Performance Measurement in Local Sustainability Policy: (Public Administration and Public Policy)

Local officials are responsible for a number of important tasks that have a significant impact on the quality of life of most Americans. Arguably, the policy choices made by local governments in the United States more directly impact individual well-being than do the choices made at any other level of government. From zoning decisions to the creation of parks and the maintenance of sidewalks and trails, local governments are largely responsible for direct services to the public and can provide the necessary tools and skills to create an attractive and vibrant community. And yet one area of significant importance for both individuals and for the country as a whole, local sustainability, is a relatively new policy area for many American municipalities. For example, how many local governments are adopting sustainability policies and plans? How are those initiatives performing? Without an honest and robust examination of both the effectiveness and the efficiency of local sustainability policies, the success of the entire sustainability movement in the United States is uncertain. This book provides readers with a comprehensive understanding of what constitutes local sustainability and why it matters. Focusing closely on environmental initiatives, economic development issues, and social equity concerns, each chapter offers both an account of the sustainability policies being adopted and a close exploration of the performance measurement activities of cities in that policy area. Readers are introduced to the metrics that American cities are using to measure the performance of their sustainability efforts, as well as benchmarks and comparison statistics that may be used to develop and evaluate the performance assessment efforts in their own sustainability programs. Students of public administration, urban planning, and political science – as well as public officials – will find this book useful to understand the complexity of sustainability and local government.

Table of Contents:
Part I. Introduction to Local Sustainability Policy 1. Introduction to Local Sustainability and Performance Measurement 2. Sustainability and Performance Measurement Overview Part II. Measuring Efficiency and Effectiveness in Sustainability 3. Transportation Sustainability 4. Pollution Prevention 5. Energy and Resource Conservation 6. Sustainable Economic Development 7. Smart Growth and Land-Use Planning 8. Social Equity and Social Sustainability 9. City Organizational Sustainability Efforts 10. Conclusions of Local Sustainability and Performance Measurement

About the Author :
Susan M. Opp is Associate Professor at Colorado State University, USA. Samantha L. Mosier is Assistant Professor at East Carolina University, USA. Jeffery L. Osgood, Jr. is Professor of Public Policy and Administration and Senior Vice Provost at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, USA.

Review :
"This book provides readers with a rich account of the issues and realities faced by localities dealing with sustainability policies. It gives a voice to local officials who are dealing with a complex and controversial set of policy issues that differ across the country. It is one of the few books in the policy field that presents both the practitioner perspective as well as the academic literature on these issues, drawing on fascinating examples that document the multiple values that are at play. As such, this is a volume that not only focuses on the substance of the policy but also is effective for classroom use." – Beryl A. Radin, McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University, USA