Local Environmental Initiatives & the Economy: Complete Chaos or Opportunity?

Unconventional Wisdom

Presentation Preview Political Leadership Directives Achieving Substantial Progress Toward these Directives Costs Avoided and Funding Sources Rockville-Specific Environmental Initiatives Qs / Discussion

Federal Direction 1.Create 5 Million New Green Jobs by 2019 – EPA - $7.2 Billion (Water, Sewer, Brownfields, & Remediation) – DOE - $32.7 Billion (Efficiency, Renewables, & Weatherization) – COE/DOI - $9 Billion (Navigation, Flood Control, Hydro, Wetlands, Water Systems, Abandoned Mines, Reuse, Stream Gauging, & Fed. Infrastructure, Roads and Bridges

Federal Direction Cont.) 2.Address Climate Change/Reduce Greenhouse Gases 3.Become Energy Independent –Undermines National Security –Strains Family Budgets –Cripples the Economy

Maryland Direction Create 100,000 Green Jobs by 2015 Restore the Chesapeake Bay Reduce Greenhouse Gases Reduce Energy Consumption by 15% by 2015, & Achieve 20% Renewable Energy by 2022 Build Using Smart, Sustainable, Transit- Oriented Concepts

Rockville Vision Our Mayor and Council Have Set Following Themes: –Rockville Shall Become a Green City –With a Quality-Built (Energy Efficient) Environment –And a Sustainable Economy

Essential Tools for Cultivating a Sustainable Economy

Essential Tools (Cont.) Enterprise Funds & Fees Impervious Surface Fees Traditional CIP Bonds Volunteer Professional Help Purchasing Goods & Services Ks Prioritizing, Monitoring and Measuring Performance

Rockville’s Environment & Sustainability Initiatives Dedicated Environmental Staff 9 Member Resident Environment Commission City-Wide Sustainability Strategy (2007 Strategic Planning Tool)

Rockville’s Program (Cont.) Strong Legal & Policy Foundation: –Comprehensive Zoning Update –Water Quality Protection Ordinance –Tree Protection Ordinance –Green Building Code –Stormwater Ordinance

Rockville’s Program (Cont.) Town Center - Smart Growth Makeover of the City’s Core Energy Efficiency Upgrades –Nearly $300k in Savings Last 2 Years [HVAC, Lighting, Office Equipment] Environmental Management System (EMS) for City Facilities

Rockville’s Program (Cont.) Single-Stream Residential Recycling & Mandatory Commercial & Multi-Family Wind-Generated Electrical Power Biofuel Used in all Diesel Vehicles Upgrade Air Pollution Devices on City Vehicles LED in all Traffic Signals and Street Light Pilot

Rockville’s Program (Cont.) Stormwater Program –Stream Buffer Zones: feet –Watershed Studies (3) –Stream Restoration Projects –Soil & Erosion Construction Permits –Adopt-A-Stream/Clean Up Events –Capital Program Sewer/Storm Drain Replacement

Rockville’s Program (Cont.) Stormwater (Continued) Volunteer Monitoring Inspection & Maintenance Rainbarrel Demonstrations Public Workshops & Rebates Aggressive FOG and Spill Program

Other Rockville Efforts Bike Master Plan & Large Bike Trail Network Backyard Habitat/Community Gardens Biennial Citizen Survey of Our Performance Substantial Website Investment Monthly Newspaper Articles & Cable TV Stories

Funding Sources Taxes (General Fund) Grants (Public/Private) Enterprise Fees: –Development Review/Permits –Stormwater Utility –Refuse (Recycling) Collection –Drinking Water –Sewer Service Volunteers

Contact Information Mark Charles, Chief Environmental Management 30 Courthouse Square Rockville, MD (240)

Questions & Discussion Qs???

What Does This Direction Mean? Investments & Improvements in: –Alternative Energy & Conservation Practices –Greenhouse Gas Reductions –Green Zoning and Buildings

What Does This Direction Mean? (Cont.) Smart Growth and Transit Recycling and Reuse Water Quality Protection –Watersheds (Stormwater) –Sources of Drinking Water

What Does This Direction Mean? (Cont.) Fixing Aging Infrastructure Substituting a Less Consumptive Way of Doing (Any) Business Looking at the Whole Cost of Goods and Services – Not Just the Purchase Price (Maintain & Dispose/Reuse Opportunities)

Can You Afford to Wait? High Electricity & Fuel Prices Failing Infrastructure Higher Cost for Purchased Goods Litter Collection & Refuse Tipping Fees Further Bay Deterioration & Rising Sea Levels Emerging Employment Opportunities Public Support & Consumer Preferences for Green Initiatives & Products

Tools for a Sustainable Economy (Cont.) Incentives ($$ & Approval Processes) City and County Code Updates Focused Information and Networking Public Outreach & Assistance