This paper, written by Carleton student Anderson Murphy for Kim Smith’s 2021 Environmental Law & Policy seminar, recommends introducing market based pricing for parking in Northfield’s downtown as well as elimination of minimum parking requirements throughout the City of Northfield. The paper evaluates the various benefits of paid parking by exploring the relevant academic literature, analyzing the implementation of paid parking and elimination of minimum parking requirements in Northfield, while highlighting the various benefits sound parking policy will bestow upon citizens.
Category Archives: Focus: Transportation
The Future of Downtown Parking in Northfield
This paper, written by Carleton student Libby Nachreiner for Kim Smith’s 2021 Environmental Law & Policy seminar, outlines a 20-year plan to build toward a better, more sustainable transportation system that works for all by enhancing the existing transportation options, adopting market-based pricing for downtown parking, and being intentional about the allocation of generated revenue, maintenance, and assessment of new transportation policies and programs.
ENTS 310 – Topics in Sustainable Law and Policy
ENTS 310: Topics in Environmental Law and Policy
This seminar will examine topical issues in domestic and international environmental law and policy. We will aim to understand how environmental laws work to achieve policy objectives, with attention also to debates about the role of markets and community-based environmental management. The specific topics may change from year to year, but may include approaches to sustainable development, sustainable agriculture, protection of endangered species, and conservation and management of water resources. This course has no prerequisites and is suitable for students of environmental studies, political science, international relations and political economy.
6 credit; Social Inquiry; offered Spring 2018 · John C Dernbach
ENTS 248 – Sustainable Development
Sustainable development is the internationally and nationally recognized framework for reconciling development (economic development, social wellbeing, and peace and security) with environmental protection and restoration. This course will examine the historical origin of this framework, its meaning, the enormous environmental and poverty challenges that sustainable development is intended to overcome, and its actual and potential effect at the international, national, state, and local levels. It is designed to give students the ability to recognize and address sustainable development issues in any context. There are no prerequisites.
6 credit; Social Inquiry; offered Spring 2018 · John C Dernbach
Northfield Comprehensive Plan
MN Statute 462.353 subd. I authorizes the city to adopt a comprehensive plan setting out objectives for the physical, social, and economic development of the community. This plan is due to be updated in 2018.
Regional Economic Models, Inc. (REMI) Report
Citizens Climate Education Corporation (CCEC) and Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL) contracted a third party, Regional Economic Modeling, Inc. (REMI) to do a nation-wide macroeconomic study on the impact of its Fee and Dividend (F&D) policy. (REMI) examined the impact of a steadily-rising fee on carbon-based fuels with revenue from that fee returned to households in equal shares. With the fee starting at $10 per ton of carbon dioxide and rising $10 per ton each year, the major findings were:
◾In 20 years, CO2 emissions would be reduced 50 percent below 1990 levels.
◾Because of the economic stimulus of recycling carbon fee revenue back to households, in 20 years, 2.8 million jobs would be added to the American economy.
◾Improved air quality would result in 230,000 premature deaths avoided over 20 years.
There is no economic argument against Fee and Dividend. It creates jobs, grows the economy, saves lives, and makes Americans richer.
SERC InTeGrate Project
The Science Education Resource Center (SERC) works to improve education through projects that support educators. InTeGrate is a specific SERC project funded by a 5-year STEP Center grant from the National Science Foundation. The program supports the teaching of geoscience in the context of societal issues both within geoscience courses and across the undergraduate curriculum. Our goal is to develop a citizenry and workforce that can address environmental and resource issues facing our society.
Northfield Energy Task Force
The Northfield Energy Task Force (NETF) was created by resolution of the Northfield City Council in May 2007 to respond to challenges presented by reliance on fossil fuels and climate change. Their report, “With Hope: A Resilient Community” was presented to the City Council in May 2008, but follow-up was limited due to other political priorities at the time.
Contact: George Kinney, geokinney@gmail.com
St. Olaf Green Bike Project
The St. Olaf Green Bike Mechanics team is proud to present the new Rolvaag Checkout Fleet for use by anyone in the St. Olaf community as part of the campus transportation infrastructure. These 19 bikes are available for speeding you to class on time, down to Northfield and Carleton or further out of town for fun and exercise.
Northfield Complete Streets Policy
Adopted 2012 and recognized as one of the nation’s strongest, Northfield’s Complete Streets Policy reconnects land use and transportation needs through context-sensitive transportation planning.