HomeMy WebLinkAboutStudy Session Agenda Packet 09-11-17
SPECIAL STUDY SESSION AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO
7500 W. 29th Ave.
Wheat Ridge CO September 11, 2017
Upon adjournment from Regular Council Meeting
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to participate in all public meetings sponsored by the City of Wheat Ridge. Call Sara Spaulding, Public Information
Officer 303-235-2877 at least one week in advance of a meeting if you are
interested in participating and need inclusion assistance.
Citizen Comment on Agenda Item
1. Wheat Ridge Environmental Sustainability Committee (WRESC)
Report
ADJOURNMENT
Memorandum
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Patrick Goff, City Manager DATE: September 11, 2017
SUBJECT: Wheat Ridge Environmental Sustainability Committee (WRESC)
The Wheat Ridge Environmental Sustainability Committee was formed in May 2017. It is comprised of eleven members appointed by the Mayor and ratified by a vote of the City Council. The committee was formed to involve the community in recommending and prioritizing environmental sustainability goals for the City and to support other community-wide sustainability efforts.
Members of the committee would like to present a mission update before the City Council at the September 11, 2017, special study session. The presentation will be approximately 30 minutes long, followed by discussion or questions from the Council.
Presentation Outline:
• Committee introduction
• Overview of experts, organizations, and business representatives interviewed by
committee
• Analysis of six key areas of sustainability (as directed by Mayor and Council):
o Green building
o Energy efficiency
o Solid waste & recycling
o Transportation
o Water
o Communication & engagement
• Analysis in each area will include:
o Summary of what's currently being done
o Summary of current metrics
o Strengths
o Challenges
o Guiding principles for future goals
o Next steps
• 1i
09.11.2017
Environmental Sustainability
Wheat Ridge Environmental Sustainability Committee
Presentation to City Council
September 11, 2017
WRESC Presentation to Wheat Ridge City Council 1
Progress to date
• Eight (8) meetings June 2017 -September 2017
• Interviewed 19 leaders/organizers/facilitators/decision makers regarding
sustainability
• Interviewed five (5) from within City of Wheat Ridge government, based on
charged topic areas from WR City Council.
• Interviewed eight (8) from Wheat Ridge Community, including businesses
• Interviewed three (3) from WR supporting organizations, such as Denver Regional
Council of Governments (DRCOG), Xcel
• Interviewed three (3) from surrounding communities
• Evaluated specific next steps for the six (6) sustainability areas as defined by the
City
09.11.2017 WRESC Presentation to Wheat Ridge City Council 3
Green Building and Energy Efficiency
• What is currently being done
• In City of Wheat Ridge
• Many municipal facilities have been audited
• Some recommendations have been implemented, mostly lighting retrofit
•Community
• Adopted 2012 building energy codes
• Metrics
• Energy use laid out in sustainability plan
• City has completed energy audits
• Baseline established
09.11.2017 WRESC Presentation to Wheat Ridge City Council 5
Renewable Energy
• Defined as: Sources of energy used in Wheat Ridge
• Importance to Wheat Ridge
• Social
• Health, safety, comfort
• Economic
• Security against price fluctuations
• Security against supply fluctuations
• Consumer choice
• Infrastructure is same, choice is from consumer
• Increase jobs
• Environmental
• Reduce water and air pollution
09.11.2017 WRESC Presentation to Wheat Ridge City Council 7
Renewable Energy
• Metrics
• Xcel provides updated metrics on energy supply mix
• 2.2% of electricity sales in WR subscribed to Xcel wind and solar programs
Wheat Ridge Emissions by Sector
Industry 24(1,r-
Bul!d~!!.Ci!.L--___, '·:::; i::~
09.11.2017
Transportation
s: .7"~
Wheat Ridge Emissions by Source
Electricity
~8 .. IF'
WRESC Presentation to Wheat Ridge City Council
liquid Fuels
:2.~:.)
Natu'.:'.al Gas . . .
~:lJ.~:.:··
9
Renewable Energy
• Proposed next steps
• Emissions inventory
• Research 100% RE Goal for municipal facilities
• Xcel Partners in Energy Action Plan
• Fuel switching incentives
• Solar ready homes
• Community education -energy audits benefits, process
• Partner with other local communities in urging County, State, and Federal
lawmakers to reduce green house gases
09.11.2017 WRESC Presentation to Wheat Ridge City Council 11
Transportation
• What is currently being done
• In City of Wheat Ridge
• Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan, Walkability audit
• Transportation language in the City Sustainability Plan
• Comp plan and Sustainability plan
• Ward Rd Transit Oriented Development (TOD) (celebrate success/progress)
• Other cities/regionally
• Incentives available for alternative vehicles/infrastructure
• Multimodal projects
• Golden and Lakewood examples vehicles miles traveled (VMT) reduction goals, targets, and strategies
• Support active transportation, connections with transit
• Connectedness of bike infrastructure
• "Shop Local" campaign to encourage shorter trips and support local businesses
• Potential for incentives from Xcel for EVs • Metrics
• VMT, transit ridership, bicycle counts, pedestrian counts, emissions, air quality indicators
09.11.2017 WRESC Presentation to Wheat Ridge City Council 13
Transportation
• Proposed next steps
• Fleet efficiency improvements
• Incentives
• Continue implementation of bike and pedestrian plans
• Continue pursuing mixed use developments
• Pursue grant funding for alternative vehicle fuel infrastructure
• Electric car show at Wheat Ridge Bowl
09.11.2017 WRESC Presentation to Wheat Ridge City Council 15
Solid Waste and Recycling
• What is currently being done
• Within WR City Programs (operational)
• Recycle bins in city parks
• Increased recycling in city offices/buildings
• Increases use of electronic documentation/forms
• Regionally
• Clear Intentions glass recycling services in area
• City Partnership Localworks for 'Clean-up' days for yard waste and large trash items
• Neighboring communities pursuing city contracted trash services with mixed results
• Five Fridges Farm active food waste diversion program with local restaurants
• Metrics
• For City and impacts of highly dispersed trash collection
• Noise, nuisance, air pollution, road wear, street maintenance
• Understanding landfill horizon year and waste needs for WR now and future
09.11.2017 WRESC Presentation to Wheat Ridge City Council 17
Solid Waste and Recycling
• Proposed next steps
• Community driven 'pilot' programs
• Neighborhood/block waste management solutions
• Educational opportunities on composting and recycling
• "Teach" a neighbor composting construction/management
• Behavior changes
• Low effort opportunities through straightforward behavior change
• Identify waste reduction and composting benefits to community/environment
• Identify strategies or policies for sustainable waste management
• Identify return on investment {ROI) and funding for city staff to develop and
implement operational and community programs
• Research inclusion of Clear Intentions drop-off in WR
09.11.2017 WRESC Presentation to Wheat Ridge City Council 19
Water
• What is currently being done
• In Wheat Ridge
• City code-more xeric/low water use landscape options in City comprehensive plan
• City Comp Plan -major drainage corridors identified
• City progress made in stormwater enforcement, drought tolerant landscaping
• City water supply secure for supply and infrastructure
• Wastewater infrastructure aging
• Wastewater infrastructure is sanitary storm overflow (SSO)
• Community/Regionally
• Community-Localworks landscape plans and resources for low water usage/water conservation
• Utility
• Some drinking water supply services to WR offer some rebates for water conservation
• Landscape
• Appliances
• Fixtures
• Metrics
• No known metrics for water supply, stormwater, or wastewater being collected by, for or within City/community
• Drinking water suppliers -per capital water usage
09.11.2017 WRESC Presentation to Wheat Ridge City Council 21
Water
• Proposed next steps
• Water conservation -"Use only what you need", WR specific
• Water quality-"This goes to Clear Creek"
• Identify regional/similar municipality structure for stormwater management
• Investigate fund~ng for stormwater management/water conservation
• Research incentivizing xeriscape/low water landscaping
• Research incentives for low water appliances, fixtures
• Research DRCOG/Partners regarding water planning
• Community and City education/outreach regarding water conservation values
• Campaign/education regarding how to protect waste water
• Identify pharma drop off resources for wastewater protection
09.11.2017 WRESC Presentation to Wheat Ridge City Council 23
Communication and Engagement
• What is currently being done:
• City
• Access to various planning documents on City website
• Volunteer website page
• Notify Me service through website
•Community
• High levels of soda! media engagement on city programs related to sustainability
• Localworks Volunteer Programs
• Publications on City operations
• Gazette
• Connections
• Metrics
• Data regarding volunteer participation
• Possible metrics on distribution of local newspaper/online publication
• Attendance to recent city town halls/citizen engagement events
09.11.2017 WRESC Presentation to Wheat Ridge City Council 2S
. , .
Communication and Engagement
• Proposed next steps
• Consider adopting Sustainable Neighborhoods Program
• Discuss update to city website to include more effective communication tools about
WRESC and sustainability related information
• Discuss how to identify and support dispersed leadership throughout WR
• City recognition of leadership in civic sustainability work (sustainability themed award)
09.11.2017 WRESC Presentation to Wheat Ridge City Council 27