THE TOMORROW PLAN Steering Committee November 17, 2015 Agenda - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

THE TOMORROW PLAN

Steering Committee

November 17, 2015

Agenda

• Call To Order
• Introductions
• Approval of Agenda
• REPORT: Committee Structure Update
• REPORT: 2015 Accomplishments
• REPORT: 2016 Priorities
• REPORT: Speaker Series
• REPORT: Local Government Trainings
• REPORT: Preferred Sustainability Status Update
• Other Non-Action Items of Interest to the Committee
• VOTE: Next Meeting Date
• Adjournment

COMMITTEE STRUCTURE

Report and Discuss

Committee Structure

• Steering Committee

– Meets 2 times/year – Overall policy direction and guidance

• Implementation Committee

– Meetings 6 times/year – Communicate, strategize, and support efforts

2015 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Report and Discuss

Goal 1 Accomplishments

• Downtown Walkability

– Funds allocated and consultant selection underway for study – Pilot program implemented

• Mayors’ Challenge for Safer People, Safer Streets

– Speaker event in March with Jeff Speck and Mayor Cornett – Model Complete Streets policy drafted by MPO

• Windsor Heights and West Des Moines adopted policies in 2015; others to follow

– Wellmark Foundation Mini-Grants program administered

Goal 1 Accomplishments

• Better Streets for People

– Transportation performance metric-tracking implemented – Partnership’s Transit Task Force convened – MPO Transportation Funding Task Force convened – Stand Up for Transportation Day event held

• Others

– Congestion Management Process update underway – Broadband efforts underway – Drake class developed model policies, including parking

Goal 1 Accomplishments

• Others (cont.)

– Nodes & Corridors efforts

• Des Moines Transit Oriented Development ordinance funding secured
• Norwalk node plan underway
• Historic West Des Moines Plan (Valley Junction) plan underway
• Windsor Heights design standards and development reviews

– Freight Rail Port site development – operator close to being selected – Freight container study with ISU’s CyBiz lab

Goal 2 Accomplishments

• Regional Water Trails Plan

– Funding received from Iowa DNR; planning underway

• Greenway Inventory

– Data collected about ownership, soils, parks, trails, slope, etc. – Working to prioritize gaps to better connect greenway system

• Watershed Management Plans

– 3 WMAs established (Fourmile, Walnut Creek, Mud/Camp/Spring Creek) – 2 more being created (North/Middle Rivers) and Beaver Creek – Council of WMA’s convened

Goal 2 Accomplishments

• Others

– Clive Greenbelt plan – Green streets efforts in Johnston and Des Moines

Goal 3 Accomplishments

• Home Repair Program

– Healthy Homes Program initiated in the East Bank neighborhood

• Evaluated Housing Policies

– Housing Matters symposium held in April – EPA technical assistance received; workshop held in Urbandale in August

• Others

– Art on DART buses – MPO Smart Trips pilot program to support alternate transportation trips

Goal 3 Accomplishments

• Others (cont.)

– Open street events held – Partnership for a Hunger Free Polk County launched – Dallas County health dept. efforts in Waukee to map access to food

Goal 4 Accomplishments

• Regional Parks & Rec coordination
• Comprehensive plans underway

– Des Moines, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Windsor Heights, Clive

• MPO communications initiative and speaker series
• Drake Law School and GDMP Model Ordinances project
• Ongoing Capital Crossroads work

2016 PRIORITIES

Report and Discuss

In groups, identify…

• Activities planned already
• Other initiatives should the region take on

– Identify who should lead

• Prioritize list
• Report out

2016 SPEAKER SERIES

Report and Discuss

2015 Speaker Series

Proposed Topics for 2016

• Transportation

– Walkability – Nodes & Corridors – Transit Oriented Development – Parking

• Neighborhood Development

Proposed Topics for 2016

• Water

– Developing Recreation on Waterways – Water Quality

• Energy
• Social Equity
• Sharing Economy
• Food insecurity

Next Steps: 2016 Speaker Series

• Identify scheduled speakers from partner organizations
• Develop “menu” of additional options for partner
• rganizations to consider
• Book speakers
• Develop communications plan and materials

LOCAL GOVERNMENT TRAININGS

Report and Discuss

Local Government Trainings – Wichita State University

• WSU received EPA grant for sustainability-related trainings

– WSU targeting Des Moines due to Tomorrow Plan success

• Trainings offered

– Sustainability 101 – Storytelling Workshop – Rate Setting and Financial Planning for Your Utility

• No cost to host training; $25 per participant

PREFERRED SUSTAINABILITY STATUS UPDATE

Report and Discuss

Preferred Sustainability Status

• Reminder: Metro area has Preferred Sustainability Status with

HUD, DOT, EPA, and other agencies due to The Tomorrow Plan

• Status lasts through September 2016
• Recent applicant:

– Iowa Economic Development Authority – Application to HUD under Disaster Relief Act for the National Disaster Resilience Competition, including Raccoon River

Ever mindful of future generations,

we collaborate across political boundaries

to achieve social, economic, and environmental resilience for

Greater Des Moines

Altoona • Ankeny • Bondurant • Carlisle • Clive • Dallas County • Des Moines • DART • Grimes • Johnston • Mitchellville Norwalk • Pleasant Hill • Polk City • Polk County • Urbandale • Warren County • Waukee • West Des Moines • Windsor Heights