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Strategies to I mprove Communities <br />Enact <br />resident groups using a population segmentation <br />approach with survey results. <br />One of the greatest strengths of local government is <br />its ability to shape communities using policies and <br />laws. Systems -level change is often easiest achieved <br />through changes in local policy. The principal <br />activitiesof local government legislation areto <br />develop, introduce, reform, and implement policies, <br />and ensurethat policiesthat are implemented do <br />strengthen communities and address areas of <br />weaknessor need. Policiesenacted by local <br />governments can : <br />Tax <br />Subsidize/ grant/ loan <br />Alter economic conditions <br />Regulate <br />Structure rights <br />Generate information, keep records, disseminate <br />information <br />Fund government service <br />Providejobs <br />Build and maintain infrastructure <br />Reform the government itself 11 <br />Whether it is adoptions to design codes, the <br />limitation of parking spaces, utility rebates provided <br />to older adults, or business relocation incentives, <br />local officials have significant power to address the <br />deepest community needs. Fort Collins, Colorado is <br />featured in the casestudy below for itswork in <br />sustai nabi lity and climate change. <br />A Case Study in Surveys for Policy <br />Fort Collins, Colorado <br />Policies built on broad -based resident perspectives <br />will receive stronger community support than <br />policies created with only special interest input and <br />the perspectives of residentswith easiest accessto <br />council. Knowing that community values supported <br />air quality programming, in 2011, the City contracted <br />with National Research Center, I nc. to conduct a <br />survey of its residents about climate attitudes and <br />policies. The survey was designed to help local <br />leaders create policiesthat best reflected resident <br />preferences and the survey helped policy- makers <br />create plansto address the concernsof different <br />11 People's Policy Institute: Participatory Policy Analysis: Achieving Systems <br />Level Change Through CBPR <br />http://depts.washington.edu/ccph/pdf files/ CCPH_call_slides_10-21- <br />09_bXw.pdf <br />From the Fort Collins Climate Status Report, 2012: <br />"Fort Collins has long been committed to reducing <br />the community's carbon footprint." City staff <br />identified the number one reason to have a <br />community -wide air quality action plan as this: <br />"First, city resi dents have h i gh ex pectati on s for a <br />clean environment. Resi d ents have i denti f i ed the Air <br />Quality Program as being the single most important <br />program for protecting their future quality of life, <br />accordi ng to the Qty of Fort Col I ns 2003 Citizen <br />Survey." (in Fort Col IinsAir Quality Plan, May 2011. <br />p.1 http:/ / www.fcaov.com/ ai rquality/ pdf/ 2011 - <br />AirQualityPlan- Final- LowRes.pdf ). <br />The 2011 survey demonstrated that residents were <br />broadly committed to government's role in reducing <br />greenhouse gases and, with the cluster analysis of <br />survey results, the survey showed what drove <br />supporters, skeptics and advocates. The survey also <br />showed that skeptics amounted to only 1 in 6 Fort <br />Col Iinsadu Its whilesupportersand advocates <br />comprised over 80% of the population. <br />For other examples of policies enacted by local <br />governments in terms of climate change, see <br />http://www.epa.ciov/ stat elocal cl i mate/ local/ local- <br />examples/ case - studies.html <br />Local Attitudes <br />about Climate Change <br />mM. ".rz. •irey�• <br />Al <br />xrzv.. w�we nn•..rz SkCp� <br />.nnrna re �mq�n. ae 1643 <br />iwm.mm,. .a.n.�i.�.ne< e4d.aeMes. exeR l6k group <br />04 zaa Suppertwe:On avenge, �6ls gaup <br />..u..eu+r roTawbtid. �adMm�+�evmbu�w��m m4x Wwem neac <br />© 2014, National Research Center, I nc. Page 20 <br />