City Sustainability

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City Sustainability

• Oregon Natural Step Network Breakfast
• December 6, 2006

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Lake Oswego

• Population - 36,073
• Largest city in Clackamas County, 6th largest in
  metro area, 13th largest in the state

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Lake Oswego

• Full-service municipality with 342 employees
  (FTEs)
• Council/Manager government

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Leadership

• City Council
• Goals related to sustainability since 2002
  primarily project focused
• Signatory to Mayors Climate Protection Agreement
• Funded sustainability staff position
• City Management
• City Manager key
• Community Dev. Director carries vision

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Leadership

• Understands local government plays a vital role
  in fostering sustainability
• Committed to adopting, implementing, and
  maintaining sustainable practices

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Whats Happened

• Sustainability Plan for City Hall drafted in 2003

• Some recommendations carried forward, others not
• City Hall to serve as a model for sustainable
  practices
• Apply basic ideas to other City facilities /
  properties

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Current Projects / Programs

• Developed City sustainability web pages to share
  success stories and highlight existing
  information sources in one place

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Current Projects / Programs

• Solid waste reduction and recycling
• City developed Solid Waste Reduction Plan, though
  key staff retired
• Work with hauler to conduct waste audits at City
  facilities

• Respond to staff requests for assistance to
  increase participation

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Current Projects / Programs

• Commute Options
• City covers 100 of transit cost
• Working on creative solutions - beyond ECO
  compliance, e.g. incentives for other travel
  options car sharing / vanpool
• Participated in Bike Commute Challenge for
  first time

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Current Projects / Programs

• Conservation of ecosystems
• Clean Streams surface water program
• Green streets demonstration projects
• Water Conservation and Management Plan
• City coordinated volunteer program to remove
  invasive species from natural areas and parks

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Current Projects / Programs

• Elimination of toxins
• Interior building maintenance practices reduce
  the use of toxic substances
• Commute options program reduces GHG emissions
• Vehicle and equipment maintenance practices
  eliminate discharge of hazardous or toxic
  materials 
• Parks maintenance practices lessen the need for
  pesticides, fertilizers herbicides
• Streets and roadways maintenance practices keep
  pollutants from entering waterways

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Current Projects / Programs

• Energy efficiency
• Water Treatment Plant purchases renewable energy
  and has increased efficiency
• Replaced incandescent bulbs in traffic signals
  with light emitting diode (LED) bulbs
• Upgraded heating and air conditioning controls at
  City Hall
• Hybrid vehicles purchased for City fleet

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Current Projects / Programs

• Waste Prevention and Reduction
• Deconstructed two homes on properties purchased
  by the City for open space/parks
• Computers, office equipment, and furniture
  reused, auctioned, donated
• Recycled content supplies purchased

• Composting and recycling are made easy at the
  Farmers Market

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Current Goals

• 2006-2007 Council Goals
• Pursue LEED certification in plans for Community
  Center ? In progress

• Develop Surface Water Master Plan ? In progress
• Consider phosphorus free fertilizer ordinance ?
  In progress

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Current Goals

• 2006-2007 Council Goals
• Develop food waste composting program at Adult
  Community Center ? In progress
• Address ordinance on lighting standards dark
  sky ? In progress

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Current Goals

• 2006-2007 Council Goals

• Explore car sharing ? In progress
• Convert 20 of City fleet to biodiesel ?
  Switched to B5, evaluating move to B20
• Consider deconstruction/construction recycling
  ordinances

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Current Efforts

• Community partnerships
• Allied Waste of LO
• Clackamas County - Recycling Partnership,
  Coordinating Comm.
• Metro
• Oregon Energy Trust
• Networking and educational opportunities
• ONS Network
• UO Sustainability Leadership Program
• Cascadia GBC
• NW Earth Institute
• Informal networking public agency staff

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Current Efforts

• ONS coaching program
• Project development
• Assistance developing program for City
  Sustainability Steering Committee
• Support strategy, technical, moral
• Networking

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Current Efforts

• The Steering Committee will consider
• What do we know about sustainability and why does
  it matter?
• What does our organization look like today?
• What does our organization look like in a
  sustainable society?
• How will we manage and prioritize steps to
  sustainability?

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Current Efforts

• Steering Committee charged with
• Creating an organized program to improve the
  sustainability of City government
• Evaluating the current level of City
  sustainability policies, programs, and practices
  
• Developing recommendations to improve those
  policies, goals, programs, and practices and
• Establishing short-term and long-term procedures
  to keep the City moving toward meeting its
  sustainability goals.

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Next Steps

• Continue to work on projects, as identified,
  prioritized, and funded
• Recently submitted grant application in
  conjunction with Flexcar for a car sharing pilot
  project in downtown Lake Oswego

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Next Steps

• Begin addressing global warming in a systematic
  manner as a City and community within the region
• Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, ICLEI Local
  Governments for Sustainability - Cities for
  Climate Protection Campaign
• Work with City Council and citizen advisory board
  to engage community stakeholders to promote and
  move towards a sustainable Lake Oswego

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Contact

• Susan Millhauser, City of Lake Oswego
• smillhauser_at_ci.oswego.or.us
• 503-635-0291
• Web page http//www.ci.oswego.or.us/
• Go to More Quick Links on right side of
  homepage and scroll down to Sustainability