Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem A: Sustainability Commission Work Plan ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: Sustainability Commission Work Plan Meeting Date: October 19, 2011 Agenda Item Number: A Department: Central Services Staff Contact: Babe O’Sullivan www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5017 ISSUE STATEMENT The Sustainability Commission reports annually to the council on its progress, accomplishments and challenges – and obtains direction for its pending work plan. BACKGROUND The Sustainability Commission is charged with advising on policy matters related to sustainable practices, businesses that produce sustainable products and services, City building design and infrastructure, and related issues that directly affect sustainability efforts considered by the City Council. The commission first met in November 2007, and it meets as an entire commission 10-11 times a year. The13-member commission includes eight members who are appointed by each individual councilor; a council liaison; and four at-large members. Monthly meetings typically include public comment, reports from commissioners, and discussion of a wide range of topics – with emphasis last year on climate change, and land use and transportation policies. Challenges in developing an achievable work plan are to:  ensure integration of social, economic and environmental considerations into any action proposed;  establish priorities, given the enormous scope of potential work;  link effectively with related efforts of other advisory groups, other agencies, City staff, community groups and elected officials; and,  respond strategically to time-sensitive issues. The commission receives direct staff support from Sustainability Liaison Babe O’Sullivan and Climate and Energy Analyst Matt McRae. Staff’s key responsibilities also include coordinating continued progress on the Community Climate and Energy Action Plan, Internal Climate Plan, and education and analysis using a triple bottom line framework that incorporates social equity, economic and environmental impacts. All City departments contribute significantly to sustainable policies and practices, and staff across the organization work with the commission on specific issues. S:\CMO\2011 Council Agendas\M111019\S111019A.doc RELATED CITY POLICIES Resolution No. 4618, 2000: Definition and statement of intent regarding the application of sustainability principles to the City of Eugene, and affirming the commitment of City elected officials and staff. Resolution Nos. 4884 and 4887, 2006: Sustainable buildings policy for City-owned and occupied buildings. Resolution No. 4893, 2006: Commitment to sustainable practices and businesses that produce sustainable products and services. Ordinance No. 20379, 2007: Creation of Sustainability Commission. TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE IMPACTS Work plan focus areas include: EmX, 20-minute neighborhoods, Pedestrian/Bicycle Master Plan, regional planning, the Eugene Water & Electric Board’s Integrated Electricity Resource Plan (IERP), food security, and application of the triple bottom line framework. The outcomes of these planning efforts have significant implications for social equity and human rights, economic prosperity and fiscal stewardship, and environmental health. Although the work plan does not explicitly describe how the commission will address the triple bottom line, those considerations will be part of the group’s ongoing work. COUNCIL OPTIONS The council could: 1. Approve the proposed work plan framework. 2. Approve the work plan with changes. 3. Request changes to the work plan before approval CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION The City Manager recommends acceptance of the work plan. SUGGESTED MOTION Move to approve the Sustainability Commission FY12 work plan. ATTACHMENTS A.Sustainability Commission Work Plan FOR MORE INFORMATION Staff Contact: Babe O’Sullivan Telephone: 541-682-5017 Staff E-Mail: babe.osullivan@ci.eugene.or.us S:\CMO\2011 Council Agendas\M111019\S111019A.doc ATTACHMENTA SCFY12W USTAINABILITY OMMISSION ORK PLAN Oct. 10, 2011 Introduction The work of the Eugene Sustainability Commission for FY 12 reflects a renewed focus on important themes carried forward from recent years. With major land use and transportation initiatives still taking shape, the commission will be looking at how to integrate these initiatives to meet the sustainability goals adopted by Council. Those goals specific to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel use as well as adaptation to changing climate and rising energy prices are embodied in the Community Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP) approved by Council in 2010. Effective planning for the impacts of climate change and energy volatility provides a unifying framework for the commission and this will guide its oversight of implementation efforts. Priority will be given to the decisions Council must make on such high-level initiatives as Envision Eugene, the Transportation System Plan and EmX. The commission’s role in the coming year will be to reinforce the importance of goals Council has set and the need to be faithful to those goals in the policy decisions that are made. The commission can assist by highlighting the connections between policy decisions and the implications for reaching sustainability goals. There are also important building blocks that may not involve Council decisions but deserve commission attention such as:  Implementation of 20 minute neighborhoods  Role of bike/pedestrian travel in land use and transportation decisions and policies  Regional planning issues and sustainability initiatives  Integrated Electric Resource Plan (IERP) Communication efforts are vital to the success of the commission’s work, both in advising Council and city staff and informing the Eugene community. The commission aims to align its communication efforts to the work plan themes for FY 12. New assignments will be made for commission liaisons with attention to community groups related to work plan activities. The commission also plans to provide more frequent feedback to Council by offering comments during public hearings and forums. The commission also recognizes the importance of collaboration with other commissions, community organizations and partners. Stronger working relationships will be sought with the following groups:  Human Rights Commission (HRC)  Transportation Community Resource Group (TCRG)  Coordinated Land Use and Transportation Action Committee (CLUTAC)  Neighborhood Leaders Council (NLC)  EWEB  Metropolitan Policy Committee In the matrix on the next page, call out the intersection of primary commission activities and the focus areas for the coming year. Activities include providing policy advice and communication, engaging in outreach, education and collaboration, focusing on equity considerations, and articulating the economic benefits and implications of major policy decisions. Work Plan Matrix: Focus Areas and Activities Types of activities in the rows Topic areas in the columns, with H/M/L designating EmX (H) 20 min Pedestrian/Bicycle Regional IERP / CEAP Food Security (L) Advance TBL Neighborhoods (M) Master Plan (H) Planning (M) (H) (M) Policy Advice & Review proposed Input to Planning Review PBMP and TSP: consider Develop policy Propose a new Food Security Meet with city staff th West 11 EmX Commission and develop regional relevance level guidance Policy for Eugene based on Food to monitor Communication corridor plan and Council on how to recommendations for to local decisions for CEAP Security Scoping Plan application (CC) synthesize enhance 20 min. improvement implementation recommendations to Neighborhoods TSP: include Pursue Creative City Council. Input to Council: CEAP goals and Review and Commons license Allocation of Planning, importance of metrics comment on and disseminate Coordinate with Transportation, bike/pedestrian modes in Draft IERP TBL tool to CLUTAC. Economic Development TSP, regional plans SC/CLUTAC municipalities and Parks resources participation in Input to Council: PBMP STARS training supports Envision Eugene, CEAP Outreach, Review current NLC/NLCCS BPAC-SC Input on Support Energy Participate in the Local Food Develop list of outreach efforts and collaboration communication relationship of Performance Connection conference (co-opportunities to Education & make Eugene TSP to Score (EPS) sponsor or co-facilitate) publicize TBL Collaboration recommendations, “Roadshow” to NLC/NLCCS regional TSP summit program in including partners to interested groups collaboration – Eugene endorse/collaborate recommendations to Recommendation Develop Meet with businesses Council to Council: position/talking Explain TBL and developers to message to LCOG points for decision process assess Coordinate support with on importance of Automatic to neighborhood feasibility/barriers local bicycle and regional Metering groups pedestrian groups sustainability Infrastructure Op-Ed to local (AMI) newspapers/publications Equity Joint statement with Develop joint Work with advocates to Identify and Support rental Assessment of food Work with HRC to HRC on statement/talking points improve equity/access in advocate for equity housing code needs/shortages working with get input on TBL transportation equity with HRC PBMP, provide related considerations in revisions for Food for Lane County, others data to Council regional planning energy efficiency Showcase diversity, criteria community participation Support safe facilities for those with mobility Identify equity issues aspects of the TSP Articulate Review economic Recruit business Obtain data on Identify economic TBL analysis: TBL analysis: promoting local Create committee benefits. Articulate organizations to costs/benefits of active benefits from AMI (to be organic food to determine economic those in human promote transportation concurrent local completed by production/processing/distribution economic benefits benefit & terms. Testify at key and regional EWEB) and implications implications hearings Communicate benefits to planning TBL analysis: proposed Food of TBL analyses Council, community and Security Policy media Key to Acronyms CEAP – Community Climate and Energy Action Plan CLUTAC – Coordinated Land Use and Transportation Action Committee – a joint committee of the Planning Commission and the Sustainability Commission IERP – Integrated Electric Resource Plan – EWEB’s periodic planning and stakeholder process (every five years or so) to plan how to meet 20-year electricity needs Info at EWEB’s site: http://www.eweb.org/2011ierp LCOG – Lane Council of Governments NLC – Neighborhood Leaders Council NLCCS – Neighborhood Leaders Council Committee on Sustainability PBMP – Pedestrian/Bicycle Master Plan SC – Sustainability Commission STARS – Strategic Transportation Analysis Rating System TBL – Triple Bottom Line TSP – Transportation System Plan