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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSustainable EnvironmentEnvironmental Conservation The city's natural resources provide a variety of necessary functions. The watershed drains almost 12 percent of the state. Lake Winnebago gives us our drinking water. The Fox River carries effluent from the city's wastewater treatment plant. Lakes Winnebago and Butte des Morts provide habitat for fish and other wildlife. Woodlands, marshes, open spaces and parks provide places for ground water recharge and purify water of pollutants. Trees of the urban forest remove, by absorption, other pollutants such as carbon and sulfur dioxide, ozone, nitrogen oxides, and fine particulates from burning fossil fuels in buildings and vehicles. Urban wildlife habitat supports year -round resident and large populations of migratory birds. Urban birds, bats and insects control nuisance and disease - carrying pests. We attempt to sustain these ecological functions in two ways, by federal or state regulation and by local choice. For example, the Winnebago lakes are classified as impaired waters. To protect and improve them, the city is under federal regulation to manage stormwater and sewage treatment for pollution control. The city is also choosing to address flooding issues. By choice too, the city aims to improve its natural appearance and plant more trees, an outcome of the visioning process. Both the regulatory and choice options reflect what the nation, state and local community consider important. In Oshkosh, with 22 miles of shoreline on a lake system totaling 166,000 acres, sustaining this system is critical. Not only does it provide ecological functions, it also has economic, recreational and scenic benefits. Similarly, a more natural environment with more trees has benefits other than sustainability. An attractive green city is an appealing place to call home and often a spot tourists want to visit. Objective: Protect and enhance the city's natural resources Policies: Waterway Protection Stormwater management and flood control. Continue to implement the Stormwater Management Plan to meet goals to reduce suspended solids in our waterways. Continue to address flood control needs. Prepare a plan to protect and enhance natural drainageways, such as Sawyer and Campbell creeks. Develop guidelines for structural solutions to ensure minimal disruption to neighborhoods. Include such actions as early resident involvement, projects in scale and aesthetically pleasing, attractive explanatory signage on site, and continued maintenance. Develop programs and incentives for citizens to install their own stormwater reduction measures, such as rain gardens and rain barrels. Continue to work with NEWSC and other area groups to develop educational material to help citizens understand how their activities pollute our water and how they can prevent it. Impervious surfaces. Consider developing maximum impervious thresholds for all zoning districts based on total building and hard surface lot coverage. Promote use of subsurface drainage chambers, permeable pavers and pervious pavement on appropriate soils. Consider a program offering city stormwater utility rebate /credits for landowners exceeding requirements for on -site stormwater management. Consider a more precise assessment of stormwater utility fees and construction permit fees based on impervious area. Pollution control and habitat protection. Consider adopting a municipal ordinance to restrict use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, cleaners, de- icers, and other chemicals which pollute the soil and water. Demonstrate ecological and pollution -free methods on land and water sites under city management: parks, the golf course, harbors, waterways, and municipal building landscapes. Purchase a weed harvester, possibly in cooperation with other lake entities seeking DNR permits for weed control. Where possible restore native vegetative buffers on city shoreland to protect against polluted run -off, discourage geese and decrease algae growth. Work with the county to distribute educational material about buffering private shoreland. Participate in programs aimed at prevention and control of invasive species. Continue to cleanup brownfield sites and pursue cleanup of contaminated sediments in the Fox River to protect water resources. Conserve and protect natural areas, such as Picnic Point. Periodically update local plans to remain eligible for DNR grants to help fund protective actions. With much of the phosphorus and sediment pollution coming from farmland upstream, consider supporting efforts to form a regional waterways management unit, such as a Commission, to cooperatively address total maximum daily loads (TMDL) and other issues facing the watershed. Waterfront development. Update the riverfront and downtown plans with the environment in mind. Make public access a high priority. Revise the shoreline overlay district for consistency between the county and city. Protect sensitive areas and wetlands during development. Enforce erosion and sediment control requirements at construction sites. Explore creating a Lakes Education Center in the downtown to attract visitors and promote the value of the resource. Citizen safety. Continue to test beach water at Menominee Park and post results for public viewing. Promote responsible recreational boat use on the water, regulating noise, speed, wake generation, and potential user conflicts. Water Conservation Water efficiencies. Continue programs to help the city quickly identify and eliminate leaks in the public water supply system. Continue the partnership with Focus on Energy to improve energy efficiency of the water treatment plant. Install low flow faucet aerators and toilets at municipal sites. Review city building codes to update standards for water conserving plumbing fixtures. Ensure that the city has sufficient ordinances to address drought situations by curtailing and banning non - essential water uses. Citizen education. Offer education about how shower heads, toilets, faucets and appliances. F homes, businesses and i reduce water usage by installing low flow useful tips for cutting back on water usage in with quarterly billings Natural Environment A more natural look. Strengthen existing development codes and promote policies that place a greater value on developing an aesthetically pleasing natural environment throughout the city. Review ordinances and zoning to restrict activities that detract from greenspace and neighborhoods, such as billboards, large signage, overhead utilities, massive parking areas, and big box stores. Develop plans for particular areas of the city, such as gateways, that emphasize a more natural look. Consider adding green spaces to infill in developed areas. Design guidelines for land next to existing and new parks. Promote conservancy areas. Prepare an inventory of natural features and create educational materials to help developers plan with nature in mind. Ensure inclusion of such features as sensitive areas, soils, and areas for possible reclamation, like Vulcan Quarry. Tree planting and retention. Continue an aggressive urban forestry program on terraces and in city parks. Maintain the city's street tree inventory, municipal nursery and status as a Tree City USA. Develop a five -year plan to continue the Taking Root program with the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation. Promote the ReLeaf and Memorial Tree programs. Review tree ordinances to encourage a diversity of trees emphasizing native species. Modify codes to include tree retention and replacement during development. Enforce subdivision regulations requiring trees on terraces. Protect existing woodlands from encroachment. Address threats, such as the emerald ash borer. Develop guidelines appropriate to urban areas to manage wildlife inhabiting wooded areas. Native landscaping. Review city weed and tree ordinances to ensure that they do not discourage native landscaping. Encourage more native plantings on sites to reduce irrigation, protect shorelines and provide natural beautification. Use native, perennial plantings instead of annual plants in city flower beds to reduce soil disturbance and decrease stormwater runoff. Restore natural areas where appropriate, including a demonstration site in Menominee Park. Add native species that require less maintenance to roadside seed mixes on arterials at the edge of the city and advise WDOT to do the same in the new Highway 41 corridor. Control non - native invasive species in right -of -ways, parks and other public areas, especially where they are particularly aggressive, such as along frontage roads. Mowing policies. Decrease mowing on city -owned passive lands, such as park edges or in medians. Consider no- maintenance low- growing native grasses to replace turf or when planting new turf. Revise ordinances to recognize no -mow landscaping. Citizen assistance. Consider programs to help residents pay for "natural improvements" such as burying utility lines or removing and replacing dead or unsafe trees on their property. Explore new incentives, such as stormwater credits for trees, to encourage residents to plant more trees. Provide educational material to assist residents seeking more sustainable landscaping.