Linnean-Lundren-FussONeil CONTRACT Sustainable_Northampton--Climate_Resiliency_Regeneration_Plan-WF2-29-18
City of Northampton, Massachusetts
Contract for Consultant Services
Sustainable Northampton Framework,
Climate Resiliency & Regeneration Plan (Resiliency & Adaptation | Mitigation & Decarbonization)
Including Municipal Vulnerability Program
THIS AGREEMENT, executed this day of February 2018 by and between Linnean Solutions,
5 Upland Road #3 Cambridge, MA 02140 hereinafter called "Vendor" and the City of Northampton, a
municipal corporation in the County of Hampshire, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, party of the second
part hereinafter called "Owner".
WITNESSETH, that for the consideration hereinafter mentioned, the Owner and the Vendor shall agree to
the terms and conditions contained in this contract, enumerated as follows:
1. This Owner-Vendor Agreement
2. The Sustainable Northampton Framework, Climate Resiliency & Regeneration Plan (Resiliency
& Adaptation | Mitigation & Decarbonization), Including Municipal Vulnerability Program
Request for Proposals (attached)
3. Response for Sustainable Northampton Framework and Climate Resiliency and Regeneration
Plan…Northampton, MA, January 26, 2018, Linnean Solutions, Kim Lundgren Associates, Fuss &
O’Neill (attached).
4. RFP Phase II: Additional Information for Climate Resiliency and Regeneration Plan Services, February
12, 2018 letter from Jim Newman, Linnean Solutions.
In case of any discrepancy, this Agreement and the city’s above cited Request for Proposals shall govern.
THE OWNER shall pay the Vendor for the performance of this contract in the sum of Ninety-Nine
Thousand Nine Hundred and Forty-Nine dollars ($99,949) in accordance with the terms of this
contract.
This contract shall not be altered in any particular without the consent of all parties to this contract. All
alterations to this contract must be in writing and authorized as such by the Mayor and all the departments
signing this signing this contract.
The Vendor shall not delegate, assign or transfer any of its duties delineated in the scope of services without
prior written consent from the CITY.
In the event the Vendor is a corporation a certificate that the person executing this contract is duly authorized
to sign, must accompany this contract.
Notwithstanding anything in the Contract documents to the contrary, any and all payments which the City is
required to make under this Contract shall be subject to appropriation or other availability of funds as
certified by the City Auditor. Obligations for payments beyond the current fiscal year are subject to
appropriation and this Contract shall be canceled in the event of non-appropriation.
Final payment on this contract shall release and discharge the Owner from any and all claims against the
Owner on account of any work performed hereunder, or any alteration hereto.
The Vendor shall indemnify and hold harmless, the CITY and all of its officers, agents, and employees
against all suits, claims or liabilities of every nature, arising out of, or in consequence of, the acts or omissions
of the Vendor, its employees, agents, or sub-contractors in connection with their rendering of services or
goods under this AGREEMENT and will, at the Vendor’s own cost and expense, defend any and all such
suits and actions.
All documents produced shall be owned by the City of Northampton and may be used without copyright or
any other restriction. The Vendor may also use such documents for their own purpose without restriction.
All work products and the final product shall be provided to the City in (1) Paper format, (2) Electronic PDF,
and (3) Electronic files of all products in whatever native software format they were created in.
By signing this contract the Vendor agrees to subject any dispute to mediation, at the option of the City, prior
to filing suit in any forum.
This contract shall be deemed to be a Massachusetts contract and its interpretation and construction shall be
governed by the laws of Massachusetts and the Charter and Ordinances of the Owner.
The provisions of this contract are severable. If any provision of this contract shall be held unconstitutional
by any court of competent jurisdiction, the decision of such court shall not affect any other provisions of this
contract.
The City of Northampton is not bound by this contract until approved by the Mayor of Northampton.
Pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 62C, Section 49A, I certify under the penalties of perjury that I have, to my best
knowledge and belief, complied with the law of the Commonwealth relating to taxes, reporting of employees
and contractors, and withholding and remitting child support. I further authorize the City of Northampton
to deduct from the amounts due under this contract, any overdue taxes, real or personal, or any other fees
due to the City of Northampton from the vendor which become due and payable by the vendor or its
officers, directors or agents during the term of this contract or until the final amounts due under this contract
are paid in full.
The Contractor certifies that a) neither it nor any of its subcontractors have been subject to a federal or state
criminal or civil judgment, administrative citation, final administrative determination, order or debarment
resulting from a violation of G.L. c. 149, c. 151, or the Fair Labor Standards Act within three (3) years prior
to the date of the Contract, or b) that if it or any of its subcontractors have been subject to a federal
or state criminal or civil judgment, administrative citation, final administrative determination,
order or debarment resulting from a violation of G.L. c. 149, c. 151, or the Fair Labor Standards
Act within three (3) years prior to the date of the Contract, the Contractor has provided copies of
any such judgment, citation, determination or order to the City prior to the date of the Contract and has
procured a wage bond or insurance. The Contractor certifies that while the Contract is in effect, it will
report any instance of the above to the City within five (5) days of Contractor's receipt.
Check one: The vendor does not have a Northampton office.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Owner caused these presents to be signed in quadruplicate and
approved by David Narkewicz its Mayor and the said Vendor has caused these presents to be signed
in quadruplicate and its official seal to be hereto affixed by its officer or agent thereunto duly
authorized (by the attached corporate resolution). This instrument shall take effect as a sealed
instrument.
Vendor: (vendor)
it's
Authorized Signatory
(title) (date)
Please attach one W-9 to this contract when you return it to the City.
Certificate by Corporation to Sign Contract
I,___________________________ Secretary of ______________________________, hereby certify that at
a duly authorized meeting of the Board of Directors of the
held on at which all the Directors were present or waived notice, it
was voted that, ___________________ (name), ____________________ (title) be and he hereby is
authorized to execute contracts and bonds in the name and behalf of said corporation, and affix its Corporate
Seal thereto, and such execution of any contract or obligation in this company's name on its behalf by such
officer under seal of the company, shall be valid and binding upon this company,
A TRUE COPY, ATTEST: _____(secretary)
Place of Business ____________
Date of this Contract February , 2018
CITY OF NORTHAMPTON:
Wayne Feiden, FAICP, Director of Planning & Sustainability Date
Joyce Karpinski, City Auditor, as to appropriation Date
Joe Cook, Chief Procurement Officer, as to procurement and to form Date
David J. Narkewicz, Mayor Date
Request for Proposals
City of Northampton
through its Office of Planning and Sustainability
Sustainable Northampton Framework
and
Climate Resiliency & Regeneration Plan
(Resiliency & Adaptation | Mitigation & Decarbonization)
Including
Municipal Vulnerability Program
RFP released: Friday, December 29, 2017
Deadline to request change terms of the contract & proposal: Jan. 15, 2018
Deadline for proposals: 10:00 AM Monday, January 22, 2018
Include fee and technical proposals in one consolidated submittal
Include consultant qualifications (CVs, experience) as a separate appendix
Submit proposals to: WFeiden@NorthamptonMA.gov
No paper copy of the proposal is required
Project budget not to exceed $100,000 inclusive of all costs
Northampton’s project and contract manager and primary contact for the
RFP and the contract is Wayne Feiden, FAICP, Director of Planning &
Sustainability. Questions to WFeiden@NorthamptonMA.gov
Contract expected to be awarded by the end of January
Project Summary
The City of Northampton, Massachusetts is seeking a consultant to assist the City in planning for a
sustainable and resilient future, and especially to ensure that we are planning for horizontal
infrastructure that is climate-resilient ready. As such, this bid is exempt from Uniform
Procurement Act in accordance with M.G.L. c. 30B, section (b)(32A) contracts with architects,
engineers and related professionals and, as a horizontal (not vertical) planning and design project is
not subject to Designer Selection M.G.L. c.7C.
The project includes four interrelated aspects
1. Municipal Vulnerability Program for Northampton
2. Technical writing and graphics to reorganize the existing Sustainable Northampton
Comprehensive Plan using the STAR Communities framework.
3. Creation of a Northampton Climate Resiliency & Regeneration Plan as a new chapter in
Sustainable Northampton
4. Infographics and on-line dashboard or other graphic representations of the above documents to
engage the community
We have budgeted $100,000 for this effort, but we are awarding the contract based on a fixed fee:
Municipal Vulnerability Program: $20,000 (MVP must be complete by June 2018.)
Climate Resiliency and Regeneration Plan: $70,000
Sustainable Northampton framework: $10,000
Proposals shall include (in electronic form). There is no submittal form.
1. Project understanding
2. Fee proposal
3. Consultant Scope of Services (addressing all items in this RFP)
4. Project time schedule
5. Consultant qualifications
Project Background
1. Climate Resiliency, Adaptation and Municipal Vulnerability: Northampton has worked on
addressing climate resiliency, adaptation, and vulnerabilities for many years. We do not,
however, have a comprehensive framework and understanding. Recent past actions include:
a. City of Northampton Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan (PVPC, 2015) specifically
considered climate change.
b. Climate Adaptation & Mitigation (AIA Communities by Design, 2015)
c. Planning for the Public Health Impacts of Climate Change in Northampton,
Massachusetts (Human Impact Partners, 2016)
d. Northampton Resiliency Strategy Analysis (Rivermoor Systems, 2014)
e. Stormwater and Flood Control System Assessment and Utility Plan (CDM, 2012)
f. Sample City actions:
New subdivision street trees must have a current range as far south as the mid-Atlantic.
Zoning bans new home sites in the 500 year floodplain, a surrogate for climate change
The Northampton stormwater utility funds stormwater and flood control maintenance,
capital, and upgrades.
New projects often include some green infrastructure elements (e.g., rain gardens)
Stormwater Ordinance, zoning, and subdivision regulations all have strict stormwater
standards.
An aggressive tree planting program and attention to tree canopies and urban heat
islands.
2. Climate Regeneration, Mitigation, and Decarbonization: As with adaptation, Northampton
has aggressively been moving forward on mitigation, but without a comprehensive framework.
a. Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission Inventory: The city has completed two rough GHG
inventories, first with ICLEI assistance a decade ago and more recently (2017) with a climate
fellow. Both provide useful data points but the lack of data makes them extremely limited.
b. Global Covenant of Mayors: Our Mayor joined the Global Covenant of Mayors and our
City Councils plans to adopt a 100% renewable energy resolution. Our working goals are
80% reduction in both GHG emissions and carbon use by 2050 and 100% reduction at
some later date, but we have not yet completely developed these goals or brought them into
our comprehensive plan.
c. City and community mitigation actions:
Reduce municipal energy use, aiming to reach at least 20%, and encouraging community-
wide energy reduction.
Provide staff (energy officer) and board (energy and sustainability commission) focus on
reducing carbon-based energy consumption and increasing renewable energy production.
Reduce waste and increase recycling, with a part time solid waste coordinator and a ban
on commercial use of thin-film single use plastic bags.
Promote a walkable and bicycle-friendly city through land use and transportation
changes (e.g., doubling allowable density within walking distance of downtown,
comprehensive rail trail and bicycle lane networks, expanded sidewalks and complete
streets, bicycle share, park & ride lots, transit facilities, electric car charging stations)
Encourage conservation (e.g., requiring all new buildings above thresholds to
incorporate solar ready roofs, zoning incentives for energy efficiencies, liberalized PV
standards and PV incentives, and programs to encourage solar PV, solar and renewable
thermal, and energy conservation.
3. STAR Communities Rating System (Sustainability Tools for Assessing and Rating):
Northampton was one of the original pilot communities for the STAR Communities program (a
Green Building Council affiliate) to provide us with a third party assessment and promote a
unified framework. Northampton was the first community to receive a five-star rating and
remains one of only four communities nationwide to receive that score. The assessment helps us
identify where we still need to grow our sustainability efforts.
4. Sustainable Northampton Comprehensive Plan (2008): The plan helped Northampton built
a community narrative and conversation around sustainability. It also helped us advance the
consensus necessary for variety of actions we have already accomplished, including using the
STAR Communities framework. The plan is ten years old and in late 2018, after the completion
of the work that is the subject of this RFP, we will engage the community to revise the plan.
Scope of Services
1. Municipal Vulnerability Program (MVP) for Northampton: Complete a climate change and
natural hazard vulnerability assessment and develop a priority action plan for addressing priority
hazards using the Community Resilience Building (CRB) workshop guide and led by a state-
certified MVP provider. This should include:
a. Build on the existing Multi-Hazard Plan and Stormwater and Flood Control System
Assessment
b. Presenting and visualizing downscaled versions of state-wide climate change predictions.
c. In addition to other existing state data, plot rainfall data (Amherst College has very long
rainfall records) and streamflow data to provide visuals that may document some more
recent climate change.
d. Include vulnerability assessments of:
People, especially low and moderate income populations with fewer options
Public infrastructure
Private property
2. Sustainable Northampton Comprehensive Plan: Reorganize the existing plan using the
STAR Communities framework. This is not a comprehensive planning process but is
reorganizing the plan to allow the future comprehensive planning process to go faster and more
smoothly following the work that is the subject of this RFP. The resulting document will not be
considered the comprehensive but will be edited and grow into the plan once that separate
project moves forward.
a. Re-organize the sections using the STAR Communities 2.0 framework and organizational
structure (goals and objectives).
b. Leave any section or subsection blank that in the framework that is not covered in the
current plan to illustrate the work that must be done with the next plan update.
c. Drop all of the existing performance metrics.
d. Insert into the plan the STAR Communities metrics, using the findings from the City’s
current STAR certification.
e. Make the methodology clear for the STAR metrics since this section will be updated in 2019
after the city recertifies under STAR Communities.
f. Import Walk/Bike Northampton, Pedestrian & Bicycle Comprehensive Plan into the
appropriate section of Sustainable Northampton. Walk/Bike was written so that one
chapter should drop into the plan and the remainder would become an appendix, but it will
still require some editing to make it work.
3. Northampton Climate Resiliency & Regeneration Plan: Work with Planning &
Sustainability staff, other city staff, and an extensive community outreach program, including at
least three public forums and three targeted stakeholder group forums, to create a new plan,
written as appropriate chapters in Sustainable Northampton. At a minimum, plan shall:
a. Incorporate a strong public engagement process, with special attention to traditionally
under-represented populations, past city plans, and city staff and boards.
b. Provide a strong focus on public infrastructure broadly defined (e.g., storm sewers, green
infrastructure, flood control, heating and cooling shelters, microgrids).
We do not expect, however, the kind of analysis that we will expect from more detailed
engineering analysis of stormwater systems, flood control systems, etc.
Include recommendations on design storms for new public and private infrastructure
that should be designed for the life of that infrastructure.
Include recommendations for flood modeling for small streams and other flashy systems
that are not covered in FEMA floodplain mapping or modeling.
Include recommendations for the portions of downtown that are only out of the
floodplain by virtue of the flood control dikes and the Historic Mill River pumps.
Include recommendations for a Capital Improvements Program resiliency scoring of
new infrastructure.
c. Provide a strong focus on social resiliency and the effects on and needs of low and moderate
income residents.
d. Create a clear framework for climate resiliency (adaptation) to be incorporated in all city
policies, actions, regulations, and positions. Include, at a minimum, consideration of:
Health
Environmental, including invasives
Drought
Flooding
Stormwater
Urban habitat
Energy grid
Agriculture
Food security
Waste
e. Create a clear framework or climate regeneration (mitigation) to be incorporated in all city
policies, actions, regulations, and positions, by promoting energy efficiency and greenhouse
gas reduction strategies; protecting and adapting public infrastructure, services, natural
systems and resources from climate change impacts; At a minimum:
Update the community wide GHG emission inventory created by the city in 2017 to add
additional data and make the inventory useful for policy formation.
Develop a GHG and Carbon Reduction plan that includes a wedge diagram showing
current GHG emissions/carbon use, recent trends, and a path to 80% reduction and
100% reduction, and an analysis of all the kinds of steps (in detail for short term and
more conceptually for long term) necessary to achieve the city’s goals.
Identify gaps in our resiliency strategy (e.g., we are finding that dumped tires, because
they are partially insulated, have become a breeding ground for Aedes mosquitoes that
can carry Zika and Dengue Fevor, north of their normal range, but tire cleanup was
never part of our resiliency strategy in the past).
Articulate clear highly aggressive but achievable GHG/carbon reduction strategies
consistent with the Paris Climate Agreement, for example 80% reduction by 2050 and
100% reduction by (to be determined during the process).
Add consideration of reduction of GHG emission/carbon aspects from community
consumption, not only direct energy use.
Meet the Climate Action Plan commitments of the Global Compact of Mayors.
Include, at a minimum, discussion of city operations, transportation, thermal energy,
electricity, renewable energy supplies, and community choice aggregation.
Incorporate GHG emissions/carbon use wedge diagram, infographics and on-line
dashboard or other graphic representations of the above to engage the community
Identify co-benefits of resiliency and regeneration actions.
Project Schedule
Project Task Completed, approved, & invoiced by:
Municipal Vulnerability Program June 15, 2018
Sustainable Northampton Comprehensive Plan organization September 15, 2018
Climate Resiliency and Regeneration Plan December 30, 2018
Consultant Qualifications
Proposals shall include information supporting the Consultant’s expertise for this effort. At a
minimum include:
1. Commonwealth’s Municipal Vulnerability Program MVP provider Certification
2. Evidence of relevant past projects and expertise in:
a. Municipal climate adaptation and mitigation efforts
b. All areas of the scope of services.
3. A list of the consultant team and the qualifications of any individual who will be leading or
coordinating any meetings or calls in or to Northampton and managing the project. (The lead
project personnel may not be changed without our written permission.)
Fine Print
The city reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and to provisionally designate the
successful bidder pending agreement of final contract terms.
The contract agreement will be in the form of the attached customary city contract, including
requirements for indemnification of the City for all damage to life and property that may occur due
to their negligence or that of their employees, subcontractors, etc., during the period of this contract
(attached below). This Request for Proposals, the successful bidder’s proposal, and any other terms
mutually agreed upon will be incorporated into the contract.
City of Northampton, Massachusetts
Contract for Consultant Services
Sustainable Northampton Framework,
Climate Resiliency & Regeneration Plan (Resiliency & Adaptation | Mitigation & Decarbonization)
Including Municipal Vulnerability Program
THIS AGREEMENT, executed this day of January 2018 by and between (Vendor name),
(vendor address ) hereinafter called "Vendor" and the City of
Northampton, a municipal corporation in the County of Hampshire, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, party
of the second part hereinafter called "Owner".
WITNESSETH, that for the consideration hereinafter mentioned, the Owner and the Vendor shall agree to
the terms and conditions contained in this contract, enumerated as follows:
1. This Owner-Vendor Agreement
2. The Sustainable Northampton Framework, Climate Resiliency & Regeneration Plan (Resiliency
& Adaptation | Mitigation & Decarbonization), Including Municipal Vulnerability Program
Request for Proposals (attached as Exhibit A)
3. The successful Vendor’s proposal.
THE OWNER shall pay the Vendor for the performance of this contract in the sum of (dollar amount)
dollars in accordance with the terms of this contract.
This contract shall not be altered in any particular without the consent of all parties to this contract. All
alterations to this contract must be in writing and authorized as such by the Mayor and all the departments
signing this signing this contract.
The Vendor shall not delegate, assign or transfer any of its duties delineated in the scope of services without
prior written consent from the CITY.
In the event the Vendor is a corporation a certificate that the person executing this contract is duly authorized
to sign, must accompany this contract.
Notwithstanding anything in the Contract documents to the contrary, any and all payments which the City is
required to make under this Contract shall be subject to appropriation or other availability of funds as
certified by the City Auditor. Obligations for payments beyond the current fiscal year are subject to
appropriation and this Contract shall be canceled in the event of non-appropriation.
Final payment on this contract shall release and discharge the Owner from any and all claims against the
Owner on account of any work performed hereunder, or any alteration hereto.
The Vendor shall indemnify and hold harmless, the CITY and all of its officers, agents, and employees
against all suits, claims or liabilities of every nature, arising out of, or in consequence of, the acts or omissions
of the Vendor, its employees, agents, or sub-contractors in connection with their rendering of services or
goods under this AGREEMENT and will, at the Vendor’s own cost and expense, defend any and all such
suits and actions.
All documents produced shall be owned by the City of Northampton and may be used without copyright or
any other restriction. The Vendor may also use such documents for their own purpose without restriction.
All work products and the final product shall be provided to the City in (1) Paper format, (2) Electronic PDF,
and (3) Electronic files of all products in whatever native software format they were created in.
By signing this contract the Vendor agrees to subject any dispute to mediation, at the option of the City, prior
to filing suit in any forum.
This contract shall be deemed to be a Massachusetts contract and its interpretation and construction shall be
governed by the laws of Massachusetts and the Charter and Ordinances of the Owner.
The provisions of this contract are severable. If any provision of this contract shall be held unconstitutional
by any court of competent jurisdiction, the decision of such court shall not affect any other provisions of this
contract.
The City of Northampton is not bound by this contract until approved by the Mayor of Northampton.
Pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 62C, Section 49A, I certify under the penalties of perjury that I have, to my best
knowledge and belief, complied with the law of the Commonwealth relating to taxes, reporting of employees
and contractors, and withholding and remitting child support. I further authorize the City of Northampton
to deduct from the amounts due under this contract, any overdue taxes, real or personal, or any other fees
due to the City of Northampton from the vendor which become due and payable by the vendor or its
officers, directors or agents during the term of this contract or until the final amounts due under this contract
are paid in full.
The Contractor certifies that a) neither it nor any of its subcontractors have been subject to a federal or state
criminal or civil judgment, administrative citation, final administrative determination, order or debarment
resulting from a violation of G.L. c. 149, c. 151, or the Fair Labor Standards Act within three (3) years prior
to the date of the Contract, or b) that if it or any of its subcontractors have been subject to a federal
or state criminal or civil judgment, administrative citation, final administrative determination,
order or debarment resulting from a violation of G.L. c. 149, c. 151, or the Fair Labor Standards
Act within three (3) years prior to the date of the Contract, the Contractor has provided copies of
any such judgment, citation, determination or order to the City prior to the date of the Contract and has
procured a wage bond or insurance. The Contractor certifies that while the Contract is in effect, it will
report any instance of the above to the City within five (5) days of Contractor's receipt.
Check one: The vendor does not have a Northampton office.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Owner caused these presents to be signed in quadruplicate and
approved by David Narkewicz its Mayor and the said Vendor has caused these presents to be signed
in quadruplicate and its official seal to be hereto affixed by its officer or agent thereunto duly
authorized (by the attached corporate resolution). This instrument shall take effect as a sealed
instrument.
Vendor: (vendor)
it's
Authorized Signatory
(title) (date)
Please attach one W-9 to this contract when you return it to the City.
Certificate by Corporation to Sign Contract
I,___________________________ Secretary of ______________________________, hereby certify that at
a duly authorized meeting of the Board of Directors of the
held on at which all the Directors were present or waived notice, it
was voted that, ___________________ (name), ____________________ (title) be and he hereby is
authorized to execute contracts and bonds in the name and behalf of said corporation, and affix its Corporate
Seal thereto, and such execution of any contract or obligation in this company's name on its behalf by such
officer under seal of the company, shall be valid and binding upon this company,
A TRUE COPY, ATTEST: _____(secretary)
Place of Business ____________
Date of this Contract January , 2018
CITY OF NORTHAMPTON:
Wayne Feiden, FAICP, Director of Planning & Sustainability Date
Joyce Karpinski, City Auditor, as to appropriation Date
Joe Cook, Chief Procurement Officer, as to procurement and to form Date
David J. Narkewicz, Mayor Date
RESPONSE FOR
Sustainable Northampton
Framework and
Climate Resiliency and
Regeneration Plan
Including Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program
NORTHAMPTON, MA
January 26, 2018
RFP WF 12-29-2017
www.fando.com
Creating Works of Life
Smith College has been a valued Fuss & O’Neill
client for many years. We have successfully
provided the college with solutions involving a
wide range of projects and challenges.
Representative project types include:
• Site/Civil Support for New Buildings and Renovations
• Special Permitting
• Utility Relocations
• Campus Parking Master Plan
• TDM (Transportation Demand Management)
• Traffic Impact Studies
Project highlights include:
• LEED (Leadership in Energy Efficiency Design)
• Creative Utility Design
• Recycling of Stormwater
• Prototype Crosswalk Design for the City
Consulting Services
Smith College - Northampton, MA
Botanical Garden - Services included environmental assessments
and storm drainage improvements.
Campus Improvements - We provided bicycle and pedestrian
improvements, as well as traffic calming designs.EnvironmentInfrastructureCommunityFacilitylinnean solutions • kim lundgren associates, inc. • fuss & o’neill, inc.
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 2
THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
Images on the cover (clockwise from upper left)
by MagicPiano; Daderot; John Phelan; Alexius
Horatius; Fuss & O’Neill; Alexius Horatius
LINNEAN | KLA | FUSS & O’NEILL | PG. 3
Wayne Feiden, Director of Planning and Sustainability
Planning and Sustainability Department, City of Northampton
210 Main St., Room 11
Northampton, MA 01060
Date: January 26, 2018
Re: Request for Proposals for a Sustainable Northampton Framework and Climate Resiliency and
Regeneration Plan, Including Municipal Vulnerability Program.
Dear Mr. Feiden,
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the City of Northampton’s RFP for a Sustainable Northampton Framework
and Climate Resiliency and Regeneration Plan, Including Municipal Vulnerability Program.
Linnean Solutions is a leading firm in guiding communities in climate adaptation, sustainability planning, and
regenerative thinking. We are partnering with nationally-recognized, locally-based experts to provide a compelling
team to meet Northampton’s needs. Kim Lundgren Associates, Inc. (KLA) team members bring over 15 years of
experience in providing local governments with the tools and resources for reaching climate change adaptation and
mitigation goals, while Springfield-based Fuss & O’Neill, Inc. provides nationally-recognized civil and environmental
engineering to inform the design of resilient systems and low-carbon energy strategies. As a team, we include
professionals with successful experience working together, through forums and working groups designed to advocate
and promote leadership and forward-thinking resilient and sustainable municipal applications and practices.
We understand that the combination of services requested in this RFP presents a unique opportunity for
Northampton. This effort has the potential to bring together the substantial progress the City has made to date to
create a cohesive framework for ongoing climate mitigation and adaptation planning, implementation, and progress
tracking—guided by City and community priorities. The results will continue to position Northampton as a leader in
climate resilience and regenerative thinking, while also creating a shared vision of how to protect the city’s important
assets, and enhance the vibrancy, health, and resilience of the city over the next 50 years.
Our team has experience working with municipalities and districts across Massachusetts and the U.S.—including
Northampton, Springfield, Boston, Cambridge, New Bedford, Providence, San Antonio, and Indianapolis, among
others—to reach innovative and measurable goals for climate mitigation and adaptation. Fuss & O’Neill’s experience
working on infrastructure projects in Northampton, for both the City and private project owners, provides the team with
an established knowledge base on current conditions, City and community perspectives, and ongoing infrastructure
efforts within Northampton.
We are committed to working with the City to co-develop the processes, plans, and online tools that are best suited
to meet Northampton’s needs and to propel the City to a regenerative future. We look forward to discussing the
opportunity further. Please do not hesitate to contact us for additional information.
Sincerely,
LINNEAN SOLUTIONS
Jim Newman, Principal and Founder
jim@linneansolutions.com | 617-699-7323
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 4
CONTENTS
PART A: Project Understanding 5
Progress, Vision, and Goals 5
Transforming Systems 5
How This Team’s Experience Fits Northampton’s Needs 7
PART B: Fee Proposal 8
Staff Rates 8
Project Budget 9
PART C: Consultant Scope of Services 10
Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program 11
Sustainable Northampton Comprehensive Plan 15
Northampton Climate Resiliency and Regeneration Plan 16
Infographics and Online Dashboard 26
PART D: Project Time Schedule 28
Project Time Schedule 28
APPENDIX A: Consultant Qualifications 29
Qualifications Chart 32
Select Project Examples 34
Project Personnel 48
Downtown
Northampton.
Images by Alexius Horatius;
WindingRoad (adjacent page)
LINNEAN | KLA | FUSS & O’NEILL | PG. 5
A PART A:
PROJECT UNDERSTANDING
Progress, Vision, and Goals
It is evident that the City of Northampton is a leader in sustainability and resilience
planning. The city’s 5-STAR rating under the STAR Communities Rating System
positioned Northampton as an early pioneer, and the Sustainable Northampton
Comprehensive Plan aligned the City’s planning with sustainability objectives a
decade ago. Since then, Northampton’s commitment to the Global Covenant of
Mayors for Climate and Energy, its efforts to track and reduce city-wide emissions,
as well as its significant progress in adaptation and hazard mitigation with regards
to public health, energy resiliency, green infrastructure, ecosystem health, and
flood control all demonstrate the degree to which the City of Northampton has
been forward-looking and forward-moving in addressing the causes and impacts
of climate change.
These upcoming sustainability and resilience planning services have the potential
to build on that momentum. Specifically, these efforts are focused on integrating
and coordinating the city’s progress made to date into a coherent framework
that can set the City up for streamlined decision-making, implementation, and
progress tracking over both the short- and long-term. The collaboration with City
departments, key stakeholders, and the community at large; the mitigation and
adaptation strategies driven by infrastructural, environmental, and social impact
analyses; and the coherent narrative produced through the revised Sustainable
Northampton Comprehensive Plan, infographics, and online dashboard have
the potential to create positive economic, social, and environmental benefits for
the city, as well as further position Northampton as a leader in sustainability and
resilience planning.
Transforming Systems
To reach these ambitious goals, this team proposes using this climate adaptation
and mitigation planning process to drive forward a truly regenerative development
model for the City of Northampton. As one of the leading perspectives in climate
mitigation and adaptation planning, this approach shifts our thinking from solely
“mitigating harm” to “transforming systems” in a way that can lead to much more
strategic and productive approaches and outcomes. Three guiding principles help
to shape the way we design and implement climate adaptation and mitigation
strategies:
Forward-
looking, and
forward-moving!
This process will integrate the
City’s sustainability and resilience
planning into a framework
for data-driven decision-
making, progress tracking, and
implementation.
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 6
Think at the whole-system level: Our efforts to mitigate or adapt to climate
change will not be effective with only piecemeal interventions. Those small points
of intervention must be implemented in a way that act as levers for transforming
the broader local and regional systems, whether in climate, energy, transportation,
water, or market transformations.
Recognize emergent patterns: Emergent patterns are derived from the
effects of many different influences acting at once, making them inherently hard to
predict or model in isolation. Recognizing these patterns helps us to understand
complex systems, and thus helps us to predict, for example, how chronic stresses
in our communities will impact our vulnerability to acute climate hazards.
Start with potential, not problems: All too often planning efforts start by
identifying problems, a formula which then leads to one-dimensional, “stop-
gap” solutions. By starting with potential—i.e., the potential for Northampton to
become an increasingly vibrant, sustainable city that leads the Pioneer Valley to
regenerate regional biogeological systems—the solutions derived will be equally
as targeted and implementable, but with more holistic impact.
While these principles appear conceptual, they present a level of thinking that is
essential when planning for climate change. Our team looks forward to working
with the City of Northampton to ensure that the Sustainable Northampton
Comprehensive Plan becomes a framework for the city to aim towards its highest
potential within the context of a changing economy, landscape, and climate.
1
2
3
Norwottuck Rail
Trail Bridge,
Northampton, MA.
Image by John Phelan.
LINNEAN | KLA | FUSS & O’NEILL | PG. 7
How this Team’s Experience and Perspective
Fits Northampton’s Needs
The Linnean team, including Kim Lundgren Associates (KLA) and Fuss & O’Neill,
bring a unique regenerative perspective to climate mitigation and adaptation
planning and community engagement. This unique perspective is born of years of
experience working on these issues with municipalities and institutions, combined
with deep training and experience in applying regenerative development principles
to uncover the greatest potential in municipal scale projects.
This team provides a full range of capabilities needed to lead an effective MVP
process, to re-align the Sustainable Northampton Comprehensive Plan with the
STAR Communities Rating System, and to generate an effective framework for
climate mitigation and adaptation strategy implementation. KLA team members
bring over 15 years of providing local governments with the tools and resources
for reaching climate change adaptation and mitigation goals, while Springfield-
based Fuss & O’Neill provides nationally-recognized civil and environmental
engineering and science services to inform the design of resilient systems and
low-carbon energy strategies. All project team members from Linnean Solutions
are LENSES facilitators, experienced in leading community workshops, using
regenerative development frameworks, and applying both skill sets for resilience
and climate adaptation planning.
Fuss & O’Neill’s experience working on infrastructure projects in Northampton,
for both the City and private project owners, provides the team with an
established knowledge base on current conditions as well as City and community
perspectives. Fuss & O’Neill is currently working with the City on the King Street
intersection and corridor improvements. The design provides an extension
of the downtown district and includes “complete street” techniques and an
implementation of a “road diet,” providing room for a separated bike lane that
connects to the Northampton Bikeway. Opportunities for stormwater management
and LID techniques that will address both water quantity and quality issues
are included in the design, such as on-street rain gardens and tree filters.
Coordination of stakeholders and community outreach is a vital component of this
project. Fuss & O’Neill embeds consideration for climate change and resiliency in
all of their infrastructure design development, and thus this current infrastructure
work can inform the upcoming climate adaptation and mitigation planning.
One Team.
Linnean, KLA, and Fuss
& O’Neill are partnering
to bring a key set of
skills to Northampton’s
climate resilience and
regeneration planning.
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 8
PART B:
FEE PROPOSALB
Staff Rates
The following represents the staff rates for Linnean Solutions; Kim Lundgren
Associates, Inc.; and Fuss & O’Neill, Inc.
Linnean Solutions
Principal $150
Resilience & Sustainability Consultant $100
Kim Lundgren Associates, Inc.
CEO $150
Partner $150
Project Manager $100
Client Services Manager $100
Communications Manager $100
Fuss & O’Neill, Inc.
Director $210
Associate $201
Senior Engineer, Scientist, Analyst III $167
Engineer, Scientist, Analyst III $127
LINNEAN | KLA | FUSS & O’NEILL | PG. 9
Project Budget
The following represents the breakdown of costs for the scope of services.
MVP Process
Component Project Management $800
Material Preparation $3,772
Workshop Facilitation $11,070
Documentation and Summary Reports $4,267
TOTAL $19,909
Sustainable Northampton
Component Project Management $750
Plan Reorganization with STAR Framework $9,002
TOTAL $9,752
Climate Resiliency and Regeneration Plan
Component Project Management $2,800
Stakeholder Forums $8,500
Public Engagement Process $10,000
Resilient Public Infrastructure Strategy Dev. $11,751
Social Resilience Strategy Dev. $7,050
GHG Inventory Update $3,335
GHG Reduction Plan Development $16,170
Strategy Integration, Prioritization, Co-Benefits $4,005
Chapter Production - Writing and Graphics $3,000
TOTAL $66,611
Infographics and Dashboard
Infographics $1,600
Dashboard -
TOTAL $1,600
Expenses
Translation (potentially not needed) $900
Travel $1,177
TOTAL $2,077
PROJECT TOTAL $99,949
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 10
PART C:
CONSULTANT SCOPE OF SERVICESCTeam Organization
Our three teams look forward to working together to bring Northampton a range
of complementary expertise. Linnean Solutions will serve as the overall Project
Manager, and will lead both the MVP Process and the production of the Climate
Resiliency and Regeneration Plan (CRRP). KLA will lead the Sustainable
Northampton Reorganization, Infographics and Dashboard Development, as well
as the community engagement and the climate mitigation framework within the
CRRP. Fuss & O’Neill will bring infrastructural and energy planning expertise,
leading the adaptation framework within the CRRP, and contributing to the MVP
Process.
project management
project management and coordination with the city
mvp process
material preparation
workshop facilitation
documentation and summary reports
sustainable northampton
plan reorganization with star framework
climate resiliency and regeneration plan
stakeholder
and public
engagement
stakeholder forums
public engagement
framework:
climate
resilience
resilient public infrastructure strategies
social resilience strategies
framework:
climate
mitigation
ghg inventory update
carbon reduction plan development
strategy
integration
and chapter
development
cohesive framework development / strategy co-benefits
chapter production - writing and graphics
infographics and dashboard
infographics and dashboard development
component
lead
component
lead
component
lead
component
lead
component
lead
linnean
solutions
kim lundgren
associates,
inc.
fuss &
o’neill
lead
role
support
role
LINNEAN | KLA | FUSS & O’NEILL | PG. 11
Flood mapping as part of the
Vulnerability Assessment for the Philadelphia
Housing Authority. Linnean also assessed
a myriad of other climate, environmental,
infrastructural, and human-induced hazards,
as well as levels and distribution of social
vulnerability and access to resources.
COMPONENT 1:
MUNICIPAL VULNERABILITY
PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM
Specific Qualifications and Experience
Eight project staff across our three teams are certified Municipal Vulnerability
Preparedness Providers—bringing fluency in the Community Resilience
Workshop model and experience leading the MVP program in numerous
Massachusetts cities and towns. We are a team of experienced facilitators, and
bring technical expertise in vulnerability assessments, climate data analysis,
physical and social adaptation strategies, and resilient infrastructure systems.
In particular, Linnean team members are all certified facilitators in regenerative
development processes under the Living Environments in Natural, Social, and
Economic Systems (LENSES) Framework (www.clearabundance.org). Using
this model, we facilitate workshops to help project teams or community groups
rethink the potential of a particular set of challenges (such as climate change
vulnerability) in order to build stronger and more vibrant systems. The exercises
and guiding principles used in these workshops help drive new thinking and build
shared capacity among City and community stakeholders. Linnean Principal
Jim Newman has supported the development of this framework, adapting the
model through practice in the field and through running trainings that teach the
framework to other practitioners. Mr. Newman is also a trained Regenerative
Practitioner through the Regenesis Group’s TRP program. The experience
in leading groups in identifying potential across social, infrastructural, and
environmental systems translates easily and brings extra capability to the MVP
Community Resilience Building Workshops.
1project management
project management and coordination with the city
mvp process
material preparation
workshop facilitation
documentation and summary reports
sustainable northampton
plan reorganization with star framework
climate resiliency and regeneration plan
stakeholder
and public
engagement
stakeholder forums
public engagement
framework:
climate
resilience
resilient public infrastructure strategies
social resilience strategies
framework:
climate
mitigation
ghg inventory update
carbon reduction plan development
strategy
integration
and chapter
development
cohesive framework development / strategy co-benefits
chapter production - writing and graphics
infographics and dashboard
infographics and dashboard development
component
lead
component
lead
component
lead
component
lead
component
lead
linnean
solutions
kim lundgren
associates,
inc.
fuss &
o’neill
lead
role
support
role
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 12
The team also offers technical expertise in modeling, mapping, and interpreting
climate data and system vulnerabilities, as well as in effective infrastructural,
policy, and program strategies for enhancing community resilience. Fuss &
O’Neill, in particular, provides a wide range of engineering and science services
to help communities protect their investments from future climate change impacts.
These services range from developing flood control programs ranging from
watersheds to neighborhoods, developing alternative sources of energy such as
solar developments and microgrid systems, providing flood protection for existing
buildings and utilities, addressing water quality impacts to water supplies and
recreational waters, and implementing green infrastructure to both reduce flooding
and reduce heat impacts. Linnean has likewise developed city-wide plans for
helping increase the resilience of infrastructure and built assets; policies, program,
and partnership recommendations for enhancing social resilience; as well as
guidelines for enhancing the resilience of the multifamily building sector nationally.
Proposed Approach
Our goal in guiding Northampton through the MVP process is to prepare and
facilitate workshops that result in a plan for enhancing resilience that prioritizes
Northampton’s climate change risks and opportunities as determined by the City’s
stakeholders.
Material Preparation and Core Team Initial Meeting(s)
Our approach includes an introduction to climate change projections from the
Northeast Climate Science Center at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst,
reviewed in conjunction with the Core Team. These projections ensure that all
MVP communities will be developing their priorities based on shared data and
standards. We will expand on this information to include additional relevant local
data including rainfall data from Amherst College and local streamflow data.
The MVP program emphasizes local input and ownership of the resulting Climate
Change Prioritization Plan. Our experience in other communities underscores the
fact that the initial Core Team meeting identifies climate change opportunities and
risks that have not yet been incorporated into the local climate change narratives.
For example, recent Core Team meetings included concerns from water
department managers about climate change impacts from projected increases
in precipitation and subsequent flooding on the siting and development of new
drinking water wells; concerns from emergency management teams about the
ability to transport emergency supplies into the community from storage facilities
in another town; and concerns by a board of health about floods and impacts on
Title V systems. Northampton’s Core Team meeting will help identify the more
obvious contributors to the City’s climate risk as well as the less apparent ones.
These City leaders and stakeholders will be asked to contribute at the CRB
workshop to introduce the City’s unique opportunities and risks.
Heat map of Philadelphia as part of
the vulnerability assessment for the
Philadelphia Housing Authority
Coastal Hazard Analysis and
Resiliency Evaluation for
Mattapoisett, MA
LINNEAN | KLA | FUSS & O’NEILL | PG. 13
In advance of the Community Resilience Building Workshops, we will also
develop and gather additional data, maps, and reports to use as references,
including local flood maps, available tree canopy data, as well as socioeconomic
spatial data to understand social vulnerability. KLA team member Dr. Missy Stults
has been working with the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) and
other partners to develop a Climate and Socio-economic Vulnerability Assessment
Tool, which can be used in this project to help assess social vulnerability across
Northampton’s neighborhoods. Additional reports that will be collected to guide
the workshops include, for example, the City of Northampton Multi-Hazard
Mitigation Plan, the Stormwater and Flood Control System Assessment and Utility
Plan, the Climate Adaptation and Mitigation report, Planning for the Public Health
Impacts of Climate Change in Northampton, Massachusetts, and the Northampton
Resiliency Strategy Analysis. Summaries of these reports can be provided for
easier use during the Core Team meeting and workshops.
Community Resilience Building Workshops
We will work with the Core Team to determine whether two four-hour sessions, or
one eight-hour session will work best for Northampton. We have found that two
sessions allow stakeholders to think about, and potentially further investigate, the
issues and strategies in between the two workshops. This strategy also breaks up
the time commitment required by participants.
The maps developed during the material preparation phase will serve as the
foundation for developing the community’s climate change stories during the
workshop(s). These maps provide a graphic and geospatial basis that helps
ensure a comprehensive discussion and prioritization of the community’s
opportunities and risks from climate change associated with infrastructure,
community life, and the natural environment. Private properties at risk include
residential, commercial, and industrial sites. Our team of certified MVP service
Our MVP experience in other communities
underscores that the initial
Core Team meeting identifies
climate change opportunities
and risks that have not yet been
incorporated into the local climate
change narratives.
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 14
providers includes professionals in environmental science and civil engineering
who can speak to the City’s and community’s concerns about both the risks
and the opportunities that Northampton’s infrastructure may provide to mitigate
the effects of climate change. This team also has professionals experienced in
assessing environmental impacts, as well as the long-term risks to health, social
networks, and community wellbeing. The workshop team can help ensure that
these risks become part of the narrative at the CRB workshop.
Report Development and Next Steps Planning
The team will work with the Northampton Core Team to generate the Summary
of Findings Report based on the findings from the workshop(s). The report will be
produced in an approachable and easy-to-read graphic format to be shared with
the broader public, and will provide the basis for integrating these findings into the
Climate Resiliency and Regeneration Plan. The MVP process also recommends
producing an accompanying public presentation. If useful for the City, the team
can produce presentation slides to be used for raising awareness of the process.
Both the presentation and the Summary of Findings Report can be integrated into
the online dashboard for easy public access and to encourage further action by
the community.
The team’s goal is to help the City of Northampton develop a clear path for
moving forward. Before wrapping up the MVP process, we will work with city staff
to develop a targeted list of next steps for continuing community outreach and
engagement; identifying gaps in data or monitoring; moving forward with planning
and project activities; and aligning these efforts with STAR goal areas in order to
pave the way for development of the Climate Resiliency and Regeneration Plan.
Prioritization planning is an ongoing process. Fuss & O’Neill is experienced
with helping communities identify and successfully secure funding assistance
to address climate change impacts. These projects include working with a
Massachusetts community to identify and design options for the relocation of
water and wastewater infrastructure at risk from climate change, as well as
helping communities identify green infrastructure strategies and other stormwater
best management practices within their roadway improvement programs that may
address climate change impacts from flooding. Fuss & O’Neill can contribute to
the discussion on potential grant, loan, and other strategic funding to address the
City’s priorities.
Community workshop process on
urban strategies to improve health
outcomes
Complete streets design to
provide multi-modal connectivity
and support regional trail networks
(Windsor Locks, CT)
LINNEAN | KLA | FUSS & O’NEILL | PG. 15
COMPONENT 2:
SUSTAINABLE NORTHAMPTON
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Specific Qualifications and Experience
The KLA team members have a long history and significant experience with
the STAR Communities Rating System. In addition to being one of the primary
fundraisers for the creation of STAR (while at ICLEI-Local Governments for
Sustainability, USA), Kim Lundgren was a member of the STAR Technical
Advisory Group from 2014 - 2017 and supported the development of the STAR
Communities update to the current 2.0 version of the framework. Kim was also
a key contributor to the development of the STAR Climate Change Guide, which
was developed to support new climate action planning, expand existing efforts,
implement climate pledges, and advocate for new actions.
Through KLA, Kim works with municipal clients, such as San Antonio, TX;
Columbia, MO; and New Bedford, MA on STAR related activities, such as
applying the framework to planning processes; utilizing the STAR metrics to tell
the community’s story with the KLA Community Dashboard; and providing general
guidance and support through the application and certification processes.
KLA team member Erin L. Deady, P.A. has conducted several STAR evaluations
for local governments to help them identify sustainability strengths and
weaknesses using the STAR framework. To date, Erin has completed both
preliminary STAR assessments and full STAR certifications for local governments.
Recent clients include West Palm Beach, Monroe County, and Islamorada, Village
of Islands, FL.
Proposed Approach
As the first 5-STAR rated community in the country, Northampton is already
known as a leader in sustainability. As such, City leaders understand that
sustainability is a journey, not a destination, and therefore we need to constantly
evaluate existing efforts and evolve and adjust to meet our ever-changing needs
as a community. The foundation of sustainability actions that Northampton has
already laid is one that we can continue to build off.
The Team will utilize the STAR Communities 2.0 Framework and organizational
structure to reorganize the sections of the existing Sustainable Northampton
Comprehensive Plan to prepare it for its pending update later this year.
2
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 16
The Team will work with the Office of Sustainability and other stakeholders to
understand the priority elements in the Comprehensive Plan and the STAR goal
areas in which the City hopes to improve upon recertification. We will also discuss
any potential impacts of the STAR 2.0 updates. Tasks include:
• Review the City’s existing STAR Certification Report;
• Identify impacts of the STAR 2.0 revisions and make recommendations on
how to address changes;
• Apply the STAR Framework to the Sustainable Northampton Comprehensive
Plan and identify gaps;
• Update all metrics in Sustainable Northampton to reflect the STAR metrics;
• Develop a user-friendly methodology for tracking STAR metrics for ease of
recertification in 2019;
• Incorporate the “Walk/Bike Northampton Pedestrian and Bicycle
Comprehensive Plan” into Sustainable Northampton;
• Present an updated version of Sustainable Northampton (recognizing this is a
work in progress);
• Promote the STAR/Sustainable Northampton Metrics through Northampton’s
online dashboard.
COMPONENT 3:
NORTHAMPTON CLIMATE
RESILIENCY AND REGENERATION
PLAN
Specific Qualifications and Experience
Linnean, KLA, and Fuss & O’Neill bring a range of experience working with local
governments on climate action and adaptation planning, and understand the
political, administrative, and resource constraints and opportunities that cities
face—particularly in Massachusetts.
KLA CEO Kim Lundgren has spent the last 16 years working with local
governments to design, secure funding for, implement, and evaluate sustainability
programs focused on climate change adaptation and mitigation, including the
first climate action plan in Massachusetts and one of the first municipal climate
adaptation plans in the country. Since, KLA team members have supported local
governments of all sizes across the country with greenhouse gas emissions
inventories, climate action (mitigation and adaptation) plans, performance metrics,
community and stakeholder engagement, and training. Local governments Kim
has worked with over the course of her career include: Albany, NY; Bethlehem,
NY; Boston, MA; Cambridge, MA; Century, FL; New York, NY; Miami, FL;
3
TEAM HIGHLIGHT
Team member Kim Lundgren
was one of the first municipal
sustainability directors in the
country and wrote the first
climate action plan
in Massachusetts.
LINNEAN | KLA | FUSS & O’NEILL | PG. 17
Richmond, VA; San Antonio, TX; and Washington D.C. Kim was also a technical
assistance provider for both the Massachusetts Green Communities and the New
York Climate Smart Communities Programs.
Linnean has also worked with city and town governments, municipal agencies,
district-scale stakeholder committees, developers, and community groups to
develop strategies to both mitigate and adapt to climate change. Recent projects
for local governments and district-scale stakeholder groups include: Kendall
Square (Cambridge, MA); Union Point (Weymouth, MA); Boston, MA; Medford,
MA; Providence, RI; and Lewisville, TX. Each of these projects not only generated
short- and long-term actions for respective city departments, but also developed
a proactive framework for new partnerships between the City and developers,
anchor institutions, and businesses to collaboratively advance climate action.
Fuss & O’Neill has helped clients develop creative solutions to address a wide
range of climate resiliency challenges. Clients have included a range of utility
providers (e.g. Providence Water, Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control
Authority), municipalities (e.g. City of New Bedford, MA; City of Milford, CT),
state agencies (e.g. CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, RI
Coastal Resources Management Council), non-profit agencies (e.g. The Nature
Conservancy, Wood Pawcatuck Watershed Association) and federal agencies
(Natural Resources Conservation Service). Our projects have spanned from
macro-scale studies such as the Pawcatuck River Flood Resiliency Management
Plan to specific designs to address direct issues such as the Beachland Avenue
and Field Court in Milford, CT which includes which includes raising the road and
designing a stormwater pump station, as well as other drainage improvements.
EXAMPLES OF FUSS & O’NEILL CLIMATE
ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION SERVICES:
• Watershed-wide and neighborhood flood control plans
that utilize both traditional infrastructure (e.g. flood walls,
levees and pumps) as well as natural systems (e.g. floodplain
restoration, green infrastructure);
• Water and wastewater utility protection;
• Micro-grid and other energy independence systems;
• Solar and other renewable energy developments;
• Road raising to mitigate impacts from flooding;
• Enhanced natural systems.
Municipal and district-scale resilience
and sustainability planning
www.fando.com
Creating Works of Life
Fuss & O’Neill has designed more than 45
MW of solar PV. Fuss & O’Neill has delivered a
comprehensive suite of engineering services for
solar photovoltaic projects for developers, energy
procurement contractors, owners, and end-users
throughout New England.
These services often include initial project assessment, permitting,
design, construction administration, and witness testing. Recently,
we have provided additional services for clients, including survey,
wetlands, Phase 1 ESA, Post-closure Use Permit, detailed civil
design, structural design (including ballast design calculations),
racking design, and layout.
The electrical design for these projects usually begins with the
utility interconnection application. Projects have required
AC and DC detailed design, from individual modules to the
interconnection point, including relay settings, short circuit
coordination, arc flash, voltage drop calculations, and utility
interconnection application.
Solar Photo-Voltaic (PV)
Various Locations, New England
Sullivan’s Ledge, New Bedford, MA - This project won an EPA
“Superfund Excellence in Site Re-Use Award” and an SEPA “2015 PV
Project of Distinction Award”.
Typical Roof Top Installation - Project types have included roof-
mounted, ground-mounted “greenfields” and ballast-mounted for
landfills and “brownfields”, and canopy-mounted installations.FacilityEnergyFuss & O’Neill has delivered a
comprehensive suite of engineering
services for solar photovoltaic projects
throughout New England.
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 18
Proposed Approach
The Climate Resiliency and Regeneration Plan will be developed to fit seamlessly
within the Sustainable Northampton Comprehensive Plan. Our goal is to build
on the City’s progress-to-date by creating a coherent framework for ongoing
decision-making, implementation, and progress tracking of climate mitigation and
adaptation strategies that reflect the community’s priorities.
To develop the framework for climate resiliency and regeneration, the Team
will work with the City and its core stakeholders to identify priority areas and
to establish specific goals for those areas. (See the Sustainability Evaluation
Framework for the City of San Antonio below, for examples.) We will turn those
goals into a framework that can be used as an evaluation tool, with assigned
scoring for each priority area that can be applied to existing and new plans,
policies, and actions that the City commits to. Because of the significant amount
of overlap and ability to capture co-benefits between many climate mitigation and
adaptation strategies, we anticipate creating a single framework that will integrate
both climate resiliency and regeneration goals.
Sustainability Evaluation Framework for SA Tomorrow Strategies
Instructions
Below are 15 unique evaluation criteria to be used to score strategies proposed through the SA
Tomorrow planning processes.Each strategy can be scored a +1 (positive contribution), 0 (neutral
contribution), or a -1 (negative contribution) for each of the 15 criteria. The maximum score a strategy
can receive is a +15 and the lowest score is a -15.Any word in bold is defined below the table.
Positive Contribution (+1)Neutral Contribution (0)Negative Contribution (-1)
Air Quality
1a) Strategy directly improves
air quality throughout San
Antonio
1b) Strategy neither improves
nor impairs air quality in San
Antonio
1c) Strategy impairs air
quality in all or parts of San
Antonio
2a) Strategy will or is likely to
reduce GHG emissions.
2b) Strategy will neither
reduce or generate new GHG
emissions OR GHG
emissions reduction potential
is indirect, minimal, or non-
quantifiable
2c) Strategy will likely
increase GHG emissions
3a) Strategy helps San Antonio
meet or exceed all national air
quality standards
3b) Strategy allows San
Antonio to maintain its
current air quality
3c) Strategy negatively
effects San Antonio’s ability
to meet national air quality
standards
Economic
Vitality
4a) Strategy creates new jobs or
enhances the number of existing
jobs that pay a living wage
4b) Strategy helps maintain
existing jobs that pay a living
wage
4c) Strategy leads to a loss of
jobs that provide a living
wage
5a) Strategy creates a new or
enhances an existing platform or
opportunity to provide job-
related skills training for San
Antonians
5b) Strategy neither creates
nor removes existing
platforms or opportunities to
provide job-related skills
training for San Antonians
5c) Strategy eliminates
platforms or opportunities to
provide job-related skills
training for San Antonians
6a) Strategy directly helps to
grow, diversify,or enhance the
resilience of the local economy
6b) Strategy neither helps nor
hurts the diversity or
resilience of the local
economy
6c) Strategy negatively
impacts the diversity or
resilience of the local
economy
Equity
7a) Strategy enhances economic
opportunities or improves the
living conditions of vulnerable
populations (e.g. low-income,
elderly, or children)
7b) Strategy does not help or
harm economic opportunity
or the living conditions of
low-income and minority
populations in San Antonio
7c) Strategy reduces
economic opportunity or the
living conditions of low-
income and minority
populations in San Antonio
8a) Strategy engages non-
traditional stakeholders in
decision making
8b) Strategy does not engage
or disenfranchise non-
traditional stakeholders in
decision making
8c) Strategy serves to further
disenfranchise non-traditional
stakeholders by not involving
them in decision making
9a) Strategy helps reduce
disparities in accessing
community assets (i.e.parks,
schools, &gov’t programs
9b) Strategy does not create
new disparities in accessing
community assets
9c) Strategy creates new or
enhances existing disparities
in accessing community
assets
Sustainability
Evaluation
Framework for
SA Tomorrow
Each strategy can be
scored a +1 (positive
contribution), 0 (neutral
contribution), or a -1
(negative contribution) for
each of the 15 criteria
(only the first 9 shown
here).
LINNEAN | KLA | FUSS & O’NEILL | PG. 19
Public Engagement Process
Cities do not become climate leaders because they develop a plan. A foundation
for climate leadership must be based on how the planning process is designed,
executed, and what happens after a plan is completed. The planning process
needs to be strong enough to knock down barriers and challenge the status
quo to ensure all residents are actively engaged, truly support the vision, and
understand the value that a sustainable, resilient Northampton brings them.
The development and implementation of the public engagement strategy for
the Climate Resiliency and Regeneration Plan will be led by KLA. To deliver an
equitable and effective public and stakeholder engagement process, KLA has
designed an approach that is aligned with its core values.
Inclusivity: This project will be designed from the beginning to include all
community voices, especially those that we might not hear from as often, such as
low-income, non-English speaking, youth, and elderly residents. For Northampton,
as with all our clients, we recommend a public engagement goal that strives for
a representative sample of the population. Recognizing that each individual is
more than just their age, race, and income level, we will also work with City staff
to create personas that more accurately reflect who the people in the community
are, such as a parent or a business owner, for example, and craft messages
specific to the priorities held by those personas. We will then incorporate the
demographic and persona data into a matrix to pinpoint the most appropriate
engagement tactics to apply to priority groups.
Impact: For Northampton’s Climate Resiliency and Regeneration planning
process to have the greatest impact, it must build off of existing local successes
as well as identify and build the capacity of local champions that truly believe in
and are committed to achieving the overarching goals. We will work with the City
to identify a diverse set of stakeholders to engage in the planning process. We will
design meetings in a way that not only allow this group to advise on the process,
but ultimately to become Northampton’s Climate Champions and advocates for
the City’s sustainability and resilience work moving forward.
Innovation: We know that the journey to a sustainable future must include
some level of innovation. For this project, we expect to have several opportunities
to innovate, which we will determine in consultation with the City. One potential
area for innovation is the design and delivery of the online dashboard, which
we believe should also house Northampton’s ongoing community dialogue.
We are proposing to do this with the KLA Community Dashboard tool, which
turns performance data into stories to allow for a more effective uptake of the
information by the general public.
Transparency: Climate and sustainability planning, and more importantly,
action implementation, requires a full community-approach. To effectively engage
on this level, building trust is paramount. That is why we fundamentally believe
Workshop facilitation, Boston, MA
Recognizing that
each individual
is more than just
their age, race,
and income,
we will also work with City staff
to create personas that more
accurately reflect who the people
in the community are, such as a
parent or a business owner.
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 20
that transparency is essential. We will work with the City to ensure that we have
regular and clear communication with stakeholders, that all data sources are
readily available, and that we establish clear expectations with the City and its
stakeholders upfront and throughout the project.
KLA works with its clients to encourage an engagement goal of a representative
sample of the community and to focus on non-traditional community engagement
tactics to meet it.
Our process for engagement includes five steps:
1. Identify Engagement Goals, Priorities, and Challenges
2. Develop a Communications Strategy
3. Deliver a Process
4. Evaluate Effectiveness through Tracked Metrics
5. Establish Post-Project Plan for Ongoing Engagement
Based on this approach, we will work with the City to come up with a mix of
engagement tactics to meet the value and engagement levels anticipated by the
minimum requirement of three public forums identified in the RFP. Example tactics
could include:
• Online Engagement: dashboard, social media, surveys, virtual town halls,
hack-a-thons
• In-person Engagement: interviews, focus groups, workshops, trainings,
pop-up meetings, canvassing, events, speed planning
TEAM BEST PRACTICES. Based on years of
experience, we have identified the following keys to keeping a
stakeholder group actively engaged:
1. Clearly communicate roles, expectations, and anticipated time
commitment;
2. Establish a clear vision and structure for the process;
3. Maintain regular two-way communication;
4. Respect stakeholders time and input;
5. Provide best practice examples to react to, rather than always
starting with a blank slate;
6. Thank committee members regularly and acknowledge their
contributions;
7. Give your committee bountiful opportunities to ‘own’ the
process and the final products.
Stakeholder mapping process,
Somerville, MA
LINNEAN | KLA | FUSS & O’NEILL | PG. 21
• Working through Partner Organizations and Meetings: Northampton’s
various neighborhood associations and community groups, faith-based
groups, youth groups, homeless shelters, shelters for women and children,
non-profit organizations (such as Casa Latina, Northampton Center for the
Arts, the Center for Ecological Technology, etc.), the Greater Northampton
Chamber of Commerce, Smith College
Creating a Clear Action Plan for Climate Resilience
The anticipated impacts of climate change in Massachusetts – extreme
weather events, higher temperatures, precipitation changes, and more frequent
flooding and drought – will affect the future reliability and capacity of the city’s
infrastructure. Designing for public infrastructure resilience in the face of climate
change reduces spending on infrastructure replacement, improves safety and
security of public infrastructure, and provides energy savings through reduced
energy use.
Our approach to developing a Climate Resiliency and Regeneration Plan for the
City of Northampton will include a focus on public infrastructure, including the
city’s stormwater system, flood control system, transportation infrastructure (i.e.,
culverts and bridges), water/wastewater infrastructure, energy systems, and
public buildings and facilities. Building on the City’s previous climate resilience
initiatives and the vulnerability assessments from the MVP process, we will
develop recommendations for protecting existing and new public infrastructure
against flooding and related hazards.
The use of green stormwater infrastructure and preserving the city’s natural
green infrastructure (urban tree canopy, parks, forestland, etc.) will play a key
role in mitigating increases in drainage-related and riverine flooding in the city. In
addition to promoting and requiring the use of green infrastructure for public and
private development, new public and private stormwater and drainage-related
infrastructure should be designed with updated storm intensities and climate
Norwottuck
Rail-Trail.
Image by John Phelan.
TEAM HIGHLIGHT
Linnean has worked with
stakeholder groups that have
included city staff, major developers,
and anchor institutions to help
develop creative public-
private solutions for
climate action. Examples include
Kendall Square (Cambridge, MA)
and Union Point (Weymouth, MA).
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 22
change precipitation projections. We will provide recommendations on design
storms for various types of stormwater and drainage infrastructure, based on
the latest NOAA precipitation frequency estimates (Atlas 14) and estimates of
future changes in extreme rainfall using EPA’s Climate Resilience Evaluation
and Awareness Tool (CREAT) or similar methods. Fuss & O’Neill has developed
similar recommendations for communities throughout the northeast as part of our
watershed flood resiliency practice, including communities in the Deerfield River
watershed in western Massachusetts and the Wood-Pawcatuck watershed in
Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut.
While much of Northampton’s floodplains are mapped by FEMA, flood-prone
areas associated with many of the city’s smaller streams and drainage systems
have not been modeled or mapped. Recommendations will be provided for
hydraulic analysis and inundation mapping of these systems – under existing
conditions and future climate change scenarios – using industry-standard
models such as HEC-RAS, SWMM, and others. Fuss & O’Neill has conducted
flood modeling and mapping to evaluate flood risk at both the community and
watershed scale, including an ongoing flood mitigation assessment of the Saw Kill
watershed in eastern New York.
Because road stream crossings (i.e., culverts and bridges) are an integral part
of transportation infrastructure, inadequate or undersized crossings can cause
flooding and washout hazards. Climate change impacts are anticipated to further
exacerbate riverine flooding at undersized road crossings. We will provide
recommendations for evaluating and prioritizing the city’s road stream crossings
for replacement or upgrade, including incorporating improved stream crossing
guidelines into local land use regulations and design guidance for new permanent
stream crossings and replacement crossings. Replacing outdated or inadequate
crossings with crossings that maintain natural flow and substrate conditions
enhances the resiliency of the transportation system, reduces expensive erosion
The Oxbow on
the Connecticut River,
Northampton, MA.
Image from Google Earth.
TEAM HIGHLIGHT
Fuss & O’Neill has developed
recommendations for stormwater
and drainage infrastructure based
on climate change projections
for communities throughout
the northeast as part of their
watershed flood
resiliency practice,
including communities in the
Deerfield River watershed in
western Massachusetts and the
Wood-Pawcatuck watershed in
Rhode Island and southeastern
Connecticut.
LINNEAN | KLA | FUSS & O’NEILL | PG. 23
and structural damage, reduces flood impacts on upstream and neighboring
properties, and increases stream continuity for aquatic organism passage. Fuss &
O’Neill has experience developing similar recommendations through our work in
the Deerfield and Wood-Pawcatuck watersheds.
To more consistently and effectively incorporate climate resilience into
Northampton’s capital projects, we will also provide recommendations for priority
scoring of projects identified in the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
The scoring criteria will include various factors that reflect the degree to which
projects enhance climate resiliency by addressing flooding and other hazards that
are identified in the City’s climate resiliency policies and planning initiatives. The
recommended criteria and scoring approach will be designed for integration with
the City’s current CIP project scoring system.
In addition to public infrastructure, the resilience strategies will also incorporate a
strong focus on social resilience, including how climate change may affect health
and livelihoods, as well as place added stress and need for formal and informal
social networks, city policies, and programs. As mentioned in the description of
the MVP process, the team will use the Climate and Socio-economic Vulnerability
Assessment Tool co-developed by KLA team member Missy Stults to assess
social vulnerability across Northampton’s neighborhoods, which will provide a
basis for strategy development and recommendations. The Linnean team has
further found through working with local governments that spatial patterns in
socioeconomic data, demographics, resource proximity (and resource gaps),
as well as community assets offer a more nuanced understanding of both
levels of community vulnerability as well as strategies for building resilience.
For example, a community in Rhode Island identified a community space that
served as a location for youth and families to gather information—which then
prompted discussions around how that model could be replicated in other spaces
throughout the community. Mapping these resources and assets will be part of
the MVP process, and can be incorporated into further community engagement
activities as needed.
Because social resilience is directly tied to health, community networks,
and economic wellbeing, strategies that may come out of this analysis will
often overlap with other sectors, including housing, economic development,
transportation, and sustainability planning. This team’s strategy development
will consider the degree to which housing affordability; regional transit systems;
public information distribution; access to healthcare, grocery stores, and
other resources; among other parameters, may affect the social resilience
of Northampton’s communities, and particularly low- and moderate- income
residents. Because of this overlap in other sectors, our approach to developing
social resilience strategies—as well as public infrastructure strategies—will
look for ways in which these efforts dovetail, enhance, or align with climate
mitigation efforts, as well other priorities in the broader Sustainable Northampton
Comprehensive Plan to create synergies and prevent redundant efforts.
Understanding housing cost burdens
for renters in the City of Providence
(Image from Linnean Solutions)
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 24
Creating a Clear Pathway for Climate Mitigation
To meet climate regeneration goals, we anticipate the City will focus on priority
areas such as energy efficiency, fossil fuel use reductions, public infrastructure
investments, and natural systems. Land use planning and innovative soil and
biodiversity regeneration has also been shown to have very strong effects on
greenhouse gas reduction and climate regeneration. This team will research
frameworks that can incorporate these innovative approaches into infrastructure
development and regulatory systems for Northampton.
Through this task, the Team will review the existing community-wide GHG
emissions inventory and, in collaboration with the City make a determination on
how to address any gaps or needed updates. Additionally, we will quantify up to
five (5) GHG reduction strategies to demonstrate the impact they will have toward
meeting the City’s GHG reduction targets. This information will be integrated into
a wedge diagram to be used in the report and public dashboard, illustrating the
relative impact of each strategy towards meeting the City’s climate mitigation
goals.
03
Government
Operations Community
Emissions offset by 14,957,077 new
seedling trees growing for 10 years =
583,326 metric tons of CO2e
Emissions offset by 423,047,795 new
seedling trees growing for 10 years =
16,498,864 metric tons of CO2e
05
Emissions are reported by both the
sector (Buildings, Transportation) and
source (electricity, gasoline) they
represent. Slightly more than half of
community emissions are a result of
energy used to cool, light, and power the
homes, offices, and industrial facilities
throughout San Antonio. The second
highest sector, at more than a third of all
community emissions is transportation,
which includes fuel used to power cars,
trucks, and buses.
When looking at the sources of
emissions, the fuel used to generate
electricity within the city accounted for half
of all GHG emissions. Gasoline was
responsible for almost a third of all GHG
emissions. Diesel fuel for transportation,
natural gas for building space heating and
hot water, and methane from solid waste
disposal and wastewater treatment each
accounted for less than 10% of GHG
emissions, respectively.
Details of the GHG emissions for the
San Antonio community by sector and
source are shown in Figures D and E.
1%
4%
36%
59%
Buildings
Transportation
Solid Waste
Water Supply
By Sector
3%
8%
9%
27%
53%
Electricity
Gasoline
Diesel
Natural Gas
Methane
By Source
/ Wastewater Treatment
Figure D
Figure E
San Antonio Community GHG Emissions
What is emission offset?
According to Terrapass (www.terrapass.com), “carbon offsets let you help build projects in communities across
the country that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions beyond what you can achieve through individual
action. Carbon offsets are purchased to fund these projects and diminish the impact of your own GHG
emissions, even though the projects are located elsewhere.”
Source: http://www.terrapass.com/climate-change/carbon-offsets-explained/
03
Government
Operations Community
Emissions offset by 14,957,077 new
seedling trees growing for 10 years =
583,326 metric tons of CO2e
Emissions offset by 423,047,795 new
seedling trees growing for 10 years =
16,498,864 metric tons of CO2e
05
Emissions are reported by both the
sector (Buildings, Transportation) and
source (electricity, gasoline) they
represent. Slightly more than half of
community emissions are a result of
energy used to cool, light, and power the
homes, offices, and industrial facilities
throughout San Antonio. The second
highest sector, at more than a third of all
community emissions is transportation,
which includes fuel used to power cars,
trucks, and buses.
When looking at the sources of
emissions, the fuel used to generate
electricity within the city accounted for half
of all GHG emissions. Gasoline was
responsible for almost a third of all GHG
emissions. Diesel fuel for transportation,
natural gas for building space heating and
hot water, and methane from solid waste
disposal and wastewater treatment each
accounted for less than 10% of GHG
emissions, respectively.
Details of the GHG emissions for the
San Antonio community by sector and
source are shown in Figures D and E.
1%
4%
36%
59%
Buildings
Transportation
Solid Waste
Water Supply
By Sector
3%
8%
9%
27%
53%
Electricity
Gasoline
Diesel
Natural Gas
Methane
By Source
/ Wastewater Treatment
Figure D
Figure E
San Antonio Community GHG Emissions
What is emission offset?
According to Terrapass (www.terrapass.com), “carbon offsets let you help build projects in communities across
the country that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions beyond what you can achieve through individual
action. Carbon offsets are purchased to fund these projects and diminish the impact of your own GHG
emissions, even though the projects are located elsewhere.”
Source: http://www.terrapass.com/climate-change/carbon-offsets-explained/
Greenhouse gas emissions in San
Antonio. The graphics above begin
to tell the story of the City’s fossil
fuel use.
LINNEAN | KLA | FUSS & O’NEILL | PG. 25
Creating a Coordinated, Equitable, and Actionable Climate
Resiliency and Regeneration Plan
We believe that the final production of the Climate Resiliency and Regeneration
Plan—to be integrated into the Sustainable Northampton Comprehensive Plan—
requires effective framing, an understanding of synergies and co-benefits, and an
assessment of equity implications in order to serve as an effective and dynamic
planning tool to meet the City’s and community’s needs.
Effective Framing: The organization, content structure, and system for tracking
progress and updating the plan will be critical for ensuring that the document is
both helpful and directive for implementing recommendations. The framing will be
guided by the preceding reorganization of Sustainable Northampton, its alignment
with the STAR Communities Rating System, as well as considerations for what
frameworks will be easily updated and adaptable over the long term.
Synergies and Co-Benefits: We understand that cities must be strategic with
resources, seeking strategies that can create up to five times the return value
for every dollar spent. Well-designed strategies are most effective and resource
efficient when they serve multiple purposes and affect multiple systems. As such,
the team will identify and prioritize opportunities for resilience benefits in mitigation
strategies and vice versa, as well as strategies that can enhance other priorities
already underway within the Sustainable Northampton Comprehensive Plan.
Equity Implications: Ultimately, mitigation and adaptation strategies will
not be successful if they inadvertently enhance inequity in the process. We
propose assessing the equity implications of various strategies, using an analysis
to test scenarios and flag whether actions may increase financial burden,
enhance inaccessibility, or reinforce structural inequity for low-income and other
marginalized groups. This analysis will then prompt and guide amendments to
climate mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Collectively, these components will ensure that the Northampton Climate
Resiliency and Regeneration Plan will be most effective at advancing actions that
serve the needs of the City and all of Northampton’s communities.
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 26
COMPONENT 4:
INFOGRAPHICS AND
ONLINE DASHBOARD
Specific Qualifications and Experience
We have found that data collection and planning processes help to establish
goals and future action, and yet effectively communicating those findings is
critical for maintaining interest, commitment, and investment for both the City and
public. The KLA Community Dashboard, KLA’s keystone tool, is a communication
platform that helps your community turn data into a story. By framing data and
information as a narrative, community members can connect on a level that
enhances understanding and motivates their interest in taking action to be part
of the solution. KLA has worked extensively with local governments—including
Springfield, MA; Cambridge, MA; Nashua, NH; and Encinitas, CA—to develop
community dashboards to highlight sustainability and resilience goals and actions,
track progress toward goals, and use storytelling to inspire community action.
4
LINNEAN | KLA | FUSS & O’NEILL | PG. 27
Proposed Approach
Dashboard Development
All relevant data collected during this project, as well as the City’s existing STAR
data can be made available to the public through the KLA Community Dashboard,
which will track progress on goals and provide ongoing community engagement.
The Dashboard layout is designed specifically for storytelling because the
reality is that to reach our climate and sustainability goals, every individual in the
community needs to make some type of change to their daily behavior, whether it
is how they get to work, heat their home, or address their waste.
We will apply the KLA Storytelling Framework to create an online site that is
dynamic, graphically rich, easy for the average person to understand, and
translated into multiple languages. This framework is designed to help community
members better understand what the data means so that they are more equipped
to track progress, connect to the data, and be inspired to take action to support
the City’s efforts moving forward.
Graphics
KLA is continuously updating and growing its arsenal of graphical tools and
templates to help its clients present technical information in a way that the general
public can understand. The team will ensure that all engagement materials
developed and distributed through this project are graphically pleasing, written at
a 6th grade level, and accommodate multiple language and accessibility needs.
TESTIMONIAL
“ The Livable Nashua
Dashboard created a
totally new way for the
City to educate the public on the
many great programs and initiatives
we are already doing, provide
transparent data, and really start
engaging the community in long-
term goal setting.”
- Sarah Marchant, Community
Development Director, City of
Nashua, NH
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 28
PART D:
PROJECT TIME SCHEDULED
J F M A M J J A S O N D
2018
mvp process
material preparation
workshops
documentation
kick-off
sustainable northampton
crrp development
stakeholder engagement
public engagement
ghg inventory
mitigation strategy dev.
adaptation strategy dev.
crrp production
infographics + dashboard
J F M
2019
A
B
C
D
A final submission of mvp
process summary report
(June 15, 2018)
B completion of sustainable
northampton reorganization
(September 15, 2018)
C completion of climate resiliency
and regeneration plan
(December 30, 2018)
D completed infographics and live
online dashboard*
(December 30, 2018)
*Development of dashboard material will likely continue
into 2019, with ongoing updates as needed
LINNEAN | KLA | FUSS & O’NEILL | PG. 29
APPAPPENDIX:
CONSULTANT QUALIFICATIONS
About the Team
Linnean Solutions
Linnean Solutions is a mission-driven firm that guides local governments
and communities in reaching ambitious resilience and sustainability goals.
Through a mix of technical and stakeholder facilitation processes—including
hazard vulnerability assessments, community-driven planning workshops,
climate adaptation and resilience planning, goal setting and project facilitation,
greenhouse gas reduction strategies, carbon accounting and life cycle analyses,
and green and resilience certification development—Linnean helps communities
chart a path to a vibrant future with a smaller environmental impact.
We believe that every one of those approaches can capture co-benefits. As
specialists in regenerative development, Linnean works with local governments to
not only mitigate harm from climate change, but to create opportunity to advance
health, wellbeing, economic vitality, and community vibrancy through planning and
implementation. We work collaboratively with project stakeholders and community
members to not only co-develop solutions, but to advance equitable processes
that lead to a shared community vision and a collective capacity to transform
ideas into action.
Linnean has worked with communities within Massachusetts and across the
United States to assess, develop, plan, and implement climate mitigation and
adaptation strategies, including leading the first large-scale, comprehensive
resilience assessment for multifamily affordable housing in Philadelphia, PA;
sustainability and resilience investments through a public-private EcoDistrict
model in Cambridge, MA; and the first carbon accounting and monitoring program
for the City of Lewisville, TX. By using a comprehensive, and systems-based
approach, we aim to develop solutions that are technically informed, feasible,
innovative, and community-driven.
Kim Lundgren Associates, Inc.
KLA is a woman-owned, benefit corporation that partners with local governments
to build the sustainable community they envision. We do this by delivering
affordable tools and services to assess, plan, implement, evaluate, and
communicate climate and sustainability goals and programs. The KLA Community
Dashboard, our keystone tool, is a communication platform that turns data into
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 30
a story. We walk local governments through the KLA Storytelling Framework to
identify the specific data sets that tell their story. The KLA Storytelling Framework
engages community members by explaining what the data sets are, how the data
matters to them, and how they can be part of the solution.
Driven by a passion to achieve tangible results and a sense of urgency to
address the impacts of a changing climate, Kim Lundgren founded KLA. As a
benefit corporation, KLA Directors are expressly permitted to consider prioritize
the social and environmental impacts of their corporate decision making, rather
than focusing solely on profits. In other words, KLA walks the talk. We intimately
understand the challenges associated with trying to instill a new way of thinking
and behaving in order to create a sustainable community that works for everyone.
KLA excels in the design and implementation of local climate and sustainability
plans and programs because it’s all we do. Led by an early municipal
sustainability pioneer, the KLA team delivers excellence through agile project
management, continuous innovation, and high caliber performance. In addition
to our technology skills, the team has expertise in strategic climate action and
sustainability planning, sustainability indicator identification and reporting, climate
change vulnerability assessments, greenhouse gas accounting, communications
and marketing, community and stakeholder engagement, change management,
facilitation, and training.
Fuss & O’Neill, Inc.
Fuss & O’Neill is a full-service engineering firm with a depth of staff and
experience to conquer any project – from initial design to final construction.
Headquartered in Manchester, CT and with a regional office in Springfield, MA,
the company has grown to include 10 regional offices throughout all 6 New
England states, 2 LLCs, and more than 300 employees. As we grow in size,
we maintain our client-first philosophy. We work closely with all stakeholders
to give life to a community’s vision. Our professional staff maintains licenses
and certifications across a wide range of engineering, planning, landscape
architecture, design build, scientific, and manufacturing disciplines. Our service
capabilities and client base continue to expand as we explore what’s possible for
our clients and our communities.
The Calvin Coolidge
Bridge, over the Connecticut
River, Northampton, MA.
Image by Denimadept.
LINNEAN | KLA | FUSS & O’NEILL | PG. 31
Fuss & O’Neill has been delivering a comprehensive suite of engineering,
scientific, planning, and design disciplines serving public and private sector clients
for more than 90 years. Our engineers, scientists, and planners bring decades
of experience delivering integrated services across multiple disciplines. Fuss &
O’Neill combines experience in natural systems and the built environment to help
communities adapt to ongoing and anticipated changes in climate. In projects
throughout the Northeast, we have worked to mimic or restore the resiliency
of natural systems and combine that with decades of experience in building,
protecting, and maintaining critical infrastructure. We have completed climate
vulnerability assessments, adaptation planning, and designs for coastal and
inland projects, and we work with clients to identify climate mitigation actions
including greenhouse gas reduction and alternative energy sources.
Preparing for climate change requires financial resources. Fuss & O’Neill knows
how to help their clients get funding for their projects – from both traditional and
innovative sources – and put those funds to the best use. In many cases, we
use innovative approaches that help position our clients for additional sources of
funding.
Working Together
The Linnean Solutions team brings together professionals with experience in
successfully working together. KLA CEO Kim Lundgren and Fuss & O’Neill team
member Mary Monahan routinely network and share knowledge as advocates
and promoters for resilient and sustainable municipal applications and practices.
Their team efforts include preparing and facilitating a jam session at the 2016
American Public Works Annual PWX in Minneapolis on the future of public works:
2020, 2050, and beyond. Mary and Kim directed discussions among more than
200 participants from the United States and Canada. Kim and Linnean Principal
Jim Newman collaborate as part of an ongoing group of change leaders, working
to develop strategies for creating greater impact in organizations and through the
ways in which we work.
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 32
APPPROJECT MATRIX: Relevant Experience for the MVP Process and Climate Adaptation Planning
RELEVANT PROCESS EXPERIENCE
SELECT
PROJECTS*Municipal
Facilitation /
Community
Planning
Vulnerability
Assessments
/ Adaptation
Planning
GIS
Analysis Location
Building Resilience in Boston
Citywide Plan Boston, MA
Philadelphia Housing Authority
Resilience Assessments Philadelphia, PA
Strategies for Multifamily
Building Resilience New York, NY
Kendall Square EcoDistrict
Planning and Facilitation Cambridge, MA
Equity in Sustainability
Climate Action Plan Providence, RI
Climate Action Planning
Community Engagement Medford, MA
Improving Health in
Communities Near Highways Somerville, MA
Climate Action and Sustainability
Planning (inc. MVP Process)New Bedford, MA
Sustainability and Resilience
Action Plan Indianapolis, IN
Vulnerability Assessment and
Adaptation Plan, Albany, NY Albany, NY
Climate and Socio-Economic
Vulnerability Assess. Template Great Lakes Region
Taking Action on Climate
Change for the North OP
Olympic
Peninsula, WA
SA Tomorrow Sustainability Plan San Antonio, TX
Climate Change Vuln. Assess.
for Water Quality Infrastructure New Bedford, MA
Coastal Hazard Analysis and
Resiliency Evaluation Mattapoisett, MA
Farm Pond Coastal Restoration Oak Bluffs, MA
Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed
Flood Resiliency Plan
Southern RI;
Southeastern CT
Sheffield Brook Stream and
Floodplain Restoration Old Lyme, CT
MVP Processes in 9
Massachusetts communities Various MA townsLinneanKLAFuss & O’NeillAPPENDIX:
QUALIFICATIONS CHART
(watershed
association)
(public housing
agency)
*See following pages for project descriptions.
LINNEAN | KLA | FUSS & O’NEILL | PG. 33
PROJECT MATRIX: Relevant experience for Sustainability and Climate Mitigation Planning
RELEVANT PROCESS EXPERIENCE
SELECT
PROJECTS*Municipal Sustainability
Planning
GHG
Inventory /
Reduction
Planning
Online
Dashboards Location
SA Tomorrow Sustainability Plan San Antonio, TX
Online Climate Action Plan
and Dashboard Encinitas, CA
Climate Action and
Sustainability Planning New Bedford, MA
Sustainability and Resilience
Action Plan Indianapolis, IN
GHG Inventory Update,
Reduction Targets, + Strategies
West Palm Beach,
FL
Online Sustainability Dashboard Cambridge, MA
Online Livable Nashua
Dashboard Nashua, NH
Online Resilient Springfield
Dashboard Springfield, MA
Climate Action and Adaptation
Plan Website and Online Portal Columbia, MO
Green Communities Technical
Assistance Southeastern MA
Climate Action Planning Lewisville, TX
Kendall Square EcoDistrict
Planning and Facilitation Cambridge, MA
Hitchock Center for the
Environment Online Dashboard Amherst, MA
Union Point Sustainability
Planning Weymouth, MA
Equity in Sustainability
Climate Action Plan Providence, RI
Smith College Consulting
Services Northampton, MA
Milford Municipal Building
Energy Services and Audits Milford, CT
The Hartford Greenhouse Gas
Inventory and Management Plan Hartford, MA
Community College of Rhode
Island Energy Saving Upgrades Newport, RILinneanKLAFuss & O’Neill*See following pages for project descriptions.*See following pages for project descriptions.
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 34
SA Tomorrow Sustainability Plan
San Antonio, TX
KLA worked closely with the San Antonio Office of Sustainability to lead the
development of the SA Tomorrow Sustainability Plan Project. The KLA Team
delivered a bevy of services and products to the City with the ultimate goal of
creating a more sustainable community. Through strong facilitation, equitable
engagement, and an effectively designed process, the City completed a
comprehensive, robust, highly graphic Sustainability Plan, which was approved in
August 2016. Project activities and deliverables included:
• Design of integrated sustainability planning process that was in line with the
STAR Community Rating System;
• Facilitation of Leadership and Advisory Committee meetings;
• Development of Sustainability Plan, with current conditions, goals, actions,
metrics, and targets for eight focus areas;
• LGOP and GPC Compliant GHG Inventories;
• Climate Risk & Vulnerability Assessment;
• Community Engagement Plan, including online and in-person engagement;
• Hosting of the City’s first Sustainability Forum;
• Sustainability Dashboard to provide ongoing engagement and reporting
related to the identified goals and targets;
• Sustainable Return on Investment Analyses.
Client: City of San Antonio, TX
Contact: Eloisa Portillo-Morales, Sustainability Planning Manager, Office of
Sustainability | Eloisa.Portillo-Morales@sanantonio.gov | 210-207-6322
Sustainability and Resilience Action Plan
Indianapolis, IN
In 2017, KLA was selected by the City of Indianapolis, IN to lead their
Sustainability and Resilience Action Plan process. As Project Director, Kim
oversees a consultant team to deliver an equity-driven process that is deeply
rooted in building local social capital and capacity. Tasks associated with this
12-month project include, development of a public and stakeholder engagement
strategy and process; greenhouse gas emissions inventory; climate vulnerability
assessment and mitigation plan; an online community dashboard; a marketing
and communications strategy; and a sustainability and resilience action plan.
Client: City of Indianapolis, IN
JOINT CLIMATE MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION PLANNINGAPPAPPENDIX:
SELECT PROJECT EXAMPLES
LINNEAN | KLA | FUSS & O’NEILL | PG. 35
Climate Action and Sustainability Planning
New Bedford, MA
KLA was recently awarded a contract for Climate Action & Sustainability Planning
Services for the City of New Bedford, MA. For this multi-year contract, KLA is
partnering with the City to design a comprehensive program and brand to house
their current and future climate and sustainability initiatives. Anticipated year one
tasks include, delivery of the Massachusetts Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP)
process, including a climate vulnerability assessment; completion of a Global
Protocol for Community Scale Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventories;
a GHG Reduction Plan; a Community Climate Adaptation Plan; an ongoing,
inclusive, and equitable public engagement dialogue; an online community
dashboard; and a marketing and branding strategy. Kim is the Project Director for
New Bedford.
Client: City of New Bedford
Contact: Michelle Paul, Director of Environmental Stewardship | michele.paul@
newbedford-ma.gov | (508) 991-6188
Kendall Square EcoDistrict
Cambridge, MA
Linnean Solutions led the facilitation and planning of district-scale climate
mitigation and adaptation strategies for the Kendall Square EcoDistrict, a public-
private collaboration in Cambridge, MA. The EcoDistrict’s members include
property owners, local businesses and corporate tenants, institutions, non-profits,
community leaders, and the City of Cambridge. As the primary facilitator, Linnean
guided the EcoDistrict stakeholders toward developing shared values-based
goals, metrics and tools for evaluating progress towards those goals, and projects
for the EcoDistrict to pursue. Leveraging collaborative action and district-scale
efficiencies, these interrelated goals included strengthening district resilience;
managing stormwater; reducing energy consumption; increasing connectivity,
amenities, and mobility within the community; fostering ecological vitality; and
engaging businesses, land-owners, and residents within the community.
Client: Multiple public and private EcoDistrict stakeholders
Contact: Susanne Rasmussen, City of Cambridge | (617) 349-4607Public-private partnership
stakeholder facilitation
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 36
Equity in Municipal Sustainability Plan
Providence, RI
The City of Providence hopes to become a national model of equity and
sustainability. In 2016, Linnean and a team of organizations partnered with
City agencies and representatives of underserved communities in the City of
Providence to build a framework for meaningful community participation in
climate action policy. In order to build on the City of Providence’s goal of creating
a visionary, measurable, achievable, and community-oriented climate action
plan, the team designed a set of regenerative activities to support the City and
communities in building their own capacity to hold constructive and inclusive
conversations and to take collaborative action around equitable and sustainable
development. The project has worked to address a number of sustainability and
climate vulnerability issues, as well as align diverse community perspectives
around a common goal—to create a thriving city for all the people of Providence.
Client: City of Providence, RI
Contact: Leah Bamberger, Director of Sustainability for City of Providence |
Lbamberger@providenceri.com | (401) 421-2489
Sustainability and Resilience Consulting: Union Point Development
Weymouth, MA
Union Point is a 1,500-acre re-development of a former naval air station south
of Boston, which grew from collaboration between three towns, a visionary
developer, local conservation commissions, and the state office of economic
development. Linnean guided decision-making around integrating sustainable
water, wastewater, and energy infrastructure systems, and the potential to pursue
a range of certifications for additional sustainability and resilience goals. Linnean
helped the project team develop a common vision guided by sustainable, resilient,
and regenerative development parameters, and identified innovative technological
strategies for urban infrastructure.
Client: LStar Communities
Contact: Adam Ashbaugh, LStar Communities | adam@lstarland.com
Guiding sustainable and resilient
new development
Framework for advancing social
equity in climate action planning
LINNEAN | KLA | FUSS & O’NEILL | PG. 37
Climate Adaptation: Building Resilience in Boston
Boston, MA
Linnean co-developed the well-regarded report “Building Resilience in Boston” to
advise the City of Boston on climate adaptation strategies for improving resilience
of existing physical assets in Boston. To establish best practices related to city
resilience, Linnean drew from national and international research, publications,
and planning documents, as well as conducted extensive interviews with local
experts. A comprehensive list of resilience solutions was compiled and formatted
in the form of “tear-sheets” to provide policy-makers, architects, engineers, and
the community at large with a single source of practical resilience solutions.
The report also highlighted programs and policies that local organizations
and governments can employ to mitigate vulnerability, including assessing
neighborhood-level vulnerability, as measured by geologic, socio-economic,
cultural, natural, and demographic indicators. See: goo.gl/taI3QC.
Client: City of Boston and Boston Green Ribbon Commission
Contact: Carl Spector, Commissioner of the Environment for City of Boston | Carl.
Spector@cityofboston.gov | 617-635-3850
Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program
Various Massachusetts municipalities
Fuss & O’Neill combines experience in natural systems and the built environment
to help communities adapt to ongoing and anticipated changes in climate.
In particular, Fuss & O’Neill is currently working with nine (9) Massachusetts
communities to identify opportunities to reduce climate risk through the
Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ Municipal
Vulnerability Preparedness Program. Communities Fuss & O’Neill is working
with include Holden, Belchertown, Blackstone, Carver, Sherborn, Charlton,
Mattapoisett, Spencer, and Swansea, MA.
Client: Various Massachusetts municipalities
VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS AND IMPROVING RESILIENCE
Resilience planning report for the
City of Boston and Green Ribbon
Commission
www.fando.com
Creating Works of Life
Climate change is happening now and the climate will continue to
change into the foreseeable future. Increased temperatures and
precipitation, rising sea levels and extreme weather are affecting
communities here in the Northeast and throughout the United
States. The effects of climate change are broad, with implications
for infrastructure, ecosystems, and human health. Understanding
these implications and developing strategies to address them are the
foundation of climate resiliency.
Fuss & O’Neill combines experience in natural systems and the built environment to help
communities adapt to ongoing and anticipated changes in climate. In projects throughout
Coastal Hazard Analysis and Resiliency Evaluation -
Mattapoisett, MA
• Performed engineering evaluations of eight critical water
and wastewater facilities as part of a Climate & Coastal
Resiliency Analysis.
• Identifiedimprovementstoprotectinfrastructure.
• Developed construction cost estimates.
Climate Resiliency and Adaptation Services
EnvironmentInfrastructureCommunityEnergyCLIMATE RESILIENCY PROJECTS:
the Northeast, we’ve worked to mimic or restore the resiliency of natural systems and combine that with decades of experience
in building, protecting, and maintaining critical infrastructure. We have completed climate vulnerability assessments, adaptation
planning and designs for coastal and inland projects, and we work with clients to identify climate mitigation actions including
greenhouse gas reduction and alternative energy sources.
Preparing for climate change requires financial resources. We know how to help our clients get funding for their projects – from
both traditional and innovative sources – and put those funds to the best use. In many cases we use innovative approaches that
help position our clients for additional sources of funding.
Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness - Various, MA
• Successfully assisted 10 Massachusetts municipalities
complete their Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness
grant applications to begin the planning process.
• Allowscommunitiestodefineextremeweatherand
climate-related hazards, develop/prioritize actions, and
identify opportunities to reduce risk and build resilience.
municipal vulnerability
preparedness program
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 38
Resilience Planning: Philadelphia Housing Authority
Philadelphia, PA
Linnean conducted vulnerability assessments and developed resilience reports
for forty-seven properties (hundreds of facilities) for the Philadelphia Housing
Authority. The process included conducting on-site facility audits; mapping and
analyzing climate vulnerabilities and other physical, environmental, and human-
induced hazards; interviewing facility managers and residents; and recommending
critical resilience upgrades to building designs, infrastructure, and mechanical
systems. Accompanying the facility reports, Linnean developed an organizational
report for the agency that provides comprehensive solutions for new policies,
programs, and partnerships to increase the resilience of the agency to climate
change and other citywide acute and chronic hazards. Recommendations covered
design, operation, maintenance, and financial planning for investments, as well as
frameworks for external partnerships and improved resident engagement, health,
and wellbeing.
Client: Philadelphia Housing Authority
Contact: Barbara Moore, Sustainability Coordinator, PHA | (215) 684-5798 |
barbara.moore@pha.phila.gov
Flood Resiliency Management Plan
Southern Rhode Island and Southeastern Connecticut
Fuss & O’Neill assessed the vulnerability of the 317-square mile Wood-Pawcatuck
Watershed to inland flooding. Information from these assessments guided
development of a watershed-based management plan to enhance flood resiliency
and strengthen natural ecosystems within 11 communities in Connecticut
and Rhode Island. The management plan involves assessing the watershed
for vulnerability to flooding and erosion, as well as developing management
recommendations and conceptual designs to protect and enhance the resiliency
of watershed communities to increased flood flows and to restore aquatic
ecosystems. The watershed plan identifies projects and provides tools to inform
decision making within the watershed. Technical evaluations include river channel
geomorphic assessments, infrastructure adequacy, natural resources inventories,
green infrastructure assessments, and land use regulatory reviews.
Client: Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association, RI
Contact: Christoper Fox | (401) 539-9017
Vulnerability assessments
and resilience planning for the
Philadelphia Housing Authority
www.fando.com
Creating Works of Life
Fuss & O’Neill assessed the vulnerability
of the 317-square mile Wood-Pawcatuck
Watershed to inland flooding. Information
from these assessments guided development
of a watershed-based management plan
to enhance flood resiliency and strengthen
natural ecosystems within 11 communities in
Connecticut and Rhode Island.
The management plan involves assessing the watershed for
vulnerability to flooding and erosion, as well as developing
management recommendations and conceptual designs
to protect and enhance the resiliency of watershed
communities to increased flood flows and to restore
aquatic ecosystems. The watershed plan identifies projects
and provides tools to inform decision making within
the watershed. Technical evaluations include stream/
river channel geomorphic assessments, infrastructure
adequacy, natural resources inventories, green infrastructure
assessments, and land use regulatory reviews.
Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Flood Resiliency Management Plan
Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association – Southern RI & Southeastern CT
Field Assessments - More than 500 bridges, culverts, and dams in
the watershed were assessed by Fuss & O’Neill staff for hydraulic,
structural, and ecologic adequacy. They were prioritized for
improvement, replacement, or removal.
Bridges and Culverts Assessment Framework - Each structure
was assessed using four criteria to assign priority ratings for repair/
replacement.EnvironmentInfrastructureCommunitywww.fando.com
Creating Works of Life
Fuss & O’Neill assessed the vulnerability
of the 317-square mile Wood-Pawcatuck
Watershed to inland flooding. Information
from these assessments guided development
of a watershed-based management plan
to enhance flood resiliency and strengthen
natural ecosystems within 11 communities in
Connecticut and Rhode Island.
The management plan involves assessing the watershed for
vulnerability to flooding and erosion, as well as developing
management recommendations and conceptual designs
to protect and enhance the resiliency of watershed
communities to increased flood flows and to restore
aquatic ecosystems. The watershed plan identifies projects
and provides tools to inform decision making within
the watershed. Technical evaluations include stream/
river channel geomorphic assessments, infrastructure
adequacy, natural resources inventories, green infrastructure
assessments, and land use regulatory reviews.
Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Flood Resiliency Management Plan
Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association – Southern RI & Southeastern CT
Field Assessments - More than 500 bridges, culverts, and dams in
the watershed were assessed by Fuss & O’Neill staff for hydraulic,
structural, and ecologic adequacy. They were prioritized for
improvement, replacement, or removal.
Bridges and Culverts Assessment Framework - Each structure
was assessed using four criteria to assign priority ratings for repair/
replacement.EnvironmentInfrastructureCommunitywww.fando.com
Creating Works of Life
Fuss & O’Neill assessed the vulnerability
of the 317-square mile Wood-Pawcatuck
Watershed to inland flooding. Information
from these assessments guided development
of a watershed-based management plan
to enhance flood resiliency and strengthen
natural ecosystems within 11 communities in
Connecticut and Rhode Island.
The management plan involves assessing the watershed for
vulnerability to flooding and erosion, as well as developing
management recommendations and conceptual designs
to protect and enhance the resiliency of watershed
communities to increased flood flows and to restore
aquatic ecosystems. The watershed plan identifies projects
and provides tools to inform decision making within
the watershed. Technical evaluations include stream/
river channel geomorphic assessments, infrastructure
adequacy, natural resources inventories, green infrastructure
assessments, and land use regulatory reviews.
Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Flood Resiliency Management Plan
Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association – Southern RI & Southeastern CT
Field Assessments - More than 500 bridges, culverts, and dams in
the watershed were assessed by Fuss & O’Neill staff for hydraulic,
structural, and ecologic adequacy. They were prioritized for
improvement, replacement, or removal.
Bridges and Culverts Assessment Framework - Each structure
was assessed using four criteria to assign priority ratings for repair/
replacement.EnvironmentInfrastructureCommunityResilience planning to manage inland
flooding within 11 communities in the
Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed
LINNEAN | KLA | FUSS & O’NEILL | PG. 39
Climate and Socio-economic Vulnerability Assessment Tool
Various cities in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan
Working through an Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) Innovation
Grant, KLA team member Missy Stults partnered with the Huron River Watershed
Council, the Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessments, and the five
cities in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio to develop a climate and socio-economic
vulnerability assessment template to help communities holistically work towards
resilience. Project activities and deliverables included:
• Facilitated a multi-stakeholder advisory committee
• Developed climate projections for each community
• Compiled and analyzed information on socio-economic factors and landscape
features that influence local climate vulnerability
• Used equity as the lens in developing the template
• Created a universal template for integrating socio-economic considerations,
landscape features, and climate change into vulnerability and risk
assessments
Client: Urban Sustainability Director Network
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for Water Quality
New Bedford, Acushnet, and Fairhaven, MA
Fuss & O’Neill with Applied Science Associates was part of a team led by SeaPlan
to develop this climate change vulnerability assessment. The City of New Bedford
and the Towns of Acushnet and Fairhaven have significant exposure to coastal
flooding given their location on Buzzards Bay and along New Bedford Harbor and
the Acushnet River. Climate change and resulting sea level rise will significantly
increase the threat of coastal flooding by not only increasing the depth of water
but also increasing storm surge and waves. Fuss & O’Neill’s role was to use
the coastal flood modeling results by ASA in order to identify at-risk Water
Quality Infrastructure. We then assessed each at-risk facility to determine what
improvements would be required to protect that facility for specific coastal storms
and then developed costs and an implementation to protect that infrastructure.
Most of the at-risk infrastructure consisted of pump stations in low-lying areas.
Client: Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program
Contact: Joe Costa | (508) 291-3625
www.fando.com
Creating Works of Life
The City of New Bedford and the Towns of
Acushent and Fairhaven have significant
exposure to coastal flooding given their location
on Buzzards Bay and along New Bedford Harbor
and the Acushnet River. Climate change and
resulting sea level rise will significantly increase
the threat of coastal flooding by not only
increasing the depth of water but also increasing
storm surge and waves.
Fuss & O’Neill with Applied Science Associates was part
of a team led by SeaPlan to develop this climate change
vulnerability assessment. Fuss & O’Neill’s role was to use the
coastal flood modeling results by ASA in order to identify
at-risk Water Quality Infrastructure. We then assessed each
at-risk facility to determine what improvements would be
required to protect that facility for specific coastal storms and
then developed costs and an implementation to protect that
infrastructure. Most of the at-risk infrastructure consisted of
pump stations in low-lying areas.
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessmentfor Water Quality Infrastructure
Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program - New Bedford, Acushnet & Fairhaven, MA
Project Goal - To assess how existing water quality infrastructure
(wastewater, clean water and CSOs) would be impacted by future
coastal storms.
Improvements included - Flood proofing structures, providing
stand-by power and, in some cases, use of flood walls for critical
locations.InfrastructureVulnerability assessment for New
Bedford, Acushnet, and Fairhaven
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 40
Coastal Hazard Analysis and Resiliency Evaluation
Mattapoisett, MA
Fuss & O’Neill performed an engineering evaluation of eight critical water and
wastewater facilities as part of a Coastal Hazard Resiliency Analysis for the Town
of Mattapoisett, Massachusetts. Our engineering evaluation for the Town recorded
elevations at the facilities, their exterior components, and critical equipment.
Floor plans were developed for the facilities, manufacturer information for critical
equipment was documented, and deficiencies and concerns were identified for
items that could be damaged or lost during a flood event. The Coastal Hazard
Analysis included storm surge modeling (using the SLOSH model); wave action
modeling (WHAFIS model) to assess and visualize the critical areas; and a
shoreline change assessment (DSAS) for a critical sewer crossing. Budgetary
opinions of cost for the recommended measures were presented to the client.
Client: Town of Mattapoisett, MA
Contact: Michael Gagne, Town Administrator | (401) 789-6224
Climate Adaptation: Strategies for Multifamily Building Resilience
National scale tool
Linnean worked with Enterprise Community Partners on the development of a
resilience manual for multifamily affordable housing that offers a comprehensive
set of strategies to make affordable housing properties less vulnerable to
climate change. Enterprise compiled 56 property damage assessments from
sites affected by Superstorm Sandy in New York. From these reports, Linnean
compiled actual costs associated with building damage and retrofit upgrades, and
evaluated a set of strategies based on their applicability to multifamily affordable
housing, effectiveness against a range of disasters, cost of installation, and
feasibility of implementation. To support this analytical process, Linnean engaged
a large number of NYC’s affordable housing and resilient design practitioners,
including building managers, architects, engineers, planners, and policymakers.
FEMA participated in the editorial review process, and acknowledged the
importance and groundbreaking nature of this resilience manual. See the report
at: https://goo.gl/DdNkKb.
Client: Enterprise Community Partners
Contact: Laurie Schoeman, Enterprise Community Partners | (212) 284-7156 |
lschoeman@enterprisecommunity.org
Strategies for improving resilience for
the multifamily housing sector
www.fando.com
Creating Works of Life
Fuss & O’Neill performed an engineering
evaluation of eight critical water and
wastewater facilities as part of a Coastal
Hazard Resiliency Analysis for the Town of
Mattapoisett, Massachusetts.
Our engineering evaluation for the Town recorded
elevations at the facilities, their exterior components, and
critical equipment. Floor plans were developed for the
facilities, manufacturer information for critical equipment
was documented, and deficiencies and concerns were
identified for items that could be damaged or lost during a
flood event.
The Coastal Hazard Analysis included storm surge
modeling (using the SLOSH model); wave action
modeling (WHAFIS model) to assess and visualize the
critical areas; and a shoreline change assessment (DSAS)
for a critical sewer crossing. Budgetary opinions of cost for
the recommended measures were presented to the client.
Coastal Hazard Analysis and Resiliency Evaluation
Town of Mattapoisett, MA
Eel Pond Wastewater Pump Station - This critical facility handles
wastewater from a large section of the Town. Its close proximity to
the shoreline exposes it to potential flooding and damage. We have
recommended raising critical equipment or installing a barrier wall
to protect the facility against flooding.
Pumping Equipment - These pumps are located in the lower
level of the Eel Pond Pump Station. The pumps are powered by
electrical equipment that will be protected through the installation of
waterproof doors and barrier walls. EnvironmentFacilityMap of four of the eight critical water
and wastewater utilities evaluated as
part of the resiliency analysis
LINNEAN | KLA | FUSS & O’NEILL | PG. 41
Flood Mitigation: Sheffield Brook Floodplain and Stream Restoration
Old Lyme, CT
Fuss & O’Neill restored wetland and floodplain areas, provided additional flood
storage and conveyance, and installed tidal controls on the culvert(s) to improve
climate change resiliency in Sheffield Brook. Located in the densely developed
shorefront known as Old Lyme Shores, Sheffield Brook routinely experiences
flooding from both high precipitation events and coastal storm surges. Fuss &
O’Neill’s work involved stream restoration to regrade the stream channel using
bioengineering techniques and restoration of the floodplain in an approximately
1.1-acre parcel. Since the culverted section cannot be converted to an open
channel, the existing culvert will be replaced with twin 36-inch culverts with
tidal gates to prevent backflow during high tidal water. A HEC-RAS model was
developed for the existing and proposed conditions. The private properties in this
neighborhood will be positively impacted by the project with respect to lowering
water surface elevations during flooding events.
Client: Old Colony Beach Club Association
Contact: Doug Whalen | (860) 598-9293
Energy Resilience: University Microgrid
West Hartford, CT
Fuss & O’Neill designed and built a microgrid system on the University of
Hartford’s main campus at a cost of $2,300,000. The grid connects two existing
2.5 MW generators to eleven additional critical buildings (totaling 540,000 square
feet) by means of medium-voltage switchgear and underground cables. Our
team successfully overcame a number of challenges which included cutting over
approximately 1.0 MW of electric load to the new feeder with minimum downtime;
horizontal drilling under the Park River to reach critical buildings; and working
within the constraints of antiquated electrical components. Services included
conceptual design to support a DEEP grant application for their Microgrid Grant
and Loan Program established to reduce downtime for critical Connecticut
facilities during utility power outages, schematic design to support a detailed
DEEP proposal, design-build construction documents, and construction
administration.
Client: University of Hartford
Contact: Norman Young | (860) 768-7808
www.fando.com
Creating Works of Life
Sheffield Brook, located in the densely
developed shorefront known as Old Lyme
Shores, routinely experiences flooding from
both high precipitation events and coastal storm
surges. By providing additional flood storage and
conveyance, restoring wetland and floodplain
areas, and installing tidal controls on the
culvert(s) this project improves climate change
resiliency.
Our work involved stream restoration to regrade the stream
channel using bioengineering techniques and restoration of
the floodplain in an approximately 1.1-acre parcel. Since the
culverted section cannot be converted to an open channel, the
existing culvert will be replaced with twin 36-inch culverts
with tidal gates to prevent backflow during high tidal water. A
HEC-RAS model was developed for the existing and proposed
conditions. The private properties in this neighborhood will
be positively impacted by the project with respect to lowering
water surface elevations during flooding events.
Sheffield Brook Stream and Floodplain Restoration
Old Colony Beach Club Assoc. – Old Lyme, CT
Proposed Stream & Floodplain Restoration - Project included
bioengineered techniques such as rootwads
Tidal Controls - The installation of the tidal controls on the culvert
will allow the beach association that manages the area to control
flooding during tidal surge events. EnvironmentInfrastructureCommunitywww.fando.com
Creating Works of LifeSheffield Brook, located in the densely developed shorefront known as Old Lyme Shores, routinely experiences flooding from both high precipitation events and coastal storm surges. By providing additional flood storage and conveyance, restoring wetland and floodplain
areas, and installing tidal controls on the
culvert(s) this project improves climate change
resiliency.
Our work involved stream restoration to regrade the stream
channel using bioengineering techniques and restoration of
the floodplain in an approximately 1.1-acre parcel. Since the
culverted section cannot be converted to an open channel, the
existing culvert will be replaced with twin 36-inch culverts
with tidal gates to prevent backflow during high tidal water. A
HEC-RAS model was developed for the existing and proposed
conditions. The private properties in this neighborhood will
be positively impacted by the project with respect to lowering
water surface elevations during flooding events.
Sheffield Brook Stream and Floodplain RestorationOld Colony Beach Club Assoc. – Old Lyme, CT
Proposed Stream & Floodplain Restoration - Project included
bioengineered techniques such as rootwads
Tidal Controls - The installation of the tidal controls on the culvert
will allow the beach association that manages the area to control
flooding during tidal surge events. EnvironmentInfrastructureCommunityStream and floodplain restoration
to enhance the resilience of the Old
Lyme Shores community
www.fando.com
Creating Works of Life
Fuss & O’Neill designed and built a microgrid
system on the University of Hartford’s main
campus at a cost of $2,300,000.
The grid connects two existing 2.5 MW generators to eleven
additional critical buildings (totaling 540,000 square feet) by
means of medium-voltage switchgear and underground cables.
Our team successfully overcame a number of challenges which
included cutting over approximately 1.0 MW of electric load to
the new feeder with minimum downtime; horizontal drilling
under the Park River to reach critical buildings; and working
within the constraints of antiquated electrical components.
Services included conceptual design to support a DEEP
grant application for their Microgrid Grant and Loan
Program established to reduce downtime for critical
Connecticut facilities during utility power outages,
schematic design to support a detailed DEEP proposal,
design-build construction documents, and construction
administration.
University Microgrid Project
University of Hartford – West Hartford, CT
Multiple Phases of Work: We provided a wide range of electrical
and civil engineering services throughout several phases of work.
Microgrid: The grid connects existing generators to critical buildings
by means of medium-voltage switchgear and underground cables.InfrastructureConstructionFacilityEnergyUniversity of Hartford microgrid
system, designed to reduce
downtime to critical facilities
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 42
GHG Emissions Inventory Update and Reduction Plan
West Palm Beach, FL
KLA recently completed work with the City of West Palm Beach to update an
existing 2013 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory to be compliant with
the Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventories
(GPC) and the Compact of Mayors. Additionally, provided assistance in identifying
an appropriate short-term GHG reduction target and potential strategies to help
them achieve that target, now that they have committed to a net zero reduction for
2050. Project activities and deliverables included:
• GPC Compliant GHG Inventory Workbook;
• Best practices research on reduction targets and strategies of similar
communities;
• Analysis of the GHG Inventory and the City’s STAR Master Crosswalk to
determine the best opportunities for emissions reductions;
• Wedge diagram showing how the identified GHG reduction strategies could
contribute to the reduction target;
• Presentations to Sustainability Advisory Committee and City Leadership.
Client: City of West Palm Beach, FL
GHG Emissions Inventory and Reduction Strategies
Lewisville, TX
Linnean conducted the first sustainability and carbon assessment of municipally-
owned properties in Lewisville, Texas. By tracking and compiling historical
electrical, natural gas, and potable and irrigation water use data, waste collection
data, and water and wastewater treatment data, Linnean developed a holistic
evaluation of the municipality’s sustainability performance and carbon emissions
from city activities. Using the resource use data, Linnean provided the City with
tailored climate adaptation mitigation strategies, with an emphasis on projects
with low upfront costs and high potential return on investment. To ensure that the
system for collecting carbon data and the report that Linnean developed would
continue to provide value, Linnean developed an interactive resource tracking tool
for the city. The tool creates an opportunity for the City to understand the resource
and carbon reductions from their initiatives over time, and will allow a transparent
way for engaging the public on these issues.
Client: City of Lewisville, TX
Contact: Lisa Weaver, City of Lewisville | (927) 219-3503
Sustainability dashboard, tracking
energy consumption, water use, and
cost savings, among other metrics
ADDITIONAL CLIMATE MITIGATION, GHG INVENTORIES, & SUSTAINABILITY PLANNING
LINNEAN | KLA | FUSS & O’NEILL | PG. 43
Sustainability Planning and Consulting Services: Smith College
Northampton, MA
Smith College has been a valued Fuss & O’Neill client for many years. We have
successfully provided the college with solutions involving a wide range of projects
and challenges. Representative project types include: Site/Civil Support for New
Buildings and Renovations; Special Permitting; Utility Relocations; Campus
Parking Master Plan; TDM (Transportation Demand Management); and Traffic
Impact Studies. Project highlights include:
• LEED (Leadership in Energy Efficiency Design)
• Creative Utility Design
• Recycling of Stormwater
• Prototype Crosswalk Design for the City
Client: City of Northampton
Contact: Gary Hartwell | (413) 585-2441
Milford Municipal Building Energy Services
Milford, CT
Fuss & O’Neill performed energy audits at four City of Milford buildings, with an
accumulative floor area of 232,000 square feet. Our team made a number of
recommendations to help the City save energy, including:
• Computerized energy management systems to replace controls;
• High-efficiency lighting replacements;
• Interior and exterior lighting controls;
• Condensing boilers;
Our team analyzed energy consumption data; identified energy-saving measures;
calculated energy savings; estimated implementation costs; and prepared written
reports. We also completed a pre-design study of the Milford City Hall boiler
plant, evaluating four options for the City. Audits recommended 18 energy-saving
measures with a combined annual savings of approximately $126,000; a total
implementation cost of approximately $163,000; and a combined simple payback
of five years.
Client: City of Milford, CT
www.fando.com
Creating Works of Life
Smith College has been a valued Fuss & O’Neill
client for many years. We have successfully
provided the college with solutions involving a
wide range of projects and challenges.
Representative project types include:
• Site/Civil Support for New Buildings and Renovations
• Special Permitting
• Utility Relocations
• Campus Parking Master Plan
• TDM (Transportation Demand Management)
• Traffic Impact Studies
Project highlights include:
• LEED (Leadership in Energy Efficiency Design)
• Creative Utility Design
• Recycling of Stormwater
• Prototype Crosswalk Design for the City
Consulting Services
Smith College - Northampton, MA
Botanical Garden - Services included environmental assessments
and storm drainage improvements.
Campus Improvements - We provided bicycle and pedestrian
improvements, as well as traffic calming designs.EnvironmentInfrastructureCommunityFacilitywww.fando.com
Creating Works of Life
Smith College has been a valued Fuss & O’Neill
client for many years. We have successfully
provided the college with solutions involving a
wide range of projects and challenges.
Representative project types include:
• Site/Civil Support for New Buildings and Renovations
• Special Permitting
• Utility Relocations
• Campus Parking Master Plan
• TDM (Transportation Demand Management)
• Traffic Impact Studies
Project highlights include:
• LEED (Leadership in Energy Efficiency Design)
• Creative Utility Design
• Recycling of Stormwater
• Prototype Crosswalk Design for the City
Consulting ServicesSmith College - Northampton, MA
Botanical Garden - Services included environmental assessments
and storm drainage improvements.
Campus Improvements - We provided bicycle and pedestrian
improvements, as well as traffic calming designs.EnvironmentInfrastructureCommunityFacilitywww.fando.com
Creating Works of Life
Fuss & O’Neill was retained by Smith College
to develop a Campus Parking Master Plan for
its college grounds in Northampton, MA.
The main purpose of the Campus Parking Master Plan
was to document existing parking supply and demand for
spaces. Emphasis was placed on the analysis of feasible
transportation demand management actions that could
be applied to decrease the vehicle demand on campus
by encouraging the use of alternative travel modes, and
accordingly, decrease the demand for future parking spaces.
The Campus Parking Master Plan serves to reflect the
college’s goal of creating a culture based on environmental
and economic sustainability. Environmentally-friendly
actions considered included parking management, transit
utilization, and ridesharing.
Campus Parking Master Plan
Smith College – Northampton, MA
Current Parking - There are currently 1,560 spaces, including
surface lots and parking garage. InfrastructureCommunityFuture Parking - Fuss & O’Neill was contracted to recommend
the proper number of parking spaces needed to serve the various
college users and programs.
Sustainability consulting services for
Smith College
Two of the four municipal facilities
audited for energy efficiency
upgrades
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 44
GHG Inventory and Reduction Plan: The Hartford
Hartford, CT
Fuss & O’Neill collects and compiles the annual greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions data from various stakeholders at The Hartford and/or CBRE Group.
This data is used to prepare the annual GHG inventory that represents the
global-wide GHG emissions from more than 100 owned and/or leased facilities.
Additional energy-related services we have provided in the past include
preparation of The Hartford’s Inventory Management Plan (IMP), support with
GHG goal setting and analysis, and preparation of electricity usage trending
charts and profiles for their various facilities.
Client: The Hartford
Contact: Diane Cantello, Vice President | (860) 547-2801
Energy Savings Upgrades: Community College of Rhode Island
Newport, RI
As part of our RI DOA MPA MEP Engineering contract, Fuss & O’Neill was
contracted by Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) to review and
implement energy saving measures that included the use of steam absorption
chillers to provide domestic hot water, modification of building management
system (BMS) and control sequence for demand control of HVAC units.
Additionally, one of the energy saving measures was to replace all existing lighting
both interior and exterior with energy efficient LED fixtures and lamps throughout
the Newport campus. The project included evaluation, design, bidding support
and construction administration.
Client: Community College of Rhode Island
Solar Photo-Voltaic (PV) Energy Systems
Various locations in New England
Fuss & O’Neill has delivered a comprehensive suite of engineering services for
solar photovoltaic projects for developers, energy procurement contractors,
owners, and end-users throughout New England, designing more than 45
MW of solar PV. These services often include initial project assessment,
permitting, design, construction administration, and witness testing. Recently,
we have provided additional services for clients, including survey, wetlands,
Phase 1 ESA, Post-closure Use Permit, detailed civil design, structural design
(including ballast design calculations), racking design, and layout. The electrical
design for these projects usually begins with the utility interconnection application.
Projects have required AC and DC detailed design, from individual modules to the
interconnection point, including relay settings, short circuit coordination, arc flash,
voltage drop calculations, and utility interconnection application.
www.fando.com
Creating Works of Life
Fuss & O’Neill collects and compiles the
annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
data from various stakeholders at The
Hartford and/or CBRE. This data is used
to prepare the annual GHG inventory that
represents the global-wide GHG emissions
from more than 100 owned and/or leased
facilities.
Additional energy-related services we have provided in
the past include preparation of The Hartford’s Inven-
tory Management Plan (IMP), support with GHG goal
setting and analysis, and preparation of electricity usage
trending charts and profiles for their various facilities.
Compliance Services
The Hartford – Hartford, CT
Data Usage - Data collected is used to prepare the annual GHG
inventory that represents the global-wide GHG emissions from more
than 100 facilities.
Data Usage - Information is used to prepare the applicable sections
of the following reports: Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Report,
Dow Jones Sustainability Index Report, Newsweek Green Rankings
Report, Annual Sustainability Report, and EPA Climate Leadership –
Goal Setting and Goal Achievement Reports.EnergyGHG inventory data represent the
global emissions of over 100 facilities
Community College of RI review
and implementation of energy
saving measures
www.fando.com
Creating Works of Life
Fuss & O’Neill has designed more than 45
MW of solar PV. Fuss & O’Neill has delivered a
comprehensive suite of engineering services for
solar photovoltaic projects for developers, energy
procurement contractors, owners, and end-users
throughout New England.
These services often include initial project assessment, permitting,
design, construction administration, and witness testing. Recently,
we have provided additional services for clients, including survey,
wetlands, Phase 1 ESA, Post-closure Use Permit, detailed civil
design, structural design (including ballast design calculations),
racking design, and layout.
The electrical design for these projects usually begins with the
utility interconnection application. Projects have required
AC and DC detailed design, from individual modules to the
interconnection point, including relay settings, short circuit
coordination, arc flash, voltage drop calculations, and utility
interconnection application.
Solar Photo-Voltaic (PV)
Various Locations, New England
Sullivan’s Ledge, New Bedford, MA - This project won an EPA
“Superfund Excellence in Site Re-Use Award” and an SEPA “2015 PV
Project of Distinction Award”.
Typical Roof Top Installation - Project types have included roof-
mounted, ground-mounted “greenfields” and ballast-mounted for
landfills and “brownfields”, and canopy-mounted installations.FacilityEnergywww.fando.com
Creating Works of Life
Fuss & O’Neill has designed more than 45
MW of solar PV. Fuss & O’Neill has delivered a
comprehensive suite of engineering services for
solar photovoltaic projects for developers, energy
procurement contractors, owners, and end-users
throughout New England.
These services often include initial project assessment, permitting,
design, construction administration, and witness testing. Recently,
we have provided additional services for clients, including survey,
wetlands, Phase 1 ESA, Post-closure Use Permit, detailed civil
design, structural design (including ballast design calculations),
racking design, and layout.
The electrical design for these projects usually begins with the
utility interconnection application. Projects have required
AC and DC detailed design, from individual modules to the
interconnection point, including relay settings, short circuit
coordination, arc flash, voltage drop calculations, and utility
interconnection application.
Solar Photo-Voltaic (PV)
Various Locations, New England
Sullivan’s Ledge, New Bedford, MA - This project won an EPA
“Superfund Excellence in Site Re-Use Award” and an SEPA “2015 PV
Project of Distinction Award”.
Typical Roof Top Installation - Project types have included roof-
mounted, ground-mounted “greenfields” and ballast-mounted for
landfills and “brownfields”, and canopy-mounted installations.FacilityEnergySullivan’s Ledge project in New
Bedford, MA (bottom) won an EPA
“Superfund Excellence in Site Re-
Use Award” and an SEPA “2015 PV
Project of Distinction Award”
LINNEAN | KLA | FUSS & O’NEILL | PG. 45
Online Sustainability Dashboard
Cambridge, MA
KLA is working with the City of Cambridge, MA, one of the highest rated STAR
Communities in the country, to develop an online dashboard tool to track their
progress toward achieving the goals identified through the Strategic Plan of
the Environment & Transportation Division of the Community Development
Department. It is anticipated that data and goals from other departments will be
added in later phases. Project activities and deliverables included:
• Facilitated in-person stakeholder meeting to identify and prioritize indicators
to include in initial release of site;
• Designed online site (scheduled to go live January 2018) that mimics City’s
existing site and highlights key data sets with easily understood explanations
(at a 6th grade level) to turn data into a story;
• Developed initiative pages focused on City programs and projects, such as
STAR Communities, the development of the Climate Change Preparedness
and Resilience Plan, and the Net Zero Plan;
• Provide engagement support at events to demonstrate the dashboard and
receive feedback from the public.
Client: City of Cambridge, MA
Contact: Bronwyn Cooke, Sustainability Planner, City of Cambridge | bcooke@
cambridgema.gov | (617) 349-4604
Online Resilient Springfield Dashboard
Springfield, MA
The City of Springfield, with its partner, Pioneer Valley Regional Planning
Commission (PVPC), and through funding from the US Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) Agency, developed a Climate Action and Resilience Plan
(CARP). KLA worked with the City and PVPC to develop an online platform (www.
ResilientSpringfield.org) to highlight the actions that have been identified through
the climate action and resilience planning process to provide an easy way for
community members to both track progress on those actions and their associated
goals as well as learn about simple steps they can take to help the City implement
the actions and achieve the goals. Project activities and deliverables included:
• Facilitated in-person stakeholder meeting to identify and prioritize indicators
to include in initial release of site;
• Designed online site that mimics the City’s Climate Action and Resilience
Plan and highlights key data sets with easy to understand explanations;
• Conduct monthly tracking of site analytics and general performance.
Client: City of Springfield, MA
Contact: Catherine Ratte, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission | cratte@pvpc.org
| (413) 285-1174
See: www.ResilientSpringfield.org
ONLINE COMMUNITY DASHBOARDS
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 46
Livable Nashua Dashboard
Nashua, NH
The City of Nashua, NH was seeking a way to promote its actions to the
community. Without a sustainability office or plan, the City had focused primarily
on simply taking action, but struggled to share those actions with the community.
KLA worked with Nashua to assess the various actions they have been taking,
collect the data showing the value of those actions, and utilized the KLA
storytelling framework to highlight those actions in a way that would engage the
community. Once the dashboard was completed, the City asked KLA to develop
a GPC compliant community wide greenhouse gas emissions inventory. Project
activities and deliverables included:
• Global Protocol for Community Wide Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories
(GPC) compliant greenhouse gas emissions inventory;
• Facilitated in-person stakeholder meeting to identify and prioritize indicators;
• Designed online site that mimics City’s existing site and highlights key data
sets with easily understood explanations that turn data into a story and
motivate behavior change;
• Developed brand and logo for Livable Nashua Program, as well as Public
Engagement Strategy centered around the dashboard;
• Weekly news feed updates and social media content to promote site;
• Monthly tracking of site analytics and general performance.
Client: City of Nashua, NH
Contact: Sarah Marchant | marchants@nashuanh.gov | (603) 589-3095
Online Sustainability Dashboard
Encinitas, CA
The City of Encinitas engaged KLA to develop an online dashboard in conjunction
with the updated Climate Action Plan development. The City was seeking to
highlight the actions that have been identified through the climate action planning
process to provide an easy way for community members to both track progress on
those actions and their associated goals as well as learn about simple steps they
can take to help the City implement the actions and achieve the goals.
• Facilitated stakeholder meeting to identify and prioritize indicators;
• Reviewed and analyzed data sets to turn the data into a story that aims to
spark individual behavior change;
• Designed online site that mimics the City’s existing site and highlights key
data sets with easily understood explanations;
• Developed interactive GHG wedge diagram, showing impact of identified
strategies;
• Provided site translation into Spanish and Chinese with translation toolbar on
site for one-click translation;
• Development of Public Engagement Strategy around the dashboard.
Client: City of Encinitas, CA
Contact: Crystal Najera | cnajera@encinitasca.gov | (760) 943-2285
See: www.livablenashua.org
See: www.EncinitasEnvironment.org
LINNEAN | KLA | FUSS & O’NEILL | PG. 47
Climate Action and Adaptation Plan Website and Online Portal
Columbia, MO
KLA is a core member of the team selected to work with the City of Columbia,
MO on their Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. KLA is delivering a website
and online portal to be utilized throughout and beyond the planning process.
Additionally, KLA is developing a system and standard operating procedures for
ongoing monitoring and reporting of performance outcomes and engagement of
community members as well as serving in a strategic technical advisor capacity
throughout the planning process.
Client: City of Columbia, MO
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 48
Mr. Jim Newman, Principal, Linnean Solutions
Mr. Newman will serve as the project lead and point person for all communications
with the City of Northampton. He will oversee the production of analyses and
materials, and play a lead role in facilitating the Community Resilience Building
Workshops, and in generating the Climate Resilience and Regeneration Plan.
Mr. Newman is the founder and Principal at Linnean Solutions. As a leading
professional in climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, Mr. Newman’s
work includes, but is not limited to, resilience analysis, climate mitigation and
adaptation planning, ecosystem services assessment, EcoDistrict planning
and management, and stakeholder engagement processes to strengthen
communities. As a Living Environments in Natural, Social, and Economic Systems
(LENSES) Facilitator and Trainer, Mr. Newman regularly leads community
planning workshops, and trains others in becoming effective facilitators. Mr.
Newman is a key author of several influential resilience reports and tools—
including the Building Resilience in Boston report and the Enterprise Community
Partners’ Ready to Respond: Strategies for Multifamily Building Resilience
manual—and with this expertise, has supported municipalities, districts,
organizations, and agencies develop climate strategies across the US.
Ms. Holly Jacobson, Resilience & Sustainability Consultant, Linnean Solutions
Ms. Jacobson will support the MVP process and development of the Climate
Resiliency and Regeneration Plan, particularly focused on social resiliency.
Ms. Jacobson has guided municipalities, institutions, developers, and
organizations in developing climate mitigation and adaptation plans and
strategies. Most recently, she led the development of an organizational
report for the 80,000-resident Philadelphia Housing Authority that detailed
vulnerabilities and strategies for building resilience through programs, policies,
and partnerships—followed by workshops designed to help staff integrate
resilience thinking into daily operations. Ms. Jacobson further brings experience
in citywide and district-scale resilience and sustainability investments, stakeholder
and community engagement process facilitation, and social equity frameworks
specifically applied to climate action planning. Prior to Linnean, Ms. Jacobson
supported community planning processes to improve resilience and sustainability
in Salt Lake City, Utah. Ms. Jacobson has a Masters in City Planning from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
MR. JIM NEWMAN,
LEED AP (O&M), EcoDistrict AP
Certified MVP Service Provider
MS. HOLLY JACOBSON,
LEED Green Associate
Certified MVP Service Provider
LINNEAN SOLUTIONSAPPAPPENDIX:
PROJECT PERSONNEL
LINNEAN | KLA | FUSS & O’NEILL | PG. 49
Mr. John Gravelin, Resilience & Sustainability Consultant, Linnean Solutions
Mr. Gravelin will support the MVP process and development of the Climate
Resiliency and Regeneration Plan.
Mr. Gravelin is the lead technical consultant for Linnean, with extensive
experience in incorporating sustainability and resilience into architectural and
urban planning practices. He has conducted hundreds of building-scale resilience
and sustainability audits, and numerous district-scale energy assessments, city-
wide vulnerability and multi-hazard assessments, carbon accounting studies,
and climate action plans. Mr. Gravelin led the resilience facility audits for the
Philadelphia Housing Authority, assessing a range of low-rise to high-rise projects
on climate risk and resilience parameters, and is co-leading the workshops
designed to help staff integrate resilience thinking in daily operations. Mr. Gravelin
also provided technical expertise for the Enterprise Community Partners-funded
Ready to Respond: Strategies for Multifamily Building Resilience manual. Mr.
Gravelin has a B.A. in Design Studies with a concentration in Architectural
Technology from the Boston Architectural College.
Ms. Kim Lundgren, Chief Executive Officer, Kim Lundgren Associates
Ms. Lundgren will lead the reorganization of the Sustainable Northampton
Comprehensive Plan; the Framework for Climate Regeneration (Mitigation);
stakeholder engagement processes; and the development of infographics and
the online dashboard. She will also support the MVP process and development of
climate resilience strategies.
Ms. Lundgren is the Chief Executive Officer of Kim Lundgren Associates, Inc., a
woman-owned, benefits corporation that delivers solutions to create sustainable
communities. Ms. Lundgren has nearly 20 years of professional experience,
the last 16 of which have been spent working with local governments to design,
secure funding for, implement, and evaluate sustainability programs focused on
climate change adaptation and mitigation. As an early municipal sustainability
pioneer, Ms. Lundgren developed the first climate action plan in Massachusetts
and one of the first municipal climate adaptation plans in the country. As an
experienced facilitator and strategist, Ms. Lundgren promotes a comprehensive
approach to sustainability planning that encourages deep stakeholder
engagement and the tracking of key sustainability indicators. Previously, Ms.
Lundgren was the Director of Sustainability at Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. and
the U.S. Services Director at ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability. In both
positions, Ms. Lundgren secured millions of dollars to build new teams and offices
focused on delivering climate and sustainability programs to hundreds of local
governments throughout the country.
MR. JOHN GRAVELIN,
LEED Green Associate
Certified MVP Service Provider
MS. KIM LUNDGREN
ENV SP
Certified MVP Service Provider
KIM LUNDGREN ASSOCIATES
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 50
Ms. Erin L. Deady, Partner, Kim Lundgren Associates
Ms. Deady will support the reorganization of the Sustainable Northampton
Comprehensive Plan; the Framework for Climate Regeneration (Mitigation); and
stakeholder engagement processes.
Ms. Deady specializes in sustainability, climate, environmental, land use, water
law and securing grants for clients. Clients include local governments, Special
Districts, private sector, and agricultural and Tribal entities, specializing in
climate planning issues, Gulf of Mexico and Everglades Restoration, PACE
implementation, code development and all types of land use issues as well
as Federal and state litigation on energy, water resources management and
environmental regulatory matters. Ms. Deady previously served as Environmental
Counsel to the Audubon of Florida and has worked for the Village of Wellington,
the Broward County Department of Planning and Environmental Protection, and
the South Florida Water Management District. Sustainability and Climate Change
projects have included securing funding for and development of numerous
sustainability and climate change plans and integration of these issues into the
local government planning process.
Dr. Missy Stults, Project Manager, Kim Lundgren Associates
Dr. Stults will support the MVP process, and development of the Climate
Resilience and Regeneration Plan. In particular, she will lead the use of the USDN
Climate and Socio-economic Vulnerability Assessment tool.
As one of the nation’s leading authorities on local climate resilience initiatives, Dr.
Stults has worked over the last 13 years with local governments, nonprofits, and
philanthropies across the nation to devise strategies to increase local and regional
resilience to climate change while also reducing local greenhouse gas emissions
footprints. Dr. Stults was one of the main authors of the Adaptation Chapter of
the third National Climate Assessment and a contributing author to the Urban
Technical Input for the Urban Chapter of the Assessment. Before this, Dr. Stults
was the national Climate Director for ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability
USA, where she worked with more than 600 local governments around the nation
to advance their climate mitigation, adaptation, and sustainability efforts.
Ms. Jennifer Dudgeon, Client Service Manager, Kim Lundgren Associates
Ms. Dudgeon will support the development of the Framework for Climate
Regeneration (Mitigation); stakeholder engagement processes; and the
development of infographics and the online dashboard.
Ms. Dudgeon has spent nearly 20 years working with governments and industries
to identify opportunities to both reduce conventional energy generation and
associated greenhouse gases (GHG). She was one of the first analysts to develop
automated tools to calculate GHG emissions. All of her GHG inventories have
been in compliance with relevant protocols and many have been successfully
DR. MISSY STULTS,
PhD
Certified MVP Service Provider
MS. JENNIFER DUDGEON
Certified MVP Service Provider
MS. ERIN L. DEADY
Certified MVP Service Provider
LINNEAN | KLA | FUSS & O’NEILL | PG. 51
verified by third parties. In addition to her GHG footprint efforts, she been a key
partner in integrating sustainability principles throughout several multi-national
Fortune 500 companies. She has also helped local, federal and international
governments make more informed policy decisions around energy generation
and related environmental policies. In 2013, she was recognized as one of the
top female leaders in corporate social responsibility. Ms. Dudgeon holds a Global
Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 certification, and is a regular guest lecturer at
Harvard University where she shares her experience implementing sustainability
programs in large organizations.
Ms. Annie Strickler Suttle, Communications Manager, Kim Lundgren Associates
Ms. Suttle will support the public engagement processes, and the development of
infographics and the online dashboard.
Ms. Suttle has more than 10 years’ experience in media and communications
for nonprofits, most recently as Communications Director for the Local Energy
Alliance Program in Charlottesville where she facilitated their marketing
initiatives around residential and commercial energy efficiency. Previously, as
Communications Director at ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA,
she oversaw their initiatives to promote the climate, energy, and sustainability
actions of cities and counties and to brand ICLEI USA as the premier organization
supporting those leaders. Prior to ICLEI, Ms. Suttle worked for six years at the
Sierra Club where she held various positions, including Deputy Press Secretary.
There she led media efforts on issues such as clean energy, coastal protection,
wild forests, endangered species and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. She
also worked on political campaigns in Arizona, Florida, Pennsylvania and Oregon.
She earned her M.A. in Mass Communication at the University of Florida and her
undergraduate degree at the University of the South (Sewanee).
Mr. Erik V. Mas, Vice President/Department Manager, Fuss & O’Neill
Mr. Mas will inform the MVP Process and the development of the Climate
Resiliency and Regeneration Plan with a focus on public infrastructure.
Mr. Mas is a firm principal with more than 22 years of experience as a
consultant and water resources/environmental engineer, specializing in the
areas of watershed management, stormwater quality, and environmental impact
assessment. He has led Fuss & O’Neill’s municipal stormwater compliance
practice, having assisted numerous municipalities in Massachusetts and
elsewhere in southern New England comply with existing and new MS4 permit
requirements. He has worked extensively with municipalities and local groups on
watershed planning projects throughout southern New England to address water
quality issues and to enhance flood resiliency in the face of a changing climate.
MS. ANNIE STRICKLER SUTTLE
Certified MVP Service Provider
FUSS & O’NEILL
MR. ERIK V. MAS,
PE
Certified MVP Service Provider
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 52
Dr. Diane L. Mas, Associate, Fuss & O’Neill
Dr. Mas will inform the MVP Process and the development of the Climate
Resiliency and Regeneration Plan with a focus on public infrastructure.
Dr. Mas is an environmental engineer in the Water Environment and Natural
Resources group at Fuss & O’Neill, Inc. and a founding member of the company’s
environmental impact assessment practice. She has spent nearly 20 years
working in the areas of water quality modeling, watershed management, and
environmental impact assessment. Her current areas of water resources practice
focus on climate change resiliency and adaptation for water resources; water
quality assessment, modeling, and watershed management; harmful algal bloom
impacts to drinking and recreational waters; and the relationship between water
quality and public health. She also leads the preparation of state and federal
environmental impact assessments, continuing to look for ways to streamline
and focus analysis on key issues to assess and mitigate potential environmental
effects.
Ms. Mary Monahan, Associate, Fuss & O’Neill
Ms. Monahan will inform the MVP Process and the development of the Climate
Resiliency and Regeneration Plan with a focus on public infrastructure.
Ms. Monahan has more than 25 years’ experience working with public project
owners in developing successful public works and water quality projects and
programs that include public presentation, stakeholder outreach, and strategic
funding (including grant and low interest loans). She has developed, facilitated,
and led the discussions at two workshops on the 2016-MS4 stormwater
permit, with more than 75 participants from MS4 regulated cities and towns
in the Commonwealth. Currently, Ms. Monahan is the technical liaison to the
Central Massachusetts Regional Stormwater Coalition (CMRSWC), which has
a membership of 32 MA communities. She has assisted many communities in
the Commonwealth secure SRF loans, Mass Highway TIP funding, MassDEP
319 and 604b assistance, and USDA Rural Utilities funding to support their local
infrastructure projects. She helps communities publicly present these project
opportunities, review alternatives, and solicit public input at select board meetings,
city council meetings, town meetings, and public hearings.
Mr. Neil Hickey, Project Manager, Fuss & O’Neill
Mr. Hickey will inform the MVP Process and the development of the Climate
Resiliency and Regeneration Plan with a focus on public infrastructure, and
specifically energy systems.
Mr. Hickey is a Project Manager in the Manchester office with Fuss & O’Neill’s
Environmental Practice Team. Throughout his career, he has completed a wide
range of civil and environmental engineering projects, working with multiple
technical disciplines. Projects have included environmental compliance, energy
DR. DIANE L. MAS,
PhD
Certified MVP Service Provider
MS. MARY MONAHAN
Certified MVP Service Provider
MR. NEIL HICKEY,
PE
Certified MVP Service Provider
LINNEAN | KLA | FUSS & O’NEILL | PG. 53
compliance (including preparation of greenhouse gas inventories for carbon
disclosure), civil/site design, stormwater management, solid waste management,
environmental investigation, remediation, and compliance. Mr. Hickey’s principal
strengths have been working with industrial and municipal facilities in maintaining
compliance with regulations, permitting, developing proposals and project
budgets, and preparing complex remediation and investigation reports utilizing an
extensive knowledge of environmental regulations.
Ms. Rachael L. Weiter, Water Resources Engineer, Fuss & O’Neill
Ms. Weiter will inform the MVP Process and the development of the Climate
Resiliency and Regeneration Plan with a focus on public infrastructure.
Ms. Weiter brings a strong science-based engineering education to Fuss & O’Neill
from the State University of New York’s College of Environmental Science and
Forestry’s Environmental Resources Engineering program and earned her MS in
Civil Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she studied
prioritization of road-stream crossings for improvements in aquatic organism
passage. Ms. Weiter has extensive flood modeling experience in New England.
She has performed hydrologic assessments to evaluate conditions at potential
stormwater retrofit sites. She has evaluated potential green infrastructure sites
and assessed the vulnerability of the watershed to flooding. Ms. Weiter routinely
performs site visits and provides permitting assistance for municipalities.
MS. RACHEL WEITER,
EIT
SERVICES FOR NORTHAMPTON | PG. 54
LINNEAN SOLUTIONS
www.linneansolutions.com
Cambridge, MA
KIM LUNDGREN ASSOCIATES, INC
www.kimlundgrenassociates.com
Boston, MA
FUSS & O’NEILL, INC.
www.fando.com
Springfield, MA
CONTACT
Jim Newman, Linnean Solutions
jim@linneansolutions.com
617-699-7323
Downtown
Northampton,
Image by Alexius Horatius.
LINNEAN SOLUTIONS • KIM LUNDGREN ASSOCIATES, INC. • FUSS & O’NEILL, INC. PG. 1
February 12, 2018
Wayne Feiden, Director of Planning and Sustainability
Planning and Sustainability Department, City of Northampton
210 Main St., Room 11
Northampton, MA 01060
Re: RFP Phase II: Additional Information for Climate Resiliency and Regeneration Plan Services.
Dear Mr. Feiden,
Thank you for the opportunity to provide additional information for the City of Northampton’s Climate
Resiliency and Regeneration Plan Services. Please find the answers to your questions in the following
pages.
Again, our team—comprised of Linnean Solutions, Kim Lundgren Associates, Inc., and Fuss &
O’Neill, Inc.—is committed to working with the City to co-develop the processes, plans, and online tools
that are best suited to meet Northampton’s needs. We not only bring highly sophisticated technical and
engineering expertise, but also experience working on infrastructure projects in Northampton as well as a
unique regenerative development lens.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can provide any further information.
Sincerely,
Jim Newman, Principal and Founder
jim@linneansolutions.com | (617) 699-7323
Linnean Solutions
5 Upland Road
Cambridge, MA 02140
LINNEAN SOLUTIONS • KIM LUNDGREN ASSOCIATES, INC. • FUSS & O’NEILL, INC. PG. 2
TOPIC 1: GHG Emissions/Wedge Diagram and Analysis
1. What specific deliverables will you provide, if any, to take our bare bones 2017 GHG Emissions
inventory and make it A) resonate more with the community and B) perhaps improve the GHG
emissions inventory?
A) The Executive Summary to the GHG inventory is a specific deliverable that will play a significant
role in presenting the inventory in a way that resonates with Northampton communities. This
Executive Summary will be written for a wide audience and will utilize data visualizations,
equivalencies, and infographics to aid in the public’s understanding of the data. Additionally, the
public engagement process proposed for this project will focus on translating technical
information, including GHG emissions data, into general, easily understandable terms and data
visualizations; creating messages for specific audiences; and turning data into a story to attempt
to connect on a deeper level with the community. In addition to the infographics and materials
developed for the deliverables above, the proposed KLA Community Dashboard (another
specific deliverable) will create a foundation for ongoing engagement with the community through
storytelling.
Figure 1. Sample section from the Executive Summary to the GHG inventory for the City of San Antonio, TX.
LINNEAN SOLUTIONS • KIM LUNDGREN ASSOCIATES, INC. • FUSS & O’NEILL, INC. PG. 3
B) As part of Northampton’s Climate Resiliency and Regeneration Plan process, it was anticipated
that the consultant team would provide a review of the City’s GHG inventory for compliance
with the Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories (GPC).
Based on our initial, high-level review, it appears that the current 2016 GHG emissions inventory
needs to be updated in a few key areas to meet GPC compliance standards. Areas we anticipate
needing to update through this process include the transportation and waste sectors, along with
some sub-sectors in the stationary energy sector. Given the budget constraints, we will need
assistance from the City in following up with data sources to deliver necessary data.
2. What specific deliverables will you provide, if any, to provide us with a wedge diagram and how
deep in the weeds will you get into an analysis of policy options in narrower categories than the
typical back of an envelope analysis?
As indicated in the proposal, the Linnean Team will quantify the impact of up to five (5) GHG
reduction strategies, and will integrate this information into a wedge diagram. The wedge diagram
will be used in the report and the community dashboard, illustrating the relative impact of each
strategy towards meeting the City’s climate mitigation goals.
To demonstrate the level of detail applied in the analysis and quantification of GHG reduction
strategies, please refer to the similar work KLA completed for the City of West Palm Beach, FL at:
https://goo.gl/8b6AoT.
Figure 2. Sample section from the City of West Palm Beach GHG Inventory, illustrating the level of detail analyzed and
reported for the impact of various GHG reduction strategies.
LINNEAN SOLUTIONS • KIM LUNDGREN ASSOCIATES, INC. • FUSS & O’NEILL, INC. PG. 4
TOPIC 2: Stormwater and Flood Control Adaptation
1. What specific deliverables will you provide, if any, to help us think about the appropriate design
storm attributes that we should be using for new public infrastructure and require the private sector to
use through our regulatory program?
As indicated in our proposal, we will provide recommendations on design storms for various types of
stormwater and drainage infrastructure, including green infrastructure, based on the latest NOAA
precipitation frequency estimates (Atlas 14) and estimates of future changes in extreme rainfall. We
will also provide examples of the tactics other communities and state jurisdictions are considering to
update their design storm attributes (design rainfall amounts, intensity-duration-frequency curves,
etc.) to account for observed and projected future increases in precipitation due to climate change.
We will develop recommendations based on elements of the various approaches highlighted in these
examples as well as the City’s current design standards/requirements and input from the City and
project team. Examples and recommendations are anticipated to address the following questions:
• What are the appropriate design storm rainfall amounts (e.g., 2-, 10-, 25-, 50-, 100-yr) and
intensities that should be used to account for current precipitation conditions and projected
increases in precipitation due to climate change?
• What size storm should various types of infrastructure (culverts, bridges, storm drainage
systems, green infrastructure, other stormwater BMPs, etc.) be designed for?
• What tools and data sources should be used to estimate future changes in extreme rainfall
such as EPA’s Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT), SWMM-CAT
(Storm Water Management Model Climate Adjustment Tool), and other similar tools?
A technical memorandum that addresses the above topics will be prepared and provided to the City
for review and comment.
2. What specific deliverables will you provide, if any, to help us create a framework (we know this
contract is not detailed engineering) for us to examine our existing culverts and road crossings in light
of climate change?
We will provide a recommended framework and methodology for the City to evaluate existing culverts
and road stream crossings, with the goal of prioritizing crossings for upgrade or replacement. The
framework and methods will be adapted from the recent MassDOT pilot study of road stream
crossings in the Deerfield River watershed, as well as other similar community-wide and watershed-
scale assessments of road crossings that consider multiple factors including hydraulic capacity,
geomorphic risk, aquatic organism passage, and flooding impact potential or criticality. We will also
provide recommendations for incorporating improved stream crossing guidelines into the City’s local
land use regulations and design guidance for new permanent stream crossings and replacement
crossings. Our recommendations will be documented in a technical memorandum for review and
comment by the City.
LINNEAN SOLUTIONS • KIM LUNDGREN ASSOCIATES, INC. • FUSS & O’NEILL, INC. PG. 5
3. What specific other deliverables will you provide, if any, to help us think about flood control in the
area of the city that is theoretically protected by the dike around downtown but is otherwise at risk?
We will develop recommendations for the portions of downtown that are only out of the floodplain by
virtue of the flood control dikes and the Historic Mill River pumps. The City and the public should be
aware of the risks associated with the flood control system, particularly considering the increased
frequency and risk of potential catastrophic flooding under a changing climate. Recommendations will
integrate and build upon prior studies and evaluations of the City’s flood control system, notably the
City of Northampton Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan (PVPC, 2015), Northampton Resiliency Strategy
Analysis (Rivermoor Systems, 2014), and Stormwater and Flood Control System Assessment and
Utility Plan (CDM, 2012). Recommendations will be provided for:
• Potential Semi-Quantitative Risk Assessment (SQRA) of the dikes and flood control system,
including identification of areas and critical infrastructure at risk in the event of failure or during
flood events that exceed the design capacity of the flood control system;
• Development of new or modified Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and inundation mapping for the
dikes and flood control system;
• Public education and outreach about the risk posed by the dikes and flood control system.
A technical memorandum that addresses the above topics will be prepared and provided to the City
for review and comment. Using existing infrastructure and flood control mapping, as well as input
obtained through the proposed workshops and public engagement process, the team will develop
maps identifying and prioritizing flood risk areas based on importance and relative risk.
TOPIC 3: Co-benefits
1. What specific deliverable will you provide to demonstrate how resiliency and regeneration action
support other Sustainable Northampton goals and objectives?
Because there is significant overlap between climate action and sustainability plan elements, and
because cities must be increasingly efficient and strategic with limited budgets, we always apply a
“co-benefits lens” to climate action and sustainability planning projects.
We will work with the City to determine the best way to demonstrate co-benefits for Northampton, but
at a minimum, we anticipate generating a summary matrix of strategies, similar to what we have
provided for previous clients, that will demonstrate the co-benefits of proposed strategies. In the
proposal, we discussed developing a framework that would identify priority areas for the City, which
would then be used to evaluate particular climate resilience and regeneration strategies on whether
they have a positive, neutral, or negative effect on those priority areas. Northampton may choose to
only apply the regeneration and resilience lenses to the goals and objectives of the reorganized
Sustainable Northampton Comprehensive Plan, or to also include resilience and regeneration as part
of a suite of priorities. This framework will not only allow us to identify co-benefits (where there is a
positive impact), but also where strategies could be revised to better enhance the Sustainable
Northampton goals. We will provide a memorandum on the proposed changes to the existing
Sustainable Northampton Comprehensive Plan based on the STAR Framework and the newly developed
Climate Resilience and Regeneration Framework, which will highlight these opportunities and challenges
for co-benefits.
LINNEAN SOLUTIONS • KIM LUNDGREN ASSOCIATES, INC. • FUSS & O’NEILL, INC. PG. 6
Some examples of where this team has provided strategy matrices and other graphics to illustrate co-
benefits are included below. Similar assessments and/or graphic tactics could be used to show how
Northampton’s resiliency and regeneration actions will support other Sustainable Northampton goals
and objectives.
Example A: SA Tomorrow Sustainability Plan
Project Description: KLA worked with the San Antonio Office of Sustainability to lead the development
of the SA Tomorrow Sustainability Plan Project, which included designing an integrated sustainability
planning process in line with the STAR Community Rating System, among other items.
Co-Benefits Focus: Co-benefits of the sustainability plan were represented by the City’s priority cross
cutting themes, which included Air Quality, Economic Vitality, Equity, Resilience, and Water Quality,
as demonstrated by the icons in the table below. See excerpt below from the SA Tomorrow
Sustainability Plan, highlighting the opportunities for co-benefits.
Figure 3. Sample section from the SA Tomorrow Sustainability Plan, illustrating the opportunities for cross cutting benefits
across strategies.
Example B: Philadelphia Housing Authority Resilience Assessments
Project Description: Linnean conducted vulnerability assessments and developed resilience reports
for forty-seven properties for the Philadelphia Housing Authority, as well as developed an
organizational-scale report to provide comprehensive solutions to increase the resilience of the
agency.
Co-benefits Focus: The project sits within a broader joint sustainability and resilience initiative
whereby the housing authority is pursuing new energy retrofits, physical needs assessments, and
healthy home audits. To improve the cost-efficiency of the broader initiative, Linnean identified where
and how particular resilience strategies simultaneously advanced the goals of the parallel programs.
This has helped the agency prioritize investments, as well as illustrate to relevant stakeholders that
the return on those investments is broad-reaching and multifaceted.
LINNEAN SOLUTIONS • KIM LUNDGREN ASSOCIATES, INC. • FUSS & O’NEILL, INC. PG. 7
Figure 4. Sample section from the Philadelphia Housing Authority Resilience Assessments, illustrating the opportunities for co-
benefits across initiatives.