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Cities Forward - Invitation to Participate Copyrighted August 21, 2023 City of Dubuque Action Items # 08. City Council Meeting ITEM TITLE: Cities Forward - Invitation to Participate SUM MARY: City Manager recommending City Council approval to participate in the Cities Forward I nitiative. The City of Dubuque has been selected as one of twelve U.S. cities to participate in the inaugural Cities Forward I nitiative. SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File;Approve DISPOSITION: ATTACHMENTS: Description Type MVM Memo City Manager Memo Staff Memo Staff Memo Program Invitation and Committments letter Supporting Documentation Dubuque THE CITY QF � All-Meriea Ciry DLT B E ; . � . � �� � � MaSt� Z�C� aYd t�Q Mt55ZSSZ Z zoa�•zoiz•�ai3 YP pp za��*zai� TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: Cities Forward Initiative DATE: August 15, 2023 Sustainable Community Coordinator Gina Bell is recommending City Council approval to participate in the Cities Forward Initiative. The City of Dubuque has been selected as one of twelve U.S. cities to participate in the inaugural Cities Forward Initiative. In June 2023, the Office of Sustainability applied to participate in the Cities Forward Initiative —a collaborative partnership of the U.S. Department of State, Local Governments for Sustainability, Resilient City Catalyst, and the Institute of the Americas. The program provides peer-to-peer exchange, capacity building and diplomatic engagement, all focused on implementing projects that solve critical urban challenges around sustainability, inclusivity, and resiliency and takes place over three years. Cities Forward will be guided by three key principles: 1) It will be city-led: local stakeholders will lead action plan design and local project implementation; 2) The least are first: actions taken must benefit the cities' poorest, most vulnerable citizens; and 3) Sustainability: solutions must be environmentally, economically and socially sustainable. The City received notice that we were chosen as one of the twelve U.S. cities to participate in late July. The program helps to further the work of the Office of Sustainability, meet professional development goals and advances equity while building our own capacity and working closely with our Latin American counterparts to learn and develop as well. There is no required budget to participate. There is one required planning session in Mexico City which is covered by the program. Two additional meetings are scheduled but they are optional and the Office of Sustainability will review travel budget balances at that time to determine feasibility. I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval. � Mic el C. Van Milligen MCVM:sv Attachment cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager Gina Bell, Sustainable Community Coordinator Dubuque THE CITY OF � A[I•hmeriea City D B E ��.� :� U ��� ��► � � Maste iece on the Mississi l Zao��zoiz�zoi3 �' pp �o��*zoig TO: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager FROM: Gina Bell, Sustainable Community Coordinator SUBJECT: Cities Forward Initiative DATE: July 27, 2023 INTRODUCTION The purpose of this memo is to request City Council approval to participate. The City of Dubuque has been selected as one of twelve U.S. cities to participate in the inaugural Cities Forward Initiative. BACKGROUND In June 2023, the Office of Sustainability applied to participate in the Cities Forward Initiative — a collaborative partnership of the U.S. Department of State, ICLEI — Local Governments for Sustainability, Resilient City Catalyst, and the Institute of the Americas. The program provides peer-to-peer exchange, capacity building and diplomatic engagement, all focused on implementing projects that solve critical urban challenges around sustainability, inclusivity, and resiliency and takes place over three years. Cities Forward will be guided by three key principles: 1) It will be city-led: local stakeholders will lead action plan design and local project implementation; 2) The least are first: actions taken must benefit the cities' poorest, most vulnerable citizens; and 3) Sustainability: solutions must be environmentally, economically and socially sustainable. DISCUSSION The City received notice that we were chosen as one of the twelve U.S. cities to participate in late July. The attached information details the time commitment to the program and helps to further the work of the Office of Sustainability, meet professional development goals and advance equity while building our own capacity and working closely with our Latin American counterparts to learn and develop as well. BUDGETIMPACT There is no required budget to participate. There is one required planning session which is covered by the program. Two additional meetings are scheduled but they are optional and the Office of Sustainability will review travel budget balances at that time to determine feasibility. REQUESTED ACTION I respectfully request City Council approval to participate in the Cities Forward Initiative. Attachments Cities Forward Initiative invitation and commitment letter. � � CITIES '�,� FORWARD i , ��1� ��1 ` � Dear Gina Bell and Amanda Lewis, We are pleased to inform you that the City of Dubuque's application for the Cities Forward initiative has been accepted. After careful consideration and review of your projects, thematic areas, and dedication to inclusion, the Cities Forward project team finds that you are a strong candidate to participate in the program. Important: Please confirm your participation no later than July 31S` Please note the following requirements for participation in Cities Forward: • Period of Engagement: July 2023 - March 2026 • Willingness to partner with whichever LAC city you are paired through the program • Estimated total number of hours: Minimum 100 hours as estimated per the activities below. 0 15 hours for interacting with a LAC city paired with your community every other month over three years via 60-minute virtual meetings. 0 30-35 hours - Travel to Agenda-Setting Workshop • Will be in a LAC city the week of September 25th 2023 • Final location + dates TBD • A travel budget of$1,900 is allocated per city for this event 0 15 hours to participate in virtual thematic cohort convenings over 3 years 0 15 hours dedicated to ongoing policy dialogue surrounding resilience, inclusion and sustainability over 3 years 0 20 hours of participation in the Cities Forward Academy during 2025 • Opportunity to learn from the project-preparation activities of the 12 selected pairs +50 additional "Academy" cities. o VOLUNTARY & SELF-FUNDED: Travel to and participation in the ICLEI World Congress June 2024 in Sao Paulo, Brazil • Includes participation in the first Hemispheric Urban Dialogue on Climate Change Adaptation �j������ ICLEI � C TSESENT � INSTITUTE OF � � �� CATALYST VI�THE AMERICAS. k; ocal Governm¢nt5 lor SuSlaina0ility � � CITIES '�,� FORWARD i , ��1� ��1 ` � o VOLUNTARY 8� SELF-FUNDED: Travel to and participation in the culminating "Marketplace" in Washington DC. • Exclusive event for the 12 city pairs, featuring the U.S. State Department, sustainable tech solution providers, and finance institutions. • Includes 1.5 days of content + travel • Includes participation in the 2nd Hemispheric Urban Dialogue on Sustainability Technologies & Solutions IMPORTANT: Selected cities are not permitted to share any public announcements regarding their acceptance until August 15th. To confirm your participation in the Cities Forward program, please reply no later than 5:00 PM Eastern U.S. time on Monday July 31, 2023. With your affirmative reply you agree to the requirements outlined above. If your reply is not received by this time, we will extend this invitation to another applicant. Once we receive confirmation from all participants, we will send information regarding your city pair match no later than August 15th. Congratulations on your selection, we look forward to receiving your confirmation soon. Sincerely, ���� Angie Fyfe Executive Director ICLEI USA And The Cities Forward Project Team �j������ ICLEI � C TSESENT � INSTITUTE OF � � �� CATALYST VI�THE AMERICAS. k; ocal Governm¢nt5 lor SuSlaina0ility