Step 3: Set Your Community’s Visions and Goals

(a) Integrate community values with strategic planning and priorities through a public engagement process.

Continue engagement with community and utility leaders
Engage community stakeholders in developing goals and strategy identification and selection
Use a range of environmental, social, and economic (“Triple Bottom Line”) criteria to create a broad foundation/ basis and equity considerations for comparison of strategy development and analysis (Step 4)
Reference the Stakeholder Engagement Plan

(b) Clearly develop and articulate goals (both short and long term).

Reference the list of assets/ elements that may require immediate action identified in Step 2 and develop short term infrastructure and managerial goals accordingly
Engage in integrated planning by developing long term goals that align with regulatory requirements, and balance operational efficiency, cost savings, equity and resilience through triple bottom line benefits

Are your goals as equitable as they could be?

Compliance
- Consider how you’re approaching regulatory compliance and consider communities that are impacted by % flooding/polluted stormwater runoff that still may not be mitigated upon meeting regulatory requirements
Cost-effectiveness
- Consider “Triple Bottom Line” criteria – are you sacrificing social and environmental benefits (and for who?) for immediate economic relief?
Maintainability
- Consider where maintenance has historically been delayed
Reliability
- Consider where infrastructure is more likely to fail due to delayed maintenance
Accessibility
- Consider where and how easily residents are able to access streams (if recreation is feasible) and “greened streets,” often providing shade and other community benefits
Public health and Community Livability
- Consider neighborhoods that are built next to environmental hazards (ex: CSO outfall, other environmental justice areas)
Economic development
- Consider allocating funds to community members/organizations directly during the planning process, actual project implementation, and/or maintenance via the creation of “green jobs,” recognizing local community members as the experts and co-developers of the most sustainable solutions
Environmental Impact
- Consider health and diversity of natural, urban waterways

(d) Identify low hanging fruit in line with goals to achieve quick wins and build project momentum.

Conduct a cost benefit analysis
- In this case, the ratio should result in significant benefit > cost
  - The cost benefit analysis should include a multiple benefits (“Triple Bottom Line”) approach to capture the full scope of GSI etc.