As our community continues to grow and move forward, we are faced with many difficult decisions, decisions about public transportation, the environment, and technology. Our challenge is to continue providing infrastructure that supports our growth and progress without overly taxing limited resources or compromising safety.

FOCUS St. Louis is committed to the maintenance and long-range development of an infrastructure that meets the economic and environmental needs of the region. To this end, the organization has convened several task forces to address infrastructure needs that affect all citizens—from the leftover paint in everyone's garages to the wastewater lines running from everyone's homes.

Active FOCUS Initiatives:

		ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND STEWARDSHIP TASK FORCE — FOCUS' current task force is charged with identifying standards and best practices that can be applied by local governments to increase their level of environmental stewardship. The task force is working to create tools for governments to assess where they stand and identify potential obstacles and actions steps to improvement.
		AFFORDABLE-WORKFORCE HOUSING TASK FORCE — This task force provided recommendations to increase the supply of affordable-workforce housing with an emphasis on homeownership to build the assets of more people in our community. A public awareness campaign is in full swing. We need the people who need workforce housing! HISTORICAL WORK

21st CENTURY ECONOMY TASK FORCE — FOCUS St. Louis' 21st Century Economy Task Force recently tackled the issue of attracting and retaining young knowledge workers. Read the results in our report.

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE — FOCUS has been involved in the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) disposal issue since 1996. Household hazardous waste consists of items such as paint, oil, gasoline, and turpentine.

METROPOLITAN SEWER DISTRICT - The City of St. Louis sewer system was begun in the 1840s and has served as a model for many other cities. At least 10% of the 8,300 miles of sewer pipe under St. Louis and St. Louis County are over one hundred years old, and the maintenance and administration of this system require careful planning. FINDINGS OF THE METROPOLITAN SEWER DISTRICT TASK FORCE (PDF / 7 pages /174K) - (Election Summary, Nov. 2000) These recommendations of the Metropolitan Sewer District Task Force include a letter from Christine Chadwick, Executive Director of FOCUS St. Louis, that describes FOCUS' role in monitoring MSD's progress.   APPENDIX TO THE FINDINGS OF THE METROPOLITAN SEWER DISTRICT TASK FORCE (PDF / 8 pages / 151K) - (Election Summary, Nov. 2000) The appendix lists all proposed charter changes (including those not being enacted) with comments and references.

Related Resources

	Metropolitan Sewer District
	Environmental Protection Agency