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| Information |
| TITLE: |
| Consideration and Adoption of Resolution No. 2022-52: A Resolution of the Flagstaff City Council, requiring that new construction and major renovation of all city-owned, non-housing section, occupied facilities achieve emissions-neutral operations, and that these same facilities shall be designed to support one or more functions of a “community resilience hub” to support vulnerable community members during disruptive events, and that in the event that a city-owned building or property is being vacated by the city, that the housing section first have the opportunity to evaluate the property and determine the feasibility of re-purposing or developing in a manner that supports increasing the number of available and affordable housing units, and repealing Resolution no. 2014-09. |
| STAFF RECOMMENDED ACTION: |
1) Read Resolution No. 2022-52 by title only
2) City Clerk reads Resolution No. 2022-52 by title only (if approved above)
3) Adopt Resolution No. 2022-52
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| Executive Summary: |
The Sustainable Building Resolution (SBR) was first adopted in 2008 and updated in 2014. Since 2008, the SBR has outlined the organizational standards that the City of Flagstaff will follow when commissioning the construction of a new occupied building or undertaking major renovations of an existing occupied building.
The 2022 revision of the SBR proposes three key updates (enumerated below). These updates will bring the Sustainable Buildings Resolution into greater alignment with the City Council and community priorities of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, increasing community resilience, and increasing the number of available and affordable housing units. These priorities are reflected in the recent adoption of the Climate Emergency Declaration (Res 2020-09) the Housing Crisis Declaration (Res. No 2020-66) the Flagstaff Carbon Neutrality Plan (Res 2021-34) the 10 Year Housing Plan (Res. No 2022-03) and the Sustainable Building Incentive (PZ-21-00282).
The development of the 2022 SBR revisions was undertaken by an inter-division team of City staff, including the Housing Section, the Real Estate Manager, the Community Development Division Director, the Facilities Section, and the Sustainability Office.
The proposed revisions to the Sustainable Building Resolution incorporate the following key concepts:
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions from buildings: By updating the building performance standards that the City will adhere to for these projects, the City will ensure that it achieves its goals related to reduced building energy use, clean electricity, and appropriate building electrification.
- Supporting community resilience: By incorporating an expectation that these building projects will include amenities to support vulnerable residents during disruptive weather events or other extreme incidents, the revisions will increase community resilience.
- Supporting the increase in the number of available and affordable housing units: The revisions outline a process for the event that a City-owned building or property is being vacated that directs the Housing Section to evaluate the property and determine the feasibility of re-purposing or developing in a manner that supports increasing the number of available and affordable housing units.
Based on comments from Council during the 10/18/2022 Council Meeting, the following additions/deletions were made:
WHEREAS,
- (#7) the Mayor and City Council of the City of Flagstaff wish to declare a commitment to energy conservation;
that all occupied City-owned new construction and major renovations, including building additions over 10,000 square feet, shall achieve certification in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (“LEED”) Program or Green Globes Program or Living Building Challenge Program or at a minimum achieve American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (“ASHRAE”) Design for High-Performance building standards; and
- (#12) the Adaptive Reuse Program offers support to small businesses that re-purpose existing buildings, in recognition that re-purposing is one of the most sustainable approaches to building and development; and
ENACTMENTS:
No changes made since 10/18/2022 Council Meeting.
Staff will provide a short presentation of the recommended revisions to the Resolution and the updates that have been made based on Council feedback. |
| Financial Impact: |
Designing and constructing sustainable buildings has been shown to have only a minor impact on total building costs, particularly when incorporated early in the building design process. Many sustainability features can bring potential cost savings, such as energy efficiency, and building electrification.
According to a major survey of the building community in Massachusetts, “net zero ready buildings are being built at the same cost as conventional buildings. 87% of net zero ready buildings reported have less than a 1% construction cost premium. This is consistent across all building types and sizes, including high-rise buildings that are hundreds of thousands of square feet.” (Source: Built Environment Plus: Massachusetts is Ready for Net Zero (2021)). (Massachusetts is in Climate Zone 5 Moist; Flagstaff is in Climate Zone 5, Dry.) |
| Policy Impact: |
| This will update and replace the policy of Res 2014-09. |
| Connection to PBB Priorities/Objectives, Carbon Neutrality Plan & Regional Plan: |
Regional Plan:
- Goal E&C.1. - Proactively improve and maintain the region’s air quality.
- Goal E&C.2 - Achieve carbon neutrality for the Flagstaff community by 2030.
- Policy E&C.2.1 - Encourage the reduction of energy and material consumption.
- Policy E&C.2.2. Promote investments that create a connected and efficient community, decrease emissions from transportation and building energy, and strengthen climate resiliency.
- Policy E&C.2.3. Review and revise existing regulations, standards, and plans (codes, ordinances, etc.) to reduce community greenhouse gas emissions.
- Policy E&C 2.4. Promote developments that help the community achieve carbon neutrality through strategies that reduce the project’s emissions from transportation, energy, and consumption.
- Goal E&C.3 - Prepare Flagstaff’s community systems and resources to be more resilient to climate change impacts, and address climate change in a manner that prioritizes those most impacted and ensures the costs and benefits of climate adaptation and mitigation are equitably distributed.
- Policy E&C.3.2. Review and revise existing regulations, standards, and plans (codes, ordinances, etc.) to reduce the community’s vulnerability to climate change impacts and reduce the disproportionate impacts on vulnerable communities.
- Policy E&C.3.5. Improve the ability of vulnerable community members to adapt and thrive amidst the pressures of climate change.
Relevant target areas and opportunities for action in the CNP include:
- Community Resilience - Strategy 1: Ensure all mitigation actions improve Flagstaff’s ability to adapt to the future.
- Community Resilience - Strategy 2: Strengthen existing community systems to create resilience to both short-term shocks and long-term change.
- Electric Mobility - Strategy 3: Support residents, businesses and institutions in the transition to electric vehicles.
- Clean Electricity - Strategy 2: Increase renewable energy installations and usage in new buildings.
- Fuel Switching - Strategy 1: Reduce or remove natural gas usage in municipal buildings.
- Reduced Building Energy Use - Strategy 1: Achieve net zero energy City of Flagstaff facilities.
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| Has There Been Previous Council Decision on This: |
Yes. The Sustainable Building Resolution was first adopted in 2008 and revised in 2014.
These revisions align the Sustainable Building Resolution with the goals and urgency of:
- The Climate Emergency Declaration (Res 2020-09)
- The Housing Crisis Declaration (Res. No 2020-66)
- The Flagstaff Carbon Neutrality Plan (Res. 2021-34)
- The 10 Year Housing Plan (Res. No 2022-02)
- The Sustainable Building Incentive (PZ-21-00282)
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