Sierra Club meetings on "moving the region forward"

From email: Introduction:

How Do We Move Our Region Forward

A Community Discussion Hosted by the Sierra Club

Tuesday, July 13th and Wednesday, July 14th

6.30 pm - 8.00 pm

You are invited to join local leaders in a conversation to define how we can advance goals of common interest by using use the Council of Governments Region Forward Report to explore the regional and jurisdictional interplay of issues related to environment, transportation, and housing. The conversation will begin with an overview of the report, and how it is currently being used to advance priorities within DC (DC Meeting) and throughout the region (Arlington Meeting). The meeting will then shift to a facilitated discussion on the most effective way to mirror federal initiatives by coordinating diverse environmental, social, and economic organizations to advance our shared priorities and improve efficiency.

Space is limited, so please RSVP by contacting Sierra Club's Sustainable Metro DC Coordinator, Phillip Ellis at phillip.ellis@ sierraclub. org or 202.320.2044

The future of planning within our country is changing. The energy economy is shifting along with peoples lifestyle choices. And the recession has produced unprecedented budget deficits. As local governments seek other funding sources to address infrastructure needs, the federal government is exploring strategies to improve planning and efficiency by integrating and coordinating the missions of specific agencies. The Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Housing and Urban Development and Department of Transportation are now cooperating to advance shared priorities. Notably, livable communities are being promoted through a results-driven grant program that emphasizes a regional approach. To secure funding from these new revenue sources in the DC region, our local leaders must mirror the federal initiatives by coordinating diverse environmental, social, and economic organizations to advance our shared priorities and improve efficiency.

A significant first step in identifying regional priorities was taken when the Council of Governments spearheaded the "Region Forward: A Comprehensive Guide for Regional Planning and Measuring Progress in the 21st Century" that was approved by the COG Board and published in January 2010.

We envision the next step is to bring a cross-section of local organizations together to discuss how we can advance common goals. The Sierra Club, in cooperation with the Washington Council of Governments and local Governmental leaders, presents the following outline toward that end.

Goals:

We will use the report to explore the regional and jurisdictional interplay of issues related to environment, transportation, and housing - and determine how these issues interact to create more or less livable and sustainable communities. We hope to take steps toward identifying a shared agenda among participating organizations with some prioritization of goals. In the process we expect to increase public awareness of, and demand for, the report’s objectives while recognizing the leaders in our community who are bringing the vision to reality.

Specific Task:

Prioritize 5 goals from the Region Forward report which are of common interest to participating organizations that we can collectively advance. -Establish a process for follow-up.

How DC Moves Forward | Led by Harriet Tregoning and David Robertson

Tuesday, July 13th | 6.30 pm - 8.00 pm

Council of Governments Training Center

777 North Capital Street NE, DC 20002

How the Region Moves Forward | Led by Chris Zimmerman and David Robertson

Wednesday, July 14th | 6.30 pm - 8.00 pm

NRECA Conference Center

4301 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22203