Welcome to the Sustainable Washington Wiki
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Wiki Organization
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“((Category:Location::Edmonds WA))”
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]]>Demographics
• City Population: 40,900 in 2009
• City Area: 9 sq. mi.
• Locaton: Snohomish County, WA; part of Puget Sound Region, in metropolitan Seattle area
• Incorporated: 1890
• Form of government: Mayor-Council. Code city.
• Website: www.ci.edmonds.wa.us
What the City is doing about sustainability
Mayor’s Climate Protection Committee
• Mayor’s Climate Protection Committee formed in Summer, 2006; signatory to US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Made up of community members, community groups, elected officials, and staff members; clearing house for exploring, compiling and reporting city efforts and initiatives.
• Completed greenhouse gas inventory for city operations
• Completed community-wide greenhouse gas inventory
• Developed Climate Action Plan.
City Council Resolutions
• Res. 1129 (2006): US Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement / Kyoto Protocol
• Res. 1130 (2006): Joined ICLEI
• Res. 1168 (2008): City Sustainable Building Policy
• Res. 1169 (2008): Cascade Agenda Member City (now Leadership City)
• Res. 1170 (2008): Environmental principles, policies, and goals for future action
Comprehensive Plan Sustainability Element
• Adopted December, 2009, as an element of the city’s comprehensive plan.
• Contains sections on a Sustainability Framework, Climate Change, Community Health, Environmental Quality, and Implementatiion.
• The Community Sustainability Element is intended to provide a framework tying the other plan elements together, illustrating how the overall plan direction supports sustainability within the Edmonds community. A key aspect of this approach is also to provide more direct linkages between long term planning and shorter-term strategic planning and policy review which guide the use of city resources and programs, especially budgeting.
• As other comprehensive plan elements are updated, they are reviewed against the goals and policies of the sustainability element, and updated accordingly.
• Currently developing community sustainability indicators to set targets and track progress.
How did the city get started in sustainability efforts?
Mayor and Council interest and commitments revolving around the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement were initiated in 2006. These tied into both local and regional discussions on climate change and sustainability.
What other cities or programs served as models for you?
We were aware of other efforts in the region, such as Seattle, Olmpia, Bellingham, and local discussions occuring throughout the region and nation.
Can you proivde examples of specific actions or programs?
A Sampling of Current Projects and Practices
Public Works Activities
• Retrofitting building HVAC and lighting systems with energy-efficient systems.
• Retrofitting plumbing systems in City buildings for water efficiency.
• Replaced the electric motors for the pumping equipment at the regional waste water treatment plant. The overall electrical energy savings realized was over 15%. In addition, there was over a 65% reduction in diesel fuel burned when the sludge dewatering equipment was replaced.
• Replacing waste water and water pump stations with more efficient equipment.
• Replacing leaky water mains so that less water needs to pumped from Everett.
• Replacing traffic signals with lower wattage LED technology.
• Using 20% biodiesel fuel for City fleet operations.
• Fluorescent bulb replacement and recycling schedule has been implemented.
• Computer and other electronic equipment recycling practices have been established.
Land Use Activities
• Encouraging the development of neighborhood business centers to reduce driving of vehicles while encouraging walking.
• Supporting mixed-use development throughout city commercial areas, providing opportunities for container-location of jobs and housing, and reducing trips.
• Encouraging PRDs as alternate form of subdivision to encourage protection of sensitive areas and reduce impacts of development.
• Encouraging additional density in key target areas (e.g., removal of density caps in mixed-use areas, reduced parking standards for commercial and multi-family development).
Transportation-related Activities
• Supporting regional rapid transit initiatives.
• Promoting transportation options such as bicycle trails commute trip reduction programs, incentives for carpooling and public transit.
• Encouraging and providing the realization of establishing a multimodal facility.
• Parks Department compost production reduces need for material disposal transport.
Public Education Activities
• Offering free and fee-based programs to the public and schools to increase knowledge about the Puget Sound ecosystem and human impacts.
• Using printed materials, website, and interpretive programs to encourage citizens to change behaviors that contribute to pollution and global warming.
• Ongoing public education outreach on solid waste reduction and recycling.
• Promoting tree planting and encouraging landscaping with native plants to reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides.
EECBG initiatives
• Moving to a ‘green fleet’ of hybrid vehicles.
• Replaced aging computer network servers with more energy efficient equipment and purchased software to improve management of computer upgrades, enabling shutdown of all networked computers overnight.
• Conducting a heating system design and feasibility study for community center, potentially involving a community solar project.
• Retrofitting exterior workyard lighting at Public Works facility, replacing sodium fixtures with low-enery lumen-equivalent LED lighting.
• Partnering with library and PUD utility on residential energy meter loan program.
Demographics
• City population: 20,960 in the 2009
• City Area: 4 square miles
• City Location: in Snohomish County, four miles from the northern boundary of Seattle, bisected by I-5
• Incorporation Date: 1954
• Form of Government: Council/Manager
• Website: www.cityofmlt.com/
What is the City doing about sustainability?
• Adopted a Sustainability Strategy in 2008 that focuses on: (a) what the City can do to be a good example of sustainability and (b) what the City can do to help people be aware of sustainable opportunities and to promote sustainable practices throughout the community. Implement the Sustainability Strategy through ongoing actions including: (a) having a Green Team, with representatives from every department, that monitor the Sustainability steps and performance measures and provide annual reports to the City Council and Planning Commission; and (b) publishing Green Tips online and in our bi-monthly newsletter that goes to all addresses in the city. The Green Team also suggests new ideas, which have been implemented (e.g., using a new vendor that provides 100% recyclable paper). New vehicles purchased for our fleet are either hybrids or bio-diesel, whenever possible.
• Maintain a City website on sustainability: www.cityofmlt.com/sustain.
• Adopted a Comprehensive Plan that encourages walkability, efficient land use, environmental protection, transit, and community livability.
• Adopted a City Vision that includes walkability as a key community feature.
• Adopted a Town Center Plan, form-based zoning code, and design standards for the Town Center and several other commercial districts to encourage mixed use and compact development. This includes requirements for pedestrian-oriented development. Vehicle parking requirements are min. 1.25 stalls per dwelling unit and min. 2 stalls per 1000 s.f. of leaseable area, except that the first 5000 s.f. of retail or restaurant in a building are exempted from any on-site parking so long as on-street parking is available within 200 feet; additional flexibility is possible through shared parking. Wide sidewalks and street trees are required.
• Adopted a Housing Choices Program, which includes new development regulations that provide for compact housing choices, such as cottage housing and smaller (4800 sq. ft) residential lots, provided that certain pedestrian-friendly features are included. Accessory dwellings (attached and detached) are allowed. Planned residential unit developments in single-household zones are allowed to have higher densities in exchange for open space, etc. In single-household zones, a “rounding” provision allows for a slight reduction in standard minimum lot sizes. Multi-household has no density cap; development just needs to meet reasonable height and bulk requirements + design standards; revised parking requirements provide a tiered approach, depending on the number of bedrooms (1 space per studio; 1.5 per 1- bedroom; 2 spaces for 2-or-more bedrooms). Neighborhood commercial services and medical facilities (less than 5000 s.f. each) are allowed in multi-household zones to encourage mixed use.
• Vehicle parking requirements in general were updated to encourage shared parking, reduce minimum required stalls for many uses, and allow smaller-dimensioned stalls.
• Bicycle parking and storage requirements were added to the zoning code to require multi-family development to provide secure bicycle storage (min. 0.5 bike space/studio; 1 bike space/1-bdrm; 2 bike spaces/2-or-more bedrooms) and to require commercial development to provide min. 1 bicycle parking space (through use of approved racks) for every 12 required vehicle parking spaces.
• Adopted Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan as part of Transportation Master Plan to create more complete streets and provide new pedestrian/bike options.
• Adopted Ecology’s stormwater manual for western Washington. Encourage low stormwater impact techniques (aka “LID”) for developments. Have implemented the low-impact techniques through approvals of new development using “rain gardens,” reduced impervious surfaces, etc.
• Adopted a policy for all new or renovated City buildings greater than 5000 s.f. to meet at least a LEED-silver standard. In the next couple years, this will be implemented through a new Civic Campus that will be built next-door to the Town Center.
• Adopted an Economic Vitality Strategy and Clean Technology Appendix that focuses on encouraging clean tech businesses, as well as the creation of local jobs and being a quality, friendly city in which businesses want to locate or stay.
• Working with the Snohomish County PUD and with Puget Sound Energy to promote energy-efficient development. Developing a strategy for proactive assistance/information to help developers choose energy-efficient & sustainable choices early in the development process. (We were awarded a grant to assist with this process.) The intent is to create a model that is not only useable for our city but could be useable for others.)
• Working with Sound Transit on light rail planning for our community. (A light rail line and station are planned to come to our city as part of the package approved by voters in our region in 2008.) Also, worked with Sound Transit on new “Freeway Station” that provides express bus service in the median of I-5.
• Work with Community Transit (agency that provides bus service from/within Snohomish County) on new building of 5-level parking garage near Town Center and Transit Center, as well as on effective bus routes that mean over 90% of the City is within ¼ mile of a bus stop.
• Working to develop a new strategy for transit-oriented development, preferred transit service, better pedestrian and bicycle access, commute trip reduction, transportation demand management, and requiring or incentivizing electric vehicle charging stations.
• Participate as member of Cascade Agenda Cities.
• Considering options for a transfer-of-development rights program.
How did the your jurisdiction get started in sustainability efforts?
Grew out of major Comprehensive Plan update in 2003 and our Critical Areas Ordinance work in 2004. The community wanted more proactive efforts and we were glad to help our City Council move forward with ideas and action.
What obstacles did you encounter and what solutions were effective?
• Obstacles included:
o Lack of awareness about sustainability (in the beginning)
o Concern about increased costs for “green” or “sustainable” projects
• Effective solutions included:
o Continuing to provide good information to help increase awareness (esp. focusing on things that would not be too controversial or complex)
o Providing recognition of all the good things that were already being done
o Showing what other communities and businesses were doing
What other cities or programs served as models for you?
We looked at examples in Seattle, Portland, Kirkland, and elsewhere.
What advice would you share with other planners?
• Work with City leadership (including your City Manager or Administrator, Council, and other department directors) to get support for sustainability—the general idea, at least. Other community support and outreach is important too. Think about the many dimensions of sustainability—economic, environment, social, etc.
• If possible, develop a Sustainability document of some kind (with leadership/community buy-in) that identifies the goals and a way to measurably make progress.
• Also: recognize that you cannot do everything at once. Start with key things—sustainable ideas in your community on which common ground can be found—and celebrate successes along the way.
If you could do this again, would you do anything differently?
I am very comfortable with everything we did and the results we’ve seen so far. Of course, if we had had more resources, we might have been able to do more or do it sooner.
Contact Information
• Shane Hope, Director, Community Development Department (SHope@ci.mlt.wa.us)
Category:Location -> Mountlake Terrace WA
Demographics
• City population: 54,580 in the 2010
• City Area: 11.74 square miles
• City Location: Central Puget Sound, along the I-5 corridor (just north of Seattle)
• Incorporation Date: 1995
• Form of Government: Council/Manager
• Website: www.cityofshoreline.com
What is the City doing about sustainability?
• Prepared the Sustainability Strategy document (2008) with 10 guiding principles (see below)
• Completed an Urban Forestry Assessment
• Completed a “Green Team” staff structure to implement Sustainability Strategies starting with Priority Recommendations
• Updated Stormwater Manual and Low Impact Development Standards (January 2009)
• Green Street Demonstration Project will be constructed during Summer 2010 at 17th Ave NE between NE 145th and NE 150th streets.
• Constructing advanced stormwater treatments for second phase of Aurora Corridor project
• Partnering with ICLEI to produce inventory of the City’s global warming emissions
APPROACH AND CURRENT ACTIVITIES
The City of Shoreline adopted the definition of sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, while working to regenerate and restore the environment where it has been damaged by past practices”, and looked to the Parks, Public Works, Planning & Development Services, and Finance Departments to put together a plan of action. From this came the Sustainability Strategy document.
This document “…provides overarching direction for future efforts through the delineation of guiding principles, focus areas, new tools, available resources, and an evaluation of existing programs and staff capacity to implement more ambitious projects.” The strategy is intended to provide flexibility in evaluation of innovative ideas and prioritize implementation based on cost, funding availability, leveraging, staff resources, and political will. The 10 Guiding Principles and 10 Program Strategies are:
Strategic Guidance:
1. Sustainability will be a key factor in policy development
2. Lead by example and learn from others
3. Environmental quality, economic vitality, human health and social benefit are interrelated systems
4. Community education, participation and responsibility are key elements
5. Commitment to continuous improvement action
Action Areas:
6. Manage expected growth in a sustainable way
7. Address impacts of past practices
8. Proactively manage and protect ecosystems
9. Improve and expand waste reduction and resource conservation programs
10. Energy solutions are key to reducing our carbon footprint
Key Program Strategies
1. Develop and integrate the sustainability program into all City functions
2. Develop a residential green building program
3. Build and support a sustainability leadership structure
4. Measure emissions in permitting and planning and take steps to mitigate
5. Prioritize non-motorized transportation investment and planning
6. Adopt a more aggressive green fleet policy
7. Adopt a clear and aggressive green building policy
8. Adopt a comprehensive environmental purchasing policy
9. Strengthen internal recycling efforts and community outreach
10. Structure and prioritize natural resources conservation and enhancement.
How did the your jurisdiction get started in sustainability efforts?
City Council directed staff to develop a plan to “Create an Environmentally Sustainable Community” when it adopted this goal in their 2007-2008 Work Plan.
What obstacles did you encounter and what solutions were effective?
Budgets and funding were the main challenges. Shoreline has very good interdepartmental communication, so working cooperatively with more than one City department (e.g., working with Public Works and Parks and Recreation on urban forestry) is not a problem.
Moving forward…
It is important to work with an open mind and to acknowledge an ever-evolving set of priorities and sources of funding. It isn’t practical to plan everything out at one time, because as funding becomes available, priorities, technology, and innovations change “We have to keep asking ourselves ‘Is it working’ or are we green-washing ourselves?” Juniper also emphasized that many of the areas of focus were already on track with their sustainability strategies; for example, they are undertaking a carbon inventory using tools from ICLEI and will utilize this data to work towards reducing Shoreline’s carbon emissions.
If you could do this again, would you do anything differently?
Shoreline is very satisfied with the process and final strategy we adopted. There are always clarifications to a consultant contract or budget adjustments that could not be anticipated, but nothing major that we would have done differently. It is rare for City staff to walk into public meetings and encounter only enthusiastic support for a project.
What advice would you share with other planners?
Don’t hesitate to borrow good ideas from other jurisdictions. There is too much to do, to waste time reinventing the wheel.
Contact Information
• Juniper Nammi, Associate Planner - City of Shoreline, Planning & Development Services Department – 206.801.2525 (jnammi@shorelinewa.gov)
Category:Location -> Shoreline WA
Demographics
• City population: 26,890 in the 2009
• City Area: 11.28 square miles
• City Location: in King County, 15 miles west of Seattle, along Interstate 90
• Incorporation Date: 1892
• Form of Government: Mayor/Council form of government
What the City is doing about sustainability?
The city of Issaquah has a broad-based approach to sustainability, including:
• Sustainability goal within the city’s comprehensive plan and multiple policies
• Council sub-committee on Sustainability
• Carbon inventory, using ICLEI’s software and protocols
• The city’s Resource Conservation Office is developing Sustainability Indicators
• The city has an Economic Vitality Plan
How did the city get started in sustainability efforts?
It depends upon how you define sustainability. Issaquah has a long history of resource conservation, supporting local non-profits, and acquiring open space. Some projects have stemmed from Council initiatives; others stem from the Administration and Mayor’s Office and others from community and citizen groups.
What other cities or programs served as models for you?
We’ve looked at cities all over the U.S. and Canada; for example Seattle, Boston, Whistler, and Calgary. We’ve also looked at local organizations such as Sustainable Seattle
Can you provide examples of specific actions or programs?
• Sustainable building policy
• zHome zero energy demonstration project
• Climate policies
• Tree canopy study and policy development
• Polystyrene and Food Packaging ordinance
What are the next steps for the community?
The city plans to update climate change policies, and produce a City Sustainability Report in the 2010’s.
What advice would you share with other planners?
• Spend time understanding regional resources and looking at what other cities are already doing.
• Municipal government offers opportunities to share, unlike the private sector
If you could do this again, would you do anything differently?
• Take advantage of education on an ongoing basis
• Provide internal training for staff at all levels in different departments
• Search for funding whenever possible
• Develop a strategic plan to use as a roadmap
Contact Information
• David Fujimoto, Issaquah Resource Conservation Office Manager, 425-837-3412 (davidf@ci.issaquah.wa.us)
Category:Location -> Issaquah WA
Demographics
• City population: 8,925 (2009)
• City Area: 8 square miles
• City Location: Jefferson County, in the northeast corner of the Olympic Peninsula, along the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Admiralty Inlet
• Incorporation Date: 1860
• Form of Government: Council/Manager
• Website: http://www.cityofpt.us/
What the City is doing about sustainability?
• Combined efforts to focus on historic development patterns and provide walkable neighborhoods connecting uptown and downtown districts based on the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Walkable neighborhood efforts were also developed through neighborhoods nodes with mixed use development in other areas of the city.
• Prepared Non-Motorized Transportation Plan with primary objective of offering alternative modes of transportation (i.e., walking and biking) through trail systems. Secondary objective included the recreation component.
• Providing natural ways to manage stormwater through low impact developments (LID) vs. engineered solutions. Implementing more LID techniques into development codes for commercial and residential developments including:
o rainwater gardens for subdivisions,
o reducing impermeable surfaces
o green roofs
o swales
• Wasterwater Treatment Facility and Biosolids Compost Facility (Department of Public Works)
Biosolids compost (considered Class A compost) produced from wastewater treatment facility is sold back to community for home gardens.
• Climate Action Committee made up of city and county staff is working towards reducing Port Townsend’s carbon emissions. The committee is preparing a “Climate Action Plan” draft report.
• Alternative Energy Committee is working towards the public utility district (PUD) taking on the utility service currently provided by Puget Sound Energy and increasing the opportunity for Port Townsend’s use of renewable energy. Currently, the PUD only manages water service. Adding energy utilities will increase jobs for Port Townsend and provide an opportunity for the City to pursue alternative forms of energy in the best interest of the Port Townsend community.
• City Hall LEED Silver Redevelopment
How did the city get started in sustainability efforts?
• Combination of a city-wide broad based effort and a natural effort from the culture within the City of Port Townsend that promotes smart growth, protection of the quality of life and the natural environment, the Non-Motorized Plan, and public transit. Port Townsend has an active Local 20/20 community group; Local 20/20 is a national organization.
• The Climate Action Committee (CAC) is the result of an extreme grassroots effort for sustainability by volunteers from the Climate Protection Campaign which approached the City and County about adopting targets to reduce carbon emissions. The City and County adopted targets and formed the CAC, a joint committee consisting of County and City Council members.
A carbon inventory has been conducted by in-house Masters/PhD research volunteers utilizing International Council of Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) software to the build carbon inventory database.
• Sustainability was not included in the agenda of the Comprehensive Plan (1996) even though the Plan has led to many sustainable solutions for the City. The Comprehensive Plan’s motivation was to preserve the quality of life, the walkability of Port Townsend, and maintain its character.
During the early planning stages of the Comprehensive Plan, the Port Townsend 2020 Coffee Hour project was formed to encourage community involvement and generate feedback for the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Recent Town Meeting efforts found that the original goals developed during the earlier coffee hours were still consistent with community concerns.
• The Alternative Energy Committee was established as a result of the upcoming expiration of the City’s franchise agreement with Puget Sound Energy. A citizen’s advisory group was formed to see what elements of the franchise agreement Port Townsend would want to modify. As a result of the citizen’s advisory group, two suggestions were made: opportunity for renewable energy and to research the pros and cons of the PUD taking over electrical service for Port Townsend. The measure for an electricity PUD was put on the ballet by a grassroots organization and it passed.
• Sustainability practices (i.e., LID developments) have long since been supported by the community; however now efforts are more concerted and may possibly become required (by code) vs. voluntary.
What obstacles did you encounter and what solutions were effective?
• Obstacles:
o Concern of increased costs for projects that utilize “sustainable” methods.
o Difficulty reaching consensus among groups of diverse viewpoints ranging from those members that are not concerned with the upfront cost of projects, to people who want more of a balanced approach, to people who want formulas for LEED standards, to purchasing policies for everyday office equipment.
• Overcoming obstacles can be mitigated by:
o Good meeting facilitation is extremely important in overcoming obstacles.
o How committee members are selected is important:
—Make sure members represent diverse view points.
—Members should demonstrate a willingness to compromise for the greater good and for getting something adopted. Stubbornness can delay the process.
—Example: The County conducts interviews of any potential committee member at the staff level, and then makes a staff recommendation to the County Commissioners regarding the applicant’s ability to see the big picture, willingness to work towards solutions, and willingness to be a creative problem solver.
What other cities or programs served as models for you?
The Portland-Multnomah Climate Action Plan.
What advice would you share with other planners?
It is extremely difficult to manage both current planning and long-range planning. If you can have a long-range planner that does not have a current planning load, that will help ensure you move steadily forward with long-range planning; otherwise, you are bogged down with current planning and regulatory reform review requirements, and lose focus on the long-range planning.
If you could do this again, would you do anything differently?
Port Townsend is fortunate to have good committee members; however, it is difficult to ensure committee members are aware, upfront, and understand that they are an advisory group to the elected officials; committee members should not create their own agenda. Committee members are serving at the pleasure of, and advising, the elected officials and cannot direct staff without going through the elected officials first. Planners’ work plans come from the elected officials and administration, not committee members.
Contact Information:
• Judy Surber, Senior Planner/Planning Manager, City of Port Townsend, 360.379.5084
Demographics
• City population: 31,610 (2009)
• City Area: 10.8 square miles
• City Location: Walla Walla County, in the southest corner of Washington, just north of the Oregon border
• Incorporation Date: 1862
• Form of Government: Council/Manager
• Website: www.ci.walla-walla.wa.us
What the City is doing about sustainability?
• Implements winter reserve of water from local aquifer (600,000 – 750,000 gallons) for summer use (lasts approximately 30 days)
• Composts at Regional Compost Facility
• Reuses gravel from stormwater catch basins for ditch backfilling and shoulder filling
• Mandates residential and commercial customer recycling
• Collects and recycles (as possible) household Hazardous Waste
• Collects fats, oils, and grease for conversion to biodiesel
• Converting traffic signals LED technology
• Considering mixed use zoning to help discourage driving and encourage biking and walking
• City conducts Annual Earth Day program to collect and recycle appliances
• Recaptures methane from wastewater treatment plant and uses it to heat the plant’s aerobic digesters
• Maintains a small hydropower facility associated with City’s water system providing enough power for 590 homes
• Water Reclamation/Reuse (wastewater) Facility produces effluent stream of irrigation quality water for crops which can also be used to augment stream flows for fish in Mill Creek if not needed for irrigation. In return for irrigation water, farmers agree not to fully use their local water rights, thereby preserving flows in Mill Creek. Wastewater Treatment Plant also produces biosolids, approved for land application for grain crops, for farmers to use as fertilizer.
• Recently created new Sustainability Committee under the Public Works Department. The purpose of this Committee is to conduct scenario planning to prepare for social, economic, and environmental changes in an efficient and cost-effective manner. The Committee will provide advice to the City Council on the development and integration of sustainability parameters to be used in the implementation of the goals, objectives, and policies of the Walla Walla Comprehensive Plan.
How did the city get started in sustainability efforts?
The sustainability efforts began more than 6 years ago. The drive to become more sustainable was largely community driven and the City is still seeing a large number of people attending community meetings regarding sustainability - many of these people are new faces.
The next steps in Walla Walla are to use the newly created task force to evaluate and improve the city’s sustainability, increase the amount of mixed zoning within the city, and further educate Walla Walla’s citizens on what is being done and how they can help. Currently, Walla Walla holds a Sustainability Living Fair and the local Walla Walla Community College has a Water Resources Center.
A recently adopted Subarea Plan includes a mixed use concept of a village center surrounded by buildings with commercial uses on the bottom floors and residential uses on the top floors. Everything is designed so that a person can walk to any amenity within ¼ mile. New roads will include landscaped median strips, connections to future sidewalks and pathways, and marked bicycle lanes. Roads will not be built primarily for cars, but will also include bicycle lanes and sidewalks.
Also, Walla Walla received a grant from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), to study the recycling of materials from demolished buildings which may provide useful to both to Walla Walla and other cities with older building stock.
What obstacles did you encounter and what solutions were effective?
Obstacles relate to funding issues and determining what is cost effective. Staff resources are limited, and there are differences of opinion between community members and between Council members. There is a need to educate the public. Stormwater management is still an issue. Many of these issues affect all cities. Without adequate funds, no one can start to manage a sustainability program. Determining what is cost effective results in using limited resources in the best possible manner.
What other cities or programs served as models for you?
The City of Puyallup program for curb side recycling.
What advice would you share with other planners?
Pay attention to urban design… streetscape elements, especially trees, can help provide not just shade, but help keep the streets and sidewalks cooler (10-15 degrees cooler) during the hot summer months. They also help reduce exposure to wind, intercept precipitation reducing stormwater runoff, and help filter the stormwater runoff that does make it into the stormwater system. At first glance, Gary mentions, most urban planners do not see how individual elements collectively affect the larger picture. “The streets that had streetscapes, during our latest heat wave, still had people out and walking, but the streets that lacked trees and bushes were empty.”
If you could do this again, would you do anything differently?
We as a culture and society did not plan well for transportation. By designing and building for cars, we have restricted other forms of transportation such as walking or biking, even public transportation. Gary wishes we would have put more of an emphasis on mixed use and shared roads in the past to help reduce our current dependency on cars.
Contact Information:
• Gary Mabley, Senior Planner - City of Walla Walla – 509.527.4535
Category:Location -> Walla Walla WA
Community Energy Solutions, a non-profit on Bainbridge Island, recently installed a 5.1 kilowatt solar array on the Bainbridge Sakai Intermediate School. The project benefited from the Solar4RSchools program through Bonneville Power Administration, using community outreach to raise the additional $30,000 for the panels in less than 3 months. Another energy example is the community solar project in Ellensburg, Washington – a partnership with the City of Ellensburg and the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. In 2006 the city installed a solar system supported through an innovative and unique financing approach—individuals and businesses making financial contributions are given direct credit on their electricity bills for the green power produced.
Solar panels on Sakai Intermediate School in Bainbridge, WA. Image from referenced web-link.
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Category:Case Studies -> Energy
Category:Location -> Bainbridge Island WA
Category:Location -> Ellensburg WA
In October 2007 King County became the first local government in the U.S. to address climate change through SEPA by requiring an evaluation of GHG emissions when reviewing development permits. The County developed a Climate Change Impacts Worksheet to assist developers in providing their SEPA checklist information, helping to estimate the quantity of GHG emissions generated over the life span of a building. The assessment looks at emissions associated with obtaining construction materials, fuel used during construction, energy consumed during the building’s operation, and transportation impacts of the building’s occupants.
Seattle soon followed suit by adopting a similar ordinance in December 2007. By including a GHG emissions evaluation as part of the environmental review, the city moves closer to its climate change goals. Seattle aims to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other climate-changing greenhouse gases in the city to 30% of 1990 levels by 2024, and by 80% of 1990 levels by 2050, as outlined in its comprehensive plan. Though the ordinance does not require changes in the development proposals as a result of the review, the data obtained will help inform decisions on City SEPA Policy.
Category:Case Studies -> Hazards and Climate Change
Category:Location -> King County WA
Category:Location -> Seattle WA
Project Example #1
Action: Hazard Mitigation Plan
Where: Redmond, WA
More Info: http://redmond.gov/insidecityhall/planning/mitigation/mitigation.asp
As of summer 2009, the City of Redmond is in the process of finalizing their hazard mitigation plan. The plan’s hazard analysis section includes a discussion on regional climate change predictions as required by state law, noting that it should be accounted for in plan development and implementation. Furthermore, the plan suggests redoing hydrological analysis to consider climate change and future land use, information currently not available through FEMA floodplain maps. Minimal events of the past, such as droughts, wildfires, and severe storms, will likely increase in frequency and are therefore noted to require additional future mitigation planning.
Category:Case Studies -> Hazards and Climate Change
Category:Location -> Redmond WA