2019-191 Thriving Earth ExchangeDate: December 6, 2019 Report No. 2019-191
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Background on Thriving Earth Exchange
BACKGROUND:
During the Pending Council Request work session item on the December 10 City Council meeting
agenda, Council Member Briggs will be requesting for staff to engage with the Thriving Earth
Exchange to apply for an opportunity to have the City and the Organization partner for a pro bono
scientific study. This Informal Staff Report is meant to provide background information about the
Thriving Earth Exchange, information about the scientific study application process, and a
summary of other studies that have been performed through this program.
The Thriving Earth Exchange is a program of AGU, an international nonprofit scientific
association whose mission is to promote discovery in Earth and space science for the benefit of
humanity. The Thriving Earth Exchange links scientists, community leaders and sponsors together
to solve local challenges related to natural resources, climate change and natural hazards. The
program refers to this as “Community Science” and defines it as the process by which scientists
and communities do science together to advance one or more community priorities. The desire is
to make a tangible local impact. They understand “science” to be “an inclusive suite of activities
(encompassing research, engagement, education, synthesis, and application). In short,
communities are able to submit applications for environmental challenges that they are facing
locally, and, if accepted, the Thriving Earth Exchange pairs those community leaders and staff
with research scientists to work through the project and produce results that make a local impact.
Cities that are selected for projects receive the support of one or more pro-bono scientists, as
needed, to work with community point of contacts to complete a 6- to 18-month project.
Participating communities are expected to provide community staff and points of contact who
would have the time, interest and capacity to work with the scientists.
Thriving Earth Exchange has partnered with cities throughout the United States and the world. The
list of projects is very wide ranging from reducing flood risk, protecting streams, designing a
weather-ready city hall, establishing a plastic waste management program, and more.
Locally, the City of Corinth recently partnered with the Thriving Earth Exchange to complete a
project titled Balancing Sustainability Priorities with Development in an Urbanizing Watershed.
Through this project, the city wanted to prepare guidelines for development in and around
Lynchburg Creek, and hoped to develop implementable control strategies to mitigate storm water
runoff, and protect water quality while preserving landscape features and functions. The result of
this project was the creation of a web-based Green Infrastructure Plan, the city’s first interactive,
educational outreach program.
Date: December 6, 2019 Report No. 2019-191
Staff spoke with Bob Hart, Town Manager of Corinth, who was involved with this project in
Corinth and had partnered with the Thriving Earth Exchange for a water quality project previously
while serving as City Manager in Kennedale, Texas. Mr. Hart indicated that the scientific methods
and expertise that were available through this partnership were very valuable to his city. He added
that the scientist they were paired with through the program had “extraordinarily good skills,” and
that city staff who worked as team liaisons with the scientist were very complementary of the
process and the work that was performed.
DISCUSSION:
If the City Council directs staff to move forward with engaging with the Thriving Earth Exchange
on a project as described by Council Member Briggs, staff recommends taking the following steps:
• Staff notifies the Thriving Earth Exchange that the City plans to apply for a project.
• Hold a future work session with the City Council to narrow the focus of the application,
determine priorities, and identify desired outcomes.
• Using the information and direction given in that work session, staff can apply for a project.
o Note: Projects launch quarterly, however there are no application deadlines posed
for Spring 2020 or Summer 2020 program launches.
• If accepted, staff identifies project team members and begins the project.
CONSIDERATION:
Based on the limited information staff has received from TCEQ and additional guidance from our
state legislative consultant, Focused Advocacy, the TCEQ has no specific standard for or guarantee
of its acceptance of scientific studies it does not commission. Due to this uncertainty, it would be
important for the Thriving Earth Exchange to engage the TCEQ at the onset of any study regarding
their methods and objectives.
STAFF CONTACT:
Stuart Birdseye
Assistant to the City Manager
Stuart.birdseye@cityofdenton.com
(940) 349-8009
REQUESTOR: Staff initiated to provide background to Council Member Briggs’ request
PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS: City Manager’s Office
STAFF TIME TO COMPLETE REPORT: 1.5 Hours