APMM Series: Mapping our Path to Sustainable Communities with Sara Gibson, Bailey Rocco and Kate Robeson Grubb

🎧 This episode of PCC Local Time is part of the APMM Series, featuring conversations with Pennsylvania’s municipal managers and leaders about the evolving practice of local government.In this episode on Sustainability, host Nancy Hess talks with three guests who are redefining what local sustainability looks like on the ground:Sara Gibson, Borough Manager, Camp Hill Borough, creator of StormfestBailey Rocco, Sustainability Coordinator, Pennsylvania Municipal LeagueKate Robeson Grubb, Sustainability Specialist, Solebury Township, and Penn State Distinguished Alumni Award recipientThey share how communities are translating mandates into meaningful local action—from stormwater festivals and inter-municipal cooperation to new sustainability certification programs and community engagement efforts.SHOWNOTES:00:00 – 02:00 | IntroductionNancy opens with reflections on the meaning of sustainability and how local governments bring it to life.Introduction of guests: Sara Gibson, Bailey Rocco, and Kate Robeson Grubb.02:00 – 22:00 | Sara Gibson – From Compliance to Community: The Story of StormfestOrigins of Stormfest and the MS4 stormwater permit requirementsTurning federal compliance into a community celebrationBuilding partnerships among watershed groups, boroughs, and volunteersEducating elected officials and residents about stormwater systems“We all live downstream” — understanding local impact and interconnectivityReflection on sustainability as intergovernmental collaboration and community awareness23:00 – 45:00 | Bailey Rocco – Measuring What Matters: The Sustainable PA ProgramBailey’s path from social work to sustainabilityHow Sustainable PA helps municipalities benchmark and communicate their sustainability effortsCertification levels: Bronze through PlatinumChallenges for small municipalities and the importance of partnerships with universitiesRegional collaboration and shared learning among municipalitiesTransparency, resident trust, and the power of visibilityFuture directions: energy use, inclusion tracking, and young professionals entering the field46:00 – 1:11:00 | Kate Robeson Grubb – Building the Future LocallyKate’s journey into sustainability and local governmentSolebury Township’s Energy Transition Plan and Ready for 100 goalsPartnerships with the Environmental Advisory Council and community volunteersChallenges: funding large projects and public educationThe link between sustainability and equity (affordable housing, inclusivity)Long-term planning vs. short-term wins (solar installations, single-use plastic ordinances)Clarifying misconceptions about sustainability and building local resilienceClosing reflections: “Resilient communities outlast instability.”1:11:00 – 1:12:00 | Closing