Aaron's notes from 2009_12_14

Hi folks,

Thanks for an incredible meeting yesterday! As others have said, it's inspiring to have such an enthusiastic group come together for such a great purpose. :)

If you're receiving this e-mail, it is because you expressed interest in being part of the "SFPUC Stormwater Ordinance Advocacy" subgroup. We have until the first part of January to come up with recommendations for modifying the SFPUC's proposed stormwater management guidelines (see below for summary from Leah and link to the full document).

The following tasks need to be completed before our meeting with Sarah Minick (which I'm proposing should be held on Friday, Jan. 8 to give us sufficient time to prepare):

1. Research/compile/send around stormwater-related provisions that incentivize green roofs, focusing on successful policies in Chicago, Portland, and Toronto
   * LEAD: Beverly Powell (working with Megan and others)
   * RECOMMENDED DUE DATE: Friday, Dec. 18
   
   
2. Draft recommendations for modifying SFPUC's proposed stormwater guidelines and send around to the group for comment and friendly amendments
   * LEAD: Leah Fessenden (working with Haven, Awie, and others)
   * RECOMMENDED DUE DATE: Tuesday, Dec. 23
   
   
3. Set up early-January conference call to finalize and refine group recommendations (if you're interested in being on that call, please let me know if you prefer 1/4 or 1/5).
   * LEAD: Aaron Lehmer
   * RECOMMENDED DATE: Monday, Jan. 4 or Tuesday, Jan. 5 @ 2 pm
   

Okay, I know I'm missing something here. So if you recall other things that we talked about doing as part of this subgroup, please respond to this message accordingly. If you are interested in being involved in one or more of the above-mentioned tasks, please contact the "lead" person directly (as indicated). I'll keep folks updated as I hear back from Sarah Minick.

Thanks everyone!

- Aaron


Overview of SFPUC Stormwater Management Ordinance
View original document and SF Water's page here

Goal of ordinance: to meet minimum requirements to ensure compliance with Stormwater Discharge permit issued by the state. The permit only applies to the separate sewer areas (10% of SF's system including Bayview/Hunter's Point and Treasure Island, both slated for redevelopment); additional goal is to reduce pollutants entering the wastewater system by incorporating onsite, upstream treatment. The ordinance is proposed to be effective city wide.
Strategy: developed Guidelines for post-construction stormwater control through low-impact design (LID); these guidelines complement the existing Green Building Ordinance and Building Codes.
Minimum Thresholds for Compliance-"Projects that disturb 5,000 square feet or more of ground surface will be required to comply with the Guidelines. Activities that disturb the ground surface include, but are not limited to, the construction, modification, conversion, or alteration of any building or structure and associated grading, filling, excavation, change in the existing topography, and the addition or replacement of impervious surface. All sidewalks, parking, driveways, and landscaped and irrigated areas constructed in conjunction with the Development Project are included in the project area. Development Projects do not include interior remodeling projects, maintenance activities such as top-layer grinding, repaving, and re-roofing, or modifications, conversions or alterations of buildings or structures that does not increase the ground surface footprint of the building or structure."

Ordinance details administrative framework to track and regulate use of the Guidelines.

Comments:
At the SFPUC meeting on December 8th, 2009 the Commission emphasized the good work that has gone into this ordinance by Staff (Sarah Minick is the Project Manager), but felt unfamiliar with the document, wanted to examine it more closely.
It seems this document is moving forward as a piece out of many overlapping programs and policies in different stages of development- including Rainwater Harvesting and Better Streets Plan. This ordinance is prioritized because there is the issue of compliance with the state's permit. There was some discussion about ensuring this ordinance includes appropriate language aligned with department's goals of sustainability, and connecting the importance of stormwater management with climate change.
Commissioner Moran commented on the restriction of the ordinance to address new building or retrofits over 5,000 sq ft in a city that is mostly built out.
Supporters that came out included BayKeeper (www.baykeeper.org), who might be good to be in touch with on related policy pieces in other municipalities.
The Ordinance was tabled, and will be on the SFPUC meeting agenda in January 2010. After the SFPUC approves it, it will go to the Board of Supervisors. Now would be a good time to find out who allies are there.

Questions:
Is there a way of reworking the language to ensure that this ordinance is not exclusive of re-roofing or smaller residential projects to come under the umbrella of LID reqs?
Is there an overarching strategy piece that would be more appropriate place to try to address promoting vegetated roofs?
Are there opportunities alongside the other programs, especially the Rainwater Harvesting?
more to come forth...