1. Briefing to PWD re: LCoP report and GSI Partners Strategic Plan 1. February 26, Who PWD leaders, including Water Commissioner,

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2 1. Briefing to PWD re: LCoP report and GSI Partners Strategic Plan 1. February 26, Who PWD leaders, including Water Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, and Chief of Staff 2. 4 of the 7 LCoP participants and GSI Partners 1. Melissa Muroff of Roofmeadow 2. Robert Cheetham of Azavea 3. Lou Rodriguez of Rodriguez Consulting 4. Alden Zove of Cedar Run Landscapes 3. SBN s Executive Director, Jamie Gauthier, and GSI Partners Project Manager, Anna Shipp 3. What: 1. Local Community of Practice (LCoP) recommendations 1. LCoP is a group of 7 local business owners and organizational leaders who share a passion for the success of the GSI industry. They were convened last year a five-month intensive program intended to develop and strengthen individual and group leadership skills and to write a report commissioned by PWD on barriers for small businesses re: connecting with PWD s investments in GSI. The group continues to meet monthly. 2. LCoP briefed PWD on their experience and their recommendations to improve the opportunities/remove barriers for small businesses to connect with public and private GSI investment 3. Full report can be found on SBN s website: Feb%2024(2).pdf 2. GSI Partners Strategic Plan 1. Shared our process of gathering stakeholder input (35 interviews, focus group, visioning meeting, etc.) 2. How that input directly informed our 5 Strategic Goals 3. Our strategy for achieving those goals, including advocacy and committee work 4. Strategic Plan can be found on SBN s website: March(1).pdf 4. 3 Major Takeaways 1. A lot of alignment b/t what we heard re: business interests/wants/needs and what PWD is currently working on a good thing! 2. The fact that businesses didn t seem to know what PWD was working on highlighted need for more communication b/t PWD and business community about what PWD is working on/thinking about 1. GSI Partners are that avenue for communication, exemplified by PWD s presentation today 3. Mutual desire b/t PWD and SBN s GSI Partners to continue to collaborate to achieve shared vision of maximized TBL benefits of GCCW 2

3 1. Follow up 1. PWD asked us to narrow down our recommendations into priority areas 2. We shared the following 5 priorities based on the following criteria: 1. PWD is our audience for these priorities 2. What recommendations PWD has direct control over 3. What is currently happening that we want to inform, and/or 4. What is not yet happening, but would shift the market 3. The following are the 5 recommendations from the LCoP report we prioritized for PWD: 1. Strengthen the guidance manual regarding vegetation to effectively require green when infiltration is possible. 2. Expand performance-based metrics to better value the different classes of BMP s. 3. Improve the efficiency of Plan Review s Fast Track for green design. 1. Improve communication b/c conceptual and technical review staff. 2. Develop a concierge service so that any given project has one point person throughout its lifetime in plan review. 4. Increase Plan Review s flexibility for approval of innovative design solutions through the creation of an Innovation Track. 5. Continue to support project aggregation. 2. Next Steps: 1. GSI Partners will continue our committee work towards these goals and others outlined in our strategic plan and the LCoP report. 2. GSI Partners will continue conversations with PWD re progress towards these recommendations. 3

4 Committees all launched the beginning of March and have each now met twice. All 4 committees welcome new members. 1.Business Engagement Committee 1. Current work 1. Defining GSI Partner 2. Gets to SBN Membership which I ll get back to 2. Next 1. Developing strategies for growth and diversity 2. Developing ideas for valuable content, activities, and events 2.Advocacy Committee 1. Current work 1. Developing plan to get members feedback to share with PWD re: the current big news re: postponement of 167 and the 3 newly proposed design changes /5k sq ft postponement til after July Design changes proposed for July Increasing the Water Quality Volume (WQv) requirement from 1" to 1.5 to meet runoff capture and pollutant removal requirements. 2. Lowering the WQv slow release rate from 0.24 cfs/acre to 0.05 cfs/acre Directly Connected Impervious Area. 3. Requiring that 100% of non infiltrated WQv pass through soil vegetation or similar filter device to meet pollutant removal requirements. 2. Keep ear to the ground for opportunity to comment. 3. Related, we have asked that the GSI Partners be leveraged as part of outreach efforts of PWD s Stormwater Regulatory Consultant Services team who has been tasked with updating the Guidance Manual and Plan Review among other things. 1. PWD has expressed their intention to engage the GSI Partners. 2. [See Christine Knapp s slide deck for more about the scope of work of this team and their intention to engage with GSI Partners.] 3.Plan Review Committee 1. Current work 1. Developing plan to unpack communication and procedural challenges in Plan Review in order to provide more detailed feedback to PWD regarding recommendations for improvement 2. Great opportunity for those who have submit plans to comment, so keep ear to the ground for opportunity 3. PWD s Stormwater Regulatory Consultant Services team will work on Plan Review as well. 1. [See Christine Knapp s slide deck for more about the scope of work of this team and their intention to engage with GSI Partners.] 4.Small Business Innovation Grant Committee (SBIG) 1. Context: Beyond desire we heard for better procedural support for in-the-ground innovation, we heard a desire for more financial support for innovation we responded with the creation of the SBIG committee 2. Current work 1. Developing plan to assess design needs of development community and property owners to help inform the selection of a funding model, and ensure research and innovation supports current needs 3. The GSI Partners primary funder, the Surdna Foundation, allowed us to reallocate $25k to seed the grant program 4

5 SBN went in with PHS on a proposal to PWD to manage their Residential Stormwater Management program (Rain Check and Rain Barrels), and are proud to announce our proposal was accepted! Moving forward, PHS will be responsible for the bulk of the contract management, including customer service, workshops, scheduling Rain Check assessments and installations with homeowners and sub-contractors, and coordinating the fabrication and distribution of rain barrels. SBN, through our GSI Partners initiative, will be responsible for identifying and vetting possible Rain Check assessors and installers; coordinating training sessions between PWD and sub-contractors; and ensuring sub-contractors are satisfied with their experience with the program. We expect the executed contract mid-late summer, at which point we ll have additional information to share. 5

6 Context: SBN s single webpage for the GSI Partners is very limiting, so we decided to build out a separate fully functioning and robust website for the GSI Partners. Humid Creative Agency, the same local business and SBN member who designed the GSI Partners logo and newsletter, is building out and designing our website. Features of the website will include: 1. Up-to-date events calendar 2. Searchable directory of all GSI Partners 3. Up-to-date and searchable directory of relevant courses, conferences, etc. 4. A Resource page, which will include relevant reports, links, and information on the GSI Partners continuing education grants A. Become a member to be included in the directory and become eligible for continuing education grants. B. Become a sponsor and have your logo prominently placed on every page. 6

7 Context: A. GSI Partners is an initiative of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (SBN). B. We have been talking for a while about financial sustainability of GSI Partners and the need for a more formal commitment for many reasons: 1. Desire for GSI Partners to live beyond the current limited term of the Surdna grant (October 2015) 2. Desire for GSI Partners to diversify revenue stream to not be 100% dependent on grant funding 3. Need to better ID members so we can 1. Better understand the specific needs of our members 2. Better advocate on your behalf 4. Providing the high level value and opportunities we have been providing, and will continue to provide, takes time and resources C. SO, in a mutual agreement between SBN and GSI Partners committee, we decided to link the need for financial sustainability with the need for a more formal commitment, and ask that businesses who want to be GSI Partners become SBN members at Level 2 or above ($350/business/year). With that commitment, comes many benefits: 1. SBN membership has its own robust set of benefits for locally owned and privately held businesses: Including local- and small-business advocacy and policy work: (See our Taking Care of Business Report) 2. GSI Partners offers significant added value to SBN s benefits, many of which I hope you have experienced in one way or another already, and which will only get better as we grow: 1. Staying informed of relevant policy, regulatory, and procedural changes as well as other industry-related news 2. Having the opportunity to provide your feedback/comment to voice your support, or to affect change 3. Opportunities throughout the year to network with other GSI-related firms, developers, property owners, etc. 4. Being part of the primary resource for developers, property owners, and prime contractors who need to find qualified local firms to meet stormwater regulations (directory, staff) 5. Access to continuing education grants 1. GSI Partners covers 75% of the cost of coursework, conferences, etc. that facilitate professional development opportunities for you and your employee 2. GSI Partners are eligible for up to $5000/year/business 3. Rolling application SBN offers sponsorship opportunities for firms not eligible for SBN membership, but still in support of our work/initiative. To become a GSI Partner, sign up for Level 2 or above (or sponsorship) on SBN s website: Additionally, GSI Partners Project Manager, Anna Shipp, will be reaching out personally over the next few weeks. 7

8 To conclude: We want your commitment and involvement. Your financial commitment allows the GSI Partners to have a bigger, more active, and more established and recognized voice. Your physical commitment through your meeting attendance, participation in surveys and calls to action, leveraging of the continuing education grants, referrals, social sharing and more allows us to know more about you and your business so we can continue to provide you services and value and advocate on your behalf. The combination will ensure the continued growth and success of the GSI Partners and our shared goals of advancing the local industry, innovation, and local businesses. 8

9 Announcements: Save the date for the next Quarterly Meeting. We ll provide our standard GSI Partners quarterly update, have time for networking, and have timely information about PWD s BMP Operation and Maintenance Manual, which is expected to be released sometime in June. Members keep your ear to the ground for opportunities to comment on the Act 167 postponement and the 3 new proposed design changes, as well as on specific recommendations regarding Plan Review and the Green Track. 9

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