10A Action 2009 0504 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Bay Friendly Landscaping Ordinance 2 May 4, 2009 BACKGROUND • Sustainable landscaping practices span a range of technologies and practices. To help cities promote green landscape methods, StopWaste.Org developed the Bay Friendly Landscape Guidelines that have been widely adopted within the Alameda County area as well as in other California jurisdictions. • To help its member agencies implement sustainable landscaping practices, the Alameda County Waste Management Authority (StopWaste.Org) developed a Model Ordinance that established requirements for a mandatory civic Bay Friendly Landscape program. Many Alameda County jurisdictions, including Oakland, unincorporated Alameda County, Berkeley, Piedmont, Pleasanton, Livermore, Hayward, Newark, Union City, Albany and Dublin have developed mandatory civic Bay Friendly Landcape programs. • With guidance from the City Council Facilities Committee, staff explored the feasibility of instituting the Model Ordinance here in San Leandro. In conjunction with key staff from the Public Works Department, the Engineering and Transportation Department and the Community Development Department, a consensus was reached on the content of the attached ordinance, which mandates the achievement of 9 required practices and a minimum score for certification (currently set at 60 points) for eligible City-owned projects valued at or over $100,000 and comprising an area of 2,500 square feet or more. "Traditional" public works projects such as roadways, pump stations, and other such heavy construction infrastructure are excluded; however, new road projects that include landscape medians and planter strips would be included. • Adoption of this ordinance will allow the City to be eligible to continue to receive lmport Mitigation funds from StopWaste.Org. These funds are a block grant that the City's Recycling Program receives yearly in the amount of approximately $90,000. The block grant is contingent upon passage of the Municipal Bay Friendly Landscape Ordinance by July 1, 2009. • Bay Friendly Landscaping activities in the City of San Leandro in the past three years have involved intensive staff training and public outreach. Three members of the Public Works Department have achieved professional certifications from StopWaste.Org in the Bay Friendly Landscaping program. In addition, several other staff members of Community Development and Public Works Departments have attended StopWaste.Org's Bay Friendly Landscaping training and information sessions. • The San Leandro Senior Community Center has received a Green Building and Bay-Friendly Landscaping grant from StopWaste.Org of $85,000 and is expected to be at least a "Silver" rated LEED building and achieve 75 points on the Bay-Friendly Landscape Scorecard. Also in San Leandro, Eden Housing is constructing a Affordable senior housing project that is also receiving a Green Building and Bay-Friendly Landscaping grant of $55,000 and is expected to achieve 88 points on the Bay-Friendly Landscape Scorecard.