Michele Rodriguez Consulting

Our commitment is in addressing sustainability in policy, programs and implementation. I especially enjoy innovative approaches to increasing efficency, while involving key stakeholders in global climate change solutions.

With 20-year's experience working with businesses, municipal governments, non-profits and faith-based organizations, I have an extensive background in policy and program development, funding and operation to address planning sustainability communities. 

Sustainability in Public Policies and Programs
 

Michele Rodriguez, Rodriguez Consulting, was the project manager for the first comprehensive general plan in the nation with the overarching theme of sustainability.

The Marin County general plan included cutting-edge practices to address global climate change at the local level.

Sustainability Guiding Principles were developed through a public process to set the stage for which all future actions would be compared.

A countywide carbon baseline analysis was conducted, and targets for reduction were established. The carbon reductions were integrated into public policy and programs through the general plan and various zoning ordinances to change land use, increase green building practices, reduce energy consumption and vehicle miles traveled.

The general plan programs were quantified so that pounds of carbon were known so that the public decision-makers could decide on an annual basis which programs to assign staffing and resources to to achieve the greatest reduction in greenhouse gas contributions.

Ordinances
Several ordinances were written to increase recycling to reduce waste and increase recycling.

Construction Recycling: Marin County recycles a significant amount of its waste (68%), and we set-out to find out what the remaining 30% of waste was attributed to. Of the 30% remaining, 15% was  construction waste. We wrote the Construction and Demolitian  ordinance to require construction waste re-use on-site or recycle their construction waste and worked with the Building Department to set-up a process for review and approval to assure recycling occurred.

Energy Reduction: Marin County has a demand for large homes, over 3,500 square feet, and we were concerned about the amount of energy use of these large home. We wrote the Marin Big and Tall ordinance to require that any home over 3,500 square feet not use more energy than a 1,800 square foot home, thus triggering a series of green building, energy conserving practices which may include the installation of solar photovoltaics. Support was offered by staff training in green building techniques about site and building design to optimize energy conservation.

Green Building: In order to encourage the use of green building practices a number of actions were taken including revamping the design review process. An ordinance existed that included the findings and process for design review. This ordinance was amended to add a finding of environmental conservation, and green building techniques added as a minimum requirement for design review.

The key for each municipality is to determine what their unique contribution to global climate change and design innovative, customized approaches at reducing consumption and change purchasing practices. Changes reflected in general plan policies, programs and ordinances is necessary to create real change at the local level.

Social Equity
Michele Rodriguez, Rodriguez Consulting, does a number of initiatives related to social equity. She is a member of the American Planning Association Diversity Committee currently  piloting two scholarship programs recruiting students of color into the profession of planning. One pilot program is occurring at Cal Poly Pomona, and the second at Rutgers University.

She is the co-Founder of the Latinos and Planning Division of the American Planning Association and has  coordinated two state-wide Diversity Summits.

She is currently coordinating a panel of speakers for the California Section of the American Planning Association State Conference to be held in September 2008. The goal of the session is to educate planners about various ethnic cultures, to increase the participation of communities of color in the planning process and to encourage municipalities to address cultural sensitivities in community planning.

Michele recently gave a presentation at the Bay Area Alliance on the implications of  global warming on social equity.

One of her clients has her working on a climate change initiative from a social equity perspective, and in particular green economic development.

Special Projects -Sustainability

Comprehensive Solar Photovoltaic Training Program: Working with partners such as the Workforce Investment Board of Marin, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, SPG Solar, Homeward Bound of Marin and the Marin Building Trades Council a comprehensive solar photovoltaic training curriculum was developed. The goal of this training is to offer comprehensive training to people in the construction industry or not, who have 9th grade algebra and are interested in entering an emerging high-growth industry.

According to the California Energy Commission California can expect 21,000 - 42,000 new jobs in solar by 2020.
 
Climate Policy Toolkit: The Bay Area Air Quality Management District funds a number of climate action initiatives. With this piece, the Toolkit is designed to provide local governments readily accessible information regarding the "what", "why", and "how" of addressing greenhouse gas emissions in their general plans. In particular, I'm working on the written resources and the searchable database content.

Customer Testimonials

I  have found Michele to be very knowledgeable about sustainability and its various programs, and to have good communication and organization skills. We look forward to working with Ms. Rodriguez in the future and would recommend her to other Universities as well.

- Sister Carla Kovak, OP, Member Greening Dominican Task Force

Michele has always displayed a high degree of integrity, responsibility, and ambition. Michele has completed a variety of projects including large subdivisions, mixed-use projects, and commercial office buildings. She was a responsible team member updating the City of Cupertino General Plan and the Downtown Specific Plan. Ms. Rodriguez was the project manager for a multi-jurisdictional Hillside Open Space Plan, the Zoning Ordinance Update, the development of the cities Geographic Information System. Michele is a hard worker, with great initiative, she communicates clearly, completes work on time and can easily multi-task. She is dependable, and her good judgement and mature outlook ensure a logical and practical approach to her endeavors.

- Cynthia Wordell, City Planner, City of Cupertino

Peer Testimonials

Michele is a very hard worker, a respected leader, has excellent management skills, is a clear articulate presenter, and is able to track the multitude of details required to complete large, complex tasks. I strongly recommend Michele for any position, particularly those which involve project planning, management, coordination and oversight. her skills, manner and leadership ability would be a true asset in any work environment.

- Dawn Weisz, Principal Planner, Marin County Community Development Agency

Michele is a "futurist" and utilizes planning to measure outcomes, goals and success. The Marin Countywide Plan, under her supervision, is  a heroic multi-year effort. She has managed the process calmly, sensitively, and tracked in great detail changes and edits. Like a conductor she orchestrates and directs a symphony of consultants and staff who contribute to the effort.  The programs that she supervised included: Sustainability, Green Building, Community Planning, and the Marin Economic Commission.  In addition to identifying consultants executing contracts, and supervising work she is also responsible for a staff of 6-8 full time positions and a budget of $1.5 M.

- Barbara Collins, Affordable Housing Strategist, Marin County