Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-0721.VALDEZ REPORTCity Council Communication July 21, 1998 Submi~ed by: Approved by: Approved by: Dick Wanderscheid{~ Paul Nolte ~ Mike Freeman Title: Second Annual Report on Implementation of the Valdez Principles. Synopsis: The 10th Valdez principle requires an annual report on implementation. Recommendation: Informal presentation only, no Council action is required. Background Information: The first annual report on implementation of the Valdez Principles was delivered to the Council in July of 1997. It was a list of City programs and initiatives broken down by the category of each of the ten Valdez Principles. This year, new items have been added to the list and also more details have been provided on current and future efforts by various City departments. CITY OF ASHLAND Administration Department of Administrative Services MEMORANDUM DATE: July 14, 1998 TO: FROM: S U BJ E CT: Mayor and City Council Dick Wanderscheid~~ SECOND ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT The tenth principle of the Valdez Principles requires the City to "conduct and make public an annual self-evaluation of our progress in implementing these principles and in complying with all applicable laws and regulations." The initial report was made to the Council on July 1, 1997. That report consisted of a list of programs and initiatives under each principle where the City was actively working. I have included an updated list, with new initiatives added in italics, to identify the work done since the initial report. In addition to this attachment, I felt it would be important to point out some of the areas where we are working to illustrate future direction the City will be taking in the implementation of the Valdez Principles. CONSERVATION COMMISSION ACTIVITIES The City's Conservation Commission has a number of initiatives aimed at moving Ashland's government and citizens to a more sustainable future. It annually sponsors a float in the July 4th parade and this year's entry was the best one yet. The Commission is also devoting a good deal of this fiscal year's budget to the production of a video in conjunction with RVTV about the City's resource conservation programs and activities. This video, which will be about 12:15 minutes in length, can be shown in schools, at civic groups, and can be run on the government access channel of RVTV. The Commission is working with Dr. Mark Chilcoat's summer video production class and Pete Belcastro of RVTV to create this production. This allows for a cost effective approach, while giving SOU students a real world work experience. The Commission also has a ~ubcommittee working on a "Green Schools Program". The program is a national program which has three primary purposes: 1) to bring financial relief to schools; 2) to educate students, teachers, faculties, maintenance staff, administrators, and the whole school community about resource efficiency and its ties to the environment and fiscal health of schools; and 3) to offer a model of effective resource efficiency in schools that can be replicated nationally and internationally. The Commission is also working toward adaption of this model for Ashland schools and convincing them to incorporate it into their infrastructure. CONSERVATION DIVISION ACTIVITIES July 1 marks the beginning of the predominance of City funding for our conservation activities. We are refining our offerings to convert many of them to zero interest loan programs and also attempting to reduce rebate levels to make our programs as cost effective as possible. The City's FY 98-99 budget includes 4% of gross utility revenue for Conservation, which is higher than the 3% recommended in the regional review. One new program we will be discussing with the Council soon will be an attempt to become a pilot site for President Clintoh'S 1,000,000 Solar Roof Initiative. Staff has been working with Angus Duncan, former Oregon member and chairman of the North West Power Planning Council, In putting together a focused effort in leveraging federal, state and local support in using Ashland as a test site to see what kind of offering is best suited to getting renewable energy systems installed locally. Staff has also been meeting with a small group of citizens who are in~terested in working on a sustainability program and index for Ashland. This involves a diverse group of citizens who would like to try and involve a larger group of citizens to develop a broad based system of measuring progress toward sustainability through the use of various indicators. Right now, the steering committee is researching models from other parts of the United States and the world. It is also expanding the core group to involve more people in the planning stages. PLANNING DIVISION ACTIVITIES This year, the Planning Staff and Planning Commission will embark on a major revision of the City's regulations regarding riparian areas. They have secured a grant from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to help in accomplishing this task. They are also looking at revising street design standards. This will include reducing street width to more appropriate levels. These narrower streets result in less asphalt and less storm runoff. The new standards will also address pedestrian and biking facilities resulting in greater opportunities for multi-modal transportation choices. FIRE ACTIVITIES The Fire Department has instituted a new policy of no longer washing their vehicles at the fire stations, but doing this at the city yard. This ensures no detergent enters the City's storm water system. Also, both stations have a very comprehensive recycling program in place. In addition, the City's Fire Chief has headed up revisions to the City's Emergency Management Plan and has also been the lead in providing training and exercises to help learn how to implement the plan in real emergencies. PUBLIC WORKS With all of the activities in which Public Works is involved, it has many opportunities to help implement the principles. One area it is working on is its ongoing cleaning and maintenance of our existing storm drain system. It is also in the process of working with a consultant and a local group of experts in developing a new storm drainage master plan. This plan will attempt to utilize natural processes wherever feasible to deal with storm water and drainage. The entire process of upgrading the WWTP and the wetlands demonstration area also will deliver significant environmental benefits. Also new to the operation and instituted by our Public Works Director, is a major emphasis on safety and meetings about environmental issues and practices that can reduce or eliminate environmental harm in day to day public works operations. The department is planning on bringing in outside experts on occasion to help provide this information in the future. Also new is a construction notice that is provided to affected properties in advance of any construction projected being done by Public Works. The Publ~ic Works Director has also been very involved with our ongoing commitment with the Ashland Watershed Partnership. She has really brought a lot of new energy and ideas to this forum and has been a very positive addition to the City's environmental efforts. ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT The Electric Department has instituted many operational changes which support its principles. It has eliminated treated power poles and all new poles are now made from cedar. It has also eliminated all herbicide spraying for utility related vegetation control. Also, great care and precaution are taken in dealing with any disposal of transformer oil. In addition, it makes quite an effort to recycle all old equipment and parts. The department is currently in the process of rebuilding the City's Reeder Gulch hydro facility. It is also exploring the possibility of getting it certified as a ~green resource" by the American River Environmental Organization. The department is exploring green power options as part of a mix of our wholesale power agreements and also monitoring any green power or public purpose requirements of state or federal deregulation legislation. Monthly meetings always stress safety and environmental concerns, practices and operating procedures. An example of this is the recent confined space training which was coordinated by the Electric Department and attended by Public Works and Fire personnel. ADMINISTRATION The Assistant City Administrator is currently coordinating the clean up of the old City firing range. This involves hiring a consultant to determine the extent of the problem and then ensuring that adequate clean up occurs. SUMMARY Hopefully this memo, along with the attached list, will give you some idea of the vast array of programs, activities and initiatives of the City which support the Valdez Principles. As you can see, the list is considerably longer than last year and we hope that next year there will be a whole new collection of items. 1 will be present to discuss this at the Council meeting, but as usual, feel free to call me at 552-2061 anytime to discuss this memo or other information you might want concerning this item. City Activities and Initiatives that Support the Valdez Principles July, 1998 (Items in italics are new to the list this year) PROTECTION OF THE BIOSPHERE a) Environmental and Physical Constraints Ordinance b) Flood Plain Ordinance c) Herbicide Policy d) Ashland Watershed Partnership Participation and Policy e) Roca Creek Project f) Ashland WTP Wetlands Demonstration Project g) Hillside Development Ordinance h) Ashland Creek Restoration Project i) Air Quality Programs (2 new ordinances) j) Storm Water Master Plan Fire Department Vehicle Washing Policy l) Riparian Ordinance Revisions m) Ashland WWTP Upgrades n) Street Standard Revisions o) Storm Drainage Cleaning and Maintenance p) Erosion Control Planning and Bank Stabilization Measures in Public Works Projects q) Installation of Storm Ceptor in New Winburn Way Bridge r) Construction Training for Creek Protection by Public works SUSTAINABLE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES a) b) c) Renewable Resource Generation Policy City's Solar Water Heating Program Performance Standards Development Ordinance o d) e) f) g) h) 0 J) k) City's Electric Vehicle Transportation Plan Bicycle Commission Activities City Open Space Acquisition Plan Comprehensive Water Supply Study 1,000, 000 Solar Roof Pilot Program New Bike Path Along Railroad Row Green Power Investigation by the City's Electric Department REDUCTION AND DISPOSAL OF WASTE a) City's Recycling Programs b) Styrofoam Ban c) Composting Programs d) Conservation. Commission Activities 1) Tree Free Paper Utility Bill Insert 2) Green Schools Program 3) Conservation Commission Video Production e) Minimize the use of chemicals in City Public Works Operations J) Asphalt Reuse by Public Works WISE USE ENERGY a) Performance Standards Development Ordinance b) City's Electric Vehicle c) Transportation Plan d) Conservation Commission Activities e) Resource Conservation Manager Program (City, SOU, School District and Ashland Chamber of Commerce) Energy and Water Conservation Programs 1. Horizontal Axis Washing Machine Rebate Program 2. Heating/Cooling Duct Testing and Improvement Program 3. Transition to City Funding from BPA of Electric Utility Conservation Programs RISK REDUCTION a) Herbicide Policy b) EMF Policy c) Revisions to City Emergency Management Plan d) Ongoing Training and Simulations of Emergency Situations e) Ongoing Safety Training of City FieM Personnel SAFE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES a) Herbicide Policy b) Environmental Training for Public Works Field Personnel c) Consultation by Public Works with AWP Members or Other Local Experts on Appropriate Environmental Techniques d) Construction Notices to Affected Properties in Advance of Public Works Projects DAMAGE COMPENSATION a) Ashland Creek Restoration Project DISCLOSURE a) b) c) d) Herbicide Policy EMF Policy Environmental Training for City Field Personnel Construction Notices for City Projects 10. ENVIRONMENTAL DIRECTORS AND MANAGERS 1. Promotion of Dick Wanderscheid to Administrative Services Director with Environmental Affairs as a Designated Responsibility now gives a specific department head responsibility for environmental issues. ANNUAL ASSESSMENT This is the second annual report submitted to the City Council as required by the lO~h of the Valdez Principles.