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Sustainable Pennsylvania

Sustainable Pennsylvania

Municipal Certification Project

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Home › Participating Municipalities

Carlisle Borough

Cumberland County

Carlisle PA image of walkable neighborhood

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Municipal Website
Population:20,118
Key Action:
Current Assessment:
06/02/2022
Assessment History:

Governance and Community Engagement

Municipal Operations
Question:
Professional staff are employed or retained, in the areas of budgeting and finance.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
A revenue-expenditure trend analysis is conducted annually.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
Funds for capital-related borrowing are not used for day to day expenses.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
Municipality routinely evaluates ability to ensure that revenue is sufficient to maintain public infrastructure, i.e., road, water, sewer, stormwater (community has an asset management based budget system).
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
Obligations for pensions/other post-employment benefits are funded for the long-term to at least 80%.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
5-10 percent of operating funds are carried over year to year.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
Green vehicle fleet assessment has been initiated toward: using greener fuels and/or vehicles, vehicle right�sizing for the job/trip, retrofit or replace older diesel trucks or equipment with cleaner technology, or driver education about driving techniques for fuel economy
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Community Engagement
Question:
Civic engagement, public participation and transparency are regularly assessed and facilitated.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
A Historic Review Commission is active.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
An Environmental Advisory Council is active.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
Municipality communicates with the public via a regularly scheduled newsletter or regularly updated web based communications.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
All municipal-sponsored events have a sustainability-awareness component
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
A program exists to actively pursue and match residents and local businesses to volunteer opportunities to better the community and assist the local government.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Local and Regional Cooperation
Question:
Municipality is an active participant in a Council of Governments.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
The municipality utilizes Intergovernmental Cooperative Agreements (ICA) to engage in multi-municipal endeavors.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Sustainability
Question:
Newly elected officials participate in Local Government Academy or other orientation training for public officials.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
The municipality is committed to passing a resolution (within six months of enrolling) to affirm participation in the Sustainable Community Essentials Certification Program.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
A municipal sustainability program (in name) has been developed and departmental goal setting and budget processes are used to advance it.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
Sustainability policies, goals, and principles have been adopted.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
An executive/management level municipal staff person has responsibility for management of the municipal sustainability program expressly included in their job description.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
Professional development for municipal personnel and officials includes participating (at a minimum, per year) in quarterly Local Government Academy, PA DCED or other professional training association programs.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:

Environmental Stewardship

Air Quality
Question:
PA State anti-idling law is enforced and compliance is promoted.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
Municipality supports public education regarding reducing air pollution and emissions.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
A burn ban has been formally adopted and made part of municipal ordinance, and State or County outdoor wood fired boiler construction and operation is in accordance with state law
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
The municipality and its municipal waste hauler service are exploring ways to reduce emissions from vehicles and trucks beyond anti-idling.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Green Infrastructure
Question:
Low impact and green development projects, as well as techniques (pervious pavement, bioswales, cisterns, woodland and steep slope protection) are fostered through incentives, ordinances and design guidelines.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
Tree and woodlands protection and management policies are in place (for example, community forestry plan and canopy goal; tree planting programs; tree maintenance programs; tree hazard and health assessment projects; computerized assessment of municipal trees, Tree/woodland replacement criteria in ordinances, etc.).
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Water Use, Conservation and Quality
Question:
The municipality actively encourages water conservation and efficiency measures in the community and among businesses.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
Low impact development and onsite stormwater infiltration is encouraged.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
Water provider(s) prioritize improving service to existing developed areas as opposed to opening up new areas to development.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
Drinking water and sanitary sewer rates are based on the real cost of providing service.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
Sufficient investments are being made to the water, sewer, and stormwater systems per real costs and keeping pace with maintenance and operations.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
Cooperation is occurring with neighboring municipalities to manage water and sewer supply, treatment and distribution, sewage and stormwater, in the most cost-efficient way.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:

Land Use and Transportation

Green Space
Question:
The Comprehensive Plan identifies environmentally sensitive, ecologically significant, and civic/historic places.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
The Comprehensive Plan and ordinances protect farmland and/or promotes community gardens and infill green space.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
The Comprehensive Plan includes a parks/recreation and open space component with proposed passive or active greenways, parks and trails and the zoning and subdivision ordinances support the vision.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Community
Question:
Land use and development decisions are assessed to ensure they do not have negative fiscal, stormwater, traffic, infrastructure, or service demands, or quality of life impacts on neighboring municipalities.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
Professional staff are employed or retained to manage the land use program.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
Comprehensive land use/development plan is current, addresses impacts to neighboring communities, and incorporates sustainability principles.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
A multi-municipal comprehensive plan has been adopted as has an official map.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
Up-to-date ordinances for zoning and subdivision/land development are in place to implement the comprehensive plan.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
The comprehensive plan and ordinances promote pedestrian-oriented, dense, walkable, mixed-use development (in existing and proposed development), and redevelopment in the core or town center.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:

Local Economy

Material Use, Waste, and Recycling
Question:
Waste and recycling ordinances and regulations are in compliance and enforced per Act 101, or if not a mandatory-Act 101 municipality, a municipal recycling program is conducted.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
There is a curbside and/or drop-off recycling program.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
The municipality contracts for solid waste collection as opposed to individual home owners contracting for the same.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
There is a written waste reduction and recycling ordinance for residential, commercial and institutional facilities.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
There is an active public informational program to encourage citizens to reduce waste and recycle.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
Municipality has an active litter prevention/clean-up program.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
An expanded material recycling program is being advanced, i.e., e-waste, composting, pharmaceuticals, and household hazardous waste for community-wide collection.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Thriving Local Green Business
Question:
The municipality has assessed Main Street program options and opportunities for possible applicability and implementation.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
Owners and tenants in the retail area are engaged with the municipality to provide attractive sidewalks, trees, and street furniture and make the area safe for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
The municipality maintains and supports an initiative to encourage residents to buy local.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:

Housing

Sustainable Neighborhoods
Question:
The municipality has adopted the International Property Maintenance Code within the last 6 years per good, safe rental housing.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Affordability
Question:
The comprehensive plan addresses the community benefits of and need for expanding housing choice.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
The zoning ordinance has inclusionary housing provisions/incentives
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
A program exists (perhaps in partnership with an outside agency) to facilitate home ownership: homebuyer incentives, employer-assisted housing, community land trust, etc.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
The community is tracking and reporting annually to the public on results toward affordable housing for residents.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:

Other Sustainability Innovation

Additional Initiative
Question:
Provide an on-line link to description of a sustainability innovation that the Municipal Manager/Secretary feels strongly is deserving of additional recognition and is not covered by any of the above criteria options.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
Provide an on-line link to description of a second sustainability innovation that the Municipal Manager/Secretary feels strongly is deserving of additional recognition and is not covered by any of the above criteria options.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Human Resources
Question:
The municipality has provided diversity training for municipal employees.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Economy
Question:
The municipality is engaged in programs to communicate that the community is welcoming to persons who represent diversity (sister city relations, diversity sensitivity training, multilingual signage, etc.)
Answer:
Yes
Notes:

Education

Cooperation
Question:
Municipal planning is coordinated with the school district and the two meet together at least once per year.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
The municipality and local public schools cooperate to share facilities and other resources. (For example, the municipality assists with the cost of evening lifeguards for community use of a school swimming pool or for provision of crossing guards.)
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Engagement
Question:
Municipality works with schools and local nonprofits/community organizations to engage students about community issues such as waste reduction and recycling, public safety, wellness, conservation, nature, etc.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:

Healthy Communities

Local Food
Question:
A community produce garden(s) is available.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:

Energy Use, Conservation and Green Building

Municipal Energy Use
Question:
As part of the energy audit, a greenhouse gas inventory and mitigation plan has been established for municipal functions.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
Municipality has or is in the process of retrofitting street lights and traffic signals to LED bulbs.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Community Energy Use
Question:
The municipal comprehensive plan contains an energy conservation element.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
Municipal support is provided to a public program (throughout the community and for businesses) to conserve energy, promote renewable energy sources, and mitigate carbon emissions.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
The greenhouse gas inventory has been expanded to include the entire community (not just the municipality) and a mitigation plan has been developed.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Renewable Energy
Question:
Municipality purchases energy for municipal facilities from renewable energy sources (or has installed renewable energy sources) such that at least 10% of all municipal energy comes from renewable sources.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:
Question:
Municipality purchases energy for municipal facilities from renewable energy sources (or installed renewable energy sources) such that at least 40% of all municipal energy comes from renewable sources.
Answer:
Yes
Notes:

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About Sustainable Pennsylvania

Sustainable Pennsylvania, a joint project of the Pennsylvania Municipal League and Sustainable Pittsburgh, is a voluntary performance recognition program designed to help municipalities set and achieve sustainability goals, save money, conserve resources, and foster a vibrant community.

Pennsylvania Municipal League

The Pennsylvania Municipal League is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization established in 1900 as an advocate for Pennsylvania’s 3rd class cities. Today, The League represents participating Pennsylvania cities, boroughs, townships, home rule communities and towns that all share The League’s municipal policy interests.

The mission of the Pennsylvania Municipal League is to strengthen, empower and advocate for effective local government.

Sustainable Pittsburgh

Sustainable PGH is a nonprofit committed to building the knowledge, perspective, and ability needed to create a better tomorrow for our region.

Contact us

Email info@sustainablepa.org or call Leslie Rhoads from PML at 717-236-9469 *237 or Jim Price from Sustainable Pittsburgh at 412-259-5331

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