports/.files/pr93.pdf
IPCC 2007. Fourth Assessment Report
UNFCC 2007. “Synthesis of information relevant to the determination of the mitigation potential and to the identification of possible ranges of emission reduction objectives of Annex I Parties.” Technical Paper. 26 July, 2007.

On June 1, 2005, California Governor Schwarzenegger signed Executive Order S-3-05 establishing climate change emission reductions targets for the State of California. The California targets are an example of near-, mid- and long-term targets:

Reduce emissions to 2000 levels by 2010
Reduce emissions to 1990 levels by 2020
Reduce emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050

Sustainability initiatives_template v3.xls

Fw: FOIL #15 FW: [POSSIBLE SPAM] Available for media interviews re Sustainability Planning Toolkit?

Forwarded message:
From: Gilwit, Kathy
To: Robert Cox <>
Date: Friday, April 27, 2012 4:26:22 PM
Subject: FOIL #15 FW: [POSSIBLE SPAM] Available for media interviews re Sustainability Planning Toolkit?

From: Don Knapp [mailto:don.knapp@iclei.org]
Sent: Saturday, November 28, 2009 1:23 PM
To: Newborn, Deborah
Cc: ‘Jennifer Ewing’; missy.stults@iclei.org
Subject: [POSSIBLE SPAM] Available for media interviews re Sustainability Planning Toolkit?
Importance: Low

Hello Deborah,

I’m writing to let you know that ICLEI is finally set to release our Sustainability Planning Toolkit this coming week, on Thursday, Dec. 3. As I’ve mentioned to you before, I’ll be reaching out to reporters and bloggers to interest them in writing about the toolkit itself or a related topic (keys to sustainability planning success, the trend of more local governments creating sustainability plans, etc.).

In the coming week, would you be available and willing to speak with any writers who wish to learn more about New Rochelle’s experiences and progress on your sustainability plan? If so, I’ll mention this in our press release (which also mentions New Rochelle being a pilot city); reporters would have to contact me first to get in touch with you. Just let me know.

Also, as part of the media outreach effort, I’ll be writing a multi-part blog series on sustainability planning, which will run on ICLEI’s blog as well as the Sustainable Cities Collective blog. One of the posts will discuss the challenges, progress, and success of Miami-Dade and New Rochelle. As promised, I will send this to you for your approval later this week.

Hope you had a great holiday.

Best,

Don Knapp
Senior Communications Officer
ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA
436 14th St., Suite 1520
Oakland, CA 94612
Tel: +1-510-844-0699, Ext. 315
Fax: +1-510-844-0698
Website: www.icleiusa.org
Local Action Blog: www.icleiusa.org/blog

ICLEI USA’s mission is to build, serve and drive a movement of local governments to advance deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and achieve tangible improvements in local sustainability.

This e-mail is intended only for the individual or entity named above. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and may be confidential. ICLEI USA does not accept liability for any loss or damage that may result from this e-mail or any attached document.

Fw: FOIL #14 FW: It’s Here: Our Groundbreaking Sustainability Planning Toolkit

Forwarded message:
From: Gilwit, Kathy
To: Robert Cox <>
Date: Friday, April 27, 2012 4:25:56 PM
Subject: FOIL #14 FW: It's Here: Our Groundbreaking Sustainability Planning Toolkit

From: ICLEI USA [mailto:ICLEI_USA@mail.vresp.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 03, 2009 7:51 AM
To: Newborn, Deborah
Subject: It’s Here: Our Groundbreaking Sustainability Planning Toolkit

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Fw: FOIL #13 FW: Invoice Attached: ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability

Forwarded message:
From: Gilwit, Kathy
To: Robert Cox <>
Date: Friday, April 27, 2012 4:25:29 PM
Subject: FOIL #13 FW: Invoice Attached: ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability

From: ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability [mailto:membership-usa@iclei.org]
Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 3:52 PM
To: Newborn, Deborah
Subject: Invoice Attached: ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability

Dear Deborah Newborn :

ICLEI USA would like to thank your jurisdiction for its continued commitment to climate protection and sustainability. Your engagement with ICLEI has been integral to the development and growth of a robust network that is now more than 600 local governments strong in the U.S. and more than 1,000 in the world.

Attached please find a copy of your jurisdiction’s 2010 invoice for ICLEI membership dues for twelve months (January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010). In order to avoid any interruption in your membership services please submit payment before December 31, 2009.

We look forward to our continuing work with your community. If you have any questions concerning membership services or need any further documentation in order to process this invoice, please do not hesitate to contact the ICLEI USA Membership Team at membership-usa@iclei.org or 617.960.3420×207.

Sincerely,
ICLEI USA Membership Team
www.icleiusa.org

To view your invoice
Open the attached PDF file. You must have Acrobat® Reader® installed to view the attachment.

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Fw: FOIL #12 FW: [POSSIBLE SPAM] Thank You – ICLEI Membership Renewed for New Rochelle, NY!

Forwarded message:
From: Gilwit, Kathy
To: Robert Cox <>
Date: Friday, April 27, 2012 4:25:09 PM
Subject: FOIL #12 FW: [POSSIBLE SPAM] Thank You – ICLEI Membership Renewed for New Rochelle, NY!

—–Original Message—–
From: Tracy Saxton [mailto:tracy.saxton@iclei.org]
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 5:03 PM
To: Newborn, Deborah
Subject: [POSSIBLE SPAM] Thank You – ICLEI Membership Renewed for New
Rochelle, NY!
Importance: Low

Dear Ms. Newborn,

ICLEI USA would like to thank your jurisdiction for submitting 2011
membership dues! ICLEI USA now represents more than 600 local government
members actively committed to achieving tangible reductions in
greenhouse gas emissions while advancing sustainable development.

As a liaison to ICLEI for New Rochelle, NY, we are pleased to have you
as a member of the online ICLEI community! To access ICLEI’s online
Member Center, enter the following into the Member Login fields on the
ICLEI USA homepage, www.icleiusa.org:

User Name:
Password:

Once you are logged in, you can change your password by clicking on the
“preferences” link between your user name and the “log out” link, right
under the main toolbar.

Access to ICLEI’s online Member Center includes:

– Your personal Member Center Dashboard, which is your portal to all of
the features below, as well as regional news, upcoming events, and quick
links to many of the most commonly sought ICLEI materials.
– The ICLEI USA Peer Networking Search, which allows you to search for
other ICLEI Liaisons across the country based on their name, employing
jurisdiction, job title, or region.*
– The Member Discussion Forums, which allow you to post questions and
ideas directly to the real experts-your peers!
– The ICLEI Action Center, a searchable one-stop-shop for all of ICLEI’s
resources to assist you in your climate protection activities, including
members-only toolkits and case studies.
– Your editable Member Profile, where you can enter highlights of your
climate protection activities and let everyone who visits ICLEI USA’s
website know how your jurisdiction is taking a leadership role in
reducing emissions and promoting community sustainability. This area
also allows you to update ICLEI’s list of contacts for your
jurisdiction. (Primary Staff Liaisons only)

We hope that you enjoy this benefit of your ICLEI membership, which was
a direct response to member liaison requests for an easy way to access
ICLEI’s tools and each other! If you have questions or comments on the
members-only sections of www.icleiusa.org please email us at
webmaster-usa@iclei.org.

Thank you again for your commitment to climate protection and
sustainability. We greatly look forward to continuing to work with your
community on these efforts.

Sincerely,

Tracy Saxton
Administrative and Data Associate

* You have received this email because you are listed as a Primary Staff
or Elected Liaison to ICLEI or have requested access to the ICLEI USA
Member Center. As such, your information (name, title, phone number and
email address) have automatically been entered into the ICLEI USA Member
Center peer networking database, searchable by other member liaisons.
This is part of our effort to better facilitate the sharing of
information and expertise among the ICLEI network. If you would like to
opt-out of this search please email membership-usa@iclei.org and we will
remove your information immediately.

Tracy Saxton
Administrative and Data Associate

ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA
180 Canal St., Suite 401
Boston, MA 02114
Tel +1 (617) 960-3412
Fax +1 (617) 248-3974
www.icleiusa.org

Fw: FOIL #11 FW: [POSSIBLE SPAM] ICLEI USA 2012 Membership Renewal for New Rochelle, NY

Forwarded message:
From: Gilwit, Kathy
To: Robert Cox <>
Date: Friday, April 27, 2012 4:24:45 PM
Subject: FOIL #11 FW: [POSSIBLE SPAM] ICLEI USA 2012 Membership Renewal for New Rochelle, NY

From: K.C. Boyce [mailto:kc.boyce@iclei.org]
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2011 4:46 PM
To: Newborn, Deborah
Subject: [POSSIBLE SPAM] ICLEI USA 2012 Membership Renewal for New Rochelle, NY
Importance: Low

Screen Shot 2013 06 30 at 5 34 24 PM

Screen Shot 2013 06 30 at 5 34 51 PM

Fw: FOIL #9 FW: [POSSIBLE SPAM] Draft ICLEI sample resolution for your review by COB, Wed., Dec. 15

Forwarded message:
From: Gilwit, Kathy
To: Robert Cox <>
Date: Friday, April 27, 2012 4:23:33 PM
Subject: FOIL #9 FW: [POSSIBLE SPAM] Draft ICLEI sample resolution for your review by COB, Wed., Dec. 15

From: Newborn, Deborah
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 12:11 PM
To: ‘Brita Pagels’
Subject: RE: [POSSIBLE SPAM] Draft ICLEI sample resolution for your review by COB, Wed., Dec. 15

I will be out the last two weeks of December.
Deborah Newborn

From: Brita Pagels [mailto:brita.pagels@iclei.org]
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 12:03 PM
To: vbaldovinos@townspi.com; sbass@cityofknoxville.org; cosentino_a@cityofelgin.org; Jesse.Duarte@peoriaaz.gov; michele.mician@palmspringsca.gov; ssweitzer@co.blaine.id.us; Newborn, Deborah; nridgely@ccg.carr.org
Cc: Susan Ode
Subject: [POSSIBLE SPAM] Draft ICLEI sample resolution for your review by COB, Wed., Dec. 15
Importance: Low

Greetings ICLEI Sample Resolution Task Force:

Thank you again for participating in the kick-off meeting last month. You shared valuable insights regarding the format and language ICLEI may incorporate into the new sample resolution to reflect the reasons why local governments across the country address climate protection and sustainability.

As promised, attached you will find the first draft sample resolution for your review. Please provide me with your thoughts about the content and format no later than close of business on Wednesday, December 15. If you are unable to provide me with feedback by this date, please let me know.

Additionally, Susan and I would like to hold the second and last 60-minute conference call the week of December 20— please note that the call may take less than 60 minutes. I propose that we hold the call at 9am Pacific/11am Central/12pm Eastern on Tuesday, December 21. Please confirm if you are available during this time. If not, what is your availability the week of December 20? Once I receive confirmation of participants’ availability, I will send the meeting details.

In the mean time, please do not hesitate to call or email if you have any questions or concerns about the above.

Best,

Brita Pagels
Regional Officer

** Please note new contact information**
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability USA
Midwest Regional Office
21 S. Clark, Suite 2501
Chicago, IL 60603
Tel: 312.377.6678
Website: www.icleiusa.org
Local Action Blog: www.icleiusa.org/blog
Keep up to date at: http://www.icleiusa.org/midwest

ICLEI USA’s mission is to build, serve and drive a movement of local governments to advance deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and achieve tangible improvements in local sustainability.

Fw: FOIL #8 FW: [POSSIBLE SPAM] Re: Draft ICLEI sample resolution for your review by COB, Wed., Dec. 15

Forwarded message:
From: Gilwit, Kathy
To: Robert Cox <>
Date: Friday, April 27, 2012 4:23:11 PM
Subject: FOIL #8 FW: [POSSIBLE SPAM] Re: Draft ICLEI sample resolution for your review by COB, Wed., Dec. 15

From: Newborn, Deborah
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 8:07 AM
To: ‘Brita Pagels’; vbaldovinos@townspi.com; sbass@cityofknoxville.org; cosentino_a@cityofelgin.org; Jesse.Duarte@peoriaaz.gov; michele.mician@palmspringsca.gov; ssweitzer@co.blaine.id.us
Cc: Susan Ode
Subject: RE: [POSSIBLE SPAM] Re: Draft ICLEI sample resolution for your review by COB, Wed., Dec. 15

I am available on Jan 5, 10, 11, 12 any of the suggested times except from 3-4.
Deborah

From: Brita Pagels [mailto:brita.pagels@iclei.org]
Sent: Monday, December 13, 2010 4:02 PM
To: vbaldovinos@townspi.com; sbass@cityofknoxville.org; cosentino_a@cityofelgin.org; Jesse.Duarte@peoriaaz.gov; michele.mician@palmspringsca.gov; ssweitzer@co.blaine.id.us; Newborn, Deborah
Cc: Susan Ode
Subject: [POSSIBLE SPAM] Re: Draft ICLEI sample resolution for your review by COB, Wed., Dec. 15
Importance: Low

Greetings:

Due to task force participants’ holiday schedules between now and the beginning of January 2011, I propose that we push back the final meeting until the first week or two of January.

To streamline scheduling, please indicate your availability by COB, Friday, December 17 for the following dates and times:

* Dates: January 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12
* Times: 12-1pm Central ,1-2pm Central, 2-3pm Central, 3-4pm Central

Friendly reminder that Pacific time is 2 hours behind Central time, and Eastern time is 1 hour ahead of Central time.

I will send meeting details on Monday, December 18th.

Also, thank you to those of you who provided preliminary feedback about the draft sample resolution. I look forward to discussing your thoughts in greater length during the January meeting.

Best wishes,

Brita

On 8 December 2010 11:03, Brita Pagels wrote:
Greetings ICLEI Sample Resolution Task Force:

In the mean time, please do not hesitate to call or email if you have any questions or concerns about the above.

Best,

Brita Pagels
Regional Officer

ICLEI USA’s mission is to build, serve and drive a movement of local governments to advance deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and achieve tangible improvements in local sustainability.

—
Brita Pagels
Regional Officer

ICLEI USA’s mission is to build, serve and drive a movement of local governments to advance deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and achieve tangible improvements in local sustainability.

Fw: FOIL #4 New ICLEI Liaisons!

Forwarded message:
From: Gilwit, Kathy
To: Robert Cox <>
Date: Friday, April 27, 2012 4:21:29 PM
Subject: FOIL #4 New ICLEI Liaisons!

From: Angela Vincent [mailto:angela.vincent@iclei.org]
Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 10:54 AM
To: ‘Angela Vincent’
Cc: ‘Jamie O’Connell’; ‘Allison Webster’
Subject: New ICLEI Liaisons!

Happy New Year!

With the new year comes exciting changes at ICLEI and with the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Team based in Boston. After almost three years as the liaison for the New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey ICLEI member network, Missy Stults has been promoted to Adaptation Manager for ICLEI USA! We are sad to see Missy leave the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Team, but confident she is a perfect fit for this new role coordinating ICLEI’s adaptation program. She will remain in Boston in this new role, and can still be reached at missy.stults@iclei.org.

We are replacing Missy with not one, but TWO liaisons for ICLEI members in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania:

· Angela Vincent, Regional Director, Northeast/Mid-Atlantic – angela.vincent@iclei.org, 617-960-3420, x202
– Angela can assist with member inquiries on Milestones 3-5, ICLEI membership, speaking engagements, policy questions, etc.
· Jamie O’Connell, Program Associate, Northeast/Mid-Atlantic – Jamie.oconnell@iclei.org, 617-960-3420, x210
– Jamie can assist members with technical questions related to Milestones 1 and 2, i.e., CACP, GHG Emissions Inventory, Local Government Operations Protocol, and setting a reduction target.

Please feel free to visit ICLEI’s website with up-to-date information on the latest in climate protection and sustainability resources – www.icleiusa.org.

Also, a Northeast/Mid-Atlantic newsletter will be coming out in February. If you have a success story, ghg emissions inventory or a climate action plan that you’d like to share, please forward them along so we can recognize your local governments for its accomplishments!

Best wishes for a healthy and energetic 2010!

The Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Regional Team

Angela Vincent
Regional Director
Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Regional Office
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability USA, Inc.
180 Canal Street, Suite 401
Boston, MA 02114
Tel: (617) 960-3402
Cell: (603) 305-5385
www.icleiusa.org

ICLEI USA’s mission is to build, serve and drive a movement of local governments to advance deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and achieve tangible improvements in local sustainability.
This e-mail is intended only for the individual or entity named above. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and may be confidential. ICLEI USA does not accept liability for any loss or damage that may result from this e-mail or any attached document.

Fw: FOIL #6 FW: Quote from Mayor Bramson for Sustainability Toolkit press release

Forwarded message:
From: Gilwit, Kathy
To: Robert Cox <>
Date: Friday, April 27, 2012 4:22:22 PM
Subject: FOIL #6 FW: Quote from Mayor Bramson for Sustainability Toolkit press release

From: Jennifer Ewing [mailto:jennifer.ewing@iclei.org]
Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2009 9:59 PM
To: nbramson@optonline.net
Cc: ‘Don Knapp’; Newborn, Deborah
Subject: Quote from Mayor Bramson for Sustainability Toolkit press release
Importance: High

Hi Noam,

I hope this email finds you well and you had a nice Thanksgiving holiday. I apologize for sending this to you with short notice, but we are gearing up to release the Sustainability Planning Toolkit this Thursday and would like to send out an embargoed press release to a number of media outlets on Monday afternoon. We would like to include a quote from you in the press release. I have attached the press release and the quote we drafted for you is as follows:

“The Sustainability Planning Toolkit provided us with a proven process for developing a sustainability plan and helped us to understand how New York’s planning process could work in a city of our size,” said Mayor Noam Bramson of New Rochelle, NY.

Feel free to edit this as you see fit. Could you send me your edits by noon on Monday?

Don Knapp, our Communications Officer, will be the point person from ICLEI should we receive any press enquiries and he has already reached out to Deborah to confirm her interest in being interviewed.

Thanks!

-Jennifer

Jennifer Ewing
Project Manager
ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability U.S.A.
Hosted by the City of New York, Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability
253 Broadway, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10007
jennifer.ewing@iclei.org
(w) 212-788-1629
(c) 917-318-4241
www.icleiusa.org

ICLEI U.S.A.’s mission is to build, serve and drive a movement of local governments to advance deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and achieve tangible improvements in local sustainability.

Hold for release until December 3, 2009

ICLEI Launches Sustainability Planning Toolkit to Accelerate Movement of Sustainable Cities and Counties

Local governments can now access comprehensive guidance—based on the model pioneered by City of New York’s PlaNYC—to develop sustainability plans that improve quality of life in their communities

December 3, 2009

Contacts:
Don Knapp, Senior Communications Officer
(510) 206-1011 (cell)
HYPERLINK “mailto:don.knapp@iclei.org” don.knapp@iclei.org

Annie Strickler, Communications Director
(510) 599-3021
HYPERLINK “mailto:annie.strickler@iclei.org” annie.strickler@iclei.org 
A new HYPERLINK “http://www.icleiusa.org/sustainabilitytoolkit” Sustainability Planning Toolkit released today by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA establishes for the first time the best practices to develop a local sustainability plan. This toolkit fills a major need: Across the United States, a rapidly growing number of cities, towns, and counties are eager to create sustainability plans or expand the scope of existing plans, but find the task daunting and disorganized, and lacking standardized methods and metrics.

With ICLEI’s toolkit, jurisdictions of all sizes can now follow a proven, straightforward, and flexible process to create long-term sustainability plans that bring together their individual environmental, economic, and social initiatives under one holistic vision.

The toolkit, which has been developed for ICLEI’s 600 U.S. local government members, is based on the planning model pioneered by City of New York for its renowned HYPERLINK “http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/html/home/home.shtml” PlaNYC sustainability plan, which was released in 2007. It was written by ICLEI and generated out of collaboration between ICLEI and the City of New York that involved an ICLEI staff member working out of the Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability, which is responsible for the creation and implementation of PlaNYC.

“ICLEI is leading a movement of cities, towns, and counties committed to implementing principles of sustainability, and this toolkit will help accelerate that movement by walking local governments through what can be a complex process,” said Jeb Brugmann, ICLEI Global’s founder and current Interim Director of ICLEI USA. “With a sustainability plan to guide their actions, cities like New York, Minneapolis, Santa Monica, and many others have shown that they can more effectively combat climate change, green their buildings, update infrastructure, invigorate their local economies, and improve public health and quality of life for their community members.”

“Our message to all local governments is that the secret to a successful sustainability plan is a rigorous planning process,” added Brugmann.

To reach their chosen sustainability goals, local governments can follow ICLEI’s Five Milestones for Sustainability process, which is the foundation of the toolkit:
Milestone One: Conduct a sustainability assessment
Milestone Two: Establish sustainability goals
Milestone Three: Develop a local sustainability plan
Milestone Four: Implement policies and measures
Milestone Five: Evaluate progress and report results

“PlaNYC is not a report. It is an implementation tool that was the outcome of a comprehensive planning process to create a greener, greater New York,” said Rohit T. Aggarwala, Director, City of New York Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability. “We hope our model is useful to other cities and provides a framework to create sustainability plans with measurable goals and objectives.”

In order to ensure the PlaNYC model was replicable for a range of large and small communities, ICLEI partnered with New Rochelle, NY and Miami-Dade County, FL to pilot the guidelines in the toolkit. “The Sustainability Planning Toolkit provided us with a proven process for developing a sustainability plan and helped us to understand how New York’s planning process could work in a city of our size,” said Mayor Noam Bramson of New Rochelle, NY.

Inside the toolkit, local government staff will find guidance on how to structure their planning process, what types of strategies and measures to include in their plan, step-by-step guidelines to achieve each of the Five Milestones, best-practice examples, checklists, templates, and guidelines for organizing a team to develop the plan.

The Sustainability Planning Toolkit is the first of two major sustainability resources offered by ICLEI USA. The HYPERLINK “http://www.icleiusa.org/star” STAR Community Index, to be launched in 2011, is a national, consensus-based framework for gauging the sustainability and livability of U.S. communities. STAR will build on the Five Milestones for Sustainability by providing a comprehensive set of goals and measures that standardize how we plan and manage for sustainability at the local level. A soft launch of the set of municipal goals that will comprise this new framework is set for early 2010. It is being developed through a robust stakeholder process of more than 165 volunteers representing 135 organizations, including 60 cities and 10 counties.

Visit HYPERLINK “http://www.icleiusa.org/sustainabilitytoolkit” www.icleiusa.org/sustainabilitytoolkit to view the toolkit’s table of content, introduction, and related free resources. Only ICLEI member local governments, however, may download the complete toolkit.

More Media Resources
To learn more about the Sustainability Planning Toolkit and the sustainable cities movement, view these ICLEI resources:
HYPERLINK “http://www.icleiusa.org/action-center/planning/ICLEI_10%20Keys%20to%20Sustainability%20Planning%20Success.pdf” 10 Keys for Sustainability Planning Success
HYPERLINK “http://www.icleiusa.org/action-center/planning/List%20of%20U.S.%20Sustainability%20and%20Climate%20Plans.pdf” List of U.S. Cities and Counties with Sustainability or Climate Action Plans
HYPERLINK “http://www.icleiusa.org/action-center/planning/ICLEI_What%20Is%20a%20Sustainability%20Plan.pdf” What Is a Sustainability Plan?
HYPERLINK “http://www.icleiusa.org/action-center/planning/ICLEI_Fact%20Sheet%20on%20Sustainable%20Cities%20and%20Counties.pdf” Fact Sheet on Sustainable Cities and Counties
To view the full toolkit, set up interviews with ICLEI’s toolkit author, Jennifer Ewing, or staff involved in the development of sustainability plans for Miami-Dade County, FL, New Rochelle, NY, or Minneapolis, MN —contact: Don Knapp, Senior Communications Officer, at (510) 206-1011, or HYPERLINK “mailto:don.knapp@iclei.org” don.knapp@iclei.org.

ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability is an international membership association of local governments dedicated to climate protection and sustainability. The organization was established in 1990 with more than 200 local governments from 43 countries and has grown to include more than 1,000 members internationally. ICLEI USA was founded in 1995 with a small group of local government members and has grown to a vibrant network of more than 600 active and engaged members. The mission of ICLEI USA is to build, serve, and support a movement of local governments to advance deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and achieve tangible improvements in local sustainability. For more information, please visit HYPERLINK “http://www.icleiusa.org/news-events/press-room/press-releases/www.cdproject.net” www.icleiusa.org.

Fw: FOIL #5 FW: [POSSIBLE SPAM] Contacts to write about ICLEI’s Sustainability Planning Toolkit

Forwarded message:
From: Gilwit, Kathy
To: Robert Cox <>
Date: Friday, April 27, 2012 4:21:54 PM
Subject: FOIL #5 FW: [POSSIBLE SPAM] Contacts to write about ICLEI's Sustainability Planning Toolkit

From: Don Knapp [mailto:don.knapp@iclei.org]
Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 2009 2:47 PM
To: eschlaikjer@wri.org
Cc: Jennifer.Ewing@iclei.org; Newborn, Deborah; susy@miamidade.gov; knowla@miamidade.gov; ‘Annie Strickler’
Subject: [POSSIBLE SPAM] Contacts to write about ICLEI’s Sustainability Planning Toolkit
Importance: Low

Hello Erica,

Nice chatting with you earlier today. As promised, below are individuals that you may wish to contact for your story on TheCityFix Blog about sustainability planning and the Sustainability Planning Toolkit. New Rochelle, NY, and Miami-Dade County were our two pilot cities for the toolkit, and both are currently developing sustainability plans for their communities. Jennifer Ewing, the toolkit’s author, is also available to speak to you or your writer. Just call her cell phone.

Please let me know if you need anything else, and thanks for your interest.

Jennifer Ewing, ICLEI Project Manager and author of the Sustainability Toolkit
(917) 318-4241 (cell phone—try this first)
(212) 788-1629
Jennifer.ewing@iclei.org

Deborah Newborn, Sustainability Coordinator, City of New Rochelle, NY
(914) 654-2003
dnewborn@newrochelleny.com
http://www.ci.new-rochelle.ny.us

Susanne Torriente, Director, Office of Sustainability, Miami-Dade County, FL
(305) 375-5593
susy@miamidade.gov

Amy Knowles
Sustainability Planner, Miami-Dade County, FL
(305) 372-6766
knowla@miamidade.gov

ICLEI USA’s mission is to build, serve and drive a movement of local governments to advance deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and achieve tangible improvements in local sustainability.

Fw: FOIL #2 Verifying Third Parties for CACP 2009 Access

Forwarded message:
From: Gilwit, Kathy
To: Robert Cox <>
Date: Friday, April 27, 2012 4:20:21 PM
Subject: FOIL #2 Verifying Third Parties for CACP 2009 Access

—–Original Message—–
From: Newborn, Deborah
Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 8:51 AM
To: ‘Anna Frankel’
Subject: RE: Verifying Third Parties for CACP 2009 Access

Dear Anna,
Thank you for checking with me first. In addition to my CACP software
download, I have already authorized a second party, Herb Fox to download
the software. Professor Fox is on New Rochelle’s Environmental Advisory
Board and has been helping me input the data for our GHG inventory.
Seth Zeren is a Yale student who will be working with me on a
sustainability issue. However, a different Yale student will be working
on a project for me that also requires use of the CACP software. Because
these two students are in New Haven and will be working from school, it
would be very helpful to them to have access to the CACP software. Would
it be possible for there to be a third download and I can ask these two
students to share it on a Yale computer?
Deborah

—–Original Message—–
From: Anna Frankel [mailto:anna.frankel@iclei.org]
Sent: Monday, January 25, 2010 2:14 PM
To: Newborn, Deborah
Cc: seth.zeren@yale.edu
Subject: Verifying Third Parties for CACP 2009 Access

Hello Deborah Newborn,

I recently received a CACP software request from Seth Zeren,

I wanted to check in with you to verify this request and make sure that
we have the proper paperwork. ICLEI recommends that each local
government only have one active copy of CACP at a time because
installation of the software in multiple locations can cause headaches
down the road when transferring data since data backups can overwrite
existing information. ICLEI can only provide 2 active copies at most of
CACP to any local government so I wanted to make sure that Seth Zeren is
authorized to receive the software. If this consultant has been hired
by you to complete an inventory, please fill out the Third Party Access
Template attached. Then sign, and either scan and e-mail or fax the
Third Party Access Template back to me. Please feel free to put the
template in your own letter head.

After this access form has been completed and returned to me your third
party will be given a username and password to access CACP 2009 and the
User Guide from the ICLEI website at
http://www.icleiusa.org/action-center/tools/cacp-software.

For more information about eligibility of third parties and distribution
limitations, please see our software license agreement which is attached
here.

Thank you for your help and understanding.

Best,
Anna Frankel
Program Associate
anna.frankel@iclei.org

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability U.S.A., Inc.
436 14th Street, Suite 1520
Oakland, CA 94612
Tel: +1(510) 844-0699 x 307
Fax: +1(510) 844-0698
www.icleiusa.org

Fw: FOIL #3 FW: Question

Forwarded message:
From: Gilwit, Kathy
To: Robert Cox <>
Date: Friday, April 27, 2012 4:20:56 PM
Subject: FOIL #3 FW: Question

From: angela.vincent [mailto:angela.vincent@iclei.org]
Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2011 2:47 PM
To: Newborn, Deborah
Subject: RE: Question

Hi Deb,
Sorry, I was hoping to finish the rest of my member support calls to see if anything came up. I have not heard of any others in Westchester County to-date. Many are actually using New Rochelle’s as an example.

Apologies again about the delay.

Angie

Stay in Touch with the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Region: www.icleiusa.org/northeast
Angela Vincent
Regional Director
Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Regional Office
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability USA
ICLEI USA’s mission is to build, serve and drive a movement of local governments to advance deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and achieve tangible improvements in local sustainability.
This e-mail is intended only for the individual or entity named above. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and may be confidential. ICLEI USA does not accept liability for any loss or damage that may result from this e-mail or any attached document.

From: Newborn, Deborah [mailto:dnewborn@ci.new-rochelle.ny.us]
Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2011 2:45 PM
To: angela.vincent@iclei.org
Subject: FW: Question

Angela,
Would you please confirm whether any other city/town in New Rochelle has developed a sustainability plan. Thanks a lot.
Deborah

From: Angela Vincent [mailto:angela.vincent@iclei.org]
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2011 11:12 AM
To: Newborn, Deborah
Subject: Re: Question

Hi Deborah,
To the best of my knowledge, New Rochelle was the first. If there are others, they are not ICLEI members. I’ll confirm tomorrow when I am back in the office.
Hope all is well!
Angie
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry – please excuse any errors.

From: “Newborn, Deborah”

Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2011 11:00:25 -0500

To:

Subject: Question

Angela,
A question just came across my desk that I thought ICLEI perhaps might know the answer to. Do you know how many cities/towns in Westchester County, NY have developed sustainability plans, other than New Rochelle?
Deborah

Deborah Newborn
Sustainability Coordinator
City of New Rochelle
Department of Development
515 North Avenue
New Rochelle, NY 10801
tel. 914 654-2003
fax 914 632-3626
dnewborn@newrochelleny.com
P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.

Fw: FOIL email #1 FW: [POSSIBLE SPAM] Fwd: Congratulations!

Forwarded message:
From: Gilwit, Kathy
To: Robert Cox <>
Date: Friday, April 27, 2012 4:19:41 PM
Subject: FOIL email #1 FW: [POSSIBLE SPAM] Fwd: Congratulations!

From: Newborn, Deborah
Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 2:11 PM
To: ‘Jennifer Ewing Thiel’
Subject: RE: [POSSIBLE SPAM] Fwd: Congratulations!

Thanks!
Deborah

From: Jennifer Ewing Thiel [mailto:jennifer.ewing-thiel@iclei.org]
Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 1:20 PM
To: Newborn, Deborah
Subject: [POSSIBLE SPAM] Fwd: Congratulations!
Importance: Low

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Noam Bramson
Date: Sat, Feb 14, 2009 at 8:15 AM
Subject: Re: Congratulations!
To: Jennifer Ewing
Cc: dnewborn@newrochelleny.com, AChester@cityhall.nyc.gov

Jennifer,

We are thrilled and looking forward eagerly to working with you and your team.

Noam

On Feb 13, 2009, at 4:17 PM, Jennifer Ewing wrote:
Dear Mayor Bramson and Deborah,

I am pleased to inform you that we have selected New Rochelle for the
Sustainability Planning Toolkit pilot. We were very impressed with your
application and your commitment to be sustainability leaders in the region
and nationally.

We are finishing up the drafts of the toolkit and the PlaNYC case study
and will send those to you in the next few weeks. After you have some
time to review the documentation, we can start to work with you more
closely in March and April.

Deborarh, perhaps we can touch base next week to discuss next steps and to
schedule an initial planning meeting.

Looking forward to working with you,

-Jennifer

—
Jennifer Ewing
Project Manager
ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability
Hosted by the City of New York
Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability
253 Broadway, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10007
jennifer.ewing@iclei.org
(w) 212-788-1629
(c) 917-318-4241
www.icleiusa.org

ICLEI U.S.A.’s mission is to build, serve and drive a movement of local
governments to advance deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and
achieve tangible improvements in local sustainability.

This e-mail is intended only for the individual or entity named above. Any
views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and may be
confidential. ICLEI U.S.A. does not accept liability for any loss or
damage that may result from this e-mail or any attached document.

—
Jennifer Ewing Thiel
Director, Tools & Technical Innovation
ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability U.S.A.
Hosted by the City of New York, Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability
253 Broadway, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10007
jennifer.ewing-thiel@iclei.org
(w) 212-788-1629
(c) 917-318-4241
www.icleiusa.org

ICLEI U.S.A.’s mission is to build, serve and drive a movement of local governments to advance deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and achieve tangible improvements in local sustainability.

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Sustainability Planning Toolkit Pilot Application

Project Background

ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA, in partnership with the City of New York Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability, is developing a Sustainability Planning Toolkit for local governments. The toolkit will include a detailed overview of ICLEI’s new Sustainability Planning Five Milestones, which are based on the process New York undertook to develop PlaNYC. The toolkit will also include templates, checklists, best practices, case studies, model ordinances, and a database of potential initiatives related to local sustainability planning.

In order to develop a model of the PlaNYC planning process that is replicable in communities of varying sizes and types, ICLEI and the Mayor’s Office are seeking to work with a three to four local governments that want to develop a Sustainability Plan to pilot the guidelines and templates in the Sustainability Planning Toolkit. Pilot local governments will receive training and guidance on how to structure their specific planning and outreach process in exchange for providing ICLEI and the Mayor’s Office feedback on the toolkit.

Application Instructions

Please fill out each section of the application with as much information as necessary to demonstrate your jurisdiction’s commitment to developing a Sustainability Plan and to working with ICLEI and the Mayor’s Office.

Application Timeline

Please submit your application by January 9, 2009 via email to HYPERLINK “mailto:jennifer.ewing@iclei.org” jennifer.ewing@iclei.org.
Application decisions will be made within two weeks of the application deadline. ICLEI and the Mayor’s Office seek to partner with a group of local governments that offer a range in geographic distribution (U.S. only), governance structure, type, and size. Selections will reflect these criteria, along with the commitment, timeline, and vision for the sustainability plan.

Pilot Local Government Requirements

To ensure the pilot communities are equipped to begin work on a sustainability plan, participation in the pilot will require the following of the participants:

ICLEI membership
Commitment from highest ranking elected official to develop a sustainability plan
Commitment of staff resources to develop a sustainability plan
Primary contact designated to coordinate the pilot

Questions

If you have any questions about the application or the pilot process, contact Jennifer Ewing at HYPERLINK “mailto:jennifer.ewing@iclei.org” jennifer.ewing@iclei.org or at 212-788-1629.
Local Government Information

Local Government Name and State: New Rochelle, NY
Population: 72,182
Highest Ranking Elected Official: Mayor Noam Bramson
Project Liaison Name: Deborah Newborn
Project Liaison Title: Sustainability Coordinator
E-mail: dnewborn@newrochelleny.com Work Phone: 914 654-2003
Address: New Rochelle City Hall, Office of Development, 515 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10801
ICLEI Member (Yes/No/In Progress): Yes

Status of GHG emissions inventory:
Have you already completed a GHG emissions inventory? If so, when was it completed / last updated? If not, where are you in the process?

New Rochelle performed a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Report in 2001 as part of the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign administered by ICLEI. This month we will commence a new Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory again using the ICLEI energy audit software that will be overseen by a professor from the New York Institute of Technology.

Timeframe for Sustainability Planning Process:
When do you anticipate beginning the planning process and when would you like to release your plan? Why does your local government want to do a Sustainability Plan now? Has your local government identified some of the key sustainability issues in your community or begun to research best practices?

We would like to begin the sustainability planning process immediately and would hope to release our plan within the year. We have an increasing commitment among our elected officials and recognition by the general public of the critical importance of sustainability to our future. The current economic down cycle creates enhanced opportunities for long term planning and for the first time the City of New Rochelle now has the in house staff to proceed with an ambitious plan. We have identifying a number of key sustainability issues within our City and we believe that participating in ICLEI’s pilot project would be instrumental in helping us effectively address these issues.

Governance Structure and Commitment:
Provide a brief description of your local government’s governance structure, such as city with strong mayor system, Council-City Manager, county with board of supervisors etc.

New Rochelle operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The two major components of this system are a Council and a City Manager. The Council is the legislative body, establishing City policies. New Rochelle’s City Council consists of the Mayor and six Council members elected by district. The Mayor serves as a member and presiding officer of the Council. The City Manager is the chief administrative officer of the City. The City Manager, appointed by the City Council, carries out the directives of the City Council.

Is your Highest Ranking Elected Official committed to developing a sustainability plan? How has he/she demonstrated this commitment?

The Mayor of New Rochelle is strongly committed to developing a sustainability plan. He has spearheaded a variety of environmental initiatives including hybrid electric vehicles, land use changes intended to expand open space, investment in storm water infrastructure, habitat restoration projects, the creation of new hiking and bicycle routes, the formation of an Environmental Advisory Council and the hiring of a Sustainability Coordinator. He has recently personally participated in a RPA/ICLEI Mayors’ Forum.

Explain why your local government would be a good candidate to participate in this pilot project.

New Rochelle is a classic first suburb with an exceptionally diverse population, aging infrastructure and
wide-ranging physical characteristics from a densely populated urban sector to classic suburbia and a
nine mile shoreline. These conditions and circumstances create an ideal laboratory for creative
environmental planning and the implementation of new policies.

Master Plan/Comprehensive Plan and Other Major Developments or Initiatives:
Provide a brief description of whether or not your local government has a master plan or comprehensive plan, when it was last updated, and the timeline for the next update. Also describe any major planning processes, development projects, or other initiatives in your municipality that are relevant to the development of a Sustainability Plan.

New Rochelle has a comprehensive plan, in accordance with State law, originally adopted in July 30, 1996, which has been updated more than twenty times, most recently approximately five months ago. Changes and updates will be area/project specific with SEQRA findings. The majority of the changes have been to permit higher density/mixed use developments near the Transit Center, i.e. Transit Oriented Development (TOD).

Other Relevant Info:
Please feel free to provide any other relevant information that will support your local government’s application, such as any climate change mitigation or sustainability initiatives you have already undertaken or any existing plans in place dealing with climate or sustainability issues.

We are beginning a new ICLEI energy audit. We have developed and will shortly adopt Green Building regulations. We are instituting energy efficiency measures within the City government, developing a recycling plan for the City, and have developed a wide variety of sustainability goals for New Rochelle. The central thrust of the City’s land use and development policies has been the Smart Growth model that steers investment to our transit district while limiting growth and development in our low density residential areas.

Confirmation to Provide Feedback on content of Sustainability Planning Toolkit:
As part of the pilot process, participating local governments are asked to provide feedback on the guidelines, templates, and overall content of the Sustainability Planning Toolkit. By signing this application electronically, your local government commits to providing detailed feedback on the toolkit and to also have your local government’s planning process highlighted in the guidebook as a case study.
Please either type in signature or insert jpeg image.

Electronic Signature: Deborah Newborn

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2 thoughts on “Freedom of Information Request – City of New Rochelle Communications with ICLEI”

John Imburgia says:

July 2, 2013 at 11:42 am

In short, Echo bay must be
In short, Echo bay must be built because that is a large component of GreeNR which is part of ICLEL’s agenda which is part of Agenda 21. In order for Bramson to get the votes he needs to control Westchester County, he needs to please ICLEI by building Echo Bay and more transit-oriented development projects. This is the goal of ICLEI, to reduce greenhouse gases by cramming people into “human settlements” that are built around transportation hubs. Note the part about social equability. I say we start by making the northend of NR more socially equitable and start building some mixed-use high rises there. Let’s use eminent domain to take Bramson’s house.
1. Brian Sussman says:
  
  July 2, 2013 at 11:58 pm
  
  FCEB, ICLEI, Agenda 21, Environment, UN and the USA
  I don’t support the Forest City Echo Bay project, and think it should be avoided. But that proposed project probably neither benefits nor impedes Noam Bramson’s likelihood of being elected County Executive this November.
  
  New Rochelle is involved in ICLEI, because it is the right thing to do.
  
  ICLEI as part of Agenda 21, is a policy supported and encouraged by the government of the USA, because protecting the environment of America and of the world, is one of the most important necessities of humanity.
  
  Obviously, we must avoid, or at least reduce, the serious environmental calamities already occurring and certain to get worse over in the future, if we do not pay serious attention, and act to prevent global warming and pollution, or our rising sea level will destroy the parts of the USA and Earth, where most people currently live and thrive.
  
  Regarding Agenda 21, the UN is basically an extension of the USA. Have you ever noticed which country the UN’s building is headquartered in? Are you aware that the UN was conceived by the 20th Century’s greatest American President, FDR, and that our first UN Ambassador was his wife, the great Eleanor Roosevelt?
  
  I agree with you that NR should focus its development more towards the North End. If New Rochelle were to develop the very-undertaxed property of the Wykagyl Country Club, and turn it into the new commerical center of NR, that would greatly benefit the tax base of NR. But doing so would upset the current residents of the North End, as much as the Forest City Echo Bay proposal upsets the residents of the South End.

Comments are closed.

2 thoughts on “Freedom of Information Request – City of New Rochelle Communications with ICLEI”

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