Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 01/08/2015

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Strategies to Improve Communities The specific and weak ratings of these economy - related community characteristics and services were en I ightening even as the general sentiments were not news to city leaders. Knowing the economic challenges they faced, Hamilton leaders had put in place a rigorous public- private partnership program to grow the economic base of the community — even before the national economic meltdown in 2008. The Hamilton Community Foundation, with cooperation of thecity, sold the Hamiltonian Hotel to Concord Hospitality Enterprises, developer of Marriott Hotels. With favorable financial arrangements, the redevelopment of the old hotel into a Courtyard by Marriott created great opportunities for riverfront redevelopment — a boon to community quality as well as to the Hamilton budget. There is now an ambitious strategic plan for "Energizing Hamilton's Urban Core" ( https://www.hamiIton- city.org/ Modules /ShowDocument.aspx ?documentid =4707 that includes housing for workers, commercial and industrial development, upgraded infrastructure and enhanced entertainment opportunities. This extensive redevelopment effort should affect resident perceptions about the economic vitality of Hamilton and the next iteration of the citizen survey will demonstrate if this aspiration is being met. Partnerships for Sustainabilitv Partnerships found to be most effective often involve multiple partners from multiple sectors. Areas commonly addressed through collaboration of private, public and non - profit groups focus on sustainability and food security. Advocates working on community food security have been one of the most innovative groups in terms of forming partnerships to address community needs. For more information on these partnerships, pleaseseethe following web pages. American Planning Association: Helping local, regional, and state governments address food syst em ch al I en ges http: / /www.pIanning.org/ n at i o n al cen t er s/ healt h/ b r i ef i n g paper s/ food ccunci Is.htm Nuener Kailee, Kelly Sylvia and Samina Raja. Planning to Eat? I nnovative Government Plans and Policies to Build Healthy Food Systems in the United States. September 2011. http:/ / cccfoodpol icy.org/ sites/ default/ files/ reso urces /planning_ to eat_ sunybuffalo.pdf Partnerships with other government organizations also are becoming a necessity of modern government. Issues related to sustainability, mobility and economic development often are addressed best through a regional model. A Case Study in I ntergovern mental Cooperation Puget Sound Clean Air Agency Wood burning devices (fireplaces and wood stoves) rank as one of the top air pollution offenders in the Puget Sound area of Washington. Although these devices create light, warmth and atmosphere, they are harmful to the environment and the health of area residents. Pollution levels from these sources were higher than the goals established by the Clean Ai r Agency's Board of Directors. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency's mission is to protect the health of residents who reside in King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish Counties and to improve air quality by adopting and enforcing air quality regulations, sponsoring voluntary initiatives to improve air quality, and educating people and businesses about clean -air choices. The four - county Puget Sound region spans an area of 6,300 square miles and is hometo approximately 3.4 million people. The Board understood that collaboration with educational, governmental, non - profit and corporate entities was key to facilitating awareness and behavior change among residents. Do you think a gas or propane stove, fireplace insert, or fireplace could meet your needs as well as your wood stove, wood - burning insert, or wood - burning fireplace? No 33% Yes 47% L Don't know 20% To understand iftherewould beresistanceto modifying wood burning sources, the Board commissioned a survey to gather information about the use of wood - burning devices in households in the Puget Sound region. I nformation from this survey was combined with scientific data to create an emissions inventory and determine policies for the region. © 2014, National Research Center, I nc. Page 14