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!