Introduction

• Climate
• Economic Development
• Energy
• Land
• Leadership
• Mobility
• Municipal Operations
• Water
• Waste & Recycling

Sustainability is also a journey with respect to sustainable actions for individuals and institutions. Village of Mount Prospect’s journey started decades prior to the referenced Strategic Plan actions; however, this is the first-time staff, community members, and the Village Board are working toward a formal Sustainability Plan Report and Implementation Guide with a five-year outlook. While these planning documents are new, the Village has incorporated sustainability in operations, capital projects, policies and in long-ranging planning like the Comprehensive Plan and Community Investment Plan. The Sustainability Plan Report outlines regional efforts, notable achievements/awards and highlights the importance of the Greenest Region Compact categories. It also explains Village actions, past and present, in support of the Greenest Region Compact. These are just a few of the Village's achievements:

• Early implementers of curb side recycling for single-family homes
• Installed electric vehicle charging stations in the Emerson Street and Maple Street Parking Decks
• Tree City USA Award - 38 consecutive years
• SolSmart Gold Designated Community
• Signatory to the Mayors Monarch Pledge
• New Sidewalk Program to fill gaps in pedestrian networks
• The Village's Backyard Drainage "Rain Garden" Program
• Annual household hazardous waste recycling events
• Various Flood Control/Stormwater Improvement Projects (Levee 37, Burning Bush Trails Park, Aspen Trails Park, Isabella Drainage Improvements, etc.)

Ad Hoc Committee:

The 2022-2023 Strategic Plan Action "Village Government Sustainability Plan" outlined the formation of an Ad Hoc Committee. The committee was formed with members from existing boards and commissions who volunteered to participate and several members of the public (i.e. not a member of a board or commission). Several volunteers have professional environmental or sustainability related experience which proved helpful to discussions and planning. The Village’s boards and commissions members have existing knowledge of Village operations which was thought to be beneficial to the sustainability planning process. In addition, their experience participating in the sustainability ad hoc committee may be valuable to the board or commission of which they are a current member.

This planning process was facilitated by staff and was similar to the Village Board’s strategic planning process. The first meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee was in September 2022. The assignment was to review and provide feedback on the Sustainability Plan Report, which carried over into the October meeting. After reviewing what the Village has completed so far, Ad Hoc Committee members were asked to provide purpose-driven long term goals which the group would discuss and prioritize at the November meeting. Staff created the first draft of the Implementation Guide based on the prioritization process and insights from the Committee during December, for review at the January 2023 Ad Hoc Committee meeting. In February, staff worked to prepare for the February 28, 2023 Committee of the Whole discussion and provide the Committee an opportunity to review the presentation.

Implementation Guide:

The Implementation Guide’s goals are the result of the Ad Hoc Committee proposing and prioritizing goals. The goals are listed in the order of most votes received and a goal need a majority of votes to make the list.

1. Promote the use of environment friendly alternatives for landscapes throughout the community
2. Help reduce solid waste tonnage generated by all users
3. Construct new shared-use paths and sidewalks to create greater opportunities for walking and biking
4. Use energy for building and facilities efficiently
5. Maintain landscapes with an aesthetically pleasing neighborhood appeal, in a safe and environmentally sensitive manner, which minimizes the use of pesticides and herbicides
6. Formalize participation in the Illinois Finance Authority’s C-PACE Program that will allow commercial and certain residential properties to finance investment in electric vehicle charging, energy efficiency, water conservation, renewable energy and resilient design of new and existing buildings
7. Encourage installation of solar panels and participation in the Village’s community solar program

In the Guide, each goal is framed by objectives that provide the intended outcomes. Additional context is provided by the Value to the Community and Value to Environment sections. These are followed by identified Challenges and Opportunities related to each goal. The Management in Progress actions are planned capital projects or exiting programs provided by staff that address the specific goal. These efforts were shared with the Ad Hoc Committee prior to them proposing the Actions. The action items listed On The Horizon are actions which have no current or planned supporting initiatives. Lastly, goals submitted by committee members and did not receive a majority of votes are recorded under the Goals On The Horizon section of the guide. This is to further document the planning process, since this information may be beneficial if this process was to repeat in the future. View the Implementation Guide.