Changes to Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Recycling Service – Lynchburg, VA (.gov)

 

City of Lynchburg Departmental Report: Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

This report outlines the functions of the City of Lynchburg’s departments and their contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on building inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable communities.

Governance, Justice, and Strong Institutions (SDG 16)

Several departments are fundamental to upholding SDG 16, which promotes peaceful and inclusive societies, provides access to justice for all, and builds effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

• Circuit Court: As the trial court with the broadest powers in Virginia, it is a cornerstone of access to justice, handling serious criminal cases, civil matters, and family law, thereby ensuring the rule of law.
• City Attorney: Provides essential legal services to the City Council, City Manager, and other municipal agencies, ensuring that government operations are legally sound and accountable.
• City Manager & City Council: This council-manager system combines elected political leadership with professional management, creating an effective and accountable governance structure crucial for institutional integrity.
• Commonwealth’s Attorney: The office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney is central to the justice system, prosecuting criminal cases and contributing to public safety and order.
• Sheriff: The Sheriff’s Office ensures community safety and the effective functioning of the justice system through competent and efficient service delivery.
• Registrar: By managing election information and voter registration, the Registrar’s office ensures inclusive and participatory decision-making, a key target of SDG 16.

Economic Growth, Infrastructure, and Sustainable Communities (SDG 8, 9, 11)

These departments focus on promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, building resilient infrastructure, and making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

1. Economic Development: Actively works to foster a vibrant local economy, aligning with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by attracting investment and supporting business growth.
2. Airport: The Lynchburg Regional Airport serves as a critical piece of infrastructure (SDG 9), connecting the region to national and global networks and facilitating economic activity.
3. Community Development: Coordinates construction, code compliance, and revitalization efforts, directly contributing to SDG 11 by improving urban planning and creating sustainable living environments.
4. Public Works: Maintains essential city infrastructure, ensuring the smooth operation of daily life and commerce, which is foundational to both SDG 9 and SDG 11.
5. Parking Management: Manages public parking facilities, which is a key component of urban infrastructure supporting accessible and sustainable city planning (SDG 11).
6. Tourism: Promotes Lynchburg as a destination, which supports local economies and creates jobs, contributing to SDG 8 by fostering sustainable tourism.

Public Health, Safety, and Community Well-being (SDG 3, 4, 10, 11)

A range of services is dedicated to ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all residents, addressing goals related to good health, quality education, reduced inequalities, and safe communities.

• Police Department: Partners with the community to protect citizens, directly contributing to creating safe and secure urban environments as outlined in SDG 11 and SDG 16.
• Fire Department: Provides fire suppression, emergency medical services, and rescue operations, safeguarding public health and safety (SDG 3 and SDG 11).
• Emergency Communications Center: Serves as the central point of contact for emergency services, ensuring rapid and effective response to threats to public safety and health.
• Human Services: Combines social and juvenile services to support vulnerable populations, directly addressing SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and promoting social inclusion.
• Juvenile Services: Provides specialized services for youth, including detention and group home facilities, contributing to a just and supportive system for young people.
• Parks & Recreation: Maintains parks and offers recreational activities that promote physical and mental health (SDG 3) and provide inclusive public spaces for all (SDG 11).
• Library & Museum System: These institutions provide access to information, education, and cultural heritage, supporting SDG 4 (Quality Education) and fostering an inclusive, educated community.
• Communications & Public Engagement: Ensures residents are informed about government services, promoting transparency and civic engagement, which strengthens community bonds (SDG 11).

Fiscal Responsibility and Resource Management (SDG 6, 12)

These departments manage the city’s financial, natural, and technological resources, ensuring sustainable management and efficient administration that supports all other municipal functions.

1. Water Resources: Ensures a reliable supply of quality drinking water and sewer service, directly fulfilling the objectives of SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).
2. Community Market: Fosters local food systems and provides a venue for regional producers, promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns (SDG 12) and supporting the local economy (SDG 8).
3. Financial Services, Treasurer, City Assessor, & Commissioner of the Revenue: These offices collectively manage the city’s finances, from tax assessment and collection to budget oversight. Their work ensures the fiscal health required to fund all public services and achieve sustainable development objectives.
4. Fleet Services: Manages all city vehicles, with opportunities to contribute to sustainability goals through efficient maintenance and the adoption of greener technologies.
5. Information Technology: Manages the technological infrastructure for all city departments, enabling efficient and effective public service delivery, a key component of strong institutions (SDG 16).
6. Human Resources: Manages the city’s workforce, supporting employee development and well-being, which is essential for maintaining a capable and effective public administration.

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• The article mentions the “Water Resources” department, which is responsible for ensuring residents have an “uninterrupted supply of quality drinking water and reliable sewer service.” This directly connects to the goal of providing clean water and sanitation for all.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• The presence of departments for “Economic Development,” “Tourism,” and a “Community Market” highlights efforts to foster economic growth. The “Human Resources” department, which manages “City jobs,” also relates to this goal by promoting employment.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

• The article lists several departments responsible for critical infrastructure, including the “Airport,” “Public Works,” “Fleet Services,” and “Parking” management. The “Information Technology” department also supports the modernization of infrastructure and services.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• This goal is addressed through various departments. “Community Development” works on “community revitalization,” “Parks & Recreation” provides green public spaces, the “Museum System” protects cultural heritage, and emergency services like “Fire” and the “Emergency Communications Center” contribute to city safety and resilience.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• A significant portion of the article focuses on institutions that uphold justice and governance. This includes the “Circuit Court,” “Police,” “Sheriff,” “City Attorney,” and “Commonwealth’s Attorney” for justice and rule of law. Departments like “City Council,” “City Manager,” “Registrar,” and “Communications & Public Engagement” are fundamental to creating effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The article implies a focus on domestic resource mobilization, a key aspect of SDG 17. The functions of the “Treasurer,” “Commissioner of the Revenue,” and “City Assessor” in managing and collecting taxes are crucial for funding all other public services and development goals.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

1. Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. The “Water Resources” department’s mission to provide an “uninterrupted supply of quality drinking water” directly supports this target.
2. Target 6.2: Achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all. The provision of “reliable sewer service” by the same department is a direct action towards this target.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

1. Target 8.9: Devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products. The existence of a “Tourism” office and a “Community Market” that “offers the very best products from our region” aligns with this target.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

1. Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure. The article highlights the management of key infrastructure through the “Airport,” “Public Works,” and “Parking” departments, which are essential for economic and social functioning.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

1. Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage. The “Museum System,” which “manages the official history museums and archives of the City of Lynchburg,” directly contributes to this target.
2. Target 11.7: Provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces. The “Parks & Recreation” department, which “maintain[s] 17 parks” for public use, is a clear implementation of this target.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

1. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice for all. The functions of the “Circuit Court,” “Police,” and “Sheriff” are fundamental to upholding the rule of law and providing access to justice.
2. Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. The structure of city governance described, including the “City Council,” “City Manager,” and “Communications & Public Engagement” department, aims to create such institutions.
3. Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information. The “Communications & Public Engagement” department’s role in providing “information related to City government services and programs to residents” directly supports this target.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

1. Target 17.1: Strengthen domestic resource mobilization to improve domestic capacity for tax and other revenue collection. The “Commissioner of the Revenue,” “Treasurer,” and “City Assessor” are institutions dedicated to revenue collection, which is the foundation of domestic resource mobilization.

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• Implied Indicator: The proportion of the population using safely managed drinking water services and sanitation services. The article implies this is high by stating the city “ensures” residents have quality water and reliable sewer service.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Implied Indicator: The existence of a tourism development strategy. The presence of a “Tourism” office and a “Community Market” promoting local products serves as a qualitative indicator of such a strategy.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

• Implied Indicator: Passenger volume at the airport. The description of the “Lynchburg Regional Airport” as the “largest travel hub” implies that passenger and freight volumes are key metrics for its success and contribution to infrastructure.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Mentioned Indicator: The amount of public space available. The article explicitly states that the “Parks & Recreation” department maintains “17 parks,” which can be used as a direct indicator of the availability of green public space.
• Implied Indicator: Existence of institutions to protect cultural heritage. The “Museum System” is a direct indicator of the city’s expenditure and effort to preserve and protect its cultural heritage.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Implied Indicator: The existence of independent judicial and public safety institutions. The separate listings for “Circuit Court,” “Police,” “Sheriff,” and “Commonwealth’s Attorney” indicate a structured and functioning justice system.
• Implied Indicator: The existence of systems for public information. The “Communications & Public Engagement” department is an institutional indicator of the city’s commitment to ensuring public access to information.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Implied Indicator: Total government revenue as a proportion of GDP. The functions of the “Treasurer” and “Commissioner of the Revenue” in collecting various taxes imply a system for measuring domestic resource mobilization.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

SDGs	Targets	Indicators
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation	6.1: Achieve universal access to safe and affordable drinking water. 6.2: Achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation.	Proportion of population with access to quality drinking water and reliable sewer service (Implied).
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth	8.9: Promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.	Existence of a dedicated “Tourism” office and a “Community Market” promoting local products (Implied).
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure	9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure.	Existence of key infrastructure management bodies like the “Airport,” “Public Works,” and “Parking” departments (Implied).
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities	11.4: Protect and safeguard cultural and natural heritage. 11.7: Provide universal access to safe, green and public spaces.	Existence of a “Museum System” to manage historical archives (Implied). Number of public parks maintained (17 mentioned).
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	16.3: Promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice. 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions. 16.10: Ensure public access to information.	Existence of a structured justice system (“Circuit Court,” “Police”) (Implied). Existence of a “Communications & Public Engagement” department to provide information to residents (Implied).
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals	17.1: Strengthen domestic resource mobilization and improve capacity for tax collection.	Existence of dedicated departments for revenue collection like the “Treasurer” and “Commissioner of the Revenue” (Implied).

Source: lynchburgva.gov