ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Salt
Lake County Mayor’s Office
January 2006
Overview
Over the past two decades, Salt Lake County has pursued policies to cleaner
air, better water quality, conserve energy and recycle solid materials.
Among the high profile efforts is the annual storm water pollution prevention
program, “We all live down stream.” In addition, the County has changed
all of the traffic lights to LED bulbs over the past three years, dramatically
reducing the amount of maintenance and required electricity.
But to continue environmental leadership at the local government level, Salt
Lake County must investigate new ways to improve our protection and
rehabilitation of our natural resources. Traditionally, we have been “informed”
for many years that when it comes to the environment, we are faced with a
choice: either protect the environment or create jobs. We have been
told that it is either one or the other. Well, in most cases that is a
false choice. Indeed, many studies are now showing that protecting the
environment actually produces good jobs and a stronger economy, in addition to
the many other community-wide benefits that environmental stewardship
brings. For example, there are programs such as heat mitigation for new
construction; maintaining an effective automobile emission testing system; and,
maintaining clean water supplies that will pay health dividends for our entire
community for many years to come. However, we must do more. Mayor
Corroon believes that we have a duty to act as stewards of our natural
environment, and that in doing so, we can choose jobs and the environment.
The following pages will provide a narrative for projects included in the FY 2006 budget, as well as an overview of some projects that may not have a fiscal impact, but will improve the quality of life in the county through ordinance, policy and procedural change. Although this is not a complete list, it is a start.
Jordan River
In the past twenty years, the water quality in the Jordan River has
dramatically improved. Through the work of the commissioners and past
mayor, the river has become a place where individuals and groups can step away
from the nearby city life. The river is the County’s largest river and drains
most of the water off the Wasatch Front mountain range. It connects Utah
Lake in the south to the Great Salt Lake in the north. The corridor
provides habitat for over one hundred different species of birds and other
wildlife. Further, the Jordan River Park Way draws runners and bikers
alike to enjoy the view, while the running water beckons kayakers and
canoes.
We planted thousands of native shrubs along the Jordan River in the 1800 North area. We provided trees for the grounds near the Jordan River at the West Valley Multicultural Celebration Center. We have planted both native and waterwise trees and shrubs near and along the river at Day-Riverside Library. And finally, we have planted over 50,000 seedlings at our long-term cooperative Jordan River Ecological Restoration site along the River around 10600 South.
Unfortunately, our work is not done. The river continues to be a secondary contact recreation area, great for boating or wading, but not safe for swimming. The lower portion of the river from North Temple to the Great Salt Lake has been listed under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act as an impaired water body because of low dissolved oxygen levels and high total dissolved solids (salts) (Jensen, 2). E. coli and phosphorus will be added to the list of water quality concerns to be studied for the Jordan River.
To continue the process of rehabilitating the Jordan River, Mayor Corroon requested and the Salt Lake County Council approved $300,000 for restoration projects along the Jordan River. Though the specific projects are still being selected, they will include design, excavation, re-vegetation, project and construction management.
The County will also again submit a request to our Utah congressional delegation requesting their help in acquiring $3.2 million in federal earmarks through the FY 2007 Energy and Water Appropriations measure.
Over the coming decade, the full repair and rehabilitation of the Jordan River must be a primary goal of Salt Lake County. Someone must step forward to be the steward of the river, and Mayor Corroon has offered Salt Lake County’s leadership.
Energy
Salt Lake County’s dependence on traditional fuel and energy sources has made
our work more difficult and more expensive over the years. In FY 2006,
the County will look at non-traditional fuel sources to move Salt Lake County
towards cleaner air and more dependable fuel sources. According to the
Department of Energy, changing to alternative fuel sources has
“great potential to benefit our nation... They can diversify our energy supply,
reduce our dependence on imported fuels, improve the quality of the air we
breathe, offset greenhouse gas emissions, and stimulate our economy by creating
jobs in the manufacturing and installation of solar energy systems
(DOE).”
To this end, Salt Lake County is currently investigating several options for
utilizing alternative fuel sources throughout county facilities.
For example, the benefits of a solar panel system go far beyond providing energy to county facilities. Such a system will also keep more dollars in our local economy, help keep the air cleaner, and help keep our water cleaner. The alternative energy sources used at county facilities also act as educational tools, providing access to our constituents and to the county’s visitors. Installing these new sources of energy may also help draw green businesses interested in bringing annual meetings and conventions to Salt Lake County.
The greening of our county facilities is only one place Salt Lake County will look when considering energy sources. Throughout the year, the Fleet Task Force has focused on downsizing and rightsizing the County’s fleet. The spike in motor fuel prices underscores the importance of this effort. To address growing fuel consumption and price hikes, the County has purchased five hybrid passenger cars to test in our fleet next year. Mayor Corroon is committed to converting more fleet vehicles to hybrids as vehicles come up for replacement.
One of the simplest ways to save money is to increase efficiency in existing HVAC systems. Increasing efficiency not only lowers cost, it also reduces the environmental impact of the systems. To this end, this year the Salt Palace will install and retrofit the controls for the HVAC systems at the Salt Palace with $690,000 from the new Salt Palace funding. Salt Lake County will also upgrade the government centers chillers and HVAC control system for $71,000.
In upcoming budgets, Mayor Corroon will look for even more ways to encourage alternative fuel options. Options may include support for the Blue Skies program, solar panel projects and investigations into new technologies such as solar boilers.
Water
Water is a scarce resource in the west. Future costs to provide new
sources will deeply impact the county, the state and the federal
government. Today we have the opportunity to adopt a series of strong
policies and procedures to reduce the thirst throughout the valley. On
August 30, 2005, the Salt Lake County Council was presented with a landscaping
ordinance that will help mitigate the demand for water in Salt Lake County.
The measure will:
• preserve and enhance the environmental and aesthetic character,
appearances, usefulness, and economic value of developed properties in the
county;
• it will foster aesthetically pleasing developments with landscaping,
open space, and related site amenities that will complement the visual effects
of the urban environment, soften building masses, preserve privacy,
enhance site appearances from adjacent vehicular travel ways, and improve the
overall comfort, livability and economic vitality of our neighborhoods;
• enhance land use compatibility and promote design continuity between
adjacent uses;
• reduce energy consumption through the prudent placement of plant materials;
• reduce the absorption and re-generation of heat from paved vehicular
parking areas and other impervious surfaces; improve storm water management;
• reduce environmental impacts through improved management of
erosion, noise, dust, air pollution, glare, and other development-related
consequences;
• provide better separation and more conscious integration of pedestrian
and vehicular interactions within on-site vehicular parking and circulation
facilities;
• and, generally protect, preserve, and promote the health, safety,
general welfare and quality of life of county residents.
The Mayor also has a responsibility to decrease water usage at county
facilities. In fact, in a recent preliminary survey of 73 Salt Lake
County properties by the Utah State Extension Service, the total gallons wasted
by the 73 properties is 207,654,822 gallons. If you multiply this value
by the $0.011622 cost per gallon, the total value estimate of the wasted water
is $2,413,300.00 annually (Personal correspondence). As a result, Mayor
Corroon requested and received $250,000 for a watering system mainframe in
Parks and Recreation. This system will allow Parks and Recreation to flip
one switch to stop watering at one or all facilities if there has been rain.
It is expected that the system will cut the watering bill at these facilities
by 20 percent, paying for itself in less than two years.
In addition, the Mayor will continue to act on xeriscaping many County
facilities. The first project, the plaza here at the government center,
will be completed this spring. The Parks and Recreation Division wants to
expand on this project and will spend the next year looking at possible sites
for future xeriscaped parcels and gardens.
Recycling
In 2003, the County introduced its general recycling program, first as a pilot project in Taylorsville, and then throughout the entire Sanitation District. At that time, several county facilities joined the program, including many of our Senior Centers and the Salt Lake County Government Center.
However, both Salt Lake County residents and the government continue to send 120 tons of waste to the landfill each year. In order to increase the facility’s life expectancy, the amount taken to the landfill must dramatically decrease. This year, the Library system joins the recycling program at a cost of $6,300, dramatically increasing the amount of white paper being recycled through the County Sanitation department and decreasing the waste being sent to the landfill.
We are also introducing a recycled paper pilot program. Ten years ago recycled paper caused copiers and fax machines to jam. Today, the quality of recycled paper has significantly improved. Our purchasing department will do a six month test pilot program of the recycled paper. Should the program succeed, they will broaden its scope throughout the entire County government.
In 2006, the County will also continue to seek ways to expand participation in our countywide recycling program. We will be investigating innovate post-collection recycling methods, in addition to pre-collection recycling methods.
Construction Standards
The products and technology the County uses in development of new facilities directly impacts environmental quality. For example, the less water we use, the more we have for the future. Simply put: use less, save more. The same is true with maximized energy efficiency increasing our air quality.
There are several standards that provide a guideline to creating these types of buildings. Most common is a program of the U.S. Green Building Council entitled LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). LEED is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings (U.S. Greenbuilding).
In 2005, Salt Lake County completed two LEED certified libraries and in 2006 construction will continue on a LEED certified Salt Palace expansion.
In order to complete these builds in a timely fashion, developers and county employees must have a strong understanding of LEED standards and an understanding of the limits to those standards. To communicate this information, Salt Lake County in conjunction with Salt Lake City and local developers will conduct a one day conference on green building standards on February 23, 2006. This conference will provide a basic understanding of green building standards. Mayor Corroon is committed to expanding LEED building standards to all new County facilities in the future.
Open Space
Open space refers to undeveloped land areas that have important ecological functions, natural resources, or cultural resources that are worthy of conservation and protection.
Open spaces are a vital part of any community, in part, because they provide citizens a quick escape from the daily urban life. In addition, procuring open space balances development with conservation by establishing buffer zones between cities and natural spaces. Open space projects often involve collaboration between cities, environmental activists and developers; promoting dialogue and understanding while creating solutions that address a variety of needs.
Salt Lake County open space goals include the purchase of watershed land threatened by development. Protection of such land serves the residents in multiple ways: it ensures continued access to clean drinking water in addition to providing recreation areas within the county. Also, Salt Lake County is committed to purchasing open spaces that provide natural corridors of travel by walking or bike path.
In the FY 2006, Mayor Corroon’s administration proposed an additional $1
million for the Open Space Trust Fund, to be used for the purchase of open
space lands in Salt Lake County. As a key component of a comprehensive
development plan, open space funding is crucial in helping Salt Lake County
meet its goal of serving residents. Mayor Corroon is committed to
continuing to fund open space initiatives over the next 3 years.
Conclusion
Salt Lake County has a proud reputation as a progressive community committed to developing sustainable activities serving both current needs as well as anticipating future needs. A commitment to careful environmental stewardship is necessary for the ongoing development of such sustainable activities.
In addition, the fiscal impact of many environmental projects is negligible, yet the value of such projects is priceless in developing a livable community. Residents of Salt Lake County are able to reap the immediate rewards of such open space projects as new bike paths in addition to the long term benefits made available as recycling, water conservation, and energy saving programs come to fruition.
A commitment to environmental stewardship and funding is a logical step in a tradition of innovative policymaking. Investment in environmental projects ensures Salt Lake County will continue to play a leading role in the development and implementation of energy and money saving projects.
Bibliography
Department of Energy (2005). Solar Energy Technologies Program. September
19, 2005
from http://www.eere.energy.gov/solar/
U.S. Green Building Council (2005). Meet the USGBC. September
19, 2005
from http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=1
Jensen, Steve (2005). Jordan
River Water Quality Daily Maximum Load Assessment (4mb pdf).
Salt Lake County, Utah 75 pgs.