Sustainability Action Plan 2022

Sustainable Action Plan for Coral Springs

1. Introduction

The vision of the City of Coral Springs is to be the premier community in which to live, work and raise a family. The City aims to achieve this vision sustainably. To emphasize this commitment, the City Commission adopted the first Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) in September 2022. The SAP is a city-wide strategy to be implemented collaboratively by all City departments, and by community partners and residents.

The SAP consists of two overarching goals that will be met through four focus areas, each with objectives for Local Government Operations (LGO) and the Community. It also includes two inventories.

Overarching Goals

  1. Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the 2019 baseline by 2030.
  2. Ensure sustainability of all programs, projects, and policies though the three lenses of sustainability.

SAP Focus Areas

  1. Energy and Innovation
  2. Greening the Built Environment
  3. Resource Management and Conservation
  4. Economic and Community Vitality

Objectives

  • 30 objectives are focused on reducing local greenhouse gas emissions, managing resources wisely, enhancing operations, and promoting environmental awareness.

Inventories

  1. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
  2. Sustainability Inventory

2. Defining Sustainability

Sustainability is the balance of environmental, economic, and social resources to ensure prosperity and well-being now and in the future. These three pillars -society, environment, and economy- are often referred to as the "triple bottom line” and ensure that the intended outcome or value of an organization is not unidimensional. Coral Springs’ approach to sustainability within local government expands on this definition to include the best management of the City’s financial and operational resources.

While each organization’s definition of and approach to sustainability may vary according to needs and context, a common theme is the “systems-based approach.” The systems-based approach depicts the pillars of sustainability as complex and interconnected: progress within one pillar may undermine or enhance progress in another pillar and resulting impacts may range from local to global scales. Finally, sustainability is often perceived to be synonymous with environmentalism, but, as defined above, the environment is just one of the interconnected systems within sustainability.

Coral Springs’ Approach to Community and Government Sustainability
Global ‘Pillars’ of Sustainability
Community
City ‘Lenses’ of Sustainability
Local Government
Society (People)
Environment (Planet)
Economy (Prosperity)
Finances
Operations
Environment

*Coral Springs’ approach to local government sustainability ensures the strongest foundation to serve residents and enhance community sustainability.

3. The Three Lenses of Sustainability

The City of Coral Springs has practiced sustainability since its inception as a master-planned community in 1963. This section provides a qualitative baseline and summary of Coral Springs’ three Lenses of Sustainability. One of the overarching goals of the SAP -and primary function of the Office of Sustainability- is to ensure that all Local Government/City programs, projects, and policies are financially, operationally, and environmentally sustainable.

Financial Sustainability
The city practices financial integrity and long term-sustainability by ensuring that city expenditures are strategically linked to the goals, objectives, core values, and existing obligations of Coral Springs. To maintain financial sustainability, the city utilizes a five-year forecast to reshape the financial trajectory. The forecast helps form a plan to fund upcoming costs and long-term liabilities. This is achieved by long term financial decisions, controlling the growth of expenditures, forecast modeling with various optimal and dismal scenarios, and adhering to the financial and investment policies for all city funds. The city prides itself in outstanding service levels and AAA bond ratings. Bond ratings signal to the market that the City of Coral Springs is a low-risk investment; therefore, it grants the city lower interest rates on any borrowing and lower payments on general obligation bonds.

Operational Sustainability
The city practices operational sustainability through intentional, strategic, and proactive steps to strengthen operations and enhance efficiencies. The city addresses aging infrastructure, replacement plans, and seeks grant opportunities. The city focuses on the sustainability of the workforce by identifying labor trends, addressing employee engagement efforts, and by incorporating innovative incentives to reward the core values that support the vision of the community. As the city evolves, the Capital Improvement Plan is updated annually to adjust for changing capital needs and changes in availability and cost of funds. Each project that is proposed is analyzed to determine its financial impact on operations, operating expenditures, and revenues. Each project that is confirmed undertakes a strict review to reduce subjectivity to ensure that projects are prioritized on a citywide perspective. The city’s performance is assessed through a performance management system to align department services and programs with the City Commission’s strategic goals. The system enables departments to measure results against targets and make timely adjustments when results fall short of expected performance levels.

Environmental Sustainability
The city’s commitment to environmental sustainability is highlighted through the establishment of the Office of Sustainability. Additionally, the city’s preservation of natural areas such as parks and ESLs signal the importance of preserving habitat for wildlife. Furthermore, the City of Coral Springs is proud to be a Tree City USA and has held its position for the past 30 years. The community’s hard work in expanding gardening for Florida wildlife is evident through the recognition of the city as a Community Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. Reducing the energy consumption of buildings in the City of Coral Springs is a priority, which is why all development coming into the city is encouraged to build green by practicing green building standards. Year-round water conservation measures to protect water resources are practiced through landscape irrigation restrictions.

4. Implementation

The SAP is an iterative document intended to be revised and updated every three to five years. Goals and objectives are tracked through Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). KPIs and other sustainability initiatives will be available to the public via the Sustainability Dashboard.

Collaboration
A “Sustainable Coral Springs” with lasting impact is dependent on collaboration, community participation, and partnerships. Extensive stakeholder input and participation are included in all phases of development and implementation. Sustainability includes many systems; therefore, all City departments are involved with the implementation of the SAP.

5. Focus Areas

  1. Energy and Innovation
  2. Building Green
  3. Resource Management and Conservation
  4. Economic and Community Vitality
5.1 Energy and Innovation

Our energy system is transforming and renewable energies such as solar are increasing. Solar energy is a stable, reliable, and environmentally friendly source of energy that is readily available in South Florida. Renewable energies and energy efficiency are tools that help to mitigate climate change and reduce GHG emissions. The Energy and Innovation focus area strives to increase the city’s access to renewable energy and promote efficiency and innovation.

Local Government Operations Goal
Reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions through efficient actions, programs, education, and policies that promote renewable energies and innovative technologies.

  • Objectives:
    • Conduct an annual greenhouse gas emissions inventory
    • Conduct an annual sustainability inventory
    • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from LGO by 20% every 5 years from the baseline
    • Achieve SolSmart designation
    • Increase renewable energy sources on city facilities
    • Encourage a culture of energy conservation to reduce environmental impacts and identify opportunities for fiscal sustainability

Community Goal
Engage and empower the community to reduce energy use and increase the use of renewable energy to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions.

  • Objectives:
  • Develop educational campaigns that seek to reduce energy usage
  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% every 5 years from the baseline
  • Conduct a biennial GHG inventory
  • Increase the knowledge of renewable energy sources for residents and businesses
5.2 Building Green

Our residents’ daily lives are impacted by buildings, roads, infrastructure, and transportation. The Building Green focus area aims to mitigate the negative impacts of the built environment by increasing vehicle electrification and charging stations and implementing nature-based solutions and enhancements to infrastructure.

Local Government Operations Goal
Mitigate the negative impact of the built environment and promote the transition to alternative fuel vehicles.

  • Objectives:
    • Identify buildings and facilities for feasibility of green infrastructure
    • Develop an EV strategy for city fleet
    • Perform a fleet assessment and a cost benefit analysis
    • Develop and deliver educational campaigns that promote alternative fuel vehicles

Community Goal
Reduce fossil fuel consumption and increase electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

  • Objectives:
    • Research the cost of universal EV chargers
    • Research financial incentives for the city to install EV chargers
    • Identify prime locations for EV charging infrastructure
    • Develop and deliver educational campaigns that promote alternative fuel vehicles
    • Seek opportunities to partner with businesses to identify buildings for the feasibility of green
5.3 Resource Management and Conservation

Properly managing our economic, social, and environmental resources helps to ensure their long-term availability. The Resource Management and Conservation focus area strives to enhance our resources through programs and policies that are aimed at management and conservation.

Local Government Operations Goal
Promote a culture of waste reduction, energy efficiency, and sustainability through education, municipal operation, infrastructure, and services.

  • Objectives:
    • Track the amount of waste generated at city facilities and city events
    • Reduce waste at city facilities and city-run events by 20% every 5 years
    • Go 100% paperless by 2030, or when necessary use recycled paper
    • Develop a pesticide-free campaign
    • Develop and monitor replacement plans for city assets
    • Host annual operational sustainability employee focus groups
    • Develop an annual five-year forecast for funds

Community Goal
Enhance the resiliency of native species and steward our natural resources.

  • Objectives:
    • Increase the city’s tree canopy coverage to at least 35% by 2025
    • Increase the community’s participation in Broward County’s NatureScape Program and/or National Wildlife Federation by 15% by 2027
    • Increase water quality through water pollution prevention educational campaigns
    • Develop waste reduction and natural resource conservation educational campaigns
    • Reduce potable water consumption through water conservation educational campaigns
5.4 Economic and Community Vitality

The backbone of our community is the prosperity of our economy and residents. The Economic and Community Vitality focus area addresses the partnership with the business community in sustainability efforts and the safety and well-being of our residents.

Local Government Operations Goal
Create and implement programs and policies that attract and retain a sustainable economy, enhance livability, and foster inclusion.

  • Objectives:
    • Develop an outreach inclusion group
    • Create an application for city trails and parks
    • Promote businesses in Coral Springs through marketing campaigns
    • Partner with the business community to develop green business strategies

Community Goal
Encourage the community to engage in programs and policies that attract and retain a sustainable economy, enhance livability, and foster inclusion.

  • Objectives:
    • Increase businesses practicing sustainability by 10% annually
    • Develop educational programs that prevent litter
    • Ensure safety in our neighborhoods
    • Develop inclusive programming that seeks to engage and educate the community on climate change (youth, adult, and seniors)

6. Acknowledgements

The Sustainability Action Plan was developed by the City’s Office of Sustainability with support from the City Commission, senior management, staff, and the Coral Springs community. A group of City staff are designated as Sustainability Liaisons to assist with the development, implementation, and review of the SAP.

Sustainability Liaisons:
  • Alexander Hernandez, Building Department 
  • Casey Lee, Community Development Department 
  • Cecilia Wells, Public Works Department 
  • Chelsea Stahl, Financial Services Department 
  • Cybil Davillier-Barbanes, Building Department 
  • Dale Pazdra, City Manager’s Office 
  • Debra Hamilton, Communications and Marketing Department 
  • Diana Scarpetta, Economic Development Office 
  • Fiorella Lavena, Coral Springs Museum of Art 
  • George Soberon, Police Department 
  • Georgia Elliot, City Clerk’s Office 
  • Jill Brown, Coral Springs Museum of Art 
  • John Whalen, Fire Department 
  • Justin Ellis, Parks and Recreation Department 
  • Kim Moskowitz, Financial Services Department 
  • Lydia Cutz, Human Resources Department 
  • Ileana Petrone, Budget, Intergovernmental, Strategy, and Sustainability Department 
  • Marissa Williams, Budget, Intergovernmental, Strategy, and Sustainability Department 
  • Monica Ospina, Budget, Intergovernmental, Strategy, and Sustainability Department 
  • Nicole Giordano, Budget, Intergovernmental, Strategy, and Sustainability Department 
  • Paula Rubiano, Communications and Marketing Department 
  • Randy Rosenberg, Police Department 
  • Sophy Sollecito, Information Technology Department 
  • Yuu Soubra, Economic Development Office 
City Commission:
  • Mayor Scott Brook
  • Vice Mayor Joshua Simmons
  • Commissioner Shawn Cerra
  • Commissioner Nancy Metayer
  • Commissioner Joy Carter
City Leadership:
  • Frank Babinec, City Manager
  • Catherine Givens, Deputy City Manager
  • Dale Pazdra, Deputy City Manager
  • Robert Curnow, Deputy City Manager