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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem A: Implementation Strategies for Sustainable Business Initiative ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: Implementation Strategies for Sustainable Business Initiative Meeting Date: October 11, 2006 Agenda Item Number: A Department: City Manager’s Office Staff Contact: Mary Walston www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5406 ISSUE STATEMENT This work session will present an opportunity to discuss strategies and plans for the implementation of the recommendations from the Sustainable Business Initiative (SBI). BACKGROUND In April 2005, Mayor Piercy proposed the creation of the Sustainable Business Initiative (SBI). A 16- member task force was to be appointed to identify strategies, incentives, financial assistance mechanisms, and educational opportunities which could improve the local economy by generating income for local businesses and living wage jobs for employees while also conserving the environment. Shortly thereafter, the City Council approved the expenditure of $50,000 over an 18-month time frame to support the work of this initiative. The SBI Task Force held its first meeting on June 28, 2005. The task force continued to meet monthly through July 2006. As noted in the final report of the task force, the SBI was initiated to build upon the City government’s sustainability goals and to capitalize on the local private and public sectors long history of exemplary sustainability activities. The overarching goal of the SBI work was to make Eugene one of the nation’s most sustainable mid-sized communities and to become a center of excellence for community sustainability practices. From the information gathered the SBI Task Force developed a set of recommendations for retaining, growing, and creating sustainable businesses and jobs in Eugene. The recommendations are organized around three areas: 1) City of Eugene; 2) private sector; and 3) other local governments and educational institutions. The report was presented to the City Council on September 25, 2006. There are 11 major recommendations for the City, seven for local private and non-profit sector organizations, and four for other local governments and educational institutions. The 11 for the City of Eugene are: 1. Publicly Commit to Sustainable Practices and to Businesses That Produce Sustainable Products and Services 2. Establish an Office of Sustainability within City Government 3. Establish a Sustainability Board or Commission 4. Adopt a Goal of Becoming Carbon Neutral by 2020 and Develop a Climate Action Plan L:\CMO\2006 Council Agendas\M061011\S061011A.doc 5. Purchase and Use Sustainable Practices and Local Products and Services 6. Adopt Sustainability Criteria for Decision-Making, Beginning with Triple Bottom Line Policy Assessments and Purchasing Policies 7. Adopt Goal and Develop Strategy to Achieve Zero Waste 8. Adopt Sustainability Indicators and a Measurement System 9. Educate Employees 10. Provide Incentives and Awards and Remove Barriers 11. Form Partnerships The SBI Task Force emphasizes the first three recommendations for the City of Eugene, as these provide the foundation of the institutional mechanisms to establish and sustain the remainder of the recommendations. To that end staff is proposing six action strategies to more fully vet the SBI recommendations through the City planning, budgeting and administrative processes. These are: A. Reaffirm the commitment to sustainability by adopting a resolution which builds upon Resolution #4618 and incorporates the additional concepts and recommendations of the SBI report. B. Accept the SBI report as the basis for future actions. C. Consider the recommendations of the SBI report to be a new council priority action item at the January 2007 council goals session. D. Prepare an ordinance to establish a sustainability commission which makes it a standing committee advisory to the City Council. E. Develop a budget package to implement the recommendations of the SBI report within the budgetary cycle for FY08. F. Assign a City of Eugene staff person to more fully develop the ideas, concepts and recommendations in the SBI report for the remainder (or less) of FY07; funding for this coming from the $100,000 set aside by the City Council in the FY07 budget. RELATED CITY POLICIES As noted above Resolution #4618, adopted in February of 2000, committed city elected officials and staff to abide by sustainable practices in carrying out their duties. That resolution states: “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.” To further demonstrate the commitment to sustainable practices, a Sustainable Buildings Policy for Buildings Owned and Occupied by the City was adopted by Council Resolution No. 4884 on July 10, 2006. These resolutions join existing administrative orders concerning the use of recycled paper and energy conversation. These policies and practices would be reinforced in the proposed resolution which reaffirms the City organization’s commitment to sustainable practices. A primary task for the staff person assigned to more fully develop the recommendations (see item F above) in the SBI report would be a review of City policies and practices to determine gaps between those and the SBI proposals. L:\CMO\2006 Council Agendas\M061011\S061011A.doc COUNCIL OPTIONS The council has a number of options with regard to the six operational proposals. All six can be approved as directive motions to the City Manager in order to begin the implementation processes. The council may also wish to hold additional work sessions on any or all of the staff proposals. CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION The City Manager recommends the approval of the six recommendations to initiate the implementation of the recommendations in the SBI report. SUGGESTED MOTION Move to direct the City Manager to place the proposed resolution publicly committing the City of Eugene to sustainable practices and to businesses that produce sustainable products and services on an upcoming Consent Calendar. Move to accept the SBI report as presented to the City Council on September 25, 2006. Move to consider the recommendations of the SBI report as a new council priority during the January 2007 council goals session. Move to direct the City Manager to prepare an ordinance to create a sustainability commission as a standing committee advisory to the City Council. Move to direct the City Manager to prepare a budget proposal to implement the recommendations of the SBI in the City Manager’s proposed FY08 budget. Move to direct the City Manager to assign staff to develop a plan for the ideas, concepts and recommendations in the SBI report. ATTACHMENTS A. Draft Resolution: Resolution Publicly Committing the City of Eugene to Sustainable Practices and to Businesses that Produce Sustainable Products and Services FOR MORE INFORMATION Staff Contact: Mary Walston Telephone: 682-5406 Staff E-Mail: mary.f.walston@ci.eugene.or.us L:\CMO\2006 Council Agendas\M061011\S061011A.doc ATTACHMENT A RESOLUTION NO. __________ A RESOLUTION PUBLICLY COMMITTING THE CITY OF EUGENE TO SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES AND TO BUSINESSES THAT PRODUCE SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. The City Council of the City of Eugene finds that: A. On February 28, 2000 the City Council adopted Resolution No. 4618 adopting 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. B. In furtherance of that commitment, a Sustainable Buildings Policy for Buildings Owned and Occupied by the City was adopted by Council Resolution No. 4884 on July 10, 2006, and paragraph 5 of the Policy was subsequently amended by Council Resolution No. 4887 on August 14, 2006. C. In early 2005 the Mayor’s Sustainable Business Initiative (SBI) was formed, and with the adoption of the FY06 budget the City Council approved the expenditure of funds to support the work of this initiative. In addition to the monthly meetings held by the SBI Task Force between June 2005 and July 2006, an advisory committee of almost 50 persons was created to provide feedback and comments on the recommendations of the task force. D. Based on the information gathered from the work of the task force, town hall meetings, roundtable meetings, and a community survey, the SBI Task Force developed a set of recommendations for retaining, growing, and creating sustainable businesses and jobs in the City of Eugene. E. Section B of the SBI Task Force’s Report and Recommendations to the Eugene City Council and Community of Eugene contains 7 Recommendations to the City of Eugene Government for Achieving the Vision. F. The City Council finds it would be in the public interest and consistent with adopted City policy to adopt Recommendation 1 at this time and schedule further discussions of the other 7 recommendations contained in Section B of the SBI Task Force Report. Resolution - 1 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, which are hereby adopted, the City Council hereby approves and adopts Recommendation 1 of Section B of the SBI Task Force Report and Recommendation to the Eugene City Council and Community of Eugene. The City Council recognizes that it influences every aspect of business and job development through its purchasing power, planning, permitting and development policies, incentives, tax policies and role modeling, and the City Council publicly commits to the use of sustainable practices and to support businesses that produce sustainable products and services. It is intended that this declaration by the City will spur the adoption of sustainable practices and the growth of sustainable industries within the private sector of the community. This public commitment also makes it clear to City employees and other public agencies that incorporating sustainability into planning, policy, permitting, and all forms of decision-making is a priority of the City. Section 2. As part of Recommendation 1 the SBI Task Force recommended that the City reinforce its commitment and declaration with concrete action on the other 7 recommendations in the Report. As previously noted, the Council intends to schedule further discussions on the remaining recommendations prior to their implementation. Section 3. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption. The foregoing Resolution adopted the ____ day of October, 2006. _________________________________________ City Recorder Resolution - 2