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AGENDA BILL Agenda Item No. 4(C) Date: February 19, 2013 To: El Cerrito City Council From: Melanie Mintz, Environmental Services Division Manager Subject: STAR Community Rating System Pilot Community ACTIONS REQUESTED This item is for presentation only. BACKGROUND & ANALYSIS The City of El Cerrito has been selected as one of approximately thirty communities across the United States and Canada to test and evaluate the STAR Community Rating System (STAR). STAR is the nation’s first, voluntary self-reporting framework for evaluating, quantifying, and improving the livability and sustainability of U.S. Communities. According to STAR, the intent of the system is “to inform and advance a ‘race to the top’ for quality of life of residents by indentifying, validating, and supporting implementation of governance actions that best improve sustainable community conditions.” Pilot communities will be the first to use the STAR Community Rating System to assess how sustainable they already are, set goals for moving ahead and measure progress along the way. Pilot communities will also be the first to receive a rating based on their responses using STAR products, such as the STAR Technical Guide, Online Reporting Tool, and others that are designed to help local communities establish and measure their own sustainability. More information about the Pilot communities can be found at: www.starcommunities.org/communities STAR was created through a partnership between ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, the U.S. Green Building Council, the Center for American Progress and National League of Cities to “address the needs of U.S. cities, towns and counties seeking a common framework for sustainability.” STAR focuses not only on environmental performance but integrates and advances a number of community priorities across the “three pillars of sustainability: economy, environment and society.” The system is built upon goals, objectives, outcomes and local actions across seven goal areas: Built Environment; Climate & Energy, Education, Arts & Community; Economy & Jobs; Equity & Empowerment, Health & Safety and Natural Systems. (Attachment 1: STAR Framework of Goals & Objectives) STAR furthers the City’s mission of creating an economically and environmentally sustainable future. The framework provides an additional tool for implementation of, ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 4(C) and is complementary to, the City's strategic planning efforts and the draft Climate Action Plan. Over the next year, staff will work internally to identify and evaluate the City's current performance and programs within the STAR framework and with STAR staff and products to measure ourselves within this framework. Staff will then generate a short report with recommendations for continuing to improve the City's "score" and for incorporating actions into parallel planning efforts. Staff made a presentation to the Environmental Quality Committee at its November 13, 2012 meeting and, as is appropriate, may schedule similar presentations with other Boards, Commissions and Committees to present the framework and objectives as they pertain to their areas of concern. Staff has also convened an interdepartmental team to participate in this evaluation. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS The cost of participating in the STAR Pilot program is $3,500 and is accounted for in the adopted FY20 12-13 budget. Reviewed by: Scott Hanin, City Manager Attachments: 1. STAR Community Index- Framework of Goals and Objectives Page 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- July 2012 STAR Community Index – Framework of Goals & Objectives Built Environment Climate & Energy Education, Arts & Community Economy & Jobs Equity & Empowerment Health & Safety Natural Systems Ambient Noise & Light Climate Adaptation Arts, Culture and Heritage Business Retention & Support Civil & Human Rights Active Living Green Infrastructure Compact & Complete Communities Resource Efficient Infrastructure Community Cohesion Community- Based Economic Development Community Empowerment Emergency Prevention & Response Invasive Species Housing Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Education Opportunities Local Economy Environmental Justice Food Access & Nutrition Land Conservation Infill & Redevelopment Greening the Energy Supply Social & Cultural Diversity Market Demand Equitable Services & Access Community Health & Health System Natural Resources Protection Public Spaces Industrial Sector Resource Efficiency Historic Preservation Quality Jobs & Living Wages Human Services Indoor Air Quality Outdoor Air Quality Transportation Choices Resource Efficient Buildings Workforce Readiness Targeted Industry Sectors Poverty Prevention & Alleviation Natural & Human Hazards Water in the Environment Waste Minimization Safe Communities Working Lands Water for Human Use Agenda Item No. 4(C) Attachment