Overview & History
2008-2009 Objectives:
- Complete the Forest Management Plan, including updating the City’s tree retention policies and regulations
- Update Stormwater Manual and Low Impact Development Standards - City Council is scheduled to make a decision on January 26
- Develop a comprehensive environmental purchasing policy
- Adopt indicators and baselines to measure progress
- Create a "Green Team" staff structure - COMPLETED
- Explore energy and climate change initiatives
2007-2008 Objectives:
- Develop an Environmental Sustainability Strategy - COMPLETED
- Complete Urban Forestry Assessment - COMPLETE
- Develop options for a Green Street Demonstration Project
- Adopt advanced stormwater standards for the second phase of the Aurora Project
- Update Stormwater Management Program
- Work on implementing Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement
Progress of Goal #4
Next Steps for the Environmental Sustainability Strategy
Green Team will work to implement strategy starting with Priority Recommendations.
Complete Urban Forestry Assessment
In 2007, Seattle Urban Nature (SUN) was contracted by the City of Shoreline to survey four parks, including South Woods (16 acres), Hamlin Park (80 acres) and Boeing Creek Park and Shoreview Park (88 acres) (which are connected and were surveyed together). SUN mapped habitats and invasive species, surveyed vegetation, analyzed data and wrote vegetation management plans (VMPs) for each park. Specific information collected includes: tree density and regeneration, abundance of snags and coarse woody debris, abundance and percent cover of shrubs and herbaceous plants, and invasive species locations and extents. The VMPs analyze and summarize the collected data and make comprehensive recommendations to guide the management and restoration of these community forests. To download the vegetation management plans, click the links above.
Develop options for a Green Street Demonstration Project
The Public Works Department is in the planning stage for a project in 2008 which will be constructed in 2009. This Green Works project will strive to demonstrate a "complete street" concept that includes (to the extent practical) a complete street in a residential area that is designed and operated to enable safe access for all users (pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists of all ages and abilities), and to provide stormwater treatment prior to discharging it to local streams and other surface water bodies.
Stormwater will be managed through the use of natural drainage systems in conjunction with pedestrian improvements and traffic calming. The "tool kit" for implementation in the right-of-way includes curb bulb stormwater treatment areas in conjunction with traffic calming, pervious pavement in conjunction with pedestrian pathway improvement projects, right-of-way planter boxes or rain gardens in amenity zones that stormwater runs through, and street trees. The program is intended to also engage residents to help with maintenance, and to reduce their private property side impacts on the environment.
Adopt advanced stormwater standards for the second phase of the Aurora Project
The Implementation Strategies for the Aurora Corridor project adopted by the City Council on July 23, 2007 included Strategy #33 that calls for the use of natural storm drainage in the project when possible. Strategy #33 included options such as rain gardens, stormwater planter boxes, tree boxes/filter pits, center median swales, porous pavement, and traditional conveyance systems. The project section from 165th to 185th is nearing 60% design, and the design includes significant levels of natural stormwater treatment systems, as well as conveyance systems. The 60% plans will be presented and reviewed by City council in early November, where more detail on the natural stormwater systems will be shared. The 165th to 185th project is currently planned to begin construction in the summer of 2009 (dependent on right-of-way acquisition staying on track).
Update Stormwater Management Program
A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for consultant services to assist with this management plan update was published in late summer. Staff will select a service provider in the fall and begin executing the scope of work.
Public Works Staff has received a $75,000 grant from the Department of Ecology to help fund this project. Approval of the grant is on the November 5, 2007 Council agenda as a consent item.
The Department of Ecology’s NPDES Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit became effective for the City during the first quarter (February 16) of 2007. Surface Water and Environmental Service (SWES) staff have evaluated the requirements of the permit in relation to code revisions. SWES staff are currently conducting a programmatic needs assessment in relation to the permit requirements. This permit requires the City to develop/implement/enforce a program to reduce pollutants in stormwater runoff from new development, redevelopment, and construction site activities by August 2009. Over the next 14 months, staff will be proposing changes to the stormwater code and holding a public forum on the issues. Staff will bring recommendations to the City Council by the end of 2008.
Implementing Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement
The first phase of implementing this goal element is to inventory the City’s global warming emissions for 1990 and 2007. Toward this effort, staff is researching how to accurately measure emission levels. City staff met with the City of Seattle to learn about and assess their method of completing a climate protection inventory. The City also joined the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), the international leader for municipal implementation of climate protection, to obtain climate protection inventory software and training. Shoreline staff have received an initial orientation to the software and expect to receive additional training in late 2007 to help define the inventory data for collection. In addition, funding for a statistically reliable telephone survey is being investigated.
Please contact jnammi@shorelinewa.gov, or 206-801-2525, if you have any difficulty accessing these documents.
Strategy Development
Community Conversation #1, October 11, 2007
Community Conversation #2, November 14, 2007
Public Comment on Draft Strategy
In the News
"How One City is Becoming Greener"
Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce article on Shoreline's sustainability plans
Resource Corner