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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSustainable Intro Exec SummaryandAction PlanDraft Introduction The sustainability plan for San Francisco begins with a challenging but honest question: "Sustainability is a word you have to spell to people over the phone. How can there be a community plan based on a word that is not in common use ?" For the City of Oshkosh, the honest answer is not simple, and the path has not been direct. The city has hosted nearly two years of education, debate, staff development, and report drafting by a Sustainability Plan Steering Committee. City staff, citizens, organizational representatives and civic leaders came to the table with a mix of professional experience, common sense, questions, concerns, and enough goodwill to see the job to completion. They were at it long enough to break in new city planning staff, watch their founding board change its name, and most significantly, think about the future of the city during a time of great uncertainty about the direction of our planet, country, and state. For the City of Oshkosh, the Comprehensive Plan is the place we list and integrate our best ideas and vision for the future. An early decision by the city was that a community plan based on sustainability should make its first entry as an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan. This decision recognizes that the people of Oshkosh will need time to grasp ways that sustainable approaches will change their community, or in some cases, conserve their community. Ideally, the best sustainability ideas should simply become the way things are done in Oshkosh. A first step in defining sustainability for a city is to decide what we want to sustain into the future. Here is the Steering Committee's list of which aspects of Oshkosh are worth sustaining, or changing to become sustainable: • Energy production from renewable resources. • Local food production, sales and consumption. • The city's natural resources. • A safe and healthy atmosphere. • Responsibly managed waste facilities • A safe, healthy, engaged, and diverse community • Safe, efficient and environmentally sound transportation • A local economy that attracts new businesses and encourages existing businesses to balance profit, people, and planet. • Development patterns and buildings that support these goals • Cost - effective, socially responsible and environmentally sound governmental practices to meet community needs. This list captures the two elements common to most definitions of sustainability: balance and time. The balance is between three major elements of our world, especially cities. One is the human population and society they create. Another is the economic system that creates the wealth of goods and services to meet basic human needs, and can provide for our desires for leisure, recreation, and inspiration. The third is the environment supporting all life, providing goods and services that would burden our economy and lives if we had to replace them with artificial systems. This trio goes by many names. People- Profit - Planet. Triple Bottom Line. Societies - Economies- Ecosystems. Finally, the time element of sustainability is to come up with ways that this balance continues into the future for many generations. A short version combining balance and time is commonly phrased as: Sustainability is meeting the current environmental, social and economic needs of our community while ensuring the ability of future generations to meet their needs. The Steering Committee does not claim any powers to see the future, but past and current trends provide some guidance. Many recommendations of "sustainable" practices are attempts to slow or halt unsustainable practices - -those that lack balance and we don't believe can be continued long into the future. Some of the recommendations we publish in 2011 may turn out not to be sustainable. But this plan was written with faith that a safe, healthy, diverse, educated population supported by a stable economy and intact environment will find ways to fulfill our goals (and maybe find a simpler name for sustainability). Executive Summary The Sustainability Plan Steering Committee was established in 2009. The city's Energy and Environment Advisory Board (currently named the Sustainability Advisory Board called for the development of a community sustainability plan. The city gave responsibility to the Planning Services Division of the Community Development Department. Planning Services assembled and chaired the Sustainability Plan Steering Committee with representatives from the community (citizens, Chamber of Commerce, Oshkosh Area School District, UW Oshkosh, Wisconsin Public Service), city boards (Sustainability Advisory Board, Plan Commission), City Council, and city divisions (Planning, Public Works, Administrative Services, Transportation, and Parks). The Sustainability Plan Steering Committee modeled the organization of this document on the Sustainability Chapter in the Comprehensive Plan for the City of Eau Claire (Wisconsin). Members also reviewed plans from other Wisconsin municipalities, including La Crosse, Green Bay, and Madison. Ten chapters were drafted by one or more committee members and discussed over one or more meetings. The chapters cover the following topics: Energy o Energy Conservation in Buildings o Energy Conservation through Pooled Resources o Energy Conservation in Transportation o Energy Conservation in Outdoor Lighting o Renewable Energy o Public and Business Awareness - Raising Local Food o Farmland Preservation o Community Gardens o Neighborhood Gardens • Private and Institutional Gardens • Sustainable Gardening • Greenhouses • Zoning ordinances and Municipal Code Revisions • Farmer's Markets • Food Stands • Local Food at Public Events • Grocery Stores • Food Education • Environmental Conservation • Stormwater Management and Flood Control • Impervious Surfaces • Pollution Control and Habitat Protection • Waterfront Development • Citizen Safety in Waterways • Water Efficiency • Education for Water Conservation • A More Natural Look to the City • Tree Planting and Retention • Native Landscaping • Mowing Policies • Citizen Assistance and Education • Atmosphere • Air Quality Improvement • Indoor Air Quality • Noise Pollution • Greenhouse Gas Production • Greenhouse Gas "Sinks" • Public Awareness • Managed Waste • Education • Waste Reduction • Recycling • Composting • Construction and Demolition Waste • Reuse by Consumers • Non - biodegradable Waste • Electronics • Prescription and over - the - counter drugs • Hazardous Waste • Special Events • Littering • Safe and Healthy Community • Existing Programs • Urban Land Use Patterns • Healthy Living • Active Lifestyles • Social Justice • Land Use and Construction • Planning and Zoning • Neighborhoods • Mixed -Use Corridors • Life Cycle Cost Analysis • Green Buildings • Buildings and Energy • Cool Roofs • Material Recovery • Local Materials • Affordable, Life Cycle, and Fair Housing • Transportation and Mobility • Transit Service Improvements • Transit Capital Improvements • Regional Transit Authority • Intercity Bus Service • Freight Rail • Passenger Rail • Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning • Riverwalk • Walkable Neighborhoods • Safe Routes to Schools • Street Design and Maintenance • Traffic Signals • Traffic Enforcement • Parking Facilities • Trip Reduction Programs • Fossil Fuel Infrastructure Alternatives • Economic Development • Green Economy Planning • Green Collar Jobs • Attracting Green Businesses • Green Career Education • Buying Local • Travel Green Wisconsin • Triple Bottom Line • Low Income Needs • Consumer Education • Government • Administration • Energy Management • Green Buildings • Purchasing • Environmental Considerations o Communication/Training o Human Resources o Government Commitments [LIST ABOVE COULD BE A SINGLE PAGE FORMATTED INTO A BOX WITH TWO COLUMNS] The full set was reviewed as a draft document by the Sustainability Advisory Board and by city staff Recommended changes were reviewed by the Steering Committee and accepted, revised or declined to produce the current draft document. [REST OF THE PROCESS ?] The format of each chapter begins with an introduction to provide definition for the issue and to give local context. An objective is stated, followed by sets of policy recommendations. Policies were chosen primarily for actions the city has within its power to carry out. But because this is a community plan, the city is not necessarily the only or best agent to carry out a recommended action. The committee tried to be clear when an action or leadership was expected to be a responsibility of another particular entity (such as the county, state, or an institution,) or group (such as individuals or businesses) and to be open when the potential actors are to be determined. Recommendations were phrased as action statements, with recognition that they cover ranges of difficulty, expense, time required, and public concern. The recommendations are meant to stimulate innovation and provide guidance to decision makers. They are not precise prescriptions to solve problems, but as a group they do suggest priorities and potentially fruitful directions for the city and citizens. The last action of the Steering Committee was to work with City of Oshkosh staff to identify items that could provide the city with an Action Plan of specific short- to medium -term projects. Some of the projects were already planned or in progress, but clearly address recommendations in the plan. Other Action Plan items were selected to give the city some stretch goals to prove their ability to lead by example. 2011 Sustainability Action Plan An Action Plan provides direction for accomplishing the objectives of the Sustainability Plan. For the 2011 Action Plan the Sustainability Plan Steering Committee has selected three policies for each objective. These are intended to be implemented in the short, medium and long term according to the order they are listed. The policies will be reviewed by the city's Green Team, who will set targets, assign responsibilities, and prepare an annual report. The annual report will show progress not only of Action Plan items, but of the many other policies in the Sustainability Plan guiding day to day activities. The Green Team will also update the Action Plan annually with input from the SAB, City Council and citizens. Goal Improve the quality of life in the City of Oshkosh by incorporating sustainability practices to meet the environmental, economic and social needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Objectives and Policies Energy: Foster energy conservation and local energy production from renewable resources. - Publicize accomplishments of the McKinstry Plan as they are implemented. - Promote Focus on Energy and WPS incentives and assistance for energy conservation projects. - Consider installation of a small wind turbine at a municipal facility. Local Food: Promote local food production, sales and consumption. - Ensure the downtown farmer's market has sufficient space and is easily accessible - Promote rules against artificial fertilizers and pesticides to protect people, water and wildlife. - Consider revising the zoning ordinance to address community gardens as permitted or conditional land uses in all zoning districts. Environmental Conservation: Protect and enhance the city's natural resources. - Continue to follow the CIP in implementing the Stormwater Plan to meet Clean Water Act standards. - Convert city landscaped areas from annual to perennial native plantings and plant natives in newly landscaped areas, such as along the retaining wall of the water treatment plant. - Consider an ordinance regulating the application and sale of sealcoat products containing coal tar. Atmosphere: Provide a safe and healthy atmosphere for people, nature and the planet. - Reduce vehicle idling by continuing to construct more roundabouts. - Modify codes to require terrace trees during street reconstruction. - Prepare a Climate Action Plan. Managing Waste: Promote awareness, reduce initial consumption, promote reuse, increase recycling rates and reduce the amount of substances entering landfills. - Continue the single stream recycling program - Create incentives to promote zero -waste events - Develop a plan to increase the range of plastics for recycling Strong and Healthy Community: Promote healthy living, civic engagement, cultural and ethnic diversity; provide safety and protect citizens from disease. - Explore options to certify the health department at the highest state level - Produce a marketing piece promoting Oshkosh as a bike friendly city. - Encourage local employers to meet criteria for Well City designation Sustainable Development: Guide and promote sustainable city -wide development patterns and incorporate sustainable features into buildings. - Design the new city garage to meet LEED standards or a similar program - Promote adaptive reuse of existing buildings (create an inventory) - Create overlay districts for the Highway 21 and Jackson Street corridors. Transportation and Mobility: Enhance and promote mobility alternatives to the automobile; design safe, efficient and environmentally sound transportation infrastructure; and connect to other local and regional networks. - Continue to replace OTS older buses with hybrids. - Begin implementation of bicycle lane striping. - Consider revisions to neighborhood street width regulations to include a wider terrace, narrower pavement and options for managing stormwater and increasing pedestrian and bicycle safety Green Economy: Bolster the local economy by attracting sustainable businesses and, green- collar jobs and encouraging existing businesses to become more sustainable by incorporating triple- bottom line into their business practices. - Create a sustainable best practices document to hand out to event planner - Encourage adoption of green building practices for new construction and renovation of existing businesses. - Research and publish a Green Business Directory to include green- collar companies and companies with improved sustainability. Sustainable Government: Lead by example and foster sustainability policies and actions for cost - effective, socially responsible and environmentally sound governmental practices to meet community needs. - Form a Green Team of department heads, designate a sustainability coordinator, and hire an intern to implement sustainability activities. - Develop an environmentally friendly purchasing policy. - Develop policies to preserve and plant trees and install rainwater projects around city buildings and adjacent to city parking lots.