Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-18-2010-13 (1)~Ylforma-Pion ='I'e,v, OIdANG~ COUNTY department of environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation Memorandum TO: Frank W. Clifton, County Manager FROM: David Stancil, Director Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Recreation DATE: May 3, 2010 SUBJECT: Environmental Responsibility Goal In January 2009, the Board of County Commissioners (Board) established a set of Guiding Principles and identified Priorities for the 2009-2010 Budget. As we approach the end of fiscal year 2009-2010, I wanted to provide you and the Board with an update on progress toward Priority P-12 for FY 2009-2010 "Implement Environmental Responsibility Goal," and offer a series of potential next steps for consideration at a future meeting(s). Since the Board adopted the Environment Responsibility Goal (December 2005), staffs from a number of departments have begun collaborating on activities that are linked to environmental responsibility. Aprogress report on some of those efforts was provided at the November 2009 work session, including: 1) the work of the Climate Change Committee and the completion of a countywide Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Forecast; 2) the formation of an in-house Environmental Stewardship Action Committee (ESAC) composed of representatives from each department; 3) ways to engage County employees in activities promoting environmental responsibilities, including mechanisms to promote carpooling such as the Best Workplaces for Commuters national program; and 4) a draft Environmental Leadership Policy (ELP), designed to help Orange County become a model government and to serve as an internal guide that would parallel external policies outlined in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. Staff also shared with the Board a sample entry from an Action Strategy Feasibility Chart. Presented as a list of draft action strategies grouped into like topical areas (with links to the 2030 Comprehensive Plan); the feasibility chart offered some initial assessment of "doability" with regard to staffing and budgetary needs to refine the action strategies for future implementation consideration. The Board adopted the draft Environmental Leadership Policy (attached) in principle in November, and identified ways to improve the feasibility chart. -1- Almost immediately after the November work session (and for the succeeding four months), staff shifted gears to focus on opportunities created in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Staff from Asset Management and Purchasing Services (AMPS), Economic Development, Planning and Inspections and (then) ERCD submitted at least six (6) applications for grant funding, including several collaborative projects such as the TPA bus route in Hillsborough and Orange County, and the Twin Creeks Park Greenway/Linear Park. Staff is still waiting for the results of some applications, but at least three projects were awarded funds with construction well underway on the Linear Park. Staff is cautiously optimistic that some of the energy efficiency and conservation grants will be funded, as most of those funds remain to be awarded. Several of the stimulus grant fund applications went toward this energy program ("Energy Efficiency for County & Municipal Buildings' -part of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Black Grant package, or EECBG). Most of these federal funds were allocated to the larger local governments, but a smaller amount was available to the other 600+ local governments in the state via competitive bid through the State Energy Office. These applications required detailed analysis to demonstrate the benefit of installing energy efficient measures, and required the quick submittal of a document entitled the "Strategic Energy Plan" (or SEP). To facilitate the review process, SEPs followed a specific template provided by the State Energy Office. To ensure eligibility for funding, staff prepared a draft SEP with free technical consultation supplied by an approved consulting firm, knowing that the format lacked the level of detail typical for Orange County plans. Given this, we would suggest that an attempt to add to or `flesh out' the initial Strategic Energy Plan (and make it the foundation for a comprehensive policy document for long-term County use) may be a good subject for a Board work session later this year. A reassessment of the Action Strategy Feasibility Chart provided in 2009 could also occur at the same work session, since those two documents should work hand in hand. On a parallel track, staff has been pursuing collaborative opportunities with the towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill, and in some cases the City of Durham, to develop strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Staff from all four local governments participated in a presentation to explore financing options for funding small-scale improvement projects for local residents to increase energy efficiency in their homes. Finally, for the past couple of years, the ESAC has provided an opportunity to share information and update other departments on different ongoing programs related to environmental responsibility. Amore comprehensive or umbrella framework may be the next logical step to tie these initiatives into a single coordinated effort. Efforts to streamline County efficiency through departmental reorganization will require some modification to ESAC membership. Once changes are finalized the ESAC can resume its work, and refine the feasibility chart (perhaps this summer) to reflect the Board recommendations from the November work session. -2- In summary, staff would like to report back to the BOCC in September with the following items: 1) the Environmental Leadership Policy -ready for formal adoption; 2) the revised Action Strategy Feasibility Chart; 3) the draft Strategic Energy Plan with suggested changes and additions -for discussion and enhancement; 4) updates on potential programs, such as the Best Workplaces for Computers; and 5) the potential for new collaborations with our municipal partners (for example, including the new proposed Energy Alliance being considered in Chapel Hill and Carrboro)? Please let me know if I may provide any additional information. Attachments: Draft Environmental Leadership Policy Copies: Pam Jones Craig Benedict Brad Broadwell Wayne Fenton Tina Moon Dottie Schmitt -3- ~~~~~®~~~~~~~ ~~~.~l~m~l~~~p ~®~~c~~y Part of the Environmental Responsibility in County Government Goal December _, 2009 Purpose To ensure that Orange County government "leads by example" on matters of environmental responsibility, and takes an active role in promoting and actively institutionalizing sustainable environmental leadership characteristics in its goals, policies and actions -both by acknowledging and encouraging existing and ongoing efforts, and by exploring new opportunities, policies and activities. Background On December 5, 2005, the Board of County: Commissioners adopted an "Environmental Responsibility in County Government" Goal, designed to reinforce and institutionalize an environmental ethic and responsible actions and programs within County government, to make the County a leader,by example in environmental stewardship. (The Goal is included as Appendix A.) The .Board asked several of the County's advisory boards to review this goal .and its 10 Objectives, and identify possible action strategies to achieve the purpose of the Goal. The Environment and Resource Conservation Department and the Commission for the Environment (CfE) were directed to coordinate the process, serve as the conduit of information,. and facilitate. the collation and organization of the action strategies. Strategies were 'created by many departments, agencies and advisory boards, and these original action strategies are included as Appendix B to this policy. While work on the action strategies was in process, activity began to accomplish Objective 1 ,(an Environmental Leadership Policy and Environmental Action Committee). Discussions were held with staff from other local government committees of'this sort,'.:-.and an Environmental Stewardship Action Committee (ESAC) was created;by management. The ESAC is a team of County staff members consisting of one employee from each department. The team is charged with meeting to address ways to institutionalize environmental responsibility within county government. The ESAC is charged to meet twice per year to accomplish the following three tasks: 7) Identify and conduct activities and programs to foster a greater environmental awareness and ethic among Orange County employees. 2) To produce an annual report (beginning in late 2007) evaluating the County's progress toward achieving action strategies for meeting the Environmental Responsibility in County Government goal (strategies to be adopted in late 2006). 3) Communicate and share ideas for environmental responsibility with other members of the committee, and identify and discuss possible new strategies fo accomplish the Environmental Responsibility in County Government goal. Measuring Future Progress While creating the framework for the Goal, a subcommittee of the ESAC also formed to collate, group and combine the proposed action strategies into a "benchmark matrix." The purpose of this tool is to provide a way to evaluate the County's success in achieving the action strategies, and ultimately in becoming a model county for environmental stewardship. One idea was to compare what is being done now to what could be done better. As such, it was decided that it is important to use measurable markers ("reduce the amount of paper from _ to _ in 5 years"), rather than open ended ("reduce the amount of paper in the near future") statements. It is also important to acknowledge and credit many existing programs that are successful. With this in mind, the subcommittee has been exploring different types of matrix formats, and has developed a draft evaluation tool.:. As efforts continue to identify and implement action strategies, internal mechanisms would be created or reinforced to ensure progress toward the Goal. The ESAC would periodically evaluate the progress toward the Goal, objectives and action strategies, and report on its findings. It is important to note that, in addition to new efforts undertaken as part of this Goal and Leadership Policy, ongoing ..activities in energy, water and vehicle fuel conservation would continue, as would activities to introduce renewable energy sources, maximize energy efficiency,'and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the County's carbon footprint. Other groups and activities, closely related to the ESAC, are currently working toward these purposes, such as implementation of the energy conservation goal, printing and paper usage reductions, green building standards, and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (based on the 2009 Countywide Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Forecast). Coordination between these efforts, the Comprehensive Plan 2030, and the Environmental Responsibility Goal are critically important to assuring a holistic approach to addressing these intertwined issues and tasks. Environmental Leadership Policv -Guiding Principles Orange County should: 1. Institutionalize an ethic and practice of sustainability and environmental awareness within County government, its employees and facilities. 2. Ensure that all County facilities and employees working therein practice water conservation (in accordance with the adopted Water Conservation Goal), and that facilities include such water conserving or reuse features as determined efficient, to both conserve this precious natural resource and minimize costs. 3. Ensure that all County facilities, and employees working therein, practice energy efficiency (in accordance with the adopted Energy Conservation Goal). Ensure that County facilities include energy conserving features as determined efficient, to minimize energy use, reduce carbon footprint and achieve financial savings. 4. Reduce fuel consumption among all County vehicles (in keeping with the Vehicle Fuel Conservation Policy), and purchase the lowest emission vehicles that will meet County needs. Purchase alternative fuel vehicles and/or hybrid fuel vehicles whenever possible for new vehicle purchases, as the `default `option unless justification is provided for aconventional-fuel vehicle. 5. Continue, expand and formally adopt the use of green building standards or high performance building guidelines and environmentally sensitive site design. Construct new facilities, reuse existing facilities, and deconstruct outdated facilities in a way that is eco-friendly, utilizes energy efficiency measures, minimizes impacts to the environment and avoids "greenfield development." 6. Acquire, maintain and preserve important natural and cultural resource lands to help protect the natural environment of Orange County. 7. Continue to practice waste minimization and recycling in all County facilities. 8. Include environmental and sustainability considerations in decisions about the purchase of goods and services. Encourage the purchase of local products whenever feasible. 9. Provide County employees with incentives and creative opportunities to practice sustainable and environmentally-sound behaviors in the workplace. 10. Continue to produce, on a regular basis, a State of the Environment report to provide means of describing environmental conditions in the `County and providing indicators or measures for progress toward or away from environmental health. 11. Authorize the Environmental Stewardship Action Committee of County staff to regularly monitor and review County activities to ensure practical environmental stewardship in County activities, and to identify and evaluate new opportunities to achieve sound environmental practices in County government operations. References to Other Related Policies and Procedures This policv shall be included in the Countv's master policv manual and WHEREAS, Orange County, North Carolina is a community that places a high value on environmental responsibility and an ethic of ecological awareness, both within individual and community value systems; and WHEREAS, Orange County government has long prided itself as a leader in protection of our natural environment and conservation of our precious land, air and water resources; and WHEREAS, the County adopted, in December 2005, an "Environmental Responsibility in County Government Goal," with 10 objectives toward this purpose; and WHEREAS, the County has adopted successful programs to conserve important resource lands, protect watersheds, promote recycling, and ensure sound growth management; and WHEREAS, the County has also adopted goals for energy conservation, water conservation and vehicle fuel conservation to minimize the reduce consumption of these resources and realize cost savings; and WHEREAS, the County has joined the Cool Counties Program and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives to work collectively with other like-minded jurisdictions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the County's carbon footprint; and WHEREAS, one component of the Environmental Responsibility in County Government Goal calls for the adoption of an Environmental Leadership Policy to provide: for guidance and a philosophical framework toward this end: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners adopts this Environmental Leadership Policy, to be included in the County's policy manual, as a set of guiding principles for the Environmental Responsibility in County Government Goal, and commends all County employees to continue and expand their efforts to make Orange County a leader in setting a local environmental ethic and mission. This, the _ day of December, 2009. Valerie P. Foushee, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners ATTEST: Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board