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Complete Community Update
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Staff: |
Department: |
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Britany Waddell, Director |
Planning |
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Susan Brown, Executive Director |
Strategic Communications and Marketing |
Project Overview
Staff will present an update on the Complete Community Strategy, with a focus on:
• Staff work to track and communicate key indicators and measures of success
• Staff work to secure grant funding to advance the strategy
Based on recent Council conversations and questions, staff will also present an update on efforts to seek and win external grant funding across Town departments and divisions and provide an overview of our contract with Central Pines Regional Council (CPRC).
1. Tracking and Communicating Progress
We are developing tools such as data dashboards and interactive maps to effectively track and communicate our progress across three initial areas of the strategy: housing, connectivity, and sustainability. Once we fully build out these areas of measurement, we will consider adding others.
We are considering which data points we can measure to clearly communicate our work to advance the Complete Community Strategy - and we welcome Council’s thoughts in this area.
Below are examples of the types of data we could track and communicate. Please note these are only to illustrate the types of data we might track and not a full or final list.
Housing Examples
• Some of the ways we can show progress include reporting on the number of affordable housing units approved, number of Missing Middle units approved, and number of housing units approved along the NSBRT route.
Connectivity Examples
• Some of the ways we could show progress towards more connectivity include reporting on miles of greenways under construction, miles of bike lanes completed, or miles of sidewalk repairs completed.
Sustainability Examples
• Some of the ways we can track sustainability include carbon emission metrics, amount of green space throughout town, and the number of publicly accessible electric vehicle chargers.
Staff would like to hear Council’s reactions before we develop a full set of indicators to use for website, dashboards, etc.
To further illustrate how we might track and measure progress, the staff will review some examples.
Connectivity by the Numbers
We have some compelling numbers regarding projects already underway that directly advance the vision of Complete Community:
• 26 Vision Zero improvements
• 20 sidewalk repairs
• 8 connectivity projects
• 7 greenway extension projects
• 1 NSBRT project
As staff work over the summer to track progress and visualize data, this type of information can be turned into an infographic that helps tell the story how staff is implementing this important Council initiative.
Examples of Maps, Dashboards, and Website
Through GIS mapping, dashboard platforms, and online engagement platforms, staff look forward to using a variety of innovative ways to communicate about Complete Community implementation.
Staff will share a prototype of a GIS map with layers that correspond to key aspects of the Complete Community strategy, including Vision Zero improvements, ADA improvements, Everywhere to Everywhere Greenways, and more.
2. External Funding Awards & Opportunities for Complete Community
Grant Funding Awarded for Complete Community Projects
• Safe Routes to School - $330K for position, training, and supplies
• Governor's Highway Safety Project - $467K for Vision Zero positions, training, and supplies
• RAISE Grant - $1M for Everywhere to Everywhere Greenways feasibility study
• EPA / NC DEQ Grants - $297K for electric garbage truck and charger
• VW Settlement Grant - $668K for EV chargers, including new parking deck
• DOE Energy Futures - $500K across 7 jurisdictions
Current Grant Opportunities for Complete Community Projects
• Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant - $129K for bikeshare program
• Safe Streets for All Grant - $800K for Vision Zero and Safe Routes to Schools projects
• DOE C-SITE - implementation of Energy Futures project
• CFI from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law - potentially millions for EV charging
• Inflation Reduction Act - monitoring all opportunities for local governments, especially tax rebates and state passthrough funds coming soon
3. External Funding Awards & Opportunities Across Town Depts and Projects
Grant Funding Awarded Recently for Various Town Initiatives
• US DOT Grant - $592K for NS BRT bus stops
• Cybersecurity - $100K for managed security operations center
• Mobile Source Emissions Grant - $297K for electric garbage truck
• Advanced Transportation Technologies and Innovative Mobility Deployment Program - $200K for interactive menu screens on buses
• US DOT Bus and Bus Facilities Grant - $2M for bus stop improvements
• Areas of Persistent Poverty Program - $437K for NS BRT app-based micro-transit support
• ABC Grant - $35K for special alcohol operations
• Triad Foundation Grant - $175K for advanced police training simulator
• Library Services and Technology Act Grants - $31K for staff training opportunities
• Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality - $2M for electric buses
Community Project Funding Awarded
• Tanyard Branch Trace Affordable Housing - $1.5 million
• Transit Bus Stop Improvements - $1.4 million
• Ephesus Church Road Sidewalks - $1.2 million
• Transit Bus Replacements - $8 million
• Homestead Gardens Affordable Housing - $2 million
• Downtown Streetscape - $2 million
The Town contracts with the Central Pines Regional Council for grants assistance services. This relatively new service provides member municipalities enhanced support in determining eligibility for grants, municipality and project fit, writing proposals and grant narratives, and, if awarded, managing of grant responsibilities such as reporting and performance measurement. Multiple Town teams are actively working with CPRC on grant applications and awards management.
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• Draft Staff Presentation |
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The Agenda will reflect the text below and/or the motion text will be used during the meeting. |
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PRESENTER: Britany Waddell, Planning Director
The purpose of this item is for staff to present an update on Complete Community implementation. This will include a plain language update to how we describe Complete Community, as well as a draft framework of how to measure progress across the areas of housing, connectivity, and sustainability.