Students from the TWC 422/522 Social Media in the Workplace course developed reports that take different approaches to the Social Media Planning Initiative. TWC 422 spent the semester researching best practices and uses for social media in Glendale, while TWC 522 generated research-backed recommendations for policies, rules, and procedures to support a new social media manager position. Together, these two class reports provide Glendale with a path forward to enhance its social media presence in a way that is inclusive, engaging and strategically executed.

Students in CPP 201 and PAF 509 investigated many creative strategies for Glendale’s consideration, all aimed at advancing the desire to harness multigenerational engagement. Students from the Next Generation Service Corps program observed a decided lack of civic engagement among Glendale’s younger residents, ages 18–25. They discovered that the best way to involve younger generations in local decision-making was to create a civic engagement committee that brought young adults and families into the city’s decision-making. Their research also suggested that a revitalized online presence could engage younger generations in community events, opportunities, and meetings. The students then devised a roadmap for achieving these goals.

Students in PAF 509 investigated many creative strategies for Glendale’s consideration, all aimed at advancing the desire to harness multigenerational engagement. The most prominent strategies suggested include creating a community engagement committee, investing in or exploring the latest in technology, and leveraging the investment in the city’s new website. Creating a focus in these areas would create new opportunities for engaging residents. Students in this course explored various ideas for leveraging multigenerational engagement. One suggestion was to create a mobile application based on the CivicLive website, serving as a platform where residents could report issues, sign up to volunteer, and weigh in on local topics. Another idea explored was to survey millennial residents and spark formal and informal discussions between these residents and the city
officials.

These strategic areas offer a wide array of urban sustainability opportunities. While using green building practices and on-site
renewable energy is a highly visible and symbolic way for local governments to display their commitment to sustainability. It also indicates to local taxpayers that Glendale is consciously saving money by way of reducing energy costs and using tax dollars more efficiently. Sustainable landscaping is a low-cost strategy to increase the aesthetic and functional value of the facility, improving the employee experience and optimizing the quality of the local environment. Sustainable purchasing
is a low-visibility yet critical action for a municipality to internalize sustainability policies and operations. Sustainable purchasing enables the city to engage employees in everyday sustainability practices, harness new and innovative business partnerships, and save taxpayer dollars.

Students in ERM 401/501 and EGR 427 Hazardous Waste Management spent the Spring 2019 semester researching compliance standards and regulatory requirements for better AST management, as well as identifying best practices to help Glendale’s staff develop an effective and efficient operations and maintenance (O&M) program for their approximately 135 ASTs.

Students in the PUP 424 Planning Methods course researched fleet electrification strategy. They were divided into subtopic groups covering city employee perceptions of EVs, a cost comparison of EVs versus combustion-engine vehicles, and benchmarking of EV fleets in other cities in the US, companies, and organizations.

Students from SOS 324 Sustainable Energy, Technology and Systems researched EV charging stations. They examined current EV charging technologies and prospective locations for EV charging stations across Glendale. A common theme that emerged
from this research indicated that projects that provided a mutual benefit to the community and contracted businesses in the city tend to generate more possibilities to execute an effective transition.

For many years, China purchased much of the United States’ processed recyclable materials. However, when Operation National Sword was passed by China in January 2018, significant restrictions were placed on imported recyclables. Because most raw recycled materials exported by America were highly contaminated and did not meet China’s new import standards, it suddenly became near impossible for American municipalities to continue exporting their material to China, without making significant changes. These circumstances caused a significant global market shift that communities must respond to in order to maintain their recycling services and continue to provide healthy, eco-conscious solid waste management systems for their residents.

The City of Glendale has partnered with ASU to conduct a review of community responses to this global market change and determine potential courses of action for the City and its 250,000 residents. Students in ERM 432/532 Sustainable Solid Waste Management spent the Fall 2019 semester conducting literature reviews on community responses, holding interviews with industry professionals and identifying the most feasible recommendations for the City to implement within its recycling program.