By Brett Rosenberg
February 9, 2004

Task Force Discusses Sustainable Development Practices and Policies

By Brett Rosenberg

Burlington (VT) Mayor Peter Clavelle hosted a task force meeting on sustainable development on January 22 during the 72nd Winter Meeting. Clavelle, appointed by Conference President Hempstead (NY) Mayor James A. Garner to lead this task force, presented Burlington's strategies of working toward sustainability and facilitated a discussion among fellow mayors to share perspectives and experiences. Additionally, the task force discussed creating a comprehensive, Conference-wide policy to guide communities towards sustainable practices.

Much of the mayors' discussion involved establishing a working definition of sustainable development with regard to American cities to include strategies for achieving long term economic, social and environmental goals.

Clavelle invoked four common themes of sustainable development: economic development, environmental protection, equity, and education, or the Four E's. While most of the mayors endorsed the Four E concept, they then discussed regional and jurisdictional differences among cities affect strategies for achieving sustainable communities. Through Burlington's Legacy Project and other programs, Clavelle has worked with community stakeholders to improve air and water quality; improved access to safe, decent, affordable housing; enhance neighborhood quality of life; and encourage a more accountable, responsive, and democratic city government.

Rio Ranch (NM) Mayor Jim Owen provided a stark example. His city, while trying to embrace some of the tenets underlying sustainable development, faces explosive growth within a 100 square mile area. His challenges include providing and financing the physical and economic infrastructure required for sustained five to six percent growth while preserving open space and other local amenities that citizens demand. Owen's situation demonstrates the difficulty of striking a balance between addressing immediate local concerns versus the needs of a community's future generations.

Mayors also described other challenges, many dealing with industries becoming obsolete or jobs losses due to less expensive labor markets overseas. These challenges, the mayors agreed, require new means of attracting industries and a highly-educated work force.

A major common theme to arise during the mayors' conversation involved the federal government's role in encouraging sustainable development among the nation's cities. Foremost, the federal government must facilitate interagency collaboration and cooperation in order to advance consistent ideals and policies behind sustainable communities. In particular, energy, transportation, job creation and affordable housing policies should reflect the efforts of local economic goals over broad time horizons and reflect the fiscal and geographical realities that cities face.

Similarly, the mayors noted that strategies for regional partnerships, smart growth and addressing contrasts between rural and urban areas require approaches to sustainable development that reflect location'specific situations. Federal, state and local policies should recognize that one size does not fit all, but certain approaches to sustainability can be adapted to various cities or regions.

Accordingly, the attending mayors agreed that a compilation of Best Practices, geared toward creating sustainable communities and engaging citizens, could serve as a valuable guide in establishing a comprehensive Sustainable Development policy. A series of Best Practices should include tax structures and fiscal policies that consider long-term goals that balance local concerns with more broad — even global — considerations.

The mayors agreed to issue a Best Practices book and a sustainable development policy resolution in the coming months for release at the Conference's annual June meeting in Boston. Anyone interested in learning more about this project should contact Judy Sheahan or Brett Rosenberg of the Conference staff at 202-293-7330.