sustainability policy recommendations … policy recommendations report work from the sustainability...

SUSTAINABILITY POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS REPORT

WORK FROM THE SUSTAINABILITY POLICY TASK FORCE

CITY OF MERCER ISLAND

SEPTEMBER 2012

SUSTAINABILITY POLICY TASK FORCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Don Cohen, Chair

Mark Aggar Dr. Jonathan Harrington

Sam Hickman Scott Jenkins

Maureen Judge Roberta Lewandowski

Elliot Newman Lucia Pirzio-Biroli

Rob Sexton Nancy Weil

Bruce Bassett, Mayor Jane Brahm, Councilmember Tana Senn, Councilmember

MERCER ISLAND CITY COUNCIL

Bruce Bassett, Mayor Dan Grausz, Deputy Mayor

Debbie Bertlin Jane Brahm Mike Cero

Mike Grady Tana Senn

STAFF CONTRIBUTORS Glenn Boettcher

Don Cole Rich Conrad

Bruce Fletcher Fred Gu

Jenny Ngo Tim Stewart

Kirsten Taylor

SEPTEMBER 2012

Sustainability Policy Recommendations 3

CONTENTS

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 4

1. Waste Reduction ............................................................................................................................. 6

2A. Energy Conservation ................................................................................................................... 8

2B. Water Conservation .................................................................................................................. 10

3. Yard Toxins .................................................................................................................................... 12

4. Green Building ................................................................................................................................ 14

5. Sustainability Education and Communications ....................................................................... 16

6. Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................... 18

WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY?

For the purpose of this report the Task Force has adopted the following definition:

“Sustainable means using methods, systems and materials that won't deplete resources or harm natural cycles” (Rosenbaum, 1993)

The Task Force believes that the following definitions should also be considered when evaluating sustainability: “Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." (Brundtland Commission1987) “Sustainability creates and maintains the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations” (EPA)


INTRODUCTION

“Mercer Island strives to be a sustainable community: Meeting the needs of the present while preserving the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. We consider the relationship between the decisions we make as a community and their long-term impacts before committing to them. We understand that our strength is dependent on an open decision-making process that takes into account the economic, environmental and social well-being of our community” (Mercer Island Comprehensive Plan 2006)

In March 2012, Mayor Bruce Bassett announced the appointment of 11 community members and two Councilmembers to the Sustainability Policy Task Force. Set with the mission of developing sustainability policy that will direct the City’s actions and priorities in being a sustainable City, the Task Force identified policy topics and action items that would have the greatest near term opportunity to reduce the Island’s environmental impact, save money both for City operations and for residents, and improve Islanders’ quality of life.

Over the course of six committee meetings and a dozen subcommittee meetings, the Sustainability Policy Task Force worked to define sustainability-related issues that affect Mercer Island residents. The Task Force has chosen first to address low-cost and modest-effort methods to increase sustainability on the Island. The Task force recognized that transportation and land use are at the heart of sustainability and the most difficult to implement, but agreed to initially work on issues where Mercer Island can “move the needle” and make immediate local positive impacts.

In our own present context of how to maintain good City governance and community development in a world of scare resources, sustainability is all about doing more with less, by using resources in a way that links economic, social and environmental imperatives into one comprehensive decision-making process. It emphasizes preservation and augmentation rather than depletion and degradation of resources and capital, including human, environmental, and financial resources. It also embodies the concept of intergenerational equity by preserving access to the bounty of our planet to future generations; our children.

For City government, making best use of limited tax revenues and staff resources translates into balanced fiscal accounts, better service delivery, stronger government-community-business relationships, greater citizen participation in community affairs and more open, democratic and accountable governance. While Task Force members are passionate about sustainability, the bottom line is that sustainability is good governance.

Mercer Island is a small community that by size alone can’t have a huge impact on global climate change, resource demand or future growth pressures. However, Mercer Island citizens have broad reach and the ability to influence far beyond this community. City leadership can develop a local culture of sustainability that influences behavior globally.

“building a sustainable future

for our community, our

children, and our grandchildren”


The road to sustainability is an iterative journey, involving the collaboration of many groups with a common interest. It is the primary goal of the Task Force through Sustainability Policy Recommendations to encourage dialog between the City and the community at large and to create partnerships with local organizations and businesses to further this mission towards a sustainable future.

ABOUT THIS REPORT

This Sustainability Policy Recommendations document captures the efforts of the Sustainability Policy Task Force. The Task Force focused primarily on developing policy recommendations that may help to provide direction for the City Council’s actions in the future. In addition, the Task Force developed a list of potential action items that supplement these policies for future consideration.

The Task Force identified five initial focus areas in the field of sustainability:

1. Waste Reduction 2. Energy and Water Conservation 3. Yard Toxins 4. Green Building 5. Sustainability Education and Communications

The Report provides a draft recommended policy statement for each focus area. It also gives a brief background statement and offers a list of potential action items to inform the policy intent in each category. The conclusion section of this report provides Task Force recommendations to Council.

WHAT IS ICLEI? LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) is an international coalition of local governments committed to developing local policies and actions that contribute to a sustainable future. Mercer Island joined over 1200 other cities in 2007 by participating in ICLEI. In this document, ICLEI model policy statements are included as reference, linking Mercer Island policies to this international community.


1. WASTE REDUCTION

POLICY STATEMENT

Mercer Island will continue to lead and implement innovative, cost effective strategies to reduce landfill waste from Mercer Island through waste prevention, recycling, composting and efficient collection that reduces environmental impacts.

BACKGROUND

Mercer Island has an outstanding waste stream diversion rate. Between 2007 and 2011, the Island diverted over 56 thousand tons of waste from landfills through reduction, recycling and reuse. Recycling rates during this five-year period increased from 43% to 59%. It is important that Mercer Island continue to improve on these successes in the future and make use and reuse of its limited resources. The Task Force recommends the City set a goal to increase the diversion rate of reusable and recyclable products from landfills by 10% by 2020.

POTENTIAL ACTION ITEMS

1) Community Education and Outreach In partnership with Allied Waste, the City’s waste hauler, educate residents and businesses on the cost effectiveness and environmental benefits of food scrap composting and recycling, and increase the number of businesses and residents that implement waste reduction.

Distribute information through existing venues (such as MI Weekly, MI-TV) and identify new venues (utility bill stuffers, social media)

Create communication strategies to celebrate MI successes in landfill waste reduction and diversion

Support events that encourage waste prevention such as Take Back Days, swap events, and garage sales

2) Incentive-based Programs Create incentives and reduce barriers for residents and businesses to recycle and reuse materials.

Eliminate the use of non-biodegradable or non-recyclable disposable bags and “to-go” containers

3) City (and Solid Waste) Operations The City will lead by establishing a waste reduction policy for solid waste operations.

Dedicate a staff position for a sustainability coordinator to work with City and community efforts in waste reduction and other sustainability activities

TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION

Achieve 100% residential food scrap

composting (yard waste bin or backyard system) participation rate by

2014

Figure 1 Landfill Divergence Rate for Mercer Island 2007-2011


Review and evaluate all public waste receptacles to support diversion rate goals

Establish mechanism for measuring and reporting progress in achieving 100% participation goal

Work with Allied Waste to modify or change trash pick-up procedures to encourage efficient waste management

Make all public events waste-free

Implement food composting in all City buildings

Support efficient collection of waste stream by requiring the use of Allied Waste approved standard residential waste tote receptacles

4) Code Changes

Modify Town Center land use codes to require commercial development to provide space and access for recycling and food scrap composting containers

Analyze the use of disincentives for the use of plastic bag and styrofoam containers

ICLEI POLICY STATEMENT

Waste Minimization: Minimize waste and optimally recycle material resources to protect natural systems by reducing resource extraction, greenhouse gas emissions, and air and water pollution.


FIGURE 2 Greenhouse Gas Targets for Mercer Island 2050

2A. ENERGY CONSERVATION

POLICY STATEMENT

Mercer Island will take a regional leadership position in energy and other greenhouse gas emission reductions within City operations and the broader community.

BACKGROUND

In 2007, the City adopted Resolution No. 1389 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% or more below 2005 levels by 2050. To date the City has barely started to accurately and consistently measure greenhouse gas emissions and there is a great need to develop a system to begin to track this progress.

The Task Force recognizes that City operations are a small percentage of the island’s overall emissions. The Task Force recommends that the Council review and adopt more proactive measures and strategies that reduce the community’s greenhouse gas emissions.


1) Community Education and Outreach Encourage energy conservation and reduction practices in homes and businesses through community education and awareness.

Establish citywide quantitative and qualitative benchmarks to monitor progress of city operations and community energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions. Provide convenient and easy public access to all performance indicators


Cooperate with local businesses, schools and community groups, will educate the public about the cost effectiveness of energy efficiency and conservation strategies (ex. buildings, transportation etc.)

2) Incentive-Based Programs Make financial and technical support available from public and private resources to encourage implementation of conservation practices.

3) City Operations Serve as an example for all residents by making strides to conserve energy resources in all public buildings through purchases, monitoring and maintenance.

Dedicate a staff position for a sustainability coordinator who can oversee government energy/carbon emissions planning and work with community efforts in energy conservation and other sustainability activities

Prioritize the development of new public projects that improve energy efficiency


Reduce Mercer Island’s per capita

energy consumption by 10% by 2020


Develop a method to track energy use and carbon emissions such as ICLEI’s Clean Air and Climate Protection program

Institutionalize energy/carbon emissions management and carry out energy efficient retrofits in government facilities as needed

4) Code Changes Review and revise policies, codes and programs to allow and incentivize best practices and innovations in energy conservation.

Encourage the development of local renewable energy production by either purchasing electricity generated from renewable sources and/or directly producing renewable energy (ex. solar panels at Mercer Island Community and Events Center)

Enact specific legislation that requires consideration of energy use/carbon issues for all City planning/operations

Develop short/medium/long term plans focused on how to meet energy/GHG emissions targets; ‘catch up’ with the required GHG 2050 emissions reduction trend line by 2020 (Figure 1)

ICLEI POLICY STATEMENTS

Energy Supply: Provide an affordable and secure energy supply that increases the development and use of renewable, least toxic and less carbon intensive sources.

Energy Use: Provide affordable and secure energy for all while minimizing demand and consumption.

Resource Efficient Buildings: Enhance the energy performance and resource efficiency of the community’s building stock throughout its life cycle.

Alternative Fuels and Infrastructure: Support low carbon and high resource-efficiency transportation options through the development of supporting infrastructure, fuel processing and local fuel production.


Figure 3 Total Seattle Regional Water System Annual Demand in Millions of Gallons Per Day: 1930-2010 (source: savingwater.org)

2B. WATER CONSERVATION

POLICY STATEMENT

Mercer Island will take a leadership position in conserving regional (potable) water usage.

BACKGROUND

Water is a precious resource. As our region faces pressure from population growth, water storage limitations, and unpredictable seasons and forecasts of melting snowpack, it is critical that Mercer Island considers its water usage. Presently, Mercer Island is part of the Saving Water Partnership, a coalition of Puget Sound cities that successfully achieved their goal of decreasing water consumption one percent per year between 2000 and 2010. The Task Force believes that it is important for Mercer Island to continue to meet or exceed this trend while maintaining equilibrium between water conservation, population trends, and financial stability of the City water utility.


1) Community Education and Outreach Encourage water conservation in homes and businesses through community education and awareness.

Continue to distribute information through existing venues (such as MI Weekly, MI-TV) and identify new venues (utility bill stuffers, social media)

Use demonstration classes and pilot programs that teach residents how to use and implement new water saving technology

2) Incentive-based Programs Make financial and technical support available from public and private resources to encourage implementation of conservation practices.

Continue to maintain rates that incentivize residents to reduce water consumption while maintaining the financial stability of the utilities

Encourage the use of water conservation sample or starter kits for residents (e.g., faucet aerators, low-flow shower heads)

3) City Operations Serve as an example for all residents by making strides to conserve water resources in all public buildings and lands through purchases, monitoring and maintenance.

Dedicate a staff position for a sustainability coordinator who can work with city and community efforts in water conservation and other sustainability activities


Meet or exceed the water conservation

efforts of local partners in the Saving Water

Partnership


Prioritize the development of new public projects that improve water efficiency

4) Code Changes Review and revise policies, codes and programs to allow and incentivize best practices and innovations in water conservation

Promote elements of green building such as rainwater cisterns, stormwater management, native and adaptive drought-tolerant species, pervious pavers and low-water use appliances and fixtures


Drinking Water Quality: Ensure access to safe, high quality, and affordable drinking water.

Water Quality and Supply: Design and maintain an integrated water, storm water, and waste water system that reduces pollution and protects and restores ecological systems, minimizes energy use and maximizes efficiency, and provides equitable distribution and pricing.


3. YARD TOXINS

POLICY STATEMENT

Mercer Island will strive to reduce toxic chemicals in the waters off of Mercer Island through the reduction or elimination of harmful pesticides and herbicides. Mercer Island will improve the quality of our local natural environment and the quality of human health through a reduction in the use of toxins in our yards, gardens and parks.

BACKGROUND

The City of Mercer Island believes that water quality is an important factor in the health and quality of life of all Mercer Island residents and of our natural environment. As an island, Mercer Island believes that the actions of all of its citizens has a direct effect on the water that surrounds us. Studies have shown that run-off pollution from yard toxins, including chemical herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers, in urban areas have detrimental effects to wildlife diversity, water quality and human health.


1) Community Education and Outreach Mercer Island will leverage its resources to provide education and incentives to encourage citizen reduction in chemical use in their homes, businesses and in public spaces.

Present examples of chemical-free gardens across Mercer Island through demonstration gardens, pesticide-free zones and posted toxins-free sites

Offer education classes through Parks and Recreation or WSU Master Gardeners and promote education programs in MI schools


Provide community outreach utilizing volunteers at events such as the Farmers Market, Summer Celebration and to clubs and organizations

2) Incentive-based Programs Mercer Island will promote the use of non-hazardous alternatives that will not harm human health and the environment.

Encourage Pledge Programs and reward residents who pledge to garden chemical- free. Give awards or signs for the front yard where homeowners choose chemical-free methods

Encourage Certification and incentives program for local stores to carry healthier yard care products and for lawn care companies to offer healthy options

Promote products that are chemical-free (bags of compost, mulch, lady bugs, hardy plants)

3) City Operations Mercer Island will continue to be a leader in the community by striving to implement the best healthy and safe pesticide- and herbicide-alternatives in citywide practices.


Create a program or set of incentives to

encourage residents to use alternative pesticides and

herbicides, and reduce toxic chemical usage


Dedicate a staff position for a sustainability coordinator to work with city and community efforts in reducing yard toxins and other sustainability activities

Continue to use healthy practices in City Park lands

4) Code Changes

Create a requirement/criteria for hardy and native vegetation use as a condition for impervious surface deviation permits


Water Quality and Supply: Design and maintain an integrated water, storm water, and waste water system that reduces pollution and protects and restores ecological systems, minimizes energy use and maximizes efficiency, and provides equitable distribution and pricing.

Toxics Reduction: Reduce toxic exposure and manage materials streams to minimize the use and production of toxic substances throughout product and material life cycles.

Biodiversity and Invasive Species: Preserve and restore regional biodiversity, with a focus on promoting native species and avoiding and eliminating invasive species.

Land Use in Watersheds: Protect and restore the natural systems that underpin watershed health and hydrological integrity.


4. GREEN BUILDING

POLICY STATEMENT

Mercer Island will take a leadership role that actively encourages and incentivizes green building and educates builders and consumers about sustainable practices and resources. Mercer Island will increase the utilization of sustainable practices in construction and development projects.

BACKGROUND

In 2008, Development Services Group within the City of Mercer Island began work to remove code barriers to green building. Recognizing that Mercer Island is forward looking in development practices, there is still tremendous potential for the community to reduce environmental impacts, increase resource usage efficiency and promote greater health and well-being through conscientious, affordable development practices.


1) Community Education and Outreach Use education as a top strategy to increase sustainable building practices through leveraging existing regional informational resources.

Increase builder and consumer confidence in green development practices through education and examples

2) Incentive-based Programs Increase sustainable practices for single-family residential projects through incentives. Note: Single Family Residential building code changes cannot exceed State building code requirements.

Identify and publicize long-term cost savings to residents from green building practices

Develop “Mercer Green” certification standards and leverage existing programs for tiered certification/recognition of construction projects

3) City Operations Reduce long-range maintenance and operational costs to the City.

Dedicate a staff position for a sustainability coordinator to work with and increase communication between the city and residents on sustainability issues

Identify long-term cost savings from efficient City infrastructure and buildings

4) Code Changes

Increase sustainable practices for non single-family residential projects through building code requirements, such as charging stations, waste diversion stations, dual-flush toilets, rideshare boards, on-site rain water harvesting, green roofs, and native and adaptable drought-tolerant plants

Work with state building officials to propose code changes to the state building code council that increase sustainable practices


Continue to reduce barriers to green building through

outreach to developers and residents


ICLEI POLICY STATEMENTS Excellence in Design: Encourage the siting and design of public and private projects to minimize environmental impact, maximize financial efficiency, optimize social equity and benefits, and improve public health.

Housing: Foster the preservation, construction and maintenance of an adequate supply of healthful, affordable, resource-efficient, and inclusive housing. Residential development should be available to all ages, abilities, incomes, and household sizes and be located in environmentally safe areas near public transportation, jobs, and critical goods and services.

Codes, Ordinances and Requirements: Ensure that planning guidelines, zoning codes, building codes, and health codes consider community and site context, improve ecological integrity, are based on life cycle costing, foster social equity, and reward innovation.

Ambient Noise and Light: Minimize and manage ambient noise and light levels to protect the integrity of ecological systems and public health without compromising public safety and cultural expression.


5. SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION & COMMUNICATIONS

POLICY STATEMENT

The City of Mercer Island will foster and support sustainability education and awareness inside and outside the classroom by building strong partnerships with community organizations, Mercer Island schools, local businesses and the community at large.

BACKGROUND

The Mercer Island community has a long history of promoting sustainability efforts and practices, yet there are still untapped opportunities to save money and reduce environmental impacts. Education and communications are critical pieces to fostering these sustainability efforts, however a lack of dedicated resources has limited the reach of the City in making sustainability accessible and attractive to the public.


1) Community Education and Outreach The City of Mercer Island will encourage collaboration on sustainability issues through strengthened partnership with residents, existing organizations such as IslandVision or Green Ribbon Commission, Mercer Island utilities, Mercer Island schools and businesses.


Develop an online resource that incorporates all the efforts on the City’s website

Use existing internet media platforms to create a collaborative community around sustainability on Mercer Island (such as freecycle.com, neighborgoods.net, nextdoor.com, practicallygreen.com)

Use Parks and Recreation’s event and class program to increase awareness and reduce barriers to being sustainable

Collaborate with Mercer Island’s multigenerational community through citizen involvement

2) Incentive-based Programs The City of Mercer Island will identify existing incentives and create new incentives where feasible to incentivize residents and businesses to be more sustainable.

Work with and promote local businesses to provide sustainable and resource-sensitive products, services and consumer education

Challenge and incentivize Mercer Island residents to complete 5 sustainability tasks (such as waste reduction, energy and water conservation, food education, thinking local (products and businesses), and alternative transportation)

Create a focused communication plan that targets individual issues of sustainability year by year (or quarter by quarter)


Create a sustainability communication plan that engages residents on green events and issues on the Island and in the region


Strengthen the Green Business initiative, a program to encourage consumer education, and business use of greener products and practices

3) City Operations

Dedicate a staff position for a sustainability coordinator to work with and increase communication between the City and residents on sustainability issues

Create and communicate a sustainability improvement plan (SIP)

Increase, establish and monitor sustainability performance through a set of indicators

4) Code Changes


School-community engagement: Drive successful education inside and outside the classroom by building a strong school-community learning partnership and mutual ownership of educational success.

Ecological literacy: Provide residents with the information and material resources they need to think critically about and address environmental problems and solutions, and include the environment as an important consideration in their work and daily living


6. CONCLUSION

As the world faces pressure from resource demands and population growth, sustainability has become an increasingly important concept to consider in a local context. Sustainability on Mercer Island not only considers “green” factors such as the health of the environment, but also the quality of life of residents and the continued success of local businesses and organizations. The City and residents of Mercer Island have been leading examples of sustainable efforts in the community, and the Task Force believes that these efforts must be celebrated, encouraged and supported.

The Sustainability Policy Task Force strongly believes that the City Council can make strides to lead and incentivize our City and community to make great efforts towards a sustainable future. The Task Force recognizes that creating and maintaining open lines of communication requires dedication by the City and its staff.

To implement these policies, the Sustainability Policy Task Force’s recommendations to Council are:

1. Create a dedicated staff position that will work with resource conservation within the City and educational outreach in the community.

2. Approve the policy statements set forth in this document and incorporate this policy framework into all Mercer Island planning and policy documents, such as the MI Comprehensive Plan, the utilities plans, and the annual budget.

3. Direct staff to develop a six-year sustainability action plan.

4. Take legislative actions by the Council to foster a culture of sustainability in the community, such as pass a plastic bag ban.

The dedicated staff position is a critical recommendation as these actions contained in this report and the progress Mercer Island has made will be limited without the focused effort of such a position. This sustainability coordinator staff position will work with and increase communication between the city and residents on sustainability issues.

This initial Task Force is only the beginning of a citizen-city collaboration based on sustainability. The Task Force targeted topics and goals that they believe could bring considerable changes with relatively little investment. The Task Force recognizes that these are only low-hanging fruit, and that larger issues such as transportation, land use, food policy and affordable housing must be brought into the discussion in the future. The Mayor and Council may want to consider reconvening this Task Force on an annual basis or creating a Sustainability Commission to review the progress of the City and community in implementing these policies, and to give further guidance for the City’s sustainability efforts.

In the meantime, staff will develop an action plan within the limits of the existing budget for 2012, and will highlight existing and propose additional action items for Council consideration in the 2013-2014 Budget deliberations.

The City thanks the Sustainability Policy Task Force members for sharing their broad knowledge and expertise to inform this report, for their hard work and dedication within an ambitious meeting schedule, and for their willingness to give of their time and talents to their community in preparing these Sustainability Policy recommendations to Council.

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