Meeting Minutes FEB 3rd, 2010

Meeting Minutes: FEB 3, 2010
Introductions: Mark , Aqua, Jeannette, Pam, Beverly, Haven, Aaron,
Kathleen, Leah, David, Lisa, Awie, Brent

RECAP OF SFPUC:
Went very well. 7 of us attended and spoke in support we had a
wonderful surge of support and the ordinance was voted to be passed
unanimously.

What worked: speakers, unspoken alliance and support from francesca
and commissioner morana, organized approach, meeting with sarah ahead
of time, alliance with Astrid, Green Finance

What we could improve: immediate follow up with constituents, more
strategy, more lobbying, speaking with other stakeholders ahead of
time

Other issues: approach, goals- air quality, water quality, education..
what angle to take with each agency?

Next Steps:
1. Follow up with BOAMA
2. Follow up with other constituents
3. Lobbying strategy
4. List of stake holders
5. Get dates of approval and 30 day waiting period
6. Talk to Sarah, Francesca and Astrid
7. Rally concerned citizens


NAME:
Voted 10-2 GREEN ROOF ALLIANCE
domain name is available
www.greenroofalliance.com



COMMUNICATIONS:
google groups
1. pages for differing interests: study group, education, policy etc
2. clear mission and direction for first contact
3. organize- jeannette and beverly

blog on hold? or wait until we have website?

website for initial contact? cost range between $300-$600. maybe some
one would donate?

www.greenroofalliance.com

Lisa suggests home page with mission statement and a blog page for
local projects, news etc…
http://www.growersaustin.com/home.html i think this is a good model
for GRA
http://www.growwest.org/

MISSION STATEMENT:
being circulated will get refined after comments from the google group


GREEN FINANCE SF: SFPUC
SF has approved this program for business and home owners take out
lower loans for green projects and green roofs are listed as an
acceptable use

It is primarily for energy and water conservation projects there is a
criteria for eligibility that is written in to the program. And there
are bonds that city has floated and their goal is community outreach
and education to use these funds.
the funding is provided by RENEWABLE FUNDING

Could we partner with an EVENT in the spring? a coming out party for
GRA?

Next Steps:
1. Get a copy of funding requirements and criteria.
2. Collaborate with RICH of SF and the Environment as well as SF DEPT
OF ENVIRONMENT
3. Find KEY PARTNERS


OTHER NOTES:
AIA show Feb 18th- May 10th VERTICAL GARDENS
possible programming piece for green roofs

CLEAN POWER CONFERENCE @ LOCALCLEANENERGY.ORG

NEXT MEETING MARCH 3, 2010 6 pm @ SPUR( location to be announced)

Meeting minutes 2010_01_04

Meeting Minutes: Jan 4th, 2010

Participants: Awie, Bev, Leah, Lisa, Alyssa, Kirsten,Jim,

Meeting Objective: Reach agreement on strategy for upcoming critical meetings, and outline of a policy document to be created by Wednesday, January 6, 2010. This document to be shared with SFPUC staff and Commissioner(s).

Summary of Discussion:

Schedule:

Jan 12 th: SFPUC MEETING

Jan 8th and Jan 11th: PREVIEW MEETING with Sarah

Weds: Drafted letter with language approved and sent by 5pm

Discussion of Pros and Cons of other cities:

Bev did a review of SFPUC storm water management ordinance and state water board documents and EPA documents. Bev wanted to make sure we are bringing new information information and information is updated. SF green building ordinance research request from Pam is posted on the blog. Research was on waste water fee incentives/approach. Leah did some research and found that residents don't have any connection or are not tied directly to their property for storm water fee structure. Leah also discussed metered ( use X flow rate) linking water to specific

Alyssa is form seattle and has worked on green roofs there and has looked at the SF sustainable financing (SFSF2) special tax district taxed higher of like minded property owners to retro fit their homes and businesses for storm water, green roofs, renewable energy, etc… it is funded by private entities such as (Renewable Funding LLC ) This will effect home owners and each property can be looked at for best use, best sustainability practice for the site. Pam also had contacted a cross over person between SFPUC, SF government and this could be helpful for policy collaboration.

Bev and Pam and Awie had worked on desalinating all the information, research, and current storm water policy . They looked at Chicago, Portland and Toronto. Lisa provided information via charlie miller on Philadelphia as well. Bev liked Toronto's green roof by laws as it had more aggressive policies.

What should our recommendations be to the Public Utilities Comission?

Ideas short and long term:

Look at Toronto’s guidelines for replaces impervious surfaces. They start at 2,000 sq m (Conversion: 2000 m² = 21527.820 ft²). Given the density of SF housing situation, should this be smaller?

Suggestion for a tiered system that progresses over time. For example: First two years, everything over 5,000 sq ft counts and this consistently reduces down to 0 over a course of 10 years. sample matrix

What about incentivizing green roofs through monetary awards? ($5 per square foot?) Look into adding on to the rain barrel program?

Public Utilities can also give grants for installation/education projects.

Driveway program. Impermeable driveway. Advantage loan or tax rebate. Curb appeal – very important.. Permeable paving. Sidewalk programs? City will cost for half the cost of repaving if you include trees. Draining and stormwater.

Stormwater fee? Implementation? Transparency?

At the PUC website – just finding the stormwater link is difficult – need type in wastewater/sewer

No direct link_

LEED silver gets you expedited permitting. What about a green roof project separately?

Comments:

Leah: liked teared system. She feels currently the system is not aggressive enough. Targets for different levels of disturbance

Bev: minimum for teared system: sample matrix, waterfront land use.port of SF, any waterfront property is not exempt, water front/ sensitive properties should meet higher bench mark( jim commented waterfront already regulated)

Jim:what about remodeling up or out? how do you get these additional sq/ footage, % of properties value? Storm water assessment floor area/ ratio

Lisa: reduce baseline to 1000 sq/ft. Increase incentives over time as Sq/ ft disturbance tolerance lessens.

Recommendations for strategy

prioritizing:

actions on the 12th:

1. Pg 5 line 16-18 definition of storm water control. Can we add language for mitigation strategies and describe green roofs more clearly.

2. Reduced sq/ footage ask for 1000 sq/ft first if not 2500 sq/ft or phased approach over time (5 -10 years).

Later actions:

1. education

2. driveway program

3. transparency: home by home impact on storm water issues

4.Storm water fee

7.green roof calculator

8. fast track permitting

Next Meetings:

Friday ( 1/8) Awie, Alyssa, Bev, Leah, Jim, Aaron( SF residents)

Monday(1/11): Awie, Alyssa, Lisa, Bev, Jim, Leah, Aaron( SF residents)

Tues(1/12) 1:30pm CITY HALL : Awie, Lisa, Bev, Jim, Aaron, Leah( we want as many as possible)

Action Items needing to be complete for the 12th:

1.weds 5pm letter complete

2.5000 sq/ft reduction research coordination

3. meter conversion: see above (Conversion: 2000 m² = 21527.820 ft²)

4. Pam contact crossover governmental position who may have influence in several arenas

5. edit and add language for pg.5 pts 16-18

6. Task group for the letter led by Alyssa

7. follow up incentive programs provided by SFPUC

Contact for meeting attendees:

Leah Fessenden, Use Your Roof! Project Intern

Kirsten Schwind, Program Director at Bay Localize/ exp with Berkeley Energy Commission

lisa lee benjamin
970.846.8228 cell
www.evodesign.biz
www.alpineinitiatives.org

Beverley Powell
408.406.3439 mobile
beverly.g.pow...@gmail.com

Awie Smit
Habitat Gardens
(415) 298-3536

Aaron Lehmer
Network Development Director, Bay Localize
"Building Stronger Communities through Regional Self-Reliance"
436 14th Street, Suite 1127
Oakland, CA 94612
www.habitatgarden.com/

Jim Davidge
davidgedes...@gmail.com
Mobile - 415.987.4649

Alyssa Martin

425.761.1330

Alyssa@afiercegreenfire.com

Existing San Francisco Green Building and Stormwater Fee Policies and Opportunities

Green Building Code

Our Green Building code requires a 20% reduction in potable water use as well as a 50% reduction in potable water for landscaping for certain types of construction. LEED Silver requirements are kicking in for high rise residential and commercial projects. Green roof systems that are designed to capture and reuse water would have a distinct advantage if they are cost competitive with other means of achieving these goals.

Potential incentives to incorporate green roofs could be Development Bonuses, Property Assessment Equalization, and Fee Reductions

Stormwater Fee/Discount

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission implemented a new water/wastewater fee structure in 2009, which phases in adjustments and increases through 2013. At the time, the consultants working with the Rate Fairness Board recommended stormwater fees as a strategy. Follow up research needs to address where that conversation went.
The new fee structure altered some of the pricing tiers and accounted for increased costs across the system. San Francisco is unusual in that it charges for wastewater based on the water meter input, multiplied by the flow factor. There is then an additional set of charges for commercial customers, based on the amount of solids or chemicals that are treated. This system promotes water conservation from the tap, as customers are essentially charged doubly for all water coming through their meter- first for the clean water transported to their tap and second for the amount of water which flows from taps and down drains to be treated. There is a logical emphasis on water saving taps and appliances as incentives to SF water customers.
Unfortunately, this system does nothing to address the issue of stormwater and the associated cost of treating water that falls on private property and public right of way. Without a specific fee that quantifies the cost of that service, there is little financial incentive for customers to treat their stormwater onsite, through green roofs or other LID strategies.
For an example of what that fee structure might look like, Portland, OR, has created a stormwater fee and discount structure by estimating the average impervious area on a lot dependent on the number of units. All customers must pay a stormwater fee based on that impervious area, with discounts of up to 35% for customers who treat stormwater onsite- the remaining 65% is to cover the costs of treating stormwater from public right of way.
An additional hurdle in California is Prop 218, which mandates that no municipal fees (such as a stormwater fee) can be levied without voter approval; essentially a massive outreach and education campaign would be necessary to gain the support of voters.

Conference Call on Stormwater (SW) Monday January 4 2 PM

Meeting Agenda, Green Roofs for San Francisco Alliance

WHAT: Stormwater Guidelines/Green Roof Policies Conference Call

WHEN: Monday, January 4, 2010 @ 2 pm

CALL-IN DETAILS: (218) 339-4300 / Code: 572913#

Meeting Objective: Reach agreement on strategy for upcoming critical meetings, and outline of a policy document to be created by Wednesday, January 6, 2010. This document to be shared with SFPUC staff and Commissioner(s).

Meeting Facilitator: Leah Fessenden
Meeting Notetaker: Volunteer Needed

Please see the full agenda and relevant documents on the Green Roofs for SF newsgroup Files section. Contact me at beverly.g.powell@gmail.com or Leah Fessenden at leah@baylocalize.org if any issues with docs or to RSVP. Thanks!

Thank You!

A huge thanks to all you who helped recently with research by posting here and elsewhere re stormwater issues (I apologize for not posting individual thank you replies but it has been a crazy time for me these last few days). I believe Aaron, Leah or I will be publishing a draft of info compiled in the next week, in preparation for a followup meeting. Thanks again! Bev

Philadelphia's Green Roofs Tax Credit

I heard on NPR tonight that Philadelphia is encouraging green infrastructure as a way of preventing CSOs. I couldn't find any specifics on how this is being incentivized, but I did find info on their green roofs tax credit:

The ordinance:

http://webapps.phila.gov/council/attachments/3533.pdf

How the ordinance works, from a developer's perspective:

http://montrosegreen.blogspot.com/2009/01/phillys-green-roof-tax-credit.html

Green Roof Incentives

Hello everyone,

Great job establishing this site. This is officially my first contribution to the blogosphere world in general, and I am genuinely excited.

I'm not sure if anyone has already mentioned this site, but Plant Connection actually has a general list of Green Roof Legislation, Policies, and Tax Incentives organized by location. You can visit the site at http://myplantconnection.com/green-roofs-legislation.php, but I have pasted the bulk of it in this post. It might be a helpful skeleton to adapt and build upon..

-Megan Keely

Boston, MA

Proposed legislation in the city council will provide a one-time tax incentive of $5 per sq/ft for up to $100,000 for commercial and residential green roofs.

Chicago, IL (535,000 sq/ft of green roof)

Grant Program offers up to up to 50% of cost or $100,000 for green roof development of green roofs covering 50% or more of a rooftop space.

Green Permit: a program that fast tracks green roof or LEED certifiable bulding project permits

Los Angeles, CA

All city of Los Angeles building projects 7500 sq/ft or larger are required to meet LEEd standards.

Minneapolis, MN

Stormwater Management any building that improves their stormwater management such as installing a green roof, receives a 50% credit against mandated stormwater usage fees paid to the city.

New York City, NY (500,000 sq/ft of green roofs)

New York State Law in larger cities (only NYC meets the size requirement) you can receive a one year tax credit of up to $100,000 (or $4.50 per sq/ft) for green roof instals that encompass at least 50% of available roof space. Law is effective from January 1,2009- March 15, 2013.

Pennsylvania

Proposed legislation in the city council may provide a personal income tax credit for residential and commercial green roofs in amount of 25% of costs or up to $100,000 per year for 6 years.

City of Philadelphia: offers a credit against the Business Privilege Tax of 25% of all costs incurred to construct a green roof up to $100,000. To qualify, green roof must cover 50% of the rooftop to qualify.

Portland, OR

FAR Bonus: the city of Portland offers a Floor Area Ratio bonus in its building code. Developers may build an extra 3 sq/ft per foot of green roof they construct without additional permits. They also offer a grant reimbursement of up to $5 per sq/ft for reducing stormwater infrastructure with a green roof.

San Francisco, CA

Expedited permits for all green building projects.

Green Building Ordinace of 2008 sets standards for CO2 emmissions and reducing stormwater runoff.

Seattle, WA

FAR Bonus: the city of Seattle also offers a Floor Area Ratio bonus in its building code. Developers may build an extra 3 sq/ft per foot of green roof they construct without additional permits.

Green Factor Program requires a certain amount of green space in certain building zones.

Toronto, Canada

Green Roof By-law: green roofs are required for all new development above 200 sq/m. Coverage requirement ranges from 20-60% of the available roof space and the law effects all new application made after January 31, 2010.

Vancouver, B.C., Canada

Port Coquitlam Green Roof By-law All new commercial and industrial buildings over 5000 square meters must have a green roof. The city has also just enacted a zoning development bylaw, which allows a developer to be exempt from development permit fees if a green roof is planned with no variances.

Richmond Proposed Green Roof By-law office and industrial developments that are 2,000 square meters or larger would need a minimum of 100 green points, which could be achieved through the development of a green roof, meeting a LEED Silver standard, or using the roof for parking and landscaping the grounds.

Washington, D.C.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation has $ 300,000 in funds to provide green roof grants. Individual grants may fund up to 20% of the total cost of a green roof installation.