Resilient Springfield - Climate Action & Resilience
The City of Springfield of Springfield recognizes that it is important to prepare for the long-term impacts of climate change. Since surviving multiple natural disasters, including an EF3 tornado in June 2011, Springfield is focused on building a more resilient and inclusive city. The City's rebuilding and resilience planning brings focus on preparing for shocks like increasingly frequent and more severe weather events, as well as addressing systemic long-term stressors like racial and economic inequity, poverty and an aging housing stock. Springfield understands that to truly achieve resilience, we must rebuild in a way that ensures all of Springfield's residents have access to a more equitable and sustainable future.
La ciudad de Springfield de Springfield reconoce que es importante prepararse para los impactos a largo plazo del cambio climático. Desde que sobrevivió a múltiples desastres naturales, incluido un tornado EF3 en junio de 2011, Springfield se enfoca en construir una ciudad más resiliente e inclusiva. La planificación de la reconstrucción y la resiliencia de la Ciudad se enfoca en prepararse para los choques como eventos climáticos cada vez más frecuentes y más severos, así como en abordar los factores estresantes sistémicos a largo plazo como la desigualdad racial y económica, la pobreza y el envejecimiento de las viviendas. Springfield comprende que para lograr verdaderamente la resiliencia, debemos reconstruir de una manera que garantice a todos los residentes de Springfield un futuro más equitativo y sostenible.
Climate Action & Resilience Updates:
City Awards $50,000 to Neighborhood Organizations to Increase Awareness and Participation
The previous municipal communications recommendations completed by Bloomberg pointed out that the City of Springfield utilizes neighborhood councils and organizations as a key part of two-way communication with residents. However, some residents stated that there wasn't enough awareness or participation in the neighborhood councils. As part of the $2 million MVP grant awarded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the City of Springfield has made the following awards of funding to neighborhood councils to increase awareness and participation in their organizations:
| Neighborhood Council | Funding Award |
| Armoury Quadrangle Civic Association | $9,500.00 |
| New North Citizens Council | $9,091.00 |
| Old Hill Neighborhood Council | $6,300.00 |
| McKnight Neighborhood Council | $6,200.00 |
| East Springfield Neighborhood Council | $6,059.00 |
| Bay Area Neighborhood Council | $5,350.00 |
| Upper Hill Residents Council | $5,000.00 |
| Indian Orchard Citizens Council | $1,500.00 |
| East Forest Park Civic Association | $1,000.00 |
Neighborhood council activities will specifically focus on raising awareness within vulnerable populations and those least likely to participate in neighborhood council activities. That will include low-income populatations, renters, youth, disabled and english isolated residents. Neighborhood Councils were tasked with designing and implementing their own outreach programs that fell within certain parameters. The City will also be contracting with translation services to be utilized by the councils during this project.
Click here for information on how to reach your neighborhood council
City of Springfield Awarded MVP Grant
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts announced in September 2021 that the City of Springfield was awarded an MVP Grant totaling $2,000,000 for "Trees, Homes, People/Creating a More Resilient Living Environment" (Click here to view the announcement).
$1,895,000 of that funding will be utilized for construction of an Urban Forestry Operation Center and will be adminstered by the Department of Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management. $105,000 will be utilized for increasing awareness and participation of neighborhood councils and for increasing public awareness of the importance of rental insurance which will be adminstered by the Office of Disaster Recovery. Stay tuned to this page for updates regarding these projects.
Climate Action and Resilience Plan Update - June 2021
A recent progress report on the Climate Action and Resilience Plan from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission demonstrated that 81% of the recommended actions in the plan have either been completed or underway, and 100% of the recommendations on managing the Urban Forest have been implemented!!
This is great news and we are so proud of the progress Springfield has made, but we also recognize there is still so much to do. We are thankful for all of our partner organizations and residents that have contributed to Springfield's success.
Un informe de progreso reciente sobre el Plan de Resiliencia y Acción Climática de la Comisión de Planificación de Pioneer Valley demostró que el 81% de las acciones recomendadas en el plan se han completado o están en marcha, ¡y se han implementado el 100% de las recomendaciones sobre el manejo del Bosque Urbano! !
Esta es una gran noticia y estamos muy orgullosos del progreso que ha logrado Springfield, pero también reconocemos que todavía hay mucho por hacer. Estamos agradecidos por todas nuestras organizaciones asociadas y residentes que han contribuido al éxito de Springfield.
Click here to view the Climate Action and Resilience Plan
Questions or comments may be directed to Tina Quagliato Sullivan at tquagliato@springfieldcityhall.com.
Las preguntas o comentarios pueden dirigirse a Tina Quagliato Sullivan en tquagliato@springfieldcityhall.com
Resilient Springfield Council - June 16, 2021 Meeting
The Resilient Springfield Resident Advisor Council had its final meeting on June 16, 2021. The final meeting was attended by representatives of the following stakeholders:
- Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
- Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts
- ARISE for Social Justice
- Wayfinders
- Neighbor 2 Neighbor Springfield
The meeting was attended by the following city staff
- Tina Quagliato Sullivan, Director of Disaster Recovery
- Bob Hassett, Director of Emergency Preparedness
- Gerard Kiernan, Sustainability Coordinator
- Chrismary Gonzalez, Racial Equity Coordinator
Tina Quagliato Sullivan, Director of Disaster Recovery gave a presentation on resilience initiatives funded with Community Development Block Grant - National Disaster Resilience (CDBG-NDR) funding and on the overall MVP grant projects not covered by the Resident Advisor Council.
Several resident advisors who have particpated on the resident advisor council attended the final meeting and the City of Springfield thanks all of our partner organizations, residents and neighborhood councils for their participation in this process. Bloom Works presented their final communication and outreach strategy report and Catherine Ratte and Jacinta Williams from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission reviewed their presentations to neighborhood councils and information on how residents could get more involved going forward.
El Consejo Asesor Residente Resilient Springfield tuvo su reunión final el 16 de junio de 2021. A la reunión final asistieron representantes de las siguientes partes interesadas:
Comisión de Planificación de Pioneer Valley
Instituto de Salud Pública del Oeste de Massachusetts
ARISE por la justicia social
Wayfinders
Vecino 2 Vecino Springfield
A la reunión asistieron los siguientes funcionarios de la ciudad
Tina Quagliato Sullivan, directora de recuperación ante desastres
Bob Hassett, director de preparación para emergencias
Gerard Kiernan, coordinador de sostenibilidad
Chrismary Gonzalez, Coordinadora de equidad racial
Varios asesores residentes que han participado en el consejo de asesores residentes asistieron a la reunión final y la ciudad de Springfield agradece a todas nuestras organizaciones asociadas, residentes y consejos vecinales por su participación en este proceso. Bloom Works presentó su informe final de estrategia de comunicación y divulgación y Catherine Ratte y Jacinta Williams de la Comisión de Planificación de Pioneer Valley revisaron sus presentaciones a los consejos vecinales e información sobre cómo los residentes podrían involucrarse más en el futuro.
Click here to review the meeting agenda
Click here to review the meeting minutes
Click here to review the final communications report prepared by BloomWorks
Questions or comments may be directed to Tina Quagliato Sullivan at tquagliato@springfieldcityhall.com.
Las preguntas o comentarios pueden dirigirse a Tina Quagliato Sullivan en tquagliato@springfieldcityhall.com
Resilient Springfield Council - May 19, 2021 Meeting
The Resilient Springfield Resident Advisor Council met on May 19, 2021. After months of interviews with residents, stakeholders and city staff, Bloomworks, Inc., gave a presentation of draft recommendations for the City of Springfield to improve communication/outreach with residents, particularly the City's most vulnerable residents. Stakeholders, resident advisors and city staff were given the opportunity to provide additional feedback and comment on the draft recommendations.
El Resilient Springfield Resident Advisor Council se reunió el 19 de mayo de 2021. Después de meses de entrevistas con residentes, partes interesadas y personal de la ciudad, Bloomworks, Inc., hizo una presentación de recomendaciones preliminares para que la ciudad de Springfield mejore la comunicación / alcance con los residentes, particularmente los residentes más vulnerables de la ciudad. Las partes interesadas, los asesores residentes y el personal de la ciudad tuvieron la oportunidad de proporcionar retroalimentación adicional y comentar el borrador de las recomendaciones.
Click here to review the meeting agenda
Click here to review the meeting minutes
Questions or comments may be directed to Tina Quagliato Sullivan at tquagliato@springfieldcityhall.com.
Las preguntas o comentarios pueden dirigirse a Tina Quagliato Sullivan en tquagliato@springfieldcityhall.com
Resilient Springfield Council - May 5, 2021 Meeting
On May 5, 2021 the Resilient Springfield Resident Advisor Council met to continue discussing resilience initiatives underway and to work with Bloom Works on revised communications/outreach strategies for the City. Pat Sullivan, Director of Parks, Facilities and Recreation Management, along with City Forestor, Alex Sherman and Resilience Coordinator Gerard Kiernan, spoke about the various green and resilience projects underway by the Parks Department. Chris Cignoli, Director of DPW also discussed some of the green and resilience initiatives his department has explored and some of the challenges they face in implementation.
Click to review meeting agenda
Questions or comments may be directed to Tina Quagliato Sullivan at tquagliato@springfieldcityhall.com.
El 5 de mayo de 2021, el Consejo Asesor Residente Resiliente de Springfield se reunió para continuar discutiendo las iniciativas de resiliencia en curso y para trabajar con Bloom Works en las estrategias revisadas de comunicación / divulgación para la Ciudad. Pat Sullivan, Director de Parques, Instalaciones y Gestión de Recreación, junto con City Forestor, Alex Sherman y el Coordinador de Resiliencia Gerard Kiernan, hablaron sobre los diversos proyectos ecológicos y de resiliencia que está llevando a cabo el Departamento de Parques. Chris Cignoli, Director de DPW también habló sobre algunas de las iniciativas ecológicas y de resiliencia que su departamento ha explorado y algunos de los desafíos que enfrentan en la implementación.
Las preguntas o comentarios pueden dirigirse a Tina Quagliato Sullivan en tquagliato@springfieldcityhall.com
Resilient Springfield Communications Project Update 4.21.21
The team of resident advisors, stakeholders, Springfield officials, representative from Bloom Works met on April 21, 2021 continued the series of meetings around improving the city's communications with residents, resilience and climate justice. Catherine Ratte from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission gave a presentation that included a progress report on implementation of recommendations from the Climate Action and Resilience Plan. Bob Hassett, the City's Emergency Preparedness Director also gave a presentation about the various methods of communications the City utilizes before, during and following emergency situations.
Residents can view these presentations by clicking on the graphic for each.
During the month of May the group will reconvene to hear updates from the Parks, Forestry and Facilities Management Departments and DPW on current and planned resililence, sustainabiltiy and green initiatives in those departments.
Questions or comments may be directed to Tina Quagliato Sullivan at tquagliato@springfieldcityhall.com.
El equipo de asesores residentes, partes interesadas, funcionarios de Springfield y representantes de Bloom Works se reunieron el 21 de abril de 2021 y continuaron la serie de reuniones para mejorar las comunicaciones de la ciudad con los residentes, la resiliencia y la justicia climática. Catherine Ratte de la Comisión de Planificación de Pioneer Valley hizo una presentación que incluyó un informe de progreso sobre la implementación de las recomendaciones del Plan de Resiliencia y Acción Climática. Bob Hassett, el director de preparación para emergencias de la ciudad, también hizo una presentación sobre los diversos métodos de comunicación que utiliza la ciudad antes, durante y después de situaciones de emergencia.
Los residentes pueden ver estas presentaciones haciendo clic en el gráfico de cada una.
Durante el mes de mayo, el grupo se volverá a reunir para escuchar las actualizaciones de los Departamentos de Parques, Silvicultura y Administración de Instalaciones y DPW sobre las iniciativas actuales y planificadas de resiliencia, sostenibilidad e iniciativas ecológicas en esos departamentos.
Las preguntas o comentarios pueden dirigirse a Tina Quagliato Sullivan en tquagliato@springfieldcityhall.com
Resilient Springfield Communications Project Update 2.17.21
A team of resident advisors, stakeholders, Springfield officials, representative from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and representatives from Bloom Works met on February 17, 2021 to continue listening to ways the City can improve communications around resilience and preparedness with vulnerable residents. The City of Springfield looks forward to continued discussions and to hearing the future recommendations from Bloom Works.
Un equipo de asesores residentes, partes interesadas, funcionarios de Springfield, representantes de la Commonwealth de Massachusetts y representantes de Bloom Works se reunieron el 17 de febrero de 2021 para seguir escuchando las formas en que la Ciudad puede mejorar las comunicaciones sobre la resiliencia y la preparación con los residentes vulnerables. La ciudad de Springfield espera continuar las discusiones y escuchar las recomendaciones futuras de Bloom Works.
Take Home Assignment for Resident Advisors
Questions or comments may be directed to Tina Quagliato Sullivan at tquagliato@springfieldcityhall.com.
Las preguntas o comentarios pueden dirigirse a Tina Quagliato Sullivan en tquagliato@springfieldcityhall.com
Resilient Springfield Communications Project - Kickoff Meeting (1.20.21)
The City of Springfield has recieved a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to improve and build out lines of communications around resilience, green initiatives and future preparedness with the City's most vulnerable residents and Environmental justice populations. The City is undertaking a six month process that includes a resident advisor council made up of emergency preparedness, resilience focused city staff, residents and stakeholders to formulate recommendations.
Map of Springfield Environmental Justice Populations
The Resident Advisory Board will serve as a focus group of targeted residents and stakeholders, who have already been involved in Citywide resilience activities and planning. A virtual Kickoff Meeting was held on January 20, 2021 and was attended by the following city officials:
- Mayor Domenic Sarno
- Bill Baker, Director of Communications
- Molly Shea, Director of Constituent Services and Deputy Director of Communications
- Bob Hassett, Director of Emergency Preparedness
- Tina Quagliato Sullivan, Director of Disaster Recovery
- Chrismery Gonzalez, Coordinator of Racial Equity
Stakeholders from the following organizations are also participating: Wayfinders, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, Arise for Social Justice, Public Health Institute of Western Mass, and Neighbor 2 Neighbor. Each organization is recruiting residents and will provide support to them to enable them to actively and meaningfully participate in the group's activities and to provide information and feedback to the City on effectively communicating with the City's most vulnerable residents. The City has also hired Bloom Works, an outside consulting firm that will assist in facilitating the meetings with the resident advisor council, and who will provide a report and recommendations to the City on building out lines of communications.
View Mayor Sarno's Meeting Update
Public questions or comments regarding this project may be sent to Tina Quagliato Sullivan at tquagliato@springfieldcityhall.com
La Cuidad de Springfield ha recibido una subvención de Preparación De Vulnerabilidad Municipal (MVP) del Mancomunidad de Massachusetts para asistir mejorar y crear líneas de comunicación sobre resiliencia, iniciativos verdes y futura preparación con los residentes de la Cuidad más vulnerable y poblaciones de justicias Ambientales. La Cuidad está realizando un proceso de seis meses que incluye un concilio consultivo de residentes formado de una plantilla de preparación de emergencia, empleados municipales enfocados en resiliencia, residentes y beneficiaros para formular recomendaciones. La Cuidad también ha contratado una empresa de comunicación externa Bloom Works para facilitar el proceso. Información sobre el proceso y estas reuniones se llevarán a cabo para reviso público en este sitio de web.
Las preguntas en español o la solicitud de traducción de documentos pueden dirigirse a Julisa Davila-Ramos at jdavilaramos@springfieldcityhall.com
Springfield's Climate Action & Resilience Plan (CARP)
The City has partnered with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to create Springfield's Climate Action & Resilience Plan (CARP). The CARP is a roadmap for Springfield to reduce Green House Gas Emissions (GHG) and enhance urban resilience.
In addition to being a Climate Action plan, this is also the city’s new resilience plan. As a Climate Action plan, it provides strategies to survive and thrive amidst increasingly dangerous and unpredictable natural disasters: tornados, October snow storms, tropical storms, and hurricanes, are made worse by our over use of fossil fuels. As a resilience plan, it also lays out a path to make this city stronger—today and in the future—so that we can survive and thrive amidst the chronic stresses of poverty, racism and unemployment that make us weak and vulnerable
You may click on the photo on the right to read the complete report.
For questions regarding this document you may contact Tina Quagliato Sullivan at tquagliato@springfieldcityhall.com
Las preguntas en español o la solicitud de traducción de documentos pueden dirigirse a Julisa Davila-Ramos at jdavilaramos@springfieldcityhall.com
Climate Change & Health Equity Meeting
The Springfield Climate Justice Initiative, a new project of the Live Well Springfield coalition, is one of 15 community-based collaborations nationwide receiving grant funding as part of a one year planning phase of Kresge’s Climate Change, Health and Equity initiative.
With this funding, the collaborators, the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, Arise for Social Justice, Way Finders, Ener-G-Save, and the City of Springfield, will work with residents and community partners from other sectors to develop multi-year work plans to address community-defined health and climate priorities.
Through the Springfield Climate Justice Initiative, the coalition will engage key stakeholders and residents to be a part of a Climate Justice and Health Equity Committee (CCHE). The CCHE committee will work to narrow down the policy priorities building on Springfield’s Strong, Healthy Just: Climate Action & Resilience Plan. We believe that change cannot happen without the people most impacted by the issues at the table.
The CCHE Committee will meet the 2nd Tuesday of each month, at the Dunbar Community Center, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM.
For more information about the CCHE committee, please contact Samantha Hamilton at Shamilton@publichealthwm.org.
The City Invites Residents to Participate in a Climate Day of Action
The City of Springfield in partnership with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission will be supporting Springfield's Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP) and participating in the Earth Day Festival at the Springfield Museums on April 22, 2018 from 11am - 4pm.
This will be an opportunity for residents to become engaged in Springfield's resilience process during a day long event focused on transportation, green initiatives and food!
For more information please view the flyer here.
Mayor Sarno Launches Strong, Healthy and Just Climate Action and Resilience Plan: City Partners with 'ener-G-save' to Encourage Residents to Improve Energy Efficiency
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, Partners for a Healthier Community, and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation announce the City’s launch of its ambitious Strong, Healthy, and Just Climate Action and Resilience Plan, and its partnership with the ‘ener-G-save’ initiative to urge homeowners to take advantage of free home energy audits, incentives and financial assistance to make their homes more energy-efficient. The announcement will take place on Wednesday, September 6, 2017 at 2:15 in City Hall, Room 220.
Mayor Sarno stated, “Implementing the Strong, Healthy Just Climate Action & Resilience Plan is going to take all of us working together. All of our city departments will be involved and there will be ways to contribute to the effort across the sectors of our community, as well as residents. We can do this if we do it together. This is not only good for our environment, but also to the City’s and homeowners’ bottom line too.”
Funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s disaster resilience grant to the City, the recently-completed Climate Action and Resilience Plan provides the blueprint for the City of Springfield to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 and to enhance the City’s overall resilience. City government has already substantially reduced municipal energy use; has been certified in the first round of Massachusetts Green Communities; and has advanced policy like the Complete Streets Resolution, which prioritizes safe walking and biking. The City will use the Plan’s guidance to take its next steps toward further resilience.
Meeting the ambitious goal of an 80% reduction will require government, business and residents to work together. During the launch, we are pointing out that residential buildings make up just under a third of Springfield’s overall greenhouse gas emissions--384,105 metric tons of CO2e—so homeowners have an important role in learning about and addressing energy efficiency in their homes.
Springfield is excited to have ‘ener-G-save’ as an implementation partner to help with the issue of home energy efficiency. Springfield is one of ten cities and towns chosen to participate in this project supported by Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation Energy LLC. This past winter, thermal images were taken of over 6,500 single family homes in Springfield, and these images are being mailed to homeowners this week to indicate places in the home where heat is leaking out of walls and roofs, and where money and energy are being wasted. Be sure to watch your mail for a white window envelope from ‘ener-G-save’ in the next week or so to see if YOU will receive the image.
Whether or not you get one of these reports, you can be an early adopter in your home. The Mayor's Office urges all homeowners to call the hotline (413)-279-9141 or sign up at the web link here: www.ener-g-save.com/form and line up a free energy audit that will help you learn how to make your home healthier and more comfortable, all while saving money and energy. Whatever your income, you will be directed to services that will help you learn what financial assistance is available to you, what can be done for free, and who can help you do the work. One contact with ‘ener-G-save’ and you'll be on your way to helping the Climate Action and Resilience Plan get off to a running start by increasing our energy efficiency as a City.
Springfield will be tracking our progress toward meeting our goals on a new website: www.ResilientSpringfield.org, where you can see details about the actions City departments are implementing and what steps you can take as residents and business owners.
Click here to view the Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP).
City and PVPC Host Climate Change and Resilience Stakeholder Workshop
On May 12, 2017, the City and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission hosted a stakeholder engagement workshop at the La Quinta Hotel in downtown Springfield. This workshop was one of several sessions held as part of the development of the Climate Action & Resilience Plan.
The workshop included representatives of various City Departments including Housing, DPW, Disaster Recovery, Planning, Economic Development, Health and Human Services, Parks and Facilities Management. The workshop was also attended by representatives of the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission, Eversource, DevelopSpringfield, Springfield Climate Justice Coalition, Regreen Springfield, Partners for a Healthier Community and PVTA.
Public Climate Action and Resilience Meetings
The City has partnered with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to create the Springfield Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP). As part of the public input process the City and PVPC held multiple public sessions throughout the City to solicit public input and feedback for the plan.
You can view photos from the Mason Square Session.
For more information regarding the Climate Action and Resilience Plan or on the public sessions you may contact Catherine Ratte at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission at 413-285-1174 or email cratte@pvpc.org.
Springfield Climate Action and Resilience Plan Public Meetings Scheduled
The City of Springfield, in partnership with Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, Arise Springfield and Partners for a Healthier Community, have announced a schedule of public meetings regarding the Springfield Climate Action and Resilience Plan. Please click here to view the flier. To view the flier in Spanish please click here.