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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-02-12 PACKET 06.1.1 1k JE, 40 r r To: Environmental Commission From: Ryan Burfeind, Graduate Engineer Emily Schmitz, Code Enforcement Date: February 5, 2014 Subject: Environmental Commission Work Plan Update BACKGROUND /DISCUSSION In 2012 the Environmental Commission's long -term work plan was adopted, which in- cluded a short -term work plan to be adjusted annually with reachable goals. The enclosed updated work plan contains specified goals including GreenStep actions required to meet the Step 3 requirements, education opportunities within the community, continued updating of policies, and monitoring of permits and regulations. These short - term goals prove reachable within the year. RECOMMENDATION: Review and discuss updates to the Environmental Commission short -term work plan. Cottage Grove Environmental Commission Work Plan 2012 -2015 PURPOSE: The purpose of the Environmental Commission is to assist and advise the Mayor, City Council, and City departments on matters relating to Cottage Grove's physical environment. This would include, but is not limited to, the quality of air, water, and soil that affect the economic conditions, general well being, and physical health of its citizens. RESPONSIBILITIES: A. Review data assembled and released by federal and state agencies; specifically, but is not limited to, environmental permit applications, modifications, and renewals. B. The Environmental Commission shall seek to advise the City on issues of environmental equity, environmental safety, and environmental health. The Commission will: 1. Act as a conduit for information and education regarding Cottage Grove residents and government officials on issues affecting the City's environmental health and well being; 2. Act as an advocate for the environmental cleanup and prevention of pollution with the City; 3. Promote sustainable development in Cottage Grove and sustainable city operations; 4. Act in partnership with other agencies and organizations to promote policies and practices that impact the well being of Cottage Grove residents; 5. Act in partnership with other agencies and organizations to promote policies and practices that impact the well being of Cottage Grove businesses; 6. Act as environmental ambassadors to promote Cottage Grove as forward thinking and acting on environmental issues; 7. Advise the Mayor and City Council on proposed legislation and policies that impact Cottage Grove and its environment; 8. Advocate for the full enforcement of environmental laws; 9. Engage in public and community relations activities; 10. Recommend annual goals and an annual environmental action plan for the City of Cottage Grove. WORK PLAN STRATEGIES: A. The Commission identified three key areas of focus: 1. Permits and Regulations Cottage Grove Environmental Commission Work Plan 2012 -15 Page 2 of 5 2. Policy 3. Education B. The Environmental Commission strategies include: 1. Review all appropriate permits and regulations that effect environmental equity, environmental safety, and environmental health for a recommendation to the City Council. 2. Review policies, plans and programs and provide advice to the City Council. 3. Recommend and implement educational activities to further the responsibilities of the Commission. PERMITS AND REGULATIONS: The goal is to understand all of the Cottage Grove "environmental' regulations affecting entities in Cottage Grove and all permits granted to entities in Cottage Grove that impact environmental quality in Cottage Grove and the broader community. Priority Ranked Tasks: 1. Create, maintain, and monitor a list of permits that have environmental impact on Cottage Grove and beyond the city borders. 2. Review applicable permits and review preventative measures. 3. Create list/map of dump sites (hazardous storage) or areas of environmental concern. 4. Monitor PFC developments in the region. POLICY: The goal is to draft, recommend, and help implement environmental and sustainably focused policies and practices within the City. The Commission recognizes the importance of policies and practices to promote good environmental stewardship in the community. The Commission also recognizes that sustainability is a local, regional, national, and global responsibility. Priority Ranked Tasks: 1. Consider creating an environmental ordinance section for simplification. 2. GreenStep Cities — Pursue next step and review work plan. 3. Improved ordinance for shoreline, natural resource management and education. (What/ where to plant native plants, mowing policies, fertilizing near ponds, etc.). 4. Review /monitor implementation wellhead protection plan. Cottage Grove Environmental Commission Work Plan 2012 -15 Page 3 of 5 5. Review previously approved water conservation ordinance (lawn sprinkling restrictions and rain sensors for irrigation systems). EDUCATION: The goal is to create awareness of environmental issues with the belief that understanding their solutions is vital in the protection and preservations of the environment. Community education plays a key role in fulfilling this goal and vision. Providing informative literature, planning events and creating educational opportunities for individuals, organizations, school groups and businesses will provide the tools necessary to achieve success in the environmental 3Rs — Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Priority Ranked Tasks: 1. Establish recycling in the parks. 2. Promote food recycling in the schools. 3. Create quarterly newsletters and publications. 4. Create display board /booth to promote environmental issues at community events. 5. Environmental business awards /recognition. 6. Increase information on Cottage Grove website and make information on the web easier to find and access. 7. Promote the use of environmentally friendly products for the city and its residents. 8. Promote "green or sustainable" practices in commercial, residential, and the business community. 9. Learn from and work collaboratively with surrounding communities and Washington County. 10. Promotion of alternative modes of transportation opportunities in the community (bicycling, walking, rollerblading, etc.). SHORT TERM WORK PLAN SCHEDULE: A. GREENSTEP CITIES — STEP 3 ACHIEVEMENT GOAL 1. Review and explore options for developing an environmental preferable purchasing policy directing that the city purchase at least EnergyStar certified appliances and paper containing at least 30 percent post- consumer recycled content. 2. Review ideas and options to create a complete streets policy. Cottage Grove Environmental Commission Work Plan 2012 -15 Page 4 of 5 3. Review and explore options in which progress within the GreenStep program can be reported to the community. 4. Review and explore options to organize goals and outcomes from city plans (comprehensive plan, trail plans, park plans) and report to community members the progress of meeting these goals on an annual basis. B. EDUCATION 1. Explore ideas for the creation of a local rain garden guide for community use. 2. Review ideas to create a sustainable action section on the website. 3. Explore options to prioritize stormwater topics when providing community education and outreach as required for MS4 permit holders by the new General Stormwater Permit. C. POLICY 1. Review options to create an environmental ordinance section for simplification. D. PERMITS AND REGULATION 1. Review which businesses have acquired an Industrial Stormwater Permit from the MPCA, and work to ensure all required businesses obtain a permit. 2. Monitor changes to the City of Cottage Grove SWPPP and MS4 program to stay in compliance with new changes to the NPDES General Stormwater Permit as issued by the MPCA. LONG TERM WORK PLAN GOALS: A. PERMITS AND REGULATIONS 1. Create, maintain and monitor a list of permits that have environmental impact on Cottage Grove and beyond the city borders. a. This activity will be an ongoing activity as permits and environmental related items are occurring in the community. 2. Review applicable permits and review preventative measures. a. This activity will be on an ongoing activity as permits and environmental related items are occurring in the community. 3. Monitor PFC developments in the region. B. POLICY 1. GreenStep Cities — Pursue next step and review work plan. a. The GreenStep Cities will continue to evolve and change with new developments and technology and the City's work plan will need to change to adapt to the Cottage Grove Environmental Commission Work Plan 2012 -15 Page 5 of 5 changing conditions. The creation of a specific work plan will take time to develop and fully implement. 2. Review /monitor implementation wellhead protection plan. a. This will be an ongoing activity. b. Starting in 2014/2015 work will be underway to make the required updates to the City's Wellhead Protection. C. EDUCATION 1. Promote food recycling in the schools. a. This will be a long term project to study, develop and create and implementation plan. 2. Promote the use of environmentally friendly products for the city and its residents. a. This will be an ongoing activity that will be promoted in newsletters and display boards presented at community events. 3. Promote `green or sustainable' practices in commercial, residential, and the business community. a. This will be an ongoing activity that will be promoted in newsletters and display boards presented at community events. b. Forums for engagement and promotion will need to be sought for businesses. 4. To learn from and work collaboratively with surrounding communities and Washington County. a. This will be an ongoing activity. Specifically there will be one annual joint commission meeting with environmental commissions in Washington County. 5. Promotion of alternatives modes of transportation opportunities in the community (bicycling, walking, rollerblading, etc.) a. This will be a long -term visioning of transportation into future. b. Promotional opportunities will be sought of issues and can be promoted in newsletters and publications. PERFORMANCE MEASURES: The performance measures of each activity will be reviewed annually along with routine debriefs following events and activities. It is recognized due to the variation of activities and tasks to be engaged in by the Commission that there is not one specific mechanism for evaluation. Evaluation tools and performance measurements will continue to be sought throughout the Work Plan to find better ways to serve the community on environmental related topics.