MARIN COUNTYWIDE PLAN UPDATE 2001
INTERIM GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Preamble
Meeting the needs of the present
without compromising the future is the overarching theme of the Marin
Countywide Plan. Marin County government is committed to lead by example,
support public participation, and work in community partnerships to improve
quality of life and use key indicators to measure progress. To design a
sustainable future, we will:
Guiding Principles
1. Link equity, economy, and
the environment locally, regionally and globally.
We will improve the vitality
of our community, economy, and environment. We will seek innovations that
provide multiple benefits to Marin County.
Examples of Community
Indicators: Social, economic and environmental indicators listed below; GPI
(Genuine Progress Indicator:
comprehensive, aggregate measure of general well being and sustainability
including economic, social
and ecological costs).
2. Use finite and renewable
resources efficiently and effectively.
We will reduce consumption
and reuse and recycle resources. We will reduce waste by optimizing the full
life cycle of products and processes.
Examples of Community
Indicators: Per capita waste produced and recycled; per capita use of energy,
natural gas, and water; ecological footprint (measures per capita consumption
of natural resources).
3. Reduce the release of
hazardous materials.
We will make continual
progress toward eliminating the release of substances that cause damage to
living systems. We will strive to prevent environmentally-caused diseases.
Examples of Community Indicators:
Water and air quality; measurements of toxic levels; childhood cancer rates.
4. Steward our natural and
agricultural assets.
We will continue to protect
open space and wilderness, and enhance habitats and bio-diversity. We will
protect and support agricultural lands and activities and provide markets for
fresh, locally grown food.
Examples of Community
Indicators: Acres of wilderness; acres of protected land; level of fish
populations;
track special status plants
and animals; quantity of topsoil; active farmland by crop; productivity of
acreage
and
crop value of agricultural land; acres of organic farmland.
5. Provide efficient and
effective transportation.
We will expand our public
transportation systems to better connect jobs, housing, schools, shopping and
recreational facilities. We
will provide affordable and convenient transportation alternatives that reduce
our
dependence on single
occupancy vehicles, conserve resources, improve air quality and reduce traffic
congestion.
Examples of Community
Indicators: Vehicle miles traveled; bus and ferry ridership and fares; person
miles travelled; community walkability; miles and use of bike paths.
6. Supply housing affordable
to the full range of our workforce and community.
We will provide and maintain
well designed, energy efficient, diverse housing close to job centers, shopping
and transportation links. We
will pursue innovative opportunities to finance workforce housing, promote
infill development and reuse
and redevelop underutilized sites.
Examples of Community
Indicators: Jobs-housing balance; Housing affordability; Number of new housing
units within walking distance to jobs or transit.
7. Foster businesses that
provide a balance of economic, environmental and social benefits.
We will retain, expand and
attract a diversity of businesses that meet the needs of our residents and
strengthen our economic base. We will partner with local employers to address
transportation and housing
needs.
Examples of Community Indicators:
Taxable sales; retention and attraction of targeted businesses; job growth;
unemployment rate; number of businesses with environmental management systems;
hospitality revenues.
8. Educate and prepare our
workforce and residents.
We will make high quality
education, workforce preparation and lifelong learning opportunities available
to all sectors of our community. We will help all children succeed in schools,
participate in civic affairs, acquire and retain well-paying jobs, and achieve
economic independence.
Examples of Community
Indicators: Education level of Marin residents; per-pupil expenditures;
percentage of eligible voters who voted; high school dropout rate; percent of
high school graduates going to college or post secondary training.
9. Cultivate ethnic,
cultural and socio-economic diversity.
We will honor our past,
celebrate our cultural diversity, and respect human dignity. We will build
vibrant communities, enact programs to maintain, share and appreciate our
cultural differences and similarities.
Examples of Community
Indicators: Racial diversity; diversity of community and corporate leadership;
number of hate crimes; number and use of cultural resources such as museums and
theaters.
10. Support public health,
safety, and social justice.
We will live in healthy,
safe communities and provide equal access to amenities and services. We will
particularly protect and nurture our children, our elders, and the more
vulnerable members of our community.
Examples of Community
Indicators: Income statistics; health statistics; Percent of uninsured
(medical) population; longevity after retirement; volunteerism; crime rate;
percent of philanthropic contributions.
Probably the most challenging task facing
humanity today is the creation
Of a shared vision of a sustainable and
desirable society, one that provide permanent prosperity within the biophysical
constraints of the real world in a way that is fair and equitable to all of humanity, to other species, and to future
generations."
Robert Costanza