Columbia Boulevard. Wastewater Treatment Plant. Vision and Guiding Principles. April In partnership with the Columbia Boulevard

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1 Bureau of Environmental Services City of Portland Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant Vision and Guiding Principles April 2006 In partnership with the Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant Citizens Advisory Committee Sam Adams, Commissioner Dean Marriott, Director

2 Citizens Advisory Committee The Vision and Guiding Principles for Portland s Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant (CBWTP) were prepared through the collaborative efforts of the following individuals and groups. Participants share a commitment to ensuring the CBWTP continues to be a vital asset to the community. Vision Team Pam Arden Steve Behrndt Mary Jo Markle Michael Read Jan Rosholt Joan Saroka Steve Simonson Peter Teneau Randy Tomsik Jack Warburton Clark Worth, Barney & Worth - facilitator Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant Citizens Advisory Committee Pam Arden Elbert Burnell Gordon Bussey Jan Kelley Mark Kennedy Guy Marshall Jim Robison Environmental Services and Consultant Team Participants Dan Clark, Environmental Services, City of Portland Garry Ott, Environmental Services, City of Portland Daria Wightman, Brown and Caldwell

3 Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant Vision and Guiding Principles The Vision Statement for Portland s Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant was developed initially in conjunction with the 1995 CBWTP Facilities Plan. The Vision Statement was endorsed at that time by the CBWTP Citizens Advisory Committee (March 29, 1995), and reaffirmed by the Committee in 1997 and Now, the Vision Statement has been updated and reorganized in the early stages of preparing a new Facilities Plan for the Columbia Boulevard plant. The main concepts embedded in the original vision have been retained: protecting public health and the environment, and being a good neighbor. As the Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant grows and changes, the Vision Statement now called Vision and Guiding Principles is intended to be consulted by City of Portland policymakers, Bureau of Environmental Services managers and employees, planners and engineers, citizen bodies, and neighbors. The CBWTP Vision and Guiding Principles document includes five key vision elements, further defined by thirty-five guiding principles. Vision The Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant serves as a critical community asset for Portland and the region, safeguarding public health, producing clean water to protect the environment, and contributing to community livability. Key elements of the vision for CBWTP: Protect Public Health. Practice Environmental Stewardship. Be a Good Neighbor. Provide Value to Ratepayers. Achieve Outstanding Operational Performance. Guiding Principles The Vision will be achieved through rigorous and sustained attention to the many details that are essential to ensure outstanding CBWTP operational performance and continuing compatibility with community values. Protect Public Health Apply appropriate technology to safeguard public health. Assure the safety and well being of employees, visitors and neighbors. CBWTP Vision & Guiding Principles April

4 Prepare for emergencies that could place extraordinary demands on CBWTP facilities, operations, personnel and the community. Practice Environmental Stewardship Provide an outstanding example of environmental stewardship, demonstrating leadership and accountability in every aspect of CBWTP development and operations. Meet and exceed permit requirements and regulatory compliance standards designed to protect people and the environment. Participate in watershed based planning and permitting, seeking environmental benefits for regulatory compliance measures. Protect the water quality of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. Protect and enhance the Columbia Slough and other nearby natural resources. Conserve, recover and reuse resources. Be energy-efficient in CBWTP operations. Strive to achieve energy self-sufficiency. Promote sustainable practices; continue to apply green building design standards, construction methods and materials. Minimize the use of hazardous chemicals, toxic substances, paint, etc. Substitute less harmful chemicals wherever possible. Serve as a center for water resources education, interpretation and training. Develop and install interpretative displays and signage, along with programs to inform and educate the public. Educate customers on steps they can take to improve CBWTP s environmental performance. Promote the use of reclaimed water, on-site and in the community, conserving potable water supplies. Increase public awareness that water is water. Proactively plan for CBWTP compliance with increasingly stringent regulatory requirements. Be a Good Neighbor Promote the use of the CBWTP campus as a community resource. Eliminate odors that are detectable off-site. Provide a pleasing setting that supports neighborhood livability. Design facilities that complement their setting, or screen them from adjacent neighborhoods and natural areas. CBWTP Vision & Guiding Principles April

5 Minimize negative impacts of CBWTP development and construction on surrounding neighborhoods. Link CBWTP with trails and other recreational facilities and programs along the Columbia Slough and across the Peninsula. Maintain ongoing communications and open dialogue with CBWTP neighbors and the community. Partner with the community by inviting community input on CBWTP projects, facilities and operations, and retaining the Citizens Advisory Committee to provide independent review and guidance. Set a positive example for other North Portland industries desiring to be good neighbors. Provide Value to Ratepayers Provide cost-effective service at a price that is comparable with well-run peer facilities. Promote awareness among customers, policymakers and citizens of CBWTP and the value to the community of the services it provides. Manage CBWTP assets and resources in a manner that protects the ratepayers investment in the infrastructure. Initiate research and innovation that pursues continuous operational improvement and efficiency. Capture the benefit from new technologies. Plan for and develop new facilities that allow for continuous improvement in operations, maintenance and treatment. Maintain flexibility to meet changing operational and regulatory requirements, and accommodate future community growth. Achieve Outstanding Operational Performance Acknowledge CBWTP s prominent role as one of Portland s critical and enduring community assets and manage it accordingly. Achieve exemplary operational performance, continuing CBWTP s commitment to excellence as evidenced by the facility s many awards. Promote employee excellence through innovative thinking, training, teamwork and professional dedication of the workforce. Encourage employee input in finding creative solutions to operational problems. Be recognized as a safe, positive and productive place to work. Establish benchmarks and monitor CBWTP performance. CBWTP Vision & Guiding Principles April

6 Printed on recycled paper.