HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem B: Sustainability Initiative Update
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UGENE ITY OUNCIL
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GENDA TEM UMMARY
Work Session: City Council Goal – Sustainability Initiative Update
Meeting Date: February 25, 2008 Agenda Item Number: B
Department: City Manager’s Office Staff Contact: Felicity Fahy
www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682 5017
ISSUE STATEMENT
An update of progress made on the Sustainability Initiative Council Goal adopted in January 2007, and
the work plan approved by the council in July 2007, will be provided. Sustainability Commission Chair
Will Shaver and Vice-Chair Tim Laue will outline commission progress and scope out work plan
discussions.
BACKGROUND
Introduction
In January 2007, the Eugene City Council adopted the Sustainability Initiative Goal with the following
focus: Develop an Office of Sustainability and Sustainability Commission which support a broad
variety of sustainable practices, and create a tool chest of things needed to support businesses which
produce sustainable products or provide or utilize sustainable practices.
Office of Sustainability
An interdepartmental team was convened to develop the goal action plan approved by the council in July
2007 (Attachment A). It was acknowledged in the action plan that the intermediate and final outcome
measures would be progressively developed and refined as the scope of the Office of Sustainability and
the priorities of the Sustainability Commission were established. The council asked that the final
outcome measures be redeveloped. This process is underway; the measures have not yet been amended.
The new Sustainability Manager position was filled in June 2007 and Felicity Fahy began orientation to
the organization and community. A scan of City operations, activities and policy documents, revealed a
strong commitment to sustainability and a good foundation on which to build a more comprehensive and
strategic approach to integrating the triple bottom line into City programs, decision-making and
operations. The role of social equity in sustainability was identified as the least understood and
integrated portion of the triple bottom line.
Since June, a lot of time and attention has been focused on relationship-building within the City
organization, community, and with educational and business entities, and government agencies. This
foundation is enabling the discussion on how to strategically and collaboratively help Eugene become
more sustainable. Staff recently participated in a climate summit organized by the University of Oregon
to focus attention on climate change initiatives in Lane County and provide a starting place for more
collaboration on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Further meetings are scheduled to strategize for a
coordinated approach to reducing emissions.
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There is a lot of media and community interest in the City’s sustainability initiatives, both within the
City and state, and particularly outside Oregon, as many other municipalities, counties and organizations
look to learn from what Eugene and others have achieved, especially with regard to energy efficiency
and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Some of this attention resulted from the fact that Eugene was
rated the #1 U.S. Green City by the Green Guide of the National Geographic Magazine in 2006. The
attention is likely to increase as more cities embrace the need to be sustainable combined with the
th
announcement this month that Eugene was ranked the 5 greenest city in the U.S. by Popular Science
Magazine (using a different rating system). This high ranking is partly due to Eugene’s electricity being
provided from primarily renewable resources and endorses the great work that EWEB does on energy
conservation and use of renewable energy.
The sustainability section of the City website has been substantially redesigned and updated with pages
created for the Sustainability Commission and internal City operations. Links were added to many of
the different internal and community-focused programs the City undertakes to help make Eugene a more
sustainable community. Both internet and intranet visitor counts for the website show that use of the
sustainability pages has more than trebled since July 2007.
A PowerPoint presentation is being developed by an intern working for the Sustainability Office which
will be a resource for staff and the council to use for presentations to the community on the City’s
sustainability initiatives. The format and information to include in a summary fact sheet of City
sustainability initiatives are being researched so current information can be provided to keep the
community informed of City action and results. Development of City performance measures and
community indicators will aid this process.
Sustainability Commission
Recruitment for the Sustainability Commission reflected strong interest from the broader community for
involvement in advancing sustainable initiatives throughout Eugene. From the 73 applicants, councilors
chose 12 for the commission, and the Mayor appointed a councilor. The Sustainability Commission first
met in late November 2007. From the first meeting, many commissioners expressed an urgency and
commitment to getting the commission established as quickly as possible in order to move on to
discussion of sustainability issues and the development of a work plan to begin addressing them. The
group has created a mission statement for the commission and is in the final stages of adopting bylaws.
A planning session is organized for Saturday, March 1, when the commission will begin development of
its work plan to bring to the council for approval. Community interest in the commission is high with
many people speaking during public comment time and up to 30 people attending the meetings.
Business initiatives
A variety of initiatives have been undertaken to help businesses and others improve their sustainability.
A community and business needs assessment is being undertaken and a strategic approach to educational
and technical support programs will be developed. In the intervening time, partnering opportunities have
enabled the City to work with the Lillis Business College at the University of Oregon and EWEB, and
the Eugene Chamber of Commerce to hold a business roundtable discussion with the chief engineer
from Interface Inc., (internationally recognized leaders in integrating the triple bottom line into their
carpet manufacturing and distribution business) along with Forrest Paint and Market of Choice
representatives. Attendance was excellent, with over 45 people participating in the roundtable.
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The City has also partnered with Lane County, University of Oregon, Lane Community College and a
number of businesses on a grant application to the Oregon Economic and Community Development
Department for a clean technology grant. If successful, the grant will provide funds to identify
workforce and other needs of an emerging industry cluster. It is anticipated that this grant will aid in the
growth and establishment of more clean technology businesses within Lane County, as well as the
development of an education node to help provide trained employees to the businesses.
The City is co-sponsoring with the Oregon Department of Transportation, local, state and national
associations of realtors and other local government agencies, a one-day conference on June 11,
tentatively called “Moving Forward Together.” This will bring people from the business/ development
community together with community members and government representatives to explore
transportation, housing and economic growth issues facing Lane County.
Working with a dedicated volunteer team, the Mayor’s Bold Steps Towards Sustainability awards have
been enhanced with a clear application process, assessment criteria, wider recruitment process and
commitment to making an award every two months. Businesses have responded well to the awards,
proudly displaying their awards in their advertising and trade displays.
Internal sustainability
An internal sustainability policy and implementation team has been appointed from management and
senior staff as part of the increased focus on sustainability with the adoption of the council goal and
establishment of the Sustainability Office. The team will develop and integrate the next steps the City
organization needs to take to operate more sustainably. In order to remain credible with the community
and lead by example, it is important that the City continually enhances its sustainability performance and
improve its practices across all three aspects of the triple bottom line – social equity, environmental
health and economic prosperity.
Responding to the Sustainable Business Initiative Task Force recommendations and in alignment with
development of City programs, staff is enhancing several different aspects of City operations. Initiatives
include developing a sustainable procurement policy, and revising and updating the internal greenhouse
gas inventory in preparation for the development of an internal climate action plan for emission
reductions. The City recycling and disposal system has also been investigated to establish baseline
recycling and disposal rates in order to help identify how to decrease our waste production. Upgrades
are underway for an enhanced recycling system covering more materials.
Next steps and resources
One of the biggest challenges with the Sustainability Initiative Goal is to identify the highest priority
issues to address to help the City and Eugene become more sustainable. In the gap analysis undertaken,
it has become apparent that a comprehensive approach to climate change that includes reducing
emissions and planning for local climate change, as well as responding to peak oil implications
including fossil fuel price rises and fluctuations are two of the largest topics that need immediate
attention.
These and other priorities will be discussed during the Sustainability Commission work plan session,
and will be incorporated in the commission work plan. The work of the commission will help define the
scope of the Sustainability Office and the development of priority issues.
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There is uncertainty about how much project-based sustainability work can be undertaken without
additional resources. There are likely to be recommendations from the commission to the council that
involve development of community action plans for climate change and living with fossil fuel price rises
that can not currently be undertaken within the Sustainability Office. The details of the City responses to
these and other priority issues will be more apparent after the commission has presented their work plan
to the council in late May.
RELATED CITY POLICIES
The Sustainability Initiative Goal supports and builds on the numerous sustainability resolutions that the
council has adopted. On February 28, 2000, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 4618, which
outlined a definition and statement of intent regarding the application of sustainability principles to the
City of Eugene, and affirmed the commitment of City elected officials and staff to uphold these
principles. To further this commitment, the City Council adopted Resolution Nos. 4884 and 4887 in the
summer of 2006 regarding a sustainable buildings policy for the City-owned and occupied buildings.
In November 2006, Resolution No. 4893 was adopted publicly, committing the City to sustainable
practices and to businesses that produce sustainable products and services. This was followed in
February 2007, by Ordinance No. 20379 which created the Sustainability Commission.
COUNCIL OPTIONS
This item is presented for information purposes and does not require action from the council.
CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
No recommendation is required.
SUGGESTED MOTION
No motion is required.
ATTACHMENTS
A. Sustainability Initiative Action Plan
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Staff Contact: Felicity Fahy
Telephone: 682 5017
Staff E-Mail: felicity.m.fahy@ci.eugene.or.us
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ATTACHMENT A
Sustainability Initiative Action Plan
At its January 2007 retreat, the Eugene City Council adopted the Sustainability Initiative with the
following focus:
Develop Office of Sustainability and Sustainability Commission that supports broad sustainable
practices and create a tool chest of things needed to support businesses that produce sustainable
products or provides or utilizes sustainable practices.
This action plan will cover a 3-5 year horizon, with particular emphasis on the first 18-24 months.
A. Planning Horizon and Focus
Implementing the Sustainability Initiative will require a two-phased effort. The first phase (18-24
months) will focus on launching the Office of Sustainability and the Sustainability Commission and
developing related programs and activities. The second phase (3-5 years) will emphasize progress on
the significant behavioral and cultural change necessary to achieve measurable improvement in the
sustainability of our community.
B. City Council Goal Outcomes
Intermediate Outcomes (within 18-24 months)
?
Defined scope of the Office of Sustainability
?
Sustainability Commission in place with a work plan approved by the City Council
?
A visible resource to help businesses and others improve their sustainability
?
First community sustainability performance report
Overall Outcomes (by the end of 3-5 years)
?
The City organization and the business community develop greater understanding of and
support for the value of sustainability
?
Triple-bottom-line (environment, economy, equity) analysis is explicitly imbedded in the City’s
decision making
?
Improved triple bottom line in the City organization and the community
C. Progress to Date
The City has a long history of extensive sustainability work. More detail about some of those efforts
can be found on the City’s website (http://www.eugene-or.gov/sustainability). Recent actions related
to the Sustainability Initiative include:
?
The City Council adopted Resolution 4884, "a sustainable buildings policy for buildings owned
and occupied by the City." The resolution requires that principles of sustainability, and
specifically the LEED standards, be applied to the siting, design, construction, operation and
maintenance of buildings.
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?
The Eugene City Council adopted Resolution 4893, “publicly committing the City of Eugene to
sustainable practices and to businesses that produce sustainable products and services.”
?
The City Council passed Council Bill 4942, an ordinance creating a Sustainability Commission,
and designing the structure and composition of the commission.
?
A sustainability manager has been recruited; the manager is currently in the process of doing
background research and setting up the office.
?
The City Council approved a position that will focus on external green building; duties will
include providing consultation support to residents, designers and others considering residential,
commercial and industrial remodels and new construction.
?
The City has completed an inventory of community-wide greenhouse gas emissions, which is the
first step in developing a comprehensive climate action plan.
D. Action Plan
The following steps will be undertaken to help achieve the Sustainability Initiative outcomes.
Action steps to be competed within 18-24 months:
Defined scope of the Office of Sustainability
?
Hire and orient sustainability manager
?
Perform a scan of sustainability activities, including: Sustainable Business Initiative (SBI)
recommendations, existing City activities, existing expectations (e.g. budget, council direction),
previously identified needs
?
Complete gap analysis
Sustainability Commission in place with a work plan approved by the City Council
?
Recruit sustainability commissioners
?
Orient and train commissioners
?
Prepare and submit work plan to council
A visible resource to help businesses and others improve their sustainability
?
Assess community needs
?
Develop strategic communication plan
?
Set up educational and technical support programs
?
Enhance best practices recognition program
First community sustainability performance report
?
Develop City performance measures and community indicators
?
Develop tools to measure performance
?
Gather and analyze data
?
Prepare and disseminate report
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Action steps to be competed by the end of 3-5 years:
The City organization and the business community develop greater understanding of and support for
the value of sustainability
?
Implement strategic communication plan
?
Work with internal and external stakeholders on education and outreach
Triple-bottom-line (environment, economy, equity) analysis is explicitly imbedded in the City’s
decision making
?
Create a triple-bottom-line analysis tool
?
Provide training on use of tool
?
Implement use of tool broadly throughout the City organization
Improved triple bottom line in the City organization and the community
?
Use recognition and incentives to motivate behavior change
?
Track progress in City performance measures and community indicators
E. Resource Needs
Sustainability is a new council goal, but there are many activities that are undertaken throughout the
City that contribute to sustainable outcomes in social equity, environmental enhancement and
business prosperity. Resource needs will be identified with more precision as work plans are
developed. Education and outreach are essential components of the success of this goal to help the
City and community develop and embrace new ways of living and working. Education will need to be
focused on city staff as well as community-wide initiatives. The desire to improve our internal and
community sustainability is not unique to the City; we will not be undertaking this work alone, but
rather we will work with community, business and governmental partners in developing and
delivering essential education, training and resources.
One of the primary resources required is staff time and expertise. Many staff members have built up
broad practical expertise in their respective fields that will be increasingly called upon to maintain and
develop new sustainability projects. Time and training will also be required to develop new
competencies in staff as the range of sustainable projects within the City increases. While there is
much expertise within City staff, there are likely to be resource costs for consultants over the course
of scoping and delivery of the action steps detailed in this plan.
Resources will be required to recruit, train and support the Sustainability Commission, including
meeting costs, staff time and budget for projects.
Budget is required for the development and implementation of community and business incentives
and rewards. More detail will be available when the scope and nature of the program is finalized.
There are resource needs in the development and delivery of education and technical support for
sustainable businesses. This will be undertaken in conjunction with partners as noted above but the
City will be required to support part of the costs of items such as development or adaptation of tools
and web support.
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F. Monitoring and Evaluation
Progress on the Sustainability Initiative will be evaluated using measures directly related to the
intermediate and long-term outcomes and the milestones outlined in the action plan. The City Council
will receive a written quarterly report that includes information about progress since the last report,
major challenges encountered, and relevant data.
As the details of the Office of Sustainability are still being defined, the process of developing
measures will continue after the adoption of this action plan. The measures below serve as a starting
point, and will be added to and modified as the Sustainability Initiative takes shape.
Intermediate Measures
?
Sustainability Commission work plan adopted by City Council.
?
Number of commercial and residential green building consultations provided to public.
Final Outcome Measures
?
To be developed.
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