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INTERLOCAL SUSTAINABILITY ACTION PLAN Cottonwood Heights - Holladay - Millcreek ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- CONTENT Introduction Project Partners Waste Management Transportation Energy Use Landscaping Development The order of the core sections (Development, Energy Use, Landscaping, Transportation, and Waste Management) is alphabetical in nature and does not represent any ranking of topic priority. City Context Key Terms Pages 2-3 Pages 18-19 Pages 14-15 Pages 12-13 Pages 8-9 Pages 10-11 Pages 6-7 Pages 4-5 Pages 16-17 1 ---PAGE BREAK--- INTRODUCTION Background The cities of Cottonwood Heights, Holladay, and Millcreek are three neighboring municipalities located along Utah’s Wasatch Front. These cities cover a combined area of over 30 square miles with a combined population of approximately 125,000 at the time of this document’s writing in 2021. Despite each municipality’s unique traits, they also share strong similarities, with one commonality being their proximity to world class outdoor recreation and open space areas. This ready natural access is not only enjoyed as a lifestyle amenity for many community members, but also serves to beneϐit the cities in terms of revenue from tourism, local commerce, and real estate sales. In considering the advantageous geographical position of these communities, a sustainable mindset is critical in preserving the community values and outdoor heritage so precious to each municipality. In 2019, Cottonwood Heights, Holladay, and Millcreek signed an interlocal agreement to collaborate on sustainability projects as a tri-city region. As part of this collaboration, these cities agreed to write a sustainability plan to guide future sustainability efforts. The Interlocal Sustainability Action Plan recommends best practices for sustainable development, energy use, landscaping, transportation, and waste management across the tri-city region. Cities and Climate Action According to the US Census Bureau’s 2011-2015 American Community Survey, 80% of Americans live in cities. Based on an estimate by the United Nations, cities contribute up to 75% of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide, presenting serious ramiϐications for global health in the form of climate change. Experts project that speciϐic to the Southwest region, climate change will result in increased erosion, ϐlooding, heat, drought, insect outbreaks, and wildϐires, declining water supplies and agricultural yields, and health impacts in cities (U.S. Global Change Research Program). Given this increasingly urban population, its notable contributions to climate change, and the negative effects on urban areas themselves, cities have a unique opportunity to address planetary health. Sustainability efforts made at a local level have the power to not only improve the lives of community members, but to supplement other efforts worldwide for a global effect. Recommended Use of Plan This action plan is intended to serve as a guiding document for elected and appointed ofϐicials, city staff, and community members of Cottonwood Heights, Holladay, and Millcreek. As decisions are made within each city, both administratively and legislatively, this document should be used as a guide for viewing the impact of these decisions through a lens of sustainability. It is anticipated that sustainability staff will utilize this document to make regular recommendations on speciϐic sustainability priorities for each community. 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- Community Engagement Although some sustainability work can be achieved through the sole efforts of city staff and ofϐicials, other initiatives beneϐit from multi-stakeholder participation. In terms of municipalities, this entails community engagement with residents, business owners, service providers, and other community partners. Research has shown that projects which incorporate community engagement are more effective than those without. According to Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, community engagement “increase[s] the likelihood that projects or solutions will be widely accepted. Citizens who participate in these processes show signiϐicant commitment to help make the projects happen.” When appropriate to the project, community engagement opportunities should be provided. 3 ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 ---PAGE BREAK--- CITY CONTEXT Through the committed efforts of elected and appointed ofϐicials, city staff, and community members, each city has already completed multiple sustainability initiatives prior to the adoption of this action plan. This section is intended to recognize the sustainability work which has already been accomplished in order to assist each city in prioritizing future goals. It is anticipated that these efforts will be expanded upon through the sustainability goals outlined in this plan. As of Summer 2021, the following efforts have been completed or are underway: • Anti-Idling Ordinance • Arbor Day Tree Planting Event • City Hall Solar Grant Application • Community Renewable Energy Program Governance Agreement • Consideration of Sustainable Fleet Options & Utilization of Tier III Fuel for City Vehicles • Electric Vehicle Chargers at City Hall • Glass Recycling Depository Site • Outdoor Lighting Ordinance • Renewable Energy Resolution • Seven Greenways Visioning Plan • Tree and Park Strip Ordinance • Tri-City Emissions Baselining Project Cottonwood Heights Millcreek Holladay • Anti-Idling Ordinance • Community Renewable Energy Program Governance Agreement • Consideration of Sustainable Fleet Options • Designation as a “Tree City” • Electric Vehicle Chargers in Downtown Holladay • Renewable Energy Resolution • Seven Greenways Visioning Plan • Tree Committee • Tree Giveaway Event • Tree Protection Ordinance • Tri-City Emissions Baselining Project • Anti-Idling Ordinance • Community Renewable Energy Program Governance Agreement - Anchor Community • Consideration of Sustainable Fleet Options • Designation as a “Monarch City” • Electric Vehicle Chargers at City Hall • Glass Recycling Depository Site • Jordan River Connectivity and Water Quality Efforts • Millcreek Business Council Sustainability Committee and Millcreek Recycling Committee • Rain Harvest Barrel Incentive Program • Recycling Market Development Zone Application • Renewable Energy Resolution • Seven Greenways Visioning Plan • Sustainable Design for Millcreek City Hall • Tree Planting Partnership with Tree Utah • Tri-City Emissions Baselining Project 5 ---PAGE BREAK--- DEVELOPMENT Development is critical in helping communities adapt to growing populations, provide ample amenities for community members, and achieve city goals. To ensure high-quality development, communities often regulate the types of uses, architectural styles, and acceptable infrastructure that developers may implement. In addition to considering these criteria, communities can benefi t from requiring sustainability measures during the development process. These measures not only reduce the impact of current development, but can also assist in building a thriving future community. 6 ---PAGE BREAK--- Strategy: Encourage Sustainable Buildings Policy: Encourage the use of quality construction techniques and durable materials, including recycled and sustainably-sourced materials when feasible. Policy: Encourage salvage of existing materials during demolition, as well as sustainable construction waste management techniques. Policy: Encourage the use of local building materials to reduce the transportation impact of imports. Policy: Incentivize use of ϐixtures and systems which conserve water, exceed energy performance, or otherwise reduce environmental impacts. Policy: Improve indoor air quality by requiring low-VOC paints, primers and adhesives, formaldehyde- free wood, smoke free building policies, and other standards which reduce indoor air pollution. Policy: Educate community members on the utilization of building orientation for passive solar and shading beneϐits. Strategy: Develop Sustainable Sites Policy: Require site connections to adjacent neighborhoods and amenities to encourage walkability. Policy: Require bicycle infrastructure for multi-family and commercial sites. Policy: Reduce parking requirements for projects which incorporate permeable paved parking. Policy: Consider requiring amenities such as solar infrastructure and EV chargers during the development process, or rough-in connections for these amenities to be added in the future. Policy: Encourage redevelopment of greyϐield, brownϐield, or adaptive reuse sites. Policy: Standardize low-impact stormwater management techniques. Policy: Discourage development of steep slope and hillside areas. Strategy: Demonstrate Sustainability Benefi ts Policy: Collaborate with local chambers of commerce or business associations to recognize those businesses which exemplify sustainability through their buildings, operations, or services. Policy: Provide information for builders, design professionals, and business owners on the ϐiscal, environmental, and health beneϐits associated with sustainable development. Strategy: Mitigate Light Pollution Policy: Develop local ordinances which discourage light pollution and light trespass through ϐixture and bulb speciϐications. Policy: Enforce outdoor lighting standards during building permit review processes and code enforcement protocols. Policy: Utilize dark-sky ϐixtures and low impact lamps when installing lighting for city facilities and street lamps. 7 ---PAGE BREAK--- ENERGY USE In powering homes, civic services, businesses, and amenities, reliable energy is an undeniably critical resource. In addition to considering the reliability of systems, communities can benefi t from considering the sustainability of their energy, at both the public and private scale. By implementing energy conservation measures, as well as renewable sourcing, communities can provide a higher quality of life for present and future generations. 8 ---PAGE BREAK--- Strategy: Support Energy Programs Policy: Continue to engage with Utah’s Community Renewable Energy Program. Policy: Consider participation in other energy programs and coalitions as is practicable. Policy: Educate community members on energy programs and provide opportunities for engagement and feedback. Policy: Educate community members on existing energy initiatives and consider city-initiated incentives to ϐill gaps as needed. Policy: Support low-income participation in energy programs. Strategy: Encourage Community-Wide Conservation Policy: Provide permit submittal checklists for energy-saving projects such as solar infrastructure and electric vehicle chargers. Policy: Consider expeditied plan-review or other appropriate incentives for energy-saving projects such as solar infrastructure and electric vehicle chargers. Policy: Dedicate outreach efforts to community members about energy efϐiciency and retroϐit opportunities. Policy: Consider increased permit fees to allow for stricter enforcement of energy code compliance. Policy: Provide recognition to permit holders for solar infrastructure and electric vehicle charger projects. Policy: Encourage benchmarking for homes and businesses, as well as publication of these rankings. Strategy: Coordinate Energy and Emergency Response Policy: Determine strategies for reducing peak demands in order to prioritize energy availability for emergency response functions. Policy: Consider opportunities to diversify energy supply in preparation for disaster events. Policy: In energy procurement decisions, consider the effects of climate change on resource availability, as well as the effects of resources on climate change. Strategy: Conserve Energy at City Facilities Policy: Complete auditing to determine the energy impact of city buildings, including electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems. Policy: Coordinate with experts to understand options for updating inefϐicient systems. Policy: Conserve energy through implementing strategies such as efϐicient appliances, gap sealing, weatherization techniques, efϐicient lighting, strategic heating and cooling, solar infrastructure, and electric vehicle chargers. Policy: Consider energy efϐiciency when setting and prioritizng budget items. 9 ---PAGE BREAK--- LANDSCAPING Beautiful landscaping helps establish communities as beloved hometowns and sought-after destinations. It can also contribute to higher community morale, boosted tourism, increased property values, and a greater sense of place. In addition to encouraging well-maintained landscapes, communities should support sustainable landscaping practices. Whether preserving existing landscaping amenities, providing tools for reduced water use, or curating habitats for local fl ora and fauna, communities have many options to implement landscapes that are beautiful, effective, and sustainable. 10 ---PAGE BREAK--- Strategy: Support Trees and Foliage Policy: Coordinate with partner agencies to document existing public trees, including their condition and any needed maintenance. Policy: Consider adoption of tree preservation ordinances which include removal and replacement standards. Policy: Determine landscaping requirements and approved species for public and private property. Policy: Require landscaping plans during project review to ensure tree removal, as well as the addition of new trees is compliant. Policy: Consider adoption of foliage impact fees to offset development impacts. Policy: Support programs which highlight the importance of trees and provide resources for implementation. Policy: Consider standardizing extra trees as a criterion for being awarded higher project density. Strategy: Protect Local Habitats Policy: Develop an open space master plan to coordinate community-wide protection efforts. Policy: Adopt standards to reduce development impact on riparian corrdior areas. Policy: Consider the effect on animal and plant habitats when developing management and user policies, and when adding infrastructure to open space areas. Policy: Promote the use of native, non-invasive plant materials, and prioritize their use for city- initiated projects. Policy: Promote the use of pollinator-friendly species and landscaping practices, and prioritize their use for city-initiated projects. Policy: Educate community members on the importance of soil health as well as associated best practices. Strategy: Encourage Low-Impact Landscapes Policy: Educate community members on the beneϐits of low water landscaping, as well as strategies for implementation. Policy: Coordinate with agencies to educate the community on existing low-water incentive programs, and consider city-initiated incentives to ϐill gaps as needed. Policy: Consider standards for efϐicient irrigation by addressing ϐlow, frequency, and coverage. Policy: Consider standards for low-impact storm water management, such as bioswales, rain gardens, rooftop plantings, tree grates, etc. Policy: Recognize local examples of low-impact landscapes in newsletters, publications, business spotlights, and community beautiϐication awards. Policy: Serve as an example of low-impact landscaping through the use of xeriscaping and stormwater management solutions at city-owned properties. Policy: Determine a standard for maximum allowable impervious surface coverage. 11 ---PAGE BREAK--- TRANSPORTATION Covering nearly 30 square miles in the heart of the Wasatch Front, the tri-city region is home to many destinations, including charming neighborhoods, thriving business communities, and world-class recreation opportunities. As community members bustle from place to place, their modes of transportation can have a major impact, either positive or negative, on sustainability. Prioritizing and providing a diverse array of transportation options can reduce local air pollution, improve public health, and even provide cost-savings. 12 ---PAGE BREAK--- Strategy: Reduce Vehicular Idling Policy: Educate community members on local anti-idling ordinances, enforce ordinance standards, and consider ordinance updates as necessary. Policy: Distribute tips for ways to reduce idling via community newsletters and websites. Policy: Conduct an idling audit to determine community hot spots for idling activity. Policy: Install anti-idling signage and distribute other marketing materials to discourage idling. Policy: Regularly consider trafϐic signal optimization efforts to maximize efϐiciency. Strategy: Green Fleets Policy: Study the environmental impact of current city ϐleets. Policy: Study the environmental impact of city employee commutes. Policy: As is ϐinancially practicable, consider purchasing electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, or other low-impact alternatives to traditional fuel models. Policy: Encourage trip-chaining and carpooling when conducting off-site city business. Policy: Consider telecommuting or adjusted work-week policies to reduce employee commute impacts. Strategy: Support Public Transportation Policy: Coordinate with local agencies and neighboring municipalities to provide adequate public transportation community-wide, and to advocate for continual transit opportunities. Policy: Provide community members with public transportation resources, including trip planning tools, route maps, route schedules, etc. Policy: Support incentives and programs which encoruage the use of public transportation, including infrastructure upgrades to improve public transportation stops. Strategy: Promote Active Transportation Policy: Continually maintain existing pedestrian and cycling paths. Policy: Provide new walking and biking paths, prioritizing those which meet currently underserved areas. Policy: Install bike racks, wayϐinding stations, benches, lighting, and other infrastructure and amenities to support safe and attractive active transportation. Policy: Educate community members on the environmental, health, and ϐiscal beneϐits of active transportation. Policy: Provide ample pedestrian crossings and other elements of walkable design in city projects, and require these elements in private projects. Policy: Identify connectivity gaps and prioritize transportation connections in these areas. 13 ---PAGE BREAK--- WASTE MANAGEMENT Despite the “out of sight, out of mind” sensation that often occurs when items are thrown out, trash never completely goes away. Waste continues to impact communities even after it is discarded. Landfi lls and incinerators demand large areas of land, and often result in harmful emissions in the form of particulate matter, carbon dioxide, and methane. Trash can also degrade ecosystems in the form of litter, which contaminates waterways, endangers animals, and creates a visual nuisance. In terms of sustainability, mindfully managing a community’s waste can make a big difference. 14 ---PAGE BREAK--- Strategy: Reduce Waste Policy: Limit paper use for city communications when possible, including forms, reports, supplies, etc., and encourage local businesses to do the same. Policy: Consider ofϐice printer updates to default all printing to double-sided or two sheets per page. Policy: Educate community members on the realities of local food waste, and its environmental impact. Policy: Support collaboration between food banks and businesses to redistribute excess food to those in need. Policy: In providing meals for city meetings and events, purchase only what is necessary to limit potential waste from excess. Policy: Consider ways to reduce water waste at city facilities, including appliance and system upgrades. Policy: Educate community members on local drought conditions and ways to reduce water consumption, including utilization of conservation and drought plans from water providers. Policy: Support initiatives which reduce the amount of litter and refuse within the community. Strategy: Reuse Products Policy: Support programs which assist community members in donating and obtaining used items rather than exclusively purchasing them new. Policy: Educate communtiy members on methods to determine whether it is more sustainable to repair an old product versus purchasing it new. Policy: In circumstances where repair is more sustainable, encourage use of local businesses to repair broken products and appliances. Policy: Support and seek out initiatives which swap single-use products with reusable ones at both the public and private scale. Strategy: Recycle Materials Policy: Provide community members with clear and consistent information regarding which items can and cannot be recycled in curbside bins. Policy: Educate the community on the continued importance of recycling, and its role in the broader sustainability picture. Policy: Provide community members with information on where to drop off items that cannot be processed via curbside service. Policy: Offer recycling guidelines, such as how to properly clean items before adding them to curbisde bins, any lables and caps that need to be removed prior to discarding, etc. Policy: At city events, provide glass, mixed-recycling, and landϐill containers to process a wider array of products. Policy: Consider designating areas as Recycling Market Development Zones to allow eligible businesses to take advantage of recycling incentives. 15 ---PAGE BREAK--- KEY TERMS Bioswale A channel or trench that catches rainwater runoff, often using vegetation and organic matter to ϐilter out pollutants Brownfi eld Abandoned or underused sites which may contain environmental contamination Community Renewable Energy Program Resulting from HB 411 (2019), this program creates a legal pathway for eligible Utah communities to partner with Rocky Mountain Power in providing the option of net-100% renewable electricity for their residents and businesses. Dark-Sky Fixtures Light ϐixtures which minimize light pollution through properly shielding light Formaldehyde A colorless, strong-smelling gas used in many construction materials, exposure to formaldehyde has been linked to health probems, including cancer. Greyfi eld Economically outdated or underutilized properties which no longer attract investment or contribute vitality to a community Impact Fees Fees which a community requires of developers in order to offset the ϐinancial impact of the new development on public infrastructure Impermeable A substance which does not allow water to pass through Light Pollution The inappropriate or excessive use of artiϐicial light, often resulting in consequences for humans, wildlife, and climate Low-VOC Paints “VOC” stands for “volatile organic compound,” which are unstable chemicals with harmful emissions. Many paints contain VOCs, which when used indoors, can contribute toward dangerous health conditions. Low-VOC paints have reduced levels of these compounds. 16 ---PAGE BREAK--- Passive Solar Passive solar design reduces heating and cooling requirements by taking advantage of the building’s site, climate, materials, and orientation. Design considerations often include insulation, air sealing, window location, and building materials. Peak Demand Relating to an electrical grid, the highest electrical power demand that has occurred over a speciϐied time period Permeable A substance which allows water to pass through Rain Garden A garden typically comprised of native plants within a dip of a slope, designed to temporarily hold water runoff and eventually allow the water to soak back into the ground Riparian Relating to or situated on the banks of a river, or relating to wetlands adjacent to rivers and streams Rough-In The stage of construction in which mechanical, electrical, and plumbing lines are laid out Strategic Heating and Cooling Basing heating and cooling based on time of day, time of year, building occupancy, and other factors which affect the temperature needed Tri-City Region Interlocal Agreement A 2019 Interlocal Agreement which established sustainability collaboration between Cottonwood Heights, Holladay, and Millcreek Trip Chaining Combining multiple vehicular trips or errands into a single trip as means of reducing vehicle emissions Weatherization Efforts used to make a structure more efϐicient and better protected against weather Weatherization Efforts used to make a structure more efϐicient and better protected against weather .Xeriscaping A landscaping method often used in arid and semiarid climates that utilizes water conservation techniques such as drought-tolerant plants, mulch, and efϐicient irrigation. 17 ---PAGE BREAK--- 18 ---PAGE BREAK--- PLAN PARTNERS Elected Offi cials Mike Peterson, Mayor, Cottonwood Heights Doug Petersen Councilmember, Cottonwood Heights Scott Bracken, Councilmember, Cottonwood Heights Tali Bruce, Councilmember, Cottonwood Heights Christine Mikell, Councilmember, Cottonwood Heights Rob Dahle, Mayor, Holladay Sabrina Petersen, Councilmember, Holladay Matt Durham, Councilmember, Holladay Paul Fotheringham, Councilmember, Holladay Drew Quinn, Councilmember, Holladay Dan Gibbons, Councilmember, Holladay Jeff Silvestrini, Mayor, Millcreek Silvia Catten, Councilmember, Millcreek Dwight Marchant, Councilmember, Millcreek Cheri Jackson, Councilmember, Millcreek Bev Uipi, Councilmember, Millcreek City Staff Tim Tingey, City Manager, Cottonwood Heights Michael Johnson, Community & Economic Development Director, Cottonwood Heights Samantha DeSeelhorst, Associate Planner & Sustainability Analyst, Cottonwood Heights Andrew Hulka, Senior Planner, Cottonwood Heights Gina Chamness, City Manager, Holladay Holly Smith, Assistant to the City Manager, Holladay Paul Allred, Community Development Director, Holladay LaNiece Davenport, Community Development Director, Holladay Jonathan Teerlink, Planner I and GIS Specialist, Holladay Mike Winder, Assistant City Manager and Economic Development Director, Millcreek Kurt Hansen, Director of Facilities, Millcreek Rita Lund, Communications Director, Millcreek Community Partners Dominion Energy Rocky Mountain Power Salt Lake Community College Energy Institute Tree Utah Utah Clean Air Partnership (UCAIR) Utah Clean Cities Utah Clean Energy Utah Rivers Council Wasatch Front Waste and Recycling District 19