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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSustainability Plan Change Recommendations 12-22-10 SAB Sustainability Plan Change Recommendations December 22, 2010 Page 1 of 6 Margy Davey: Chapter on Environmental Conservation: Waterway protection: Pollution control and habitat protection Ban municipal, commercial, and residential use of coal tar based pavement sealcoat, as it contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which are carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic, and have been proven to be toxic to fish and other aquatic life as well as a contributor to asthma and heart disease in humans; encourage use of asphalt based pavement sealcoat instead, when necessary. I have also looked at the proposed resolution to reduce obesity and promote community health, and feel it's already covered by the Sustainability Plan. Here's why: (From the resolution): . . . the City should strive through its land use decisions (see Sustainability Chapter Strong and Healthy Community: Health and urban land use) to promote community health, prevent and reduce obesity, and provide access to healthy food (see Sustainability Chapter Local Food) and physical activity (see Sustainability Chapter Strong and Healthy Community: Active lifestyles) for all neighborhoods in the City . . . Michelle Bogden Muetzel: Local Food, section Zoning Ordinance and Municipal Code Revisions. Current language states, "Review small animal ordinances and consider allowing chickens, rabbits, and ducks in residential and other districts." This could use clarification if the intent is slaughter and food consumption of said animals. Perhaps mention of possible change in ordinances or setting safety regulations towards this end if that is the intent. Atmosphere, section Indoor Air Quality. Add discouraging or banning use of paints with high levels of VOCs, flame retardants, hazardous cleaning products, and other chemicals that hamper air quality. Perhaps encourage purchase of indoor living plants in municipal buildings that reduce indoor air pollution. Managing Waste: Minor typing error--second paragraph has the first sentence typed twice. Strong and Healthy Community, section Social Justice. Last sentence could be improved ("Promote retraining of those displaced in the short-term by a shift to a more sustainable economy."). It could be more effective in our current economic situation with a rephrase to: "Promote job creation and retraining of those displaced in the short-term with a shift to a more sustainable economy." Transportation and Mobility, section Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities, subsections Planning and Riverwalk. Both sections mention completion of projects in year 2010. Should they read 2011? Green Economy, Objective. Change to: "Bolster the local economy by attracting sustainable businesses, green-collar jobs, and encouraging businesses to become more sustainable." SAB Sustainability Plan Change Recommendations December 22, 2010 Page 2 of 6 Green Economy, section Attracting Green Businesses. Add a note on encouraging or seeking out businesses, such as restaurants or shops, that directly sell products for public consumption that are organic and/or sustainable. Sustainable Government, section Purchasing. Currently states, "Continue to use recycled paper whenever applicable." Could go on to say, "Encourage 100% post-consumer recycled content." Can we give a mention to vegetable-based inks, or is this not feasible for municipal functions? Kim Biedermann: Overall, I think the plan looks wonderful. One comment that I have is that the green jobs documents written by Jim Resick may perhaps be attached at the end of the plan, if we think we'll have other back-up documents as well. I'm just not sure if I would necessarily place them right within the plan. Also, just a little thing I noticed is at the top of pg. 14, freecycle is mentioned, but it's listed as freecycle,org (with a comma). Justin Mitchell: Initial Goal and Objectives section: Sustainable Development -add "and grounds" to the end after "into buildings" Initial Goal and Objectives section: Transportation and Mobility -add "and promote" after "Enhance" Initial Goal and Objectives section: Sustainable Government -remove "cost-effective" Energy Section: 2nd paragraph after "like Wisconsin, which has no", replace "fossil fuel" with coal, oil, or" (note we do have wood..) Energy Section: 2nd paragraph after "Independence is a call to develop state" insert "and local" Energy Section: 2nd paragraph -remove "There are environmental costs to developing these local sources, but". Energy Section: 2nd paragraph after "avoiding pollution that" replace "affects" with "negatively impacts" Energy Section 3rd paragragh -poorly written starting with "Ways to finance". This part should be rewritten in a more concise manner with a shorter sentence structure. Energy Policies 1. after "Encourage the wider use of Energy Star", insert "and other sustainable" Energy Policies 1. after "Promote government assistance programs to winterize houses" insert "and apartments" and after "for eligible homeowners" insert "and renters". Delete the remainder of the sentence "usually........ possible". SAB Sustainability Plan Change Recommendations December 22, 2010 Page 3 of 6 Energy Policies 1: after "WPS incentives and assistance for energy conservation projects. Promote" delete "one or a few common". Energy Policies 1: At the end, add a sentence "Promote methods and best practices that individuals can implement concerning responsible energy usage." Energy Policies 3: Remove "Transportation is a large..... buildings". Either delete or move up to Energy Overview section -not in policies Energy 5 Renewable Energy: after "Encourage" insert "and support the" Energy 6 Government Commitments" At the end, add "Pursue additional beneficial commitments to a sustainable community and implement existing commitments (such as Tree City USA and Bird City Wisconsin)" Energy 7. Public and Business Awareness -get rid of "raising" in the header. Energy 7. Public and Business Awareness -add the following partners: national -EPA, HUD; local -East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning, Oshkosh Housing Authority Local Food: Community Gardens – Insert at end: “Promote garden opportunities throughout community” Local Food: Sustainable Gardening: after “promote these rules” insert “and best practices through workshops, handouts, and demonstrations” Local Food: Greenhouses: Replace “go organic” with “implement organic and environmentally sensitive methods” Local Food: Greenhouses: Replace “iffy” with “uncertain” Local Food: Zoning Ordinance etc: Remove last sentence “consider regulations determining…” Local Food: Farmer’s Markets”: Insert at end “Ensure that participation in markets continue to remain affordable and accessible” Local Food: Grocery Store: Remove last sentence “Coops build community…” Local Food (note this expands beyond food): Add additional section: “Buy Oshkosh: Evaluate the potential for creation of a buy Oshkosh promotional campaign similar to the state of Wisconsin’s Something Special From Wisconsin program. “ Environmental Conservation: Replace “the watershed drains almost 12 percent of the state” with a sentence that describes what watershed and what it means to drain 12 percent of the state”. The current sentence is uninformative and unhelpful. Environmental Conservation: after “lakes classified as impaired water” insert “by the Wisconsin DNR” SAB Sustainability Plan Change Recommendations December 22, 2010 Page 4 of 6 Environmental Conservation: replace “an outcome of the visioning process” with “as supported by the 2010 Vision Oshkosh community survey” Environmental Conservation: Replace choice with voluntary, and reduce the repetition of this theme, as it doesn’t contribute value to the section Environmental Conservation Waterways Protection: Impervious Surfaces: add at end “ Continue reduction of road width efforts and explore single-side on-road parking” Environmental Conservation Waterways Protection: Pollution control and habitat protection” -after “city shoreland to protect against polluted run-off, discourage geese” add “improve aquatic habitat,” Environmental Conservation Waterways Protection: Citizen safety: After first sentence, add the following sentence: “Develop a process for identifying and resolving water pollution issues” Environmental Conservation Water Conservation: Water Efficiencies: insert “ Offer innovative incentives for residential, commercial, and industrial water conservation improvements such as low-flow showerheads, low-flow restaurant dish sprayers, and other proven conservation measures” Environmental Conservation Natural Environment – natural look: after “such as gateways” insert “and the hwy 41 corridor” Environmental Conservation Natural Environment – add at the end “Continue the development of new park space in residential neighbors without access to a neighborhood park” Environmental Conservation Natural Environment: after “replacement during development” insert “adopt a tree planting policy to require appropriate placement of trees during all road construction” Atmosphere: after “diminish our health” insert “,harm wildlife,” Atmosphere: remove “people spend most of their time indoors” Atmosphere: replace “construction equipment and power tools” with “human activity” Atmosphere: List the companies that contribute 98% of toxic air emissions – other communities list the business they intend to closely collaborate with, and we should too. This isn’t a negative, rather an indicator that can be referenced when significant improvements continue to be achieved Atmosphere: Why is there no data present on allergin prevelance in schools, or ashthma in school children, or lead poisoning in school children (often from breathing lead dust)? Further, why is there no data on the frequency of traffic (has it increased or decreased, which relates to air pollution” Atmosphere: I have not had a chance to review the data from the DNR, but I recall numerous times when the air quality for Winnebago County was determined to be less than “good”. I will attempt to follow up with the data for the meeting. If contrary documentation is identified, I will present a correction to the listed data in the report SAB Sustainability Plan Change Recommendations December 22, 2010 Page 5 of 6 Atmosphere: Air quality Improvements: at the end of the first sentence, add “through incentives, technical support, and collaboration with UW Oshkosh and Fox Valley Technical College.” Atmosphere: Air quality Improvements: insert “actively promote and enforce backyard burning restrictions and regulations” at the end. Atmosphere: Indoor Air Quality: add sentence at end “develop innovative programs to education and assist homeowners, landlords, and renters in resolving indoor air quality issues and preventing potential hazards” Atmosphere – question that if we include noise pollution, why not light pollution? Managing waste: no reference to pollution leaching into water Staff: Government section-verbiage about the use of zero or low-VOC paint, glues, materials in City buildings (existing and new). Administrative Services Comments: Through an Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant (EECBG), Most recently the city commissioned the McKinstry study to audit municipal buildings and create a plan for energy savings. Several Facility Improvement Measures(FIM) have been identified and most will be implemented by December 2010, with remaining measures undertaken as funding becomes available. FIMs currently in progress include lighting and building envelope improvements at 14 municipal locations, water conservation at 10 locations, vending machine controls at 12, direct digital controls at 4 locations, and high-efficiency motor implementation at the Oshkosh Public Museum and the Safety Building. The Oshkosh Public Library will be receiving a steam trap upgrade to reduce energy consumption by eliminating wasted steam. Policies: Administering Sustainability. Create Seek the creation of a position responsible for coordination sustainable activities. of Sustainability Director reporting to the City Manager. Incorporate sustainability responsibilities in job descriptions for relevant city staff. Form a green team of representatives from each department under direction of the Sustainability Coordinator Director to evaluate and implement internal sustainable actions. When the Sustainability Plan is completed urge seek adoption by the Common Council. Suggest responsibility lies with the Sustainability Advisory Board to move the plan forward, provide information for the public and review pertinent resolutions going before the Common Council. Continue to involve the public in sustainability activity through the Web site, on line surveys, social networks, governmental meetings, and workshops. Review the Sustainability Plan annually. Present an update of how well the city is meeting sustainability targets at the State of the City event. Green Building. Adopt the As fiscal resources permit, adopt the LEED Green Building Rating System and Energy Star label for new municipal buildings, additions and renovations. Consider adaptive reuse of existing buildings as first priority for expanded municipal space. Use local and recycled building SAB Sustainability Plan Change Recommendations December 22, 2010 Page 6 of 6 materials when possible. Consider consolidation of departments with other units of government, such as a city/county health department, or public safety, to promote more efficient use of space and resources. Replace existing annual plantings at municipal facilities with perennial native species. Purchasing. Develop a purchasing policy that incorporates preferences for sustainable purchasing. Adopt When possible, utilize Full Cost Accounting (FCA) to analyze all costs, advantages, and alternatives. Define ‘cost’ not just as the monetary cost, but also include social, environmental and life cycle costs. Use This process should be an option rather than relying solely on the low bid process. Modify Develop requests for proposals, specification and contract language to ensure promote sustainable energy procedures are practices as an integral part of each project. Adopt purchasing policies for Energy Star procuring equipment, computers and appliances that consider and promote energy savings for city use. Include a policy with standards for worker safety, handling of chemicals, and alternative products and equipment. Use a refill purchasing policy, replacing consumables instead of stocking excess. Continue to use recycled paper wherever applicable. Continue to encourage use of electronic documents and email rather than generating paper copies. Continue to work with vendors to reduce packaging. Continue to buy local when possible. Eventually reduce or eliminate non-green products and cleaners. Continue to partner in shared purchasing ventures. Environmental Considerations. Review and adopt recycling practices at all municipal facilities. Install low flow faucet aerators and high efficiency toilets in all municipal bathrooms to conserve water. Discourage use of bottled water by installing filters in taps. Implement a fleet replacement program incorporating the use of hybrid, electric, flex-fuel and bio-fuel vehicles. Demonstrate environmentally safe landscaping practices by using natural fertilizers and no chemicals in areas surrounding city buildings.. Reduce mowing wherever possible. Install rain barrels and rain gardens at city facilities to reduce runoff. Follow standardized environmental management procedures, such as ISO 14001. Human Resources. Hire and promote people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Adopt human resource management practices that support sustainability objectives, such as allowing flex time or telecommuting, or offering incentives for use of public transit, biking, and ride-sharing. Continue to provide a wellness program and maintain efforts to become certified as a Well Workplace. Provide a living wage appropriate compensation for all city employees. Empower employees to think creatively, generate ideas, and share suggestions on municipal sustainability.