What do you think of the Council philosophy statement for "Sustainability" in SLC?

 

 

UPDATE: Passed at Oct 23 Council meeting. New version of statement below 

 

 

           

        STATEMENTS TO GUIDE SALT LAKE'S FUTURE

    

 

 The Salt Lake City Council has established seven priority areas to be the legislative focus for the City – with the goal that these areas will guide City budget, land use, economic development and overall policy.  Following the Council Member’s most recent retreat, they drafted “Philosophy Statements” for each of these areas, for review and refinement in order to more permanently establish the Council’s vision and values as they relate to each of these areas.

The seven priority areas identified so far are:

• Economic Health of the City          Passed Feb. 21
• Arts & Culture                             Passed April 3
• Neighborhood Quality of Life        Passed May 22
• Transportation & Mobility            Passed Aug. 14
• Parks & Open Space
• Sustainability                            Public hearing held  
• Education                                 Added By Council on Mar. 6

           

            Public Process

            In the months ahead, the Council will go through each of these statements in a work session format, and will then solicit public comment.  After a public comment period and public hearing, the Council will consider adopting these statements by resolution, so that they can be formally included in City policy. Once they are all adopted they may become a comprehensive policy document to help guide the City in its future growth.

 

 

 

 

DRAFT PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT   #5

PRIORITY: Sustainability

 

New version as of 10/2 briefing

 

 

VISION

The Council embraces a view of sustainability that measurably changes habits and
patterns to use only what is minimally needed for our generation so 
resources are readily available and, where possible, replenished for future
generations. As a City we can affect the amount of natural resources our
residents and visitors use, and provide programs or systems that make it
possible for visitors and residents to reduce their ecological footprint.

 

Values

1.  The Council supports establishing greater efficiency in transportation and energy use,
expanded choice accessibility of housing options, and reduction of waste.

2.  The Council supports setting specific, measurable goals to reduce the ecological footprint of the City in areas such as transportation, food, housing and energy. 

3.  The Council supports initiatives that expand a local food economy, create new sources of
affordable energy such as wind and solar, and reduce environmental impacts
from pollution.

4.  The Council supports policies that move Salt Lake City and the region ahead in the preservation of natural resources, as well as efforts that improve alternatives to
wasteful habits that deplete resources from future generations.

5. The Council values efforts that efficiently utilize natural resources, focus on social and human capital,and support biologically-inspired systems to develop solutions.

6. The Council values planning for future growth using tools such as land use planning, zoning, acquisition of land, setting growth targets, expanding housing choices and transferring development opportunities within the City that enhance and measurably increase the use of sustainable practices.

7. The Council supports efforts to improve the City’s infrastructure and educate the public about modifying residential and non-residential structures, in preparation for potential
future natural disasters.

 

LEGISLATIVE GOALS & COUNCIL PROJECTS

1. Goal:
Expand recycling service and usage throughout the City

a)
Project: Work with the Administration to review the status of expanding recycling
service as a required program for businesses and multi-family housing. Start
recycling programs as voluntary, and consider phasing in requirements.

b)
Project: Identify the barriers for certain groups such as schools

c)
Project: List ordinance amendments that would be necessary to expand recycling.

d)
Project: Identify barriers to diverting other types of material from the landfill such
as glass and food waste.

 

2. Goal:
Holistically improve the City’s ecological footprint

a)
Project: Identify ways to educate residents and visitors about reducing ecological footprints.

b)
Project: Devise a standard way of evaluating budget and policy decisions in light of
ways to reduce resource consumption.

c)
Project: Audit the waste stream.

 

3. Goal:
Comprehensively measure the level of sustainability on a periodic basis, using metrics which include a variety of data sources, from water consumption to waste stream.

a)
Project: start the sustainability index by first publishing the City’s
internal metrics. Use web and social media to invite people to help monitor the process and
reach goals.

b)
Project: publish data on use of public food laws, production, community gardens.
Follow up with data on ordinances or legislative intents that correspond
to the issues.

c)
Project: educate those who govern and the public by inviting responses and
suggestions to sustainability issues before Council.

d)
Project: outline net zero building goals, listing public and private buildings
that attain the goal.

4. Goal:
Make renewable energy a priority.

a)
Project: Pursue a city-controlled energy strategy, concentrating on the possibility
of an extra public utility for energy.

5. Goal:
explore the unexplored links between sustainability elements: i.e. what connections are
there between food waste system and water treatment?

6. Goal: 
continue incorporating sustainability concepts into the City’s land use development
regulations (Zoning, Subdivision and Site Development) to encourage
sustainable living practices throughout the City.

7. Goal: 
support a Zero Waste Resolution with the goal of “zero waste” –including the goal of a
Net Zero City-diverse energy portfolio.

8. Goal:
support the use of development incentives such as density bonuses and inclusionary
zoning to improve environmental efficiencies in neighborhoods.

 

 

 

 

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Older version

 

See Council Member Luke Garrott's suggested changes for this statement here.

 

Vision

The Council embraces a view of sustainability that changes habits and patterns to use only what is minimally needed for our generation so that resources are readily available and, where possible, replenished for future generations. There are ways that as a City we can affect the amount of natural resources that our residents and visitors use, and to provide programs or systems that would make it possible for visitors and residents to reduce their ecological footprint.

 

Values

 

1. The Council values programs, education and services that promote a safe, healthy, beautiful and prosperous City and way of living for residents and visitors to reduce inefficient ways of life such as singular transportation, non-local food production, inadequate housing options, and excessive energy usage.

2.The Council supports programs that would encourage and make it easier for residents to reduce their use of natural resources through increasing recycling, utilizing alternative transportation, and reducing energy usage.

3. The Council values options that would move Salt Lake City and the region ahead in this reduction of natural resources use.

4. The Council supports a Zero Waste Resolution with the goal of "zero waste‟ –including the goal of a Net Zero City-diverse energy portfolio.

5. The Council aims to reduce the habits that cause of our generation borrowing and depleting resources from future generations.

6. The Council values the increased productivity of natural resources, focus on social and human capital and supports biologically-inspired systems.

7. The Council values safety, health, beauty and prosperity as attainable goals within a framework of sustainability.

8. The Council values reducing the ecological footprint in such areas as transportation, food, housing and energy.

9. The Council values growth using such tools such as master planning, zoning, acquisition of land, and transferring development to better opportunities within the City.

10. The Council supports City programs and regulations that help reduce the need for imported foods, create new sources of affordable energy and reduce environmental impacts from transportation and air pollution. 

11. The Council values increased education on sustainability efforts, such as recycling for homes, schools and businesses.

12. The Council supports the use of development incentives such as density bonuses and inclusionary zoning to improve environmental efficiencies in neighborhoods 

 

 

 What do you think?

The Council would like to hear your thoughts on the Council’s philosophy statement .

  1. Is this priority area important to you? 

  2. Are there pieces of this priority area that you think are important that are not reflected in this statement?

  3. Are there parts of this statement that you do not agree with?

The Council had a number of thoughts regarding this topic. Revisions to the statement per the Council’s conversation will be posted in days forthcoming. Please check back for additional detail.

 

We want to hear from you!

Your comments on the proposal are very important.  There are three ways that you can participate in the decision process:

Provide your comments in this “Open City Hall” discussion forum. 

Email or send a letter to the City Council

• Attend the public hearings.

   

  All comments provided in the “Open City Hall” discussion forum, as well as those sent directly to Council, will be sent to City leaders for their consideration.

  Contacts:

  Here are other ways to provide comments to the City Council:

  Email: council.comments@slcgov.com
  Write: Salt Lake City Council
  451 S. State Street, Room 304
  P.O. Box 145476
  Salt Lake City, UT 84114-5476

  Phone: (801) 535-7600
  Fax: (801) 535-7651
  24- Hr Comment Line: (801) 535-7654

  If you are unable to attend a City Council meeting, here are some other options:

  • Watch SLCTV live from a computer by visiting: www.slctv.com and click on “watch SLCTV live.”
  • View a rebroadcast of a City Council meeting on SLCTV cable channel 17 by visiting: www.slctv.com/schedule.htm to obtain an SLCTV schedule.
  • Visit: www.slctv.com/vid_demand.htm to listen to a previous Council meeting or download a podcast.
  • Contact the City Recorder’s Office at (801) 535-7671 and request a CD copy of a Council meeting or a particular agenda item.

  NOTE TO OPEN CITY HALL PARTICIPANTS:

  Comments written on all topics are both on display at this website and given periodically to all Council Members during the time the topic is open.  A copy of all the comments also are given to Council Members before a briefing or vote on the topic, and often are attached to the online public agenda with any staff report on the topic.