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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem B - SustainabilityEUGENE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Work Session: Sustainability Practices at the City of Eugene Meeting Date: February 16, 2005 Agenda Item Number: B Department: Central Services Staff Contact: Jim Carlson www. cl. euget~e, or. us Contact Telephone Number: 682-5524 ISSUE STATEMENT In February 2000, the City of Eugene adopted a resolution (No. 4618) approving a definition and statement of intent regarding the application of sustainability principles to the City of Eugene. This work session is intended to update the Mayor and City Council regarding recent activities related to this resolution. BACKGROUND The City of Eugene began a thoughtful exploration of the concept of sustainability in 1999. In March and April 1999, the City Council held a series of work sessions on Council Goals for the 1999-2001 biennium. In those work sessions, the council discussed the meaning of the term "sustainable" as it related to Council Goal #2 - Sustainable Community Development. On September 8, 1999, the City Council held a work session to discuss the sustainability concept and its application to the City of Eugene. On February 28, 2000, the City Council approved Resolution No. 4618 (Attachment A). In 1999, the City Executive Management Team created an Environmental Policy Team (EPT) consisting of the department and division directors most closely involved with these issues to oversee the work of the City on environmental and sustainability issues. The EPT created three working groups on environmental review, green buildings and salmon/endangered species issues. Each of these groups commissioned studies intended to provide guidance to the City on improvements to existing City practices and procedures. One of the reports resulting from this effort was a Review of City of Eugene Activities for Potential to Affect the Natural Environment, produced by CH2MHill in March 2001. An implementation strategy was developed from this report and presented to the City Council in December 2002. An update of this effort was provided to the City Council in November 2003. In January 2003, the City Manager pro tem finalized in an administrative order an Environmental Policy intended to guide staff in its work, involvement in City programs and various practices and procedures (Attachment B). L:\CMO\2005 Council Agendas\M050216\S050216B.doc In 2004, the City contracted with Good Company to do a preliminary review of our sustainability efforts. This work resulted in a brochure on "The City of Eugene and Sustainability" (Attachment C). A memorandum describing some recent initiatives is included as Attachment D. RELATED CITY POLICIES One of the City Council's Goals is SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - A community that retains a high quality of life and a healthy economy, effectively links land use and transportation planning, and successfully manages growth and change in the urban environment. COUNCIL OPTIONS This is an information item only. CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION The City Manager has no recommendation on this item. SUGGESTED MOTION No motion is necessary. ATTACHMENTS A. Resolution No. 4618 B. City of Eugene Environmental Policy C. City of Eugene and Sustainability Brochure D. February 7, 2005, Memorandum: Update on Sustainability Activities FOR MORE INFORMATION Staff Contact: Jim Carlson Telephone: 682-5524 Staff E-Mail: j ames.r.carlson~ci.eugene.or.us L:\CMO\2005 Council Agendas\M050216\S050216B.doc RESOLUTION NO 4618 ATTACHMENT A RESOLUTION NO 4618 A -RESOLUTION ADOPTING A DEFINITION AND STATEMENT OF INTENT REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF SUSTAINABILITY PRINCIPLES TO THE CITY OF EUGENE The City Council of the City of Eugene finds that: A. In March and April, 1999 the City Council held a series of work session on Council Goals for the 1999 -2001 biennium. In those work sessions, the Council discussed the meaning of the term "sustainable" as it related to proposed Council Goal #2. The City Council directed staff to provide information on the sustainability concept at a future Council meeting. B. On September 8, 1999 the City Council held a work session to discuss the sustainability concept and its application to Council Goal #2, and to the government of the City of Eugene. Following that discussion, the City Council directed staff to prepare a resolution that adopts a definition for the term "sustainable" and outlines further actions that the City might take to incorporate sustainability principles in local government activities. C. Issues related to community sustainability cut across jurisdictional borders and political boundaries. The application'of measures to insure a sustainable future requires intergovernmental cooperation and support from private sector business entities, community and neighborhood organizations, non- governmental organizations, and educational institutions. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EUGENE, a Municipal Corporation of the State of Oregon, as follows: Section 1. Based on the above findings, we, the elected officials of the City of Eugene agree to uphold the Sustainability Principles outlined in Section 2. The City of Eugene is committed to promoting a sustainable future that meets today's needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs, and accepts its responsibility to: Support a stable, diverse and equitable economy Protect the quality of the air, water, land and other natural resources Conserve native vegetation, fish, wildlife habitat and other ecosystems Minimize human impacts on local, regional and worldwide ecosystems Section 2. Sustainability Principles: City elected officials and City staff will uphold the following principles in carrying out their duties: 1. The concept of sustainability guides city policy and actions. The City of Eugene is committed to meeting its current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The City will ensure that each of its policy decisions and programs are interconnected through the common bond of sustainability as expressed in these principles. The cumulative and long term impacts of policy choices will be considered as we work to ensure a sustainable legacy. httv://www, ci.eu~ene.or.us/PDD/Sustain/resolution no 4618.htm 1/25/2005 RESOLUTION NO 4618 Page 2 of 2 2. The City will lead by example. The City of Eugene has an opportunity and responsibility to set an example for other organizations by operating its facilities and services in a sustainable manner. The City is committed to assessing its current practices and programs with respect to their conformance with sustainability objectives. The City is further committed to developing strategies for implementing sustainable practices that address purchasing of products and services, maintenance, facility design, and municipal operations. 3. The quality of the environment and the health of the economy are interdependent. A healthy environment is integral to the long-term economic interests of the City. The City is committed to protecting and restoring the natural environment as growth management and economic development decisions are made. The City is also committed to ecological decision-making where-in environmental criteria are integrated into municipal decision- making processes. As we protect the health of the environment and provide for expansion of the economy, we must also ensure that inequitable burdens are not placed on any one geographic or socioeconomic sector of the population. 4. Community awareness and education are fundamentally important to successful implementation of sustainability policies and programs. Every member of the community has some impact on the environment. Individuals, businesses, governments, and community-based groups must be encouraged to take responsibility for actions that harm the environment. The City will assume a leadership role in creating, sponsoring, and promoting sustainability awareness and education within the community. The City will focus on solutions and will facilitate citizen participation in developing those solutions. 5. Local actions have regional, national and global implications. Eugene does not exist in isolation; it is part of a larger community of interests. Similarly, local issues cannot be separated from their broader context. The City will recognize the relationship between local, regional, national and global issues in its policy and program development. The City will also assume a leadership role in developing model environmental programs and innovative approaches to economic development that reflect this linkage to the regional, national and global communities. The foregoing Resolution adopted the 28th day of February 2000. /s/Warren G. Wong City Recorder Background Paper on Sustainability Planning and Development Dept. Home Eugene Home Page http://www.ci.eugene.or.us/PDD/Sustain/resolution no 4618.htm 1/25/2005 City of Eugene Environmental Policy ATTACHMENT B City of Eugene Environmental Policy The City of Eugene exists in a special and unique environment framed by conifer and oak forested hills at the south end of the Willamette River Valley. It lies between the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette Rivers to the north, and Spencer Butte to the south, from whose slopes Amazon Creek flows to the west, through the wetlands of west Eugene and on to Fern Ridge Reservoir. Eugene's residents enjoy its clean air and water, views of the Cascade Range and Coburg Hills, diverse forest, wetland and riparian habitats, and many bike paths, trails and parks. The City of Eugene recognizes the value of these natural resources and takes responsibility for its environmental impacts both locally and regionally within the larger Willamette River watershed. The Eugene City Council has adopted policies that direct the City to pursue sustainability (Resolution #-4618), protection of natural resources (Growth Management Policy #17) and recovery of threatened Upper Willamette Spring Chinook Salmon (Resolution #4615) in its activities. Therefore, the City of Eugene is committed to protecting, preserving and restoring the natural environment. City decision-making will be guided by the goals of increasing environmental benefits and reducing or eliminating negative environmental impacts in all aspects of the City's activities, while maintaining the City's fiscal integrity and the community's economic vitality. To achiev these goals, the City is committed to: 1. Ensure that each employee understands that they are expected to take personal responsibility for the environmental effects of their actions while performing City work. 2. Provide the leadership, training and resources needed to enable all City employees to implement this policy, and to continue to build the capacity of the organization to achieve continual environmental improvement. 3. Meet or exceed compliance with all applicable environmental statutes, regulations, and standards. 4. Reduce environmental impacts in all activities, including operations, maintenance, construction and waste disposal. Therefore, the City is committed to continually review all activities to identify and carry out cost-effective and achievable strategies to: · prevent pollution · reduce energy consumption and increase energy efficiency · conserve water · reduce consumption and waste · reuse, recycle, and purchase recycled content products · reduce reliance on non-renewable resources. 5. Consider long-term as well as short-term environmental consequences when making planning, designing, engineering, purchasing, contracting, and budgeting decisions, including the impacts of producing, using, and disposing of materials. 6. Provide leadership and share infOrmation about the City's environmental practices to encourage and support efforts to protect, preserve and restore the natural environment. 7. Work in partnership with local, state and federal agencies, local businesses, educational institutions, community groups and the general public to protect, preserve and restore the natural environment in our community and the surrounding region. http://www.ci.eu~ene.or.us/environment/city policy.htm 1/25/2005 City of Eugene Environmental Policy Page 2 of 2 Environmental Stewardship April 14, 2004 http://www, ci.eugene.or.us/environment/city_policy.htm 1/25/2005 The City of Eugene is committed to effectively managing its impact on the economy, the environment and the people of Eugene. By considering both the short- and long-term costs and impacts of the City's operations, the City can steer towards a sustainable system that provides the best value and service for the community. This brochure contains a sampling of the City's performance and recent efforts. While this is not an exhaustive inventory of the City's service impacts, it does illustrate the breadtt~ and depth of the City's internal activities and commitments.  This brochure also provides a brief definition of sustainability issues with internet links to learn more about the subject and the City's activities. While the scope of the issues is global, everyone should participate in regional strategies and actions to strengthen the local community. City's sustainability policies: http://www, ci.eugene.or, us/environment/ city_policy, htm. City's Resolution on Sustainability: http://www, ci.eugene.or, us/PDD/Sustain/ resolution no 4618.htm Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled content, process chlorine-free paper. Context: Careful management of our land and waterways is necessaryto ensure the health and well being of all species in our bioregion and watershed. Urban forests, open-space, waterways and wetlands can provide both an ecosystem for critical species and beautiful places to recreate. Proper habitat management will also ensure a steady supply of "ecosystem services" such as clean air and water and flood control. What's happening: There are three ongoing initiatives to preserve habitat and watersheds. · Wetlands program- The City, the U. S. Bureau of Land Management, and The Nature Conser- vancy have acquired approximately 2,500 acres to date. · Ridgeline Trail- 1,067 acres have been acquired to date. · Stormwater management- Over 18 acres of stream corridor, which were specifically targeted for improving and maintaining water quality and natural resource values, have been acquired. The target is 173 acres. What's next: · The native plantings at Tugman Park (see case study below) hadn't taken hold when a 10-year event storm hit. The ensuing rush of stormwater pulled out or damaged many of the new plants. The new plantings are being evaluated this summer and will be replanted as necessarythis fall · The West Eugene Wetlands Program is moving from the acquisition phase to the restoration ~ and maintenance phase. · The Stream Corridor Acquisition Program is altering its goals to match available resources. · The City is continuing its efforts to improve the effectiveness of working with volunteers. EPA's recycling page: www. epa.gov/ebtpages/ The initial plan to address flood control issues in the park pollrecycling.htrnl was to install a pipe for runoff but City staff sought an BRING Recycling: alternative that would also improve habitat. The stream www. bringrecycling.org/ channel was cut to meander rather than run straight and deconstruction.html natives were planted along the banks. This slowed the water flow, and as the native plants grow, these condi- Eugene's programs: tions will eventually help provide temperature control and Computer recycling program used by improve overall habitat. the City: wwwl .us.dell.corn/content/topics/ segtopic.aspx/ dell_recycling?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs Wetlands program: www. ci.eugene.or, us/parks/wetlands/ Ridgeline Trail: www. ci.eugene.or, us/parks/ridgeline/ RIDGE_acq_proj.htm Stormwater management: www. ci.eugene.or, us/pw/storm/ waterways/ Energy and Fuel Use Context: What's happening: Our sources of energy impose substantial costs on our health · The City's wastewater treatment plant captures the and the economythrough direct pollution such as smog, methane gas it produces and turns it into electricity, particulate pollution and acid rain. Energy use is also the major providing over half of the main plant's needs. This not only driver of climate change: rising concentrations of carbon reduces the climate impacts of the methane by about 95%, dioxide from fossil fuels are bringing uneven and unpredictable but it also reduces the need for further production of changes in temperatures, weather, winds and ocean currents, energy. In 2003, the captured methane provided a savings of These changes have potentially massive impacts on biodiversity, $234,324. rainfall, agriculture and forestry, sea level, and the geographical · The wastewater plant is also installing a sulfur oxide (SOx) range of infectious diseases, filter to further reduce climate changing emissions. · The City's passenger vehicles are I~eing replaced with hybrid-powered vehicles as they come due for replace- ment. Also, all diesel equipment now runs on 20% bio- diesel and will soon switch to a mix with 80% ultra-low sulfur diesel. · EWEB's Energy Edge Award went to the new Library for its efficient design. Through a collaborative design process with EWEB, the new Library improved its energy efficiency by 30% over Oregon building codes. Savings on gas and electricity are expected to be about $25,000 per year. What's next: · Create a centralized collection point for all energy use data and improve reporting of that information in order to ensure ongoing improvements. · Create an energy strategy for City pools, which account for 25% of all energy used in general fund City buildings. Water use Context: What's next: By using water efficiently and by adapting our needs to our Water use data, like energy use data, needs to be centralized in water supply and its fluctuations, we can enjoy a regional order to be managed consistently. resource that supports residences, businesses and agriculture for many years to come. Because of state health codes, nearly all the water we use is treated. Treated water has concerns that go beyond the draw from our rivers and water tables. Large amounts of energy and chemicals are used to pump and purify the water, resulting in hidden air and water pollution concerns as well as climate change impacts. What's happening: ,,' ~ince 1992, the City has been upgrading its irrigation systems ~'~ ~vith a weather-controlled device. Typically, this type of system reduces water consumption by 35-40% over a conventional timed system. Currently 97.3% of all park acreage is under this type of control. ~ ......................................... Maintenance Toxicity ! Persistence Context: Human-made chemicals are used in agriculture, health care, · Nearly all custodial chemicals used by Facilities are manufacturing, construction and many other important applica- certified by Green Seal, an independent organization that tions. Government and industry have tested only a few hundred of sets standards for and certifies a wide variety of environ- the estimated 70,000 chemicals in common use in the United mentally sound products. States for health impacts, and many of those are linked to health · Used computer equipment is disposed of by the following and environmental problems. The most persistent chemicals methods, depending on its usefulness: endure years beyond their use and often collect in the food chain. · Sale at auction for reuse, What's happening: · Donation to non-profit organizations for reuse, or · Since 1989, Parks Maintenance has actively managed · Given to organizations that remanufacture equipment chemicals according to its Integrated Pest Management and properly dispose of or recycle rest. Plan (IPM). Examples of how this works are: What's next: · In 2002, on the 548 acres of Eugene parkland, the City · A centralized chemical tracking system for Parks and Open used less than 13 gallons of non-persistent spot herbicides. This comes to approximately 3 ounces of Space is up and running. This system will track all pesticide herbicide per acre. applications bythe department and will eventually be expanded city-wide and will include fertilizer applications. · Since 1989, onlythree Iow-toxicity insecticide applications have been made at all buttwo ofthe City's · The City's pools are its largest chemical users. Unfortu- parks. At the other two parks, Hendricks and the Rose nately, every chemical used is required by state and local Garden, the specialized plants require a higher level of health codes. The City needs to work with health officials tc maintenance against pests, find an alternative to chemically intensive water treatment in pools. Solid waste / recycling Context: What's next: Eugene, like elsewhere, has experienced a long-term upward · The City will seek to determine its operations' recycling rate trend in the amount of solid waste generated. Although we so that a baseline can be set and improvements measured. produce waste like most other communities, our residential This involves gathering information on city-wide operations recycling rate is among the highest in the country. Recycling to discover the total amount of waste generated and the lessens our burden not just on landfills and trash collection percentage recycled. systems, but also on virgin resources. Additionally, recycling and · Implement the recommendations from the All Associates re-use industries are a growing piece of economic development. Group's report on reducing paper use in City operations. What's happening: · 90% of the material from the teardown of the former Agripac site was recovered for reuse with support from BRING ~oooo Recycling. 8000 · The City's Leaf Composting Program generates 1,500-3,000 cubic yards of compost a year from leaves collected from 6000 city streets. The graph at right shows the amount of leaves collected each 4000 year before composting. The dramatic reduction in leaves collected in 2003 is due to an increase in homeowner and 2000 Community Garden requests. 0 7999 2000 2OOl 2002 2003 Context: The City's ability to perform its work depends first and foremost on its employees. The City seeks to be a model employer and to deliver high-quality services at a reasonable cost to citizens. Since turnover is expensive - hiring, training and other transition costs are an estimated 150% of that employee's total compensation- a healthy and happy workplace is also a lower-cost and more efficient government for the citizens. Satisfaction What's happening: A 2002 survey of City employees found that 90% feel they have a good job or better. What's next: The City must continue to improve professional development trainings and work for better communication among and between departments. Context: City government has a significant effect on the local economy. Salaries and benefits paid to City employees have a ripple effect on local businesses. Purchasing goods and services from the local area supports a more stable tax base and promotes employment outside of the City's operations. And by operating efficiently, the City reduces the tax burden on Eugene citizens. What's happening: · The City purchases between 70% and 80% of all goods and services from local vendors. The biggest sectors are construction and trade services. · The City operates and manages the airport without the use of local tax dollars. The airport provides essential connectivity to other markets for Eugene's businesses and citizens, · The City was actively involved in encouraging Delta Airlines service in Eugene. This brings competition to the marketplace and makes travel more affordable. The airport provided $100,000 to promote the new service to the community. To ensure viability of the Delta's new service, the City backed it with $400,000. The airport also supported similar projects in 1999 Links: and 2000. City's 2004 Adopted Budget: · Since 1984, the City's Business Loan Program has helped to create over 1,000 jobs by www. cl.eugene.or, us/ASD/ providing over $11 million of reasonably priced financing to Eugene businesses. Finance/Budget/FY04Adopted/ 04AdoptedBudget.htm What's next: City's Business Loan Program: · The Mayor's Committee on Economic Development presented its recommendations to the Nw. ci.eugene.or, us/PDD/ -L~evelopment/BDF/ City Council in August 2004. During the early part of 2005, the council will review and act on BDFinfo.htm the Committee's recommendations. Health and safety What's happening: · For the last two years, the League of Oregon Medal Safety Award. · The Employee Health and Wellness Program, maintain their health, provides savings What's next: Increase promotion of the Health Risk Appraisal and reduce sick days. Diversity What's happening: Eugene is a recognized leader in hiring equitably at left demonstrates that the City's workforce closely 2.1% 3.0% What's next 2.7% 2.4% While diversity training is ongoing and successful, in the future, traini 3.6% other training modules to make it more accessible. From t~e C~ty of Eugene's Ower$ity Annual Re~o~, June 2003, www,¢i.eugene,or, us/HRRS/Divers~tWAn~ualRpt htm Links: Wall Street Journal link on 'J.O the cost of employee turnover: www. careerjournaleurope.com/ ,80 hrcentedarticles/19980305- : agno.html 0.8 City's Risk Report: www. ci.eugene,or, us/H RRS/ Risk/RiskRptO3.pdf 0.6 City's 2003 Diversity Annual Report: www. ci.eugene.or, us/H RRS/ Diversity/AnnualRpt. htm 0.4 0.2 Developed in partnership with Good Company O. 0 2005 www.goodcompany, com 1999 2000 2001 2002 . This table shows that the City of Eugene's workers' compensation Design: Sally Markos have been better than the average city claims rates (1.0) over ~e years. SEPTEMBER 20O4 ( ATTACHMENT D Central Services Administration City of Eugene 777 Pearl St., Rm 105 MEMORANDUM Eugene, Oregon ~7401 (541) 682-5049 (541) 682-5414 FAX www,ci.eugene.or.us Date: February 9, 2005 To: Mayor Piercy and City Council From: Jim Carlson, 682-5524 Assistant City Manager Subject: Update on Sustainability Activities Introduction In February of 2000, the City Council adopted Resolution #4618, A Resolution Adopting a Definition and Statement of Intent Regarding the Application of Sustainability Principles to the City of Eugene. This resolution commits the City to promoting a sustainable future that meets today's needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs, and accepts its responsibility to: · Support a stable, diverse and equitable economy · Protect the quality of the air, water, land and other natural resources · Conserve native vegetation, fish, wildlife habitat and other ecosystems · Minimize human impacts on local, regional and worldwide ecosystems The resolution also included a set of sustainability principles intended to guide the development of policies and strategies and the provision of City services. This memo summarizes some of the activities that have been taken to implement Resolution #4618 and the concept of sustainability in the management and provision of City services. In 2004, the City contracted with Good Company to do a review of the City's efforts around the issue of sustainability. Good Company assisted in the production of a brochure entitled, "The City of Eugene and Sustainability." This brochure has been used to provide information to the public to increase community awareness. The City has undertaken many initiatives to implement specific sustainability practices throughout the city's operations. As we have tried to evaluate our efforts through the Good Company review and staff education on this topic, we recognize that we have been more successful in our environmental stewardship efforts than in the efforts around sustainable economic development or social equity. We are now beginning to understand some of the other dimensions of sustainability and staff is committed to focusing more attention on the other aspects of sustainability. The material which follows represents an update of recent activities related to the issue of sustainability. While compiling this update, it became clear that there was more going on at the City than could be covered in a single work session. We plan to have additional sessions on specific topics as time is available on future council agendas. Economic Development There are many activities which could fall under the general category of sustainable economic development. A few of these include the land use planning related to nodal development and the Downtown Plan, the targeted use of the Business Development Fund, city purchasing of goods and services from local vendors, and operation of regional transportation services such as the Eugene airport and the downtown Amtrak station. In January 2003, the council received recommendations on how to best leverage limited one-time economic resources to achieve tangible results for enhancing the community's economic sustainability. City management discussions focused on ways to link sustainability actions to other major work program items to enhance the "sustainability outcomes" of broader policy initiatives. With this view, the City has concentrated its work to date in two primary areas: green building education and information and completion of a downtown housing market analysis. Green building initiatives, which are addressed later in this memo, were supported in part with sustainable economic development funding. A downtown housing market analysis was completed by EcoNorthwest and presented to the Planning Commission during the commission's deliberations on the downtown plan update. This study contributed to the commission's policy recommendations as well as the City's efforts to support residential infill, nodal development and growth management. City staff also works with local groups to support and promote green building education and practices in the community. In spring 2003, the Planning and Development Department sponsored public presentations on green building technologies and code issues by David Eisenberg, director of the Development Center for Appropriate Technology (DCAT), Tucson, Arizona; sustainable development basics by Dennis Wilde, senior project manager with Gerding/Edlen Development, Portland; and green building product information for suppliers and builders. Co-sponsors for these sessions included the Lane County Home Builders Association, University of Oregon Program in Watershed and Community Health, City of Springfield, Northwest EcoBuilding Guild and Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce. In spring 2004, the City of Eugene sponsored public presentations on sustainable community development with architects Eric Ridenour and Ronald Kellett. Ridenour is an architect, urban designer and LEED-accredited professional at Fletcher Farr Ayotte in Portland, and chairs the Portland Branch of the Cascadia Region Green Building Council. Ronald Kellett, formerly of Eugene, was an architecture professor at the University of Oregon and is a registered architect in British Columbia. In his book, "Patterns of Open Space, Patterns of Growth: Negotiating Environment in Urban Development," Kellett scans concepts and current practices related to "greening" the patterns of urban development, illustrated with examples from recent and emerging models in the United States and Canada. Planning and Development staff is preparing a request-for-proposals (RFP) for designers, builders and developers to partner with the City in a development project demonstrating aspects of environmentally sensitive site design and green building technologies. The City's money match will include dollars remaining from a City Council allocation for sustainable economic development. If the project goes forward, the City would provide no-cost technical and process consulting, as well as expedited permitting. Staff also is forming an informal advisory group of community members to help guide green building initiatives. Wetlands Mitigation Bank - The West Eugene Wetlands Mitigation Bank provides a significant benefit for businesses and other development projects by assisting with the regulatory requirement to mitigate for impacts to wetlands. The "bank" sells credits to developers that allow them to proceed with their development without conducting their own on-site mitigation. The environment benefits from this approach since the bank carries out large-scale restoration with extremely high ecological standards. The West Eugene Wetlands mitigation bank is considered a model for other communities for its innovative and high quality management of the regulatory process. Purchasing - In a specific City activity, we will be reviewing our purchasing procedures, especially around some of the larger commodity purchases to see if we can make improvements within Oregon purchasing laws in both the ability to buy locally and for increasing the sustainability criteria used (e.g. recycled content in paper). Social/Communi ,ty/Employee In the area of social equity, the City has programs that operate both internal to the organization and external to thc community. In the work done by Good Company, we concentrated on internal issues such as employee satisfaction, health and safety and diversity efforts. The City also has many programs which address social equity in the community including low-income housing programs, contributions to thc Human Services system, our exemplary Human Rights Commission and Human Rights Support System, homeless camping programs, participation in the community campaign under the auspices of United Way of Lane County, extensive investments to comply with thc Americans with Disability Act, and scholarships for low income residents in the recreation program. The following represent just a few of our recent program initiatives. Parks, Recreation and Open Space - These core values form the cornerstone for the draft comprehensive plan: health, equity, community, service, and sustainability. These values involve supporting community stewardship of our built and natural environment, ensuring services are equitably distributed throughout the community, building a sense of community, providing the highest quality programs and facilities, contributing to overall ecosystem health through preservation and restoration, pursuing a strong understanding of our natural systems, and creating a legacy for future generations. Goals, strategies, and proposals to address the needs of all segments of our community for the next 20 years are proposed. This is the first planning process for parks, recreation and open space to be based on sustainability principals. Volunteer Programs - The Parks and Open Space Division offers three volunteer programs to allow Eugene residents the chance to contribute substantially to their parks and open space. The Stream Team program provides the opportunity for people to do hands-on environmental work, restoring and caring for the city's waterways and natural areas. Stream Team volunteers maintain two native plant nurseries where they sow seeds and nurture plants to be used in restoration projects across the city. The Volunteers-In-Parks program provides an avenue for neighbors to help improve their local parks and thc Ridgelinc trail. The NeighborWoods program works with local business partners and community members to plant trees along our streets and continue to grow thc city's urban forest. Employees - The First Step Healthy Movement Program was introduced in January 2005 as a motivator for City of Eugene employees and dependents on the health plan to be more active. This program uses a pedometer to record thc number of daily steps taken. As people move and become more active, thc health of the individual will no doubt improve. And we know from many research studies that healthier people use less sick leave and use the medical system less. Currently, wc have 607 employees and dependents participating in the First Step program. To date, the current step total is 82,000,000 and climbing fast. Environment There are many environmental programs to use as examples of sustainable efforts in Eugene. The following represent some recent initiatives. Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions - The City has been working in the last few months with a University of Oregon Planning, Public Policy and Management (PPPM) graduate course developing a regional baseline of greenhouse gas emissions. As part of establishing this baseline, we have provided 10 years of detailed data on energy consumption and solid waste production of City operations. This information quantifies the City's portion of the local greenhouse gas emissions. The successive phases of the UO effort include development of a model of green house gas impacts, evaluation of alternative ways to reduce GHG emissions, development ora plan for adapting to local consequences of climate change and ultimately a regional climate change plan. Solid Waste/Recycling - Beginning in January 2005, the City of Eugene's Solid Waste and Recycling Program implemented a pilot collection program for food discards. Approximately 1400 collection customers received instructions to recycle food scraps into their yard debris recycling bin. The year long study will evaluate the collection and processing costs and material preparation issues associated with a City-wide collection program for residential customers. Previous work by the program in the arena of food discard composting has led the Oregon DEQ to begin a process to re-write its compost facility permitting rules. A study completed in 2003 indicated that food waste is one of the largest components of the waste stream still being landfilled by Eugene generators. Generation of this waste is evenly split between commercial, residential, and multi-family sources. Throughout the City organization, staff is active in trade or advocacy associations that are working on state or national issues related to environmental sustainability. The Association of Oregon Recyclers is an Oregon trade association that is leading an effort to modernize Oregon's beverage container redemption system at the direction of the Chair of the organization, Alex Cuyler of the City of Eugene's Solid Waste and Recycling Program. West Eugene Wetlands - The West Eugene Wetlands Program recently won the prestigious Julian Award for Sustainability from the Oregon Chapter of the American Public Works Association. The partnership program manages land for several threatened and endangered species, including the Fenders blue butterfly, Kincaid's lupine, Willamette Valley Daisy, and Bradshaw's desert parsley. The partnership has successfully acquired nearly 3,000 acres including the recent acquisition of a key parcel connecting the Willow Creek nature preserve owned by The Nature Conservancy with Amazon Creek. The partnership is currently working on plans for an education center that will aspire to achieve a high level sustainable building design certification known as LEEDS (Leadership in Energy Efficient Design Standards). Green Fleet - The City's fleet continues to use environmentally friendly fuels such as (B-20) bio-diesel, which began last year. The blend contains 80% regular diesel fuel and 20% bio-diesel, a cleaner-burning alternative fuel. The City has been a partner in the Lane Clean Diesel project sponsored by the Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority, the state Department of Environmental Quality and other local public and private entities. The guaranteed volume agreements have allowed the initiation of a bio-diesel production facility in Portland which will eventually lower the costs of this alternative fuel. This year's plan includes reducing emissions in diesel operated vehicles by installing retrofit emission control devices and by implementing other alternative fuels like ultra low sulfur diesel again in conjunction with the Lane Clean Diesel project. The sulfur content in ultra low sulfur diesel is less than 30 parts per million, which is significantly lower than the normal diesel fuel used today within the City's fleet. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that the combined use of B-20, ultra low sulfur diesel and a emission control device can reduce tailpipe emission close to that of a natural gas operated vehicle without any engine modifications. These enhancements will significantly advance the City's goals of sustainability and environmental stewardship. The City now has 79 active sedans (not counting police vehicles), of which 15 are hybrid (Toyota Prius). This represents 19% of that fleet and is a significant increase. We also have our first hybrid Sport Utility Vehicle (Ford Escape). Wastewater Division's Environmental Management System - The Wastewater Division of the City's Public Works Department established an environmental management system (EMS) in 2001. The objective of the EMS is to clearly identify the operating principles and practices that will be effective at improving the overall environmental benefits from the division's responsibilities for operating and maintaining the regional wastewater treatment facilities. The system is registered as compliant with the International Standards Organization standard for environmental management systems (ISO 14001). This compliance is evaluated via audits every six months by an independent, external auditor. In the three-and-a-half years the system has been in place, the division has realized improvements in its environmental performance, including over a 44% reduction in the use of paper products, an increased use of non-petroleum based fuels using biodiese120/80 for all diesel powered equipment and vehicles, a reduction of over 85% for sulfur dioxide emissions from an engine generator, and a reduction in the total amount of solid waste in tons sent to the landfill by 34%. The system has also led to the development of procedures for evaluating and managing in the planning stages the environmental impact of decisions related to wastewater operations and maintenance activities. Although the system is focused on mitigating adverse impacts and improving overall environmental performance, it has established a strong foundation from which to further develop strategies for making progress on the environmental sustainability of the regional wastewater program. Fire Vehicle Washing - Based on the ERT report, a project to install Sanitary/Storm switches at each of Eugene's fire stations was started in July 2002. The purpose of the switches is diverting fire truck wash water from the storm water system to the sanitary system where it can be treated. To date all of the existing Fire Stations except the City Hall Station have the switches installed and are in use. The new Downtown (1) and Santa Clara (11) stations will have switches installed during their construction. Reprographics, Copying and Use of Printers - After the All-Associates performance audit on paper and document use at the City was finalized in 2003, there were a series of well-attended meetings around the organization during which the consultant outlined its findings and recommendations. Several individuals that had been active on the City's Environmental Review Team suggested capitalizing on that interest by creating a specific paper-saving training for staff. That effort evolved into monthly meetings designed to educate staff about a variety of environmental initiatives going on within the City organization. Attending staff are know known as "Green Ambassadors" and are representational of almost every division in the City. There is a steering committee for this effort. The monthly meetings have covered the following topics: paper-saving techniques, printer cartridge recycling, holiday reuse practices, Environmental Management Systems, and "greening" the City's automotive fleet. Green Ambassadors promote themselves within their individual workgroups as having environmental expertise they can share with other employees. A "green team" website has been developed which is accessible to all employees and provides information specific to reducing the City's environmental impact. The steering committee is currently analyzing issues related to providing 100% recycled paper to all City copiers and printers and is developing methodologies to track paper use within the City more accurately. A full Document Strategy is being written for the City. Based on the recommendations in the All Associates Group report, the strategy focuses on four key areas: 1. Lowering costs and improving efficiencies in how we purchase and utilize paper and how we integrate the use of 30% and 100% recycled paper products into daily use. 2. Improving the ordering, printing and mailing process of City projects completed externally and through Document Services allowing lower costs and improved efficiencies. 3. Creating an efficient, consistent and cost-effective way to coordinate document imaging; scanning, storing, indexing, archiving and retrieving documents City-wide. 4. Drastically improving the cooperation and collaboration within offices and departments as we introduce more multi-function devises (which lower individual printer usage) and adding centralized document scanning. The goal is to complete the document strategy by May 2005. Waterways Study - The Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Waterways Study is a five-year partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers that will lead to the restoration of many of our local waterways. The study will look at environmental benefits, social benefits, and economic benefits when evaluating potential projects. This is a new approach that the Corps of Engineers is beginning to do nationwide and we are one of the first to attempt such a process. Sustainable Land Management Practices - The City's natural resource staff has made significant changes in the last five years to develop sustainable land management practices. For example, five staff members are now trained in prescribed fire techniques to use this as a restoration tool in City-owned natural areas. Some of these staff members have worked with the City's Fire Department staff to carry out training exercises and we hope to use it more frequently to mimic the nalural processes that occurred in this area prior to development. Invasive Species Control - The City of Eugene has adopted new technology to managing invasive plant species in our natural areas. One example is the use of a thermal weed device that uses heat to eliminate invasive plant species without the use of chemicals. Additionally, we have begun using a hot-foam technique that is derived from sugar to eradicate weed populations. Restoration Techniques on Soil and Vegetation - Parks and Open Space Natural Resources staff applied infrared weed burning and solarization on experimental plots of land in the West Eugene Wetlands, as part of a research project staff is participating in with the University of Oregon (UO), Lane Council of Govemments and other West Eugene Wetlands partners. Funded by a $200,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the project involves studying the impact of various site preparation techniques for wetlands restoration efforts over a five to seven-year period. Specifically, four techniques--tilling, solarizing, Sunburst infrared weed burning, and herbicide~will be applied in various combinations to 50 experimental plots of land, and data will be collected to document the effects of these techniques on plant productivity, the number and relative abundance of each species, and many functional aspects of the soil, such as carbon and nutrient cycling. The Parks and Open Space Natural Resource Maintenance crew is covering more than one-and-a-half acres of wetlands in the West Eugene Wetlands with plastic sheeting this summer in an effort to more effectively eradicate pervasive, non-native wetland weeds, such as reed canarygrass, and restore species native to this wet prairie habitat. The clear plastic covering is the final step in the innovative, non-toxic, weed control technique called solarization. Solarization is one of many techniques used by parks crews to control highly invasive weeds in Eugene's parks and natural areas. Landscape and Turf and Grounds crews are having favorable results with an eco-weeder, an environmentally friendly, chemical-free weed control system. The system, which kills weeds with radiant, infra-red energy, can be applied specifically to weeds without causing damage to other, non- weed plants nearby. The targeted application super heats the weed, searing the vascular system of the plant. In short, the plant dries up and dies. The new system appears to work particularly well on young, annual weeds by disrupting the weeds' life cycle and preventing the weeds from reaching seed stage and spreading. Because of its specificity, the system can also be used in sensitive natural areas, such as along rivers and streams. It can also be used during the rainy season when other weed control methods, such as spraying, are not very effective. Though the feedback from staff is generally positive, the system is not a quick-fix for all weed control issues and will remain part of an arsenal of weed control techniques parks staff use. The effectiveness of weed control is dependent on the type of weed and the timing of the weed control application. The new system, for instance, does not work as well on grasses and older, more established weeds. It also operates more slowly than other weed control systems and requires more frequent applications for best results. Although it will not entirely replace the need for chemically-based products, this system will reduce the amount of herbicides used in Eugene's park system. Green Building - The Green Building Task Team was created by the EPT in March 2001. This team is charged with reviewing the use of green building technology in the City's internal building design, construction and maintenance practices and identifying potential areas of improvement. The team also reviews information on green building research and practices in the public and private sectors, and identifies practices for potential application to the City. City agencies are applying green building principles to improve the environmental performance of City facilities. During FY02, a set of Energy Conservation Program Policies was adopted that specifically addressed building operations and maintenance practices as elements of a comprehensive energy program. These policies incorporated the ongoing effort to upgrade HVAC systems in City buildings to a "best practices" standardized direct digital control technology where feasible. In terms of new public buildings, the City has adopted the USGBC (the U.S. Green Building Council) "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" criteria (LEED) for new City construction projects. The City is a member of the Green Building Council, and City staff is participating in USGBC's development of standards for building renovations and building maintenance. On November 8, 2004, the City Council heard a presentation on some of the leading edge work our Facilities Division staff is doing applying green building standards to on-going maintenance activities. The construction, operation and maintenance of City buildings create a range of environmental impacts. In order to implement the City Council policy on Sustainability Principles, the Facility Management Division is applying the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria to the City's facilities. As shown by the examples above, the City is actively involved with programs and projects which support the City Council Resolution on Sustainability.