State College Borough

Question:
A community produce garden(s) is available.

Question:
Programs by local government, or in cooperation with the non-profit and private sector, exist to address community health concerns, i.e. exercise programs, feeding programs for children and the elderly, crime watches, accessible health care, exercise away from areas of air pollution, etc.

Question:
The municipal comprehensive plan contains an energy conservation element.

Question:
Education programs are made available for residents on the benefits of organic, locally-purchased food; farmers? markets and farm stands are facilitated.

Question:
The municipality has established goals from the energy audit findings and is methodically implementing the energy audit findings.

Question:
The municipality has recently completed an energy audit of all municipal buildings and operations. The audit includes findings and recommendations and establishes a baseline of energy usage

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.

Question:
Sufficient investments are being made to the water, sewer, and stormwater systems per real costs and keeping pace with maintenance and operations.

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.

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.).

Question:
Written policies exist and ordinances and incentives have been enacted to conserve environmentally and ecologically sensitive places (for example, slopes over 25%, slide prone soils and geology, springs and vernal pools, mature woodlands, Natural Heritage Areas, etc.) in order to protect public safety and natural resources while using green infrastructure for stormwater management.

Question:
Policies, plans and ordinances protect wetlands and waterways and their buffers.

Question:
The municipality and its municipal waste hauler service are exploring ways to reduce emissions from vehicles and trucks beyond anti-idling.

Question:
Municipality supports public education regarding reducing air pollution and emissions.

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

Question:
Water provider(s) prioritize improving service to existing developed areas as opposed to opening up new areas to development.

Question:
Drinking water and sanitary sewer rates are based on the real cost of providing service.

Question:
The municipality actively encourages water conservation and efficiency measures in the community and among businesses.

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.

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.

Question:
The municipality utilizes an Integrated Municipal Stormwater and Wastewater Planning Approach (as described by EPA) to identify the municipality?s priorities for projects and includes a description of how the proposed priorities reflect the relative importance of adverse impacts on human health and water quality and the municipality?s financial capability. See: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/integratedplans.cfm

Question:
Low impact development and onsite stormwater infiltration is encouraged.

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.

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.

Question:
Municipal action plans for promoting minority and women-owned business are being advanced, including seeking proposals from the same for purchasing, services, etc.

Question:
A program is in place to encourage businesses to be aware of innovate sustainable business approaches and to recognize achievement.

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.

Question:
A program exists (perhaps in partnership with an outside agency) to facilitate home ownership: homebuyer incentives, employer-assisted housing, community land trust, etc.

Question:
The municipality has assessed Main Street program options and opportunities for possible applicability and implementation.

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.

Question:
The greenspace/open space plan has benchmarks and results are reported annually to the public.

Question:
The municipality maintains and supports an initiative to encourage residents to buy local.

Question:
There is a curbside and/or drop-off recycling program.

Question:
A natural resource inventory has been developed for the community within the last 7 years as part of the comprehensive plan.

Question:
An expanded material recycling program is being advanced, i.e., e-waste, composting, pharmaceuticals, and household hazardous waste for community-wide collection.

Question:
A multi-municipal comprehensive plan has been adopted as has an official map.

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.

Question:
Municipality has an active litter prevention/clean-up program.

Question:
An Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program has been implemented for municipal operations.

Question:
For municipal facilities, a recent waste management assessment has been conducted with municipal employees trained in waste reduction and recycling.

Question:
All municipal buildings have an active recycling program.

Question:
There is an active public informational program to encourage citizens to reduce waste and recycle.

Question:
There is a written waste reduction and recycling ordinance for residential, commercial and institutional facilities.

Question:
The municipality contracts for solid waste collection as opposed to individual home owners contracting for the same.

Question:
The Comprehensive Plan identifies environmentally sensitive, ecologically significant, and civic/historic places.

Question:
The zoning ordinance provides for or accommodates a full range of housing opportunities throughout the community.

Question:
A revenue-expenditure trend analysis is conducted annually.

Question:
Funds for capital-related borrowing are not used for day to day expenses.

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).

Question:
Obligations for pensions/other post-employment benefits are funded for the long-term to at least 80%.

Question:
5-10 percent of operating funds are carried over year to year.

Question:
Taxation takes a balanced approach applicable to all sectors of municipal services provided and fees satisfy cost recovery.

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

Question:
Professional staff are employed or retained, in the areas of budgeting and finance.

Question:
Positive progress on the greenhouse gas inventory and mitigation plan is reported annually to the public.

Question:
Municipality participates in a regional service program or contracts services to or through other municipalities for fire, police, or EMS.

Question:
As part of the energy audit, a greenhouse gas inventory and mitigation plan has been established for municipal functions.

Question:
The municipality is committed to passing a resolution (within six months of enrolling) to affirm participation in the Sustainable Community Essentials Certification Program.

Question:
Municipal planning is coordinated with the school district and the two meet together at least once per year.

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.)

Question:
An executive/management level municipal staff person has responsibility for management of the municipal sustainability program expressly included in their job description.

Question:
Municipality is reporting yearly to the public on progress and results made in implementing recommendations/findings contained in the municipal energy study

Question:
Municipality has or is in the process of retrofitting street lights and traffic signals to LED bulbs.

Question:
Intergovernmental Cooperative Agreements include conflict resolution provisions.

Question:
Municipality is an active participant in a Council of Governments.

Question:
The municipality utilizes Intergovernmental Cooperative Agreements (ICA) to engage in multi-municipal endeavors.

Question:
Municipality communicates with the public via a regularly scheduled newsletter or regularly updated web based communications.

Question:
All municipal-sponsored events have a sustainability-awareness component

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.

Question:
Civic engagement, public participation and transparency are regularly assessed and facilitated.

Question:
A Historic Review Commission is active.

Question:
Municipal building operations could meet LEED O&M Silver principles or better.

Question:
A program to promote safe walking to school is in place.

Question:
The use of pesticides and herbicides is being monitored and reduced by all municipal departments which use them

Question:
The municipality supports a program (or cooperates with neighboring communities) to engage residents in strengthening sustainable food systems to link local foods, farms and people (ex. Buy Fresh Buy Local initiative, Good Food Neighborhood, etc.).