ProGov21 Policy Library

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2018

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source Sustainable Development Code

Policy Areas Economic Justice, Food, Health, Public Spaces

Localities can promote farm stands by allowing them as by-right uses across zoning districts and streamlining permitting processes. This memo outlines how farm stand-friendly ordinances expand economic opportunities for small producers and increase the availability of fresh produce....

Community Gardens on Private Property as a By-Right or Permitted Use

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2018

Level City or Town, County

State(s) All States

Source Sustainable Development Code

Policy Areas Community Development, Democracy & Governance, Environment & Natural Resources, Public Spaces

Local governments can facilitate community gardens by passing ordinances that classify them as permitted or by-right uses on private property. This memo explains how permitting community gardens on private land can promote healthy lifestyles, improve access to fresh produce, encourage...

The Excellent City Park System: What Makes it Great and How to Get There

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2013

Level City or Town, County

State(s) All States

Source The Trust for Public Land

Policy Areas Community Development, Economic Justice, Public Spaces

This report outlines best practices for effective park development and recommends that cities take inventory of their land assets, prioritize park safety and equity, and regularly engage with the public. It also highlights case studies that have implemented successful park development...

Minimum Width and Buffer Requirements for Sidewalks

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2018

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source Sustainable Development Code

Policy Areas Community Development, Democracy & Governance, Economic Justice, Environment & Natural Resources, Public Spaces, Transportation & Mobility

Local governments should update zoning codes to mandate sidewalk vegetation buffer zones that separate pedestrians from vehicles. This policy memo highlights how these buffers improve pedestrian mobility and safety, reduce stormwater management costs, increase access to public transportation,...

County of Sacramento Climate Action Plan

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2024

Level County

State(s) California

Source County of Sacramento

Policy Areas Community Development, Democracy & Governance, Economic Justice, Education, Energy, Environment & Natural Resources, Finance & Procurement, Public Safety

Cities must develop strategic planning frameworks to mitigate emissions and prepare for the impacts of climate change. This climate action plan outlines carbon emission inventories, mitigation approaches, and reduction targets for Sacramento County. It provides an overview of the...

Green Roofing

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2020

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source Sustainable Development Code

Policy Areas Democracy & Governance, Environment & Natural Resources, Public Spaces

Cities can use their zoning codes to mandate sustainable development practices like green roofing, which promotes heat absorption, increases stormwater filtration, and provides recreational opportunities. This policy brief outlines how municipalities have leveraged incentives like...

Demanding Better Energy Information: Cities address market failure for energy upgrades

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2012

Level City or Town, City or Town

State(s) Ohio

Source Policy Matters Ohio

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Economic Justice, Energy, Democracy & Governance

This report emphasizes the importance of providing better energy information to renters, buyers, owners, and operators of buildings. By arming them with this information, they can make more informed choices, differentiate between properties, and determine whether energy upgrades are...

2010 King County Ordinance 16927 Energy Efficiency and Emissions Reduction

Type Ordinance or Resolution

Year 2010

Level County

State(s) Washington

Source St. Paul City Council

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Public Spaces, Energy

This ordinance requires developers of county capital improvement projects to submit a strategic energy-efficiency and greenhouse gas emission reduction plan that includes options for reducing emissions; improving energy efficiency; identifying financial incentives for achieving energy...

Complete Parks Playbook

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2018

Level City or Town, County

State(s) All States, Pennsylvania, Texas

Source ChangeLab Solutions

Policy Areas Education, Environment & Natural Resources, Health, Public Spaces

Parks enhance communities by promoting physical, mental, and social health. This guide outlines the 'complete parks approach', which helps local governments promote parks improvements by engaging communities who have historically been overlooked during parks planning discussions,...

Joint Use Agreements in Tucson Arizona

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2012

Level City or Town, County

State(s) Arizona

Source Kaboom.org

Policy Areas Children & Families, Community Development, Economic Justice, Health, Public Spaces

To address its deficiency in parks and public green spaces, the city of Tucson established joint use agreements with the unified school district which expanded community access to 12 elementary school yards. This brief outlines the costs and legal processes associated with the agreements...

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Report

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2014

Level City or Town

State(s) North Carolina

Source City of Raleigh

Policy Areas Economic Justice, Energy, Environment & Natural Resources

This report outlines total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from all activities within city limits and includes a separate inventory of all emissions generated by local government operations to help develop effective GHG reduction strategies. It analyzes emissions from vehicles, municipal...

How to Eliminate Paper and Save Time and Money: Rethinking Paper-Based Business Processes in the Finance Office Using Low or No Cost Technologies

Type Fact Sheet or Infographic

Year 2020

Level City or Town, State

State(s) All States

Source Government Finance Officers Association

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources

COVID-19 has forced employees and also forced organizations to rethink business processes that require access to the office or involve large amounts of paper. Governments have an opportunity to eliminate or rethink paper-based business processes to operate effectively under current...

2015 Chicago Ordinance 1741015 Providing Zoning Incentives for Green Roofs

Type Ordinance or Resolution

Year 2015

Level City or Town

State(s) Illinois

Source City of Chicago

Policy Areas Democracy & Governance, Environment & Natural Resources, Public Spaces

Chicago's zoning code awards a Floor-Area Ratio (FAR) bonus for green roofs that cover more than 50 percent of the roof area in downtown mixed-use districts. Developments with larger green roof plots can earn higher bonuses which incentivizes more green roof development without large...

Maximizing Value: A Policy Blueprint to Help Communities Leverage Green Investments

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2011

Level City or Town

State(s) Ohio

Source Policy Matters Ohio

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Economic Justice, Energy

Clean energy policies can create jobs, support local business in green markets, and ensure residents have access to jobs created. This brief guides local governments on how to make the most out of green investments. After reviewing the City of Oberlin's energy use and emissions, several...

2011 New York City Local Law 2011-01 Promoting Energy Conservation

Type Ordinance or Resolution

Year 2011

Level City or Town

State(s) New York

Source The City of New York

Policy Areas Energy, Environment & Natural Resources

This ordinance amends the existing New York administrative code to permit the use of innovative approaches and techniques for energy conservation. It additionally presents new standards for alternative materials and construction methods, construction documents, and inspection procedures....

Bluelining: Climate Financial Discrimination on the Horizon

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2023

Level State

State(s) All States

Source The Greenlining Institute

Policy Areas Economic Justice, Environment & Natural Resources, Housing

Bluelining occurs when financial institutions increase prices or withdraw services from regions they perceive to be at high environmental risk. As climate risk mitigation increasingly factors into business strategies, low-income communities are increasingly excluded. Populations disproportionately...

The Impact of the Built Environment on Mental Wellness

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2018

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source Urban Habitat

Policy Areas Civil Rights, Environment & Natural Resources, Community Development, Public Spaces, Housing, Public Safety, Health, Transportation & Mobility

The physical landscapes of places and the sociocultural context in which people live and build communities have direct and indirect effects on mental wellness. This report looks at how factors related to the built environment, such as exclusionary land use practices, green spaces,...

Purchase of Development Rights

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2018

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source Sustainable Development Code

Policy Areas Community Development, Democracy & Governance, Environment & Natural Resources, Public Spaces

Local governments prevent environmentally damaging land development by developing purchase of development rights (PDR) programs. PDR programs enable landowners to sell the development rights of their land to a trust while keeping ownership and use. This brief outlines best practices...

7 Standout Climate Actions from North American Cities

Type Article

Year 2023

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source CDP

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources

From investing in city-wide resilience and emissions targets to ramping up renewables and fostering inclusive climate solutions, this article outlines seven impactful initiatives undertaken by North American cities to combat climate change and enhance environmental sustainability,...

Local Sustainability: A menu of policy options greening communities

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2011

Level City or Town, County, City or Town

State(s) Ohio

Source Policy Matters Ohio

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Economic Justice, Civil Rights, Energy

This policy brief provides an overview of "The Oberlin Project," a partnership between the City of Oberlin and Oberlin College exemplifying energy, waste, transit, industrial, and workforce development policies designed for sustainable economic growth. Among a variety of interventions...

2013 New Orleans Ordinance to Procure Environmentally Preferable Products and Services

Type Ordinance or Resolution

Year 2013

Level City or Town

State(s) Louisiana

Source City of New Orleans

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Community Development, Energy

This ordinance prioritizes environmental sustainability in procurement spending and creates an environmental purchasing committee. It establishes an assessment system for environmentally preferable purchases and explains the city's plans for promoting the policy will be promoted to...

Local Technical Assistance Toolkit: Energy Efficiency in Water and Wastewater Facilities

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2011

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

Policy Areas Energy, Community Development, Public Spaces, Environment & Natural Resources, Economic Justice

This toolkit recommends local governments improve the efficiency of their water facilities by requiring energy audits, updating regulations on equipment management, and providing financial incentives for energy-efficient projects. It also includes links to relevant resources and features...

The Built Environment, Climate Change, and Health: Opportunities for Co-Benefits

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2008

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source SPARCC

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Health, Transportation & Mobility

The built environment, climate change, and public health are closely connected; human-generated greenhouse gases derive from aspects of the built environment such as transportation systems and infrastructure, building construction and operation, and land-use planning. Transportation...

Building Green Pathways Out of Poverty

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2010

Level City or Town

State(s) Ohio

Source Policy Matters Ohio

Policy Areas Economic Justice, Civil Rights, Environment & Natural Resources

This brief provides sustainable workforce development strategies which include driving investment in green energy infrastructure, promoting best value contracting, and creating job training and apprenticeship programs in sustainable industries. It also highlights examples of policies...

Carson Climate Action Plan

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2017

Level City or Town

State(s) California

Source City of Carson

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources

Climate action planning includes a wide variety of strategies, such as establishing greenhouse gas inventories, forecasting future emissions, adopting sustainable land use policies, and measures to improve energy efficiency. The City of Carson, in collaboration with the South Bay...

ProGov21 Policy Library

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