You are here
Sustainable Lynchburg
Progress Survey Report
January 2013
View the entire report (PDF)
Background
In February 2008, staff began working on a Sustainable City Initiative with the purpose of providing a framework by which the principles of sustainability are utilized in developing policy and in the City’s day to day practices. The Sustainable City Initiative fosters improved communication and leads to effectiveness and efficiencies in planning and day to day operations. The work to date has served to strengthen working relationships among departments, encourage collective ownership for problem solving and will improve long term planning and maximization of resources.
Elements of Sustainability Identified by Staff
- Arts and Culture
- Citizen Engagement and Social Capital
- Economic Development
- Healthy and Active Living
- Infrastructure
- Land Use
- Lifelong Learning
- Natural and Environmental Resources
- Neighborhoods
- Safe Community
- Transportation
In August 2008, Deputy City Manager Bonnie Svrcek presented the Sustainable City Initiative to Lynchburg City Council at which time City Council adopted a resolution supporting the initiative including the Statement of Purpose, Vision, Definitions, Guiding Principles, Goals and Objectives. City Council also appointed Councilmember Michael Gillette to serve as Council’s liaison to the Sustainable City Initiative committee to serve as the formal point of communication between staff and Council on sustainable issues, to work continually with staff to advance sustainable issues consistent with the Council’s priorities, and to report periodically to Council on how its decisions impact the sustainability efforts.
Staff has provided annual reports to City Council since 2008 and has continued working on the effort by strengthening the goals and identifying initiatives for each of those goals. The committee solicited input on the initiatives from the organization’s Leadership Team and key leaders. The initiative was also renamed Sustainable Lynchburg.
This report is a broad summary of Accomplishments, Works in Progress and Critical Issues/Concerns for the Future and documents work done internally by staff to support the vision of a diverse community working together to promote a healthy and sustainable city with social, cultural, economic and environmental vitality, now and for future generations. This report is not intended to be inclusive of all activities in each of the elements.
Sustainable Lynchburg Vision
Lynchburg is a diverse community working together to promote a healthy and sustainable City with social, cultural, economic and environmental vitality, now and for future generations.
Guiding Principals
- The City recognizes that financial responsibility, environmental stewardship, economic development, and social and racial equity are integrated elements of sustainability.
- Sound financial management and the appropriate use of taxpayers’ dollars are critical foundations to attaining the goals of sustainability.
- Sustainability serves as a filter for City decision making and development of policy.
- Engaging the community, building social capital and encouraging citizen leadership are fundamental elements to working towards a sustainable City.
- A sustainable City is achieved through partnerships with the business community, citizens and local government.
- All local government functions will work in support of a sustainable City.
- The City works to protect, preserve, and restore the natural environment.
- The City promotes active living, advances safe communities, and works to improve the social and physical environment.
- The City works towards a sustainable infrastructure.
- A sustainable City set priorities and evaluates progress through performance indicators and outcomes.
Work Group Members |
|
|
Jacob Dorman
Community Planning
Kay Frazier
Parks and Recreation
Dr. Michael Gillette
City Council Liaison
Gaynelle Hart
Public Works
JoAnn Martin
Communications & Marketing
Tim Mitchell
Utilities
|
Lee Newland
Engineering
Tamara Rosser
Juvenile Services
Parks Snead
Police
Bonnie Svrcek
City Manager’s Office
Marjette Upshur
Economic Development
Kent White
Community Planning
|