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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem IVSteps Toward Sustainability in Oshkosh, WI Environmental Studies 490: Senior Seminar May 3, 2016 Proposal for Native Plantings in Stormwater Basins By: Shantel Brundidge, Gregory Gauthier Jr., Kelly Hamilton, and Lindsay McClintock Current Situation •Flooding •Impervious Surfaces •Water Quality •Impaired Waters Stormwater Basins located in Oshkosh, WI Drainage Basin Powerpoint, E. Williams Our Proposal •Proposal:“All new developments and redevelopments requiring stormwater basins shall use native plants.” •City of Oshkosh Sustainability Plan •Environmental Conservation Stormwater Basins with Native Vegetation Benchmarking •Farmington Hills, MI •One of the few select cities •Requires native planting •Stormwater Management Ordinance •Design guidelines provided •Simulate water cycle and green the city •Demographically similar to Oshkosh Benchmarking •Los Angeles, CA •Passed ordinance, May 2012 use of Natural Resources •Ensures development and redevelopment mitigate runoff •To benefit watershed and city •Water Quality Compliance Master Plan •Designed and constructed by entire community Stormwater Basin in Los Angeles Barriers •Lack of understanding •Benefits of native plants •Aesthetics •Not traditional landscape idea •Costs Business owners/developers unreceptive to added cost Solutions •Educational Campaign •Wild Ones •Grant Program •Urban Nonpoint Source & Stormwater Management •Community Partnerships Fox Valley Technical College Bettering Oshkosh’s Future Economic Increasing property value Tourism Environment Clean water Increased Biodiversity Social Reducing damage from flooding to homes Natural beauty & recreation Works Cited “Green Cities: Good Health.” 2015. University of Washington, College of the Environment. Web. 27 April 2016. “Oshkosh, Wisconsin.” 2013. United States Census Bureau. Web. 27 April 2016. “Upper Fox River Basins.” Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Web. 21 April 2016. “Welcome to Wild Ones Fox Valley Area.”Fox Valley Area.Wild Ones, 2016. Web. 16 March 2016. "Storm Water Detention Basins."Farmington Hills, MI -. Web. 18 Apr. 2016. Urban Agriculture: Beekeeping Ordinance Heidi Hetzel, Erika Lechner, Kailey Wood Urban Agriculture ●Health benefits ○Improves dietary habits ○Benefits mental health and personal wellness ○Provides social cohesion ●Ecological functions ○Biodiversity ○Habitat Improvement Proposal City beekeeping ordinance: Ensure healthy honey bee populations Benefitting our local economy Provide nutritious produce locally Sustainable practices Addresses:Local food section of the Oshkosh Sustainability Plan under Municipal Code Revisions Why Bees? Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) Wisconsin crop pollination Why the city? ●Agricultural pesticides ●Diverse diet ●Longer foraging season ●Educational opportunity Vital Services Food Security Pollinate 75% of food crops ⅓ of our daily diet Pollinate 90 commercially grown crops U.S. crops;alfalfa, almonds, blueberries, avocados cucumbers, onions, grapefruits, oranges, pumpkins, etc. Wisconsin Crops;Cherries, apples, cranberries Large industries and revenues Local Economic Products ●Beeswax -Lip balm, moisturizer, candles, etc. ●Bee Pollen -Supplement for asthma, increasing immune function, skin irritation relief, weight management,etc. ●Royal Jelly -Supplement for poor digestion, stomach ulcers, insomnia, high cholesterol, etc. ●Propolis -Antimicrobial properties, used in minor wounds, and being researched on beneficial effects on cancerous cells. ●Honey -Medicinal purposes, cosmetics, consumption, etc. Economic Consequences •$15 billion annually •Increase in produce costs locally •Nuts, fruits, vegetables •Increase in imported goods •Increase the U.S. trade deficit •Loss of industry Economic Impact on Wisconsin Negatively impacts the beef and dairy industries 2nd in the nation for milk production Losses Clover and alfalfa 138 Cheese factories 14 Butter factories 14 Yogurt factories (Brancel) Benchmarking •Fond du Lac, WI •Appleton, WI •Madison, WI Stakeholders •Beekeepers •City Council members •People with allergies •Concerned parents Barriers •Fear •Lack of education Momentum Education action Future planning: •Beekeeping courses •Incorporation into curriculum •Community learning opportunities: •Community gardens Field trips Where Does Oshkosh Stand? ●Proposed in March 2014 ○Failed ●Recommended in February 2016 ●Draft Ordinance -Sustainable Advisory Board ○Acceptance not permission ○Animal Husbandry -rules and regulations Growing Oshkosh -2015 Significance for Sustainability Grassroots contribution to three pillars of sustainability... AND Serves as a gateway to the formation of a community integrated with urban agriculture. Works Cited Bellows, Anne C., Katherine Brown, and Jac Smith. (2003). Health Benefits of Urban Agriculture.Community Food Security Coalition. Brancel, Ben. (2013). The Buzz About Bees: Let's Protect Our Pollinator.Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Spector, D. (2013, June 22). What Our World Would Look Like Without Honeybee. Rental Housing in Oshkosh: Improving Energy Efficiency Matt Gasper, Brian Gerl, Nate Kleist Barriers: 1)Communication 2)Education 3)Split Incentives 4)Financial/Economic 5)Short Term Leases 6)Market Fragmentation Stakeholders: 1)Lack of communication 2)Need for an education program 3)Concern whether there is a market for upgrades 4)Tenants unsure of willingness to pay What we learned... Benchmarking: SmartRegs Boulder, Colorado 1)Mandatory program for rental properties 2)Standardized grading system 3)Point system 4)Dedicated representative to help through the process Benchmarking: Me2 Milwaukee, WI 1)Voluntary program primarily for homeowners 2)Combines existing Focus on Energy℠rebates with low interest loans 3)Loans ~5% Benchmarking: Cambridge Energy Alliance Cambridge, MA 1)Voluntary program 2)Green lease concept a)Landlords and Tenants b)Upfront payment of utilities c)Helps finance green improvements 3)Available 0% financing 4)Free assessments Recommendations: 1)Green leases 2)Education programs for landlords and tenants 3)Improve communication avenues between all stakeholders 4)Tax incentives Summary 1)Barriers 2)Stakeholders 3)Benchmarking 4)Recommendations References Cambridge Energy Alliance. The Cambridge Energy Alliance. n.p. n.d. Web. 23 April 2016. <http://cambridgeenergyalliance.org/> EnergySmart.Energy Smart, n.d. Web. 30 March 2016. <http://www.energysmartyes.com/> Homeowners. Environmental Collaboration Office. (City of Milwaukee). Web. 25 March 2016. < http://city.milwaukee.gov/Me2/Homeowners#.VyF---SGPHA> Karnitz, Bruce. Personal interview. 16 March 2016. Krueger, Jason. Personal interview. 14 March 2016. Lord, Donn. Personal interview. 7 March 2016. Oshkosh, WI. Planning Services. City of Oshkosh.Comprehensive Plan, 2005-2025.Ordinance 5-82. 22 March 2005. Web. 6 April 2016. Oshkosh, WI. Sustainability Board. Sustainability.ICLEI Milestone 1 Oshkosh, Wisconsin Greenhouse Gas Emissions Analysis. Print. 2007. Proposal for Reclaiming Vacant Lots for Community Use Dani Hatch, Sophie Brandstetter, Ryan Kisow & Ty Voissem Vacant Land in Oshkosh Current Situation:Currently 28 city-owned vacant lots •Demolished homes and side lots •Maintained by the city •Up for sale by the city •Can be utilized with a conditional use permit Our Goal:The creation of community green spaces Decreases the city’s maintenance costs Increases quality of life Neighborhood aesthetics Proposal •8 Garden beds •Archway •Picnic table •Little Library •Storage shed •2 Benches Costs Start Up budget: $1,345 Funding Oshkosh Community Foundation Grant Community Impact Fund Donations Local Businesses Local Churches Neighbors Equipment Donations Local Businesses Benchmarking Existing green spaces in Oshkosh: Franklin & Ida Central & Parkway Milwaukee, WI Social interaction, recreation, and education Youngstown, OH Lots of Green Program Stakeholders City of Oshkosh Growing Oshkosh Local residents Barriers Neighborhood community participation Some negative feedback from neighbors Concerns over noise and traffic Benefits of Green Space •Decreases City Costs •Beautify Unattractive Spaces •Increase Neighborhood Values •Increase Community Engagement •Provide Sense of Place and Ownership •Meeting Oshkosh’s Sustainability Goals •Promote Local Food Education and Production Overview/conclusion •We laid the groundwork for this action plan to be carried out anywhere where motivation for such an idea exists. •The measurements for the beds along with all supplies have been adequately constructed Expanding Plastic Film Recycling in Oshkosh Carly Persson & Cassandra Fowler 1 Slide 45 1 Cash introduce 194 tons annually Define plastic film Cassandra Fowler, Recommendation Include Plastic Film in City Recycling Ordinance •Curbside Pickup •W.R.A.P. •Tri-County Recycling Center •Operational change: slowing of conveyor belt Environmental Impacts Over 33,000,000 million bags landfilled Impact on Waterways Microplastics Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) PCBs Effects on wildlife Dangers to human health Economic Impacts •Redevelopment/Improvement •Parks and waterfront properties •Lake Winnebago •Economic •$234 million fishing industry •Fox River •Food Source Societal Change Behavioral change •Convenience •Education •Mandatory Stakeholders Tri-County Recycling Center Winnebago County Recycling Coordinator Economic Street Sanitation Public Works Sanitation Director Risk of contamination Oshkosh Residents Benchmarking Madison, Dane County, Pellitteri Waste Systems Population: 509,939 Households: 216,022 Since 2012 Slow conveyor belt Bag of bags Promotion Youtube Tutorial Online Guidelines Oshkosh, Winnebago County, Tri- County Recycling Center Population: 604,472 Households: 250,849 Costs •Additional Labor •Keep up production •Potential $27,160 offset per year Barriers •Education of Residents •Tutorial •“Bag of Bags” •Framing for each age bracket •Simplicity emphasized •Clarity of Bags •Risk of Contamination Conclusion Initiate mandatory plastic film recycling and begin curbside recycling of plastic film for processing in the Tri-County Recycling Facility •Changes to Tri-County Recycling Center •Slow Conveyor Belt •Educational Campaign Works Cited Andrady, Anthony L. "Microplastics in the Marine Environment."Marine Pollution Bulletin 62 (2011): 1596-605. Print. Barr, Stewart, Andrew W. Gilg, and Nicholas J. Ford. “Differences between Household Waste Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling Behavior: a Study of Reported Behaviors, Intentions, and Explanatory Variables.”Environmental and Waste Management 4.2 (2001): 69-82. Web. 29 March 2016. Cherrier, Helene. “Consumer Identity and Moral Obligations in Non-Plastic Bag Consumption: a Dialectical Perspective.” International Journal of Consumer Studies 30 (2006): 515-523. Web. 29 March 2016. Ferrara, Ida and Paul Missios. “Recycling and Waste Diversion Effectiveness: Evidence from Canada.”Environmental and Resource Economics 30 (2005): 221-238. Web. 29 March 2016. “Milwaukee and Wisconsin WRAP (Wrap Recycling Action Program).”PlasticFilmRecycling.org.American Chemistry Council. Web. 04 April 2016. Ryan, Peter G., Charles J. Moore, Jan A. van Franeker, and Coleen L. Moloney. "Monitoring the abundance of Plastic Debris in the Marine Environment."Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society 364 (2009): 1999-2012. Print. Thompson, Richard C., Charles J. Moore, Frederick S. vom Saal, and Shanna H. Swan. "Plastics, the environment and human health: current consensus and future trends."Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society 364 (2009): 2153-66. Print.