Seattle, WA Endorsing the Work of Open Space Seattle 2100
Type: Resolution
Status: Adopted on 11/20/06
Vote: Unanimous
Source File: here
Text:
Resolution Number: 30934
A RESOLUTION endorsing the work of Open Space Seattle 2100 in developing concepts to integrate green infrastructure and urban sustainability efforts, requesting the Office of Sustainability and Environment to provide a framework for incorporating Open Space Seattle 2100's goals into the City's integrated Environmental Action Agenda and to present the framework to the City Council's Environment, Emergency Management and Utilities Committee, and requesting that consultant resources be used to support analysis of green infrastructure opportunities.
WHEREAS, the Seattle City Council has embraced the Goals and Principles of Open Space Seattle 2100 by proclamation in May 2006; and
WHEREAS, a significant aspect of the work of Open Space Seattle 2100 was identifying concepts for the creation of "green infrastructure"- natural and engineered systems such as ditches, drainage, parking strips, boulevards, creeks, wetlands, parks, open space, trees, green roofs, gardens, trails, shorelines, aquifers and watersheds-that could serve as parts of the City's drainage system or provide energy savings or other environmental benefits in the city, and that could be integrated into a citywide system; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes the overwhelming commitment, investment, and excitement generated by the 350 plus participants in the Open Space Seattle 2100 process; and
WHEREAS, the City appreciates their collective desire to create a new vision for using Seattle's public lands, parks, natural drainage systems, greenbelts, creeks, shorelines and other amenities as green infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes that citizens already provide input on the environmental future of Seattle through a number of existing advisory bodies, including the Urban Sustainability Advisory Panel, the Restore Our Waters Stakeholder Group, and the Green Ribbon Commissions; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes that City departments are poised to begin implementation of a number of strategic plans that meet the goals of Open Space Seattle 2100 through urban sustainability programs that cross over City departments; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes the need for efforts to change the way that City does business in order to better realize and sustain our long-term sustainability objectives; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes that implementation of the City's strategic plans will be stronger if treated under one comprehensive framework rather than as separate efforts competing for resources; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes the need to coordinate the planning efforts, services, and functions of City departments, including but not limited to the Departments of Parks and Recreation, Transportation, Neighborhoods, Planning and Development, Seattle Public Utilities, Fleets and Facilities, and Seattle Center, and the Office of Sustainability and Environment to efficiently and effectively promote green infrastructure and urban sustainability; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE MAYOR CONCURRING, THAT:
Section 1. The City of Seattle applauds the work of Open Space Seattle 2100, and its 350 plus participants, in drawing attention to the need for an integrated approach to green infrastructure and urban sustainability, and the City encourages continued citizen input on a sustainable future for Seattle.
Section 2. The Office of Sustainability and Environment is requested to develop a framework to incorporate the goals and green infrastructure concepts of Open Space Seattle 2100 into the planning and implementation of the City's environmental efforts. The Office of Sustainability and Environment is also requested to design a citizens' advisory process for engaging residents and businesses in discussions of ways to better integrate City environmental efforts and to better coordinate these efforts across City departments in order to identify environmental priorities and create a more sustainable future for Seattle.
Section 3. The Office of Sustainability and Environment is requested to present to the City Council's Environment, Emergency Management, and Utilities Committee the framework for coordinating environmental activities described in Section 2 and developing the citizens' advisory process on better coordinating City environmental efforts and identifying environmental priorities, also described in Section 2, by May 1, 2007.
Section 4. The Department of Planning and Development is requested to use the City funds included in the 2007 Adopted Budget for analyzing sustainable infrastructure to advance the goals and concepts of Open Space Seattle 2100 as well as the City's other sustainable development goals. Work activities may include: (1) using life cycle analysis to compare the benefits/costs of natural drainage systems versus traditional drainage infrastructure, (2) conducting a feasibility study of implementing government-wide green infrastructure policies to guide asset management programs and capital improvement projects, (3) identifying ways to maximize system-wide efficiencies for green infrastructure, (4) conducting community assessment of pathways and road blocks to integrating green infrastructure, and (5) identifying best practices in other communities.