CitiesGoGreen - November 2008 - (Page 23)

No central organization The city’s size may also be an advantage. “This is a relatively small community, No one individual or organization spearand the people that are involved in this heads sustainability efforts in Fort Collins, kind of work are a fairly small group, so it and many of its green initiatives seem to tends to be pretty easy to coordinate and have grown up organically. “I think that’s a get initiatives like the Clean Energy Clusgood way to characterize it,” said Lucinda ter going,” said Freeman. And of course, Smith. “There is certainly momentum, naonce a city establishes a track record, tionally, statewide and locally, for more people who resonate with it are drawn to be there, bringing even more energy and commitment to its “It really has to come from within, and to direction. At City Hall in Fort begin with an acknowledgment of what the Collins, for example, sustainability and innovation are “part community’s values are and what people are of the DNA of the organization,” according to Freeman. willing to commit themselves to achieve.” “This tends to be a place where people can really explore new ideas and try new things. And for the vast and more of these kinds of efforts, and majority of people who work here, their as the momentum grows, things do grow values match up with the kind of organiorganically.” Nonetheless, city staff are zation we are. That’s why people are atdiscussing the creation of a more comtracted to work here.” prehensive citywide plan, in part to pull the many disparate sustainability projects together. “Sometimes we’ve wondered, at Starting points the city level, whether it might be impor- Yet any city government can impact its tant to add a level of focus,” said Smith. community and inspire a more sustain“Focus can help in achieving priority ob- able outlook, Freeman points out. “In jective sooner than multiple scattered most communities, the local government efforts—all well-intentioned, but not nec- is one of the largest employers,” he said, essarily prioritized.” noting that the city of Fort Collins has In some ways, Fort Collins seems to be about 2,000 employees and a $500 million a kind of “perfect storm” of favorable con- budget. “We’re a big organization, and big ditions for sustainability efforts, with an organizations in communities can drive educated and engaged citizenry, a high change. I think there’s a lot that a municidegree of technical expertise available pality can do just in and of themselves for locally and Colorado State University’s the environment.” He also stresses the imrecognized position as a pioneer in clean portance of city governments leading by engine technologies and solar energy. example, something Smith echoes when November 2008 she discusses the efforts city hall is taking to reduce its own carbon footprint. “We don’t want to ask others to do more than we are willing to do ourselves,” she said. And rather than using Fort Collins as a template, city staff suggest that cities wishing to follow in its footsteps look inward rather than outward. “I think every community is different,” said Freeman. “You really have to look at what your community can be effective and successful doing.” Diane Jones agrees, stressing the need for a collaborative effort between City Hall, citizens and organizations in addressing climate change issues. She also highlights the need to begin that discussion by establishing common ground. “I think it’s important to begin the conversation with talking about values and purpose, because if you don’t have a common understanding and a common commitment, it becomes much more difficult. It’s really about working within the community, whether it’s the educational arena, the business arena, the local government arena, or citizens in general, to bring people to a place where they can talk about what they value and identify what’s really important to them, and then begin to figure out what they want to do.” Such dialogue has been a key element in Fort Collins’ achievements, and Jones views it as essential for other cities as well. “There is no cookie-cutter formula that says, oh, this will work,” said Jones. “It really has to come from within, and to begin with an acknowledgment of what the community’s values are and what people are willing to commit themselves to achieve.” That kind of thinking has accomplished a lot in Fort Collins. Lia Ayley is a freelance writer and contributing editor for CitiesGoGreen. She can be reached at (360) 303-0882 or at lia@openaccess.org. Add your comments and ideas at CitiesGoGreen.com 23 http://citiesgogreen.com http://citiesgogreen.com http://citiesgogreen.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of CitiesGoGreen - November 2008

CitiesGoGreen - November 2008 Contents In Motion Disaster Housing for $200: The Hexayurt Coming Soon: A Code-Ready Green Building Standard from ASHRAE ICMA Embraces Sustainability Fort Collins, Colorado Interview: ClimateWise, Business Smart 12-for-1 Parking: Bike Corrals Fresno County More Biking and Walking for Better Communities

CitiesGoGreen - November 2008

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