Re Sustainability Charters and Charter Template

MEMORANDUM To: From: Date: Cc: Re: Environmental Policy Commission (EPC) The Charter Team, Virginia Tech’s Environmental Studio Class February 22, 2008 Professors Mastran, McCarty, and Schilling Sustainability Charters and Charter Template Introduction Beginning in spring 2007, the City of Alexandria partnered with Virginia Tech’s Graduate School of Urban Affairs and Planning (UAP) to design and facilitate a strategic planning process that would result in a new EcoCity Charter to guide the city toward ecological sustainability. As part of this process, three students in Virginia Tech’s Spring 2008 Environmental Planning Studio (e.g., the Charter Team) researched and reviewed sustainability charters, policy plans, strategies, and resolutions from several cities and counties throughout the United States and abroad. This memorandum outlines the purpose, methodology and results of the team’s research and analysis along with suggestions for the process of developing and presenting the charter. It includes a matrix that dissects 15 local government charters and sustainability policy plans with links to those community web sites. The memorandum also provides a template for Alexandria’s EcoCity Charter and examples for each section of the template. Goals of the Charter Team The Charter Team conducted its research and analysis to guide the Environmental Policy Commission (EPC) in its Charter Drafting process. At the request of the EPA, the Chart Term created a charter template with examples (See Appendices A and B). This template and examples can serve as an outline for Alexandria’s EcoCity Charter and a starting point for the EPC draft charter. 1 Definitions and Framework To provide a common understanding of terms, the Charter Team used the following definitions:1 EcoCity: EcoCities are places where people can live healthier and economically productive lives while reducing their impact on the environment. They work to harmonize existing policies, regional realities, and economic and business markets with their natural resources and environmental assets. EcoCities strive to engage all their diverse citizens in collaborative and transparent decision-making, being mindful of social equity concerns. Sustainability: Sustainability is progress that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. A sustainable community is an environmentally, economically, and socially healthy place where people can live, work, and play for decades to come. Ecological sustainability ensures that all parts of natural and built environments work together as a single ecological system to ensure that the city is a great place to live, work, and play for decades to come. Economic Sustainability ensures a healthy economy that supports and sustains people and the environment in which they live over the long term. Social Sustainability ensures that a community meets residents’ basic needs and has the resiliency to prevent and/or address problems in the future. Alexandria’s EcoCity Charter: The Alexandria EcoCity Charter will guide city leaders and residents towards a more sustainable, holistic, and healthy environment. It will define Alexandria’s commitment to ecological sustainability and provide policy makers, staff, and community and business leaders with an overarching direction. The Charter will include a set of essential sustainability principles and core values linked with the City’s 2015 Strategic Plan. Environmental Action Plan. The Environmental Action Plan is a road map for city leaders, staff, and citizens to implement the EcoCity Charter. Once the City Council formally approves the principles and goals in the Charter, the Action Plan will be developed to establish specific policy objectives, identify programs and resources, set tentative timelines, and develop measures of success. The diagram on the following page illustrates the relationship among the various documents that guide and direct the City of Alexandria’s policy and programs. The diagram shows how the City Council’s 2015 Alexandria Strategic Plan feeds the EcoCity Charter, which in turn provides the commitment, vision, and principles that guide the Environmental Action Plan 1 Taken from EcoCity Alexandria Project Backgrounder. 2 City of Alexandria, Virginia and Mayor and City Council 2004 – 2015 Strategic Plan Other Charters and Plans Alexandria Eco-City Charter Commitment Eco-City Vision Eco-City Principles Other Charters and Plans Alexandria Environmental Action Plan Program Program Program Program Program Program Relationship of City Strategies, Charters, Plans, and Programs Methodology The Charter Team drew upon preliminary research and analysis conducted by the entire Environmental Studio Class. Students were asked to find examples of charters, and highlight the positive and limited aspects of the sample charters, along with their rationale. They were also asked to pull from these examples a set of topics that they felt should be included in Alexandria’s EcoCity charter. Students also noted the process used by specific locations to develop their model charter template. The students used the Internet as the primary source of information on sustainability, as books on this topic are not yet available. Searching on keywords such as “sustainability charters,” “ecocity,” “sustainability vision,” and other similar words, the students uncovered information on a handful of cities and local governments that had, or were beginning the process of creating, charters, vision statements, and principles related to sustainability issues. This initial research resulted in a list of 15 cities. The students did not find a plethora of good examples of sustainability charters. While some local governments have environmental plans and policies, it appears that only a few of the more progressive cities are thinking about the broader notion of sustainability and of those that are, many are still developing their charters. Of the charters that exist, most are from local governments outside the United States. 3 The Charter Team reviewed the results of the research and analysis conducted by the entire class, compared and contrasted the charters, analyzed the relevancy of specific components to Alexandria’s needs, and pulled the relevant components from each of the example charters. Because of the relatively small sample, the Charter Team broadened its search to examine Environmental Action Plans, Sustainability Policy Plans, and Resolutions. Some of these plans had good examples of vision statements and guiding principles. These were also included in the Team’s analysis. The Charter Team reviewed the sample charters and plans, evaluated them against the needs of the City of Alexandria (e.g., similar size, scope, and intent), and developed a template for Alexandria’s EcoCity Charter along with examples for each section of the template. The team also reviewed available information about the processes used by the local governments and from this and other information on general strategic planning processes, identified key elements of a good charter development process. Finally, the team provided some suggestions regarding the presentation of Alexndria’s EcoCity Charter. Charter Content The 15 charters and plans reviewed by the Team are summarized in the table below. Location Within U.S. Burlington, VT 38,889 residents Plan (Legacy Action Plan) -Vision Statement -Process http://www.cedo.ci.burlingt on.vt.us/legacy/documents _files/Burlington%20Legac y%20Plan.pdf http://www.greenprintdenv er.org/docs/greenprint_rep ort.pdf http://www.ci.longmont.co. us/focus/ http://www.ci.minneapolis. mn.us/sustainability/index. asp http://www.ci.pasadena.ca. us/permitcenter/GreenCity/ Home_Green.asp#ENVIR ONMENTAL_CHARTER_ http://www.sdrsp.org/chart er.php Population Charter or Plan Relevant Components Link Denver, CO 4,753,377 residents 84,636 residents 382,618 residents Longmont, CO Plan (Greenprint Denver) Plan (Focus on Longmont) Amendments to Comp Plan Minneapolis, MN Pasadena, CA 144,113 residents Charter -Guiding Principles -Information on public involvement process -Detailed information on public involvement process -Definition of sustainability -Guiding Principles -Process -Brief environmental charter San Diego, CA 1,257,000 residents Charter San Juan Capistrano, CA 34,839 residents Charter -Background on influences -Vision -Actions -Pledge -Definition of sustainability -Vision -Governing principles http://www.sanjuancapistra no.org/Index.aspx?page=1 107 4 Outside U.S. Abbotsford, British Columbia Anguilla (British territory) The Fraser Basin, Canada (about 2/3 of the population in British Columbia) Hornsby, Australia 123,864 residents 13,677 residents Approximately 2.8 million residents Charter -Key principles Charter Charter -Guiding principles -Vision -Principles for sustainability -Four directions (each includes goals) -Background / history -Vision, mission -Values -Objectives -Information on the charter development process -Basic definition of sustainability -Guiding principles of sustainability -Basic Definition -Guiding Principles -Basic definition of sustainability -Guiding principles of sustainability http://www.abbotsford.ca/A ssetFactory.aspx?did=170 2 http://www.ukotcf.org/pdf/c harters/anguilla.pdf http://www.fraserbasin.bc.c a/about_us/documents/FB Ccharter.pdf 18,702 residents Charter http://www.hornsby.nsw.go v.au/uploads/documents/A dopted_SACCharter2007.p df http://www.sustainability.su rrey.ca http://www.toronto.ca/susta inability/sustainability_char ter.htm http://www.city.vancouver. bc.ca/sustainability/index.h tm http://www.willoughby.nsw. gov.au/downloaddocument .aspx?DocumentID=1930 Surrey, British Columbia Toronto, Ontario 394,976 residents 5,113,149 residents Charter in development Charter Vancouver, BC 578,041 residents 67,434 residents Plan Willoughby, Australia Charter Based on the review of the charters and plans summarized above, the Team identified common highlights and weaknesses in the general content of these documents. The Alexandria EPC may want to consider these points in the development of its EcoCity Charter, so as to create a well-rounded Charter that is informed by the successes and shortcomings of similar efforts in other jurisdictions. Highlights • Logical flow and correct use of strategic planning concepts. The most informative charters were those that followed a clear, hierarchical structure of strategic planning concepts that built upon each other. These included the following elements: local definition of sustainability (by way of introduction), a clear vision, guiding principles, and a brief description of the implementation process. Inclusion of ownership element. Several of the charters included a pledge or endorsement, typically a short paragraph describing the charge of the signatories and the organizations or agencies they represent to uphold the charter, followed by a list of those parties. This element strengthens the document by explicitly identifying who will oversee the charter’s implementation. • 5 Weaknesses • Exclusive focus on the environment. A few of the charters were focused only or primarily on environmental sustainability. This approach is problematic in that it necessarily dismisses any efforts toward economic or social sustainability. To truly achieve a more sustainable community, the three general policy areas – economic, environmental and social policy – must be considered comprehensively. Also, progress may be slowed or stymied altogether without the valuable collaborations across organizations working in each of these three policy areas. Attempting to encompass aspects of a plan. Some of the so-called “charters” we reviewed actually included detailed objectives and indicators, which are more appropriately housed in some type of action plan. Furthermore, the cumbersome length of these all-encompassing documents somewhat diminished their accessibility for users (especially members of the public). • The content review of these documents informed the development of two resources for the City. The first is a Sustainability Charter Template, included as Appendix A, which is a basic outline of model elements from strong charters. The second resource is a list of good examples of Sustainability Charter elements, included in Appendix B. This document is a compilation of exemplary language from the charters and plans reviewed. Charter Development Process Based on the various charters as well as methodologies for general strategy and vision development, the Charter Team identified three important activities that should be included in the process for developing a charter: • Scan the environment to find examples and practices that other organizations have used successfully (can also include learning from mistakes other organizations have made). Example: Denver, Colorado, drew upon the experiences of nearby cities and hosted a forum to bring together top officials from these cities to discuss and help fine-tune the goals and strategies for Greenprint Denver 2005. 2 • Engage the public and community at large by having them provide both input to the charter as well as feedback on a draft charter. Example: Longmont, Colorado, employed a combination of one-on-one interviews and a community summit to develop its vision. A Coordinating Team conducted 80 one-on-one interviews with a wide array of community members, from which it produced stories and insights into the “best” of Longmont. These were combined with a “best in class” analysis to develop Longmont’s “positive core,” six elements 2 Website Link: http://www.greenprintdenver.org/ 6 that describe what the community is like at its best. The positive core was validated at a community summit attended by over 175 people. The summit was also used as a forum to collect community input for the future vision. 3 Example: Lander, Wyoming, conducted a visioning process using a consensusbased approach to organize people and ideas centered on a vision of what Lander Valley is to be in the next 25 years. Through a series of community workshops participants were asked to discuss what they liked about living in Lander, what changes the Valley is likely to see in the near future, and how the community could work together to make sure that these changes work for the wider benefit of the community. In order to translate this vision into action, ten task forces, representing a cross section of interests, were formed. A second 2020 workshop was held in October of 1994 to update the progress of the task forces. 4 Example: In developing its Sustainability Charter, Surrey, British Columbia, is following a comprehensive three-phased process with full public participation and stakeholder involvement. Phase one of the process defines “sustainability” and the scope of the charter. Phase two develops alternatives to sustainability and identifies options. Phase three focuses on meetings with stakeholder groups and committees to develop an implementation strategy and decide how best to utilize staff resources to implement and monitor goals set out in the Charter. 5 • Communicate openly the process, progress, and results so that people understand what the City is doing and know when and how they can participate in the process. Organizations need to communicate not only the charter itself, but also the process for creating it. This communication needs to happen throughout the process, not just at the end. Creative ways can be used to communicate the process. Longmont, Colorado, drew the picture below to illustrate its process for creating the city’s strategic plan. A similar picture could be created for the process of developing Alexandria’s EcoCity Charter. 3 4 Website Link: http://www.ci.longmont.co.us/focus/ Website Link: http://www.sustainable.org/casestudies/SIA_PDFs/SIA_Wyoming.pdf 5 Website Link: http://www.sustainability.surrey.ca 7 Several of the charters reviewed for this report used professional facilitators to help advise and guide the appointed committee or staff through the charter development process. (This technique will be used for the Eco-City Café process on March 8th.) Charter Presentation In general, a charter should be short and crisp. It should be presented and laid out in a way that is easy to access and understand for most readers. It can be helpful to include a picture that graphically represents the future vision and/or guiding principles. Not only does this make the charter more inviting, but it can also help people who tend to be more visually oriented understand the key concepts. (See the Longmont example, below). 8 The charter needs to be on the city’s web site, available for everyone to see and easy to find. Images of other good charter presentations are shown below: 9 Conclusion The EcoCity Charter is an important document that sets the direction for a sustainable Alexandria. It should align with the city’s council’s strategic plan, document the commitment of key city leaders, and encompass the vision and principles that will drive the Environmental Action Plan and resulting programs. The Charter itself should include a logical flow and correct use of strategic planning concepts as well as an ownership element. It should also cover all three aspects of sustainability (ecological, economic and social) and present a broad vision and direction, leaving the detailed objectives, programs, and indicators to the Environmental Action Plan. The process for creating the charter should include a review of what other cities are doing (best practices and lessons learned, if available), significant community involvement, and open and transparent communication. The format and presentation of the charter can be as important as the content. The charter should be short, clear, and presented in a way that invites someone to read it. Graphics are a good mechanism for improving the charter presentation. 10 Appendix A – Sustainability Charter Template [Name of Charter] [Jurisdiction] [Date Proposed, Date Approved] [Definition of sustainability, with a local bent] Because sustainability can mean slightly different things, depending on the context in which it is used, many charters begin by defining sustainability in the context of the particular jurisdiction. To be comprehensive in scope, this definition of sustainability should encompass three general policy areas: economic, ecological and social. [Vision Statement] A vision statement clarifies what the city should look like in a predetermined point in the future. This enables the City government, residents, and all sectors of the community to have an agreed-upon destination to begin developing goals, objectives and action plans. The vision should be rooted in a set of guiding principles. [Guiding principles of sustainability] Guiding principles provide direction and set standards for actions and behaviors that will further the City’s vision. These principles provide the basis from which effective and sustainable decisions can be made. This section typically includes a list of 5-10 high-level guiding principles. The principles should adequately address the cross-cutting themes. The principles may be subdivided into environmental, economic and social principles, depending on how the authoring body wishes to organize the content. [Process] The process section provides a very brief overview of how the City plans to follow the EcoCity Charter. This section should describe how the Charter relates to the City Council’s 2015 Strategic Plan and Environmental Action Plan. Additionally, the process section may include the following: description of the public involvement process, implementation, monitoring and/or reporting. The public involvement process through which the views of all interested parties (stakeholders) are integrated into design and decision-making of the Charter and subsequent Plans. 11 An implementation description explains how the goals and objectives to be laid out in the action plan will be achieved both interdepartmentally and within community stakeholder groups. Monitoring may include mention of established indicators. Indicators are quantifiable variables that can be measure to determine progress toward the principles, goals and objectives set forth in the Charter. Reporting is the way that the City’s progress is documented and disseminated. The reporting section should address how regularly the progress will be reviewed and documented, who will be responsible for this task, and where the information will be housed once it is finalized for public consumption. [Ownership element] The ownership element may be in the form of an endorsement or pledge. The purpose of this section is to demonstrate a commitment by the signatories to participate in activities to further the City’s vision, fully support the City’s efforts, and serve as stewards of local and regional sustainability practices. 12 Appendix B – Sustainability Charter Element Examples Definition of Sustainability (with a local bent) Because sustainability can mean slightly different things, depending on the context in which it is used, many charters begin by defining sustainability in the context of the particular jurisdiction. To be comprehensive in scope, this definition of sustainability should encompass three general policy areas: economic, ecological and social. Examples: Toronto, Ontario Sustainability means integrating and balancing the competing expectations of the present generation and not compromising the future. Sustainability acknowledges and considers the impact of our decisions and actions beyond the City of Toronto recognizing that continuous commitment is essential. Sustainability achieves vitality and well-being for all through responsible planning and management of interdependent social, environmental and economic capacities. San Diego Regional Sustainability Partnership Sustainability has emerged as a global theme of the 21st century. It is a concept that balances the interconnectedness of the environment, economy, and the quality of life and that recognizes the importance of our stewardship over each. We share the goal of establishing partnerships to advance policies, research, technologies, and programs supporting a more sustainable San Diego region for all generations. Minneapolis, MN Sustainability is defined as meeting current needs without sacrificing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs by balancing environmental, economic and social (equity) concerns. In Minneapolis we are defining this as Living Green, Living Healthy and Living as a Community. Vision Statement A vision statement clarifies what the city should look like in a predetermined point in the future. This enables the City government, residents and all sectors of the community to have an agreed upon destination to begin developing goals, objectives and action plans. The vision should be rooted in a set of guiding principles. Examples: Fraser Basin Council, British Columbia • We want to see the Fraser Basin as a place...where social well-being is supported by a vibrant economy and sustained by a healthy environment 13 • • • • Understanding Sustainability...where governments, community groups and individuals recognize why and how they can contribute to building vibrant communities, developing strong and diverse economies and maintaining the air, water, land and living species that make up our ecosystems Caring for Ecosystems...where we are all stewards of resources such as water, forests, fish, wildlife and land. As stewards, we conserve and enhance our ecosystems to maintain strong and diverse economies and to support growing communities. In this way, we not only enjoy our natural environment, but also conserve it to support our high quality of life Strengthening Communities...where communities benefit from local experience, skills and values. Strong communities are built on a diverse economy, an educated workforce, safe neighborhoods, accessibility to basic commodities, shared goals, local action and a sense of belonging Improving Decision Making...where decision making is shared and we work together to reach creative agreements and achieve common goals that reflect the interests of a growing population mixed in gender, culture, religion, age and interest; and where aboriginal rights and title now being defined are reconciled in a just and fair manner. Toronto, Ontario A Shared Vision and Culture of Sustainability • Building consensus and a shared vision through open and meaningful public engagement and a transparent, accountable government. • Raising the awareness and public profile of sustainability. • Fostering a sense of belonging and community. San Diego Regional Sustainability Partnership This bi-national and interregional partnership shares a vision for a vibrant future that includes the careful and intelligent use of resources; restoration and preservation of the natural environment; and a higher quality of life for both present and future generations encouraging sustainable practices and technologies into such areas as energy, housing, public and private facilities and transportation. Guiding Principles of Sustainability Guiding principles provide direction and set standards for actions and behaviors that will further the City’s vision. These principles provide the basis from which effective and sustainable decisions can be made. This section typically includes a list of 5-10 high-level guiding principles. The principles may be subdivided into environmental, economic and social principles, depending on how the authoring body wishes to organize the content. 14 Examples: Fraser Basin Council, British Columbia • Mutual Dependence Land, water, air and all living organisms including humans are integral parts of the ecosystem. Biodiversity must be conserved. • Accountability Each of us is responsible for the social, economic and environmental consequences of our decisions and accountable for our actions. • Equity All communities and regions must have equal opportunities to provide for the social, economic and environmental, needs of residents. • Integration Consideration of social, economic and environmental costs and benefits must be an integral part of all decision making. • Adaptive Approaches Plans and activities must be adaptable and able to respond to external pressures and changing social values. • Coordinated and Cooperative Efforts Coordinated and cooperative efforts are needed among all government and non-government interests. • Open and Informed Decision Making Open decision making depends on the best available information. • Exercising Caution Caution must be exercised when shaping decisions to avoid making irreversible mistakes. • Managing Uncertainty A lack of certainty should not prevent decisive actions for sustainability. • Recognition There must be recognition of existing rights, agreements and obligations in all decision making. • Aboriginal Rights and Title We recognize that aboriginal nations within the Fraser Basin assert aboriginal rights and title. These rights and title now being defined must be acknowledged and reconciled in a just and fair manner. • Transition Takes Time Sustainability is a journey that requires constant feedback, learning and adjustment. In the short-term, the elements of sustainability may not always be in balance. . San Juan Capistrano, California 1. The concept of sustainability guides city policy 2. Protection, preservation, and restoration of the natural environment is a high priority of the city 3. Environmental quality, economic health and social equity are mutually dependent 4. All decisions have implications to the long-term sustainability of San Juan Capistrano 5. Community awareness, responsibility, participation and education are key elements of a sustainable community 6. San Juan Capistrano recognizes its linkage with regional, state, and national community 7. Those sustainability issues most important to the community will be addressed first, and the most cost-effective programs and policies will be selected 15 8. The city is committed to procurement decisions which minimize negative environmental and social impacts 9. Cross-sector partnerships are necessary to achieve sustainable goals 10. Zero waste Vancouver, British Columbia A Sustainable Vancouver embraces all of the following principles: • • • • • • • • • • Today's decisions must not compromise the choices of our children and future generations. We are all accountable for our individual and collective actions. Resources must be used fairly and efficiently without compromising the sustainability of one community for another. Using renewable resources is encouraged and supported, while the use of nonrenewable resources should be minimized. Renewable resource consumption should not exceed the rate of regeneration. Strong collaboration and open communication between the public, the business sector, and all levels of government are important. We value cultural, economic, and environmental diversity. A community should provide a safe, healthy, and viable setting for human interaction, education, employment, recreation, and cultural development. A sustainable Vancouver contributes to, and provides leadership towards, regional, provincial, national, and global sustainability. The Vancouver economy should move from its dependence on non-renewable carbon-based fuels, particularly for transportation, which are likely to fluctuate dramatically in price and supply. Process The process section provides a very brief overview of how the City plans to follow the Eco-City Charter. This section should describe how the Charter relates to the City Council’s 2015 Strategic Plan and Environmental Action Plan. Additionally, the process section may include the following: description of the public involvement process, implementation, monitoring and/or reporting. Examples: Burlington, VT From the outset, the Legacy Project Action Plan was intended as a bottom-up approach to plan development. Rather than the Mayor and City Council producing a plan for city staff to implement and residents to live by, the idea was for Burlington’s residents to drive the development of a common vision and the more detailed action plan. Thus, the steering committee designed a thorough public involvement process that began with feedback from thousands of residents via surveys on the strengths and weaknesses of the city. The next step involved focus groups, first at the neighborhood level and then along subject-specific lines. This phase allowed different cross-sections of the population to 16 provide input representing various interests. During this phase, there were also efforts to involve the city’s youth, including focus groups at local schools, student councils and youth service providers. Additionally, local primary schools held poster and essay contests to allow these future leaders of Burlington to provide input. The final step in the overall process was a series of four public hearings on the action plan. A concluding meeting, the “Summit on the City’s Future” was conducted to solicit a final round of public comments on the revised draft plan. Minneapolis, MN To set a road map for making Minneapolis truly sustainable, the Minneapolis City Council and Mayor Rybak started integrating sustainability principles into City decision making. The Sustainability Initiative was formulated to spur action, track results and better coordinate activities throughout the City. • 2003: In 2003, the Minneapolis City Council adopted Resolution 2003R-133 (PDF, pp 40-43) which initiated the development of the Minneapolis Sustainability Program and the use of sustainability principles to guide City decision making. The resolution created a process in which Minneapolis could truly become a sustainable city and defined methods with which to measure itself. 2004: Two public roundtable meetings were held, which involved approximately 100 residents and professionals expressing a 50-year vision for the City’s future, drafted a series of sustainability initiatives. 2005: In 2005, the Minneapolis City Council passed Resolutions 2005R-251 and 252 that amended the City’s Comprehensive Plan to include sustainability, adopted key indicators, required every department to incorporate the indicators into their business planning process, and directed an annual reporting mechanism outlining progress. Key players in developing and implementing the indicators were the Minneapolis Citizens Environmental Advisory Committee and the City’s Environmental Coordinating Team. 2006: In 2006, the City Council adopted six city-wide goals in which sustainability is woven throughout. The goal “Enriched Environment” specifically outlines fully implementing the City Sustainability Initiative. • • • • City of Surrey, British Columbia A three phase process with full public and stakeholder consultation has been identified, with completion tentatively scheduled for later this year, which includes the following process steps: Phase I - Definition of Sustainability and Scope of a Sustainability Charter (Completed); Phase II - Development of a Sustainability Charter (In Progress); and Phase III - Development of an Implementation Plan for the Charter. Key stakeholders will be consulted in each phase of the process for their feedback and there will also be an opportunity for the general public to review proposals for the charter and provide feedback in an Open House format. 17 Ownership element The ownership element may be in the form of an endorsement or pledge. The purpose of this section is to demonstrate a commitment by the signatories to participate in activities to further the City’s vision, fully support the City’s efforts, and serve as stewards of local and regional sustainability practices. Examples: Fraser Basin 18 San Diego Regional Sustainability Partnership Our Pledge and Commitment We the undersigned will help guide the San Diego region toward a sustainable future. To achieve this, we commit our participation and support to the San Diego Regional Sustainability Partnership in this innovative approach to regional stewardship. 19 Burlington, VT 20