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Council Communication

Title:	Sixth annual report on implementation of the Valdez Principles
Dept:	Electric & Telecommunications
Date:	July 2, 2002
Submitted By:	Dick Wanderscheid
Reviewed By: ........................	Greg Scoles, City Administrator

Synopsis:	The 10th Valdez Principle requires an annual report on implementation
Recommendation:	Informational presentation only; no Council action is required.
Fiscal Impact:	None.
Background:	The Ashland City Council adopted the ten Valdez Principles in May of 1990. The tenth principle requires an annual report on implementation. This is the sixth annual report presented to the Council. The report consists of the listing of programs, initiatives and City activities that support each of the principles. It is an ongoing, growing list with new items added each year in Italics. Also attached is a copy of the original Valdez Principles adopted by the Council in 1990.

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City Activities and Initiatives that Support the Valdez Principles

July, 2002

(Items in Italics are new to the list this year)

1. PROTECTION OF THE BIOSPHERE

a) Environmental and Physical Constraints Ordinance

b) Flood Plain Ordinance

c) Herbicide Policy

d) Ashland Watershed Partnership Participation and Policy

e) Roca Creek Project

f) Ashland WTP Wetlands Demonstration Project

g) Hillside Development Ordinance

h) Ashland Creek Restoration Project

i) Air Quality Programs

j) Storm Water Master Plan

k) Fire Department Vehicle Washing Policy

l) Riparian Ordinance Revisions

m) Ashland WWTP Upgrade

n) Street Standard Revisions

o) Storm Drainage Cleaning and Maintenance

p) Erosion control planning and bank stabilization measures in Public Works projects

q) Installation of storm ceptor in new Winburn Way bridge

r) Construction Training for creek protection by Public Works

s) Granite Street Quarry Restoration Project

t) Pistol range restoration project

u) Tree Preservation Ordinance

v) Installation of storm ceptor in Gresham Street as part of the Library Project

w) Bioswale on the Elk's parking lot

x) Pond restoration efforts in Lithia Park

2. SUSTAINABLE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES

a) Renewable Resource Generation Policy (net metering)

b) City's Solar Water Heating Program

c) Performance Standards Development Ordinance

d) Transportation Plan

e) Bicycle Commission activities

f) City Open Space Acquisition Plan

g) Comprehensive Water Supply Study

h) Ashland Solar Pioneer Program

i) New bike path along Railroad ROW

j) Certified Wood Program

k) 20% water conservation goal of Comprehensive Study

l) Chamber of Commerce Wise Resource Usage Booklet provided to every household in Ashland (was distributed in the fall of 2001)

m) Water efficient landscaping tour

n) Green Power purchase by the City

o) Natural gas vehicle

p) Transportation, Transit and Parking Initiative

q) "B" Street subsurface drip irrigation system and signage

r) Irrigation signage at Copeland lot and Wilderness Charter School

s) Solar Electric Rebate Program

t) Rate Mitigation Agreement with BPA

u) Use of certified wood in Hillah Temple Project

v) Solar electric system installation at Ashland Middle School

3. REDUCTION AND DISPOSAL OF WASTE

a) City's recycling programs

b) Styrofoam Ban

c) Composting Programs

d) Conservation Commission activities

1) Tree free paper utility bill insert

2) Green Schools Program

3) Conservation Commission video productions

4) Jefferson Monthly articles

5) Green Business Program

6) Adopt-A-Street Program

7) Water efficient landscaping tour

8) Water wise newspaper articles

9) Energy conservation newspaper article series

10) TID education project

11) Newspaper article series on recycling

12) Earth Day event at North Mountain Park

e) Minimize the use of chemicals in City Public Works operations

f) Asphalt reuse by Public Works

g) Revision to City's Styrofoam Ordinance

h) Water based street paint

i) Switch from diesel fuel to propane for fire extinguisher training conducted by Fire Department

j) Ashland Sanitary's new Yard Debris Pick-Up Program

k) Recycling of wood, metal and computers at the City's 90 North Mountain complex

4. WISE USE ENERGY

a) Performance Standards Development Ordinance

b) Transportation Plan

c) Conservation Commission activities

d) Resource Conservation Manager Program (City, SOU, School District and Ashland Chamber of Commerce)

e) Energy and Water Conservation Programs

f) Certified Wood Program

g) City's natural gas vehicle

h) Conservation Augmentation Agreement with BPA

i) Council allocation of money to provide free bus services in Ashland in FY 2002-03

j) New Commercial Resource Conservation Audit cost-share program conducted in conjunction with Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership (OMEP)

5. RISK REDUCTION

a) Herbicide Policy

b) EMF Policy

c) Revisions to City Emergency Management Plan

d) Ongoing training and simulations of emergency situations

e) Ongoing safety training of City field personnel

f) Y2K preparedness

g) Community Emergency Response Team Program

h) Fire and Police Department videos

i) School safety programs

j) New fuel tanks at the City yards and airport

k) Riparian video

l) Riparian workshops

m) Wildfire forums

6. SAFE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

a) Herbicide Policy

b) Environmental training for Public Works field personnel

c) Consultation by Public Works with AWP members or other local experts on appropriate environmental techniques

d) Construction notices to affected properties in advance of Public Works projects

e) Certified Wood Program

7. DAMAGE COMPENSATION

a) Ashland Creek Restoration Project

8. DISCLOSURE

a) Herbicide Policy

b) EMF Policy

c) Environmental training for City field personnel

d) Construction notices for City projects

e) 1998 Water Quality Report (published July 1999)

f) 1999 Water Quality Report (published June 2000)

g) 2000 Water Quality Report

h) 2001 Water Quality Report

i) City Source Energy Conservation video

j) City Source Water Conservation video

9. ENVIRONMENTAL DIRECTORS AND MANAGERS

Dick Wanderscheid has Environmental Affairs as a designated responsibility.

10. ANNUAL ASSESSMENT

This is the sixth annual report submitted to the City Council as required by the 10th of the Valdez Principles.

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Valdez Principles

By endorsing these Principles, we publicly affirm our belief that the City of Ashland, Oregon has a direct responsibility for the environment. We believe that we must conduct the public's business as responsible stewards of the environment and seek goals only in a manner that leaves the Earth healthy and safe. We believe that the City must not compromise the ability of future generations to sustain their needs.

We recognize this to be a long-term commitment to update our practices continually in light of advances in technology and new understandings in health and environmental science. We intend to make consistent, measurable progress toward the ideal that these principles describe, and to apply them wherever we operate, in a manner consistent with our other obligations under law.

I. Protection of the Biosphere.

We will minimize and strive to eliminate the release of any pollutant that may cause environmental damage to air, water, or earth or its inhabitants. We will safeguard habitats in creeks, ponds, wetlands, natural areas and will minimize contributing to global warming, depletion of the ozone layer, acid rain or smog.

2. Sustainable Use of Natural Resources.

We will make sustainable use of renewable natural resources, such as water, soils and forests. We will conserve nonrenewable natural resources through efficient use and careful planning. We will protect wildlife habitat, open spaces and wilderness, while preserving biodiversity.

3. Reduction and Disposal of Waste.

We will minimize the creation of waste, and wherever possible, recycle materials. We will dispose of all wastes through safe and responsible methods.

4. Wise Use of Energy.

We will make every effort to use environmentally safe and sustainable energy sources to meet our needs. We will invest in and promote energy efficiency and conservation in our operations and that of our citizens.

5. Risk Reduction.

We will minimize the environmental, health and safety risks to our employees and the communities in which we operate by employing safe technologies and operating procedures and by being constantly prepared for emergencies.

6. Safe Products and Services.

We will provide services that minimize adverse environmental impacts and that are safe for consumers. We will inform consumers of the environmental impacts of our services.

7.Damage Compensation.

We will take responsibility for any harm we cause to the environment by making every effort to fully restore the environment and to compensate those persons who are adversely affected.

8. Disclosure.

We will disclose to our employees and to the public incidents relating to our operations that cause environmental harm or pose health or safety hazards. We will disclose potential environmental, health, or safety hazards posed by our operations, and we will not take any action against employees who report any condition that creates a danger to the environment or poses health and safety hazards.

9. Environmental Directors and Managers.

At least one member of management will be a person qualified to represent environmental interests, and will commit management resources to implement these Principles.

10. Annual Assessment.

We will conduct and make public an annual self-evaluation of our progress in implementing these Principles and in complying with all applicable laws and regulations.

Endorsed by the Ashland City Council May 15, 1990

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