Las Vegas/Henderson Resilience Strategy

Betting on a resilient future: Southern Nevada
Design & Resiliency Team (January 2018)

Design & Resiliency Team (DART)
• Wayne Feiden, FAICP, Director of Planning & Sustainability, Northampton, MA
• Leah Bamberger, Sustainability Director, Providence, RI
• Theresa Pinto, AICP, CFM, PMP, Project Manager, Flood Control, Maricopa County, AZ
• Robin Seidel, LEED ND AP, Staff Professional, Kleinfelder, Cambridge, MA
• Soren Simonsen, FAIA, AICP, Executive Director Jordan River Commission
• Joel Mills, Senior Director, Communities by Design, AIA
• Erin Simmons, Senior Director, Design Assistance, AIA
• Savannah Tarpey, Sustainability Specialist, Communities by Design, AIA

Hedging Your Bets
DEFINITION:
To protect yourself against loss by supporting more
than one possible result or both sides in a
competition.
Hedging their bets by creating a redundant and robust
resiliency plan in the Valley.

Vulnerability Analysis: A work in progress
2000
96%
2017
38%
Drought (Lake Mead)
75
85
95
105
115
6/1/2013 7/1/2013 8/1/2013 9/1/2013
Extreme Heat (2013 observed)
Extreme Storms
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
6/1/2013 7/1/2013 8/1/2013 9/1/2013
Summer 2013 Precipitation (inches)

Checking off the actions: A leader
Water Use & Supplies Storms & Storm Water
Complete Streets
Heat Island & Trees
Alternative Modes

“Seven Essential Capacities for Urban Adaptation”
•Scientific Foundation of risks and vulnerabilities of populations
and built, natural, and economic assets.
•Communication with civic leaders and community to build and
sustain a sense of urgency.
•Social and Economic Equitable Adaptation
•Inclusive Community Engagement, especially of vulnerable and
underrepresented populations.
•Intergovernmental Alignment across local, regional, state, and
federal levels.
•Technical Design to implement adaptation, as well as performance
metrics.
•Financial Resources public and private funds for infrastructure and
other adaptation actions.

Build a better resiliency framework: system thinking
flooding
water
land use
vulnerable populations
heat
multi-modal

Build a better framework in every plan
Resiliency
co-benefits in
ALL plans
Resiliency in
ALL new plans

Build a better framework: resiliency includes:
land use, smart growth, place-making, and
the built-environment

Build a better framework: STAR Communities
1. Community Conversation
2. Identify co-benefits
3. STAR as a framework

Build a better framework: Capital Improvement Plan
Boulder CIP Guiding Principal #2:
Capital Improvements should achieve
Sustainability Framework Goals

Build a better framework: Stormwater Utility
•User pays principal
• By use or by impervious area
• Can provide credits for mitigation
•Nevada utilities: Douglas Co., Carson City & Sparks
•Revenue Neutral: Offsetting fee or tax reduction;
OR
•NOT Revenue Neutral: Funds for resiliency

Build a better resiliency framework: All Scales
State
Region
City
Neighborhood
Businesses
Residents (it’s the people!)

Regional Design & Cooperation
5 Areas of Risk and Focus
• Air Quality
• Mobility
• Urban Design and Community Identity
• Poverty & Homelessness
• Litter & Graffiti

Air Quality
Photo Source: https://impact-nv.org/sector/air-quality/

Air Quality
Some things you can’t
control

Air Quality
But many you can!

Air Quality
“Thrive” rather than
“survive” approach
Stretch for higher goals
and metrics than
minimal attainment
Anticipate future
growth

Air Quality
Education, outreach and promotion

Mobility
Photo Source: https://www.bcycle.com/news/2016/10/04/bright-lights-bike-city-rtc-bike-share-launches-in-downtown-las-vegas

Mobility

Mobility
Continue bicycle system development
• Inexpensive way to move people
• Not everyone uses it, but all benefit
• Coordinate better regionally for
connectivity and consistency
Continue transit improvements
• Commendable bus system —
continue and strengthen
• Implement light rail system locally and
regionally
Continue driverless vehicle innovation

Mobility
Complete streets
should include traffic
taming – not just
adding facilities

Mobility
Transportation and land
use connection — major
corridors and centers
should be mixed use
• Improves efficient use of
infrastructure
• Promotes walking and
cycling
• Expands housing & live-
work choices

Urban Design
Photo Source: http://www.hotelsrate.org/urban-design-lighting/

Urban Design
Urban Heat Island Challenge : Enormous asphalt inventory
Right: Las Vegas
Below: Henderson

Urban Design
Urban Heat Island Mitigation
Replace asphalt with:
• infill development
• tree canopy
• shading with solar energy

Clark
County
15
515
95
215
McCARRAN
INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT
Henderson
Executive
Airport
SI15NI15
EI215
W I 215
UPRR
US 93
SLASVEGASBLVD
SEASTERNAV
US95
DEANMARTINDR
UPRR
HEND
SPUR
LAKESHOREDR
E TROPICANA AV
S CC 215 N CC 215
E FLAMINGO RD
SRAINBOWBLVD
E RUSSELL RD
SJONESBLVD
E SUNSET RD
ST ROSE
PKW
Y
E LAKE MEAD PKWY
BERMUDARD
BOULDER
HW
Y
W Cactus Ave
WI GWAM P KWY
SPECOSRD
E PEBBLE RD
SR
41
W HORIZON
RIDGE
PKWY
W RUSSELL RD
SDECATURBLVD
W WARM SPRINGS RD
W FLAMINGO RD
W TROPICANA AV
BLU
E DIAMOND RD
W SUNSET RD
S
BOULDER
HW
Y
SUS95
N US 95
NGIBSONRD
NSTEPHANIEST
E SERENE AV
W DESERT INN RD
SNELLISBLVD
Volunteer Blvd
E WINDMILL LA
N
BOULDER
HW
Y
SPRING MOUNTAIN RD
COLLEGEDR
E Cactus Ave
PASEO VERDE PKWY
GREENWAYRD
E WARM SPRINGS RD
ANT
H
EM
PKW
Y
NPECOSRD
BUCHANANBLVD
MOUNTAINVISTAST
SMARYLANDPKWY
PARADISERD
E DESERT INN RD
E HORIZON DR
SDecaturBlvd
E NEVADA HWY
NRACETRACKRD
NMAJOR
AV
WINDMILL PKWY
PEBBLE RD
E SILVERADO RANCH BLVD
SRACETRACKRD
WPACIFICAVE
FOOTHILLSDR
SUNRIDGE HEIGHTS PKWY
SRainbowBlvd
EQUESTRIAN DR
SUN CITY ANTHEM
DR
E Russell Rd
S
W
AT
ER S T
SVALLEYVIEWBLVD
EHORIZONRIDGEPKWY
BermudaRd
SGREENVALLEYPKWY
W WINDMILL LA
NE
VAD
A HW
Y
RAMPW
I215 N
US95
W SILVERADO RANCH BLVD
SGIBSONRD
SERENE AV
SLAMBBLVD
SUS95
W WINDMILL LA
W WARM SPRINGS RD
SDecaturBlvd
Planned Land Use Plan for the City of Henderson, Nevada
This map is offered as a general reference guide only.
Neither warranty of accuracy is intended nor should
any be assumed. Land Use data per City Council: 12/19/2017.
//gis/workareas/landuse/mxds/all_landuse_11x17
Community Development & Services
Geographic Information Services
(702) 267 - 1500
December 2017
0 1 20.5
Miles
95
15
215
515
WEST HENDERSON PLAN
COLLEGE AREA
DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT
SERENE COUNTRY ESTATES
Planned Land Use Types
DRL [Downtown Low Density Residential]
DRM [Downtown Medium Density Residential]
DRH [Downtown High Density Residential]
DHC [Downtown Highway Commercial]
DCC [Downtown Core Commercial]
DP [Downtown Public/Semi-public]
RNP-1 [Rural Neighborhood Preservation 1 du/ac]
RNP-2 [Rural Neighborhood Preservation 2 du/ac]
VLDR [Very Low Density Residential]
LDR [Low Density Residential]
MDR [Medium Density Residential]
HDR [High Density Residential]
NT1 [Neighborhood Type 1]
PC [Planned Community]
PS [Public/Semi-public]
NC [Neighborhood Commercial]
COM [Commercial]
HC [Highway Commercial]
EC [Employment Center]
TC [Tourist Commercial]
UC [Urban Center]
MU [Gateway Mixed Use]
TOD [Transit Oriented Development]
CO/RD [Office/Research & Development]
LBI [Light Business/Industry]
IND [Industrial in College Plan]
BI [Business/Industry]
COUNTY [Clark County Designated Landuse]
Land Use Plan Boundaries
15% Slope
Sensitive Ridgline
Henderson City Limits
LAND USE PLANS
Reference individual
Land Use Plan for details
Urban Design
Placemaking
• “Complete neighborhood”
corridors & centers
• Suburban retrofit

Urban Design
Regional design literacy
• Passive strategies that respond
to climate
• Start small, maybe in lower scale
suburban areas — institutions
can follow

Poverty & Homelessness
Photo Source: https://www.reviewjournal.com/life/volunteers-hit-the-streets-for-homeless-count-in-las-vegas-photos/

Explore the Collective
Impact model for
homeless resources
Individual/
Family
Community
Engagement
Positive
Social
Support
Education
Employment
HousingSafety
Legal Rights
Wellness
Outreach Assessment
Behavioral Health
Nurse Care Manager
Mobile Medical
Classes
Legal Clinic
I & R
Staff Supervision
Routine
Rules Housing Case
Management
Job Search
Application/
Resume
Clothing
Interview
Prep
GED Prep
Life Skills Classes
Transportation to
Schooling
Volunteer
Activities
Tours
Substance
Abuse Detox &
TX
Mental Health TX
Counseling at Clinic
Medical Services
Medical Home
Legal Services
Protective
Orders
Community
Service
Pro Bono Work
DV
Counseling
Child Care
Child Care
Sleeping Areas
Legal Services
Transitional
Housing
Market
Rentals
Rapid
Rehousing
Subsidized
Housing
On-the-Job
Training
Employment
Services
Public School
Homeless
Liaison
Colleges &
Universities
Children s
Club
Community
Recovery
Supports
Individual/
Family
Counseling
Spiritual
Connections
Community
Presentations
Best Practice Interventions
Coordinated Entry
Motivational Interviewing
Trauma-Informed Care
Case Management and
Other Individual Support
Diversion from Shelter
Housing First
Low Barrier Shelter
24/7 Staff Supervision
Individual
Impact Area
At the Resource
Center
In the Community
Resource Center Model
Neighborhood
Solutions
Groups
Volunteers
Head Start
Computer
Access
Employment
Support
Housing
Assessment
Restrooms/
Hygiene
Housing
Locator
Housing
Retention
Case
Management
PSH
Lethality
Assessment
Crisis
Management
Security
Criminal
Justice
DV Services
DV/Sexual
Assault
Advocacy
Suicide Assessment
12 Step
Programs
Volunteer
Based
Activities
Peer Support
Job Listings
VA
August 8, 2017
Sexual
Assault
Services
Public
Schools
Criminal Justice
DV/SA Services
DV/SA Counseling
Nutrition Classes
Food Banks/
Community
Dining
Fundraising

Principles of Transformation -
Move from Enablement to
Engagement
http://www.marbutconsulting.com
http://www.havenforhope.org

Litter & Graffiti
Photo Source: https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/nevada/plastic-bags-could-be-on-their-way-out-in-nevada-poll/

Litter & Graffiti
Community pride & beautification
campaign
• Resurrect/expand/rebrand “Don’t
Trash Nevada” — doesn’t appear to
have had staying power
• “Don’t Mess With Texas” — has
grown over 30 years with unique
marketing & activities
• “Toss No Mas” — has 4 decades of
staying power — evolved through
local movements in many New
Mexico communities, with
statewide support

Litter & Graffiti
“Bag The Bag” campaign
• Reduce/eliminate single-
use shopping bag – focus
on codifying past
state/regional efforts
• Benefits extend to landfill,
storm events, and water
quality

Litter & Graffiti
Graffiti & Folk Art
• Use city as a canvas
• Identity & Expression
• Messaging

Summary
• Establish stronger regional cooperative coalition
• Build on existing relationships
• Involve all regional and local agencies and stakeholders
• Adopt more comprehensive view and interrelationships, breaking down
“silos” of information, analysis and coordination
• Collaborate regionally from the “bottom up” as much or more than
“top down”
• Engage citizenry with government – take messages “to the people” to
strengthen connections where necessary

Engagement and Equity
• Insert Leah’s slides here
Las Vegas Henderson

Why is an engaged & empowered community
important?
1. Connect people to their impact

2. Connect people to each other
“When you look at most disasters, you talk
about first responders—lights and sirens—
that’s b.s. The first responders are the
neighbors. Bystanders. People that are
willing to act.” – Craig Fugate, Former FEMA
Director
“The death toll was the result of distinct dangers in
Chicago’s social environment: an increased population
of isolated seniors who live and die alone; the culture
of fear that makes city dwellers reluctant to trust their
neighbors or, sometimes, even leave their houses; the
abandonment of neighborhoods by businesses, service
providers, and most residents, leaving only the most
precarious behind; and the isolation and insecurity of
single room occupancy dwellings and other last-ditch
low-income housing. ” – Eric Klinenberg

3. Build partnerships and support for bold
action and accountability
Achieving long-term goals and tackling big challenges require
systems of accountability

Community Engagement Continuum
Outreach
• Some Community
Involvement
• Communication flows
from one to the other,
to inform
• Provides community
with information.
• Entities coexist.
• Outcomes: Optimally,
establishes
communication
channels and channels
for outreach.
Consult
• More Community
Involvement
to the community and
then back, answer
seeking
• Gets information or
feedback from the
community.
• Entities share
information.
• Outcomes: Develops
connections.
Involve
• Better Community
Involvement
both ways,
participatory
form of communication
Involves more
participation with
community on issues.
• Entities cooperate with
each other.
• Outcomes: Visibility of
partnership
established
with increased
cooperation.
Collaborate
• Community
Involvement
• Communication flow is
bidirectional
• Forms partnerships
with community on
each aspect of project
from development to
solution.
• Entities form
bidirectional
communication
channels.
• Outcomes: Partnership
building, trust building.
Shared leadership
• Strong Bidirectional
Relationship
• Final decision making is
at community level.
• Entities have formed
strong partnership
structures.
• Outcomes: Broader
health outcomes
affecting broader
community.
Strong

Recommendations
1. Build relationships and trust
2. Support community capacity building
3. Create partnerships to set goals and priorities
4. Data transparency and reporting
5. Community-wide
messaging

• Be accessible: go to where the
people are
• Conduct a power analysis: Center
those who are most impacted
and have the least power
• Listen to community concerns:
don’t start with solutions
• Acknowledge community
expertise and experiences
• Share decision-making power
Building relationships and trust “Change happens at
the pace of trust”
Power Analysis Example

Support community organizing & bring
people together
• Provide resources (funding, trainings, space,
food, etc.)
• Be a convener
• Recognize and celebrate leadership

Create partnerships and shared ownership of
goals and outcomes
• Community Resilience
Committee Tasked with:
• Goal and strategy development
• Getting input from public
• Building community-wide support
• Monitoring implementation
• Group should be reflective and
representative of the community
• Support participation as needed
and ensure equitable access

Increase transparency
• Resilience dashboard
• Annual reporting & updates
• Voluntary reporting program

Voluntary reporting & disclosure
programs
You can’t manage what
you don’t measure

Stormwater & Flooding:
Clark County Regional
Flood Control District
• Comprehensive CIP Program
• Capacity sufficient for future?
• Use less concrete & hard structural surfaces
o Use natural washes for conveyance
o Mimic natural washes
• Incorporate multi-use opportunities such as
trails, parks, or other uses
• Public outreach important to help reduce risk
o Perceptions & inconsistencies are challenging
o Identify high risk areas and prepare maps
 30% of flooding occurs outside of mapped
floodplains
o Recommend that residents purchase flood
insurance outside of mapped floodplains

Stormwater and Flooding:
Hazard Mitigation
Conveyance
• Preserve existing washes/arroyos
• Construct earthen channels vs. concrete
o Savings for construction costs for 200 linear miles could be
$300 million.
• Concrete low flow channels with earthen banks
• Benefits
o Increased property values
o Provides multi-use opportunities and environmental benefits
o Less concrete, more infiltration & cooler temps

Conveyance Channel: Multi-Use
Opportunities & Benefits

Hazard Mitigation
Detention
• Design for multi-use opportunities
• Require new development to store
increased runoff volume
o Pre-development = post-development
o Gives them incentive to reduce runoff
through Green Infrastructure/LID
• Implementation Ideas
o Developers donate ROW
o Lot premiums
o Open space credits
o Density transfers

Detention Basin with Multi-use

Detention Basins with Multi-use

Low Impact Development
Benefits
• Reduces local flooding
• Reduces stormwater
pollutants
• Supports vegetation growth
passive irrigation
• Groundwater recharge
• Improves aesthetics
• Provides habitat
• Shade & cooling
• Multi-uses (e.g., Traffic
Calming)
Example: FCDMC study
If 10% existing residents implemented LID in front yard,
20% reduction in 100-year peak
If 50% residents did this, 60% reduction in 100-year peak

Stormwater and Flooding
Low Impact Development
• Require new development
to include Green
Infrastructure /LID
• Encourage homeowners to
retrofit yards (e.g. “cash to
grass” type incentive)
• Involve residents in
implementation
• Cost savings for
downstream infrastructure
o Detention basins $3/cf
o 1 sq. mile of development
could save $5M if 10% install
rain gardens*
Before LID Improvements
After LID Improvements
Phoenix Example
Building & Impervious Areas
Rainfall Volume = 6500 gallons
Catchment Capacity = 7600
gallons
Soil types
Based on a 40 square foot rain garden with 1 to 2
native trees, organic mulch, native shrubs, and
bunch grasses
• 10% houses capturing 100 gallons ; LID could
save $5M in detention

Stormwater and Flooding
Green Infrastructure/LID
New Technologies & Ideas
Pave Drain
Infiltration Rate: 1640”/hour
Permeable Paver: 3.2”/hour
Pervious Concrete: 2.4”/hour

Trees & Vegetation
• Plant Desert Adapted Trees
o Basin Sites, Parks, and Other
• LV Tree inventory estimate $31/tree
• Start a Tall Pot Plant Nursery
o Plants grown in a long tube to
promote establishing tap root
o No supplemental irrigation needed
o Over 80% survivability
o Native species such as Desert Willow,
Mesquite, Palo Verde, and Ironwood
o Incorporate into Green
Infrastructure/LID areas, streetscapes,
etc.
Blue Palo Verde after 3 Yrs

Flood Warning Systems
• Relatively inexpensive
• Components
o Stream/flow gage upstream
o Warning lights &/or siren
• Install in high hazards areas that have
high use
o Traffic counts
o Past fatalities
o Known areas used by homeless
populations
o Recreation areas and high pedestrian use
• Public outreach component

Stormwater and Flooding: Summary
• Use natural conveyance or earthen channels
• Require post development flows= pre development flows
• Incorporate and encourage Low Impact Development
• Plant trees that require little or no supplemental irrigation
• Install flood warning systems

BRUCE ST GREEN &
COMPLETE STREETS
PROJECT
Investment in Social Resiliency
• Using NextDoor and other social media to
update residents on extreme events.
• Concerted effort to address social and
economic resilience in a City affected by
historic and persistent divisions of race
and class. Ex. Boston, Glasgow
• Instilling public investment in community
spaces – “Home Turf Engagement”

“Integrative landscapes
heal the urban fabric”
-Sasaki

IT’S REALLY HOT
POPULATION: 562,280* POPULATION: 2,036,358*
* POPULATION OF CLARK COUNTY

COOL CORRIDORS
Material Guidelines
• Using Solar Reflectivity Index for
limiting exterior material
• Reduces surface temperature and
Urban Heat Island effect.
• Use EPA’s “Reducing Urban Heat
Islands: Compendium of Strategies to
inform guidelines
Not just
“Cool Roofs”

COOL CORRIDORS
Physical Structures for Shade
• Improving walkability
• Opportunity for placemaking
• Reduce dependence on trees for
shading = REDUCING WATER
CONSUMPTION

RESILIENT
PROPOSED
STREETSCAPE

A PARTIAL
FRAMEWORK
EXISTS
• Addendum to Masterplan
integrating resilience
• Identity that includes social
resilience
• Be accountable and set
performance targets

Making it Happen: A 90 day quick start
Sample Projects Opportunities & Next Steps
Planning (e.g., vulnerability & adaptation
plan, Capital Improvements Programs)
Commit to adding resilience to ALL planning
Regional Transportation Commission’s
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
Convene RTP/MPO to start discussing more
resiliency items to TIP scoring
Build the resiliency community conversation Partner with community organizations to
host community conversation workshop
Plant nursery Start a nursery for more public trees
Complete Streets Guidelines, master plans,
and unified development ordinances
Identify stronger resiliency details to add to
design standards
Developer/residents stakeholder focus group Explore improved stormwater options
Low Impact Development demonstrations Build LID demonstrations
Staff work programs and available staff Commit the necessary staff time to focus on
resiliency on ALL staff work plan items

Betting on a resilient future: Southern Nevada
www.DesignResiliency.org
• Build a framework to bring resiliency into all decisions
• Think and act as a regional community
• People matter; Engagement and connectivity
• Capitalize on stormwater opportunities at their source
• Resiliency is part of every design

Las Vegas/Henderson Resilience Strategy

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Editor's Notes