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Sustainability Action

Our vision is to improve the quality of life in Downtown Covina by empowering the community to change their environment and work towards a healthy community, clean environment, and sustainable future. We seek to serve the downtown community with access and education to organic processes and sustainable practices. Intending to facilitate collective learning, we seek to amplify the voice of the community.  We achieve this through environmental improvement efforts, environmental education, designing conservation projects, and improving the downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods.

Plan

Sustainability Campaign Goals

  1. Provide review and approval for all green infrastructure projects as defined in the specific plan.

  2. Provide recommendations for new green infrastructure projects.

  3. Develop strategies to promote the use of green infrastructure by the City of Covina as an effective and feasible means such as: 

    • Developing models for all components of green infrastructure and make them available; 

    • Exploring opportunities and incentives for the use of green infrastructure provisions 

    • Developing guidance materials, including language, would explain how regulatory and enforcement officials should evaluate and provide appropriate credit for the use of green infrastructure.

    •  Recognize the most effective and innovative uses of green infrastructure to meet the goals of the Specific Plan.

    • Providing technical assistance to potential users of green infrastructure, including the City of Covina, concerning the CTCSP. (These users can include public health agencies, engineers, architects, landscape architects, planners, and nongovernmental organizations.)

    • Establishing a web-based green infrastructure resource center to assist the community in complying with requirements for environmental benefits that green infrastructure can provide. 

    • Developing tools to assist local green infrastructure programs with outreach, training, model development and application, planning and design, monitoring, and plan review.

Sustainable Action Plan Funding

Sustainable Action Plan Sections
Environment
New Construction
Rehab/Remodels
City Programs
City Campaigns
Who/What it Affects
Built Environment/Land Management
Contractors/Developers
Homeowners/HOAs/ Rental Property Owners
General Public
General Public
Type of Effect
Increase Vegetation & Safe Bike Paths
Higher Building Standards
Upgrades for Lower Annual Maintenance Costs
Affordability
Education
Funding
Grants/Partnerships/ State Rebates
State Rebates
Grants/Partnerships/ State Rebates
Grants/Partnerships/ State Rebates
Grants/Partnerships/ State Rebates
Agent of Enforcement
City Public Works
City Building Department
City Building Department/Prosper Covina NGO
City/Prosper Covina NGO
City/Prosper Covina NGO

Sustainability in Action

  • Environment

    • Increase tree canopy in private and public lots

    • Installation of Bioswales, rain gardens, and rain vaults

    • Vegetation Biodiversity in islands, sidewalks, & open space

    • reducing lighting pollution

    • landscaping shall be drought tolerant

    • Increase Bike network throughout the city and connect to neighboring cities

  • New Construction

    • Recycle no less than 40% of materials from demolition

    • Install green roofs, cool roofs, and photovoltaic roofs

    • Require higher R-rating Installation like Rigid Extruded Polystyrene Insulation or similar 

  • Rehabs/Remodels

    • Old HVAC systems to be replaced with new energy-efficient equipment

    • Water-efficient fixture

    • Replace their incandescent lighting with LED

  • City Sponsored Programs

    • Discounted rates for using buses and trains

    • Public events within Covina to provide recycling bins at events

  • City Sponsored Campaigns

    • Reduce overall water consumption by 20% by 2030

      • Education & Publicity (Rebate opportunities, social/environmental benefit ads)

    • Reduce traditional fuel and Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) by 20% by 2030

      • Education & Publicity (Rebates, Programs, social/environmental benefit ads)

    • Physical and Social inclusivity and accessibility in Covina

      • Education & Publicity (Rebates, Programs, social/environmental benefit ads)

More Funding

Funding is needed to develop a structure and implement all the desired projects, either from individuals or companies/businesses. 

Source of Funding (Crowdfunding Platform)

  1. Patronicity

  2. Kickstarter

  3. California Wellness Grant

  4. Art walk -funding source from vendors

Programming

01

Conservation Projects

  • Trees as Bioswales, Rain Gardens, Stormwater Capture 

  • Potentially need Landscape Contractors

02

Farmers Market and/or Comminty Garden

  • Working toward Holistic Land Management

  • Edible Gardens

  • *Note: Could be monthly programming site interventions.

03

Environmental Literacy

  • Help build civic engagement. 

  • Workshops

  • Provide technical and green education, training, and assistance for small businesses in the district.

  • Develop a neighborhood-based green infrastructure and promotion of the district.

04

Biking and Walking Promotion

  • Claremont Village Wine Walk (nature or art walk)

  • Biking to work (Alameda County, SANDAG, Bay Area)

  • Transit-Oriented Development 

Staff & Responsibilities

  • Policy & Lobbying

    • Creating the guidelines of operations

    • Building relationships with other organizations

  • Community Organizing

    • Community outreach and engagement 

    • Volunteer recruitment

  • Publications and Events

    • Advertisement

    • Program planning

  • Grant Writing

    • Main source of funding

Community Planning Studio

2020-2021

Project Advisor: Rick Zimmer

Prepared for The City of Covina

Covina Town Center Specific Pan, F.A.I.R. District Implementation Recommendations 

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