Sustainable Okotoks Leave a Legacy World Planners Congress June 2006 Presented by: Rick Quail, MA, MCIP Municipal Manager, Town of Okotoks
THE SHEEP RIVER Heart of Okotoks
CALGARY REGION
A VIEW FROM ABOVE
WHY BE A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY? Necessity Desire Willingness Commitment
WHAT KIND OF COMMUNITY DO WE WANT TO PASS ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION? Traditional Planning OR Choosing for Ourselves Planned Growth Without Limits By Intent - Regional Utilities Continuous Boundary Adjustments Continuous Annexation as Required Planned Destiny Live Within the Carrying Capacity of the Sheep River Minor Boundary Adjustments Self Reliance Long Term Watershed Management
NECESSITY Municipal Development Plan Inter-municipal Development Plan Land Use Bylaw
DESIRE In the year 2030, Okotoks is a leader in sustainability, driven by an involved, connected and creative community. Through visionary leadership, citizens are engaged in maintaining a safe, caring and vital community that honours our culture, heritage and environment. Town of Okotoks Vision Approved by Council January 2006
WILLINGNESS Take the challenge of creating a sustainable future. Listen to and analyze ideas outside the box. Consult with residents, as to their wants and needs.
COMMITMENT 82% of residents support a population cap of 25,000 to 30,000 people 93% of residents recycle 75% of residents compost 93% of residents support water conservation and recycling education programs 79% of residents support diversification of housing 93% of residents support the purchase of river valley lands for preservation purposes 2003 Community Survey Results 91% of residents support the formation of partnerships to jointly manage the Sheep River
FOUR FOUNDATIONS Environmental Stewardship Economic Opportunity Social Conscience Fiscal Responsibility
SELECTED TARGETS Build Out Population of 25,000 30,000 Downtown as geographic centre, with 50% of the population north & 50% south of the river 22% of total assessment base as non residential 20% of total land area as open space 100% river valley lands owned by the Town 11.5 residential units per gross hectare 318 liters (70 gallons) per capita water use per day 20% reduction in CO2 emissions
THE REACTION Can It Be Done?
STRATEGIC GROWTH Clear targets negotiated well in advance Gradual, managed evolution of land use 15-20 year build out No significant annexation Density targets for new development Sustainable neighborhood design Comprehensive community plans
GOOD GOVERNANCE Engagement in residents hearts and minds Participative Grass roots support Nurturing a safe and caring social fabric Okotoks Town Council September 2005
CORPORATE COMMITMENT Sustainable Okotoks is not a project or department of, it s a way of doing business. Staff Softball Team Calgary Corporate Challenge 2005 Twenty two Business Centres all have well defined tactical plans & benchmarks, which are evaluated annually and aligned with Council objectives. Staff awareness and commitment with recognition of innovation & risk-taking. Winners of Staff Performance Awards 2005
NETWORKING FOR SUCCESS Calgary Regional Partnership Regional Servicing & Planning Framework University of Calgary Sustainable Neighborhood Design Alberta Urban Municipality Association Building Eco-Efficiency Federation of Canadian Municipalities Sustainable Community Initiatives PFRA, Natural Resources Canada, Alberta Environment, Private Sector Watershed initiatives Natural Resources Canada Climate Change Central Seasonal solar storage neighborhood Alberta Water Council Water for Life Alberta s Sustainability Strategy Rick Quail & Ed Sands LivCom Awards LaCoruna, Spain November 2005 Pembina Institute C02 emissions reduction targets
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT Recycling Refuse Collection & Disposal Composting
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP Annual River Clean Up Three Bag Garbage Limit Water Conservation Initiatives Community Composting Comprehensive Recycling Program Integrated Pest Management Program
ENERGY EFFICIENCY Swindells Pool Solar Water Heating System Murray & Piper Arenas Solar Ice Resurfacing System Recycling Centre Cardboard Bailing Building Solar Heating System Operations Building Solar Wall Heating System
FIRST SOLAR HEATED COMMUNITY IN NORTH AMERICA Natural Resources Canada R-2000 R Certified Built Green Alberta Gold Standard
WATER MANAGEMENT TOWN OF OKOTOKS Water Produced and Per Capita Consumption 600,000,000 120 Imperial Gallons 550,000,000 500,000,000 450,000,000 400,000,000 350,000,000 300,000,000 112 112 2000 Pop 10,699 2001 Pop 11,654 103 2002 Pop 12,528 88 2003 Pop 13,468 Year 82 2004 Pop 14,478 72 2005 Pop 15,500 100 80 60 40 20 0 Imperial gallons per Person per Day ANNUAL WATER PRODUCED Per Capita WATER
WASTE WATER WASTE WATER MANAGEMENT Okotoks WWTP - Effluent Mar1 to June 5, 2006 32.1 29.6 35.4 34.3 33.6 31.7 31.6 31.1 30.6 28.6 26.7 25.7 23.3 19.9 15.2 13 13.2 10.6 10.8 5.1 3.4 0.440.45 0.410.360.360.36 0.55 0.05 0.390.340.450.320.30.36 0.9 0.43 0.7 1.1 0.8 0.1 0.4 0.60.5 0.5 0.9 1.5 0.4 0.9 0 0 0 3.7 1.1 1.1 0.6 0.6 1.2 1.3 1.36 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.8 0.1 0.6 0.6 0.71 5 4 3 2 1 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 50 45 40 35 30 25 0.2 20 15 10 5 0 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 T S S & C B O D M g /l Ammonia & Phosphorous M g/l CBOD TSS Ammonia - Treated Phosphorous
HOUSING Yearly Residential Permit Starts 2003 2004 2005 2006 449 467 711 142* * Jan-Mar 2006
SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBOURHOOD DESIGN A A community within a community
WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED? Leap Leap Outside the Box Create a clear vision Make your goals tangible and deliverable Find & Form Partnerships Ask Who Needs to be at the Table? (administration, public, council, developers, provincial departments, etc.) Make sustainability the business that you re in not a program Adapt and Adopt from others
Build a community you can be proud of! Leave a positive legacy for future generations!
We didn t t inherit the Earth from our parents. We re borrowing it from our children. our children. Chief Seattle (1788-1866)