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g2Green Task Force Green Master Plan For the City of South Miami Draft: 17 March 2010 South Miami Green Task Force Recommendations to the City Commission Following the adoption of the South Miami Carbon - Neutral Resolution No. 23 -09- 12833 and Work Plan, passed on February 7, 2009, the Green Task Force submits these recommendations for a course of action by the City. These recommendations build on several general principles: - -Drive less (walk, bike, carpool, take transit more) - -Be efficient (conserve water, energy) -- Reuse, compost, and recycle - -Plant more (enhance our landscape and open spaces) -- Promote our Hometown identity (implement Smart Growth principles) - -Eat locally, grow food locally - -Buy locally (support our local merchants and businesses) -- Teach, learn, connect: Create liaisons between government, neighborhoods, businesses, schools, and non - profit organizations to promote green living The Work Plan passed in 2009 specified the six initiatives, which give a structure to the current recommendations. Additional specific recommendations are attached as addenda. Part 1 The Carbon - Neutral Plan Recommendations 1. Green Cities Initiative: South Miami should become "Green Platinum City" certified by the Florida Green Buildings Coalition (See Addendum A: Specific Recommendations for City Buildings and Operations) Why: Gaining FGBC certification is a codified process that can lead a city to make specific changes to buildings, operations and outreach that have an established outcome toward sustainability. This process includes many detailed modifications that advance the goals of the initiative in a proven series of steps with verifiable results. 1 ' A Strategy: Meeting certification standards requires a LEED Certified consultant to make specific recommendations to a team of city staff that includes the City Manager and a point - person from each department. Each recommendation should specify the costs, benefits and pay -back period. The team will set priorities and create a schedule and create a budgeting, funding and suggested return on investment (ROI) framework for higher cost environmental programs. City Manager will make funds available. To continue implementation of recommendations, create a sustainability officer position, track savings on investments, and reinvest strategically. Pursue grant opportunities. Immediate Action Plan: • Issue a Request for Qualifications for a consultant to the city who can assess city buildings and operations and establish a plan with specific recommendations and a schedule for the city to become a "Platinum Green City" certified by the Florida Green Buildings Coalition (FGBC). From qualified firms, city will request proposals for services that may include payment based on performance. • Establish an internal team Initiatives with Neighboring Jurisdictions and Non - profit organizations Join the "Green Corridor" initiative. Join with other jurisdictions to advocate for decentralized renewable energy infrastructure. Establish a roundabout shuttle bus in coordination with neighboring towns. Initiate a "Safe Routes to School" program in coordination with school district. Develop and implement a plan to promote green economic development. Develop incentives for green redevelopment. Develop incentives for location of green businesses within the City. Support State and County programs to promote green issues such as energy efficiency and habitat preservation. Pursue grant opportunities to support green initiatives. Use ICLEA resources to find grant opportunities. Ordinances and enforcement: Green Building Ordinances: All new construction by city must be LEED silver or FGBC certified. All private new construction over a certain threshold, must be LEED certified or benchmarked to green standards (for example: cool roofs, Energy Star appliances). 2 r- Establish standards for landscape (for example: Florida Friendly Plant Materials that do not require irrigation) Mandate that businesses recycle. Leaf - blowing ordinance: Leaf- blowing equipment must meet environmental and noise standards. Revise special event permit application and special event policy to require the event organizer to indicate how the event will be more environmentally sensitive. Enforce State idling ordinance (large trucks may not idle more than 5 minutes). Enforce /ticket for speeding, aggressive driving. 2. South Miami Environmental Awareness Public Outreach Program: South Miami should lead the community in private efforts to become environmentally responsible. Why: The citizens of the city contribute most of the greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere. The city can establish a legal, physical, and financial framework in which citizens can effectively modify their habits and make investments to become more environmentally responsible. Strategy: City can educate citizens in why and how to. modify their activities toward sustainability. City can facilitate and create opportunities for citizens to invest in energy - conservation and clean energy production, such as rooftop solar panels. City can develop initiatives with neighboring jurisdictions and non - profit organizations to encourage citizen action. City can prohibit the most egregiously wasteful and polluting practices. Public Education Create public information campaign to make citizens aware of green programs, initiatives, ordinances concerning green issues, conservation strategies and opportunities for citizens. Promote recycling and composting. • Promote energy audits for businesses and public buildings and homes. • Provide information on programs offered by South Florida Water Management District, University of Florida IFAS Extension, and Miami - Dade County • Provide information on awards programs for green innovation. For example, University of Florida IFAS Extension "Florida Yard Recognition Program." Establish website on GTF activities, Include blog where citizens can make suggestions and comments. Publish monthly energy and water use by city buildings and operations. 3 Offer public workshops on topics such as: energy conservation, recycling, water conservation, gardening, urban planning, streetscape, and other environmental topics. Celebrate use of alternative energy & encourage visibility and beautiful application of solar, wind or other alternative energy systems, and design that creates wildlife habitat. City buildings and operations should set an example. Promoting Green Building Facilitate permitting for LEED and FGBC - certified construction, solar hot -water heaters, photo - voltaic panels, gray water systems, low -flow or composting toilets. Create a "green building basics" public information campaign in coordination with Building department. Create a green building awards program. 3. Tree Planting Initiative: South Miami should establish a substantial tree canopy on streets and public land and encourage private landowners to plant trees. (See Addendum B on native tree species for urban planting) Why: Trees provide many advantages at a low cost. They make shade, cool the air, absorb carbon dioxide, prevent soil erosion and make city more attractive. Trees make walking more pleasant and improve the quality of life. Strategies: City should create and implement a plan to maximize tree canopy throughout the city. City can promote tree planting on private property, particularly in parking lots and mandate tree planting in new construction. City, in conjunction with the County, can organize an annual tree give -away program for residents. City can celebrate Arbor Day more visibly. Revise the Code for Landscape Design • Recommend either fruit trees or native plants that feed wildlife (authentic sense of place, increase wildlife, reduce irrigation, reduce fertilizer or pesticide use, see attached suggested trees) • Require shade trees along streets and in parking lots. Require porous paving around tree roots. • Advocate replacing grass with native groundcovers, which don't require mowing and support wildlife • Advocate trees and vines to shade buildings, streets and parking lots to lower temperatures & support wildlife. • Require permeable paving and light colored parking and street surfaces • Encourage balance of trees, under story, shrubs and groundcover to provide shelter /refuge and food for all types and sizes of wildlife. Support Community Gardens and Farmers Market 19 a 1 i • Provide parks and community gardens within walking distance of all. • Provide spaces for volunteers to teach educational programs on gardening/ healthy eating to reduce reliance on foods shipped from other countries /states and increase health of residents • Provide venue for farmers market, which incentivizes locally grown and organically grown local foods. • Create program which provides discounts and allows food benefits for poor, elderly, veterans etc. to be used to purchase locally grown and organically grown local produce • Convert underutilized city/ public land (including parking lots) to edible community gardens or native plant & wildlife habitat • Encourage churches or community organizations to convert underutilized land (including parking lots) to edible community gardens to serve the community, or native plant & wildlife habitat • Encourage local restaurants, and markets to support locally grown and locally organically grown produce. • Revise city ordinances to allow hens (not roosters) for egg production • Consider allowing homeowners with lots of sufficient size to own goats or pygmy goats for milk production. Designate wildlife corridors/ egress paths for wildlife in urban/ suburban environment Pursue certifications which provide measurable goals such as the butterfly city certification (see http: / /www.firstbutterflycity.org /butterflies /requirements -for- butterfly- city - certification/ ) Partner with organizations and groups i.e. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Florida Native Plant Society, North American Butterfly Association, Tropical Audubon Society etc. which can provide expertise specific areas. Immediate Action Items: Establish a Citizens Advisory Group to promote community gardens and a farmer's market. Establish a Citizens Advisory Group to work with City arborist to create a planting plan for streets and city property as well as ordinances and incentives for planting on private property. 4. Land Development Code Revision: South Miami should revise Land Development Code and Comprehensive Plan using Smart Growth standards to promote environmental sustainability, create a walkable and bikeable city, and improve the quality of the public realm. (See Addendum 5 A: C: Recommendations for revisions to Land Development Code and Comprehensive Plan) Why: To reduce vehicle miles, a city with a walkable, high quality public realm encourages residents to live and work in proximity. Easily accessible public transportation also reduces vehicle miles. Smart Growth standards provide a framework for planning decisions that produce a high - quality urban environment. Ecological planning principles focus on creating a sustainable urban infrastructure. Strategies: A careful revision of the zoning code in the context of a revised Comprehensive plan for the city can establish a structure for development that enhances the quality of life for all residents and advances sustainability. Residents must be educated in the issues and engaged in the process of envisioning the future growth of the town. Hold "Smart Growth" Symposium to educate residents. Continue to inform and educate residents on the progress of planning efforts. Create a website devoted to the planning process. To initiate process, city planning staff should conduct a green audit of current land development code and comprehensive plan and develop a sustainable land use checklist. City should activate the Land Development Code Review Task Force as described in city ordinances and to charge the task force with recommending changes to the Zoning Code to promote principles of sustainability and Smart Growth. Working with planning staff, the task force might consider: • Re- evaluation of parking planning and design. Re- evaluation of parking requirements for mixed residential office and commercial districts. Reduce parking requirements (less paving), increase required green space • Revision of land development code to make porous pavement the standard. • Creation of a green business overlay zone. • Development of a multi -modal transportation district (MMTD). • Creation and promotion of a green neighborhoods program to incorporate principles into land development code and comprehensive plan. • Creation of a bike and pedestrian task force team. • Revision of Comprehensive Plan to promote green development that contributes to the quality of the public realm. Advance traffic calming measures in neighborhoods. Pursue additional cross -walk on US1 at SW 80th Street. 0 Create a bike transportation master plan and pursue opportunities for creating bikeways on major routes. Immediate Action Items: Hold public workshop on Smart Growth. Activate the Land Development Code Review Task Force as described in city ordinances and to charge the task force with recommending changes to the Zoning Code to promote principles of sustainability and Smart Growth. 5. LEED Green building ordinance: All new buildings and substantial renovations in the City should be LEED certified Immediate Action Item: Draft ordinance requiring new buildings and renovations above a certain threshold to be LEED certified. 6. Green Trust Fund: Revolving fund for capital investments This initiative is part of the FGBC and Green Corridor initiatives. 7 NFOMWAS Addendum A GTF Recommended priorities in improving city buildings and operations. The following items should be considered in a plan for making city buildings and operations more efficient and environmentally responsible. All are strategies that contribute to FGBC certification. Challenge departments to reduce energy and water use; set clear annual/ biannual goals. Establish a recognition program to reward successes. Establish standard green operating practices in all City offices. Use Florida Department of Environmental Protection's recommendations for reducing waste at the workplace. Promote fuel efficient driving by all City employees. Provide free monthly metro passes to city employees and charge everyone including city employees to park within city including at city hall. City buildings or landmarks should demonstrate the city's commitment to alternative energy (the clock tower could have been a solar power tower or covered with small scale wind turbines or flowering vines as well as a landmark). Consider gray water and storm water collection systems, water features without chemically treated water, creating wildlife habitat. City Manager and City Clerk offices Quick Wins / Low -Cost Green Recommendations 1. Implement Internet based electronic bulletin board for City board workshop meetings. This would be to hold the meetings through the Internet rather than assemble in one place to hold the meetings. 2. Go paperless for public information requests. 3. Implement power saving features in all City computers and printers. Longer Term / Strategic Recommendations 1. Track savings from increasing energy efficiency. 2. Establish a fund for strategic investments in buildings and operations Purchasing Quick Wins / Low -Cost Green Recommendations 1. Enact an energy efficient computer purchasing policy. Purchase 'Energy Star' office equipment. E DRAFT 2. Develop an environmental purchasing policy. Study items most frequently purchased and choose environmentally responsible products. 3. Employ green cleaning and maintenance products and techniques. 4. Purchase energy efficient light bulbs according to plan. 5. Explore greener options for cleaning uniforms (e.g. Washing or non -perc dry cleaning). 6. Use of cups and pitchers rather than bottled water at city offices and city events. 7. Require that any goods purchased by the city minimize materials used for packaging or shipping Police Department Quick Wins / Low -Cost Green Recommendations 1. Use alternative fuel vehicles and bicycles. 2. Implement shared vehicle patrols. 3. Minimize trips for minor incidents. 4. Reduce non -duty related vehicle use. 5. Quantify overall fuel consumption and establish reduction targets. 6. Remove unneeded weight on vehicles for fuel economy. 7. Encourage routine fleet maintenance. Longer Term / Strategic Recommendations 1. Purchase more fuel- efficient vehicles / Alternate fuel vehicles 2. Implement electronic citation system. 1 Use reclaimed rainwater to wash police vehicles. 4. Implement GPS routing software. 5. Phase out perchlorate flares. Building Department Quick Wins / Low -Cost Green Recommendations 1. Adopt paperless `on -line" building permit applications. Parks Department Parks and Recreation Department Quick Wins / Low -Cost Green Recommendations 1. Adopt green management policy for park facilities /city owned property. 2. Public land and buildings must set the example of responsible landscape design and maintenance. Replace exotic plants with appropriate native species and award landscape design contracts based on design competitions or real /long term cost analysis rather than lowest bid. 3. Maintain or support organic community gardens. 4. Mulch and / or compost a range of materials collected from City parks; communicate availability of this material. 5. Place signs describing green features of public parks and amenities. Longer Term,/ Strategic Recommendations Create a pesticide hazard and exposure reduction (PHAER) zone program. 2. Implement water- efficient landscape protocols. 3. Minimize chlorine in community swimming pool. 4. Implement energy efficient lighting and controls for outdoor courts, parks and playfields. Public Works Department Quick Wins / Low -Cost Green Recommendations 1. Adopt a series of "quick win" energy efficient measures for City buildings. a. Change all light bulbs to compact fluorescent units. b. Change all EXIT lights to LED. G. Change all fluorescent ceiling fixtures to T -8 electronic ballasts. d. Power all components from a switched plug strip (or UPS) and turn it off at night. e. Install motion switches to turn off lights when a room is not occupied. f. Install programmable thermostats in all locations. g. Set electric water heaters down to 120 degrees. Install a timer to turn it off at night. Or install tank less water heaters. h. Install solar hot water heaters where water heaters are utilized. i. Add solar powered attic exhaust fan(s) to reduce attic air temperatures. j. Check attic insulation to ensure at least 12 inch thickness of insulation. k. Install small scale photovoltaic system at City Hall. I. Replacement appliances should all be the highest rated energy star items. 2. Reduce trash pickups to once per week, or consider charging by weight/volume of trash produced. Increase recycling pickups. 3. Start a city composting program. Provide free mulch and soil from city composting and city landscaping/ tree trimming 4. Paint the interior of parking garages white as part of routine maintenance to maximized lighting efficiency. 5. Install high efficiency lighting for street lights. 6. Establish environmentally sensitive landscaping practices. 7. Adopt a series of "quick win" water efficiency measures for the City buildings. 8. Install recycle bins near trash receptacles in downtown area. 9. Add seating and bike racks in the downtown area and at bus stops. 10. Reduce street lighting and /or install reflectors so light is directed to specific areas. Dark sky. Longer Term / Strategic Recommendations 1. Perform an energy audit on all City facilities. 10 DRAFT 2. Convert roundabout shuttle to alternative fuel and utilize an open air rubber wheel trolley. 3. Install storm water treatment devices at all runoff ouffall discharges and promote storm water infiltration. City Supported./ Other Civic Entities Recommendations Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Quick Wins / Low -Cost Green Recommendations 1. Appoint a CRA representative to the Green Task Force advisory board. 2. Adopt the City's standard green office practices. 3. Provide a green / energy efficiency grant and revolving loan fund. 4. Pursue green building certification for significant buildings in the CRA Longer Term,/ Strategic Recommendations 1. Pursue green building certification for all CRA projects. 2. Implement long -term sustainable redevelopment planning. Addendum B List of Native trees appropriate for urban planting Large Trees Cabbage palm, Sabal palmetto Gumbo - limbo, Bursera simaruba Short-leaf fig, Wild banyan tree, Ficus citrifolia South Florida slash pine, Pinus elliottii var. densa Strangler fig, Golden fig, Ficus aurea Virginia live oak, Quercus virginiana Wild mastic, False mastic, Sideroxylon foetidissimum Medium Sized Trees Black ironwood, Krugiodendron ferreum Coastal Plain willow, Salix caroliniana Dahoon holly, Dahoon, Ilex cassine Gumbo - limbo, Bursera simaruba Inkwood, Butterbough, Exothea paniculata Krug's holly, Tawnyberry holly, Ilex krugiana Lancewood, Ocotea coriacea Persimmon, Common persimmon, Diospyros virginiana Pigeonplum, Tietongue, Coccoloba diversifolia Pond - apple, Annona glabra Red mulberry, Morus rubra 11 Satinleaf, Chrysophyllum oliviforme Sugarberry, Southern Hackberry, Celtis laevigata Twinberry, Simpson's stopper, Myrcianthes fragrans West Indian cherry, Prunus myrtifolia Willow - bustic, White bully, Sideroxylon salicifolium Small Trees Blolly, Beeftree, Guapira discolor Coco -plum, Chrysobalanus icaco Coralbean, Cherokee bean, Erythrina herbacea Elderberry, American elder, Sambucus canadensis Everglades velvetseed, Hammock velvetseed, Guettarda elliptica Firebush, Hamelia patens Florida fiddlewood, Citharexylum spinosum Florida privet, Florida swampprivet, Forestiera segregata Florida silver palm, Coccothrinax argentata Locustberry, Byrsonima lucida Marlberry, Ardisia escallonioides Smooth strongback, Bahama strongbark, Bourreria succulenta Spicewood, Pale lidflower, Calyptranthes pallens Twinberry, Simpson's stopper, Myrcianthes fragrans Wax myrtle, Southern Bayberry, Myrica cerifera White stopper, Eugenia axillaris Wild -lime, Lime prickly -ash, Zanthoxylum fagara ZACarbon Neutral Work Plan 2009 \FGBC Green Cities \Green Task Force Green Master Plan 3- 2 -2010 draft. doc 12 i � Addendum C Recommended Land Development Code and Comprehensive Plan Amendments Planning and Zoning Land Development Code Amendments 1. Density and height bonuses for green buildings. 2. Accessory live / work spaces by right in all residential and mixed use districts. 3. Provision for the "transfer of development rights" in the Land Development Code. Select areas where increased or decreased density is desired. Designate "receiver sites" to receive open space and send density with a transfer of development rights. Receiver sites will be sites that the City would like to preserve for the purposes of open space in order to provide linkages and create greenways that will increase connectivity and mobility for pedestrians and bicyclists. 4. Allow cluster single family homes through special exception approval. Homes will be built on small lots with narrow front setbacks, large backyards and dense landscaping. 5. Minimum percentage of buildings in the downtown mixed use areas to have active uses such as retail and restaurants on the first floor. 6. All new public facilities to have clearly defined and dedicated public spaces. 7. Require public sidewalks and walkways to be shaded. 8. Require all new streetscape improvements in mixed use areas to have increased pedestrian comfort and interest. 9. Tree preservation code. 10. Remove Palms from the list of acceptable street trees. Palms in the right - of -way would be considered ornamental. 11. Ensure proper root structure development. Coordinate street trees and utilities and use root barriers as needed to remove potential conflicts. 12. Require tree coverage to shade a minimum of 50% of parking spaces at maturity. 13. Minimum tree caliper to be 3" at time of planting. 14. Vegetated surfaces on rooftops and in rain gardens. 15. Permeable materials for low use areas. 16. Narrow width for local streets. Coordinate with emergency services for width requirements. 17. 9' x 18' parking spaces. 13 ' A. 18. Parking cap for mixed use projects. 19. Require a percentage of homes in new subdivisions to be oriented to minimize solar exposure. 20. Natural ventilation. Encourage windows to be placed on opposite sides of homes to optimize natural ventilation. 21. Require shading for south and west facing buildings. 22. Encourage new developments to include breezeways and courtyards to increase natural ventilation. 23. Encourage natural lighting whenever possible. 24. Require "cool roofs" for all rooftops which are not planned for a green roof or solar panels. 25. Actively encourage green roofs and solar panels. 26. Require all developments over 50,000 square feet to provide a minimum percentage of solar power. 27. Minimum percentage of solar power in new subdivisions. 28. Count green roofs as open space. 29. Create a "Sustainable Points" system and grant a height or density bonus for any development that clearly incorporates specified sustainable design techniques such as passive and active solar energy, low water landscaping and fixtures, green roofs, bioswales and rain barrels. This will reward sustainable buildings and sites that are not seeking full green certification. 30. Green building certification for Creative Excellence. 31. Add solar energy systems as permitted accessory uses in all zoning districts. 32. Allow small wind turbines in all commercial, industrial and multifamily areas, subject to noise specifications. 33. Allow modest encroachments into building setback areas to facilitate placement of solar facilities. 34. Large developments must have a minimum percentage of solar power. 35. Bike racks in downtown mixed use developments. 36. Allow rain barrels to encroach into side and rear setbacks. 37. Allow water storage tanks as a permitted accessory use in all districts. 38. Farmer's markets. Allow farmer's markets in commercial zoning districts. 39. Vegetable gardens. 40. Raising up to six hens as a special exception accessory use. 41. Urban gardens. Allow urban gardens in all zoning districts. 42. Allow vegetated surfaces on rooftops and in rain gardens to be applied towards a percentage of the open space requirement. Amend the Goals Objectives and Policies (GON) of the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Element 1. GOPs for energy efficient land use patterns accounting for existing and future electric power. 2. Consideration — lower the height, density and FAR requirements in the comprehensive plan in order to encourage intensity bonuses that are linked to green building. 14 3. Objective and policies to grant density and height bonuses for green buildings. 4. Policy to consider the connectivity of street networks in all site plan, platting and right -of -way vacation applications. 5. Policy to plan public open spaces to be linked to greenways / bikeways. 6. Policy to designate "receiver sites" in areas the City would like to preserve for the purposes of open space to provide linkages and greenways / bikeways. 7. GOPs to support the growing, processing and distribution of food and animal husbandry. 8. Objective and policies to create an "Adopt -a- garden" program that will allow residents to develop gardens on vacant land and in public parks. 9.. GOPs to establish a farmer's market. 10. GOPs for energy efficient land use patterns accounting for existing and future electric power generation and transmission systems. 11. Identify energy conservation in the Future Land Use Map series. Transportation Element 1. GOPs, City to actively decrease the vehicle miles traveled in the City. 2. GOPs to address transportation related greenhouse gas emissions and incorporate greenhouse gas reduction strategies in the Land Use Element. 3. Policy to establish a hierarchy of sidewalks with specific streetscape / street furniture standards. 4. Establish a goal stating that the City is to consider the connectivity of street networks in all site plans, platting and right -of -way vacation applications. New streets should be constructed in a traditional grid pattern. Housing Element 1. GOPs to incorporate energy efficiency and renewable energy sources in the design and construction of new housing. 2. GOPs to address factors affecting energy conservation. 3. Policy to require green roofs or solar panels for all new developments. 4. Policy to acquire LEED Silver or FGBC certification for City owned civic and office buildings (LEED Silver certification for buildings over 30,000 square feet). 5. Objective and policies to ensure public transit service within '/ mile of all major developments. 6. Policy to examine the feasibility of using reclaimed water for irrigation. 7. Objective and policies to convert a City park into a sustainable site demonstration project. 8. Consideration — Policy to require green building certification for private buildings over 50,000 square feet. LEED Silver certification is recommended for buildings over 30,000 square feet. Conservation Element 1. Create GOPs to address factors affecting energy conservation. Establish a hierarchy of sidewalks and set standards for arterial, collector and local roadways. In mixed use areas require large sidewalks with adequate room for street furniture such as benches, planters, trees, lighting, trash receptacles and awnings. 15