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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012 09 18 AIS Brownfield EPA-HUD Grant Draft PIP 2012-09-18 Committee for Citizen Involvement Agenda City Hall 225 Fifth Street Springfield, Oregon 97477 541.726.3610 Online at www.springfield-or.gov The meeting location is wheelchair-accessible. For the hearing-impaired, an interpreter can be provided with 48 hours notice prior to the meeting. For meetings in the Council Meeting Room, a “Personal PA Receiver” for the hearing impaired is available. To arrange for these services, call 541.726.3710. Meetings will end prior to 10:00 p.m. unless extended by a vote of the Planning Commission. All proceedings before the Committee for Citizen Involvement are recorded. September 18, 2012 _____________________________ 6:00 p.m. Work Session Jesse Maine Room ______________________________________ CALL TO ORDER ATTENDANCE: Chair Kirschenmann ___, Vice Chair James ___, Moe___, Salladay___, Bean ___, Brew___ , and Vohs____,. REPORT OF COUNCIL ACTION WORK SESSION ITEM(S) 1. Brownfields EPA-HUD Grant Draft Public Involvement Plan 2012-08-15 Staff: John Tamulonis, CMO Community Development Manager Mark Metzger, DPW Senior Planner ADJOURNMENT Planning Manager: Greg Mott Management Specialist: Brenda Jones 541.726.3610 Planning Commissioners: Johnny Kirschenmann, Chair Greg James, Vice Chair Steve Moe Stacy Salladay Denise Bean Bob Brew Tim Vohs AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 9/18/2012 Meeting Type: CCI Staff Contact/Dept.: John Tamulonis Metzger/DPW Staff Phone No: 541-726-3656 COMMITTEE FOR CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT (CCI) Estimated Time: 20 Minutes ITEM TITLE: BROWNFIELDS EPA-HUD GRANT DRAFT PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PLAN ACTION REQUESTED: The CCI is requested to review, provide or suggest modifications to a Plan for Public Involvement (PIP) for the Brownfield Consortium’s EPA Grant Project. (The Consortium includes Springfield, Lane County, and Eugene (as lead agency). ISSUE STATEMENT: The Brownfields Project Team recommends forming a Brownfields Task Force to assist the public involvement components of the Project, act as a sounding board for Project Team’s planned approaches to brownfield issues and as additional conduits to various constituencies. The PIP priorities include: education about brownfields, soliciting community input, ensuring project transparency, and consulting stakeholders, technical advisers, and community leaders for assistance. ATTACHMENT: 1. Brownfield EPA-HUD Grant Draft Public Involvement Plan 2012-08-15 DISCUSSION: This project encourage the community to consider both built and natural environments and how they affect their daily lives and extends local planning and economic development initiatives to inventory and evaluate underdeveloped business sites. For Springfield, the brownfield assessment work advances the City’s partnerships with local property owners and community members in redevelopment opportunities (e.g., Glenwood, Downtown, Mohawk), revitalizing neighborhood industrial and commercial centers, and redesignating industrially-zoned properties. The steps the Task Force will take to engage the public with the brownfields project are in the diagram of Attachment 1 (page 4). These steps are developed from the “Five Actions for Decision-Making through Public Involvement” as described by the International Association for Public Participation. Attachment 1also indicates the intended audience for this PIP: Brownfields Project Team members, Brownfields Project Task Force members, representatives of government offices and agencies, and community stakeholders. Members of the Project Task Force will represent a wide variety of technical, professional, and community backgrounds. A broad array of knowledge and opinion will ensure a comprehensive and cohesive approach to compiling a local brownfields inventory. A task force composed of members with differing networks and expertise will help the project balance and reach its objectives. The initial list of Project Stakeholders is on page 5 with activities to engage them in the chart on page 15. The nearly two-year timeline is on page 18. And while the steps and general responsibilities of major tasks are illustrated on page 21, note that not all of the responsibilities are set at this stage of the grant. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PLAN DRAFT BROWNFIELDS ASSESSMENT PROJECT CITY OF EUGENE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD LANE COUNTY 15 AUGUST 2012 Matt Clifton Brownfields Public Involvement Specialist Lane County Community and Economic Development 541 682-7225 matthew.clifton@co.lane.or.us Attachment 1-1 Public Involvement Plan Brownfields Project 1 DRAFT - August 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………... 2 1.1 Link to Current Local Planning & Economic Initiatives…………………………………….. 2 1.2 Intended Audience…………………………………………………………………………… 2 2.0 PRIORITIES…………………………………………………………………………………… 3 3.0 BROWNFIELDS TASK FORCE……………………………………………………………… 4 4.0 PROJECT STAKEHOLDERS………………………………………………………………… 5 5.0 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT……………………………………………………………………. 6 5.0.1 Special considerations: Property owners………………………………………………….. 6 5.0.2 Special considerations: Spanish speakers…………………………………………………. 7 5.0.3 Special considerations: Persons with disabilities………………………………………….. 7 5.0.4 Special considerations: Financially-unstable households…………………………………. 7 5.1 Education…………………………………………………………………………………….. 8 5.1.1 Brownfields factsheet……………………………………………………………………… 8 5.1.2 Informational video………………………………………………………………………… 8 5.1.3 Kick-off event with video………………………………………………………………….. 9 5.1.4 Local access radio/TV program……………………………………………………………. 9 5.1.5 Newspaper features & advertising………………………………………………………… 9 5.1.6 Direct mailer……………………………………………………………………………….. 9 5.1.6.a Direct mailer to property owners………………………………………………………… 9 5.1.7 Contracted activities……………………………………………………………………….. 9 5.1.8 Public meetings……………………………………………………………………………. 10 5.1.9 Site visits…………………………………………………………………………………... 10 5.1.10 Webpage……………………………………………………………………………………10 5.1.11 Other opportunities for education………………………………………………………….. 10 5.2 Stakeholder consultation……………………………………………………………………... 11 5.2.1 Direct suggestion…………………………………………………………………………... 11 5.2.2 Webpage…………………………………………………………………………………… 11 5.2.3 Visioning exercises……………………………………………………………………….... 11 5.2.4 Citizen survey……………………………………………………………………………… 12 5.2.5 Consultation / fact-finding…………………………………………………………………. 12 5.3 Transparency…………………………………………………………………………………. 13 5.3.1 Creation of information repository……………………………………………………….... 13 5.3.2 Keeping governing bodies informed of progress…………………………………………... 13 5.3.3 Press releases………………………………………………………………………………. 13 5.3.4 Information sessions for property owners………………………………………………….. 14 5.4 Contracting with non-profit organizations…………………………………………………… 14 6.0 ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES FOR VARIOUS STAKEHOLDER GROUPS………………. 15 6.0.1 Specialized engagement for property owners……………………………………………… 16 6.0.2 Specialized engagement for Spanish speakers…………………………………………….. 16 6.0.3 Specialized engagement for persons with disabilities……………………………………... 17 6.0.4 Specialized engagement for financially-unstable households…………………………….. 17 7.0 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT TIMELINE………………………………………………………... 18 APPENDIX A: Brownfields Task Force Guiding Document…………………………………………... 20 Attachment 1-2 Public Involvement Plan Brownfields Project 2 DRAFT - August 2012 1.0 INTRODUCTION The City of Eugene, together with the City of Springfield and Lane County, has applied for and received a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the amount of $680,200. The purpose of the grant is to compile an inventory of local brownfields and to conduct “Phase I” and then “Phase II” assessments. The inventory and assessment are the beginning steps to the eventual remediation and redevelopment of brownfield sites. This document is an outline of public involvement components for this project. Public engagement is a necessary and valuable in the multi-step process of remediating brownfields. Local land-use planning and brownfield redevelopment has historically included the broad participation of the public to be successful in focusing community resource. 1.1 LINK TO CURRENT LOCAL PLANNING & ECONOMIC INITIATIVES This project will encourage the community to think about how the built and natural environment affects their daily lives. The Brownfields Project is a natural extension of local planning and economic development initiatives. The Joint Elected Officials’ Regional Prosperity Economic Development Plan calls for an inventory and evaluation of underdeveloped space for businesses. The Lane Livability Work Plan Task 6.4 specifically calls for a brownfield pilot project. Similarly, the current Envision Eugene process has determined that one goal for future land-use planning and economic development in the city is identification of parcels within the city limits that can be recycled for industrial/commercial use. This will reduce the pressure to expand the urban-growth boundary. For Springfield, the brownfield assessment work continues to advance the City’s partnerships with local property owners and community members, creating the foundations for new redevelopment opportunities and revitalizing neighborhood industrial and commercial centers. The Board of Commissioners of Lane County adopted a mission statement that calls for wise stewardship of human and natural resources. This project also correlates with efforts around the metropolitan area to re-designate industrially-zoned properties. 1.2 INTENDED AUDIENCE The intended audience for this public involvement plan (PIP) includes: Brownfields Project Team members, Brownfields Project Task Force members, representatives of government offices and agencies, and community stakeholders. Attachment 1-3 Public Involvement Plan Brownfields Project 3 DRAFT - August 2012 2.0 PRIORITIES Consistent with other economic development and land-use planning initiatives in the region, the Brownfields Coalition Assessment Project seeks to substantively involve the wider community. The public can serve as a source for ideas or information about local brownfields that escaped the attention of a task force or project team. This project uses public funds, which may require that certain actions be to the general public’s knowledge and/or taken in collaboration with the community. Remediating brownfields is a long-term, multi-step process. Involving the public is a way to galvanize and then sustain support to achieve project objectives. If a project is accessible and transparent, chances are good that the public will view it as legitimate and worthwhile. Owners of potential brownfields properties are usually members of the general public. Since remediation cannot occur without an owner’s consent, it is vital to the life of the project that landowners recognize the benefits. Priorities for the public involvement process include:  Education about brownfields  Soliciting community input  Ensuring project transparency  Consulting stakeholders, technical advisers, and community leaders for assistance Preexisting public engagement guidelines of the three partnering jurisdictions as well as federal Environmental Protection Agency will inform activities relating to the community involvement component of the Brownfields Assessment Project. The International Association for Public Participation enumerates five actions for decision-making processes which involve the public. These actions inspire this plan’s procedures. FIVE ACTIONS IN DECISION-MAKING THROUGH PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT: These actions inform the component steps in engaging the public with the brownfields project (see section 3.0.) inform consult involve collaborate decide Attachment 1-4 Public Involvement Plan Brownfields Project 4 DRAFT - August 2012 3.0 BROWNFIELDS TASK FORCE The Brownfields Project Team recommends the formation of a Brownfields Task Force to assist the public involvement components of the Brownfields Project, act as a sounding board for Project Team’s planned approaches to brownfield issues and as additional conduits to various constituencies. Members will represent a wide variety of technical, professional, and community backgrounds. A broad array of knowledge and opinion will ensure a comprehensive and cohesive approach to compiling a local brownfields inventory. A task force composed of members with differing networks and expertise will help the project balance and reach its objectives. The following table details recommended task force sub-groups and each group’s expected contributions to the task force activities: TASK FORCE SUB-GROUP CONTRIBUTIONS TECHNICAL EXPERTISE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS AND REMEDIATION Conduct public education through legal knowledge and environmental science expertise NEIGHBORHOOD/COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION Oversee outreach and public partnership; coordinate with neighbors’, residents’ interests LOCAL BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES Conduct market feasibility analyses; facilitate cooperation and agreement with property owners and operators to expedite remediation and redevelopment The following chart illustrates the steps the Task Force will take to engage the public with the brownfields project. These steps are developed from the “Five Actions for Decision-Making through Public Involvement” as described by the International Association for Public Participation. TASK FORCE ACTIVITIES: STEP 1: Educate STEP 2: Consult with stakeholders and technical advisers STEP 3: Involve and collaborate with non-profits; obtain site input STEPS 4 & 5: Weightcriteria and decide Attachment 1-5 Public Involvement Plan Brownfields Project 5 DRAFT - August 2012 4.0 PROJECT STAKEHOLDERS In order to plan for meaningful, comprehensive engagement with the community, we have identified stakeholders from various sectors across the local area. This list is not intended to be exhaustive. BROWNFIELDS COALITION City of Eugene City of Springfield Lane County GOVERNMENT Lane Council of Governments Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality Business Oregon Lane County Dept. of Public Health local fire districts local police departments Eugene 4J School Dist. Springfield School Dist. Local Historic Commission/Historic Preservation agencies U.S. EPA Public Works Depts. Stormwater Mgmt. Depts. Lane County Housing Authority & Community Services Assoc. (HACSA) COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS NEDCO Centro LatinoAmericano Beyond Toxics Metro Affordable Housing El Huerto de la Familia Madres para la Salud/ Mothers for Health St. Vincent DePaul Society Lane Independent Living Alliance (LILA) Mobility International LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS Active Bethel Citizens Trainsong Whiteaker Glenwood Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) West Eugene Community Organization (WECO) Industrial Corridor Community Organization (ICCO) numerous others OTHER Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce City Club of Eugene Eugene Association of Realtors University of Oregon Center for Land Use Recycling Union Pacific railroad EWEB Attachment 1-6 Public Involvement Plan Brownfields Project 6 DRAFT - August 2012 5.0 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT The public involvement component of this project is focused broadly on anyone living in the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area. More specialized forms of engagement will be directed towards particular sectors of the community, including:  specific stakeholders (see 4.0)  private property owners (see 5.0.1)  Spanish speakers (see 5.0.2)  Persons with disabilities (see 5.0.3)  Financially-unstable households (see 5.0.4) An informed, engaged public is vital to brownfields inventory and assessment project success. The private nature of brownfields (the large majorities exist in private ownership) means that any action to assess or remediate potential brownfields will not occur without consent from the property owner. If the project’s objectives and tools are presented transparently and the benefits to the community are emphasized, chances are good that response from the community will not be negative. Public acceptance and recognition of the project and its scope can help private property owners become more comfortable with the process of assessment. The best methods to involve the public will combine a mix of community and individual outreach and interface. Sponsored, intensively-planned events, such as visioning workshops and door-to-door campaigns, will expose a large number of people to the project all at once. More passive forms of engagement, such as distribution of educational materials and information via the internet, are less resource-intensive and allow for community members to engage at their convenience. A mixture of public, private, and non-profit agents to carry out public involvement activities will allow for more than just a one-sided approach to reaching out to the community. Citizens may be more receptive to receiving a message from a trusted neighborhood organization or a business association than from a government official or entities with their own clearly stated agendas. 5.0.1 SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: PROPERTY OWNERS This project hinges upon cooperation from owners of potential brownfield properties. This project cannot be successfully carried out without their participation. Property owners may be reluctant to participate in brownfield projects for a variety of reasons:  fear of liability if contamination is discovered on their property  consider the project to be government intrusion upon property rights  view a project as a hunt designed to find and punish business operators Property owners’ concerns may include:  Legal  Lawsuit from the government  Lawsuit from a neighbor  Being held responsible for contamination, even though a previous owner was the source  Loss/erosion of private property rights  Financial  Cost of cleanup (and how to pay for it)  Cost of potential legal battle  Fines from the government  Investment lost on property if discovered to be contaminated  Difficulties selling or redeveloping their property See 6.0.1 for the specialized forms of public engagement appropriate for private property owners. Attachment 1-7 Public Involvement Plan Brownfields Project 7 DRAFT - August 2012 5.0.2 SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: SPANISH SPEAKERS We have considered the special needs of the Latino community in the Eugene-Springfield metro area. According to public data, informational interviews, and a study of best practices, the needs of this group include:  Spanish-language assistance and materials  over 1/3 of the Spanish-speaking population speak English less than “very well” (ACS 2006-2009)  Extensive interface and trust-building opportunities  social networks are close-knit  apprehension towards anything relating to government  50-60% of local Latino population may be undocumented  more likely to trust non-profits and community organizations  partnerships are strongly recommended  May be more likely to live in areas near industry or brownfields  Trainsong in Eugene  Main St. corridor in Springfield  The environmental justice concern of some in this community was noted in the grant application to the EPA and was a motivating factor in the decision to award funds. See 6.0.2 for the specialized forms of public engagement appropriate for the Spanish-speaking community. 5.0.3 SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES Special challenges to ensuring that persons with disabilities are engaged with the brownfields project may include:  mobility issues preventing attendance at meetings  communicational gaps (e.g. lack of sign-language interpreter)  health issues See 6.0.3 for the specialized forms of public engagement appropriate for persons with disabilities. 5.0.4 SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: FINANCIALLY-UNSTABLE HOUSEHOLDS Financially-unstable households may be more likely to:  be less politically-engaged  be adjacent to older industrial areas that may contain brownfields  be populated by a large percentage of renters See 6.0.4 for the specialized forms of public engagement appropriate for financially-unstable households Attachment 1-8 Public Involvement Plan Brownfields Project 8 DRAFT - August 2012 5.1 EDUCATION Educating the public about the project and about brownfields in general will allow for a foundation upon which further knowledge and involvement can be built. It should be assumed that the general public is not familiar with brownfields, the effects of their presence on the community, or the benefits of their remediation. The following activities and efforts will accomplish the educational component of the public involvement plan: Brownfields factsheet Informational video Project kick-off event TV/radio program Newspaper feature Direct mailer Contracted activities with local organizations Public meetings Site visits 5.1.1 BROWNFIELDS FACTSHEET The Brownfields Project Team will author and design at least seven one-page, double-sided factsheets to be distributed in the community. Factsheets should:  Be published in English and Spanish  Use non-technical language  Include contact info for the Brownfields Project Team  Use colors, graphics, and images The seven factsheets will focus on: 1) Introduce the project and explain generally brownfield issues (question/answer format) 2) Differentiate petroleum and hazardous material contamination 3) Address concerns of property owners and liability (Note: International Economic Development Council “Brownfields Manual” Chapter 3 is a good source of ideas.) 4) Results of Phase I assessments 5) How Phase II assessments will be selected 6) Results of Phase II assessments 7) Overall recap of the project 5.1.2 INFORMATIONAL VIDEO A short informational video is being produced with two audio versions, one in English and one in Spanish. The video will be posted to the Brownfields webpage and could be shown at a project kick-off event. The video includes the following elements:  Explanation and images of brownfields  Interview with a Brownfields Project Team member  Example of a local, successful brownfield remediation and redevelopment Attachment 1-9 Public Involvement Plan Brownfields Project 9 DRAFT - August 2012 5.1.3 KICK-OFF EVENT WITH VIDEO A high-visibility kick-off event could be scheduled for autumn 2012 to formally introduce the project to the community. The brownfields video (see 5.1.2) could debut at the event, which could be held independently or will occur in conjunction with another previously-scheduled event, such as a Lane Livability meeting or presentation. 5.1.4 LOCAL ACCESS TV/RADIO PROGRAM The project could be featured on a locally-produced TV and/or radio program. The program might include the video (5.1.2) and interviews with a member(s) of the Brownfields Project Team. 5.1.5 NEWSPAPER FEATURES & ADVERTISING The Brownfields Project Team might consider contacting staff from local newspapers (Register-Guard, Eugene Weekly, etc.) to produce a special feature communicating the details of the project and the topic of brownfields. The feature could run concurrently with the kick-off event (see 5.1.3) to maximize visibility. Other advertising related to the project could appear periodically to keep the public informed. Spanish-language news media in the Eugene-Springfield area is limited to Exito magazine. 5.1.6 DIRECT MAILER The Brownfields Project Team may consider designing flyers to be mailed to local addresses. The flyers could be:  Based on the factsheet design (5.1.1)  Directly mailed to local households and businesses  Included in official correspondence, such as utility bills, to reduce likelihood of being overlooked 5.1.6.a DIRECT MAILER TO PROPERTY OWNERS In addition to the direct mailer described above, the Project Team may consider a direct mailer to be sent to property owners.  sent to owners whose properties are listed in Oregon DEQ’s brownfields database  invitation to an information session  emphasize that this project can benefit them  coordinate timing with Envision Eugene outreach or other official communications 5.1.7 CONTRACTED ACTIVITIES The Brownfields Project Team might consider utilizing local community and non-profit organizations to conduct selected outreach activities. Outreach to the Latino community could investigate the use of promotores (spokespeople for a cause or project), which have been successful in many other public outreach campaigns around the country. Attachment 1-10 Public Involvement Plan Brownfields Project 10 DRAFT - August 2012 5.1.8 PUBLIC MEETINGS Public meetings are the classic method to inform and engage the community. All public meetings held in connection with this project should consider including the following “best practice” components:  written/graphical materials, including an agenda, to be distributed during the meeting (and in advance if possible)  a sign-in sheet  assembly in a convenient location that is a “neutral space”; e.g. a school, library, or community center  refreshments  plenty of seating in a room that is of appropriate size  childcare/diversions for children  a written record of activities  open Q&A  interpreter service (if necessary)  location convenient to public transit users  handicapped-accessible facilities  avoid weekends; weeknights work best but a variety of different times is optimal Other meetings targeted to members of specific organizations or community groups may be held at a location convenient to those attending, such as a clubhouse or organization office, in order to incentivize attendance. Instead of the more formal plenary-style format, these meetings might focus more on conversation and in-depth question-and-answer periods. 5.1.9 SITE VISITS Site visits are an ideal way to give the public an opportunity to see brownfields for themselves. The best time for site visits is between September 2012 and March 2013, when the educational component is in full swing. To avoid sensitivity issues with private property owners, site visits should only include parcels that:  consist of remediated brownfields (pending owner permission);  are publicly-owned; or  are identified as brownfields by the Oregon DEQ, the owner does not challenge the classification, and the owner is willing to allow for the site visit. Site visits can be tailored to the group: e.g. school groups; those interested in environmental issues, economic development, etc. 5.1.10 WEBPAGE A webpage containing information about the project could be designed. See 5.2.2. 5.1.11 OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATION Other opportunities to raise awareness about brownfields in an entertaining and/or highly visible way might include:  an informational booth at a local fair or farmer’s market  a partnership with a local business to market a special tongue-in-cheek product, such as a “Brownfields doughnut,” “Brownfields ice cream sundae,” or a “Brownfields beer” Attachment 1-11 Public Involvement Plan Brownfields Project 11 DRAFT - August 2012 5.2 STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION Creation of an input process will allow individuals to share their own visions and priorities for brownfield inventory, assessment, and possible remediation. The following activities and efforts will accomplish the stakeholder consultation component of the public involvement plan: direct suggestion of sites webpage visioning exercises citizen survey 5.2.1 DIRECT SUGGESTION Citizens of the community can be encouraged to submit locations of potential brownfield sites through a variety of avenues, including possible:  anonymous internet survey  hotline telephone number with bilingual capacity 5.2.2 WEBPAGE A webpage featuring the project could be hosted via Lane Livability’s servers containing:  a genericized URL, such as www.lanebrownfields.com  information about the project, including logos of the partnering jurisdictions  information about brownfields in general  a timeline of project activities  meetings information, status updates, and news  fields to leave comments and questions with the Project Team  survey about brownfields 5.2.3 VISIONING EXERCISES A series of community visioning exercises or workshops will be considered after the conclusion of Phase I assessments and before Phase II work begins (summer 2013). The purpose of these sessions is to:  allow for the community to share publically their own priorities and visions for brownfield redevelopment  obtain community input on what residents would specifically like to see implemented into a remediated brownfield site design  inform a list of community-prioritized sites which will complement the more technical factors involved in selecting which sites are selected for Phase II assessment  drum up excitement for the public to keep them engaged over the long run  obtain community “buy-in” in the project A third-party facilitator will be considered to lead the workshops. James Waddell, on-contract with the EPA, is highly recommended by several brownfields project coordinators from around the country. Event planning and logistics will be reserved for the facilitator. Attachment 1-12 Public Involvement Plan Brownfields Project 12 DRAFT - August 2012 5.2.4 COMMUNITY SURVEY The Brownfields Project Team will consider designing a short survey. The survey:  might include multiple choice and open-ended questions about what those surveyed would like to see with regards to brownfield mediation  may be used to inform the results of the Brownfields Task Force’s Step 3 (Solicit Community Input for Weighting Ranking Criteria Categories)  may be conducted in partnership with community organizations and/or hosted on the project webpage (see 5.2.1). 5.2.5 CONSULTATION / FACT-FINDING Informational interviews with community organizations and government agencies may allow for the Project Team to understand how these stakeholders view the brownfields project, and what their concerns or objectives are regarding the project. Consultations and fact-finding activities may include the following possible options:  brownbag lunch talks  informational interviews with key people  brief survey Attachment 1-13 Public Involvement Plan Brownfields Project 13 DRAFT - August 2012 5.3. TRANSPARENCY This is a public project, and as such it should operate as transparently as possible. The Brownfields Task Force and the Brownfields Project Team should ensure a flow of information amongst themselves, the partnering jurisdictions, and the general public. The following activities and efforts will accomplish the transparency component of the public involvement plan: Information repository Keeping partnering jurisdictions informed Press releases Information sessions for property owners 5.3.1 CREATION OF INFORMATION REPOSITORY An information repository can serve as a symbol of the project’s transparency and may be required by law. Hard copy documentation related to the project will be kept accessible and will be provided on a City of Eugene hosted website. The final inventory of brownfields is a community asset and should be maintained and expanded upon even after this project has concluded. Documentation appropriate for direct public release will be uploaded to the Brownfields webpage hosted by the City of Eugene. The Brownfields Project Management Team, in consultation with officials from the three partnering jurisdictions, will determine what documentation is appropriate for public release. Information on certain topics, such as details of spending, may be required by law to be shared publically. 5.3.2. KEEPING GOVERNING BODIES INFORMED OF PROGRESS The Project Team shall consider reporting on the status of the project via regular memos to the Lane Livability Project Management Team, who could then circulate the information to the three partnering jurisdictions. 5.3.3 PRESS RELEASES When project milestones are reached, such as the selection of sites for Phase I/II assessments, the Project Team could consider submitting press releases to Lane Livability Project Management Team for forwarding to local news media. Attachment 1-14 Public Involvement Plan Brownfields Project 14 DRAFT - August 2012 5.3.4 INFORMATION SESSIONS FOR PROPERTY OWNERS The Brownfields Project Team will consider conducting three information sessions for property owners. The purpose will be:  to communicate the benefits of remediation  to explain the process of assessment  to encourage participation  to allay fears and answer questions Session 1 This session is for owners whose properties have been identified as potential brownfields, either through the Oregon DEQ database or through this project’s inventory. Session 2 This session is for owners whose properties have been selected for Phase I assessments. Session 3 This session is for owners whose properties have been selected for Phase II assessments. 5.4 CONTRACTING WITH NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS The Brownfields Project Team will consider enlisting the help of local non-profit groups to provide outreach to property owners and stakeholder groups. Any avenue to gain the confidence of property owners should be explored, as assessments on individual parcels are impossible without permission of the owner. Knowledgeable locals strongly recommend partnering with non-profits when attempting to engage the Latino community, citing that group’s closely-knit social dynamic and hesitancy to confide in persons unknown or government-related activities (see also 5.1.7). Local organizations that are possible partners in public engagement for the brownfields project include: NEDCO Centro LatinoAmericano Beyond Toxics Metro Affordable Housing El Huerto de la Familia Madres para la Salud/ Mothers for Health St. Vincent DePaul Society Lane Independent Living Alliance (LILA) Mobility International Possible activities for contracting organizations include:  distribution of educational literature  hosting public meetings at organization offices  spreading the word about the project Attachment 1-15 Public Involvement Plan Brownfields Project 15 DRAFT - August 2012 6.0 ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES FOR VARIOUS STAKEHOLDER GROUPS Involving stakeholders, and sub-groupings of stakeholders, is important to obtain “buy-in” of the project and its processes. If stakeholder groups do not view the project as legitimate, the community-at-large is not likely to have a positive opinion of it. To foster a working relationship with stakeholders, the Brownfields Project Team may consider:  preferred methods for reaching out to different segments of the community  coordinating informational meetings and opportunities for technical advice for various stakeholder groups (see 4.0)  informing stakeholders of the project’s status  educating stakeholders about brownfields (if this is an unfamiliar topic)  formalizing lines of communication  encouraging stakeholders’ active engagement through a variety of activities STAKEHOLDER PREFERRED ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITY GENERAL PUBLIC factsheet informational video project kick-off event TV/radio program newspaper feature direct mailer public meetings site visits project webpage citizen survey visioning exercises direct suggestion of potential sites press releases PROPERTY OWNERS information sessions specialized factsheet FAQ on project webpage specialized mailer in addition to all GENERAL PUBLIC activities SPANISH SPEAKERS contracted activities (‘promotores’) partnerships with NGOs, community orgs. ads in Exito magazine informational video (Spanish) factsheets (Spanish) use of interpreters at meetings/visioning exercises in addition to all GENERAL PUBLIC activities PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES customized public meetings contracted activities visioning exercise with accommodations in addition to all GENERAL PUBLIC activities FINANCIALLY-UNSTABLE HOUSEHOLDS customized public meetings contracted activities in addition to all GENERAL PUBLIC activities Attachment 1-16 Public Involvement Plan Brownfields Project 16 DRAFT - August 2012 GOVERNMENT consultations / fact-finding information repository NON-PROFITS / LOCAL / OTHER educational campaigns contracting for outreach activities consultations / fact-finding 6.0.1 SPECIALIZED ENGAGEMENT FOR PROPERTY OWNERS The following outreach activities could be specifically targeted to property owners. (For justification, see 5.0.1.)  three information sessions (see 5.4.1)  one factsheet (see 5.1.1)  telephone hotline  FAQ section on the project’s webpage  specialized mailer sent to properties already in the Oregon DEQ brownfields database 6.0.2 SPECIALIZED ENGAGEMENT FOR SPANISH SPEAKERS The following outreach activities could be specifically targeted to Spanish speakers:  public meetings and visioning exercise(s) conducted in partnership with a community organization, such as Centro LatinoAmericano  neutral, accessible, familiar location (e.g. elementary school, church, community organization office)  provision of a light meal or snacks will incentivize attendance  encourage families and children to attend  avoid weekends; evenings work best  advertisements/literature in Spanish language  Exito magazine  informational video in Spanish  factsheets in Spanish  interpreters at meetings/visioning exercises  contract with community organizations and NGOs  pre-established trust vital to obtaining participation  utilizing pre-existing social networks avoid having to “re-invent the wheel”  advanced outreach campaign strongly recommended to allow time to absorb information  promotores Attachment 1-17 Public Involvement Plan Brownfields Project 17 DRAFT - August 2012 6.0.3 SPECIALIZED ENGAGEMENT FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES The following outreach activities could be specifically targeted to persons with disabilities:  public meetings that are accessible and accommodating  transportation to meetings  convenient location  near neighborhoods with a high percentage of disabled residents  sign language interpreter  possible emphasis on public health issues and brownfields  visioning exercise accessible (see 5.2.3)  artist volunteers to help with drawing  contracted outreach for door-to-door engagement  literature handouts  sign-up sheets for rideshare to meetings  citizen survey 6.0.4 SPECIALIZED ENGAGEMENT FOR FINANCIALLY-UNSTABLE HOUSEHOLDS The following outreach activities could be specifically targeted to neighborhoods with a high percentage of residents living in poverty:  public meetings that are accessible  accessible to public transit riders  staggered meeting times to accommodate shift workers  childcare provided  refreshments  partner with community organization (e.g. St. Vincent DePaul) to provide a meal  offer token incentives, such as $10 gift cards to a supermarket or department store  special focus on renters versus owners  renters have little recourse if owner does not want to participate Attachment 1-18 Public Involvement Plan Brownfields Project 18 DRAFT - August 2012 7.0 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT TIMELINE 2012 August ** EPA grant money pre-awarded 17 Public Involvement Plan completed September ** kick off ** webpage goes live ** information repository begins 30 Task Force; partner orgs. adopt PIP October November ** property owner information sessions December ** property owner information sessions 31 Brownfields inventory completed 2013 January ** site selections for Phase I assessments ** community forums held ** outreach materials distributed ** contracts signed with non-profit organizations February March ** Phase I site assessments begin April May June July ** community meetings to update on Phase I August September ** community visioning exercises (James Waddell) October November December 2014 January ** final presentations to community Attachment 1-19 Public Involvement Plan Brownfields Project 19 DRAFT - August 2012 APPENDIX A BROWNFIELDS TASK FORCE GUIDING DOCUMENT Project managers in other communities that conducted brownfield inventories indicate task force is a best practice in ensuring success. Task force members are usually high-visibility individuals with extensive professional or organizational networks in the community, such as members of the Chamber of Commerce, representatives of neighborhood associations, and professionals with technical expertise in the project area. This broad representation provides technical oversight and experience as well as increases likelihood of community recognition and validation of a brownfields project. For instance, task force members can establish rapport with private property owners, facilitating access to parcels identified as possible brownfields. It is possible that each task force member will have his/her own motivating, and sometimes conflicting, factors for participating, but project managers from other communities commented that task forces are valuable in serving as a united front for the community-at-large. Members provide a distancing from project administrators that inspires trust amongst community members. For these reasons, we recommend that Lane Livability PMT consider organizing a Brownfields Task Force. The task force shall complete the following tasks relating to compilation of an inventory of potential brownfield sites in the area: STEP 1-- EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT BROWNFIELDS By using its members’ social and professional networks, the task force will engage in dialogue with constituent elements of the community. The task force will communicate to the public that this project’s purpose is not to force remediation on established businesses and property owners unwilling to participate nor is it a punitive search for polluters. Instead, it is about helping to uncover uncertainty about pollution in cooperation with property owners and working towards eventual remediation and clean-up of sites. The task force will also help the brownfield project team communicate details of the project to the general public. The definition of a brownfield; the scope of the project; and what types of parcels can be considered “brownfields” will be some of the topics covered by educational material distributed to the general public. STEP 2– CONSULT WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND TECHNICAL ADVISORS TO DEVISE CATEGORIES FOR ASSESSING EACH PROPERTY The task force shall structure a ranking system by which individual possible brownfield sites, already meeting threshold criteria of property owner agreement to assess as part of Phase I, will be prioritized for possible Phase II assessment and remediation. Parcels will be ranked based upon characteristics related to categorical themes developed in consultation with the task force. Possible categorical themes may include, but are not limited to:  economic development potential  perceived or real environmental condition (utilizing Oregon DEQ criteria)  balance between jurisdiction plans and goals (as expressed in municipal comprehensive plans, Joint Elected Officials’ Regional Prosperity Economic Development Plan, and Lane Livability) Attachment 1-20 Public Involvement Plan Brownfields Project 20 DRAFT - August 2012 STEP 3– INVOLVE COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATE WITH NON-PROFITS FOR PRIORITIZING RANKING CATEGORIES The task force will work in collaboration with non-profit and community organizations (see Appendix A for a partial list) to help solicit and gather community input regarding community priorities. This input will inform a list of community-prioritized sites which will then complement more technical factors of site selection eligibility in order to select sites for Phase II assessments. STEPS 4 & 5– WEIGHT CRITERIA AND DECIDE Using the categorical structure created in Step 2 and considering the community input for weighting priorities from Step 3, the task force shall develop a formula to rank each identified potential brownfield site in order of suitability of remediation/redevelopment. A ranked list of identified sites will be produced. The Lane Livability PMT will either approve the formula presented by the task force or produce its own. Final discretion and approval of the list of sites selected for Phase II assessment is reserved to ______. Attachment 1-21 Public Involvement Plan Brownfields Project 21 DRAFT - August 2012 STEP 1 & educate about brownfields. STEP 2 develops general categories for ranking sites. STEP 3 & collaborate with to ask their priorities in selecting sites. STEPS 4 & 5 develops a categorical formula to rank sites. approves ranking system or develops new one. approves list of sites advancing to Phase II assessment. Brownfields Task Force General Public Lane Livability PMT Brownfields Task Force Brownfields Task Force General Public Brownfields Task Force Brownfields Project Team Brownfields Project Team Community Organizations ???? Attachment 1-22 What makes a great city street? Blog post by Kaid Benfield on 06 Sep 2012 Feature Bicycling Landscape design Mixed-use Parking Public space Streets Walking Kaid Benfield, Better! Cities & Towns Church Street, Charleston, South Carolina My friend Victor Dover has taught me more about the importance of streets to community, and the characteristics that can make them great, than I ever might have imagined. I’m still learning, and it’s a fascinating journey. He’s about to share his knowledge with all of us, as he reports that he and his urban compadre John Massengale are writing a book on the subject to be published next year. I don’t know John as well as I know Victor, but he seems to know his stuff, too; this one promises to be a must-have when it comes out. For the past couple of months, Victor has been hinting at some of what may be in the book through posting a series of “street of the day” photos on his Facebook wall. With his kind permission, I am now able to show some of the images to you. As you view them, consider what’s appealing about each street in the photo, what might be transferable to other communities. Santa Maria Street, Coral Gables, Florida Santa Maria Street is sheltered with mature trees. This is vital to facilitate walking in warm climates, and trees also deliver a range of additional sustainability benefits, including absorbing carbon emissions and helping to clean the air. I also like the way the low fencing along this street adds definition to the block while not restricting visual openness. Note that in the photo of Charleston's Church Street, at the top of the post, there is another approach to providing shade in a warm climate: an arcade. The church at the end of the street also provides what architects call a "terminated vista," or a prominent and appealing visual "anchor" at the end of the street. When you're there, you're in not just a street but a place. East 70th Street, New York City New York City presents a vastly different environment than does Charleston or Coral Gables. Here we see the introduction of walkable amenities such as restaurants, and the use of urban landscaping around the buildings to soften the concrete and stone. Metered parking also makes an appearance. We take it for granted, but on-street parking buffers walkers from the flow of traffic, providing them with an additional sense of comfort in a highly urban space. The more comfortable we are walking, the more sustainability and health benefits we can enjoy. Leidesgracht, Amsterdam Talk about multi-modal! This street has a canal, bicycling, cars, at least one motor scooter, and space for pedestrians. This makes it a good example of a “complete street” that accommodates different types of users, while still not being so wide as to prevent a sense that one is in a neighborhood, not on a thoroughfare. Victor and I had a conversation last month about the difference between the kinds of streets he prefers and those considered “complete” in current transportation parlance. I came away with a strengthened awareness that a street can be complete in the sense of being multi-modal – no small feat, by the way – but still lack greatness, because of low “walk appeal,” to borrow Steve Mouzon’s phrase. A truly great street will be complete not just in the roadway and sidewalks but also alongside them. Of the Leidesgracht, Victor notes that “cyclists are not a separate species in Amsterdam.” (For more photos of street life in Amsterdam, go here.) St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans Speaking of multi-modal, I love the soft, grassy bed for the St. Charles streetcar in New Orleans. This provides not just an additional touch of nature for city dwellers who don’t get enough of it but also green infrastructure for absorbing rainwater and keeping runoff (or at least some of it) out of sewage systems and receiving waterways. This is more common in other parts of the world, and I hope it becomes popular here in the US. Boulevard Montmartre, Paris I could walk in Paris for days without stopping. Beauchamp Place, London Unlike a boulevard in Paris, Beauchamp Place is narrow, with narrow sidewalks, too. But it doesn’t need to accommodate the same high volume of use, and what it does have is an inviting sense of human scale. The buildings are close enough, tall enough and just varied enough to provide a pleasant and interesting walking experience without being so tall as to block light and, for me at least, make the stroll far less appealing. Maybe someone from the UK can post in a comment what the two parallel stripes along the left side of the roadway signify. Queens Road, Charlotte, North Carolina This street in Charlotte’s Myers Park neighborhood is, I believe, a divided roadway with two lanes in each direction separated by a median. It’s a wealthy neighborhood, so some readers might be dismissive of its beauty, but the mature trees (in another warm climate) are awesome. Victor writes: “[Noted 19th-century landscape architect] John Nolen's striking Queens Road, Myers Park, Charlotte. How would Nolen have reacted if the DOT said, 'no trees’ or ‘maybe we'll add crepe myrtles [less effective for shade] in a later phase’? The sidewalks are placed behind the trees, not the other way around. Get it, public works department?” I should note here that Charlotte has been doing some great things lately with transit-oriented development and street design. Main Street, Galena, Illinois Classic 19th-century Americana. Victor notes: “The superfluous ‘brick accents’ mania is kept to a minimum, the exception being the strip where the lampposts are placed, which is too fussy. But otherwise there are no bulbouts, zebra-stripe marking, or any of the other usual wacky overdone streetscape items.” My own opinion is that the brick accents are just fine. We all have our preferences, I suppose. But I am glad that the city hasn’t mucked up the street with the other trendy design features Victor mentions. Those things can be useful when the situation calls for it, and if they are designed well. But this small city simply doesn’t need them. Having previously profiled some of the work of Victor’s architecture and planning firm (including the amazingly forward-thinking comprehensive plan they helped guide for El Paso), I’m betting that Victor and John’s work on street design will be fantastic. I can’t wait to see more. Kaid Benfield is director of sustainable communities at The Natural Resources Defense Council in Washington, DC. This blog also appeared on NRDC Switchboard where Kaid writes (almost) daily about community, development, and the environment.