Community Happiness IndexGwendolyn Hallsmith, DirectorDepartment of Planning and Community DevelopmentCity of Montpelier

Indexing Indicators

Types of IndicatorsPressureStateResponse

Familiar CombinationsGNP/GDPGPIPages that Count

New Combinations

Whole System Design Research needs Tracking and Monitoring Communicating Indicators

AudienceMessagingSchedule

Iterative Planning and Policy

Community Happiness

Human Needs FrameworkSocial and Human DevelopmentEmpowerment and ResponsibilityEconomic WealthEfficient Services and InfrastructureEnvironmental Integrity

Unmet Needs Underutilized Resources

Sustainable Community Plan

Definition:

A long-term action plan to guide the environmental decisions, infrastructure choices, economic development, governance, and social development of a community.

A key consideration in a sustainable community planning process is to address how future generations will meet their needs.

Human Needs and Sustainability Human Needs and Sustainability

ActionAction CapacityCapacity

Social, Governance, Economic, and Material Needs

Stocks and Regeneration Rates of Human, Governance, Financial and Physical Assets

five requirements for five requirements for sustainable communitiessustainable communities

health and well-being

empowerment and responsibility

economic security

ecological integrity

efficient services and infrastructure

health and well-beinghealth and well-being

• strong sense of community

• rich spiritual life

• lifelong education system

• arts and cultural activities

• recreational opportunities

• safe neighborhoods

• caring families and relationships

• health care for everyone

empowerment and empowerment and responsibilityresponsibility

• shared leadership

• equity

• self-determination

• conflict resolution

• access

• information

economic securityeconomic security

• meaningful work

• income security

• equitable creation of wealth

efficient services and efficient services and infrastructureinfrastructure

• affordable housing

• efficient buildings and infrastructure

• renewable energy

• reliable transportation

• abundant local goods and services

• reliable communication systems

environmental environmental integrityintegrity

• clean air

• productive soil

• clean and abundant water

• healthy ecosystems & biodiversity

• natural waste assimilation

• climate regulation

• pollination

Enhancing Assets and CapacitiesEnhancing Assets and Capacities

Starting with Strengths

Everybody is a Hero

Satisfying Needs

Integrated Feedback Integrated Feedback SystemsSystems

Improved SocialNetworks

Community Spirit

Social Well-Being

Empowerment andResponsibility

Equitable ResourceDistribution

Economic Security

Human andEnvironmental Health

Improved social networks

Community spirit

Social well-being

Empowerment & responsibility

Equitable resource distribution

Economic security

Human and environmental health

Understanding SystemsUnderstanding Systems

Montpelier Indicators

Social and Human Development Governance Economics & Livelihoods Built Environment and Infrastructure Natural Environment

Social and Human Well-Being Reported Sense of Community Participation in Neighborhoods Reported Sense of Safety Crime Rate Affordable Child Care Lifelong Learning Opportunities Public School Performance Support and Participation of Elders,

People with Disabilities, etc.

Good Governance

Responsiveness to Citizen Concerns Youth Participation in Local

Government Voter Registration Regional Cooperation Neighborhood Association Activities Equitable Voting Districts

Vibrant Local Economy

Green Jobs Livable Wages GRI Reporting Businesses Non-essential imports Locally Produced Food Exchange Systems Job Satisfaction and Employment

Built Environment

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Non-renewable energy consumption Affordable Housing Index Non-motorized transportation Average Household Internet Speed Average Density in Growth Center Sidewalk Quantity and Quality

Natural Environment

Wastewater pollutants River Water Quality Green Roofs Flood storage capacity Raingardens Ambient Air Quality Soil Production

The End

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