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Home My WebLink About7.1 Green Initiative Task ForceG~~~ OF DpB~ ~ i9'~;~'$Z STAFF REPORT C I T Y C L E R K `` ~~ DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL File #^0 3~ 0~-00 ~'~ir~c~~`r DATE: June 22, 2010 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Joni Pattillo, City Manager SUBJE . Green Initiatives Task Force Recommendations Prepared By: Roger Bradley, SeniorAdministrative Ana/yst EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The City Council will review the recommendations from the Green Initiatives Task Force, which highlight environmental activities that the City could consider undertaking over the next few years. FINANCIAL IMPACT: If the City Council were to approve any of the proposed green initiatives, Staff would investigate the costs and benefits of these services and provide recommendations to the City Council about their appropriateness as part of future City budget cycles. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council: 1) provide feedback on the initiatives developed by the Green Initiatives Task Force; 2) confirm the green initiatives list; 3) direct staff to create a green initiatives strategic plan; and 4) direct Staff to include one additional initiative part of the Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Goals & Objectives Program. Submitte y Sr. Administrat' e Analyst Reviewe Assistant City Manager Page 1 of 4 ITEM NO. ~ I DESCRIPTION: At the February 2, 2010 City Council Meeting, the City Council confirmed the appointments of the members of a Green Initiatives Task Force (Attachment 1), which was created to provide recommendations on green or environmental initiatives that the City Council could consider. Meetings with the Task Force began on March 1, 2010 and concluded on April 12, 2010. The City Council requested that the Task Force focus on developing initiatives in the areas of solid waste, energy, water, transportation, land use, and education/outreach. The Task Force added an additional area for consideration - air quality. In total, thirty-three (33) initiatives were proposed over these topic areas. Each topic area also includes an overarching goal that serves as the guiding principle for the initiatives developed. The proposed goats are as follows: Solid Waste Goal: 1. Divert 75% of discarded materials from the landfill. Energy Goal: 1. Track and understand energy usage. 2. Reduce energy consumption. Water Goals: 1. Reduce water waste. 2. Improve water quality (within DSRSD's jurisdiction). Transportation/Land Use Goal: 1. Reduce vehicle miles traveled. Air Quality Goal: 1. Improve indoor and outdoor air quality. The direction given from the City Council to the Task Force was that all initiatives be developed under the guidelines that they be feasible, effective, and affordable. With this in mind, the City Council authorized Staff to present a rating matrix to the Task Force to use in analyzing the developed initiatives. The Task Force rated each initiative according to its benefit, cost, feasibility, and timeframe for completion. This process was designed to bring to the forefront those items that are more likely to be effectively implemented in the near term. This does not mean that the other initiatives are not important, but that they require greater resources and time to effectively implement. Simply, the City should focus first on those things that have the greatest impact with the least amount of resource demands. Attachment 2 lists all initiatives that are being proposed for the City Council's consideration. Staff is seeking feedback as to whether the proposed initiatives are appropriate and which initiatives should have their costs and benefits evaluated as part of future budget cycles. As part of the rating process, Staff divided the initiatives into four separate categories or tiers. Tier 1 initiatives were those deemed by the Task Force rating process to be the most consistent with the direction from the City Council to be feasible, effective, and affordable (Attachment 3). Initially, the Task Force rated three of the first tier items within lower tiers. At the final review, Task Force members felt that these three initiatives belonged in the first tier, regardless of the actual rating received as part of the rating process. As such, Staff has included them along with the first tier items for the City Council's consideration, and they are listed as the last three Tier 1 items within Attachment 2. Page 2 of 4 The Tier 1 goals are as follows: ~, .. . ~ ~ T~er ~ C~r~+~n Im~a~~v~~ ._ ~~ ~ ~~ ~. ,: , - . Ra'nk i , ~ Partner with schools to do specific outreach with the students and teachers. 1 Enhance the City's environmental webpage. 2 Provide greater e-waste disposal opportunities, such as a drop-off site, within the City. 3 Update the City's requirement for enclosure space to take into account recycling and composting programs. 4 Explore opportunities to provide a collection point for discarded pharmaceuticals. 5 Reduce vehicle idle times by optimizing traffic signals throughout the City. 6 Work with Dublin's property management community to educate it on the benefits of water-efficient landscaping and the opportunities to use recycled water. 7 Explore a collaborative effort with DSRSD to educate the commercial community about their water usage. ~ Review the Green Building Checklist for new residential construction to see which items can be done on a mandatory basis. 9 Explore best practices for recycling and composting programs and provide a report to the City Council for consideration, with an emphasis on high density housing. 14 Explore a requirement to conduct an energy audit when homes are sold to educate the buyer and provide information about any upgrades that may be necessary or desirable. 30 For those initiatives that the City Council approves, Staff will work to incorporate them into a Green Strategic Plan document. This document will provide guidance to Staff about which environmental activities should be given priority over the next five years, which is, the time frame that Staff woufd expect that it would take to exhaust to the Tier 1 initiatives. At the completion of the Tier 1 initiatives, Staff would check back in with the City Council to determine which initiatives should be worked on over the next five-year cycle. The proposed Strategic Plan will highlight the goal for each environmental sector as well as the associated initiatives. A section would also be included to recognize the efforts and contribution of the Green Initiatives Task Force. Currently, the City Council has preliminarily adopted a Goals & Objectives Program for Fiscal Year 2010-2011. As far as next year's Goals & Objectives Program is concerned, two of the Tier 1 initiatives have already been included. If the City Council has interest in expanding the work plan for next year, Staff would recommend adding the highest rated proposed initiative to Page 3 of 4 the G&O Program. The proposed objectives are listed in the below table. Thus, Staff would be working to complete 3 of the 11 (27%) Tier 1 initiatives in Fiscal Year 2010-2011. NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH: Task Force members have been notified of the date and time when the City Council will consider this item. ATTACHMENTS: 1. February 2, 2010 Staff Report (w/out attachments) 2. Proposed Green Initiatives by Focus Area. 3. Proposed Green Initiatives by Ranking Page 4 of 4 rso~a inaicares tnat tne ~tem is already in the preliminary G80 Program. ~ ~ ~~ ~ 19~ , ~ ~ ~~ ,gl ``~,~~ `~ ~~~ U ~ STAFF REPORT DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL CITY CLERK File # ^~ 3~^0 -~^Q DATE: February 2, 2010 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Joni Pattillo, City Manager SUBJECT: Green Initiatives Task Force Appointments Prepared By: Roger Bradley, Administrative Analysf EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The City Council will consider appointments to the Green Initiatives Task Force to study the establishment of green or environmental initiatives for the City to consider for future implementation. Green initiatives are defined as those activities that provide positive environmental benefits to the community by reducing waste, decreasing emissions, or conserving resources and are feasible, effective and affordable. FINANCIAL IMPACT: None RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Mayor's appointments to the Green Initiatives Task Force. Submitted y Administrative Analyst / vie ed B Assistant ' anager ~' ~ ~"~~} -~ ~ ATTACHMENT Page 1 of 2 ITE ~ ~ ~ ~ DESCRIPTION: At the City Council meeting on December 1, 2009, the City Council directed Staff to solicit applications for the creation of a task force that would work on the establishment of green or environmental initiatives for the City to consider for future implementation (Attachment 1). On January 4, 2010, Staff began the solicitation with applications due to the City by 5:00 p.m. on January 20, 2010. As a result of this solicitation, Staff received 12 applications (Attachment 2) from various segments of the community. As 14 participants represent a manageable group size (12 community members and 2 City Council Members from the Environmental Subcommittee), the Mayor has recommended that all of the applicants be appointed to the task force. The kickoff meeting will occur on February 22, 2010 with bi-weekly meetings to follow thereafter, with completion expected in early or mid April 2010. Each meeting would begin at 6:00 p.m. and last approximately two hours. The applicants are listed below: 1. Marilyn Briones 7. Leonida Rabe 2. Ramoncito Firmeza 8. Bill Schaub 3. Zev Kahn 9. Antonio Ticsay 4. Hendrick Lo 10. Renata Tyler 5. Claudia McCormick 11. Brad Vereen 6. Sean O'Keefe 12. Jacqueline Wong NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH: Advertisements for the Task Force were placed on the City's website, in the Valley Times, and through listservs from the Chamber of Commerce and of past Dublin 101/Leadership Academy participants. ATTACHMENTS: 1. December 1, 2Q09 Staff Report (w/out attachments) 2. Task Force Applications Paqe 2 of 2 ~~ ~ t; ~ GREEN INITIATIVES BY FOCUS AREA Solid Waste Goal: 1. Divert 75% of materials from the landfill. Solid Waste Initiatives: 1. Look for ways to target specific materials, such as Styrofoam, an,d get them out of the waste stream. 2. Conduct a door-to-door campaign to educate the community about the City's recycling and composting programs. 3. Explore requiring locations that have adequate space to provide recycling services. 4. Explore best practices for recycling and composting programs and provide a report to the City Council for consideration. 5. Partner with schools to do specific outreach with the students and teachers. 6. Conduct Staff presentations at City events, commercial locations (i.e. Safeway, etc.), and conduct other outreach through available media to create a culture of participation. 7. Create recognition programs to provide an incentive to the community to do more: City website, City Council, and newsletters. 8. Explore ways to improve recycling and composting at high density housing. 9. Create a program or recycling lottery to provide a cash award or free garbage service to award participation and effort. 10. Update the City's requirement for enclosure space to take into account recycling and composting programs. 11. Provide greater e-waste disposal opportunities, such as a drop-off site, within the City. Energy Goal: 1. Track and understand usage. 2. Reduce consumption. Energy Initiatives: 1. Review the Green Building Checklist for new residential construction to see which items can be done on a mandatory basis. 2. Look for ways to educate and incentivize a reduction in energy consumption, especially during peak demand hours. 3. Explore a requirement to conduct an energy audit when homes are sold to educate the buyer and provide information about any upgrades that may be necessary or desirable. 4. Explore ways to track and understand usage patterns within the City. 5. Look at creating sustainable or energy efficient home/business contests. 6. Explore ways to support retrofit or energy upgrades of existing housing. 7. Explore ways to support solar and wind power generation options ATTACHMENT 2 ~~ ~ Water Goals: 1. Reduce water waste. 2. Improve water quality (DSRSD Jurisdiction). Water Initiatives: 1. Explore opportunities to provide a collection point for discarded pharmaceuticals. 2. Analyze the pesticides currently used by the City and their impact on water quality. 3. Work with Dublin's property management community to educate it on the benefits of water-efficient landscaping and the opportunities to use recycled water. 4. Explore the feasibility of an ordinance that would supersede restrictions within CC&R's to allow water-efficient landscaping for residential properties. 5. Explore a collaborative effort with DSRSD to educate multi-family dwellings, which do not receive a water bill, about their water usage. 6. Create a water-efficient, demonstration garden to educate the community about the benefits of water-efficient landscaping. 7. Explore a collaborative effort with DSRSD to educate the commercial community about their water usage. 8. Explore opportunities to expand the usage of recycled water to both the residential and commercial sectors. Transportation/Land Use Goal: 1. Reduce vehicle miles traveled. Transportation/Land Use Initiatives: 1. Explore promotional incentives for opening telecommunication centers within the community. 2. Explore opportunities to promote the concept of working from home. 3. Work with businesses to promote alternative means of commuting for their employees. 4. Explore the feasibility of prohibiting drive-thru businesses. 5. Reduce vehicle idle times by optimizing traffic signals throughout the City. Air Quality Goal: 1. Improve indoor and outdoor air quality. Air Quality Initiatives: 1. Eliminate Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) materials in future Civic Buildings. 2. Explore opportunities to promote green-remodeling as an option for the community. ATTACHMENT 2 ~ ~' ~ ~ 3. Enhance the City's environmental webpage. 4. Produce a Climate Action Plan. 5. Explore the feasibility of an ordinance that would prohibit the usage of gas powered tools on "Spare-the-Air Days." Educational Initiatives: Solid Waste 1. Conduct a door-to-door campaign to educate the community about the City's recycling and composting programs. 2. Partner with schools to do specific outreach with the students and teachers. 3. Conduct Staff presentations at City events, commercial locations (i.e. Safeway, etc.), and conduct other outreach through available media to create a culture of participation. 4. Create a program or recycling lottery to provide a cash award or free garbage service to award participation and effort. Enerqy 1. Look for ways to educate and incentivize a reduction in energy consumption, especially during peak demand hours. 2. Look at creating sustainable or energy efficient home/business contests. Water 1. Work with Dublin's property management community to educate it on the benefits of water-efficient landscaping and the opportunities to use recycled water. 2. Explore a collaborative effort with DSRSD to educate multi-family dwellings, which do not receive a water bilt, about their water usage. 3. Create a water-efficient, demonstration garden to educate the community about the benefits of water-efficient landscaping. 4. Explore a collaborative effort with DSRSD to educate the commercial community about their water usage. Air ualit 1. Enhance the City's environmental webpage. ATTACHMENT 2 / ~~ ,~ Proposed Green Initiatives by Ranking Yartner with schools to do specific outreach with the students and teachers. 1 Enh th Ci ' 15.13 1 ance e ty s environmental webpage. 1 Provid t 14.93 2 e grea er e-waste disposal opportunities, such as a drop-off site, within th e 1 City. U dat th Cit ' 14.70 3 p e e y s requirement for enclosure space to take into account recycling 1 and composting programs. Ex lo rt i i 14.50 4 p re oppo un t es to provide a collection point for discarded 1 pharmaceuticals. Reduce hi l idl i 14.43 5 ve c e e t mes by optimizing traffic signals throughout the City. 1 Work ith D bli ' 14.40 6 w u n s property management community to educate it on the benefits of water-efficient landscaping and the opportunities to use recycled 1 water. Ex lo ll b i 14.37 7 p re a co a orat ve effort with DSRSD to educate the commercial 1 community about their water usage. Revi th G 14.37 7 ew e reen Building Checklist for new residential construction to see 1 which items can be done on a mandatory basis. Ex l b t i 14.23 9 p ore es pract ces for recycling and composting programs and provide a report to the City Council for consideration, with an emphasis on high density 1 housing. Explore a requirement to conduct an energy audit when homes are sold to 13.57 14 educate the buyer and provide information about any upgrades that may be ~ necessary or desirable. ; ,~ ; ~ , ,,. .. . ~ __ . 10.60 30 Attachment 3 Proposed Green Initiatives by Ranking Create recognition programs to provide an incentive to the community to do ~v 3 more: City website, City Council, and newsletters . Analyze the pesticides currently used by the City and their impact on water 12.57 20 3 quality. Explore the feasibility of an ordinance that would prohibit the usage of gas 12.33 21 3 powered tools on "Spare-the-Air Days." Produce a Climate Action Plan. 12.17 22 3 Conduct a door-to-door campaign to educate the community about the City's 11.87 23 3 recycling and composting programs. Conduct Staff presentations at City events, commercial locations (i.e. Safeway, 11.83 24 etc.), and conduct other outreach through available media to create a culture of 3 participation. Look at creating sustainable or energy efficient home/business contests. 11.60 25 3 Explore promotional incentives for opening telecommunication centers within 11.43 26 3 the community. Look for ways to educate and incentivize a reduction in energy consumption, 11.43 27 3 especially during peak demand hours. ,-, ,; , ., .. ._ .__ . _ 11.17 28 ~ ~~~`)~ U Attachment 3