environmental sustainability...
TRANSCRIPT
environmental SuStainability roadmap: a toolkit for local GovernmentS
2009
YEAR
cover photo: St. louis forest park trail (liz forrestal)
photo above: William a. kerr building, downtown St. louis | leed® platinum (tim montgomery, tma architects llc)
1
table of contents
I. Introduction Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
What is Sustainability?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Why Should Communities Care? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Local Government Sustainability in the St. Louis Region . . 8
Ongoing Commitment of FOCUS St. Louis . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
II. The Process of SustainabilityThe Five Step Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
III. Transportation and Land UseSummary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Implementation Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Best Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Funding Opportunities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
IV. Open SpaceSummary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Implementation Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Best Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Funding Opportunities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
V. StormwaterSummary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Implementation Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Best Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Funding Opportunities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
VI. Energy and WaterSummary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Implementation Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Best Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Funding Opportunities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
VII. Materials ProcurementSummary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Implementation Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Best Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Funding Opportunities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
VIII. Appendices A: Glossary Of Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
B: Leading Sustainability Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
C: Open Space Assessment Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
D: Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
2 environmental SuStainability roadmap: a toolkit for local GovernmentS
summarySustainability has become one of the leading buzzwords in
the last decade. being “green” is in these days. it seems nearly
everyone is more aware of the threat of climate change. Some
are examining energy alternatives to burning fossil fuels or
nuclear power, while others desire to lower their dependence
on foreign fuels and other increasingly expensive sources. a
once small interest in alternative energy sources has become
mainstream for these and other reasons. in addition, more and
more citizens value recycling, realize the importance of clean
water, and perhaps due in part to public health concerns, are
willing to make sacrifices to achieve cleaner air. as a result,
an increasing number of people are focused on preventing
further harm to the environment and our communities. indeed,
a paradigm shift is taking place in how we live and act as a
society, with a goal of leaving a better world for our children
and grandchildren than we ourselves inherited. but what can
we really do about it, and where does the responsibility lie to
act on this seemingly overwhelming issue?
While the United States Federal government is taking a
leadership role in sustainability initiatives, cities and counties
across the country have also made the effort to make their
communities more environmentally sustainable. Although policy
debates typically take place at the national and international
level, local governments are frequently on the front lines in the
fight against increased emissions, poor solid waste decisions,
and dirty air and water. They are taking the notion of “Think
Globally, Act Locally” to heart.
What does this edict mean for the St. Louis region? How can
our fragmented region, with hundreds of general purpose local
governments in two states, transected by two major rivers, act
locally to be effective in the fight against climate change? Some
of our region’s municipalities have a long history of incorporating
environmental practices into their routines. Others have only
recently integrated green practices into their processes or
revised regulations requiring new buildings to be more sensitive
to the environment and its resources. Many others have not yet
considered what their role in environmental sustainability might
be. But all can play a significant role in making progress towards
environmental sustainability goals.
St. Louis faces serious region-wide environmental issues.
In 2003, an additional 2,257 square miles were added to the
St. Louis metropolitan area to reflect the incorporation of
outlying areas. During the same period (between 2000 and
2005), however, population density in the region fell by 21
percent, illustrating continued land-use expansion without
increased population growth. Not surprisingly then, in 2004
St. Louis ranked 6th in the number of freeway lane miles
per square-mile of land at 1.9, behind only San Antonio,
San Francisco, Baltimore, San Diego and Los Angeles.
While the region’s air quality has steadily improved over the
last 15 years, St. Louis still experienced an average of 13 days per
year where ozone measurements exceeded the health-based
standard for the time period reported, ranking sixth, tied with
Cleveland. The St. Louis region in 2006 also ranked 5th worst
in the country for asthma risk.
Consequently, according to the Environmental Resource
Handbook, 3rd Edition (2005), the St. Louis metropolitan area
ranks near the bottom of the Green Metro Index – 3rd worst
(88th out of 90) behind Indianapolis and Detroit – which
compares the nation’s largest metropolitan areas on measures
of environmental quality and performance with regard to air
quality, toxic releases, Super Fund sites, energy use, mass transit
use, and motor vehicle use. Some of these indicators, such
as motor vehicle use, are a direct result of decisions made by
local government. Energy use can also be associated with local
ordinances and building codes. Other indicators, such as air
quality and mass transit use, while local in nature, are indirectly
related and would benefit from a regional planning approach.
“there is a growing recognition
that local governments can
be ideal institutions to tackle
environmental sustainability...
[they] realize that an
improved environment is a
strong indicator of a healthy
community and increases the
desirability of a community.”
i. introduction
3
Clearly, there is a need to improve the quality of the environment
in the St. Louis region, and there’s no better place to start than at
the local level. Cultivating efforts at the local level – municipal or
county – can lead to regional initiatives.
Michele Betsill, associate professor of political science at
Colorado State University, has identified three barriers to local
sustainability issues in her discussion paper Localizing Local
Climate Change: Controlling Greenhouse Gas Emissions in
U.S. Cities. These are the government’s internal structure, staff
availability to oversee new programs and the availability of funds
for environmental initiatives. This Roadmap has been created to
address these challenges and bring the best practices, resources,
recommendations and case studies together in a usable format
to help local communities get easily onto the path towards
environmental sustainability.
In the past, one of the fundamental barriers to local action
on sustainability was getting an issue that has traditionally
been national or international in scope on the local agenda.
There is a growing recognition that local governments can
be ideal institutions to tackle environmental sustainability.
Local governments adopt their own policies with respect
to energy codes, land use decisions, residential and
commercial regulations, transit options and solid waste
disposal. A local official who has demonstrated concern
for environmental issues can be an effective catalyst for
change. Local governments can also be leaders in the
community – and region – by acting in a more sustainable
manner. This sets an example of government commitment
and may also generate additional support for broader,
community-based initiatives. It is often easier to change
municipal policy internally before rolling out community-
wide programs.
Fortunately, a growing number of local governments realize
that an improved environment is a strong indicator of a healthy
community and increases the desirability of a community.
There is a long history of parkland, recreational amenities and
public institutions like zoos and museums equating to a high
quality of life. In more recent years, amenities such as light rail
and bike trails have been associated with strong communities,
and now, strong environmental initiatives are the marks of our
most progressive areas. People are attracted to progressive
neighborhoods.
St. Louis Community College Wildwood Campus, LEED® Gold
Photo: Jerry Seegers
4 environmental SuStainability roadmap: a toolkit for local GovernmentS
methodologyin the spring of 2008, the focuS St. louis community policy
committee and staff researched policy initiatives in the St.
louis region, looking for something that was lacking and yet
“ripe” for study and action. local environmental sustainability
and stewardship was often mentioned as something that
needed attention. committee members found that there was
not a comprehensive source for local governments in the area
to learn more about sustainability initiatives or other positive
steps they can take to increase their level of environmental
stewardship. recycling programs, green purchasing, community
education programs, water conservation, sustainable
infrastructure development, preservation of natural resources,
among others, are all examples of how a municipal government
can be involved in environmental sustainability. the committee
determined that more encouragement and recognition of the
potential for local governments to make a difference in this
area is needed.
As a result, in June 2008, the FOCUS Board of Directors
voted to convene a citizen task force to examine environmental
sustainability from the perspective of local governments in the
St. Louis Region. Specifically:
Using national and local resources, the task force
was charged with identifying standards and best
practices that can be applied to general purpose
local governments in the St. Louis region to
increase their level of environmental stewardship
and sustainability. The Taskforce also was charged
with creating tools for local governments to
understand and assess where they stand today.
The resulting tools will help local elected officials
to identify potential obstacles and offer action
steps toward improvement.
Two co-chairs were chosen to lead the task force in the summer
of 2008. They were former Missouri State Senator Wayne Goode
and Mary Ann Lazarus, director of Sustainable Design at HOK,
a worldwide architectural firm based in St. Louis. Senator Goode
added the local government perspective to the group in addition
to his vast experience advocating for environmental issues in
the State House and Senate, while Ms. Lazarus brought the
sustainable design point of view that is critical to sustainability.
Thirty-one committed citizens, including local officials, were also
recruited to the task force. The first task force meeting was held
in October 2008, and the group met monthly until July 2009,
when the final draft of the report was completed.
The group invited several guest speakers to share their
experiences during the 10-month work effort. Some of these
speakers were from local organizations and governments,
while others represented regional and national institutions.
Please see Acknowledgements in Section VIII for details.
after several philosophical discussions on what
environmental sustainability means for the St. louis
region, the study began in earnest. the task force
started with a list of approximately 20 topics to target
for sustainability initiatives, eventually consolidating
them under five working groups to address the broad
spectrum of environmental sustainability:
I. transportation & land use
II. open space
III. stormwater
IV. energy and Water
V. materials Procurement
i. introduction
Photo: Petree Eastman
Flynn Park School vegetable garden, University CIty
5
These groups reported back with specific recommendations
for local governments based on short, mid and long-term
perspectives. In addition, the interconnectivity of these issues
was highlighted, as nothing in the environment – urban, suburban
or rural – happens in isolation, creating the possibility for regional
or sub-regional collaboration on sustainability programs.
The key to a meaningful and useful report for area local
governments was information on what cities and counties were
already doing in the way of environmental sustainability, and
what they strive for. To this end, the Environmental Sustainability
Task Force conducted a survey of local governments throughout
the region to gauge what was already being done. The
results were fundamental to the structure and content of the
recommendations. The survey results are highlighted throughout
the report and can be found in its entirety on the FOCUS St.
Louis website at http://www.focus-stl.org/.
The Toolkit or Roadmap assembled by the task force and
presented in this report illustrates the findings of our study
on sustainability issues and offers an extensive amount of
specialized knowledge and understanding of environmental
concerns in the St. Louis region. It is meant to serve as a
benchmark against which individual communities and the
region can measure themselves as they work towards becoming
environmentally sustainable. In July 2009, the FOCUS St. Louis
Board of Directors reviewed the final report from the task force
and unanimously approved the report recommendations.
In July, 2009, a number of cities in St. Louis County
assembled to discuss ways to reduce the amount of
energy consumed by street lights. The cities included in
the conversation were University City, St. Ann, Fenton,
Hazelwood, Richmond Heights, Clayton, Ferguson,
Webster Groves, St. John, Rock Hill, Maplewood, Ballwin,
Olivette, Creve Coeur, Eureka, Maryland Heights and
Kirkwood. Representatives of St. Louis County, the
Municipal League, Sustainable St. Louis and Energy
Solutions were also in attendance.
Ameren owns, operates and maintains the street lights
and bills cities for the energy consumed. These cities are
coordinating their efforts; researching ways to retrofit
poles with more energy-efficient lights or perhaps
decommission certain lights if not needed. This regional
collaboration would save valuable tax dollars for residents
as well as reduce the amount of energy used.
Source: Petree Eastman
Photo: Liz Forrestal
St. Louis Forest Park walking trail
caSe Study
6 environmental SuStainability roadmap: a toolkit for local GovernmentS
What Is sustaInabIlIty?
Sustainability entered the mainstream with this definition
in the Brundtland Report over 20 years ago, and it is the most
commonly used definition for the term. Sustainability means the
integration of environmental, economic, and social networks. It
means enduring individual well-being and satisfaction. It means
living completely within nature’s limits, with a prosperous
economy, in healthy communities, with a high quality of life for
all citizens. Indeed, the term sustainable can be given a stable
and useful meaning only by building it into a comprehensive
theory of environmental management. Sustainability is about
making choices that nourish and prolong the individual,
the community and the ecosystem.
Nothing in society occurs in isolation. Everything is a
system of interdependencies, sometimes obvious but more
often hidden. Any discussion of sustainability includes three
areas: the environment, the economy and social aspects of
the community. Much like a three-legged stool, the interaction
and balance of all three keep communities viable. Stress in
any one area or imbalance among the three areas results in
instability, unreliability and costly efforts to ameliorate the
resulting problems.
A common example of the interconnectivity among the
environment, the economy and the social aspects of community
is the relationship of transportation and land use decisions
to air quality goals. Land use decisions (i.e., zoning) have a
major impact on individuals’ travel patterns. For instance, the
location of a large retail facility affects a person’s transportation
options that, in turn, affect traffic volumes and subsequently
auto emissions. Also, transportation policy decisions determine
how land will be used, such as creating impervious streets and
parking lots, and therefore impact the types of businesses
that locate in a given area. In this scenario, three sustainability
concerns are highlighted:
1. Increased motor vehicle traffic affects air quality and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, increasing the carbon footprint.
2. Development decisions can impact open space and prime farmlands, which serve as carbon sinks, and the beneficial process of carbon sequestration.
3. Transportation and development patterns affect air quality and stormwater runoff, impacting health and wellness of humans and natural habitats.
Development is sustainable “if it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” - Our Common Future, a report from the Brundtland Commission
Prairie in St. Louis Forest Park
i. introduction
Photo: Liz Forrestal
7
Local, state and regional leaders can enhance the quality of
life and the economic competitiveness of the area by making
progress towards sustainability on a continual basis. “Business
as usual is not an option,” states the Stern Review on the
Economics of Climate Change, released in 2006. Being
“green” is no longer a matter of aesthetics or divisive political
correctness. In fact, sustainable living is the ticket to economic
survival, jobs, cost savings, and leadership. Thinking sustainably,
along with consistently evaluating and improving processes,
operations and policies, will result in:
• A more robust local and regional economy.
• Improved air and water quality.
• Increased productivity and improved quality of life.
Since the environment within which we all live is shared,
the actions and efforts—or lack thereof—of any community
can directly impact communities and constituencies beyond
its own borders. Issues of transportation and land use,
open space, stormwater, energy and water, and materials
procurement can either serve as a benefit to the community
or be obstacles to its current and future well-being.
Benefits can include cost savings, increased efficiencies in
service delivery and improved quality of life, among others.
Obstacles may involve increased expenses in service delivery,
emergency remediation associated with lack of preventive
interventions, and/or health and safety concerns for residents.
Why should communItIes care?
Novus International Global Headquarters, St. Charles County | LEED® Platinum
In August of 2009, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources
awarded the Missouri Botanical Garden a grant to provide partial
funding for the Missouri Botanical Garden Deer Creek Watershed
Initiative project to help protect citizens and the environment
by improving water quality in the Deer Creek Watershed. Deer
Creek originates near Creve Coeur and flows southwest 10.8
miles before it enters the River des Peres at Maplewood. The
Deer Creek watershed encompasses multiple municipalities
and includes Deer Creek, Two-Mile Creek, Sebago Creek, Shady
Grove Creek and Black Creek. The goal of the program is to
reduce organic waste pollution in the Deer Creek watershed,
primarily though the use of bioretention or rain gardens and
other green infrastructure methods. Initiative strategies include
work with schools, demonstration projects, data collection
and community outreach in partnership with a wide variety
of organizations throughout the region.
caSe Study
8 environmental SuStainability roadmap: a toolkit for local GovernmentS
Through an online survey, FOCUS St. Louis collected data on
current sustainability practices of local governments within the
St. Louis region, representing 16 counties in Missouri and Illinois.
In all, 46 municipalities or counties responded, representing
communities with as few as several hundred residents and those
with greater than fifteen thousand. The responding communities
ranged from Washington, Missouri to St. Paul, Missouri, in St.
Charles County, to Staunton and O’Fallon in Illinois. Smaller
communities such as Uplands Park, Huntleigh and Sycamore
Hills, Missouri also participated. The City of East St. Louis, Illinois,
Cottleville, Pevely and Ferguson, Missouri also responded.
All of the respondents felt that “sustainability” was an important
issue for their community and more than 80 percent felt that
sustainability initiatives could have both direct and indirect
economic benefits for their community. However, as reflected in
Table 1, the ability to actually advance a sustainability agenda is
a challenge, and success varies significantly depending on the
size of the community, with the smaller communities facing the
greatest hurdles.
The survey responses also indicated that all communities
desire more information about programs and what other
communities are doing to address sustainability issues.
Respondents were particularly interested in financial resources,
available technical assistance and a toolkit or roadmap to
allow their communities to advance sustainability more directly.
The survey in its entirety can be found on the FOCUS
St. Louis website at http://www.focus-stl.org/.
Many of the sustainability initiatives and programs
discussed in this report lend themselves to regional collaboration.
A logical cluster of governments, particularly smaller ones,
could purchase products in bulk, thereby saving expense and
delivery trips, putting fewer trucks on the road and helping
traffic congestion. Less traffic also leads to improved regional
air quality. This is but one example; there are many possibilities.
The task force urges local governments to consider acting
regionally, partnering with neighboring jurisdictions as they
pursue environmental sustainability.
Smaller local governments also may not have the staff
expertise or funding to take on many of the recommendations
in this report. It may be more practical for them to partner
with neighboring municipalities to cost-share in implementing
the recommendations outlined in each section of this report.
In that way, small municipalities will be able to remain
competitive and attractive places to live and work.
local goVernment sustaInabIlIty In the st. louIs regIon
table 1 actionS taken by municipalitieS/countieS
Designated individual or group assigned responsibility for overseeing implementation of sustainability initiatives
Have adopted sustainability policies
Considering adoption of sustainability policies
Provide education for citizens about sustainability issues
Considering providing education about sustainability issues
(1) Fewer than 5,000 inhabitants
(2) Between 5,000 and 15,000 inhabitants
(3) Greater than 15,000 inhabitants
Municipality/coMMunity Size
SMALL (1)
45%
5%
27%
14%
29%
MEDIUM (1)
70%
20%
50%
11%
44%
LARGE (1)
86%
33%
48%
48%
28%
i. introduction
9
As the quality and content of best practice resources changes
rapidly, FOCUS will continue to provide updates to these and
other resources via the FOCUS St. Louis Web site for use by
local government officials and residents. FOCUS will also use
its e-newsletter to provide tips and tools for its members. It
will facilitate on-line discussions on relevant topics via “blogs”
and other social media available. The survey indicated that 85
percent of the responding communities would participate in
a Green Government Listserve to discuss sustainability issues.
There clearly is a desire to use modern technology
to discuss these issues “digitally.”
FOCUS St. Louis will advocate on behalf of the environmental
sustainability recommendations made in this report. FOCUS
will also work to ensure that the recommendations in this
report are being implemented and that progress is being
made by local communities.
focuS St. louis’ role is to work collaboratively with regional
environmental organizations and local governments to help
implement the report’s recommendations. organizations
like Sustainable St. louis, the east West Gateway council of
Governments and the St. louis county municipal league are
logical partners who have already invested in this work.
ongoIng commItment of FOCUS ST. LOUIS
Focus St. Louis Office
On February 16, 2005 the Kyoto Protocol, the international
agreement to address climate disruption, became law for the 141
countries that ratified it. On that same day, Seattle Mayor Greg
Nickels launched the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection
Agreement initiative to advance the goals of the Kyoto Protocol
through leadership and action. By the 2005 U.S. Conference of
Mayors Annual Meeting in June of that year, 141 mayors had signed
the Agreement—the same number of nations that ratified the
Kyoto Protocol. As of September 2007, 884 mayors had signed
the agreement. Under the Agreement, participating cities commit
to take the following three actions:
• Strive to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets in their own communities, through actions ranging from anti-sprawl land-use policies to urban forest restoration projects to public information campaigns.
• Urge their state governments and the Federal government to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the greenhouse gas emission reduction target suggested for the United States in the Kyoto Protocol, a seven percent reduction from 1990 levels by 2012.
• Urge the U.S. Congress to pass the greenhouse gas reduction legislation, which would establish a national emission trading system.
As of September 2009, these 14 cities in the St. Louis
metropolitan region have signed the agreement:
Alton, IL
Clayton, MO
Creve Coeur, MO
Edwardsville, IL
Florissant, MO
Kirkwood, MO
Lake Saint Louis, MO
For more information see:
http://www.usmayors.org/climateprotection/agreement.htm
Maplewood, MO
Overland, MO
South Roxana, IL
St. Louis, MO
St. Peters, MO
Sunset Hills, MO
University City, MO
Photo: Sam Fentress
caSe Study
10 environmental SuStainability roadmap: a toolkit for local GovernmentS
the five Step proceSS
“The very goal of sustainable living is a moving, changing target, to be defined as part of a process and refined as more experience pours in”
These are the words of eminent scholars and ecologists, C.S. Holling and Lance
Gunderson, in their book Panarchy: Understanding Transformations in Human
and Natural Systems (2001). They underscore the importance of the “process”
for all initiatives toward sustainability.
a path toWardS SuStainability
Each topic area in the following sections
contains recommendations and implementation
strategies for local municipalities and counties
to undertake. The following process steps
serve as a common pathway to move
forward in all areas and gain the
maximum benefit across issues:
ii. the proceSS of SuStainability
2Step
The Five STep proceSS oF SuSTainabiliTy
1Step
2 assess the SituationDetermine which environmental indicators
your community will track and establish a baseline.
Consider undertaking a greenhouse gas inventory
along with other evaluations. A greenhouse gas
inventory has the advantage of tieing many sustainable
initiatives to a common metric. Other assessments can help
focus priorities, such as open space assessments, transportation studies
and others that are referenced in this Roadmap. This allows local governments
to set measurable goals and track progress as implementation proceeds.
1 commit to actionCommitting to action starts the process of achieving
sustainability, both in city operations and community-
wide. Identify and empower a Sustainability Champion
or committee to direct an overall sustainability program.
Connect with local citizen-based initiatives. Consider
modeling good practices in your own operations and
facilities to serve as an example to the whole community.
11
the SuStainability reSearch iS orGanized into five topic areaS, includinG:
1. Transportation and Land Use
2. Open Space
3. Stormwater
4. Energy and Water
5. Materials Procurement
the recommendationS have been Grouped into three cateGorieS:
Getting Started – these are start-up activities
and actions that communities can address
fairly easily and quickly and that will yield
early results to promote further action.
on the Way – these are actions that will
propel outcomes further into the community,
take more effort and potentially require
funding by the local government.
Sustaining – these actions promote
long-term results that will have impact
over many generations.
3
4
5Step
Step
Step3 Make plansStrong plans addressing the many
different environmental indicators in
the community integrate a number
of different elements dynamically,
and evolve over time to anticipate
and respond to changing conditions.
Informed long-range goals and
practical, achievable interim goals
are the key to long-term success
for all sustainability programs.
5 Measure andcelebrate SuccessMonitor performance to track
success. Measurable success helps to
achieve long-term goals and maintain
momentum. It also makes it possible
to refine policies and programs by
learning what works and what does
not. Continual measurement allows
you to promote success while
creating opportunities to highlight
the cumulative impact of many actions.
4 implementAlong with a thorough planning process, careful implementation
is essential to successful sustainability initiatives. Launch new
initiatives quickly, so the community can get a big boost with
“quick wins” – actions that can be implemented within a few
months, have low capital costs, and promise benefits that
will become apparent within a year.
each topic iS orGanized by:
1. Summary
2. Recommendations
3. Implementation Strategies
4. Best Practices
5. Funding Opportunities
orGanization of thiS roadmap
12 environmental SuStainability roadmap: a toolkit for local GovernmentS
transportation and land use are key elements in planning for
communities. transportation decisions include the location and
design of streets, sidewalks and parking, as well as the design
of lanes, paths and parking facilities for bicycles. land use
refers to the types of buildings and uses that are associated
with a particular parcel of land—such as residential, commercial
or agricultural. municipalities use zoning to influence the land
use decisions of individuals and developers.
At the local level, land use and transportation decisions are
intimately related. Land use zoning decisions have a major
impact on individual travel patterns. For example, the location of
a large retail facility will affect traffic volumes and transportation
options. Conversely, transportation policy decisions also affect
land use. The design of streets and streetscapes affect how
people use surrounding land and what kinds of businesses
locate in a given area.
The transportation and land use decisions made by
municipalities have a major impact on environmental quality.
Many changes can be implemented at fairly low cost, and in
fairly short time periods. But major change in transportation
systems and land use patterns can take years, or even decades,
to create. It requires a long-term commitment to fully integrate
sustainability concepts into land use and transportation
decisions. Leadership in this area requires a willingness to think
not only about short-term benefits, but also about implications
for future generations.
In the short and medium term, though, local planners can
enhance the quality of life - and the competitiveness - of their
communities by making incremental changes in land use and
transportation policies. Examples of policy decisions include
steps to make streetscapes more pedestrian and bicycle friendly,
or zoning rules that allow some mixed-use development or
promote other environmentally positive outcomes.
Local transportation and land use decisions have major
environmental impacts. For example:
• Increases in motor vehicle traffic can affect air quality and greenhouse gas emissions. Sixty percent of automobile pollution is created in the first few minutes of operation before pollution control devices can work effectively. When streets are built to accommodate the human scale – making biking and walking easier – the number of short trips can be reduced dramatically.
• Developing greenfields eliminates prime farmland and other open space.
• Transportation and development patterns affect stormwater runoff and water quality.
Aside from environmental concerns, municipalities have many other reasons to think creatively about land use and transportation decisions:
• There is evidence that homebuyers increasingly favor walkable, mixed-use communities. Examples in the St. Louis area include the popularity of the New Town development in St. Charles, as well as the increasing demand for homes in St. Louis’ downtown loft district. A recent national survey showed that more than half of all adults believe that walkability is an important consideration in housing decisions.
• Encouraging more walking, biking and mass transit use can reduce both transportation costs for individuals and infrastructure costs for municipalities.
• Walkable and attractive streetscapes enhance the economic vitality of communities. They serve as destinations, are good commercial addresses, and provide location value to businesses that power the local economy.
• Creating walkable and bikable spaces offers an opportunity to re-integrate physical activity into our daily routines. Investing in active transportation can be a significant step to address the increasing rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other maladies.
While every street is unique, community infrastructure that encourages bicycling and walking may include the following features:
• Sidewalks and walkways, which separate pedestrians from vehicular traffic keeping everyone safer.
• Accessible curb cuts and ramps, which create a friendly environment without obstructions for the free movement of people on the public ways.
• Median islands on wide streets, which provide a refuge for pedestrians at crosswalks, and have a calming effect on traffic in certain instances.
• Plantings such as trees, grass, or flowers along the roadway, which serve to calm traffic and create a welcoming environment for people to get out of their cars and walk or bike to their destinations.
• Paved shoulders, which provide a more comfortable situation on the roadways so that cyclists and motorists have more room to maneuver and cooperate while using the roads.
• Shared Lane Markings, or “Sharrows,” which serve to educate both cyclists and motorists about the best lane position for cyclists.
• Inviting and accessible transit stops, which encourage people to use transit and leave their cars at home.
• Secure bicycle parking in commercial districts, including bike racks and bike lockers, which help to make running errands, shopping, and visiting cafes by bike simple and convenient.
• Calming motor vehicle traffic (less than 30 mph preferred), which creates a safer and more inviting atmosphere for human beings on the streets. Examples of traffic calming measures include roundabouts, speed humps, partial closures or “bicycle boulevards,” raised crosswalks, curb extensions, etc.
transPortatIon & land use summary
iii. tranSportation and land uSe
13
As with the other topic areas in this report, there is a very
strong rationale for the goal of reducing auto-dependency by
providing more mass transit-oriented development, as well as
bicycle-friendly and pedestrian friendly amenities. However, as
indicated by the following survey responses in Table 2, a gap
exists between the goal and implementation. Fully half of all
municipalities/counties that responded to the survey said they
have not yet taken any actions to move their communities closer
to the goal of reducing dependency on motor vehicles.
As would be expected, the survey also indicated that larger
communities are more likely to have taken at least one of the
actions (85 percent), with 50 percent of the medium-sized
communities adopting at least one, and only 18 percent of the
smaller communities. Resources are listed in the Best Practices
Section that address these concerns.
table 2 actionS taken by municipalitieS/countieS
Adopt street design standards that ensure high-quality bike and pedestrian accommodations
Adopt a local Complete Streets policy
Adopt a policy that specifies a percent of public works funds for non-vehicular transportation
Adopt transportation plan that integrates all modes of transportation
Adopt updated design manual that specifies best-practice treatments for non-vehicular infrastructure
Adopt codes that promote transit-oriented development and promotion of mixed-use districts
None of the Above
31%
4%
10%
29%
12%
29%
50%
%
14 environmental SuStainability roadmap: a toolkit for local GovernmentS
Getting Started • Assess the walk/bike friendliness of the community
using readily available assessment tools. For example, a community can apply for a Bicycle Friendly Community designation from the League of American Bicyclists and learn through that process where improvements are needed.
• Review existing standards, design guidelines and land use policies in the community for conformity with Complete Streets principles.
• Enroll in Metro’s Partial Expense Reduction for Commuters (PERC) program to encourage city employees to use mass transit.
• Engage the police department in enforcing and educating the public about bicycle safety laws.
• Provide professional development for staff regarding best practices.
• Provide preferential parking for carpoolers, hybrid car users and those driving vehicles with better fuel efficiency.
• Provide free parking for employees who ride-share.
• Subsidize bus and light rail fees for city staff.
• Initiate a car/van-pool program.
• Encourage parking at remote Park and Ride Lots.
• Allow fleet vehicles to be used for employee carpools.
• Encourage enrollment in RideFinders and other regional carpooling programs.
• Encourage community-car options.
• Provide shower facilities and lockers at work for those who walk or bike to work in summer months.
• Create a monthly incentive program for bikers and walkers within a larger overall employee wellness program.
• Create awareness campaigns to highlight the availability of alternative transportation options – bus routes and times, availability of bike routes and bike racks, etc.
• Create additional bike trails and bike-only lanes on roads.
on the Way• Adopt a Complete Streets ordinance encouraging city staff to
consider the needs of pedestrians, bikers and the disabled in planning and engineering.
• Incorporate Complete Streets principles in comprehensive plan updates.
• Revise zoning ordinances to allow dense and mixed-use communities. Encourage parking lots in the rear of buildings or in concentrated parking garages.
• Consider the needs of pedestrians and cyclists in neighborhood, subarea and corridor plans.
• Update local street design guidelines and standards with a focus on encouraging non-motorized travel. Use traffic calming measures such as curb bump-outs and raised intersections.
• Adopt streetscape requirements, including landscaping and lighting, to create pleasant, human-scale environments.
• Consider alternatives to widening streets in order to deal with congestion.
• Encourage employers to provide bike parking, showers and lockers for non-motorized commuters.
• Develop an off-road network of greenways and trails, as well as an on-road network of bicycle facilities.
• Convert part of city car fleet to other modes (e.g., bikes and horses for the police department).
Sustaining• Enforce commitment to walkable communities through
permitting processes. Hold developers to local standards, with variances only in extenuating circumstances.
• Use redevelopment sites as opportunities for dense, walkable, and mixed-use communities.
• Target compact growth in existing centers and along existing corridors.
• Allocate transportation funds in a way that reflects the desired mode split.
• Initiate or enhance a public campaign to support transit.
• Work with regional, state and federal elected officials to create opportunities for transit oriented development.
• Work with neighboring cities, East West Gateway Council of Governments, and Great Rivers Greenway District to ensure a seamless, connected, and safe transportation network for bicycles and pedestrians.
recommendatIons
iii. tranSportation and land uSe
Partnering with Trailnet, the Cities of Ferguson
and Desoto in Missouri established the state’s
first Complete Streets policies. For more
on Complete Streets and Trailnet, see the
Transportation and Land Use Best Practices
or visit these two websites:
http://www.completestreets.org
and http://www.trailnet.org
caSe Study
15
1. appoint someone to lead the effort to increase the sustainability of your community’s transportation systems and land use network. As these are rather large topics and include several facets of the community’s fabric, a transportation and land use Sustainability committee might be better suited to deal with the challenges ahead. At a minimum, members of the local government’s departments of Planning and Public Works would be appropriate to serve on this committee.
2. assess the walk/bike friendliness of your community, or perhaps do one section of your community at a time. There are a few available tools for starting this process:
• The WalkScore Google Maps application gives a quick numerical walkability rating for any address in the United States: http://www.walkscore.com
• The Active Living Resource Center discusses several assessment strategies: http://www.activelivingresources.org/yourcommunity6.php
3. assess land use patterns in the community, particularly the way transportation systems and land uses are connected. Then revise your local government’s comprehensive or master plans to reflect any changes desired to further your sustainability initiatives. Keep in mind that:
• Comprehensive plans establish a vision for the city’s future. Various elements are included; among them are land use, housing, transportation, and urban design.
• Zoning ordinances regulate land use, typically by designating permitted uses of land on mapped zones. The Best Practices section discusses several zoning tools that communities can use to create more walkable mixed-use communities, including flex zoning, form-based codes and overlay zones.
• Subdivision ordinances should also reflect desired amendments. The purpose of the subdivision ordinance is to control the division of land within your community.
• The ideas of density, walkability and mixed-use development can be integrated into neighborhood and sub-area plans.
4. implement your plans. If changes were made to your plans, codes or development process, make them permanent in your code, if appropriate. Decisions codified in zoning and subdivision ordinances are enforced with building permits. Use the changes to your comprehensive plan to evaluate future proposals. Utilize the zoning tools in the Best Practices section.
5. Make changes to the transportation system to make your community more bicycle-friendly and more walkable. Be sure to include these elements in future development applications. As structures become obsolete, redevelopment offers the opportunity to create inviting and walkable neighborhoods. For example, some towns across the country have converted obsolete shopping malls into attractive, mixed-use town centers.
6. Continue to update and revise plans and ordinances as needed. Measure your success and celebrate these achievements. Monitoring and assessment should be a part of any ongoing sustainability plan. Determine what does not work and make changes accordingly. Communities are dynamic and ever-changing. Plans for them need to keep pace and change as well.
bicycle reSourceS
Bicycle Master Plans (BMP): Information on developing a BMP for your community may be found at the following locations:
• Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals: http://www.apbp.org/
• National Center for Bicycling and Walking: http://www.bikewalk.org/
• St. Louis Regional Bicycling and Walking Transportation Plan: http://www.ewgateway.org/library/reports/reports-pg1/reports-pg1.htm#bikeped
An incentive program similar to the PERC program is the
Bike Commuter Tax Credit. This program offers about $20/
month to employees through an employer-based incentive
program. http://www.bikeleague.org/news/100708faq.php
The League of American Bicyclists offers a Bicycle Friendly
Community designation. Applying for this designation helps a
community learn where improvements are needed. http://www.
bikeleague.org/programs/bicyclefriendlyamerica/communities
St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation (BikeFed): BikeFed
provides assistance to create bicycle-friendly communities
throughout the St. Louis region. It offers municipalities and
businesses expert assistance with bicycle parking and other
bicycle-friendly infrastructure while advocating for the rights
of bicyclists at the local, state and federal levels.
http://stlbikefed.org
The police department in your community can play a role
in enforcing laws related to bicycle safety. In lieu of a fine,
police can hand cyclists or motorists information about laws
related to road safety. A complete bicycle safety curriculum
for law enforcement is available from the National Highways
and Transportation Safety Administration at: http://www.nhtsa.
dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.810acaee50c651189ca8e4
10dba046a0/
ImPlementatIon strategIes
best PractIces
Begun in 2005, the Cool Cities campaign empowers
city residents and local leaders to join and encourage
their cities to implement smart energy solutions to save
money and build a cleaner, safer future. More information,
including additional resources, can be found here:
http://coolcities.us/
As of September, 2009, these 12 cities in the St. Louis
metropolitan region have become “cool cities”:
Alton, IL, Belleville, IL, Clayton, MO, Creve Coeur, MO,
Edwardsville, IL, Florissant, MO, Kirkwood, MO, Maplewood,
MO, Olivette, MO, St. Louis, MO, Sunset Hills, MO,
University City, MO
caSe Study
16 environmental SuStainability roadmap: a toolkit for local GovernmentS
local and national reSourceS
The Center for Clean Air Policy’s Transportation and Climate
Change Program has resources to reduce transportation
emissions with improved land use and travel efficiency.
http://www.ccap.org/index.php?component=programs&id=35
Great Streets: The East-West Gateway Council of Governments
launched the St. Louis Great Streets Initiative in early 2006 to
expand the way communities think of their streets. The goal
of the initiative is to trigger economic and social benefits by
centering communities on interesting, lively and attractive
streets that serve all modes of transportation.
http://www.greatstreetsstlouis.net/
Programs to encourage alternate modes of transportation,
such as a Partial Expense Reduction for Commuters (PERC)
program, offer certain benefits to businesses and their
employees. As the program operates on a pre-tax basis,
employees benefit by having their taxable income reduced.
It also reduces their out-of-pocket cost for transit.
http://www.cleanair-stlouis.com/businesses-get-involved.html
Trailnet is a St. Louis based non-profit organization with a
20-year history of Promoting Active Living - a way of life that
encourages people to integrate physical activity into their daily
routines. http://www.trailnet.org
Trailnet’s Healthy, Active & Vibrant Community Toolkit is a
comprehensive and visually compelling document that presents
an exciting vision for the future of our communities—a future
built around quality of life, health, vibrant local economies, and
the environment. http://www.trailnet.org/haVc_toolkit.php
park and recreation diStrictS
The Great Rivers Greenway District (GRG): The creation of
this district was approved by voters in November of 2000.
It serves St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles
County in Missouri. The District works for a clean, green,
connected St. Louis region. To deliver on its mission, the
District is spearheading the development of the River Ring,
an interconnected system of greenways, parks and trails that
will encircle the St. Louis region, enhancing the quality of life
for residents and visitors. GRG offers assistance with planning,
and can assist with applications for transportation enhancement
funding. http://www.greatrivers.info
The Metro East Park and Recreation District (MEPRD): Metro
East’s park district was also formed by voters in November
2000. It is responsible for the development of parks, trails,
and greenways within the boundaries of Madison and St. Clair
Counties in Illinois. The District supplements the efforts of local
governments, special districts, and other jurisdictions already
engaged in the management of parks and recreational facilities.
http://www.meprd.org/
Counties and municipalities receive funding from the same
1/10 cent sales tax approved by referendum in 2000 for parks
and trails. This same tax funds Great Rivers Greenway and the
Metro East Park and Recreation District. The State of Missouri
also provides some funding through park grants. With vision, all
four entities on both sides of the Mississippi River could work
together to build an interconnected system of trails and parks.
Street deSiGn
Bicycle and pedestrian friendly infrastructure can improve the
quality of life in a community while reducing pollution. Complete
Streets are streets designed, built and operated to be safe
and convenient for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists,
motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities.
http://www.completestreets.org
zoninG toolS
Zoning and subdivision ordinances must be tailored to an
individual community. Below are a few techniques that some
communities across the country have found useful for promoting
dense, walkable, mixed-use communities. Not all will be
appropriate for every community, but they represent a menu
of options that may be useful.
Flex Zoning in areas of transition between commercial and
residential streets can help communities accommodate the
natural evolution of land use as market needs change. Flex
zoning permits the developer or building owner to change
the use of the building (assuming that building codes are met
for the new use) without undergoing a lengthy variance or
approval process. As a result, building owners are better able
to capitalize on fluctuating market demands and buildings
can accommodate retail, office, or residential space as needed.
For more information see the International City/County
Management Association’s (ICMA) Getting to Smart Growth.
http://www.smartgrowth.org/pdf/gettosg.pdf
Form Based Codes use both diagrams and words to designate
appropriate form, scale and character of developments. Form-
based codes typically include public space standards, building
form standards, and clearly defined review processes and
definitions. For more information see the Form-Based Codes
Institute. http://www.formbasedcodes.org
Overlay zones build on underlying zoning by establishing
additional or stricter standards. They may be used to protect
particular natural or cultural features, such as historic districts,
waterfronts, wetlands, or downtown residential enclaves. For
more information, see the Tompkins County, New York Vital
Communities Toolkit. http://www.tompkins-co.org/planning/
vct/tool/overlayzones.html
Planned Unit Development (PUD) is a type of development that
allows a developer to meet overall community density and land
use goals while obtaining flexibility with respect to existing
zoning requirements. Using a PUD allows for innovative uses
of spaces and structures to achieve planning goals. For more
information see the State of Wisconsin, Planning Implementation
Toolkit. ftp://ftp.wi.gov/doa/public/comprehensiveplans/
implementationtoolkit/documents/pud.pdf
best PractIces (contInued)
iii. tranSportation and land uSe
17
The Great Rivers Greenway District (St. Louis City and St. Louis
and St. Charles Counties in Missouri) and the Metro East Park
and Recreation District (Madison and St. Clair Counties in Illinois)
offer assistance with planning, and can assist with applications
for transportation enhancement funding.
www.greatrivers.info and
A comprehensive list of funding opportunities available to
municipalities to increase bicycling and walking is offered
through the U.S. Department of Transportation.
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bikeped/bp-guid.htm
The East West Gateway Council of Governments (EWGW)
also can assist with funding opportunities.
http://www.ewgateway.org/
Great Rivers Greenway’s idealized map of future greenway areas
fundIng oPPortunItIes
The City of Ferguson, Missouri recognizes the importance
of implementing programs in the city that promote
sustainable energy and environmental awareness. In
addition to its Complete Streets Ordinance, the Ferguson
City Council passed an ordinance that imposes new
energy conservation requirements on city operations.
The new ordinance requires the city to develop,
implement and maintain a plan to reduce energy
usage by at least 30 percent and waste generated
by 20 percent within the next five years. See the
energy ordinance at http://www.fergusoncity.com/
documentView.aspx?did=430. The City’s Downtown
Strategic Development Plan incorporated form-based
zoning. For more on form-based zoning, see the
Transportation and Land Use Best Practices. Also, see
Ferguson’s 2009 Environmental Report at http://www.
fergusoncity.com/documentView.aspx?did=437.
caSe Study
http://www.meprd.org
18 environmental SuStainability roadmap: a toolkit for local GovernmentS
open Space is immediately and ultimately impacted by the
decisions and activities in each community. consequently, it
plays an integral role in all aspects of sustainability planning.
an example of the importance of open space, in the form of
natural habitats, is the role it plays in carbon sequestration.
carbon sequestration is the removal and storage of carbon
from the atmosphere into carbon sinks, such as oceans, forests
or soils, through physical or biological processes, such as
photosynthesis. in the u.S. well-established values for carbon
sequestration rates are available for most tree species. pine
plantations in the Southeast can accumulate almost 100 metric
tons of carbon per acre after 90 years, or roughly one metric
ton of carbon per acre per year. naturally removing carbon
from the atmosphere in this fashion cleans the air, reduces
temperature and aids in the fight on global warming.
Open Space areas are found in urban, suburban, and rural
locations. They can be designated areas of land or water or
zoning districts (or overlays) where development is controlled to
create undeveloped areas of land or water within a community
or region. Open Space areas are commonly open to the public;
however some can be owned by non-profit or private interests.
The purpose of Open Space is the:
• Indefinite preservation or conservation of a community or region’s natural character.
• Conservation or preservation of a land or water area for recreational, ecological, environmental, aesthetic or agricultural interests.
• Management of a community or region’s growth in terms of development, industry, or natural resources extraction.
A certain amount of overlap occurs between conservation
terms and land use planning. In the Midwest, the majority
of communities use the following terms.
• Protected areas are open spaces that are left untouched and unmanaged and access is restricted.
• Urban Open Spaces specifically refers to open space within a developed setting, such as natural landscapes, manicured urban parkland, urban forests, community gardens, and recovered brownfields.
• Greenways are vegetated, linear, multi-use corridors that span interconnected open space reserves or linear chains of connected open spaces. A version of a greenway is a recovered transportation route (usually railways) used for bicycle or pedestrian traffic.
• Green belt is a planning term used to describe a general area of open space surrounding an urban area.
• Flood control projects and protected ecological research areas may also be considered open space reserves secondary to their primary purpose.
• Nature reserves and wildlife refuges are set aside for the sake of protecting non-human species.
• National parks, state parks and municipal parks, recreation areas, and reservations are managed by government agencies for the primary purpose of passive or active human enjoyment.
• National forests, state forests, and municipal forests are set
aside for the primary purpose of forest conservation.
Communities that have a Comprehensive Open Space Plan tend
to focus primarily on traditional open space uses such as active
and passive recreation areas and trails, with much less emphasis
on preservation of natural areas. The Best Practices section
includes resources for addressing these topics in depth.
As indicated in Table 3, the most prevalent form of open space
included in survey respondents’ Comprehensive Plans was area
for passive recreation. Recreation for sports activities and trails
was also included in many plans.
One potential source for funding open space improvements is
a “parks and stormwater tax.” Survey respondents were asked
if they had such a tax, and if they did, for what purpose it was
used. The results are listed in Table 4. Note that only the larger
local governments used this tax for acquisition of open space.
Another source of funding is the portion of the 1/10 cent parks
and trails tax that is set aside for cities and counties. This tax
was approved by referendum in 2000 and funds Great Rivers
Greenway in Missouri and the Metro East Park and Recreation
District in Illinois. The Missouri Conservation Commission also
has a small grant program to improve the vegetation and
stormwater of local park lands.
oPen sPace summary
Figure 1: Assessing Open Space
basic assessment includes:• Acreage of developed versus undeveloped areas.• Acreage of park, conservation or other natural/
recreation areas.• Percentage or acreage of impervious surface area
(Data collected by your local sewer district- e.g. Metropolitan Sewer District in St. Louis).
detailed assessment includes:• Acreage of biodiverse habitat.• Size and type of vegetative cover.• Type of wildlife.• Size and type of forest.• Acreage of recreational space.• Acreage and use of conservation easements. • Acreage of land conversions into housing or
commercial space and into open space.• Percentage of open space compared to population density • Percentage of open space, compared to desirable
percentage for communities of similar density.
iV. open Space
19
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FRANKLINCOUNTY
MADISONCOUNTY
ST. CLAIRCOUNTY
JEFFERSONCOUNTY
ST. CHARLESCOUNTY
MONROECOUNTY
ST. LOUIS COUNTY
CITY OF
ST. LOUIS
BUSCH MEMORIAL CA
MERAMEC CAMERAMEC SP
KASKASKIA RIVER SFWA
COLUMBIA BOTTOM CA
WELDON SPRING CAHOWELL ISLAND CA
HORSESHOELAKE SFWA
LONG RIDGE CA
CHOUTEAU ANDGABARET ISLANDS
PELICAN ISLAND NA
LITTLE INDIAN CREEK SF
SHAWNATURE
RESERVE
DR. EDMUND BABLER SP
USACE POOL 27 MA
FOREST PARK
PEABODYRIVER KING
SFWA
ROCKWOODS RANGE
CAHOKIA MOUNDS SHS
JONES CONFLUENCE SP
RIVERLANDS AREA
ROCKWOODS RESERVATION
GREENSFELDERCOUNTY PARK
MIDDLEMISSISSIPPIRIVER NWR
DRESSER ISLAND CA
CREVE COEURCOUNTY PARK
CASTLEWOOD SP
Open SpaceSt. Louis Metropolitan Area
I0 5 10 Miles
MISSOURI
ILLINOIS
Sources: East-West Gateway Council of Governments, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Metro East Parks and Recreation District, Southwestern Illinois RC&D, St. Louis County Planning Department, St. Louis Parks Department, St. Louis Open Space Council Meramec River Greenway, City of Arnold
The map depicts "community open space" -- open space types that are maintained primarily for human utilization -- as opposed to "ecological open space" types maintained for their ecological value (e.g. wetlands). Open space types portrayed include federal lands, state parks, county parks, city/village/township parks, golf courses/country clubs, nature reserves, natural areas, wildlife areas, state historic sites, conservation areas, camps, campgrounds, stream access, sports facilities, retreat facilities, common ground, private open space, vacant open space, land trust and "other". Not included are open space such as cemeteries and school athletic facilities.
This map and data are dynamic, ever-changing works in progress and as such are subject to change without notice.
September 2007
American Discovery Trail (ADT)*
Mississippi River Trail (MRT)**
Open Space
Incorporated Areas
County Boundaries
* Federally designated as a "Millennium Trail", the ADT is a 6300+ mile multi-use, not-motorized, coast-to-coast trail.
** Conceptual. Upon completion, this biking trail will extend 2000 miles through ten states. Map depicts the portion south from downtown St. Louis as identical to the ADT.
Open Space, St. Louis Metropolitan Area
table 3 included in community’S comprehenSive plan
Recreation area for passive activity, e.g. picnic areas
Recreation area for sports (soccer, baseball, etc.)
Trails (hiking, biking, horseback)
Corridors (wildlife, riparian)
Natural habitats (restoration and maintenance program)
Native plantings (restoration program)
Community gardens
Marsh, lake, stream, river preservation
82%
69%
62%
29%
24%
22%
16%
13%
%
table 4 availability & uSe of parkS and StormWater tax
Passage of tax
Tax utilized for parks and recreation
Tax utilized for acquisition of open space
(1) Fewer than 5,000 inhabitants
(2) Between 5,000 and 15,000 inhabitants
(3) Greater than 15,000 inhabitants
Municipality/coMMunity Size
SMALL (1)
23%
60%
0%
MEDIUM (2)
60%
67%
0%
LARGE (3)
64%
93%
43%
20 environmental SuStainability roadmap: a toolkit for local GovernmentS
Getting Started • Switch to using organic, chemical-free compounds
on Open Space.
• Begin a campaign to eradicate invasive and non-native plant species.
• Track costs of watering and fertilizing non-native plants.
• Review maintenance practices of parks and other public facilities for sustainable practices.
• Review zoning ordinances and building codes to determine if Open Space is addressed.
• Conduct a six-month review (and 12-month review) and report the results and progress to elected officials and the community.
• Begin public education and outreach activities on the importance of open space.
on the Way• Promote and organize a community Green Practices
Committee to monitor invasive and non-native plant species. Other public participation programs are Adopt-a-Trail, Community Garden, Track Bird Migration, and stream/ trail cleanup events.
• Conduct an Open Space assessment.
• Work with city planners, developers and biologists to develop mixed-used communities.
• Restore brownfields, creating greenspace for public use.
• Conduct project review(s) and report to community.
• Prioritize possible best practices for updating zoning and comprehensive plans to achieve quality Open Space.
Sustaining• Create open networks throughout a community that serve a
dual function, such as providing greenways for pedestrians with rain gardens for management of stormwater runoff.
• Customize assessment tool and update assessment on a regular basis to compare baseline over time.
• Review your mandate to assure protection and maintenance of trees on public property and rights-of-way.
• Plant additional trees to enhance the urban tree canopy.
• Identify and protect natural resource areas (e.g., forests, prairies) and critical habitat (e.g., conservation corridors, buffer zones, wildlife preserves) from future development.
• Identify and protect critical areas such as wetlands, floodplains, lakes, rivers, and streams with a mandatory no-development buffer.
• Identify and protect source water areas from current or potential sources of contamination.
• Identify and preserve trees on private property and require replacement when removed or damaged during development.
• Update zoning and comprehensive plans to achieve high quality Open Space.
• Leverage existing capital funds to plant more street trees and add multiple benefits to the public right-of-way.
recommendatIons
The Prairie Restoration Project at the Calvary
Cemetery in the City of St. Louis, Missouri
was featured in the April 8, 2009 issue of
the Economist magazine. The Green Center
partnered with the Missouri Department of
Conservation, Missouri Botanical Garden, The
Nature Conservancy, and the Archdiocese of
St. Louis Catholic Cemeteries for this project.
http://www.thegreencenter.org/home/
iV. open Space
caSe Study
21
1. assign an individual or a team in the community to focus on the specifics of open Space. Recognizing that the community operates with both staff and elected officials create a glossary that provides easily understood definitions for specialized terms that are used. Add terms and definitions as they become available, aiming for mutual understanding and shared stewardship goals. Once a team is identified, you’re ready to assess the community’s strengths and areas for continual improvement.
2. establish a baseline of the current status of open Space in the community. The assessment tool in Appendix C provides a starting point—a suggested checklist to which you can add items specific to the community. Decide how you will quantify and measure the impact of the decisions. Since your staff is keenly aware of their specific Best Practices, include their practices and metrics in your planning. Communities typically quantify their efforts using these metrics. The level of metrics you choose will be dependent on your resources, however, at least a basic assessment will allow your community to begin setting goals for Open Space and creating a baseline for future comparisons. Refer to Figure 1 on page 18 for additional assessment guidance.
3. once you have tallied the results, identify the areas of need and prioritize the goals. Create a plan with milestones and targeted goals, noting both “action” and ”effect.” Add
“doable” action items along the way that contribute to the success. Schedule a review at regular intervals. You can use the same (or customized) assessment tool as frequently as necessary. The Park Master Plan for Belleville, Illinois listed in the Best Practices section provides a great tool for reviewing an existing Master Plan or developing a new plan.
4. remember to implement measurement systems and track progress to achieve results, build momentum and establish credibility. As the project moves forward, note incremental changes and successes. Adopt a set of Best Practices, making a statement about the community’s commitment, providing an example for other municipalities to follow, and building a local base of experience to make upcoming projects more cohesive.
5. another key sustainability step is to formalize best practices into policies and incorporate them into the community’s codes and ordinances. Incentives and programs can be presented to counter objections or requests for exceptions and to actively promote their acceptance and use.
6. finally, share your success with the community, surrounding municipalities and the region. Along with reports and articles, public service announcements broadcasted on air and the Internet are effective education and outreach tools. An informed community is less likely to create obstacles and more likely to provide essential financial support and volunteer participation with the implementation efforts.
GardeninG for coSt SavinGS
University City, Missouri utilizes ecologically sound gardening,
avoiding pesticides and herbicides, recycles garden waste, and
uses municipal compost to enrich soil. They use a variety of
plants, including native perennials, shrubs, trees, grasses, and
annuals. The effort helps to reduce stormwater run-off. They will
also be creating a rain garden paid for with DNR grant funds.
http://www.ucityinbloom.org/gardens.htm
Schoolgrounds in Ladue, Missouri feature bioretention methods
and native plantings.
http://www.sustainablesites.org/cases/show.php?id=19
To compare costs between environmentally preferable methods
and using virgin materials, download these calculators from
the EPA website. They demonstrate cost competitive and
environmental benefits. Plus, they can aid in the decision
making and implementation of more sustainable landscape
design, construction, and operations and maintenance.
http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/rrr/greenscapes/tools/
index.htm
GreenhouSe GaS emiSSion and open Space
Utilize a carbon footprint calculator to identify the benefit of
your current and expanding Open Space. Another option is the
equivalency calculator for GHG reduction strategy, reduction
targets, or other initiatives aimed at reducing GHG emissions.
http://www.epa.gov/rdee/energy-resources/calculator.html
The Climate Registry is a nonprofit collaboration among North
American states, provinces, territories, and Native Sovereign
Nations that sets consistent and transparent standards to
calculate verify and publicly report greenhouse gas emissions
into a single registry. http://www.theclimateregistry.org
Download a Conservation Assessment Calculator:
http://www.natureserve.org
The Chicago Climate Exchange is a greenhouse gas emission
registry, reduction and trading system for six greenhouse gases.
http://www.chicagoclimateexchange.com/
ImPlementatIon strategIes
best PractIces
22 environmental SuStainability roadmap: a toolkit for local GovernmentS
native plant SpecieS
Protect and restore Missouri’s biodiversity with effective use
of native plants. Joint program of the Missouri Department
of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Department of
Agriculture (MDA). http://www.grownative.org/
Save the Prairie is an Illinois prairie restoration organization with
resources. http://www.savetheprairiesociety.org/
Missouri Invasive Plant Network provides education on invasive
plant species in the Midwest, including Missouri, Illinois, Indiana,
and Iowa. http://www.mipn.org
Links found on Illinois Depart of Natural Resources web site:
http://www.dnr.state.il.us/about/morelinks.htm
Missouri Revised Statutes on Insects, Pests and Weeds:
http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/c263.htM
Public and private partners protect and restore prairie and native
grassland communities through land acquisition, management,
education, and research. http://www.moprairie.org/links.html
The Great River Greening leads and inspires community-based
restoration of natural areas and open spaces. Restoration efforts
help preserve natural areas, protect clean air and water, and
increase urban residents’ access to natural areas and sustainable
open space. http://www.greatrivergreening.org
reGional partnerShipS
Community Environmental Resource Program (CERP) is a
monitoring and educational effort created to help residents,
businesses and officials understand and deal with environmental
issues in the cities of St. Louis and East St. Louis. With support
from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the
clearinghouse has been developed under the direction of
the East-West Gateway Council of Governments. Citizens,
government officials and non-profits from both sides of
the Mississippi River are actively involved in this project.
http://stlcin.missouri.org/cerp/aboutcerp.cfm
Southwestern Illinois RC&D, Inc. will develop and support
partnerships, create programs and implement projects that
are responsive to the needs of the people within the region,
strengthen local economies, and encourage the conservation
of our environmental resources. http://www.swircd.org
Gateway Greening educates and promotes civic greening, urban
neighborhood vitality and stability, healthy living and quality
of life. Accomplished through citizen-managed open spaces,
Gateway Greening has turned brownfields into greenfields.
http://www.gatewaygreening.org
.
land acquiSition
For 43 years the Open Space Council has accomplished
many successes for land and water conservation in the
St. Louis Region. http://www.openspacestl.org/
Extensive listing of Alachua County, FL land acquisition policies:
http://www.alachuacounty.us/government/depts/epd/land/
filesforms.aspx
King County, WA’s Greenprint Project, open space and land
acquisition strategy: http://kingcounty.gov/environment/
waterandland/natural-lands.aspx
SuStainable SiteS initiative
The Sustainable Sites Initiative is an interdisciplinary effort
by the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady
Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the United States Botanic
Garden. It is similar to the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED
system for buildings, except it is for sites and can be used
for open space for parks, greenways, etc.
http://www.sustainablesites.org
urban foreStS
Carbonfund.org supports renewable energy, energy efficiency
and reforestation projects globally that reduce carbon dioxide
emissions and the threat of climate change. www.carbonfund.org
Plant Protection Programs is an organization through which
extension and outreach activities related to plant protection
and management are coordinated, enhanced and implemented.
It administers federal funds for Integrated Pest Management,
Pesticide Applicator Training and pesticide assessment.
http://ipm.missouri.edu/
Portland, OR Tree Preservation Information Guide: http://www.
sustainableportland.org/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=72545
Trees for green streets: An illustrated guide:
http://www.metroregion.org/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=26337
City Trees: Sustainability Guidelines and Best Practices:
http://www.treetrust.org
American Forests Guide to Setting Urban Tree Canopy Goals:
http://www.americanforests.org/resources/urbanforests/
treedeficit.php
Center for Watershed Protection Urban Forestry Manual:
http://www.cwp.org/forestry/part3forestrymanual.pdf
Water and WaterShed SourceS
Getting In Step: Engaging and Involving Stakeholders in
Your Watershed: http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/
outreach/documents/stakeholderguide.pdf
Eleven-manual series on practical techniques to restore
urban watersheds: http://www.cwp.org/Store/usrm.htm
best PractIces (contInued)
iV. open Space
23
Citizens adopt a stream, volunteer time and effort to improve
it, and band together with other Stream Teams to help improve
Missouri’s streams: http://www.mostreamteam.org/
Plants for Stormwater Design Volume II:
http://www.greatrivergreening.org.
zoninG codeS / ordinanceS
and city planS and initiativeS
The Trust for Public Land conserves land for people to enjoy
as parks, gardens and other natural places, ensuring livable
communities for generations to come. www.tpl.org
The mission of the Land Stewardship Project is to foster an
ethic of stewardship for farmland, to promote sustainable
agriculture, and to develop sustainable communities.
www.landstewardshipproject.org
The Park Master Plan for Belleville, Illinois, is a useful tool for
reviewing your Master Plan or developing a new plan.
http://belleville.wliinc2.com/city/departments/parks_
files/2008-04 30.belleville%20rec%20plan_final.pdf
New York City’s street tree planting amendment is a useful
refenece tool when reviewing your building codes and zoning
ordinances. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/street_tree_
planting/index.shtml
The Charlottesville, North Carolina Comprehensive Plan
strives for long-term coordination.
http://www.charlottesville.org/index.aspx?page=1745
The Open Space Framework for the City of San Francisco
expands the traditional definition of open space and
introduces the concept of a high-performing network.
http://www.openspacesf.org
oPen sPace fundIng oPPortunItIes
Missouri Revised Statutes for Stormwater Sales Taxes:
http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/c000-099/0670000729.htM
MSD Sewer District Impervious Surface Charge: http://mkasmtp1.
stlmsd.com/MSd/pgmsprojs/SitefaQ/billingfaQ#SWWhychange
Center for Invasive Plant Management provides resources
for funding and grant writing.
http://www.weedcenter.org/funding/grantW.html
Plant Protection Programs is an organization through which
extension and outreach activities related to plant protection
and management are coordinated, enhanced and implemented.
It administers federal funds for Integrated Pest Management,
Pesticide Applicator Training and pesticide assessment.
http://ipm.missouri.edu/
The Trust for Public Land’s Center for Conservation Finance
conducts research on state and local funding for conservation,
analyzes trends and best practices, and disseminates
information via publications and training.
http://www.tpl.org/tier2_pa.cfm?folder_id=3148
Clayton, Missouri has always been a leader in the environmental
movement. The city is a member of the Sierra Club’s Cool
Cities (http://coolcities.us/) and current and past mayors have
signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Among
its other accomplishments, the Ecology and Environmental
Awareness Committee (http://www.ci.clayton.mo.us/index.
aspx?location=236) was instrumental in passing an ordinance
requiring the City of Clayton to achieve LEED Silver certification
for all new construction and major renovation projects owned,
occupied or funded by the City of Clayton that are 5,000 square
feet of floor area or greater. See the Energy and Water Best
Practices section for more information on LEED design. Clayton
is also part of the Partial Expense Reduction for Commuters
(PERC) program that promotes the use of mass transit by
offering benefits to businesses and their employees. For more
on PERC, see the Transportation and Land Use Best Practices or
http://www.cleanair-stlouis.com/businesses-get-involved.html.
Clayton is also “greening” its own operations. To reduce pollution
and conserve energy, the city is replacing a portion of its fleet
with hybrid vehicles, and has been using bio-diesel in fleet
vehicles for several years. In city-owned buildings, an energy-
efficient pulse type heating system and environmentally safe
light bulbs are used to reduce energy waste. In 2008, the Public
Works department changed all traffic signal lights from standard
incandescent lamps to the LED fixtures. The average energy
savings from incandescent to LED is 60-70% with an increase
of lumen/light output of 50%.
In October 2006, the American Planning Association of Missouri
recognized the City of Clayton for its efforts in promoting
sustainable development practices. Clayton also provides
an excellent example of how environmental goals can be
included in a strategic plan: http://www.ci.clayton.mo.us/index.
aspx?location=730
This page on the City’s website helps residents learn more
about what they can do to preserve the environment http://
www.ci.clayton.mo.us/index.aspx?location=728. Also see
the city’s Ecology and Environment section of their website
for more information. http://www.ci.clayton.mo.us/index.
aspx?location=701
caSe Study
24 environmental SuStainability roadmap: a toolkit for local GovernmentS
Stormwater runoff is generated when precipitation from
rain and snowmelt flows over land or impervious surfaces
and does not percolate into the ground. as the runoff flows
over the paved streets, parking lots, and building rooftops it
accumulates debris, chemicals, sediment or other pollutants.
this adversely affects water quality if the runoff is left untreated
and subsequently discharged into the sewer system. increased
stormwater also carves away stream banks and incised stream
channels and damages roads, bridges, homes, and yards. as
urban development with impervious areas and concrete culverts
increases, polluted stormwater runs into urban streams and
decreases the diversity and quality of aquatic life.
Green infrastructure-based stormwater management practices
utilize natural hydrological patterns, reducing the overall impact
of traditional stormwater infrastructure, such as concrete
culverts and basins. These strategies reduce and manage
stormwater through infiltration as water soaks into the ground
naturally. Stormwater can also be captured and reused if it is
stored in a rain barrel or cistern for later reuse. Water levels can
also be reduced through evapotranspiration, as water is used
by trees and plants. The results include a reduction and delay of
stormwater runoff volumes, enhancing groundwater recharge,
reducing stormwater pollutants, and reducing sewer overflow
events. This highlights the importance of maintaining open space
to alleviate adverse effects of stormwater, particularly the use of
swales. These are relatively wide, shallow, open channels with a
slight gradient, designed to let water flow slowly after storms,
allowing water to soak into the soil where pollutants adhere
the ground and degrade naturally.
Additionally, green infrastructure-based practices provide
healthier communities, delivering clean air and water while
helping to prevent polluted water from entering rivers and lakes.
These practices also protect streams, rivers and estuaries from
accelerated erosion that contributes to the loss of streamside
property and damage to bridges, roads and other structures.
The benefits to the municipality of implementing green
infrastructure-based stormwater management include:
• Reduced energy consumption for water treatment and its corresponding costs.
• Reduced and eliminate runoff with infiltration systems and pervious paving.
• Reduced runoff by providing an evapotranspiration function through trees and vegetation.
• Reduced runoff and consumption of potable water by utilizing captured rainwater or stormwater for non-potable water uses.
Currently, the St. Louis County, Missouri Phase II Stormwater
Management Plan (SWMP) sets forth specific activities and
schedules that the St. Louis Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD),
St. Louis County, and its fifty-nine municipal co-permittees must
do to satisfy permit requirements. For development projects in
St. Louis County municipalities that are not in the SWMP area, if
the project area drains to a discharge outfall listed in the Phase
II permit, water quality treatment is required. St. Louis City and
County areas which are tributary to combined sewers are not
required to provide water quality Best Management Practices
(BMPs) because they are connected to a treatment plant.
Municipalities in the region beyond St. Louis City and County are
regulated under their corresponding Phase I or Phase II permit.
Although communities are generally interested in requiring
or encouraging more natural stormwater management, there
is still a heavy reliance on the use of concrete culverts for
stormwater management. Over 70 percent of the medium and
large communities that responded to the FOCUS survey most
commonly approve concrete runoff for new development, as
indicated in Table 5.
stormWater summarythe metrics most frequently used by municipalities to assess their stormwater management programs are:
• Existence and age of retention basin(s), concrete channel(s).
• Illicit discharge detection and elimination.
• Construction site sediment runoff detection and remediation.
• Post-construction site sediment runoff detection and remediation.
• Existing infrastructure “infill” development.
• Quantity and age of impervious street surface.
• Quantity and age of rain gardens.
• Rainwater reuse for non-potable situations.
• Status of sewer system: quantity of stormwater- only sewers versus the number combined with sanitary waste.
V. StorMWater
25
table 5 STORMWATER RUNOFF METHODS EMPLOYED
Retention basins required
Imposition of limits on site coverage by impermeable surfaces
Actively encourage permeable materials where possible
Actively encourage rain gardens and other plantings
None of the above
(1) Fewer than 5,000 inhabitants
(2) Between 5,000 and 15,000 inhabitants
(3) Greater than 15,000 inhabitants
Municipality/coMMunity Size
SMALL (1)
32%
14%
14%
18%
59%
MEDIUM (2)
70%
40%
70%
50%
10%
LARGE (1)
73%
64%
54%
50%
9%
26 environmental SuStainability roadmap: a toolkit for local GovernmentS
Getting Started • Incorporate stormwater plan comments and review into
the early stages of development review or site plan review and approval, preferably at pre-application meetings with developers.
• Provide signage for creeks on all major roadways indicating that the creek is used to manage stormwater.
• Conduct a stormwater event in which people learn where the stormwater from their roof goes and the extent and variety of pollutants it picks up along the way.
• Establish demonstration projects for rain gardens and use of rain barrels.
• Develop public education and outreach campaigns, such as bill inserts, public service announcements and local web sites.
• Educate the community about sources that contribute to stormwater pollution: using excessive fertilizer and pesticides, improper disposal of pet waste, and placing yard waste in streams and stormwater inlets.
• Control construction site runoff.
• Control post-construction runoff.
• Prevent pollution and conduct good housekeeping in municipal operations.
on the Way• Develop vegetated swale(s) in appropriate locations.
• Plan and implement effective riparian buffers.
• Protect undeveloped riparian zones from construction.
• Remediate damage to creek banks.
• Reduce requirements for parking and encourage or require commercial parking lots to be permeable.
• Revise development regulations to require on-site management of all stormwater.
Sustaining• Replace conventional roofs with green roofs, providing
better stormwater management and reduced energy consumption of buildings in dense urban environments or with large roof expanses.
• Acquire intelligent pump control software to manage unpredictable stormwater flows, reducing overflows and the negative impacts of combined sewers on wastewater treatment plants.
• Include narrow streets or minimum possible roadway requirements in ordinances, providing safe passage for pedestrians, cyclists, strollers, and wheelchairs.
• Eliminate possible Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO) and Sanitary System Overflows (SSO).
• Protect natural resources and open space.
• Detect and eliminate illicit discharges.
• Design complete, smart streets that reduce imperviousness.
• Promote efficient, compact developments and infill.
1. determine who in your community is responsible for managing stormwater issues. In most communities, this task is assigned to the City Engineer or a member of the Public Works Department. This person should look at the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Menu of Best Management Practices for Stormwater Phase II, found online at the website below. The Menu is based on the Stormwater Phase II Rule’s six minimum control measures. Even though these EPA guides were developed for communities subject to “Phase II Stormwater” permit requirements, they are useful guides for any community. http://cfpub1.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/index.cfm
2. assess your current stormwater management practices and determine the baseline from which you’ll measure progress. Also, conduct a comprehensive review of all existing codes and ordinances to ensure that they do not place any roadblocks to the successful implementation of best practices.
3. Make plans for improvement. If necessary, build requirements for best practices into the community codes and ordinances. Change is hard and often met with objections or requests for exceptions. Incentives and programs should be explored to actively promote the use and acceptance of sustainable best practices.
4. Set a schedule and implement your programs. Evaluate the continual improvement over time, perhaps annually or every five years. Choosing effective guidelines and solutions for stormwater issues is one of the key challenges facing communities, especially in the St. Louis area. Keep in mind that most stormwater discharges are considered point sources and require coverage under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. More information on NPDES permit scan be found in the Best Practices section.
5. finally, pursue public education, outreach and participation. An active and involved community better understands the reasons for stormwater management and is less likely to create obstacles. The public can also provide valuable input for the development of stormwater programs and assistance in the implementation of the program as well as important volunteer participation in implementation efforts. Adopt a Stream programs, reforestation programs, storm drain marking, stream cleanup events, and volunteer water quality monitoring are examples of public involvement and participation programs.
recommendatIons ImPlementatIon strategIes
V. StorMWater
27
conStruction Site runoff Construction site sediment runoff is typically 10 to 20 times
greater than sediment from agricultural lands, and 1,000 to
2,000 times greater than from forested areas. Construction
activity can contribute more sediment to streams in a short
period than the amount that would come from a natural
landscape over several decades. This damages the health
and functionality of area streams, rivers and lakes. Sites of
one acre or more are subject to federal regulation.
EPA Fact Sheet Stormwater Phase II Final Rule Small Construction Program Overview:
http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/fact3-0.pdf
EPA Stormwater Best Management Practices – Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/index.
cfm?action=min_measure&min_measure_id=4
EPA Stormwater Construction resources:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/const.cfm
efficient, compact and infill developmentS Infill development makes use of existing infrastructure and
can reduce existing stormwater runoff by utilizing green
infrastructure techniques, such as permeable paving and
bioretention. In new development, buildings, parking and
accessory uses can be clustered on a parcel, and the remainder
of the land preserved in a natural state. Natural vegetation
slows peak runoff, filters pollutants, removes sediment and
provides a low-cost aesthetic amenity. Clustering also minimizes
the disturbed area and reduces the considerable danger of
erosion and pollution during the construction process. Multi-
story development, where practical, further reduces the
building footprint. In new and infill development, efficient site
design can reduce the development footprint by the use of
shared parking, increased landscaping and other techniques
mentioned elsewhere in this section. Inclusion of open space in
all developments, regardless of whether a conservation
design is practical for the particular site, is key to managing
the stormwater runoff in the area.
Suggested strategies for city planners:
• Direct new development to areas that have existing infrastructure, such as water and sewer.
• Direct infill development to already developed areas.
• Promote mixed-use and transit-oriented developments “as of right.”
Direct development to already degraded land:
http://www.mdp.state.md.us/fundingact.htm.
Direct development to areas with existing infrastructure:
http://www.metro-region.org/index.cfm/go/by.web/id/277
EPA Smart Growth Office’s Protecting Water Resources with Higher-Density Development:
http://www.epa.gov/dced/water_density.htm
State of Wisconsin planned sewer services areas:
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/wm/GlWSp/SSaplan/howare.htm
best PractIces
Good houSekeepinG in municipal operationS Local governments can set an example for the community by
examining and altering their own actions to reduce stormwater
runoff problem areas directly under their control. These areas
include streets, parking lots, open spaces, and storage and
vehicle maintenance areas. Also included are practices of flood
management and storm sewer systems maintenance. See the EPA
Fact Sheet Stormwater Phase II Final Rule Pollution Prevention/
Good Housekeeping for details.
http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/fact2-8.pdf
The EPA’s publications regarding point source pollution (NPDES):
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=6
EPA Phase II Fact Sheet:
http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/fact2-4.pdf
EPA Stormwater Best Management Practices –
Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/ index.cfm?action=min_measure&min_measure_id=6
Rainwater collection systems:
http://www.conservationtechnology.com
illicit diScharGeSAn illicit discharge is any inflow to a stormwater system that is not composed entirely of stormwater. Illicit discharges enter either through direct connections, such as wastewater pipes connected to a stormwater system, or indirect connections, such as paint or used oil dumped into a drain. Point pollution is discharged from an identifiable source; non-point pollution cannot be traced to a single source, such as pollution from urban runoff. The pollutants enter our local streams and rivers, degrading water quality and threatening the streams as well as the wildlife and people that use them. Local governments should conduct surveys of stormwater systems to detect and eliminate these discharges. The EPA Fact Sheet Stormwater Phase II Final Rule Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination can help: http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/fact2-5.pdf
Missouri Department of Natural Resources Detecting Illicit Stormwater Discharges Fact Sheet: http://www.dnr.mo.gov/pubs/pub2209.pdf
In the summer of 2009, AmerenUE customers received
in their monthly electric bill a Personal Energy Report,
designed to help residential customers better understand
and control their energy usage. Customized for each
household, the Report provided approximately two years
of electric usage data that allowed customers to quickly
see their energy consumption, and hopefully make better
informed decisions about reducing usage and monthly
bills going forward. The report also compared electric
energy charges, month by month, for the same period,
offered energy savings tips, and calculated average
annual savings for everything from motion detectors
on outside lights to reducing daily shower time. The
AmerenUE website has several tools available for homes,
businesses and local governments. In Missouri, see
http://www.ameren.com/energyefficiency/ and in
Illinois, http://www.actonenergy.com.
caSe Study
28 environmental SuStainability roadmap: a toolkit for local GovernmentS
local reSourceS
MSD/City of St. Louis Clean Rivers Healthy
Communities Program:
http://cleanriversstl.com/
Information on water quality in your community:
http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards
Missouri Stream Team:
http://www.mostreamteam.org/
Meramec River Operation Clean Stream:
http://www.openspacestl.org/operation-clean-stream/
The Nature Institute, a private, not-for-profit conservation
organization located in Godfrey, Illinois, fosters an awareness
and appreciation of the natural world through preservation,
restoration and education. http://www.thenatureinstitute.org
natural reSourceS and open Space
Existing open space absorbs and filters stormwater.
Maintaining open space is an effective stormwater management
technique. Maintaining riparian corridors adjacent to a stream,
river, or lake and swales, creates a wide, shallow, open channel
that lets water flow slowly after storms and soak into soil, and
allows pollutants to adhere and/or degrade to help reduce
excess stormwater runoff. For more, see:
http://www.dnr.state.il.us/about/morelinks.htm
Protecting Stream and River Corridors: Creating Effective Local
Riparian Buffer Ordinances, Carl Vinson Institute of Government
at the University of Georgia. http://www.rivercenter.uga.edu/
publications/pdf/riparian_buffer_guidebook.pdf
U.S. EPA Sourcewater Protection;
http://www.epa.gov/nps/ordinance/sourcewater.htm
EPA Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP) Guide:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/swppp.cfm
San Jose, CA tree credit for post-construction stormwater
treatment: http://www.sanjoseca.gov/planning/stormwater/
policy_6-29_Memo_revisions.pdf
Portland, OR stormwater fee discounts for trees over
15 feet tall: http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.
cfm?c=43444&#types
Portland, OR tree credit for meeting local stormwater
requirements: http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/
image.cfm?id=93075
poSt conStruction runoff
Post-construction stormwater runoff describes any runoff that
occurs other than during the construction period. Although it
does not have the same sediment risk as it may during active
construction, runoff from developed areas significantly affects
receiving water bodies.
The impacts from post-construction runoff come from water
quantity and water quality. Impervious surfaces prevent
infiltration of rainwater into the soil, causing large volumes of
runoff to flow quickly into the nearest stream. This causes stream
bank erosion, down-cutting and downstream flooding. As runoff
flows over developed areas, it picks up harmful sediment and
chemicals such as oil, grease, pesticides, heavy metals, and
fertilizers, and then carries them to the receiving stream,
river or lake.
Advance planning and design is the most cost-effective
approach to stormwater management. A variety of measures
can be combined to achieve water quantity and quality goals.
In St. Louis City and County, MSD, in conjunction with the
Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR), works closely
with local governments to ensure that plans to control runoff
meet increasingly stringent federal regulations. Not only must
local governments monitor disturbed sites, but they must
implement their own best practices, such as limiting winter
salt usage. Citizens are also encouraged to adopt new practices,
such as using rain barrels to capture roof water, utilize rain
gardens, retain more water on premises, and avoid excessive
use of fertilizers.
Smart StreetS and efficient parkinG
Paved streets lead to rapid runoff, often directly into a
stormwater collection system. Narrow streets reduce
stormwater runoff and encourage slower traffic, which is safer
for pedestrians. When wider streets are necessary, permeable
surfaces are appropriate on adjoining parking lanes as well as
pedestrian and bicyclists lanes. Curb cuts can allow stormwater
to flow into adjacent bioretention areas.
Suggestions for city planners include:
• Incorporate stormwater plan comments and review into the early stages of development review/site plan review and approval, preferably at pre-application meetings with developers.
• Allow narrower lanes for certain street types, thereby reducing impervious surface area.
• Avoid the use of curbs and gutters, where practical, and allow water to flow onto yards.
• Encourage shared driveways, reduced driveway widths, two-track driveways, and rear garages and alleys for all single-family developments.
• Formally integrate green infrastructure into standard roadway construction and retrofit practice as a standard part of construction, maintenance and improvement plans.
• Promote use of pervious materials for all paving areas, including alleys, streets, sidewalks, crosswalks, driveways, and parking lots. Pervious pavement allows stormwater to percolate through a filtering medium and into a storage bed before entering the ground.
best PractIces (contInued)
V. StorMWater
29
Avoid unnecessary parking facilities through parking studies and
reevaluation of existing municipal parking requirements. Shared
parking and increased transit can also reduce parking needs.
• Match parking requirements to the level of demand and
allow flexible arrangements (e.g. shared parking, off-site
parking, reduced parking in walkable or transit-served
areas, and transportation demand management) to
meet parking standards.
• All parking lots should feature substantial landscaping
to help reduce runoff.
• Permeable paving, such as parking stalls, should be used
where appropriate.
The Institute of Transportation Engineers provides Context
Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares
for Walkable Communities. http://www.ite.org/css/
The Oregon Department of Transportation and Department of
Land Conservation and Development’s Neighborhood Street
Design Guidelines: An Oregon Guide for Reducing Street Widths
http://www.oregon.gov/lcd/docs/publications/neighstreet.pdf
The North Carolina Department of Environment and
Natural Resources curb and gutter removal:
http://www.p2pays.org/ref/41/40403.pdf
U.S. EPA Development Community and Environment Division
(2006) Parking Space/ Community Places: Finding the Balance
through Smart Growth Solutions (pg. 14, 18-19, 21):
http://www.epa.gov/piedpage/pdf/epaparkingSpaces06.pdf
Metropolitan Transportation Commission (2007) Developing
Parking Policies to Support Smart Growth in Local Jurisdictions:
Best Practices: http://www.mtc.ca.gov/planning/smart_growth/
parking_study/april07/bestpractice_042307.pdf
Maryland Governor’s Office of Smart Growth Driving
Urban Environments: Smart Growth Parking Best Practices:
http://www.smartgrowth.state.md.us/pdf/final%20parking%20
paper.pdf
EPA’s Green Infrastructure Website:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=298
stormWater fundIng oPPortunItIesLocal communities have chosen multiple ways to fund
stormwater services. The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District
(MSD) instituted impervious surface fees in 2008. The rate is
calculated sufficiently to fund needed stormwater-related
programs and construction. Many communities in the St.
Louis Region have passed stormwater taxes separately or in
combination with other needs (e.g. parks) to fund projects.
Guidance for Municipal Stormwater Funding:
http://www.nafsma.org/Guidance%20Manual%20Version%202X.pdf
An Annotated Bibliography of Stormwater Finance Resources:
http://stormwaterfinance.urbancenter.iupui.edu/pdfs/biblio%20
4%2029%2002.pdf
City of Ellisville 1/2 Cent Sales Tax:
http://www.ellisville.mo.us/index.asp?type=b_
baSic&Sec=%7bf93ec4fe-5939-408d-8a2c-262ffbea8be7%7d
Trailnet’s Brentwood, Clayton, Maplewood, and Richmond Heights bikeable, walkable community plan
30 environmental SuStainability roadmap: a toolkit for local GovernmentS
energy and water are essential natural resources on which
modern life depends. most municipalities will want to make
conserving them core sustainability practices. although
the use of these natural resources is deeply woven into the
fabric of modern life, standard practice has historically been
very wasteful of both, and thus, significant opportunities for
improvement exist
Energy and water are linked in several ways. Commercial and
residential buildings use a lot of both. It takes energy to capture,
clean and transport water to buildings. After serving its purpose,
water enters a drain as wastewater and then requires additional
energy to again transport and clean the very same water. It also
takes energy to heat water. According to the American Council
for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), municipal water
supply and wastewater treatment systems account for about
35 percent of energy used by municipalities. Additionally, a
tremendous amount of water is necessary in the production of
electrical energy at coal burning and nuclear power plants, the
primary sources of electricity in the St. Louis metro region.
Any sustainability plan must incorporate methods to save energy
and money by reducing usage in and around buildings. Research
has shown that better lighting and proper heating and cooling
design results in greater comfort and higher productivity of
occupants. Missouri and Illinois are in Climate Zone 4 of the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) climate map,
featuring mixed and humid variable weather. This climatic
challenge requires energy and water cost reduction solutions
specific to this energy-intensive region.
Americans spend an average of 90 percent of their lives inside
buildings. Therefore, indoor environmental quality certainly has
an effect on the average citizen. A World Health Organization
report on Sick Building Syndrome suggests that up to 30
percent of new and remodeled buildings worldwide may cause
this ailment. Sick building causes are frequently pegged to flaws
in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Other causes have been attributed to contaminants produced by
off-gassing of some types of building materials, volatile organic
compounds, molds, improper exhaust ventilation of ozone
(byproduct of some office machinery), light industrial chemicals
used within, or lack of adequate fresh air or air filtration.
Research has shown that improving the indoor environmental
quality of buildings, including their energy efficiency, makes the
people who live and work there significantly happier, healthier,
and more productive.
The survey conducted for this study indicates that energy-
related issues are clearly an area where significant improvement
is possible. Only 10 percent of the survey respondents indicate
they had undertaken an energy audit, adopted policies for their
government to promote energy savings, or adopted policies for
citizens and businesses to promote energy savings. Interestingly,
there is virtually no difference between the large and medium
communities, with small communities actually outperforming the
others. However, every community will benefit from pursuing the
resources available in the Best Practices section for this issue.
Most municipalities will want to conserve both the energy they
use in the operation of their municipal government, and the
energy that is used within the municipal community as a whole.
Within government operations, the main uses of energy include
buildings, municipal fleet, employee commute, street and traffic
lights, and water and sewer. The relative importance of each use
will vary between municipalities.
Energy use in the community is usually analyzed into the
following sectors: transportation, commercial, residential,
and industrial. The relative importance of each sector varies
from community to community. Because the importance of
these sectors varies, it will be essential for each municipality
to understand the energy use of its own governmental
operations and community.
energy & Water summary
Vi. enerGy and Water
31
Transportation accounts for about one-third of all energy used,
according to national and Missouri state statistics. Reducing the
energy used for transportation involves reducing the number
of miles driven and increasing the efficiency of vehicles. Many
of the strategies discussed in the Transportation and Land Use
section of this Roadmap are essential energy conservation
measures, and they can help to achieve these goals.
Buildings constitute another of the largest uses of energy—they
account for almost 40 percent of national energy use. Within
buildings themselves, energy accounts for about 30 percent
of operating costs. Thus, improving building energy efficiency
reduces costs, reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and
protects natural resources. Building components such as lighting,
envelope, insulation, weatherization, heating and cooling, water
heating, and a range of equipment often used in buildings (e.g.
computers, coffee makers, copy machines, printers, vending
machines, phone systems) are important candidates for energy
conservation upgrades. They are among the easiest energy
conservation measures to achieve.
Water also has important energy implications. Potable water
must be purified and pumped to end users, and wastewater
must be pumped to facilities and treated. In some municipalities,
these processes account for 35 percent or more of the energy
used by the municipal government. However, the reasons for
conserving water go beyond energy. It is a resource essential for
life. Some communities have already experienced the specter of
water shortages, as aquifers upon which their wells depend have
depleted, or as contaminants have seeped into the groundwater.
Other communities seem blessed with bounteous water
resources that could never be exhausted. But even here these
water resources are variable, and they can be contaminated and
spoiled. In addition, the more water used, the more wastewater
is created, the more is spent on expensive wastewater treatment,
and the more the ability of natural systems to cope with effluent
discharges is threatened.
For these reasons, water conservation is an essential
sustainability practice. From an energy perspective, improving
the efficiency of equipment used to pump and treat water
is essential and can achieve a good return on investment. To
conserve water, communities can consider water components
such as dispensing fixtures (e.g., bathroom, kitchen, drinking
fountains, non-potable water dispensers). In addition,
landscaping and grounds maintenance do not typically require
potable water, and municipalities can consider strategies for
gathering rainwater that otherwise would run off, and for
reclaiming and reusing “grey water” that has been previously
used, but may still be suitable for landscaping uses.
Creve Coeur, Missouri is one of the 14 communities in the region
whose mayors signed the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection
Agreement. The signing of this agreement was the result of the
city council’s unanimous approval of a proposal supporting the
goals of the Climate Protection Agreement. The city council
followed by authorizing a greenhouse gas inventory to be
conducted for both city facilities and the larger Creve Coeur
community. In 2008 Creve Coeur became the first city in the
St. Louis region to complete a greenhouse gas inventory. As
part of the GHG inventory process, Creve Coeur joined ICLEI-
Local Governments for Sustainability, a non-profit group that
specializes in helping governments adopt sustainable practices
(http://www.iclei.org).
The report (http://www.creve-coeur.org/documentView.
aspx?did=760) identifies the city's major sources of greenhouse
gas emissions. The city’s Climate Action Task Force works
toward implementing recommendations contained in the report.
Each municipality is different, which is why the GHG inventory
is necessary. Creve Coeur has a large commercial sector—the
daytime population, including the daytime workforce, is roughly
50,000, while the residential population is about 17,000. Thus,
the GHG inventory revealed that the commercial sector made
the largest contribution to GHG emissions, followed by the
transportation sector. Together, these two sectors of the city
accounted for more than 75 percent of its total emissions.
In the summer or 2009 the city amended its purchasing policy
to include provisions to promote environmentally sustainable
practices. The city is also working with the cities of Clayton
and University City in Missouri to form a purchasing consortium
to buy recycled paper at a cheaper price than what the city
currently pays for virgin paper. For more on Environmentally
Preferable Purchasing (EPP) policies, see the Materials
Procurement section. Creve Coeur also developed a strategic
plan to address energy, recycling, community education and
building and maintenance issues relating to environmental
concerns. The city is also a member of the Sierra Club’s Cool
Cities. (http://coolcities.us/)
caSe Study
32 environmental SuStainability roadmap: a toolkit for local GovernmentS
Getting Started • Work with a consultant to do an energy and water use audit.
You may even be able to arrange financing based on your energy and water.
• Develop energy and water saving procedures to share with city employees (via employee newsletters, intranet, etc.) and residents (via inserts in tax bills, etc.).
• Implement simple steps towards saving money and energy on lighting, such as adopting a “lights out” policy in unoccupied rooms and replacing inefficient lamps and bulbs with more efficient ones. Don’t forget to address out-of-the way lighting in city parks, parking lots and parking garages.
• Purchase energy efficient electronics and appliances, including vending machines and water heaters. Look for the ENERGY STAR label.
• Provide regular maintenance and tune ups to building systems (e.g., water heating, HVAC) to identify energy and water waste issues (e.g., leaky faucets or dirty air filters).
• Install programmable thermostats and motion sensors to reduce HVAC and lighting to buildings and rooms when they are unused.
• Encourage weatherization projects, which can be as simple as re-caulking windows and doors, tightening up or sealing ductwork, and insulation upgrades.
• Replace inefficient water fixtures, faucets and landscaping.
on the Way• Hire an energy and water manager to track energy and water
usage and implement savings, or assign this to a sustainability coordinator/manager.
• Pass an ordinance requiring that city owned and funded new construction achieve certification of LEED Silver level or better.
• Pass and enforce an ordinance requiring new residences and retrofits to meet the current International Energy Conservation Code, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy. (IECC 2009).
• Pass and enforce an ordinance requiring new commercial buildings and retrofits to meet the current ASHRAE Standard 90.1 or better. (ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007).
• Replace all traffic lights and exit signs with LEDs (light-emitting diodes).
• Remove barriers to green building, energy efficiency and water efficiency in existing building codes (e.g., allow private development to use waterless urinals if they choose).
• Undertake a comprehensive lighting study and implement actions from the study, such as installing motion detectors in rooms and replacing inefficient street lamps and bulbs with more efficient technology.
• Install reflective roofing or green roofs on city buildings.
• Include regulations for saving energy and water in the job description of all new hires. Require new hires to be familiar with energy and water saving strategies relevant to the position for which they are hired.
• Purchase renewable energy credits to support cost- effective renewable energy projects.
• Develop and run an education campaign about water and energy efficiency for residents, businesses and institutions.
• Reduce water used in grounds maintenance by installing efficient sprinkler systems (drip irrigation), choosing native plant species and sighting vegetation appropriately.
• Install low flush and low flow fixtures when replacing plumbing.
Sustaining• Strive for carbon-neutral or net-zero energy buildings
by 2030.
• Amend zoning and subdivision ordinances to increase the reflectivity of sidewalks and pavements in order to reduce urban heat island effect.
• Generate energy on-site from renewable sources (e.g., geothermal, photovoltaic solar panels, solar water heating, wind, methane recovery, or biomass).
• Encourage energy and water efficient strategies in new and existing commercial and residential buildings through laws and incentives.
• Collect rain to water gardens and lawns.
• Reuse graywater for non-potable water needs.
• Provide on-site wastewater treatment and infiltration.
recommendatIons
Vi. enerGy and Water
33
1. designate someone in your community to tackle energy and water issues, and complete an energy and water audit or assessment of all city buildings and facilities. Find out how much water and energy city owned, occupied and operated buildings are using now and how much the facilities have used historically. Utility bills will be useful in collecting this information, which will also be helping in developing an energy and water savings and management plan. An energy and water audit can also be part of a GHG emissions inventory. The EPA offers excellent guidelines for energy management, including a process much like the one we suggested in our Roadmap. See http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=guidelines.guidelines_index for more information.
2. based on the findings from your energy and water audit or assessment, develop an energy and water savings plan. For examples of what a plan might address, check out the Flex Your Power website at http://www.fypower.org/bpg/index.html?b=institutional
3. Set goals for improvements in both water and energy efficiency. Also set target dates for achieving improvements. For many building types, Energy Star’s Portfolio Manager provides a comparison of energy efficiency with other buildings of similar type in similar geographical conditions. Analysis of utility bills, surveys and inspections will also help you get started. Once you’ve established baselines and goals, measure and report progress. Including environmental goals in your municipal strategic plan will help solidify your commitment to reducing energy and water use.
4. implement your plans and track your goals for energy and water reduction. By creating a calendar or schedule with targeted goals for both actions and measurement of positive effects at regular intervals, you can chart progress, achieve results and build momentum. Once projects are launched, it is important to insert additional follow up action items into the calendar/schedule so achievements can be celebrated and shared with employees, the community, surrounding municipalities and the region.
5. educate and engage citizens and challenge them to reduce energy and water use in their homes and businesses. Many local municipalities have citizen-based “Green Teams” that make environmental protection recommendations to city government and residents. The City of Clayton, Missouri formed the Ecology and Environmental Awareness Committee in 1997 to further the city’s sustainability. For more information on Clayton’s environmental initiatives, see page 23.
ImPlementatIon strategIes best PractIcesGreen SchoolS
20 percent of America goes to school every day. Green schools
save money on operating costs, which frees up money for other
things like text books, computers and teacher salaries. In addition,
green schools generally have improved indoor environmental
quality, which improves student performance.
Encourage your school board to include energy conservation
improvements in their budgets. Through an energy audit, the
University City, Missouri School District identified $6.4 million in
improvements. They paid for improvements with a state energy
loan and a bond. By switching boilers from steam to hot water,
renovating piping, improving insulation, adding some new
windows and controls on mechanical equipment, they achieved
a 36 percent savings on gas and 13 percent on electricity.
For more information on Green Schools, see: http://www.buildgreenschools.org
leed by example
By reducing municipal energy and water use and greening
municipal facilities, you can model environmental protection
efforts to businesses and residents in your community. The
Missouri cities of Clayton, St. Louis and Ferguson have all
legislated green building practices by requiring LEED Silver
certification for any city-owned new construction or major
renovation. University City, Missouri achieved LEED certification
on the renovation of their historic city hall, making it the first
LEED Certified City Hall in the state.
The City of St. Louis ordinance can be found at: http://stlcin.
missouri.org/document/aldermen/pdf/bb323cS-wd13.pdf
Also search the United States Green Building Council (USGBC)
Public Policy database to learn about municipalities leading
the way around the country. http://www.usgbc.org/publicpolicy/
Searchpublicpolicies.aspx?pageid=1776
34 environmental SuStainability roadmap: a toolkit for local GovernmentS
municipal liGhtinG enerGy efficient
liGhtinG SyStemS
Lighting represents approximately 22 percent of all electricity
consumed in commercial office buildings. Thus, lighting is a
major portion of total building operating costs. By assessing
municipal lighting—from buildings to street lights and traffic
signals to park lighting—you can identify many energy saving
opportunities. For example, the average energy savings when
switching from an incandescent bulb to an LED (light-emitting
diode) is 60-70 percent with an increase of the lumen/light
output of 50 percent. With such significant energy savings,
LED retrofits can pay for themselves in less than three years.
Routine maintenance (changing bulbs) will also be reduced
since most LED fixtures are generally warranted for 15 years.
revolvinG loan fund for enerGy and
Water efficient improvementS
Encourage your residents and businesses to go green by
creating a revolving loan fund for energy and water efficiency
improvements. Around the country, states and municipalities
offer a variety of revolving loan programs. In some cases,
residents borrow money from their municipality to add
insulation, purchase energy efficient equipment or renewable
energy systems, and pay it back every year through property
taxes. This can help reduce your municipality’s overall
contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and will help your
residents and businesses save money on energy and water
costs. A relatively small investment can go a long way with
a program like this!
Babylon, New York – Long Island Green Homes Program:
http://www.ligreenhomes.com/page.php?page=home
Interview with Babylon Town Supervisor: http://www.usgbc.org/
displaypage.aspx?cMSpageid=1943#steve
Annapolis, MD – Tax-exempt, low-interest loans to property
owners to install energy-efficient equipment (payments included
in property tax): http://www.greenplaybook.org/resources/
whats_new/post21.htm
roadmap to SuStainable Government buildinGS
The Roadmap to Sustainable Government Buildings is a
collection of resources developed by governments with
established and emerging green building programs. The
Roadmap draws on these resources to suggest strategies
for developing a green building program within a typical
government entity framework. The Roadmap includes an
overview of LEED Certification, LEED Training opportunities
for staff and project teams; pre-project planning support,
including budgeting, contracting, procurement, and compliance;
resources for project management of LEED New Construction
and Existing Buildings projects; and program administration
and Green Building Program guidance.
http://www.usgbc.org/displaypage.aspx?cMSpageid=1920
uS department of enerGy’S enerGy
efficiency & reneWable enerGy
Building Technologies Program: The Building Technologies
Program partners with states, industry, and manufacturers to
improve the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings.
This site includes information and resources about innovative
new technologies, as well as energy-efficiency practices for
designing, building and operating commercial and residential
buildings. The site also includes information about Department
of Energy Programs, such as Energy Building Codes and Net-
Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative.
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/
Energy Savers - Tips for Saving Energy & Money at Home,
which can be downloaded for free from the Publications page:
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/library/
enerGyStar
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy that
provides energy efficient products and practices. The Local
Government page includes resources for local governments,
including information on the ENERGY STAR campaign, the
ENERGY STAR Challenge Toolkit (to promote energy efficiency
in the community), and ENERGY STAR’s Guidelines for Energy
Management and the Portfolio Manager, a tool to track energy
and water use in existing buildings. http://www.energystar.gov/
index.cfm?c=government.bus_government_local
EPA offers excellent guidelines for energy management –
including a process much like the one suggested above.
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=guidelines.
guidelines_index
flex your poWer
Flex Your Power is California’s statewide energy efficiency
marketing and outreach campaign. The Best Practices Guide for
Local Government includes specific actions and suggestions for
lighting, building envelope, water use and more. There are also
sections on lessons learned and case studies.
http://www.fypower.org/bpg/index.html?b=institutional
The Flex Your Power website also offers basic information
on performing energy audits. http://www.fypower.org/bpg/
module.html?b=institutional&m=planning_an_energy_
program&s=energy_audits
best PractIces (contInued)
Vi. enerGy and Water
35
natural reSourceS
ICLEI, an international association of local governments
focusing on environmental best practices, provides access to
software that guides a community in developing energy audits
of government buildings and the entire community, along with
best practices to address the findings of the audits. Several
local jurisdictions are members of ICLEI and have implemented
practices based on its software, which means cities do not have
to “reinvent the wheel” when considering energy conservation.
http://www.icleiusa.org/
GreenhouSe GaS (GhG) emiSSionS
This tool will allow the user to develop an estimate of their GHG
emissions from a variety of sources, including company/city-
owned vehicles; purchased electricity; waste disposal; and leased
assets, franchises, and outsourced activities. It includes examples
of carbon-cutting actions such as recycling, waste prevention,
and green power purchasing. The Office Carbon Footprint
Tool follows the framework that is documented by the World
Resources Institute/World Business Council for Sustainable
Development’s (WRI/WBCSD) GHG Protocol Corporate
Standard. http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/partnerships/
wastewise/carboncalc.htm
This calculator measures the environmental benefits of
reusing building materials in terms of 10 avoided negative
environmental impacts and the embodied energy in the
materials that is preserved when the materials are reused.
http://www.wastematch.org/calculator/calculator.htm
Embodied energy calculator - Utilize calculator to
determine emissions and carbon footprint.
http://www.thegreenestbuilding.org/
ICLEI’s Climate Action Handbook offers examples of actions
that local governments can take to reduce greenhouse gases,
such as ways to encourage alternatives to single occupancy
vehicles. http://www.icleiusa.org/action-center/planning/
climate-action-handbook
energy and Water fundIng oPPortunItIesThe states of Missouri and Illinois both offer funding
to encourage energy efficiency.
http://www.dsireusa.org/index.cfm?ee=1&re=1
The US Green Building Council (USGBC) offers links to a number
of funding opportunities. http://www.usgbc.org/displaypage.
aspx?cMSpageid=76#facilities
Local utilities Ameren and Laclede Gas offer energy
efficiency incentives to customers.
Ameren: http://www.ameren.com/energyefficiency/
Laclede Gas: http://www.lacledegas.com/conservation/
conservation%20&%20energy%20efficiency%20programs/
Don’t forget that if you implement an energy efficiency
or water efficiency project, you stand to see cost savings
in the future. Use these savings for your next upgrade!
Or to fund another green project!
36 environmental SuStainability roadmap: a toolkit for local GovernmentS
nearly everything we do leaves behind solid waste material.
the St. louis metro region contributes approximately 2.4
million tons annually to the united States solid waste stream
(or 1 percent of total). non-residential solid waste represents
40 percent of the total waste stream. Sustainable materials
procurement practices reduce disposal costs; reduce
operational costs due to inefficiencies; lower purchase price
for remanufactured products; protect citizens and employees;
and reduce hazardous management costs by utilizing less toxic
products. What ends up in the waste stream, and what natural
resources are depleted, are largely determined by what a local
government purchases. materials procurement is the starting
point for every community in the struggle against waste.
“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” the 3-R motto of sustainability, is at
the heart of sustainable materials procurement. Does a material
need to be used? Can it be reused? Can it be recycled? All of
these questions should be asked up front. But there is more to it
than this. Energy to produce, transport, and dispose of materials,
the effect of the materials themselves on the environment, and
the effect on human health while in use and when discarded, are
at the very core of this sustainability analysis. Moreover, it is one
of the easiest topics to address by local governments because of
the availability of ever-advancing information and wide-spread
main street support. The issue is readily understandable to local
government officials and citizens, and it is one area in which
local government has exclusive control.
The primary approach to materials sustainability is to use
an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) policy. The
standards for an EPP policy are similar to those adopted and
promoted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and
the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives
(ICLEI.) EPP calls for procuring goods that do not sacrifice
performance or price, while at the same time reduces the
environmental impact associated with their manufacturing,
use and/or disposal. The EPA defines EPP as “products or
services that have lesser or reduced effect on human health
and the environment when compared with competing products
or services that serve the same purpose.” This applies to raw
materials, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, use, reuse,
operation, maintenance and disposal.
Embedded in EPP is the concept that every tangible product
has an impact and must ultimately be analyzed through an EPP
policy model. This includes every product—office equipment,
choice of paper (recycled versus non-recycled), copying and
printing policies, cleaning supplies, vending machines, light
bulbs, furnace filters, and construction materials—as well as the
government’s fleet needs, including cars, trucks, fire equipment
and the fuel products themselves. EPP involves virtually every
aspect of the management of local government operations, and
it all begins with decisions regarding procurement.
In reality, most local governments will look exclusively at “price”
in making a purchasing decision. It is essential that the cost to
the environment and to human health be equal drivers in the
decision making process.
Developing a comprehensive EPP policy is a critical component
of a sustainable community. Materials cut across all aspects of an
organization and impact both cost and the solid waste stream.
Since each life cycle step results in waste generation, having an
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing policy in place allows
local governments to base buying decisions on criteria that are
both cost effective and environmentally sound. It also enables
local governments to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions
by reducing overall energy use.
a typical epp policy includes the following components:
1. Materials Audit process
2. Environmentally Preferred Purchasing Committee
3. EPP Implementation Plan
4. Waste Prevention statement, including the 3Rs.
The FOCUS St. Louis Environmental Task Force Survey reports
that 90.5 percent of the respondents have adopted government
office/facilities recycling and 91.3 percent have citizen/business
recycling. Waste reduction practices curb greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions, reduce water pollution, save energy and
supply valuable raw materials to industry. In 2007, the national
recycling rate of 33.4 percent (85 million tons) prevented the
release of approximately 193 million metric tons of carbon
dioxide equivalent into the air – roughly the amount emitted
annually by 35 million cars. Waste reduction is an important
way that all communities can be part of the solution to
global climate change.
materIals Procurement summary
Vii. MaterialS procureMent
37
table 6 actionS taken by municipalitieS/countieS
Recycling in government offices and facilities
Recycling for citizens and businesses
Undertaken materials audit for government equipment, supplies % fleet
“Green” purchasing by government
Local/regional purchasing by government
Adopted “Green” building policy for government facilities
(1) Fewer than 5,000 inhabitants
(2) Between 5,000 and 15,000 inhabitants
(3) Greater than 15,000 inhabitants
Municipality/coMMunity Size
SMALL (1)
80%
73%
5%
14%
35%
15%
MEDIUM (2)
100%
100%
22%
33%
56%
13%
LARGE (3)
86%
86%
29%
32%
46%
41%
Survey responses in Table 6 indicate that communities of all
sizes have taken up the recycling banner for their government
facilities, as well as for their citizens and businesses. However,
in other areas dealing with green policies and actions, there is
room for improvement. For extensive web-based resources to
address these issues, refer to the Materials Procurement Best
Practices section.
There is a large body of research available to local governments,
much of it free, to give policy makers and government
employees a more in-depth analysis of this topic. Professional
directors of various local government departments receive the
most current information on sustainable practices from their
professional trade journals and from their counterparts in other
cities. For smaller cities, especially those that rely on St. Louis
County for many services, St. Louis County professionals will
also have current sustainability research and techniques. For
mid-sized cities, this provides a framework for an approach
they can take, without much difficulty, in getting on the road
to sustainable materials practices. It will also identify questions
or issues to be explored because of the greater impact on the
environment. If St. Louis regional local governments can employ
any of these measures, the cumulative impact on green house
gas emissions will be significant, from reduced energy usage and
removal of toxins from the environment, to healthier employees
and citizens.
University City, Missouri is one of 10 cities in the St. Louis
region to become one of the Sierra Club’s “Cool Cities” and
whose mayor has signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors’
Climate Protection Agreement. University City seeks to integrate
sustainability into every decision and action. One of the actions
taken has been the formation of the city’s Green Practices
Committee, formed to provide guidance to the city to continue
reducing its carbon footprint by 2012 in accordance with the
U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement
and increasing green practices throughout the University
City community.
The city has taken other steps towards becoming more
sustainable including:
• Creating a “Green Practices Committee” to develop
sustainability master plan.
• Joining ICLEI and conducting a green house gas
(GHG) inventory.
• Conducting energy audits of all city facilities
• Conducting street lighting audits and developing
a plan to reduce electricity use.
• Adopting and instituting an Environmentally Preferable
Purchasing (EPP) policy. (For more on EPP, see the Materials
Procurement section.)
• Retrofitting historic City Hall to be the first municipal building
in Missouri to be LEED certified.
• Being the first city in the region to institute single stream
recycling to make recycling easier while reducing the
amount of waste.
• Using B-20 bio-diesel fuel for diesel fleet and purchasing
hybrid vehicles.
• Installing energy efficient ball field lighting.
• Working with the Community Action Agency to weatherize
homes of low income residents.
• Installing LED bulbs in all city-owned traffic lights.
• Installing rain gardens throughout the city.
University City, Missouri has always been known for being one of
the more progressive cities in the St. Louis region when it comes
to going green. The city has taken enormous strides towards
becoming more sustainable and is looking to expand on those
efforts in the future by partnering with other cities in the region.
See the city’s green practices section of its website http://www.
ucitymo.org/index.aspx?nid=451 for more information.
caSe Study
38 environmental SuStainability roadmap: a toolkit for local GovernmentS
Getting Started • Form an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP)
committee comprising representatives from the city departments that procure materials.
• Evaluate and assess what materials are being used by the local government and its various departments.
• Establish an EPP program based on these findings.
• Educate city employees about the EPP program.
• Encourage the 3Rs—Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
on the Way• Audit, assess and create a complete listing of materials
used by all departments.
• Develop a formal EPP policy.
• Research possible Green Purchasing Organizations to assist the Committee in performing an analysis of products used or under consideration for use.
• Consult with similar municipalities for information that may already have been analyzed.
Sustaining• Continue to educate city employees about the EPP policy.
• Update EPP policy as necessary.
• Continue to implement the EPP policy in all government operations.
• Update resources as technology advances.
1. appoint individuals to a Materials Management committee
(MMc), including stakeholders, decision makers, and
citizenry. Charter the group to develop a Materials
Management Policy (MMP) resulting in comprehensive
environmental policy making. To ensure policy is carried
out, incorporate the committee into the community’s
ongoing operations.
2. conduct a Waste audit which will enable the committee
to benchmark and measure its work. As part of the audit,
utilize a carbon footprint calculator for office. http://www.
epa.gov/epawaste/partnerships/wastewise/carboncalc.htm
• Identify waste stream composition. Analyze discarded materials to determine type and quantity. Make special note of high-volume and high-value materials (toner cartridges, aluminum cans, etc.) Be sure to determine their weight and volume. Record which materials can be recycled, reused (repair vs. new purchase) or reduced (high-volumes of office paper, disposable cups, etc.).
• Identify sources of waste. Determine if materials can be:
reduced – Institute two-sided copies, slim down or avoid boxes and bags, discontinue the use of bottled water, etc.
reused – Paper, folders, Ceramic coffee cups and dishes, packing material, etc.
recycled – Institute an organization-wide, single-stream recycling program including the municipal solid waste curbside collections. Utilizing large wheeled recycling totes, with recycling service a mandatory part of basic weekly service, has demonstrated a tremendous increase in the percent of materials recycled.
3. Based on the results of the audit and benchmarking,
determine a plan of action to more efficiently reduce,
reuse and recycle your community’s materials.
4. With direction from the Materials Management Committee,
implement your environmentally preferred purchasing
policy. Locate a recycling collection system. Locate
clearly-marked collection containers where recyclables
are generated and near trash cans to reduce contamination.
Track current and projected costs. Establish current
costs and six months later conduct a second waste
audit to determine waste reduction and cost savings.
Benchmark results; analyze again in six months to
identify more efficiencies.
5. promote success stories to residential and non-residential
customers. The EPA has a great resource for teachers,
students, and researchers to develop an increased
knowledge of solid waste issues. This resource is intended to
increase environmental awareness and inspire participation
in environmental activities. See the following website for
details.http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/education/index.htm
recommendatIons ImPlementatIon strategIes
the epa has five guiding principles that should drive epp:
1. Environmental considerations should become a part of normal practice, consistent with such traditional factors as product safety, price, performance and availability.
2. Consideration of environmental preferability should begin early in the acquisition process and be rooted in the ethic of pollution prevention, which strives to eliminate or reduce, up-front, potential risks to human health and the environment.
3. A product or service of environmental preferability is a function of multiple attributes from a lifecycle perspective.
4. Determining environmental preferability might involve comparing environmental impacts. In comparing environmental impacts, local governments should consider: the reversibility and geographic scale of environmental impacts, the degree of difference among competing products, and the overriding importance of protecting human health.
5. Comprehensive, accurate, and meaningful information about environmental performance of products is necessary to determine environmental preferability.
Vii. MaterialS procureMent
39
environmentally preferable purchaSinG (epp)
There are a host of reference materials already in the public
domain that can be accessed by local government officials
to provide an in-depth analysis of environmentally preferred
purchasing practices.
Responsible Purchasing Network performs a full life cycle
analysis: http://www.responsiblepurchasing.org/
ICLEI’s Resource Guide to Environmentally Preferred Purchasing:
http://www.icleiusa.org/library/images-phase1-051308/action-
center/epp-guide/?searchterm=epp
EPA’s main page on EPP and their Final Guidance on
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing:
http://www.epa.gov/epp/
http://www.epa.gov/osw/partnerships/wastewise/
pubs/wwupda15.pdf
The City of Santa Monica’s (CA) Office of Sustainability and
the Environment provides great resources, case studies and
procurement policies. http://www.smgov.net/departments/
oSe/categories/buyGreen.aspx
The City of Santa Monica’s Environmental Purchasing,
A Case Study, available through the Pollution Prevention
Information Clearing House
http://www.epa.gov/oppt/epp/pubs/case/santa.pdf
Cities Go Green.com, Greening the Office: January 2009 Issue,
pages 15-18: http://www.citiesgogreen.com/issuearchives/
The City of San Jose, CA sets the standard for EPPs across
the country. http://www.sanjoseca.gov/esd/natural-energy-
resources/epp.htm
certified Green and reuSable productS
Green Seal is a non-profit that set standards for products such
as janitorial cleaners, floor strippers and paints, and certifies
products that meet those standards. http://www.greenseal.org
Greenguard is a non-profit that certifies products that impact
indoor air quality, such as flooring, paints, furniture and cleaning
products. http://www.greenguard.org
GreenSpec Directory is a paper and online directory that lists
over 2,100 environmentally preferable building products based
on uniform environmental criteria.
http://www.buildinggreen.com
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides
vendor lists of product brands.
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/tools/cpg/index.htm
The Comprehensive Procurement Guideline (CPG) program
is part of EPA’s continuing effort to promote the use of materials
recovered from solid waste by promoting reusable, rechargeable
and refillable items.
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/tools/cpg/index.htm
ImPlementatIon strategIes best PractIces
GreenhouSe GaS emiSSionS and life cycle analySiS (lca)
EPA has tools to determine the greenhouse gas (GHG) impact
of purchasing, manufacturing, and waste management actions.
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/waste/tools.html
recycle proGram for conSumer electronicS
A source of information about environmentally preferable
products is the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment
Tool (EPEAT). http://www.epeat.net/
The St. Louis Regional Partnership for Electronics Recovery
Web site provides locations throughout the St. Louis area to
encourage reuse and recycling of unwanted electronics.
http://www.ecyclestlouis.org
St. louiS area diStrictS and reSourceS
Environmental Protection Agency REGION 7:
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/resource.htm
Missouri Department of Natural Resources:
http://www.dnr.mo.gov
Resource St. Louis:
http://www.resourcestlouis.org
St. Louis-Jefferson Solid Waste Management District:
http://www.swmd.net
the measurable benefits of an epp are:
• Lower purchase price for items such as remanufactured products.
• Reduced operational costs due to energy efficiency.
• Reduced disposal costs via the purchasing of more durable products.
• Reduced hazardous management costs by utilizing less toxic products.
• Improved work health and safety conditions.
40 environmental SuStainability roadmap: a toolkit for local GovernmentS
St. Louis County Solid Waste Management:
http://www.stlouisco.com/doh/waste/waste_mg.html
St. Charles County Division of Environmental Services:
http://www.scchealth.org/docs/es/index.html
Jefferson County Government: http://www.jeffcomo.org
City of St. Louis Refuse Division:
http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/refuse/
St. Louis County Municipal League: http://www.stlmuni.org
Missouri Recycling Association: http://www.mora.org
E-Cycle St. Louis: http://www.ecyclestlouis.org
education reSourceS for recyclinG
Education Resources for Recycling
Missouri Botanical Garden’s EarthWays Center:
http://www.earthwayscenter.org/earthways.html
Resource Recovery (Leftovers, Inc.):
http://www.leftoversetc.com/index.htm
St. Louis Teacher’s Recycle Center:
http://www.sltrc.com/index.html
Resourceful Schools (St. Louis County):
http://www.resourcefulschools.org
best PractIces (contInued)
fundIng oPPortunItIesThe Missouri Recycling Association has an extensive list of
web-based links and information, including success stories.
http://www.mora.org/resources/funding_opportunities
and http://www.mora.org/smrc/reports
St. Louis-Jefferson Solid Waste Management District:
http://www.swmd.net/grants.html
St. Louis County: www.stlouisco.com/doh/waste/waste_mg.html
EIERA (Environmental Improvement and Energy
Resources Authority): http://www.dnr.mo.gov/eiera/index.html
Missouri Department of Natural Resources: www.dnr.mo.gov
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7:
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/resource.htm
St. Louis-Jefferson Solid Waste Management District:
http://www.swmd.net
St. Louis County Solid Waste Management:
http://www.stlouisco.com/doh/waste/waste_mg.html
St. Charles County Division of Environmental Services:
http://www.scchealth.org/docs/es/index.html
Jefferson County Government: www.jeffcomo.org
City of St. Louis Refuse Division:
http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/refuse/
St. Louis County Municipal League: www.stlmuni.org
E-Cycle St. Louis: www.ecyclestlouis.org
Vii. MaterialS procureMent
representative building Materials for the San diego
environmental Services department renovation:
• low-Voc paints, sealers, and stains - All met California requirements for low-VOC coatings and contained no formaldehyde, petroleum-based solvents, or other toxins.
• acoustic ceiling tiles - Pearlite content with no VOC emissions and no artificial mineral fibers. They also are naturally nonflammable and antimicrobial and contain 10 percent recycled content.
• carpet tiles - Met the state of Washington Indoor Air Quality Specifications for low-VOC products, including a low-VOC adhesive for installation.
• linoleum flooring - Linoleum is made from natural fibers and has minimal VOCs (unlike vinyl flooring).
• cabinetry fiberboard - Manufactured from 90 percent preconsumer recycled wood without using formaldehyde. Cabinets are coated with a low-VOC coating instead of a laminate.
• ceramic tiles - Use glass and clay as the primary materials, which makes them naturally inert with no VOC emissions. The glass tiles contain 70 percent recycled content.
• cellulose insulation - Manufactured without formaldehyde from 100 percent recycled content soy-ink newspapers. Contains no artificial mineral fibers such as fiberglass.
• Gypsum wallboard - Available with 100 percent recycled-content facing and no VOC emissions.
• low-flow plumbing fixtures - Reduce building water consumption by 50 percent.
• Steel framing - Requires no chemical fire retardants or sealants and contains 50 percent recycled content.
• counter tops - Solid surface acrylic polymer manufactured without formaldehyde.
• toilet partitions - Recycled-content HDPE plastic manufactured without formaldehyde.
To see how State and local Governments around the country are Implementing Environmentally Preferable Purchasing practices see http://www.epa.gov/epp/pubs/case/statenlocal.pdf
caSe Study
41
bioregion – bioregions are defined by watershed boundaries and soil and terrain characteristics.
carbon footprint – total set of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event or product. A GHG emissions assessment indicates the size of a carbon footprint. A corrective strategy is devised.
carbon Sequestration – removal and storage of carbon from the atmosphere in carbon sinks (such as oceans, forests or soils) through physical or biological processes, such as photosynthesis.
continual improvement – consistently evaluating and improving processes, operations and policies.
ecosystem Services – essential for human life, these are nature’s processes that benefit ecosystems, including water supply, filtration, flood control, protection of the soil, breakdown of pollutants, recycling of wastes, habitat for economically important wild species (e.g., fisheries); regulation of climate, and others.
embodied energy – all the direct and indirect energy required to make a product.
environmental impact Statement (eiS) – describes the positive and negative environmental effects of a proposed action and cites alternative actions.
environmentally preferred purchasing (epp) – purchasing “green” products, establishing policy of utilizing “green” vendors, and establishing a policy of “green” supply chains.
full cost accounting – tracking all costs throughout entire process, e.g., health of uranium miners added to cost of nuclear power.
Green infrastructure – natural habitats and hydrological patterns which, for example, can reduce the overall impacts of traditional stormwater infrastructure, provide clean air, and filter water.
Green rooftop – a vegetated rooftop using either multiple planting containers or consisting of several layers: a waterproofing membrane, insulation, protection layer, drainage layer, filter mat, soil layer, and vegetation. May have an internal drainage network that directs an overflow away from the roof to inhibit ponding. Can reduce overall energy consumption and water runoff volume by up to 50 percent. Native plant species that are drought tolerant are typically used.
heat island effect – increase in ambient temperature occurring in cities because paved areas and buildings absorb more heat from the sun than natural landscape. Additional heat is generated by vehicles, lighting, and other equipment.
infiltration – process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil.
integrated pest Management – reducing or eliminating the use of pesticides while managing pest populations at an acceptable level.
invasive Species – organism that dominates an area and becomes a monoculture, interfering with the natural functioning and diversity of the system it invaded and causing environmental or economic harm.
land Management – activities associated with the management of land as a resource from an environmental and economic perspective.
life cycle assessment (lca) – assessing the costs of extraction, manufacturing, assembling and packaging (and all support functions), processing and transporting, installing, disassembling (if applicable), recycling, decomposition and disposal.
Mobile air pollution – air pollution generated by automobiles, trucks, buses, etc.
native Species – plants, animals, fungi, and micro-organisms that occur naturally in a given area, without human introduction.
non-point pollution – pollution that cannot be traced to a single source, such as pollution from urban runoff.
particulates – fine, tiny particles of solid or liquid suspended in a gas or liquid.
photochemical Smog – chemical reaction of sunlight, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere, which leaves airborne particles (called particulate matter) and ground-level ozone. Nitrogen oxides are released by nitrogen and oxygen into the air, reacting together under high temperature such as in the exhaust of fossil fuel-burning engines in cars, trucks, power plants, and industrial manufacturing factories. VOCs are released from man-made sources such as gasoline, paints, solvents, pesticides, and biogenic sources, such as pine and citrus tree emissions.
point pollution - pollution discharged from an identifiable source.
prairie - a tract of level to hilly land with a predominance of grasses and small broad leaved plants, a scarcity of shrubs, and a scarcity of trees.
rain Garden - landscaping feature planted with native perennial plants that manages storm water runoff from impervious surfaces such as roofs, sidewalks, and parking lots.
riparian – area or corridor adjacent to a stream, river or lake.
Sharrows – short for “shared lane pavement markings.” They consist of an image of a bicycle with a series of chevrons to indicate that motorists and cyclists are to share the travel lane.
Sick building Syndrome – illnesses thought to be caused by flaws in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Other causes have been attributed to contaminants produced by outgassing of some types of building materials, volatile organic compounds, molds, improper exhaust ventilation of ozone (byproduct of some office machinery), light industrial chemicals used within, or lack of adequate fresh air or air filtration.
Supply chain Management – the management of a network of interconnected businesses involved in the provision of products and services for an end user. Supply Chain Management spans all movement and storage of raw materials, work-in-process inventory, and finished goods from point of origin to point of consumption.
Swale – relatively wide, shallow, open channel with a slight gradient, designed to let water flow slowly after storms and soak into soil, and allow pollutants to adhere and/or degrade.
thermal inversion – cool air trapped by warm air, resulting in a stagnant pocket of air at the earth's surface that holds and concentrates pollutants at the surface. Leads to bioaccumulation and bioamplification, affecting animals and humans.
Watershed – area of land where all ground water and surface water drains to the same point.
Wetland – permanently or intermittently wet areas, shallow water, and land/water margins supporting a natural ecosystem of plants and animals adapted to wet conditions
aPPendIx a GLOSSARY
42 environmental SuStainability roadmap: a toolkit for local GovernmentS
cliMate actionepa’s climate change Site offers comprehensive information
on the issue of climate change in a way that is accessible
and meaningful to all parts of society—communities,
individuals,business, states and localities, and governments.
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange
iclei climate action handbook:
http://www.icleiusa.org/action-center/planning/climate-
actionhandbook/view?searchterm=
The u.S. conference of Mayors best practice documents
provides examples from municipalities big and small.
http://www.usmayors.org/climateprotection/about.htm
buildinGS The u.S. Green building council (USGBC )is a non-profit
organization committed to expandingsustainable building
practices. The Government Resource pageincludes a Public Policy
Database, a Roadmap to SustainableGovernment Buildings and
LEED Green Building Rating Systemresources for Government.
http://www.usgbc.org/displaypage.aspx?cMSpageid=1779
educationThe Missouri’s environmental educators mission is to
provide innovative professional development and networking
opportunities for both for teachers in the classroom and
educators in agencies and organizations to help
Missourians become more environmentally responsible.
http://www.meea.org
Generalthe Green playbook provides local governments with
guidance,resources, talking points, case studies and background
material—everything to advance green buildings, neighborhoods
and infrastructure. It includes strategies, tips and tools. Designed
for elected officials, senior managers and staff seeking to begin
or strengthen their program. Practical program guidance,
policies and regulatory levers flesh out each topic.
http://www.greenplaybook.org/
Global footprint network is an international think tank working
to advance sustainability through use of the Ecological Footprint
a resource accounting tool that measures how much nature a
community has, how much it uses and who uses what.
http://www.footprintnetwork.org
iclei tool Kit for small communities (under 25,000)
http://www.icleiusa.org/action-center/learn-from-others/
smallcommunities- toolkit
Donella Meadows, founder of the Sustainability institute
and lead author of Limits to Growth and Beyond the Limits,
was a pioneer in the application of system dynamics to critical
issues of human survival—poverty, growth in population and
consumption, and ecological degradation.
http://www.sustainabilityinstitute.org
Green JobSthe blue Green alliance is a national partnership of steelworkers,
labor unions and environmental organizations launched in 2006
and dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in
the green economy. The Alliance is committed to transforming
the economy through renewable energy, energy efficiency, mass
transit and rail, a new smart grid, and other solutions to global
warming. It has the potential to create millions of jobs, while
reducing global warming emissions and moving America toward
energy independence. http://www.bluegreenalliance.org
The apollo alliance is a coalition of labor, business,
environmental, and community leaders working to catalyze a
clean energy revolution that will put millions of Americans to
work in a new generation of high-quality, green-collar jobs.
http://apolloalliance.org/about/mission/
Harvard Kennedy School & Ash Institute’s “Better, Faster,
Cheaper” is a new online source for innovative government
and a place for public officials to share best practices.
http://bfc.ashinstitute.harvard.edu
reGionalSustainable St. louis is a non-profit organization dedicated
to the development of a holistic and regional approach to
environmental sustainability, helping to advance a region-
wide sustainability movement by serving as a catalyst for
change throughout the entire St. Louis metropolitan area.
http://sustainstl.org/
uSGbc – St. louis regional chapter is a regional resource
to initiate, develop and accelerate implementation of green
building concepts, technologies and principles that promote
environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places
to live and work. http://www.usgbc-stl.org/
SuStainable city planSchicago climate action plan: http://www.chicagoclimateaction.
org/filebin/pdf/finalreport/ccapreportfinal.pdf
Grand rapids, Michigan’s Sustainability plan:
http://www.sustainablegr.com/
the city of Kansas city, Missouri’s Sustainability in Kansas city:
http://www.kcmo.org/manager/oeq/Sustainability%20in%20
Kc%20(Web).pdf and climate protection plan:
http://www.kcmo.org/manager/oeQ/cpp.pdf
new york city’s planyc: http://www.nyc.gov/html/
planyc2030/html/downloads/download.shtml
Santa Monica’s Sustainable city plan is designed to help
government officials and citizens think, plan and act in a more
sustainable way, and to provide criteria for evaluating the
longterm impact of decisions. http://www.smgov.net/epd/scp
aPPendIx b LeAdinG SuStAinAbiLitY ReSOuRCeS
Viii. appendiceS
43
1. Have you developed an area-specific plan(s) for Open Space within the last 10 years?
a. Yes b. No c. More than 10 years ago? d. No plan(s)? If you don’t have a plan, proceed to the final question.
2. Have you developed a master Open Space plan within the last 10 years?
a. Yes b. No c. More than 10 years ago? d. No plan(s)? If you don’t have a plan, proceed to the final question.
3. Have you developed a comprehensive community-wide plan that includes Open Space within the last 10 years?
a. Yes b. No c. More than 10 years ago? d. No plan(s)? If you don’t have a plan, proceed to the final question.
4. If you have an area-specific plan(s) or a comprehensive/ master plan, which of the following area(s) does it include? Check all that apply. If any of the following cross department boundaries, make a note in the margin.
___ Carbon footprint
___ Community education programs
___ Community gardens
___ Corridors (wildlife, riparian)
___ Greenways (for pedestrian, bicycle traffic w/ natural vegetation)
___ Marsh, lake, stream, river
___ Native plantings (restoration programs)
___ Natural habitats (restoration, maintenance programs)
___ Population density
___ Rain gardens
___ Reuse of Stormwater for non-potable uses
___ Recreation area for passive activity, e.g. picnic
___ Recreation area for sports, e.g. soccer field
___ Trails (hiking, biking, horseback)
___ Urban forests
___ Other
5. From the above list, which area(s) would you like to include? List them here:
A. ___________________________________
B. ___________________________________
A. ___________________________________
C. ___________________________________
D. ___________________________________
E. ___________________________________
F. ___________________________________
G. ___________________________________
H. ___________________________________
I. ___________________________________
J. ___________________________________
6. From the above list, which part(s) of the plan do you struggle with? What do you need to move the obstacle(s)?
A. ___________________________________
B. ___________________________________
A. ___________________________________
C. ___________________________________
D. ___________________________________
E. ___________________________________
F. ___________________________________
G. ___________________________________
H. ___________________________________
I. ___________________________________
J. ___________________________________
7. Do you have a Green Practices Committee or an Ecology & Environmental Awareness Committee?
___ Yes
___ No
8. Do you want to create a Greening Committee, including residents?
___ Yes
___ No
9. What are the current City zoning or development guidelines?
a. Overlay Zones
b. Planned Unit Development
c. Formed Based Code
d. Flex Zoning
10. Do you think that the current zoning or development guidelines adequately provide for Open Space?
a. Yes
b. Yes, but could be improved. What will help you proceed?
c. No. What will help you proceed?
d. Other
11. What will help you develop a plan or implement (or refine) the existing plan(s)? Check all that apply.
___ Additional staff
___ Financial resources
___ Green Committee
___ Planning assistance
___ Policy development, analysis assistance
___ Technical assistance
___ Toolkit with assessment checklist, how-to, scorecard, resources
___ Other
aPPendIx c Open SpACe ASSeSMent tOOL
44 environmental SuStainability roadmap: a toolkit for local GovernmentS
focuS St. louis extends appreciation to the individuals who
served on the environmental Sustainability task force and the
guest speakers who provided their insights. a special thank you
to the co-chairs who provided much guidance, insight, energy,
and support to this project.
co-chairS
Mary Ann Lazarus, Firmwide Director of Sustainable Design, HOK
Wayne Goode, former Missouri State Senator
memberS of the taSk force
Emily Andrews, Executive Director of USGBC –
St. Louis Regional Chapter
Dave Berger, Executive Director St. Louis-Jefferson
Solid Waste Management District
Tracy Boaz, Community Conservationist,
Missouri Department of Conservation
Rev. Dr. Jane Bruss, Citizen with grassroots
and international experience in sustainability
Laura Cohen, Confluence Project Director, Trailnet
Paula Crews, Account Director, Paradowski Creative
Petree A. Eastman, Assistant City Manager,
City of University City, Missouri
Doug Eller, Director of Community Development
at Grace Hill Settlement House
Tim Embree, Special Assistant to the Mayor, St. Louis City
Mark Fogal, Manager of Regional Policy Analysis
at East West Gateway Coordinating Council
Liz Forrestal, Executive Director of Missouri Votes
Conservation, Member of Sustainable St. Louis
Lee Fox, Member of ReSource St. Louis
and Kirkwood Living Green
Deborah Chollet Frank, Vice President of Sustainability,
Missouri Botanical Garden
Monica Fries, Member of Sustainable St. Louis
Michaeleen Gerken, former Natural Resources Educator
for University of Illinois Extension
Stephen Ibendahl, Landscape Architect at HNTB,
Member of the USGBC
Jane Jones, Manager of the Merger Program Office,
Wachovia, Member of the USGBC
Lynn Larkin, Design Extra, LLC.
Mark C. Lindgren, Vice President,
Corporate Human Resources at Ameren UE
Bruce Litzinger, Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District
Steve Mahfood, former Director of Missouri DNR
Larry Marks, Executive Vice President, Development Strategies
John May, Ph.D., Chair, Creve Coeur Climate Action Task Force
Julie Morgan, Mayor of Rock Hill, Missouri
John Posey, Manager of Research Services East West
Gateway Coordinating Council
Richard Reilly, COO, BOA Construction
Terri Reilly, former Executive Director of St Louis Earth Day
Courtney Sloger, Government & Community Affairs/
Legal Department at METRO
Nancy Thompson, Project Manager,
Great Rivers Greenway District
Phil Valko, Active Living Program Manager, Trailnet
Patty Vinyard, Executive Director of the St. Louis
Regional Bicycle Federation
focuS St. louiS project Staff
John Wagner, Community Policy Director
Drew Langenberg, Marketing and Communications Director
Diane Gregory, Public Policy Administration Intern,
University of Missouri, St. Louis
Christine Chadwick, Executive Director
GueSt SpeakerS
The Honorable Mayor Linda Goldstein, Clayton, Missouri
Ms. Erin Budde, formerly with the Gateway Center for Giving
Liz Forrestal, Sustainable St. Louis
Dennis Murphey, Chief Environmental Officer for the City
of Kansas City, Missouri
Amy Malick, the International Council for Local
Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI)
A very special thank to you HOK
for their graphic design assistance.
aPPendIx d ACknOwLedGeMentS
iX. appendiceS
YEAR
the old Post office815 olive street, suite 110st. louis, mo 63101p: 314.622.1250
f: 314.622.1279
www.focus-stl.org
FOCUS St. Louis works to develop leadership, influence
policy, and promote community connections throughout
the bi-state St. Louis region. The mission of FOCUS
St. Louis is to create a thriving, cooperative region by
engaging citizens to participate in active leadership
roles and to influence positive community change.
A nonpartisan 501(c)(3), FOCUS St. Louis has four
key priorities for the 16-county area: good governance,
racial equality and social justice, quality educational
opportunities, and sustainable infrastructure.
FOCUS St. Louis will advocate on behalf of the
environmental sustainability recommendations made
in this report. FOCUS will also work to ensure that the
recommendations in this report are being implemented
and that progress is being made by local communities.
As the quality and content of best practice resources
changes rapidly, FOCUS will continue to provide updates
to these and other resources via the FOCUS St. Louis Web
site for use by local government officials and residents.
If you would like to do more to help your local community
become more environmentally sustainable, or if you
would like to share a success story from your community,
contact John Wagner at 314-622-1250 x105 or john.
[email protected]. To download copies of this full
report, the executive summary, and the toolkit please
visit http://www.focus-stl.org.