Champaign County Sustainability Practitioners. Agenda. Date: Thursday, May 14, 2015

Transcription

1 Champaign County Sustainability Practitioners Date: Thursday, May 14, 2015 Time: 10:30 am Place: Brookens Administrative Center J. Putman Meeting Room * 1776 E. Washington St. Urbana IL Agenda 1. Call to Order 2. March 19 Meeting Notes - Opportunity for revisions 3. Status of pending legislation of potential interest 4. Local Sustainability Goals and Actions Inventory 5. Potential metrics to track variables of interest 6. Updates from practitioners 7. New Business/Future Agenda Items 8. Next Sustainability Practitioners meeting date: July 16, Adjourn * Note, meeting room changed to J. Putman Meeting Room. A location map is provided on following page. Meeting Contact: Susan Monte smonte@ccrpc.org

2 Lierman Avenue Brookens Gym The Jennifer Putman Meeting Room is located to the right of these northeast doors. CCRPC Washington Street J. Putman Meeting Room - Location Map Brookens Administrative Center 1776 East Washington, Urbana Miles ±

3 Champaign County Sustainability Practitioners DRAFT Meeting Notes Date: Thursday, March 19, 2015 Time: Place: Present: 10:30 am 11:55 am Brookens Administrative Center - John Dimit Conference Room University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Facility & Services Morgan Johnston Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, Prairie Research Institute, UIUC Bart Bartels City of Champaign Nichole Millage City of Urbana Scott Tess Village of Savoy Dennis Donaldson CCRPC Susan Monte, Kate Oldrey Susan reviewed status of some pending legislative changes relevant to local and statewide sustainability planning, including the Illinois Clean Jobs Bill (HB2607/SB1485); Electronic Products Recycling quick fix (HB1455); Fiscal Year 2015 Emergency Act (SB0274); EPA-PCB Disposal (HB1326); and Paint Stewardship Act (SB1261). She indicated a convenient website tracking pending legislation is available on the Illinois Environmental Council website: ilenviro.org/bill-tracker/2015-bills. Susan outlined three types of potential sustainability projects to be initially considered by CCRPC during remaining fiscal year through June 2015: consolidating community climate action plans and sustainability plans; developing green procurement policies; correction of design year storms and area storm water management standards. Scott recommended it would be more useful to specifically focus on obtaining corrections to the Bulletin 70 document containing design year standards which are referenced in municipal storm water management requirements. Dennis asked about success to date of the Champaign and Urbana storm water utility fee programs. Group discussion followed regarding green type incentives in place. Bart discussed whether and how implementing green infrastructure practices would impact operations of the Urbana-Champaign Sanitary District. Nichole referenced the previous Regional Sustainability Inventory completed by CCRPC in A discussion followed regarding how the proposed project to consolidate community climate action plans and sustainability plans would differ from the previous inventory and whether project results would be useful. Kate reviewed potential usefulness of developing a framework to distinguish commonalities across actions from implementation lists. She pointed out opportunities for potential group collaboration could be identified in this manner. Scott indicated since 2010 Urbana has adopted its second phase Climate Action Plan. Morgan indicated UIUC review of its Climate Action Plan has been delayed with a public review phase pending. DRAFT PAGE 1 OF 2

4 Scott indicated the Urbana City Council is expected to finalize and adopt a green procurement policy soon. A draft of the green procurement policy is available. He pointed out certain challenges expected in implementing the policy, most significantly the tracking of purchases of products qualifying as green projects. Group discussion followed regarding local efforts considering green procurement practices, third party certification of qualifying products, and tracking difficulties, including whether green procurement tracking and reporting could be addressed as a regional issue. More discussion occurred regarding other potential sustainability projects for CCRPC to address during FY2016 (July 2015 through June 2016). Susan indicated project ideas for inclusion in FY2016 could be received for consideration from CCRPC members or via recommendation by a committee such as CC Sustainability Practitioners or CCPRC Technical Committee. Bart asked about measures of neighborhood health related to a health impact assessment, whether health impact assessments could provide a measure of neighborhood health, and if connectivity correlated to better health. Scott asked what form of transportation features are correlated with good /better health outcomes and whether this question has been addressed by research. Group discussion regarding the updated Long-Range Transportation Plan LRTP) 2040 including the health impact assessment included in LRTP Appendix B, and whether our group focus should be less on transportation sustainability and more on other components of sustainability: energy, land, water, waste, etc. Morgan said she d like to see health impact assessment results. The group discussed other actionable items to pursue or additional needs that exist. Morgan suggested that identifying useful measurable performance standards or metrics be considered. Group discussion continued regarding types of metrics to identify. Scott shared his experience with an online group with regard to metrics associated with greenhouse gas emissions, and his efforts to obtain water use data from Illinois American Water. He indicated it would be desirable if area municipalities were also seeking similar data for water, electricity and natural gas per capita usage. The group discussed measurable performance standards related to solid waste and recycling. Bart suggested a system whereby reviewing content of billing invoice for a record of what is being charged for might be feasible and result in more relevant data than obtaining relevant data from transfer stations or landfill points. He said each community might seek to obtain data regarding tons per year divided by persons represented. This would allow measurement toward a county wide performance standard. Kate indicated that a previously developed indicators webpage may potentially yield some useful metrics, and that she would report back regarding that possibility. The group questioned measures of transportation emission, affordable housing, and potential availability of those data types. The group discussed nesting or layering of data, for clarity regarding building data for UIUC and municipal jurisdictions, for example. The group discussed common goals CCRPC should consider initially as: identifying metrics Review local adopted climate action and sustainability plans for ideas to consider at SP to develop a framework for potential mutual collaboration Green procurement seek metrics with regard to tracking and report that could be useful DRAFT PAGE 2 OF 2

5 Scott shared that he plans to review a solar roadmap tool, consisting of a public checklist of 30 or 40 policies/practices/programs that a city can take. He indicated this type of project could be potentially mutually beneficial one to pursue as a future project to collaborate on. He said that Urbana has requested via letter that Ameren Illinois accept virtual net metering. Initial feedback is that Ameren Illinois is not receptive and this a significant barrier to promoting use of solar energy locally. Bart indicated the upcoming April 8 Green Office Challenge meeting at ISTC will focus on correctly entering energy usage data. Susan mentioned interest in reviewing the upcoming ISTC Workshop Difficult to Manage Wastestreams for potential usable metrics information. The next SP meeting is Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 10:30 am. The meeting adjourned at 11:55 am. DRAFT PAGE 3 OF 2

6 Opportunities for Collaboration in Major Areas Addressed in Local Sustainability and Comprehensive Plans Water - Compile resource of green infrastructure best practices. - Draft model procurement policy for water-efficient fixtures. - Develop competitive program to measure, then decrease, water use, and incentivize participation from residents and businesses. Solid Waste - Develop easily referenced, comprehensive resource listing local recycling and donation sites, including items accepted and not accepted. - Examine feasibility of incorporating composting into existing waste management facilities and practices. - Develop and distribute a residents manual on best composting practices. Energy & Emissions - Examine feasibility of streamlining the permitting process for on-site solar. - Examine feasibility of an area-wide renewable energy or energy conservation commitment. - Draft model ordinance requiring new agency buildings to attain a certain standard of energy efficiency, if one is not already in place. - Draft model policy incentivizing developers to build to a certain standard of energy efficiency, if one is not already in place. 1 05/13/2015

7 Energy & Emissions (continued) - Continue to support energy-efficient vehicles in agency fleets; consider an inter-agency commitment to a percentage goal of energy-efficient vehicles in the fleet. - Consider an inter-agency challenge to reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips for off-site work-related trips, where feasible. - Collaborate on a seasonally updated residents resource on conserving energy. Transportation & Transportation Environments - Commit to preserving existing and adding new street trees to provide shaded, comfortable walking and cycling environments. - Examine feasibility of developing and implementing a pedestrian and cyclist wayfinding system that is regionally cohesive. - Examine existing snow clearance ordinances to ensure that bike lanes and bike racks are not overlooked; draft model ordinance to this effect if necessary. - Continue to pursue Complete Streets development. - Evaluate existing parking ordinances. - Examine feasibility of sponsoring bicycle upkeep workshops, covering repair and maintenance skills. 2 05/13/2015

8 Public Health - Commit to providing health options whenever the agency provides food (e.g. catered events, meetings, etc.), and ensuring that food waste can be disposed of responsibly (recycled packaging, composting organic waste, etc.). - Develop an area-wide map of locations selling or distributing fresh produce and staple food. - Continue to support use of active transportation modes, and collaborate on resources to be distributed at community events noting the connection between active transportation and public health. Green Economy - Draft model policy requiring that all agency purchases be tracked to establish a procurement baseline. - Draft model policy or policies requiring a certain percentage of agency purchases fulfill a selected sustainability goal (e.g. recycled content, recyclable, minimal packaging, etc.). - Collaborate on employee trainings regarding sustainable office practices. - Support programs that teach sustainability practices and green job skills. - Examine feasibility of amending zoning codes to allow for urban agriculture. Climate Change - Examine feasibility of revising design storm standards (Bulletin 70). - Draft policy incentivizing the use of plants in landscaping that are native species and require minimal irrigation, if not already in place. 3 05/13/2015

9 Climate Change (continued) - Draft policy incentivizing the addition of new and preservation of existing trees to improve air quality and mitigate urban heat island conditions. - Collaborate on projects that reduce single-occupancy vehicle mode share and increase mode share of other means of transportation. Local Food & Agriculture - Draft model policy requiring a certain percentage of any agency-provided food (catered event, meeting, etc.) be sourced locally. - Examine feasibility of amending zoning codes to allow for urban agriculture. - Commission or develop and distribute residents manuals on beginner-level gardening and urban agriculture. - Examine feasibility of incorporating composting practices into existing municipal waste management. - Commission or develop and distribute a simple residents manual on best composting practices. - Examine feasibility of composting for multi-unit residential buildings. - Draft model ordinance incentivizing contiguous and infill development and disincentivizing discontiguous development, if not already in place. Built Environment - Continue to pursue Complete Streets projects. 4 05/13/2015

10 Built Environment (continued) - Draft model policy incentivizing contiguous and infill development and disincentivizing discontiguous growth, if not already in place. - Draft policy incentivizing the use of plants in landscaping that are native species and require minimal irrigation, if not already in place. - Examine feasibility of revising design storm standards (Bulletin 70). - Compile dossier of green infrastructure best practices. - Draft model ordinance requiring future city, county, or agency sites to be built to LEED or comparable standards. - Draft model policy incentivizing future private development to be built to LEED or comparable standards. Education & outreach - Continue to take part in multi-agency groups and panels to share news and information - Co-sponsor workshops, skills trainings, and other learning opportunities for agency employees and members of the public - Collaborate on safety and wayfinding materials for pedestrians and bicyclists to create a regionally cohesive active transportation network. 5 05/13/2015

11 Potential Sustainability Metrics Water Consumption - Consumption for different sectors in mgd (millions of gallons per day) o Agricultural o Commercial/industrial urban/rural o Residential urban/rural - Comparison of rate structures used by water utilities in different municipalities /unincorporated - Comparison of metering conditions in different municipalities/unincorporated Electric and Gas Use - Kilowatt/hours used o Trends in usage over time o By sector o By neighborhood - Amount of energy from renewable sources (via aggregation/opt-in program if available, by kilowatt/hour) - Number of renewable energy facilities in the area, and how much energy they produce o And if possible, where it goes to - Comparison of rate structures - Comparison of metering conditions Waste Management / Recycling - Local data collected o Municipal recycle weight in tons o Municipal solid waste weight in tons (Urbana) o Electronics at collections held weight in tons 1 5/13/2015

12 Potential Sustainability Metrics Green Procurement Practices - Purchases made, total - Purchases made, green o As a pilot program, instate measuring purchases on one product, like printer/copier paper, to get staff used to the process, before expecting it to be done for all products. 2 5/13/2015