Advocating for Complete Streets at the National, State and Local Level
PRESENTATION ROADMAP 1. National
• issues, trends, considerations 2. State
• Issues, statewide campaign 3. Local
Advocacy for Complete Streets policies
National Advocacy for Complete Streets Federal Transportation Bill
• SAFTELU expired 777 days ago (Sept 30, 2009) • 8th extension! • Intended to be a 6 year plan for the nation’s transportation and infrastructure priorities • Major deficit in the budget to fund a new 6 year bill • gas tax • cars are more efficient • people are driving less due to the economy
MAP 21 • A Two Year Bill currently in the Senate • Advocates are working to assure there is dedicated funding to support bicycle and pedestrian projects • As this, or similar legislation, moves forward
ADVOCACY IS NEEDED!
Advocating for a Balanced Transportation System A network of interstates, highways, roads, railroads, public transportation, walkways and bikeways
• Retain dedicated federal funding for the safety and consideration of people on foot or on bicycle • Adopt a national complete streets policy •Fill in the gaps. Beyond making new and refurbished roads safer for pedestrians, we need to create complete networks of sidewalks, bicycle paths and trails so that residents can travel safely throughout an area. • Hold states accountable for creating communities that are safe for walking and biking
State Advocacy Eat Smart, Move More SC – Save the Children – Campaign for Healthy Kids – Fund advocacy and direct lobbying
3 Legislative Priorities Healthy Snacks in Schools Farm to School Complete Streets
Advocacy Efforts Get
Involved! Get to know your state legislators! Advocacy webinars, trainings….to grow our advocacy network React and ACT! New for 2012….
Local Advocacy for Complete Streets I. City Government 101 II. Petition Your Government III. A Complete Streets Advocacy Campaign
City Government 101 Cities
and their power City Government Structure How City Councils Function
Cities and Towns Municipal councils are local, legislative assemblies empowered to enact regulations, resolutions, and ordinances consistent with the constitutions and general laws of the state and nation.
The Powers of a City All powers of a municipality reside in the city council The city council is authorized to enact ordinances, adopt resolutions and establish policies Preemption
City Council Rules & Procedures ďƒ˜A
city council adopts a set of rules for how business should be conducted ďƒ˜ These rules and procedures serve as a guide to council and citizens to provide a fair and open method for deliberation
Quorum A
majority of the council’s total membership constitutes a quorum A quorum must be present for the council to transact official business
Meetings
Regular – usually twice a month Special – at the request of the Mayor or majority of the council – Emergency meetings or Public hearings
Executive sessions (also known as closed meetings or sessions) Statutory requirements – form, introductions and adoption of ordinances and resolutions Minutes – must be taken and are public record
Ordinances • Permanent Law • Every proposed ordinance must be introduced by a council member in writing and in the form required for final adoption • They require two separate readings at least 6 days apart
Resolutions Expressions
of the council’s opinion and have no force of law Require only one reading
Advocacy: Petitioning Your Government
The most important political office is that of the private citizen. - Justice Louis Brandeis, Supreme Court Justice
What is Advocacy? Advocacy
is gaining public support for a particular policy through the legislative process. Advocacy is about speaking out and making a case for something important. Advocacy is a multi-layered approach to advancing change.
Why Advocate? ďƒ˜ Advocacy
creates better public
policy. ďƒ˜ Citizens must communicate with their elected officials
Advocacy is a democratic tradition ďƒ˜ Advocacy
is an integral part of our democratic process. ďƒ˜ Simply being able to tell our policymakers how to write and change laws is at the very heart of our democratic system!
Democracy is a team sport. It is not like going to a ballgame where you sit passively and decide if you like the players and evaluate their abilities after watching the game. We are the players, we are the team. - John Renesch, Futurist
Advocacy is Not Just for the Experts. Professional
advocates vs. ordinary citizens Speaking from the heart! Training – Who to call – When to call – What to say – How to say it
Policymakers need your expertise! The
people closest to the real problems and concerns of a community need to be heard! Passion and perspective Make it “real”
A Complete Streets Campaign YOU can build a Complete Streets Campaign that can make enormous improvements to the bicycle and pedestrian environment in your community.
Complete Streets Campaign Identify
Complete Streets Key Partners and Leaders
Define
Campaign Goals
Create
a Campaign Message
Develop
a Complete Streets Campaign Strategy and Timeline
1. Building a Coalition Citizenship today requires individuals be knowledgeable of public problems, but more importantly, have the capacity to act together toward their solutions. - Suzanne Morse, Executive Director of the Pew Partnership for Civic Change
Potential Coalition Partners
Bicycle dealers, shops Disabilities organizations Active living organizations Alternative transportation organizations Anti-poverty organizations Hospitals Schools
Community members who are cyclists Seniors Youth Housing developers Colleges Law enforcement Churches Arts groups Environmental & Conservation groups Smart Growth organizations
Opponents
Build Your Grassroots Organizing Strength Key
Partners Create an email database – Complete Streets Coalition members – FRIENDS…..etc!
City
Council members need to hear public support of the policy!
2. Define Campaign Goals
Key partners need to decide
“Pass a Complete Streets policy at the city level”
“Educate the community on the benefits of Complete Streets”
“Establish a pilot project to build a sidewalk connecting the recreation dept to the school”
3. Create a Campaign Message – A concise statement about your campaign’s purpose What you want to achieve Why you want to achieve it How you will achieve it The specific action you would like your audience to take
Streets should be safe for all users at all times. However, most major roads in our community are unsafe for pedestrians and bicyclists. For shorter distances, choosing to walk, bicycle or use transit should be as easy and convenient as choosing to drive. Passage of a Complete Streets policy in our community would promote these goals.
SAMPLE MESSAGE
Identify Your Target Audience Who has the power to make the change you need to achieve your goal? Council members, the mayor, city manager, transportation director, community leaders, neighbors, the media‌..
Potential Values/Concerns of Community Members
Safety of children Traffic on their neighborhood streets – cutthough, high speed traffic Keeping the character of their rural neighborhood streets (not putting sidewalks in rustic neighborhoods) High speed traffic, traffic congestion Safe places to walk along and cross major arterials (sidewalks & crosswalks)
4. Develop a Complete Streets Campaign Strategy Tactics An Action plan to move your campaign forward 1. Relationship building 2. Decision maker education 3. Media campaign 4. Public Hearings 5. Community outreach and education 6. Demonstration projects 7. Campaign materials – media kit, website, ppt, prepared remarks, FAQs
Evaluate Message Continually
When it is obvious that goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps. 
 - Confucius, Chinese philosopher
Complete Streets:
Advocacy after the policy win
Rachael Bronson, Palmetto Cycling Coalition
After the policy win Does this happen overnight?
After the policy win Work
has only begun! Important to stay involved and engaged—ensure implementation Complete Streets policy is only as good as the implementation Advocating implementation crucial with resolutions
After the policy win Important components of the after the policy win: 1.Research 2.Relationship building 3.Education 4.Communication
After the Policy Win
RESEARCH
Research ďƒ˜ Do your homework! 1. Understand your policy 2. Learn the internal agency implementation process 3. Identify key municipal departments ďƒ˜ Then
begin relationship building process
Understand your policy Allows
you to effectively advocate for implementation Resolution or ordinance Strong vs. weak policy language – Example: City of Columbia – Establishes clear procedures
City of Columbia
Internal Agency Process Process
to achieve implementation should be obvious in strongly worded policy City of Columbia – Incorporate complete streets in neighborhood master plan process – Department level procedure changes in all city transportation projects – 12 month interdepartmental procedure plan
Internal Agency Process Routine internal agency changes: 1.Restructuring
of procedures to favor multi-
modal planning 2.Rewriting or updating design manuals or guides 3.Workshops or training for staff 4.Institute performance measures/data collection on streets level of service
ID Municipal Departments What
municipal departments are involved in implementation? Again, obvious in strongly worded policy City of Columbia explicitly lists: – – – –
Department of Public Works Planning and Development Services Utilities and Engineering Department Construction Management Department
After the Policy Win
RELATIONSHIP BUILDING
Relationship building Assess
local political environment around complete streets – Stronger internal support – Or stronger support from the top?
Identify
individuals to target Assess pitfalls and ways to avoid these Build positive and lasting relationships
Local Staff Contact/outreach
to Department staff referenced in policy Familiarize them with your work/investment in Complete Streets Ask staff about previous work on bike/ped project
Local Leadership Assess
votes of Council/leadership
– Who voted in favor or against? – Arguments against policy?
Thank
supporters for their vote Turn your opponents into supporters You will need their continued support down the road
ID your champ Whether
a staff or leader, identify an internal champion Champion internally educates and promotes complete streets Staff vs. leader: – Staff knows all – Leader has ability to influence change – Either or both are effective champions
After the Policy Win
EDUCATION
Educate! After
policy, crucial to continue to educate – – – – –
Local leaders Committees/commissions City Staff Advocates, community members, public Other professionals
Advocates
can facilitate this process
Educate! Different ways to offer opportunities – Face-to-face meetings – Presentations to Council/Commissions – Formal trainings with local or national facilitator – Webinar opportunities – Providing print materials Varying
topics (implementation, innovative bike/ped design, etc.)
Educate! Many professional affiliations offer resources – Association of Pedestrian & Bicycle Professionals – Institute of Transportation Engineers – National Complete Streets Coalition – American Public Health Association – American Planning Association
Past SC Trainings Workshops
in 2009—Anderson, Rock Hill, Summerville and Conway Half-day workshop at 2007 SCDOT bike/ped conference 2006 Complete Streets training to SCDOT staff Workshops during National Bike month 2006—Charleston, Columbia and Spartanburg
Training & Education Advocacy Manual
Complete Streets Toolbook
Training & Education Future
training and educational opportunities supported through partnerships – – – –
Community Transformation Grant Eat Smart More More SC DHEC AARP of SC
Offer
more local assistance and oneon-one help
After the Policy Win
COMMUNICATIONS
Talking about CS Communication
about complete streets is important – Ensures support and buy-in – Initiates dialogue – Establishes public familiarity
CS
are relevant to public issues— it’s easy to find your spin
Know your facts
To be effective, make sure you know your facts to reach the public Public Health: 65% South Carolinians are overweight Public Safety: 12% traffic fatalities are bicycles/pedestrians Social Equity:
Know your facts
Public Safety:
Assist Aging Population:
Working with the Media Letters
to the editor/op-ed articles Written press releases, sent to relevant media outlets What makes it newsworthy: – Success story – Tragedy – Milestone
There will be barriers Lack
of interagency communication or resolve Communication between SCDOT and local jurisdictions Liability concerns Cost concerns Developers misconceptions Slow pace
Overcome barriers Aim
to find common ground, especially with opponents If cost is concern, suggest ways complete streets save money Stay positive and work together Focus on incremental, positive changes
Partnerships Most
policies successful because driven by diverse partnership Partnership must be maintained even after policy adoption May take different form after policy win