environmental SuStainability roadmapmail.seedengr.com/documents/EnvironmentalSustainabilityRoadmap… · 4 environmental SuStainability roadmap: a toolkit for local GovernmentS methodology

environmental SuStainability roadmap: a toolkit for local GovernmentS

2009

YEAR

cover photo: St. louis forest park trail (liz forrestal)

photo above: William a. kerr building, downtown St. louis | leed® platinum (tim montgomery, tma architects llc)

1

table of contents

I. Introduction Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

What is Sustainability?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Why Should Communities Care? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Local Government Sustainability in the St. Louis Region . . 8

Ongoing Commitment of FOCUS St. Louis . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

II. The Process of SustainabilityThe Five Step Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

III. Transportation and Land UseSummary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Implementation Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Best Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Funding Opportunities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

IV. Open SpaceSummary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Implementation Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Best Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Funding Opportunities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

V. StormwaterSummary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24


Implementation Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Best Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Funding Opportunities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

VI. Energy and WaterSummary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30



Best Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Funding Opportunities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

VII. Materials ProcurementSummary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36



Best Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Funding Opportunities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

VIII. Appendices A: Glossary Of Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

B: Leading Sustainability Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

C: Open Space Assessment Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

D: Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

2 environmental SuStainability roadmap: a toolkit for local GovernmentS

summarySustainability has become one of the leading buzzwords in

the last decade. being “green” is in these days. it seems nearly

everyone is more aware of the threat of climate change. Some

are examining energy alternatives to burning fossil fuels or

nuclear power, while others desire to lower their dependence

on foreign fuels and other increasingly expensive sources. a

once small interest in alternative energy sources has become

mainstream for these and other reasons. in addition, more and

more citizens value recycling, realize the importance of clean

water, and perhaps due in part to public health concerns, are

willing to make sacrifices to achieve cleaner air. as a result,

an increasing number of people are focused on preventing

further harm to the environment and our communities. indeed,

a paradigm shift is taking place in how we live and act as a

society, with a goal of leaving a better world for our children

and grandchildren than we ourselves inherited. but what can

we really do about it, and where does the responsibility lie to

act on this seemingly overwhelming issue?

While the United States Federal government is taking a

leadership role in sustainability initiatives, cities and counties

across the country have also made the effort to make their

communities more environmentally sustainable. Although policy

debates typically take place at the national and international

level, local governments are frequently on the front lines in the

fight against increased emissions, poor solid waste decisions,

and dirty air and water. They are taking the notion of “Think

Globally, Act Locally” to heart.

What does this edict mean for the St. Louis region? How can

our fragmented region, with hundreds of general purpose local

governments in two states, transected by two major rivers, act

locally to be effective in the fight against climate change? Some

of our region’s municipalities have a long history of incorporating

environmental practices into their routines. Others have only

recently integrated green practices into their processes or

revised regulations requiring new buildings to be more sensitive

to the environment and its resources. Many others have not yet

considered what their role in environmental sustainability might

be. But all can play a significant role in making progress towards

environmental sustainability goals.

St. Louis faces serious region-wide environmental issues.

In 2003, an additional 2,257 square miles were added to the

St. Louis metropolitan area to reflect the incorporation of

outlying areas. During the same period (between 2000 and

2005), however, population density in the region fell by 21

percent, illustrating continued land-use expansion without

increased population growth. Not surprisingly then, in 2004

St. Louis ranked 6th in the number of freeway lane miles

per square-mile of land at 1.9, behind only San Antonio,

San Francisco, Baltimore, San Diego and Los Angeles.

While the region’s air quality has steadily improved over the

last 15 years, St. Louis still experienced an average of 13 days per

year where ozone measurements exceeded the health-based

standard for the time period reported, ranking sixth, tied with

Cleveland. The St. Louis region in 2006 also ranked 5th worst

in the country for asthma risk.

Consequently, according to the Environmental Resource

Handbook, 3rd Edition (2005), the St. Louis metropolitan area

ranks near the bottom of the Green Metro Index – 3rd worst

(88th out of 90) behind Indianapolis and Detroit – which

compares the nation’s largest metropolitan areas on measures

of environmental quality and performance with regard to air

quality, toxic releases, Super Fund sites, energy use, mass transit

use, and motor vehicle use. Some of these indicators, such

as motor vehicle use, are a direct result of decisions made by

local government. Energy use can also be associated with local

ordinances and building codes. Other indicators, such as air

quality and mass transit use, while local in nature, are indirectly

related and would benefit from a regional planning approach.

“there is a growing recognition

that local governments can

be ideal institutions to tackle

environmental sustainability...

[they] realize that an

improved environment is a

strong indicator of a healthy

community and increases the

desirability of a community.”

i. introduction

3

Clearly, there is a need to improve the quality of the environment

in the St. Louis region, and there’s no better place to start than at

the local level. Cultivating efforts at the local level – municipal or

county – can lead to regional initiatives.

Michele Betsill, associate professor of political science at

Colorado State University, has identified three barriers to local

sustainability issues in her discussion paper Localizing Local

Climate Change: Controlling Greenhouse Gas Emissions in

U.S. Cities. These are the government’s internal structure, staff

availability to oversee new programs and the availability of funds

for environmental initiatives. This Roadmap has been created to

address these challenges and bring the best practices, resources,

recommendations and case studies together in a usable format

to help local communities get easily onto the path towards

environmental sustainability.

In the past, one of the fundamental barriers to local action

on sustainability was getting an issue that has traditionally

been national or international in scope on the local agenda.

There is a growing recognition that local governments can

be ideal institutions to tackle environmental sustainability.

Local governments adopt their own policies with respect

to energy codes, land use decisions, residential and

commercial regulations, transit options and solid waste

disposal. A local official who has demonstrated concern

for environmental issues can be an effective catalyst for

change. Local governments can also be leaders in the

community – and region – by acting in a more sustainable

manner. This sets an example of government commitment

and may also generate additional support for broader,

community-based initiatives. It is often easier to change

municipal policy internally before rolling out community-

wide programs.

Fortunately, a growing number of local governments realize

that an improved environment is a strong indicator of a healthy

community and increases the desirability of a community.

There is a long history of parkland, recreational amenities and

public institutions like zoos and museums equating to a high

quality of life. In more recent years, amenities such as light rail

and bike trails have been associated with strong communities,

and now, strong environmental initiatives are the marks of our

most progressive areas. People are attracted to progressive

neighborhoods.

St. Louis Community College Wildwood Campus, LEED® Gold

Photo: Jerry Seegers


methodologyin the spring of 2008, the focuS St. louis community policy

committee and staff researched policy initiatives in the St.

louis region, looking for something that was lacking and yet

“ripe” for study and action. local environmental sustainability

and stewardship was often mentioned as something that

needed attention. committee members found that there was

not a comprehensive source for local governments in the area

to learn more about sustainability initiatives or other positive

steps they can take to increase their level of environmental

stewardship. recycling programs, green purchasing, community

education programs, water conservation, sustainable

infrastructure development, preservation of natural resources,

among others, are all examples of how a municipal government

can be involved in environmental sustainability. the committee

determined that more encouragement and recognition of the

potential for local governments to make a difference in this

area is needed.

As a result, in June 2008, the FOCUS Board of Directors

voted to convene a citizen task force to examine environmental

sustainability from the perspective of local governments in the

St. Louis Region. Specifically:

Using national and local resources, the task force

was charged with identifying standards and best

practices that can be applied to general purpose

local governments in the St. Louis region to

increase their level of environmental stewardship

and sustainability. The Taskforce also was charged

with creating tools for local governments to

understand and assess where they stand today.

The resulting tools will help local elected officials

to identify potential obstacles and offer action

steps toward improvement.

Two co-chairs were chosen to lead the task force in the summer

of 2008. They were former Missouri State Senator Wayne Goode

and Mary Ann Lazarus, director of Sustainable Design at HOK,

a worldwide architectural firm based in St. Louis. Senator Goode

added the local government perspective to the group in addition

to his vast experience advocating for environmental issues in

the State House and Senate, while Ms. Lazarus brought the

sustainable design point of view that is critical to sustainability.

Thirty-one committed citizens, including local officials, were also

recruited to the task force. The first task force meeting was held

in October 2008, and the group met monthly until July 2009,

when the final draft of the report was completed.

The group invited several guest speakers to share their

experiences during the 10-month work effort. Some of these

speakers were from local organizations and governments,

while others represented regional and national institutions.

Please see Acknowledgements in Section VIII for details.

after several philosophical discussions on what

environmental sustainability means for the St. louis

region, the study began in earnest. the task force

started with a list of approximately 20 topics to target

for sustainability initiatives, eventually consolidating

them under five working groups to address the broad

spectrum of environmental sustainability:

I. transportation & land use

II. open space

III. stormwater

IV. energy and Water

V. materials Procurement

i. introduction

Photo: Petree Eastman

Flynn Park School vegetable garden, University CIty

5

These groups reported back with specific recommendations

for local governments based on short, mid and long-term

perspectives. In addition, the interconnectivity of these issues

was highlighted, as nothing in the environment – urban, suburban

or rural – happens in isolation, creating the possibility for regional

or sub-regional collaboration on sustainability programs.

The key to a meaningful and useful report for area local

governments was information on what cities and counties were

already doing in the way of environmental sustainability, and

what they strive for. To this end, the Environmental Sustainability

Task Force conducted a survey of local governments throughout

the region to gauge what was already being done. The

results were fundamental to the structure and content of the

recommendations. The survey results are highlighted throughout

the report and can be found in its entirety on the FOCUS St.

Louis website at http://www.focus-stl.org/.

The Toolkit or Roadmap assembled by the task force and

presented in this report illustrates the findings of our study

on sustainability issues and offers an extensive amount of

specialized knowledge and understanding of environmental

concerns in the St. Louis region. It is meant to serve as a

benchmark against which individual communities and the

region can measure themselves as they work towards becoming

environmentally sustainable. In July 2009, the FOCUS St. Louis

Board of Directors reviewed the final report from the task force

and unanimously approved the report recommendations.

In July, 2009, a number of cities in St. Louis County

assembled to discuss ways to reduce the amount of

energy consumed by street lights. The cities included in

the conversation were University City, St. Ann, Fenton,

Hazelwood, Richmond Heights, Clayton, Ferguson,

Webster Groves, St. John, Rock Hill, Maplewood, Ballwin,

Olivette, Creve Coeur, Eureka, Maryland Heights and

Kirkwood. Representatives of St. Louis County, the

Municipal League, Sustainable St. Louis and Energy

Solutions were also in attendance.

Ameren owns, operates and maintains the street lights

and bills cities for the energy consumed. These cities are

coordinating their efforts; researching ways to retrofit

poles with more energy-efficient lights or perhaps

decommission certain lights if not needed. This regional

collaboration would save valuable tax dollars for residents

as well as reduce the amount of energy used.

Source: Petree Eastman

Photo: Liz Forrestal

St. Louis Forest Park walking trail

caSe Study

http://www.focus-stl.org/


What Is sustaInabIlIty?

Sustainability entered the mainstream with this definition

in the Brundtland Report over 20 years ago, and it is the most

commonly used definition for the term. Sustainability means the

integration of environmental, economic, and social networks. It

means enduring individual well-being and satisfaction. It means

living completely within nature’s limits, with a prosperous

economy, in healthy communities, with a high quality of life for

all citizens. Indeed, the term sustainable can be given a stable

and useful meaning only by building it into a comprehensive

theory of environmental management. Sustainability is about

making choices that nourish and prolong the individual,

the community and the ecosystem.

Nothing in society occurs in isolation. Everything is a

system of interdependencies, sometimes obvious but more

often hidden. Any discussion of sustainability includes three

areas: the environment, the economy and social aspects of

the community. Much like a three-legged stool, the interaction

and balance of all three keep communities viable. Stress in

any one area or imbalance among the three areas results in

instability, unreliability and costly efforts to ameliorate the

resulting problems.

A common example of the interconnectivity among the

environment, the economy and the social aspects of community

is the relationship of transportation and land use decisions

to air quality goals. Land use decisions (i.e., zoning) have a

major impact on individuals’ travel patterns. For instance, the

location of a large retail facility affects a person’s transportation

options that, in turn, affect traffic volumes and subsequently

auto emissions. Also, transportation policy decisions determine

how land will be used, such as creating impervious streets and

parking lots, and therefore impact the types of businesses

that locate in a given area. In this scenario, three sustainability

concerns are highlighted:

1. Increased motor vehicle traffic affects air quality and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, increasing the carbon footprint.

2. Development decisions can impact open space and prime farmlands, which serve as carbon sinks, and the beneficial process of carbon sequestration.

3. Transportation and development patterns affect air quality and stormwater runoff, impacting health and wellness of humans and natural habitats.

Development is sustainable “if it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” - Our Common Future, a report from the Brundtland Commission

Prairie in St. Louis Forest Park

i. introduction

Photo: Liz Forrestal

7

Local, state and regional leaders can enhance the quality of

life and the economic competitiveness of the area by making

progress towards sustainability on a continual basis. “Business

as usual is not an option,” states the Stern Review on the

Economics of Climate Change, released in 2006. Being

“green” is no longer a matter of aesthetics or divisive political

correctness. In fact, sustainable living is the ticket to economic

survival, jobs, cost savings, and leadership. Thinking sustainably,

along with consistently evaluating and improving processes,

operations and policies, will result in:

• A more robust local and regional economy.

• Improved air and water quality.

• Increased productivity and improved quality of life.

Since the environment within which we all live is shared,

the actions and efforts—or lack thereof—of any community

can directly impact communities and constituencies beyond

its own borders. Issues of transportation and land use,

open space, stormwater, energy and water, and materials

procurement can either serve as a benefit to the community

or be obstacles to its current and future well-being.

Benefits can include cost savings, increased efficiencies in

service delivery and improved quality of life, among others.

Obstacles may involve increased expenses in service delivery,

emergency remediation associated with lack of preventive

interventions, and/or health and safety concerns for residents.

Why should communItIes care?

Novus International Global Headquarters, St. Charles County | LEED® Platinum

In August of 2009, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources

awarded the Missouri Botanical Garden a grant to provide partial

funding for the Missouri Botanical Garden Deer Creek Watershed

Initiative project to help protect citizens and the environment

by improving water quality in the Deer Creek Watershed. Deer

Creek originates near Creve Coeur and flows southwest 10.8

miles before it enters the River des Peres at Maplewood. The

Deer Creek watershed encompasses multiple municipalities

and includes Deer Creek, Two-Mile Creek, Sebago Creek, Shady

Grove Creek and Black Creek. The goal of the program is to

reduce organic waste pollution in the Deer Creek watershed,

primarily though the use of bioretention or rain gardens and

other green infrastructure methods. Initiative strategies include

work with schools, demonstration projects, data collection

and community outreach in partnership with a wide variety

of organizations throughout the region.

caSe Study


Through an online survey, FOCUS St. Louis collected data on

current sustainability practices of local governments within the

St. Louis region, representing 16 counties in Missouri and Illinois.

In all, 46 municipalities or counties responded, representing

communities with as few as several hundred residents and those

with greater than fifteen thousand. The responding communities

ranged from Washington, Missouri to St. Paul, Missouri, in St.

Charles County, to Staunton and O’Fallon in Illinois. Smaller

communities such as Uplands Park, Huntleigh and Sycamore

Hills, Missouri also participated. The City of East St. Louis, Illinois,

Cottleville, Pevely and Ferguson, Missouri also responded.

All of the respondents felt that “sustainability” was an important

issue for their community and more than 80 percent felt that

sustainability initiatives could have both direct and indirect

economic benefits for their community. However, as reflected in

Table 1, the ability to actually advance a sustainability agenda is

a challenge, and success varies significantly depending on the

size of the community, with the smaller communities facing the

greatest hurdles.

The survey responses also indicated that all communities

desire more information about programs and what other

communities are doing to address sustainability issues.

Respondents were particularly interested in financial resources,

available technical assistance and a toolkit or roadmap to

allow their communities to advance sustainability more directly.

The survey in its entirety can be found on the FOCUS

St. Louis website at http://www.focus-stl.org/.

Many of the sustainability initiatives and programs

discussed in this report lend themselves to regional collaboration.

A logical cluster of governments, particularly smaller ones,

could purchase products in bulk, thereby saving expense and

delivery trips, putting fewer trucks on the road and helping

traffic congestion. Less traffic also leads to improved regional

air quality. This is but one example; there are many possibilities.

The task force urges local governments to consider acting

regionally, partnering with neighboring jurisdictions as they

pursue environmental sustainability.

Smaller local governments also may not have the staff

expertise or funding to take on many of the recommendations

in this report. It may be more practical for them to partner

with neighboring municipalities to cost-share in implementing

the recommendations outlined in each section of this report.

In that way, small municipalities will be able to remain

competitive and attractive places to live and work.

local goVernment sustaInabIlIty In the st. louIs regIon

table 1 actionS taken by municipalitieS/countieS

Designated individual or group assigned responsibility for overseeing implementation of sustainability initiatives

Have adopted sustainability policies

Considering adoption of sustainability policies

Provide education for citizens about sustainability issues

Considering providing education about sustainability issues

(1) Fewer than 5,000 inhabitants

(2) Between 5,000 and 15,000 inhabitants

(3) Greater than 15,000 inhabitants

Municipality/coMMunity Size

SMALL (1)

45%

5%

27%

14%

29%

MEDIUM (1)

70%

20%

50%

11%

44%

LARGE (1)

86%

33%

48%

48%

28%

i. introduction


9

As the quality and content of best practice resources changes

rapidly, FOCUS will continue to provide updates to these and

other resources via the FOCUS St. Louis Web site for use by

local government officials and residents. FOCUS will also use

its e-newsletter to provide tips and tools for its members. It

will facilitate on-line discussions on relevant topics via “blogs”

and other social media available. The survey indicated that 85

percent of the responding communities would participate in

a Green Government Listserve to discuss sustainability issues.

There clearly is a desire to use modern technology

to discuss these issues “digitally.”

FOCUS St. Louis will advocate on behalf of the environmental

sustainability recommendations made in this report. FOCUS

will also work to ensure that the recommendations in this

report are being implemented and that progress is being

made by local communities.

focuS St. louis’ role is to work collaboratively with regional

environmental organizations and local governments to help

implement the report’s recommendations. organizations

like Sustainable St. louis, the east West Gateway council of

Governments and the St. louis county municipal league are

logical partners who have already invested in this work.

ongoIng commItment of FOCUS ST. LOUIS

Focus St. Louis Office

On February 16, 2005 the Kyoto Protocol, the international

agreement to address climate disruption, became law for the 141

countries that ratified it. On that same day, Seattle Mayor Greg

Nickels launched the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection

Agreement initiative to advance the goals of the Kyoto Protocol

through leadership and action. By the 2005 U.S. Conference of

Mayors Annual Meeting in June of that year, 141 mayors had signed

the Agreement—the same number of nations that ratified the

Kyoto Protocol. As of September 2007, 884 mayors had signed

the agreement. Under the Agreement, participating cities commit

to take the following three actions:

• Strive to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets in their own communities, through actions ranging from anti-sprawl land-use policies to urban forest restoration projects to public information campaigns.

• Urge their state governments and the Federal government to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the greenhouse gas emission reduction target suggested for the United States in the Kyoto Protocol, a seven percent reduction from 1990 levels by 2012.

• Urge the U.S. Congress to pass the greenhouse gas reduction legislation, which would establish a national emission trading system.

As of September 2009, these 14 cities in the St. Louis

metropolitan region have signed the agreement:

Alton, IL

Clayton, MO

Creve Coeur, MO

Edwardsville, IL

Florissant, MO

Kirkwood, MO

Lake Saint Louis, MO

For more information see:

http://www.usmayors.org/climateprotection/agreement.htm

Maplewood, MO

Overland, MO

South Roxana, IL

St. Louis, MO

St. Peters, MO

Sunset Hills, MO

University City, MO

Photo: Sam Fentress

caSe Study

http://www.usmayors.org/climateprotection/agreement.htm


the five Step proceSS

“The very goal of sustainable living is a moving, changing target, to be defined as part of a process and refined as more experience pours in”

These are the words of eminent scholars and ecologists, C.S. Holling and Lance

Gunderson, in their book Panarchy: Understanding Transformations in Human

and Natural Systems (2001). They underscore the importance of the “process”

for all initiatives toward sustainability.

a path toWardS SuStainability

Each topic area in the following sections

contains recommendations and implementation

strategies for local municipalities and counties

to undertake. The following process steps

serve as a common pathway to move

forward in all areas and gain the

maximum benefit across issues:

ii. the proceSS of SuStainability

2Step

The Five STep proceSS oF SuSTainabiliTy

1Step

2 assess the SituationDetermine which environmental indicators

your community will track and establish a baseline.

Consider undertaking a greenhouse gas inventory

along with other evaluations. A greenhouse gas

inventory has the advantage of tieing many sustainable

initiatives to a common metric. Other assessments can help

focus priorities, such as open space assessments, transportation studies

and others that are referenced in this Roadmap. This allows local governments

to set measurable goals and track progress as implementation proceeds.

1 commit to actionCommitting to action starts the process of achieving

sustainability, both in city operations and community-

wide. Identify and empower a Sustainability Champion

or committee to direct an overall sustainability program.

Connect with local citizen-based initiatives. Consider

modeling good practices in your own operations and

facilities to serve as an example to the whole community.

11

the SuStainability reSearch iS orGanized into five topic areaS, includinG:

1. Transportation and Land Use

2. Open Space

3. Stormwater

4. Energy and Water

5. Materials Procurement

the recommendationS have been Grouped into three cateGorieS:

Getting Started – these are start-up activities

and actions that communities can address

fairly easily and quickly and that will yield

early results to promote further action.

on the Way – these are actions that will

propel outcomes further into the community,

take more effort and potentially require

funding by the local government.

Sustaining – these actions promote

long-term results that will have impact

over many generations.

3

4

5Step

Step

Step3 Make plansStrong plans addressing the many

different environmental indicators in

the community integrate a number

of different elements dynamically,

and evolve over time to anticipate

and respond to changing conditions.

Informed long-range goals and

practical, achievable interim goals

are the key to long-term success

for all sustainability programs.

5 Measure andcelebrate SuccessMonitor performance to track

success. Measurable success helps to

achieve long-term goals and maintain

momentum. It also makes it possible

to refine policies and programs by

learning what works and what does

not. Continual measurement allows

you to promote success while

creating opportunities to highlight

the cumulative impact of many actions.

4 implementAlong with a thorough planning process, careful implementation

is essential to successful sustainability initiatives. Launch new

initiatives quickly, so the community can get a big boost with

“quick wins” – actions that can be implemented within a few

months, have low capital costs, and promise benefits that

will become apparent within a year.

each topic iS orGanized by:

1. Summary

2. Recommendations

3. Implementation Strategies

4. Best Practices

5. Funding Opportunities

orGanization of thiS roadmap


transportation and land use are key elements in planning for

communities. transportation decisions include the location and

design of streets, sidewalks and parking, as well as the design

of lanes, paths and parking facilities for bicycles. land use

refers to the types of buildings and uses that are associated

with a particular parcel of land—such as residential, commercial

or agricultural. municipalities use zoning to influence the land

use decisions of individuals and developers.

At the local level, land use and transportation decisions are

intimately related. Land use zoning decisions have a major

impact on individual travel patterns. For example, the location of

a large retail facility will affect traffic volumes and transportation

options. Conversely, transportation policy decisions also affect

land use. The design of streets and streetscapes affect how

people use surrounding land and what kinds of businesses

locate in a given area.

The transportation and land use decisions made by

municipalities have a major impact on environmental quality.

Many changes can be implemented at fairly low cost, and in

fairly short time periods. But major change in transportation

systems and land use patterns can take years, or even decades,

to create. It requires a long-term commitment to fully integrate

sustainability concepts into land use and transportation

decisions. Leadership in this area requires a willingness to think

not only about short-term benefits, but also about implications

for future generations.

In the short and medium term, though, local planners can

enhance the quality of life - and the competitiveness - of their

communities by making incremental changes in land use and

transportation policies. Examples of policy decisions include

steps to make streetscapes more pedestrian and bicycle friendly,

or zoning rules that allow some mixed-use development or

promote other environmentally positive outcomes.

Local transportation and land use decisions have major

environmental impacts. For example:

• Increases in motor vehicle traffic can affect air quality and greenhouse gas emissions. Sixty percent of automobile pollution is created in the first few minutes of operation before pollution control devices can work effectively. When streets are built to accommodate the human scale – making biking and walking easier – the number of short trips can be reduced dramatically.

• Developing greenfields eliminates prime farmland and other open space.

• Transportation and development patterns affect stormwater runoff and water quality.

Aside from environmental concerns, municipalities have many other reasons to think creatively about land use and transportation decisions:

• There is evidence that homebuyers increasingly favor walkable, mixed-use communities. Examples in the St. Louis area include the popularity of the New Town development in St. Charles, as well as the increasing demand for homes in St. Louis’ downtown loft district. A recent national survey showed that more than half of all adults believe that walkability is an important consideration in housing decisions.

• Encouraging more walking, biking and mass transit use can reduce both transportation costs for individuals and infrastructure costs for municipalities.

• Walkable and attractive streetscapes enhance the economic vitality of communities. They serve as destinations, are good commercial addresses, and provide location value to businesses that power the local economy.

• Creating walkable and bikable spaces offers an opportunity to re-integrate physical activity into our daily routines. Investing in active transportation can be a significant step to address the increasing rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other maladies.

While every street is unique, community infrastructure that encourages bicycling and walking may include the following features:

• Sidewalks and walkways, which separate pedestrians from vehicular traffic keeping everyone safer.

• Accessible curb cuts and ramps, which create a friendly environment without obstructions for the free movement of people on the public ways.

• Median islands on wide streets, which provide a refuge for pedestrians at crosswalks, and have a calming effect on traffic in certain instances.

• Plantings such as trees, grass, or flowers along the roadway, which serve to calm traffic and create a welcoming environment for people to get out of their cars and walk or bike to their destinations.

• Paved shoulders, which provide a more comfortable situation on the roadways so that cyclists and motorists have more room to maneuver and cooperate while using the roads.

• Shared Lane Markings, or “Sharrows,” which serve to educate both cyclists and motorists about the best lane position for cyclists.

• Inviting and accessible transit stops, which encourage people to use transit and leave their cars at home.

• Secure bicycle parking in commercial districts, including bike racks and bike lockers, which help to make running errands, shopping, and visiting cafes by bike simple and convenient.

• Calming motor vehicle traffic (less than 30 mph preferred), which creates a safer and more inviting atmosphere for human beings on the streets. Examples of traffic calming measures include roundabouts, speed humps, partial closures or “bicycle boulevards,” raised crosswalks, curb extensions, etc.

transPortatIon & land use summary

iii. tranSportation and land uSe

13

As with the other topic areas in this report, there is a very

strong rationale for the goal of reducing auto-dependency by

providing more mass transit-oriented development, as well as

bicycle-friendly and pedestrian friendly amenities. However, as

indicated by the following survey responses in Table 2, a gap

exists between the goal and implementation. Fully half of all

municipalities/counties that responded to the survey said they

have not yet taken any actions to move their communities closer

to the goal of reducing dependency on motor vehicles.

As would be expected, the survey also indicated that larger

communities are more likely to have taken at least one of the

actions (85 percent), with 50 percent of the medium-sized

communities adopting at least one, and only 18 percent of the

smaller communities. Resources are listed in the Best Practices

Section that address these concerns.


Adopt street design standards that ensure high-quality bike and pedestrian accommodations

Adopt a local Complete Streets policy

Adopt a policy that specifies a percent of public works funds for non-vehicular transportation

Adopt transportation plan that integrates all modes of transportation

Adopt updated design manual that specifies best-practice treatments for non-vehicular infrastructure

Adopt codes that promote transit-oriented development and promotion of mixed-use districts

None of the Above

31%

4%

10%

29%

12%

29%

50%

%


Getting Started • Assess the walk/bike friendliness of the community

using readily available assessment tools. For example, a community can apply for a Bicycle Friendly Community designation from the League of American Bicyclists and learn through that process where improvements are needed.

• Review existing standards, design guidelines and land use policies in the community for conformity with Complete Streets principles.

• Enroll in Metro’s Partial Expense Reduction for Commuters (PERC) program to encourage city employees to use mass transit.

• Engage the police department in enforcing and educating the public about bicycle safety laws.

• Provide professional development for staff regarding best practices.

• Provide preferential parking for carpoolers, hybrid car users and those driving vehicles with better fuel efficiency.

• Provide free parking for employees who ride-share.

• Subsidize bus and light rail fees for city staff.

• Initiate a car/van-pool program.

• Encourage parking at remote Park and Ride Lots.

• Allow fleet vehicles to be used for employee carpools.

• Encourage enrollment in RideFinders and other regional carpooling programs.

• Encourage community-car options.

• Provide shower facilities and lockers at work for those who walk or bike to work in summer months.

• Create a monthly incentive program for bikers and walkers within a larger overall employee wellness program.

• Create awareness campaigns to highlight the availability of alternative transportation options – bus routes and times, availability of bike routes and bike racks, etc.

• Create additional bike trails and bike-only lanes on roads.

on the Way• Adopt a Complete Streets ordinance encouraging city staff to

consider the needs of pedestrians, bikers and the disabled in planning and engineering.

• Incorporate Complete Streets principles in comprehensive plan updates.

• Revise zoning ordinances to allow dense and mixed-use communities. Encourage parking lots in the rear of buildings or in concentrated parking garages.

• Consider the needs of pedestrians and cyclists in neighborhood, subarea and corridor plans.

• Update local street design guidelines and standards with a focus on encouraging non-motorized travel. Use traffic calming measures such as curb bump-outs and raised intersections.

• Adopt streetscape requirements, including landscaping and lighting, to create pleasant, human-scale environments.

• Consider alternatives to widening streets in order to deal with congestion.

• Encourage employers to provide bike parking, showers and lockers for non-motorized commuters.

• Develop an off-road network of greenways and trails, as well as an on-road network of bicycle facilities.

• Convert part of city car fleet to other modes (e.g., bikes and horses for the police department).

Sustaining• Enforce commitment to walkable communities through

permitting processes. Hold developers to local standards, with variances only in extenuating circumstances.

• Use redevelopment sites as opportunities for dense, walkable, and mixed-use communities.

• Target compact growth in existing centers and along existing corridors.

• Allocate transportation funds in a way that reflects the desired mode split.

• Initiate or enhance a public campaign to support transit.

• Work with regional, state and federal elected officials to create opportunities for transit oriented development.

• Work with neighboring cities, East West Gateway Council of Governments, and Great Rivers Greenway District to ensure a seamless, connected, and safe transportation network for bicycles and pedestrians.

recommendatIons


Partnering with Trailnet, the Cities of Ferguson

and Desoto in Missouri established the state’s

first Complete Streets policies. For more

on Complete Streets and Trailnet, see the

Transportation and Land Use Best Practices

or visit these two websites:

http://www.completestreets.org

and http://www.trailnet.org

caSe Study


http://www.trailnet.org

15

1. appoint someone to lead the effort to increase the sustainability of your community’s transportation systems and land use network. As these are rather large topics and include several facets of the community’s fabric, a transportation and land use Sustainability committee might be better suited to deal with the challenges ahead. At a minimum, members of the local government’s departments of Planning and Public Works would be appropriate to serve on this committee.

2. assess the walk/bike friendliness of your community, or perhaps do one section of your community at a time. There are a few available tools for starting this process:

• The WalkScore Google Maps application gives a quick numerical walkability rating for any address in the United States: http://www.walkscore.com

• The Active Living Resource Center discusses several assessment strategies: http://www.activelivingresources.org/yourcommunity6.php

3. assess land use patterns in the community, particularly the way transportation systems and land uses are connected. Then revise your local government’s comprehensive or master plans to reflect any changes desired to further your sustainability initiatives. Keep in mind that:

• Comprehensive plans establish a vision for the city’s future. Various elements are included; among them are land use, housing, transportation, and urban design.

• Zoning ordinances regulate land use, typically by designating permitted uses of land on mapped zones. The Best Practices section discusses several zoning tools that communities can use to create more walkable mixed-use communities, including flex zoning, form-based codes and overlay zones.

• Subdivision ordinances should also reflect desired amendments. The purpose of the subdivision ordinance is to control the division of land within your community.

• The ideas of density, walkability and mixed-use development can be integrated into neighborhood and sub-area plans.

4. implement your plans. If changes were made to your plans, codes or development process, make them permanent in your code, if appropriate. Decisions codified in zoning and subdivision ordinances are enforced with building permits. Use the changes to your comprehensive plan to evaluate future proposals. Utilize the zoning tools in the Best Practices section.

5. Make changes to the transportation system to make your community more bicycle-friendly and more walkable. Be sure to include these elements in future development applications. As structures become obsolete, redevelopment offers the opportunity to create inviting and walkable neighborhoods. For example, some towns across the country have converted obsolete shopping malls into attractive, mixed-use town centers.

6. Continue to update and revise plans and ordinances as needed. Measure your success and celebrate these achievements. Monitoring and assessment should be a part of any ongoing sustainability plan. Determine what does not work and make changes accordingly. Communities are dynamic and ever-changing. Plans for them need to keep pace and change as well.

bicycle reSourceS

Bicycle Master Plans (BMP): Information on developing a BMP for your community may be found at the following locations:

• Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals: http://www.apbp.org/

• National Center for Bicycling and Walking: http://www.bikewalk.org/

• St. Louis Regional Bicycling and Walking Transportation Plan: http://www.ewgateway.org/library/reports/reports-pg1/reports-pg1.htm#bikeped

An incentive program similar to the PERC program is the

Bike Commuter Tax Credit. This program offers about $20/

month to employees through an employer-based incentive

program. http://www.bikeleague.org/news/100708faq.php

The League of American Bicyclists offers a Bicycle Friendly

Community designation. Applying for this designation helps a

community learn where improvements are needed. http://www.

bikeleague.org/programs/bicyclefriendlyamerica/communities

St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation (BikeFed): BikeFed

provides assistance to create bicycle-friendly communities

throughout the St. Louis region. It offers municipalities and

businesses expert assistance with bicycle parking and other

bicycle-friendly infrastructure while advocating for the rights

of bicyclists at the local, state and federal levels.

http://stlbikefed.org

The police department in your community can play a role

in enforcing laws related to bicycle safety. In lieu of a fine,

police can hand cyclists or motorists information about laws

related to road safety. A complete bicycle safety curriculum

for law enforcement is available from the National Highways

and Transportation Safety Administration at: http://www.nhtsa.

dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.810acaee50c651189ca8e4

10dba046a0/

ImPlementatIon strategIes

best PractIces

Begun in 2005, the Cool Cities campaign empowers

city residents and local leaders to join and encourage

their cities to implement smart energy solutions to save

money and build a cleaner, safer future. More information,

including additional resources, can be found here:

http://coolcities.us/

As of September, 2009, these 12 cities in the St. Louis

metropolitan region have become “cool cities”:

Alton, IL, Belleville, IL, Clayton, MO, Creve Coeur, MO,

Edwardsville, IL, Florissant, MO, Kirkwood, MO, Maplewood,

MO, Olivette, MO, St. Louis, MO, Sunset Hills, MO,

University City, MO

caSe Study

http://www.walkscore.com

http://www.activelivingresources.org/yourcommunity6.php

http://www.activelivingresources.org/yourcommunity6.php

http://www.apbp.org/

http://www.bikewalk.org/

http://www.ewgateway.org/library/Reports/Reports-Pg1/reports-pg1.htm#BikePed

http://www.ewgateway.org/library/Reports/Reports-Pg1/reports-pg1.htm#BikePed

http://www.bikeleague.org/news/100708faq.php

http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bicyclefriendlyamerica/communities

http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bicyclefriendlyamerica/communities

http://stlbikefed.org

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.810acaee50c651189ca8e410dba046a0/





local and national reSourceS

The Center for Clean Air Policy’s Transportation and Climate

Change Program has resources to reduce transportation

emissions with improved land use and travel efficiency.

http://www.ccap.org/index.php?component=programs&id=35

Great Streets: The East-West Gateway Council of Governments

launched the St. Louis Great Streets Initiative in early 2006 to

expand the way communities think of their streets. The goal

of the initiative is to trigger economic and social benefits by

centering communities on interesting, lively and attractive

streets that serve all modes of transportation.

http://www.greatstreetsstlouis.net/

Programs to encourage alternate modes of transportation,

such as a Partial Expense Reduction for Commuters (PERC)

program, offer certain benefits to businesses and their

employees. As the program operates on a pre-tax basis,

employees benefit by having their taxable income reduced.

It also reduces their out-of-pocket cost for transit.

http://www.cleanair-stlouis.com/businesses-get-involved.html

Trailnet is a St. Louis based non-profit organization with a

20-year history of Promoting Active Living - a way of life that

encourages people to integrate physical activity into their daily

routines. http://www.trailnet.org

Trailnet’s Healthy, Active & Vibrant Community Toolkit is a

comprehensive and visually compelling document that presents

an exciting vision for the future of our communities—a future

built around quality of life, health, vibrant local economies, and

the environment. http://www.trailnet.org/haVc_toolkit.php

park and recreation diStrictS

The Great Rivers Greenway District (GRG): The creation of

this district was approved by voters in November of 2000.

It serves St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles

County in Missouri. The District works for a clean, green,

connected St. Louis region. To deliver on its mission, the

District is spearheading the development of the River Ring,

an interconnected system of greenways, parks and trails that

will encircle the St. Louis region, enhancing the quality of life

for residents and visitors. GRG offers assistance with planning,

and can assist with applications for transportation enhancement

funding. http://www.greatrivers.info

The Metro East Park and Recreation District (MEPRD): Metro

East’s park district was also formed by voters in November

2000. It is responsible for the development of parks, trails,

and greenways within the boundaries of Madison and St. Clair

Counties in Illinois. The District supplements the efforts of local

governments, special districts, and other jurisdictions already

engaged in the management of parks and recreational facilities.

http://www.meprd.org/

Counties and municipalities receive funding from the same

1/10 cent sales tax approved by referendum in 2000 for parks

and trails. This same tax funds Great Rivers Greenway and the

Metro East Park and Recreation District. The State of Missouri

also provides some funding through park grants. With vision, all

four entities on both sides of the Mississippi River could work

together to build an interconnected system of trails and parks.

Street deSiGn

Bicycle and pedestrian friendly infrastructure can improve the

quality of life in a community while reducing pollution. Complete

Streets are streets designed, built and operated to be safe

and convenient for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists,

motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities.


zoninG toolS

Zoning and subdivision ordinances must be tailored to an

individual community. Below are a few techniques that some

communities across the country have found useful for promoting

dense, walkable, mixed-use communities. Not all will be

appropriate for every community, but they represent a menu

of options that may be useful.

Flex Zoning in areas of transition between commercial and

residential streets can help communities accommodate the

natural evolution of land use as market needs change. Flex

zoning permits the developer or building owner to change

the use of the building (assuming that building codes are met

for the new use) without undergoing a lengthy variance or

approval process. As a result, building owners are better able

to capitalize on fluctuating market demands and buildings

can accommodate retail, office, or residential space as needed.

For more information see the International City/County

Management Association’s (ICMA) Getting to Smart Growth.

http://www.smartgrowth.org/pdf/gettosg.pdf

Form Based Codes use both diagrams and words to designate

appropriate form, scale and character of developments. Form-

based codes typically include public space standards, building

form standards, and clearly defined review processes and

definitions. For more information see the Form-Based Codes

Institute. http://www.formbasedcodes.org

Overlay zones build on underlying zoning by establishing

additional or stricter standards. They may be used to protect

particular natural or cultural features, such as historic districts,

waterfronts, wetlands, or downtown residential enclaves. For

more information, see the Tompkins County, New York Vital

Communities Toolkit. http://www.tompkins-co.org/planning/

vct/tool/overlayzones.html

Planned Unit Development (PUD) is a type of development that

allows a developer to meet overall community density and land

use goals while obtaining flexibility with respect to existing

zoning requirements. Using a PUD allows for innovative uses

of spaces and structures to achieve planning goals. For more

information see the State of Wisconsin, Planning Implementation

Toolkit. ftp://ftp.wi.gov/doa/public/comprehensiveplans/

implementationtoolkit/documents/pud.pdf

best PractIces (contInued)


http://www.ccap.org/index.php?component=programs&id=35

http://www.greatstreetsstlouis.net/


http://www.trailnet.org

http://www.trailnet.org/HAVC_Toolkit.php

http://www.greatrivers.info

http://www.meprd.org/


http://www.smartgrowth.org/pdf/gettosg.pdf

http://www.formbasedcodes.org

http://www.tompkins-co.org/planning/vct/tool/overlayzones.html

http://www.tompkins-co.org/planning/vct/tool/overlayzones.html

ftp://ftp.wi.gov/DOA/public/comprehensiveplans/ImplementationToolkit/Documents/PUD.pdf

ftp://ftp.wi.gov/DOA/public/comprehensiveplans/ImplementationToolkit/Documents/PUD.pdf

17

The Great Rivers Greenway District (St. Louis City and St. Louis

and St. Charles Counties in Missouri) and the Metro East Park

and Recreation District (Madison and St. Clair Counties in Illinois)

offer assistance with planning, and can assist with applications

for transportation enhancement funding.

www.greatrivers.info and

A comprehensive list of funding opportunities available to

municipalities to increase bicycling and walking is offered

through the U.S. Department of Transportation.

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bikeped/bp-guid.htm

The East West Gateway Council of Governments (EWGW)

also can assist with funding opportunities.

http://www.ewgateway.org/

Great Rivers Greenway’s idealized map of future greenway areas

fundIng oPPortunItIes

The City of Ferguson, Missouri recognizes the importance

of implementing programs in the city that promote

sustainable energy and environmental awareness. In

addition to its Complete Streets Ordinance, the Ferguson

City Council passed an ordinance that imposes new

energy conservation requirements on city operations.

The new ordinance requires the city to develop,

implement and maintain a plan to reduce energy

usage by at least 30 percent and waste generated

by 20 percent within the next five years. See the

energy ordinance at http://www.fergusoncity.com/

documentView.aspx?did=430. The City’s Downtown

Strategic Development Plan incorporated form-based

zoning. For more on form-based zoning, see the

Transportation and Land Use Best Practices. Also, see

Ferguson’s 2009 Environmental Report at http://www.

fergusoncity.com/documentView.aspx?did=437.

caSe Study

http://www.meprd.org

www.greatrivers.info

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bikeped/bp-guid.htm

http://www.ewgateway.org/

http://www.fergusoncity.com/DocumentView.aspx?DID=430




http://www.meprd.org


open Space is immediately and ultimately impacted by the

decisions and activities in each community. consequently, it

plays an integral role in all aspects of sustainability planning.

an example of the importance of open space, in the form of

natural habitats, is the role it plays in carbon sequestration.

carbon sequestration is the removal and storage of carbon

from the atmosphere into carbon sinks, such as oceans, forests

or soils, through physical or biological processes, such as

photosynthesis. in the u.S. well-established values for carbon

sequestration rates are available for most tree species. pine

plantations in the Southeast can accumulate almost 100 metric

tons of carbon per acre after 90 years, or roughly one metric

ton of carbon per acre per year. naturally removing carbon

from the atmosphere in this fashion cleans the air, reduces

temperature and aids in the fight on global warming.

Open Space areas are found in urban, suburban, and rural

locations. They can be designated areas of land or water or

zoning districts (or overlays) where development is controlled to

create undeveloped areas of land or water within a community

or region. Open Space areas are commonly open to the public;

however some can be owned by non-profit or private interests.

The purpose of Open Space is the:

• Indefinite preservation or conservation of a community or region’s natural character.

• Conservation or preservation of a land or water area for recreational, ecological, environmental, aesthetic or agricultural interests.

• Management of a community or region’s growth in terms of development, industry, or natural resources extraction.

A certain amount of overlap occurs between conservation

terms and land use planning. In the Midwest, the majority

of communities use the following terms.

• Protected areas are open spaces that are left untouched and unmanaged and access is restricted.

• Urban Open Spaces specifically refers to open space within a developed setting, such as natural landscapes, manicured urban parkland, urban forests, community gardens, and recovered brownfields.

• Greenways are vegetated, linear, multi-use corridors that span interconnected open space reserves or linear chains of connected open spaces. A version of a greenway is a recovered transportation route (usually railways) used for bicycle or pedestrian traffic.

• Green belt is a planning term used to describe a general area of open space surrounding an urban area.

• Flood control projects and protected ecological research areas may also be considered open space reserves secondary to their primary purpose.

• Nature reserves and wildlife refuges are set aside for the sake of protecting non-human species.

• National parks, state parks and municipal parks, recreation areas, and reservations are managed by government agencies for the primary purpose of passive or active human enjoyment.

• National forests, state forests, and municipal forests are set

aside for the primary purpose of forest conservation.

Communities that have a Comprehensive Open Space Plan tend

to focus primarily on traditional open space uses such as active

and passive recreation areas and trails, with much less emphasis

on preservation of natural areas. The Best Practices section

includes resources for addressing these topics in depth.

As indicated in Table 3, the most prevalent form of open space

included in survey respondents’ Comprehensive Plans was area

for passive recreation. Recreation for sports activities and trails

was also included in many plans.

One potential source for funding open space improvements is

a “parks and stormwater tax.” Survey respondents were asked

if they had such a tax, and if they did, for what purpose it was

used. The results are listed in Table 4. Note that only the larger

local governments used this tax for acquisition of open space.

Another source of funding is the portion of the 1/10 cent parks

and trails tax that is set aside for cities and counties. This tax

was approved by referendum in 2000 and funds Great Rivers

Greenway in Missouri and the Metro East Park and Recreation

District in Illinois. The Missouri Conservation Commission also

has a small grant program to improve the vegetation and

stormwater of local park lands.

oPen sPace summary

Figure 1: Assessing Open Space

basic assessment includes:• Acreage of developed versus undeveloped areas.• Acreage of park, conservation or other natural/

recreation areas.• Percentage or acreage of impervious surface area

(Data collected by your local sewer district- e.g. Metropolitan Sewer District in St. Louis).

detailed assessment includes:• Acreage of biodiverse habitat.• Size and type of vegetative cover.• Type of wildlife.• Size and type of forest.• Acreage of recreational space.• Acreage and use of conservation easements. • Acreage of land conversions into housing or

commercial space and into open space.• Percentage of open space compared to population density • Percentage of open space, compared to desirable

percentage for communities of similar density.

iV. open Space

19

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FRANKLINCOUNTY

MADISONCOUNTY

ST. CLAIRCOUNTY

JEFFERSONCOUNTY

ST. CHARLESCOUNTY

MONROECOUNTY

ST. LOUIS COUNTY

CITY OF

ST. LOUIS

BUSCH MEMORIAL CA

MERAMEC CAMERAMEC SP

KASKASKIA RIVER SFWA

COLUMBIA BOTTOM CA

WELDON SPRING CAHOWELL ISLAND CA

HORSESHOELAKE SFWA

LONG RIDGE CA

CHOUTEAU ANDGABARET ISLANDS

PELICAN ISLAND NA

LITTLE INDIAN CREEK SF

SHAWNATURE

RESERVE

DR. EDMUND BABLER SP

USACE POOL 27 MA

FOREST PARK

PEABODYRIVER KING

SFWA

ROCKWOODS RANGE

CAHOKIA MOUNDS SHS

JONES CONFLUENCE SP

RIVERLANDS AREA

ROCKWOODS RESERVATION

GREENSFELDERCOUNTY PARK

MIDDLEMISSISSIPPIRIVER NWR

DRESSER ISLAND CA

CREVE COEURCOUNTY PARK

CASTLEWOOD SP

Open SpaceSt. Louis Metropolitan Area

I0 5 10 Miles

MISSOURI

ILLINOIS

Sources: East-West Gateway Council of Governments, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Metro East Parks and Recreation District, Southwestern Illinois RC&D, St. Louis County Planning Department, St. Louis Parks Department, St. Louis Open Space Council Meramec River Greenway, City of Arnold

The map depicts "community open space" -- open space types that are maintained primarily for human utilization -- as opposed to "ecological open space" types maintained for their ecological value (e.g. wetlands). Open space types portrayed include federal lands, state parks, county parks, city/village/township parks, golf courses/country clubs, nature reserves, natural areas, wildlife areas, state historic sites, conservation areas, camps, campgrounds, stream access, sports facilities, retreat facilities, common ground, private open space, vacant open space, land trust and "other". Not included are open space such as cemeteries and school athletic facilities.

This map and data are dynamic, ever-changing works in progress and as such are subject to change without notice.

September 2007

American Discovery Trail (ADT)*

Mississippi River Trail (MRT)**

Open Space

Incorporated Areas

County Boundaries

* Federally designated as a "Millennium Trail", the ADT is a 6300+ mile multi-use, not-motorized, coast-to-coast trail.

** Conceptual. Upon completion, this biking trail will extend 2000 miles through ten states. Map depicts the portion south from downtown St. Louis as identical to the ADT.

Open Space, St. Louis Metropolitan Area

table 3 included in community’S comprehenSive plan

Recreation area for passive activity, e.g. picnic areas

Recreation area for sports (soccer, baseball, etc.)

Trails (hiking, biking, horseback)

Corridors (wildlife, riparian)

Natural habitats (restoration and maintenance program)

Native plantings (restoration program)

Community gardens

Marsh, lake, stream, river preservation

82%

69%

62%

29%

24%

22%

16%

13%

%

table 4 availability & uSe of parkS and StormWater tax

Passage of tax

Tax utilized for parks and recreation

Tax utilized for acquisition of open space





SMALL (1)

23%

60%

0%

MEDIUM (2)

60%

67%

0%

LARGE (3)

64%

93%

43%


Getting Started • Switch to using organic, chemical-free compounds

on Open Space.

• Begin a campaign to eradicate invasive and non-native plant species.

• Track costs of watering and fertilizing non-native plants.

• Review maintenance practices of parks and other public facilities for sustainable practices.

• Review zoning ordinances and building codes to determine if Open Space is addressed.

• Conduct a six-month review (and 12-month review) and report the results and progress to elected officials and the community.

• Begin public education and outreach activities on the importance of open space.

on the Way• Promote and organize a community Green Practices

Committee to monitor invasive and non-native plant species. Other public participation programs are Adopt-a-Trail, Community Garden, Track Bird Migration, and stream/ trail cleanup events.

• Conduct an Open Space assessment.

• Work with city planners, developers and biologists to develop mixed-used communities.

• Restore brownfields, creating greenspace for public use.

• Conduct project review(s) and report to community.

• Prioritize possible best practices for updating zoning and comprehensive plans to achieve quality Open Space.

Sustaining• Create open networks throughout a community that serve a

dual function, such as providing greenways for pedestrians with rain gardens for management of stormwater runoff.

• Customize assessment tool and update assessment on a regular basis to compare baseline over time.

• Review your mandate to assure protection and maintenance of trees on public property and rights-of-way.

• Plant additional trees to enhance the urban tree canopy.

• Identify and protect natural resource areas (e.g., forests, prairies) and critical habitat (e.g., conservation corridors, buffer zones, wildlife preserves) from future development.

• Identify and protect critical areas such as wetlands, floodplains, lakes, rivers, and streams with a mandatory no-development buffer.

• Identify and protect source water areas from current or potential sources of contamination.

• Identify and preserve trees on private property and require replacement when removed or damaged during development.

• Update zoning and comprehensive plans to achieve high quality Open Space.

• Leverage existing capital funds to plant more street trees and add multiple benefits to the public right-of-way.

recommendatIons

The Prairie Restoration Project at the Calvary

Cemetery in the City of St. Louis, Missouri

was featured in the April 8, 2009 issue of

the Economist magazine. The Green Center

partnered with the Missouri Department of

Conservation, Missouri Botanical Garden, The

Nature Conservancy, and the Archdiocese of

St. Louis Catholic Cemeteries for this project.

http://www.thegreencenter.org/home/

iV. open Space

caSe Study

http://www.thegreencenter.org/home/

21

1. assign an individual or a team in the community to focus on the specifics of open Space. Recognizing that the community operates with both staff and elected officials create a glossary that provides easily understood definitions for specialized terms that are used. Add terms and definitions as they become available, aiming for mutual understanding and shared stewardship goals. Once a team is identified, you’re ready to assess the community’s strengths and areas for continual improvement.

2. establish a baseline of the current status of open Space in the community. The assessment tool in Appendix C provides a starting point—a suggested checklist to which you can add items specific to the community. Decide how you will quantify and measure the impact of the decisions. Since your staff is keenly aware of their specific Best Practices, include their practices and metrics in your planning. Communities typically quantify their efforts using these metrics. The level of metrics you choose will be dependent on your resources, however, at least a basic assessment will allow your community to begin setting goals for Open Space and creating a baseline for future comparisons. Refer to Figure 1 on page 18 for additional assessment guidance.

3. once you have tallied the results, identify the areas of need and prioritize the goals. Create a plan with milestones and targeted goals, noting both “action” and ”effect.” Add

“doable” action items along the way that contribute to the success. Schedule a review at regular intervals. You can use the same (or customized) assessment tool as frequently as necessary. The Park Master Plan for Belleville, Illinois listed in the Best Practices section provides a great tool for reviewing an existing Master Plan or developing a new plan.

4. remember to implement measurement systems and track progress to achieve results, build momentum and establish credibility. As the project moves forward, note incremental changes and successes. Adopt a set of Best Practices, making a statement about the community’s commitment, providing an example for other municipalities to follow, and building a local base of experience to make upcoming projects more cohesive.

5. another key sustainability step is to formalize best practices into policies and incorporate them into the community’s codes and ordinances. Incentives and programs can be presented to counter objections or requests for exceptions and to actively promote their acceptance and use.

6. finally, share your success with the community, surrounding municipalities and the region. Along with reports and articles, public service announcements broadcasted on air and the Internet are effective education and outreach tools. An informed community is less likely to create obstacles and more likely to provide essential financial support and volunteer participation with the implementation efforts.

GardeninG for coSt SavinGS

University City, Missouri utilizes ecologically sound gardening,

avoiding pesticides and herbicides, recycles garden waste, and

uses municipal compost to enrich soil. They use a variety of

plants, including native perennials, shrubs, trees, grasses, and

annuals. The effort helps to reduce stormwater run-off. They will

also be creating a rain garden paid for with DNR grant funds.

http://www.ucityinbloom.org/gardens.htm

Schoolgrounds in Ladue, Missouri feature bioretention methods

and native plantings.

http://www.sustainablesites.org/cases/show.php?id=19

To compare costs between environmentally preferable methods

and using virgin materials, download these calculators from

the EPA website. They demonstrate cost competitive and

environmental benefits. Plus, they can aid in the decision

making and implementation of more sustainable landscape

design, construction, and operations and maintenance.

http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/rrr/greenscapes/tools/

index.htm

GreenhouSe GaS emiSSion and open Space

Utilize a carbon footprint calculator to identify the benefit of

your current and expanding Open Space. Another option is the

equivalency calculator for GHG reduction strategy, reduction

targets, or other initiatives aimed at reducing GHG emissions.

http://www.epa.gov/rdee/energy-resources/calculator.html

The Climate Registry is a nonprofit collaboration among North

American states, provinces, territories, and Native Sovereign

Nations that sets consistent and transparent standards to

calculate verify and publicly report greenhouse gas emissions

into a single registry. http://www.theclimateregistry.org

Download a Conservation Assessment Calculator:

http://www.natureserve.org

The Chicago Climate Exchange is a greenhouse gas emission

registry, reduction and trading system for six greenhouse gases.

http://www.chicagoclimateexchange.com/

ImPlementatIon strategIes

best PractIces

http://www.ucityinbloom.org/gardens.htm

http://www.sustainablesites.org/cases/show.php?id=19

http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/rrr/greenscapes/tools/index.htm

http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/rrr/greenscapes/tools/index.htm

http://www.epa.gov/RDEE/energy-resources/calculator.html

http://www.theclimateregistry.org

http://www.natureserve.org

http://www.chicagoclimateexchange.com/


native plant SpecieS

Protect and restore Missouri’s biodiversity with effective use

of native plants. Joint program of the Missouri Department

of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Department of

Agriculture (MDA). http://www.grownative.org/

Save the Prairie is an Illinois prairie restoration organization with

resources. http://www.savetheprairiesociety.org/

Missouri Invasive Plant Network provides education on invasive

plant species in the Midwest, including Missouri, Illinois, Indiana,

and Iowa. http://www.mipn.org

Links found on Illinois Depart of Natural Resources web site:

http://www.dnr.state.il.us/about/morelinks.htm

Missouri Revised Statutes on Insects, Pests and Weeds:

http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/c263.htM

Public and private partners protect and restore prairie and native

grassland communities through land acquisition, management,

education, and research. http://www.moprairie.org/links.html

The Great River Greening leads and inspires community-based

restoration of natural areas and open spaces. Restoration efforts

help preserve natural areas, protect clean air and water, and

increase urban residents’ access to natural areas and sustainable

open space. http://www.greatrivergreening.org

reGional partnerShipS

Community Environmental Resource Program (CERP) is a

monitoring and educational effort created to help residents,

businesses and officials understand and deal with environmental

issues in the cities of St. Louis and East St. Louis. With support

from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the

clearinghouse has been developed under the direction of

the East-West Gateway Council of Governments. Citizens,

government officials and non-profits from both sides of

the Mississippi River are actively involved in this project.

http://stlcin.missouri.org/cerp/aboutcerp.cfm

Southwestern Illinois RC&D, Inc. will develop and support

partnerships, create programs and implement projects that

are responsive to the needs of the people within the region,

strengthen local economies, and encourage the conservation

of our environmental resources. http://www.swircd.org

Gateway Greening educates and promotes civic greening, urban

neighborhood vitality and stability, healthy living and quality

of life. Accomplished through citizen-managed open spaces,

Gateway Greening has turned brownfields into greenfields.

http://www.gatewaygreening.org

.

land acquiSition

For 43 years the Open Space Council has accomplished

many successes for land and water conservation in the

St. Louis Region. http://www.openspacestl.org/

Extensive listing of Alachua County, FL land acquisition policies:

http://www.alachuacounty.us/government/depts/epd/land/

filesforms.aspx

King County, WA’s Greenprint Project, open space and land

acquisition strategy: http://kingcounty.gov/environment/

waterandland/natural-lands.aspx

SuStainable SiteS initiative

The Sustainable Sites Initiative is an interdisciplinary effort

by the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady

Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the United States Botanic

Garden. It is similar to the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED

system for buildings, except it is for sites and can be used

for open space for parks, greenways, etc.

http://www.sustainablesites.org

urban foreStS

Carbonfund.org supports renewable energy, energy efficiency

and reforestation projects globally that reduce carbon dioxide

emissions and the threat of climate change. www.carbonfund.org

Plant Protection Programs is an organization through which

extension and outreach activities related to plant protection

and management are coordinated, enhanced and implemented.

It administers federal funds for Integrated Pest Management,

Pesticide Applicator Training and pesticide assessment.

http://ipm.missouri.edu/

Portland, OR Tree Preservation Information Guide: http://www.

sustainableportland.org/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=72545

Trees for green streets: An illustrated guide:

http://www.metroregion.org/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=26337

City Trees: Sustainability Guidelines and Best Practices:

http://www.treetrust.org

American Forests Guide to Setting Urban Tree Canopy Goals:

http://www.americanforests.org/resources/urbanforests/

treedeficit.php

Center for Watershed Protection Urban Forestry Manual:

http://www.cwp.org/forestry/part3forestrymanual.pdf

Water and WaterShed SourceS

Getting In Step: Engaging and Involving Stakeholders in

Your Watershed: http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/

outreach/documents/stakeholderguide.pdf

Eleven-manual series on practical techniques to restore

urban watersheds: http://www.cwp.org/Store/usrm.htm


iV. open Space

http://www.grownative.org/

http://www.savetheprairiesociety.org/

http://www.mipn.org


http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C263.HTM

http://www.moprairie.org/Links.html

http://www.greatrivergreening.org

http://stlcin.missouri.org/cerp/aboutcerp.cfm

http://www.swircd.org

http://www.gatewaygreening.org

http://www.openspacestl.org/

http://www.alachuacounty.us/government/depts/epd/land/filesforms.aspx

http://www.alachuacounty.us/government/depts/epd/land/filesforms.aspx

http://kingcounty.gov/environment/waterandland/natural-lands.aspx

http://kingcounty.gov/environment/waterandland/natural-lands.aspx

http://www.sustainablesites.org

www.carbonfund.org


http://www.sustainableportland.org/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=72545

http://www.sustainableportland.org/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=72545

http://www.metroregion.org/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=26337

http://www.treetrust.org

http://www.americanforests.org/resources/urbanforests/treedeficit.php

http://www.americanforests.org/resources/urbanforests/treedeficit.php

http://www.cwp.org/forestry/part3forestrymanual.pdf

http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/outreach/documents/stakeholderguide.pdf

http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/outreach/documents/stakeholderguide.pdf

http://www.cwp.org/Store/usrm.htm

23

Citizens adopt a stream, volunteer time and effort to improve

it, and band together with other Stream Teams to help improve

Missouri’s streams: http://www.mostreamteam.org/

Plants for Stormwater Design Volume II:

http://www.greatrivergreening.org.

zoninG codeS / ordinanceS

and city planS and initiativeS

The Trust for Public Land conserves land for people to enjoy

as parks, gardens and other natural places, ensuring livable

communities for generations to come. www.tpl.org

The mission of the Land Stewardship Project is to foster an

ethic of stewardship for farmland, to promote sustainable

agriculture, and to develop sustainable communities.

www.landstewardshipproject.org

The Park Master Plan for Belleville, Illinois, is a useful tool for

reviewing your Master Plan or developing a new plan.

http://belleville.wliinc2.com/city/departments/parks_

files/2008-04 30.belleville%20rec%20plan_final.pdf

New York City’s street tree planting amendment is a useful

refenece tool when reviewing your building codes and zoning

ordinances. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/street_tree_

planting/index.shtml

The Charlottesville, North Carolina Comprehensive Plan

strives for long-term coordination.

http://www.charlottesville.org/index.aspx?page=1745

The Open Space Framework for the City of San Francisco

expands the traditional definition of open space and

introduces the concept of a high-performing network.

http://www.openspacesf.org

oPen sPace fundIng oPPortunItIes

Missouri Revised Statutes for Stormwater Sales Taxes:

http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/c000-099/0670000729.htM

MSD Sewer District Impervious Surface Charge: http://mkasmtp1.

stlmsd.com/MSd/pgmsprojs/SitefaQ/billingfaQ#SWWhychange

Center for Invasive Plant Management provides resources

for funding and grant writing.

http://www.weedcenter.org/funding/grantW.html

Plant Protection Programs is an organization through which

extension and outreach activities related to plant protection

and management are coordinated, enhanced and implemented.

It administers federal funds for Integrated Pest Management,

Pesticide Applicator Training and pesticide assessment.


The Trust for Public Land’s Center for Conservation Finance

conducts research on state and local funding for conservation,

analyzes trends and best practices, and disseminates

information via publications and training.

http://www.tpl.org/tier2_pa.cfm?folder_id=3148

Clayton, Missouri has always been a leader in the environmental

movement. The city is a member of the Sierra Club’s Cool

Cities (http://coolcities.us/) and current and past mayors have

signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Among

its other accomplishments, the Ecology and Environmental

Awareness Committee (http://www.ci.clayton.mo.us/index.

aspx?location=236) was instrumental in passing an ordinance

requiring the City of Clayton to achieve LEED Silver certification

for all new construction and major renovation projects owned,

occupied or funded by the City of Clayton that are 5,000 square

feet of floor area or greater. See the Energy and Water Best

Practices section for more information on LEED design. Clayton

is also part of the Partial Expense Reduction for Commuters

(PERC) program that promotes the use of mass transit by

offering benefits to businesses and their employees. For more

on PERC, see the Transportation and Land Use Best Practices or

http://www.cleanair-stlouis.com/businesses-get-involved.html.

Clayton is also “greening” its own operations. To reduce pollution

and conserve energy, the city is replacing a portion of its fleet

with hybrid vehicles, and has been using bio-diesel in fleet

vehicles for several years. In city-owned buildings, an energy-

efficient pulse type heating system and environmentally safe

light bulbs are used to reduce energy waste. In 2008, the Public

Works department changed all traffic signal lights from standard

incandescent lamps to the LED fixtures. The average energy

savings from incandescent to LED is 60-70% with an increase

of lumen/light output of 50%.

In October 2006, the American Planning Association of Missouri

recognized the City of Clayton for its efforts in promoting

sustainable development practices. Clayton also provides

an excellent example of how environmental goals can be

included in a strategic plan: http://www.ci.clayton.mo.us/index.

aspx?location=730

This page on the City’s website helps residents learn more

about what they can do to preserve the environment http://

www.ci.clayton.mo.us/index.aspx?location=728. Also see

the city’s Ecology and Environment section of their website

for more information. http://www.ci.clayton.mo.us/index.

aspx?location=701

caSe Study

http://www.mostreamteam.org/

http://www.greatrivergreening.org

www.tpl.org

www.landstewardshipproject.org

http://belleville.wliinc2.com/city/departments/parks_files/2008-04 30.Belleville%20Rec%20Plan_FINAL.pdf

http://belleville.wliinc2.com/city/departments/parks_files/2008-04 30.Belleville%20Rec%20Plan_FINAL.pdf

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/street_tree_planting/index.shtml

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/street_tree_planting/index.shtml

http://www.charlottesville.org/Index.aspx?page=1745

http://www.openspacesf.org

http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C000-099/0670000729.HTM

http://mkasmtp1.stlmsd.com/MSD/PgmsProjs/SiteFAQ/BillingFAQ#SWWhyChange

http://mkasmtp1.stlmsd.com/MSD/PgmsProjs/SiteFAQ/BillingFAQ#SWWhyChange

http://www.weedcenter.org/funding/grantW.html


http://www.tpl.org/tier2_pa.cfm?folder_id=3148

http://www.ci.clayton.mo.us/index.aspx?location=236










Stormwater runoff is generated when precipitation from

rain and snowmelt flows over land or impervious surfaces

and does not percolate into the ground. as the runoff flows

over the paved streets, parking lots, and building rooftops it

accumulates debris, chemicals, sediment or other pollutants.

this adversely affects water quality if the runoff is left untreated

and subsequently discharged into the sewer system. increased

stormwater also carves away stream banks and incised stream

channels and damages roads, bridges, homes, and yards. as

urban development with impervious areas and concrete culverts

increases, polluted stormwater runs into urban streams and

decreases the diversity and quality of aquatic life.

Green infrastructure-based stormwater management practices

utilize natural hydrological patterns, reducing the overall impact

of traditional stormwater infrastructure, such as concrete

culverts and basins. These strategies reduce and manage

stormwater through infiltration as water soaks into the ground

naturally. Stormwater can also be captured and reused if it is

stored in a rain barrel or cistern for later reuse. Water levels can

also be reduced through evapotranspiration, as water is used

by trees and plants. The results include a reduction and delay of

stormwater runoff volumes, enhancing groundwater recharge,

reducing stormwater pollutants, and reducing sewer overflow

events. This highlights the importance of maintaining open space

to alleviate adverse effects of stormwater, particularly the use of

swales. These are relatively wide, shallow, open channels with a

slight gradient, designed to let water flow slowly after storms,

allowing water to soak into the soil where pollutants adhere

the ground and degrade naturally.

Additionally, green infrastructure-based practices provide

healthier communities, delivering clean air and water while

helping to prevent polluted water from entering rivers and lakes.

These practices also protect streams, rivers and estuaries from

accelerated erosion that contributes to the loss of streamside

property and damage to bridges, roads and other structures.

The benefits to the municipality of implementing green

infrastructure-based stormwater management include:

• Reduced energy consumption for water treatment and its corresponding costs.

• Reduced and eliminate runoff with infiltration systems and pervious paving.

• Reduced runoff by providing an evapotranspiration function through trees and vegetation.

• Reduced runoff and consumption of potable water by utilizing captured rainwater or stormwater for non-potable water uses.

Currently, the St. Louis County, Missouri Phase II Stormwater

Management Plan (SWMP) sets forth specific activities and

schedules that the St. Louis Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD),

St. Louis County, and its fifty-nine municipal co-permittees must

do to satisfy permit requirements. For development projects in

St. Louis County municipalities that are not in the SWMP area, if

the project area drains to a discharge outfall listed in the Phase

II permit, water quality treatment is required. St. Louis City and

County areas which are tributary to combined sewers are not

required to provide water quality Best Management Practices

(BMPs) because they are connected to a treatment plant.

Municipalities in the region beyond St. Louis City and County are

regulated under their corresponding Phase I or Phase II permit.

Although communities are generally interested in requiring

or encouraging more natural stormwater management, there

is still a heavy reliance on the use of concrete culverts for

stormwater management. Over 70 percent of the medium and

large communities that responded to the FOCUS survey most

commonly approve concrete runoff for new development, as

indicated in Table 5.

stormWater summarythe metrics most frequently used by municipalities to assess their stormwater management programs are:

• Existence and age of retention basin(s), concrete channel(s).

• Illicit discharge detection and elimination.

• Construction site sediment runoff detection and remediation.

• Post-construction site sediment runoff detection and remediation.

• Existing infrastructure “infill” development.

• Quantity and age of impervious street surface.

• Quantity and age of rain gardens.

• Rainwater reuse for non-potable situations.

• Status of sewer system: quantity of stormwater- only sewers versus the number combined with sanitary waste.

V. StorMWater

25

table 5 STORMWATER RUNOFF METHODS EMPLOYED

Retention basins required

Imposition of limits on site coverage by impermeable surfaces

Actively encourage permeable materials where possible

Actively encourage rain gardens and other plantings

None of the above





SMALL (1)

32%

14%

14%

18%

59%

MEDIUM (2)

70%

40%

70%

50%

10%

LARGE (1)

73%

64%

54%

50%

9%


Getting Started • Incorporate stormwater plan comments and review into

the early stages of development review or site plan review and approval, preferably at pre-application meetings with developers.

• Provide signage for creeks on all major roadways indicating that the creek is used to manage stormwater.

• Conduct a stormwater event in which people learn where the stormwater from their roof goes and the extent and variety of pollutants it picks up along the way.

• Establish demonstration projects for rain gardens and use of rain barrels.

• Develop public education and outreach campaigns, such as bill inserts, public service announcements and local web sites.

• Educate the community about sources that contribute to stormwater pollution: using excessive fertilizer and pesticides, improper disposal of pet waste, and placing yard waste in streams and stormwater inlets.

• Control construction site runoff.

• Control post-construction runoff.

• Prevent pollution and conduct good housekeeping in municipal operations.

on the Way• Develop vegetated swale(s) in appropriate locations.

• Plan and implement effective riparian buffers.

• Protect undeveloped riparian zones from construction.

• Remediate damage to creek banks.

• Reduce requirements for parking and encourage or require commercial parking lots to be permeable.

• Revise development regulations to require on-site management of all stormwater.

Sustaining• Replace conventional roofs with green roofs, providing

better stormwater management and reduced energy consumption of buildings in dense urban environments or with large roof expanses.

• Acquire intelligent pump control software to manage unpredictable stormwater flows, reducing overflows and the negative impacts of combined sewers on wastewater treatment plants.

• Include narrow streets or minimum possible roadway requirements in ordinances, providing safe passage for pedestrians, cyclists, strollers, and wheelchairs.

• Eliminate possible Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO) and Sanitary System Overflows (SSO).

• Protect natural resources and open space.

• Detect and eliminate illicit discharges.

• Design complete, smart streets that reduce imperviousness.

• Promote efficient, compact developments and infill.

1. determine who in your community is responsible for managing stormwater issues. In most communities, this task is assigned to the City Engineer or a member of the Public Works Department. This person should look at the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Menu of Best Management Practices for Stormwater Phase II, found online at the website below. The Menu is based on the Stormwater Phase II Rule’s six minimum control measures. Even though these EPA guides were developed for communities subject to “Phase II Stormwater” permit requirements, they are useful guides for any community. http://cfpub1.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/index.cfm

2. assess your current stormwater management practices and determine the baseline from which you’ll measure progress. Also, conduct a comprehensive review of all existing codes and ordinances to ensure that they do not place any roadblocks to the successful implementation of best practices.

3. Make plans for improvement. If necessary, build requirements for best practices into the community codes and ordinances. Change is hard and often met with objections or requests for exceptions. Incentives and programs should be explored to actively promote the use and acceptance of sustainable best practices.

4. Set a schedule and implement your programs. Evaluate the continual improvement over time, perhaps annually or every five years. Choosing effective guidelines and solutions for stormwater issues is one of the key challenges facing communities, especially in the St. Louis area. Keep in mind that most stormwater discharges are considered point sources and require coverage under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. More information on NPDES permit scan be found in the Best Practices section.

5. finally, pursue public education, outreach and participation. An active and involved community better understands the reasons for stormwater management and is less likely to create obstacles. The public can also provide valuable input for the development of stormwater programs and assistance in the implementation of the program as well as important volunteer participation in implementation efforts. Adopt a Stream programs, reforestation programs, storm drain marking, stream cleanup events, and volunteer water quality monitoring are examples of public involvement and participation programs.

recommendatIons ImPlementatIon strategIes

V. StorMWater

27

conStruction Site runoff Construction site sediment runoff is typically 10 to 20 times

greater than sediment from agricultural lands, and 1,000 to

2,000 times greater than from forested areas. Construction

activity can contribute more sediment to streams in a short

period than the amount that would come from a natural

landscape over several decades. This damages the health

and functionality of area streams, rivers and lakes. Sites of

one acre or more are subject to federal regulation.

EPA Fact Sheet Stormwater Phase II Final Rule Small Construction Program Overview:

http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/fact3-0.pdf

EPA Stormwater Best Management Practices – Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control

http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/index.

cfm?action=min_measure&min_measure_id=4

EPA Stormwater Construction resources:

http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/const.cfm

efficient, compact and infill developmentS Infill development makes use of existing infrastructure and

can reduce existing stormwater runoff by utilizing green

infrastructure techniques, such as permeable paving and

bioretention. In new development, buildings, parking and

accessory uses can be clustered on a parcel, and the remainder

of the land preserved in a natural state. Natural vegetation

slows peak runoff, filters pollutants, removes sediment and

provides a low-cost aesthetic amenity. Clustering also minimizes

the disturbed area and reduces the considerable danger of

erosion and pollution during the construction process. Multi-

story development, where practical, further reduces the

building footprint. In new and infill development, efficient site

design can reduce the development footprint by the use of

shared parking, increased landscaping and other techniques

mentioned elsewhere in this section. Inclusion of open space in

all developments, regardless of whether a conservation

design is practical for the particular site, is key to managing

the stormwater runoff in the area.

Suggested strategies for city planners:

• Direct new development to areas that have existing infrastructure, such as water and sewer.

• Direct infill development to already developed areas.

• Promote mixed-use and transit-oriented developments “as of right.”

Direct development to already degraded land:

http://www.mdp.state.md.us/fundingact.htm.

Direct development to areas with existing infrastructure:

http://www.metro-region.org/index.cfm/go/by.web/id/277

EPA Smart Growth Office’s Protecting Water Resources with Higher-Density Development:

http://www.epa.gov/dced/water_density.htm

State of Wisconsin planned sewer services areas:

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/wm/GlWSp/SSaplan/howare.htm

best PractIces

Good houSekeepinG in municipal operationS Local governments can set an example for the community by

examining and altering their own actions to reduce stormwater

runoff problem areas directly under their control. These areas

include streets, parking lots, open spaces, and storage and

vehicle maintenance areas. Also included are practices of flood

management and storm sewer systems maintenance. See the EPA

Fact Sheet Stormwater Phase II Final Rule Pollution Prevention/

Good Housekeeping for details.


The EPA’s publications regarding point source pollution (NPDES):

http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=6

EPA Phase II Fact Sheet:


EPA Stormwater Best Management Practices –

Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping:

http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/ index.cfm?action=min_measure&min_measure_id=6

Rainwater collection systems:

http://www.conservationtechnology.com

illicit diScharGeSAn illicit discharge is any inflow to a stormwater system that is not composed entirely of stormwater. Illicit discharges enter either through direct connections, such as wastewater pipes connected to a stormwater system, or indirect connections, such as paint or used oil dumped into a drain. Point pollution is discharged from an identifiable source; non-point pollution cannot be traced to a single source, such as pollution from urban runoff. The pollutants enter our local streams and rivers, degrading water quality and threatening the streams as well as the wildlife and people that use them. Local governments should conduct surveys of stormwater systems to detect and eliminate these discharges. The EPA Fact Sheet Stormwater Phase II Final Rule Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination can help: http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/fact2-5.pdf

Missouri Department of Natural Resources Detecting Illicit Stormwater Discharges Fact Sheet: http://www.dnr.mo.gov/pubs/pub2209.pdf

In the summer of 2009, AmerenUE customers received

in their monthly electric bill a Personal Energy Report,

designed to help residential customers better understand

and control their energy usage. Customized for each

household, the Report provided approximately two years

of electric usage data that allowed customers to quickly

see their energy consumption, and hopefully make better

informed decisions about reducing usage and monthly

bills going forward. The report also compared electric

energy charges, month by month, for the same period,

offered energy savings tips, and calculated average

annual savings for everything from motion detectors

on outside lights to reducing daily shower time. The

AmerenUE website has several tools available for homes,

businesses and local governments. In Missouri, see

http://www.ameren.com/energyefficiency/ and in

Illinois, http://www.actonenergy.com.

caSe Study


http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/index.cfm?action=min_measure&min_measure_id=4


http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/const.cfm

http://www.mdp.state.md.us/fundingact.htm.

http://www.metro-region.org/index.cfm/go/by.web/id/277

http://www.epa.gov/dced/water_density.htm

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/wm/GLWSP/SSAPlan/howare.htm






http://www.conservationtechnology.com


http://www.dnr.mo.gov/pubs/pub2209.pdf


local reSourceS

MSD/City of St. Louis Clean Rivers Healthy

Communities Program:

http://cleanriversstl.com/

Information on water quality in your community:

http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards

Missouri Stream Team:


Meramec River Operation Clean Stream:

http://www.openspacestl.org/operation-clean-stream/

The Nature Institute, a private, not-for-profit conservation

organization located in Godfrey, Illinois, fosters an awareness

and appreciation of the natural world through preservation,

restoration and education. http://www.thenatureinstitute.org

natural reSourceS and open Space

Existing open space absorbs and filters stormwater.

Maintaining open space is an effective stormwater management

technique. Maintaining riparian corridors adjacent to a stream,

river, or lake and swales, creates a wide, shallow, open channel

that lets water flow slowly after storms and soak into soil, and

allows pollutants to adhere and/or degrade to help reduce

excess stormwater runoff. For more, see:


Protecting Stream and River Corridors: Creating Effective Local

Riparian Buffer Ordinances, Carl Vinson Institute of Government

at the University of Georgia. http://www.rivercenter.uga.edu/

publications/pdf/riparian_buffer_guidebook.pdf

U.S. EPA Sourcewater Protection;

http://www.epa.gov/nps/ordinance/sourcewater.htm

EPA Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP) Guide:

http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/swppp.cfm

San Jose, CA tree credit for post-construction stormwater

treatment: http://www.sanjoseca.gov/planning/stormwater/

policy_6-29_Memo_revisions.pdf

Portland, OR stormwater fee discounts for trees over

15 feet tall: http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.

cfm?c=43444&#types

Portland, OR tree credit for meeting local stormwater

requirements: http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/

image.cfm?id=93075

poSt conStruction runoff

Post-construction stormwater runoff describes any runoff that

occurs other than during the construction period. Although it

does not have the same sediment risk as it may during active

construction, runoff from developed areas significantly affects

receiving water bodies.

The impacts from post-construction runoff come from water

quantity and water quality. Impervious surfaces prevent

infiltration of rainwater into the soil, causing large volumes of

runoff to flow quickly into the nearest stream. This causes stream

bank erosion, down-cutting and downstream flooding. As runoff

flows over developed areas, it picks up harmful sediment and

chemicals such as oil, grease, pesticides, heavy metals, and

fertilizers, and then carries them to the receiving stream,

river or lake.

Advance planning and design is the most cost-effective

approach to stormwater management. A variety of measures

can be combined to achieve water quantity and quality goals.

In St. Louis City and County, MSD, in conjunction with the

Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR), works closely

with local governments to ensure that plans to control runoff

meet increasingly stringent federal regulations. Not only must

local governments monitor disturbed sites, but they must

implement their own best practices, such as limiting winter

salt usage. Citizens are also encouraged to adopt new practices,

such as using rain barrels to capture roof water, utilize rain

gardens, retain more water on premises, and avoid excessive

use of fertilizers.

Smart StreetS and efficient parkinG

Paved streets lead to rapid runoff, often directly into a

stormwater collection system. Narrow streets reduce

stormwater runoff and encourage slower traffic, which is safer

for pedestrians. When wider streets are necessary, permeable

surfaces are appropriate on adjoining parking lanes as well as

pedestrian and bicyclists lanes. Curb cuts can allow stormwater

to flow into adjacent bioretention areas.

Suggestions for city planners include:

• Incorporate stormwater plan comments and review into the early stages of development review/site plan review and approval, preferably at pre-application meetings with developers.

• Allow narrower lanes for certain street types, thereby reducing impervious surface area.

• Avoid the use of curbs and gutters, where practical, and allow water to flow onto yards.

• Encourage shared driveways, reduced driveway widths, two-track driveways, and rear garages and alleys for all single-family developments.

• Formally integrate green infrastructure into standard roadway construction and retrofit practice as a standard part of construction, maintenance and improvement plans.

• Promote use of pervious materials for all paving areas, including alleys, streets, sidewalks, crosswalks, driveways, and parking lots. Pervious pavement allows stormwater to percolate through a filtering medium and into a storage bed before entering the ground.


V. StorMWater

http://cleanriversstl.com/

http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards


http://www.openspacestl.org/operation-clean-stream/

http://www.thenatureinstitute.org


http://www.rivercenter.uga.edu/publications/pdf/riparian_buffer_guidebook.pdf

http://www.rivercenter.uga.edu/publications/pdf/riparian_buffer_guidebook.pdf

http://www.epa.gov/nps/ordinance/sourcewater.htm

http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/swppp.cfm

http://www.sanjoseca.gov/planning/stormwater/Policy_6-29_Memo_Revisions.pdf

http://www.sanjoseca.gov/planning/stormwater/Policy_6-29_Memo_Revisions.pdf

http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.cfm?c=43444&#types

http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.cfm?c=43444&#types

http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=93075

http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=93075

29

Avoid unnecessary parking facilities through parking studies and

reevaluation of existing municipal parking requirements. Shared

parking and increased transit can also reduce parking needs.

• Match parking requirements to the level of demand and

allow flexible arrangements (e.g. shared parking, off-site

parking, reduced parking in walkable or transit-served

areas, and transportation demand management) to

meet parking standards.

• All parking lots should feature substantial landscaping

to help reduce runoff.

• Permeable paving, such as parking stalls, should be used

where appropriate.

The Institute of Transportation Engineers provides Context

Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares

for Walkable Communities. http://www.ite.org/css/

The Oregon Department of Transportation and Department of

Land Conservation and Development’s Neighborhood Street

Design Guidelines: An Oregon Guide for Reducing Street Widths

http://www.oregon.gov/lcd/docs/publications/neighstreet.pdf

The North Carolina Department of Environment and

Natural Resources curb and gutter removal:

http://www.p2pays.org/ref/41/40403.pdf

U.S. EPA Development Community and Environment Division

(2006) Parking Space/ Community Places: Finding the Balance

through Smart Growth Solutions (pg. 14, 18-19, 21):

http://www.epa.gov/piedpage/pdf/epaparkingSpaces06.pdf

Metropolitan Transportation Commission (2007) Developing

Parking Policies to Support Smart Growth in Local Jurisdictions:

Best Practices: http://www.mtc.ca.gov/planning/smart_growth/

parking_study/april07/bestpractice_042307.pdf

Maryland Governor’s Office of Smart Growth Driving

Urban Environments: Smart Growth Parking Best Practices:

http://www.smartgrowth.state.md.us/pdf/final%20parking%20

paper.pdf

EPA’s Green Infrastructure Website:


stormWater fundIng oPPortunItIesLocal communities have chosen multiple ways to fund

stormwater services. The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District

(MSD) instituted impervious surface fees in 2008. The rate is

calculated sufficiently to fund needed stormwater-related

programs and construction. Many communities in the St.

Louis Region have passed stormwater taxes separately or in

combination with other needs (e.g. parks) to fund projects.

Guidance for Municipal Stormwater Funding:

http://www.nafsma.org/Guidance%20Manual%20Version%202X.pdf

An Annotated Bibliography of Stormwater Finance Resources:

http://stormwaterfinance.urbancenter.iupui.edu/pdfs/biblio%20

4%2029%2002.pdf

City of Ellisville 1/2 Cent Sales Tax:

http://www.ellisville.mo.us/index.asp?type=b_

baSic&Sec=%7bf93ec4fe-5939-408d-8a2c-262ffbea8be7%7d

Trailnet’s Brentwood, Clayton, Maplewood, and Richmond Heights bikeable, walkable community plan

http://www.ite.org/css/

http://www.oregon.gov/LCD/docs/publications/neighstreet.pdf

http://www.p2pays.org/ref/41/40403.pdf

http://www.epa.gov/piedpage/pdf/EPAParkingSpaces06.pdf

http://www.mtc.ca.gov/planning/smart_growth/parking_study/April07/bestpractice_042307.pdf

http://www.mtc.ca.gov/planning/smart_growth/parking_study/April07/bestpractice_042307.pdf

http://www.smartgrowth.state.md.us/pdf/Final%20Parking%20Paper.pdf

http://www.smartgrowth.state.md.us/pdf/Final%20Parking%20Paper.pdf


http://www.nafsma.org/Guidance%20Manual%20Version%202X.pdf

http://stormwaterfinance.urbancenter.iupui.edu/PDFs/Biblio%204%2029%2002.pdf

http://stormwaterfinance.urbancenter.iupui.edu/PDFs/Biblio%204%2029%2002.pdf

http://www.ellisville.mo.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7BF93EC4FE-5939-408D-8A2C-262FFBEA8BE7%7D

http://www.ellisville.mo.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7BF93EC4FE-5939-408D-8A2C-262FFBEA8BE7%7D


energy and water are essential natural resources on which

modern life depends. most municipalities will want to make

conserving them core sustainability practices. although

the use of these natural resources is deeply woven into the

fabric of modern life, standard practice has historically been

very wasteful of both, and thus, significant opportunities for

improvement exist

Energy and water are linked in several ways. Commercial and

residential buildings use a lot of both. It takes energy to capture,

clean and transport water to buildings. After serving its purpose,

water enters a drain as wastewater and then requires additional

energy to again transport and clean the very same water. It also

takes energy to heat water. According to the American Council

for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), municipal water

supply and wastewater treatment systems account for about

35 percent of energy used by municipalities. Additionally, a

tremendous amount of water is necessary in the production of

electrical energy at coal burning and nuclear power plants, the

primary sources of electricity in the St. Louis metro region.

Any sustainability plan must incorporate methods to save energy

and money by reducing usage in and around buildings. Research

has shown that better lighting and proper heating and cooling

design results in greater comfort and higher productivity of

occupants. Missouri and Illinois are in Climate Zone 4 of the

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) climate map,

featuring mixed and humid variable weather. This climatic

challenge requires energy and water cost reduction solutions

specific to this energy-intensive region.

Americans spend an average of 90 percent of their lives inside

buildings. Therefore, indoor environmental quality certainly has

an effect on the average citizen. A World Health Organization

report on Sick Building Syndrome suggests that up to 30

percent of new and remodeled buildings worldwide may cause

this ailment. Sick building causes are frequently pegged to flaws

in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

Other causes have been attributed to contaminants produced by

off-gassing of some types of building materials, volatile organic

compounds, molds, improper exhaust ventilation of ozone

(byproduct of some office machinery), light industrial chemicals

used within, or lack of adequate fresh air or air filtration.

Research has shown that improving the indoor environmental

quality of buildings, including their energy efficiency, makes the

people who live and work there significantly happier, healthier,

and more productive.

The survey conducted for this study indicates that energy-

related issues are clearly an area where significant improvement

is possible. Only 10 percent of the survey respondents indicate

they had undertaken an energy audit, adopted policies for their

government to promote energy savings, or adopted policies for

citizens and businesses to promote energy savings. Interestingly,

there is virtually no difference between the large and medium

communities, with small communities actually outperforming the

others. However, every community will benefit from pursuing the

resources available in the Best Practices section for this issue.

Most municipalities will want to conserve both the energy they

use in the operation of their municipal government, and the

energy that is used within the municipal community as a whole.

Within government operations, the main uses of energy include

buildings, municipal fleet, employee commute, street and traffic

lights, and water and sewer. The relative importance of each use

will vary between municipalities.

Energy use in the community is usually analyzed into the

following sectors: transportation, commercial, residential,

and industrial. The relative importance of each sector varies

from community to community. Because the importance of

these sectors varies, it will be essential for each municipality

to understand the energy use of its own governmental

operations and community.

energy & Water summary

Vi. enerGy and Water

31

Transportation accounts for about one-third of all energy used,

according to national and Missouri state statistics. Reducing the

energy used for transportation involves reducing the number

of miles driven and increasing the efficiency of vehicles. Many

of the strategies discussed in the Transportation and Land Use

section of this Roadmap are essential energy conservation

measures, and they can help to achieve these goals.

Buildings constitute another of the largest uses of energy—they

account for almost 40 percent of national energy use. Within

buildings themselves, energy accounts for about 30 percent

of operating costs. Thus, improving building energy efficiency

reduces costs, reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and

protects natural resources. Building components such as lighting,

envelope, insulation, weatherization, heating and cooling, water

heating, and a range of equipment often used in buildings (e.g.

computers, coffee makers, copy machines, printers, vending

machines, phone systems) are important candidates for energy

conservation upgrades. They are among the easiest energy

conservation measures to achieve.

Water also has important energy implications. Potable water

must be purified and pumped to end users, and wastewater

must be pumped to facilities and treated. In some municipalities,

these processes account for 35 percent or more of the energy

used by the municipal government. However, the reasons for

conserving water go beyond energy. It is a resource essential for

life. Some communities have already experienced the specter of

water shortages, as aquifers upon which their wells depend have

depleted, or as contaminants have seeped into the groundwater.

Other communities seem blessed with bounteous water

resources that could never be exhausted. But even here these

water resources are variable, and they can be contaminated and

spoiled. In addition, the more water used, the more wastewater

is created, the more is spent on expensive wastewater treatment,

and the more the ability of natural systems to cope with effluent

discharges is threatened.

For these reasons, water conservation is an essential

sustainability practice. From an energy perspective, improving

the efficiency of equipment used to pump and treat water

is essential and can achieve a good return on investment. To

conserve water, communities can consider water components

such as dispensing fixtures (e.g., bathroom, kitchen, drinking

fountains, non-potable water dispensers). In addition,

landscaping and grounds maintenance do not typically require

potable water, and municipalities can consider strategies for

gathering rainwater that otherwise would run off, and for

reclaiming and reusing “grey water” that has been previously

used, but may still be suitable for landscaping uses.

Creve Coeur, Missouri is one of the 14 communities in the region

whose mayors signed the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection

Agreement. The signing of this agreement was the result of the

city council’s unanimous approval of a proposal supporting the

goals of the Climate Protection Agreement. The city council

followed by authorizing a greenhouse gas inventory to be

conducted for both city facilities and the larger Creve Coeur

community. In 2008 Creve Coeur became the first city in the

St. Louis region to complete a greenhouse gas inventory. As

part of the GHG inventory process, Creve Coeur joined ICLEI-

Local Governments for Sustainability, a non-profit group that

specializes in helping governments adopt sustainable practices

(http://www.iclei.org).

The report (http://www.creve-coeur.org/documentView.

aspx?did=760) identifies the city's major sources of greenhouse

gas emissions. The city’s Climate Action Task Force works

toward implementing recommendations contained in the report.

Each municipality is different, which is why the GHG inventory

is necessary. Creve Coeur has a large commercial sector—the

daytime population, including the daytime workforce, is roughly

50,000, while the residential population is about 17,000. Thus,

the GHG inventory revealed that the commercial sector made

the largest contribution to GHG emissions, followed by the

transportation sector. Together, these two sectors of the city

accounted for more than 75 percent of its total emissions.

In the summer or 2009 the city amended its purchasing policy

to include provisions to promote environmentally sustainable

practices. The city is also working with the cities of Clayton

and University City in Missouri to form a purchasing consortium

to buy recycled paper at a cheaper price than what the city

currently pays for virgin paper. For more on Environmentally

Preferable Purchasing (EPP) policies, see the Materials

Procurement section. Creve Coeur also developed a strategic

plan to address energy, recycling, community education and

building and maintenance issues relating to environmental

concerns. The city is also a member of the Sierra Club’s Cool

Cities. (http://coolcities.us/)

caSe Study

http://www.iclei.org

http://www.creve-coeur.org/DocumentView.aspx?DID=760

http://www.creve-coeur.org/DocumentView.aspx?DID=760



Getting Started • Work with a consultant to do an energy and water use audit.

You may even be able to arrange financing based on your energy and water.

• Develop energy and water saving procedures to share with city employees (via employee newsletters, intranet, etc.) and residents (via inserts in tax bills, etc.).

• Implement simple steps towards saving money and energy on lighting, such as adopting a “lights out” policy in unoccupied rooms and replacing inefficient lamps and bulbs with more efficient ones. Don’t forget to address out-of-the way lighting in city parks, parking lots and parking garages.

• Purchase energy efficient electronics and appliances, including vending machines and water heaters. Look for the ENERGY STAR label.

• Provide regular maintenance and tune ups to building systems (e.g., water heating, HVAC) to identify energy and water waste issues (e.g., leaky faucets or dirty air filters).

• Install programmable thermostats and motion sensors to reduce HVAC and lighting to buildings and rooms when they are unused.

• Encourage weatherization projects, which can be as simple as re-caulking windows and doors, tightening up or sealing ductwork, and insulation upgrades.

• Replace inefficient water fixtures, faucets and landscaping.

on the Way• Hire an energy and water manager to track energy and water

usage and implement savings, or assign this to a sustainability coordinator/manager.

• Pass an ordinance requiring that city owned and funded new construction achieve certification of LEED Silver level or better.

• Pass and enforce an ordinance requiring new residences and retrofits to meet the current International Energy Conservation Code, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy. (IECC 2009).

• Pass and enforce an ordinance requiring new commercial buildings and retrofits to meet the current ASHRAE Standard 90.1 or better. (ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007).

• Replace all traffic lights and exit signs with LEDs (light-emitting diodes).

• Remove barriers to green building, energy efficiency and water efficiency in existing building codes (e.g., allow private development to use waterless urinals if they choose).

• Undertake a comprehensive lighting study and implement actions from the study, such as installing motion detectors in rooms and replacing inefficient street lamps and bulbs with more efficient technology.

• Install reflective roofing or green roofs on city buildings.

• Include regulations for saving energy and water in the job description of all new hires. Require new hires to be familiar with energy and water saving strategies relevant to the position for which they are hired.

• Purchase renewable energy credits to support cost- effective renewable energy projects.

• Develop and run an education campaign about water and energy efficiency for residents, businesses and institutions.

• Reduce water used in grounds maintenance by installing efficient sprinkler systems (drip irrigation), choosing native plant species and sighting vegetation appropriately.

• Install low flush and low flow fixtures when replacing plumbing.

Sustaining• Strive for carbon-neutral or net-zero energy buildings

by 2030.

• Amend zoning and subdivision ordinances to increase the reflectivity of sidewalks and pavements in order to reduce urban heat island effect.

• Generate energy on-site from renewable sources (e.g., geothermal, photovoltaic solar panels, solar water heating, wind, methane recovery, or biomass).

• Encourage energy and water efficient strategies in new and existing commercial and residential buildings through laws and incentives.

• Collect rain to water gardens and lawns.

• Reuse graywater for non-potable water needs.

• Provide on-site wastewater treatment and infiltration.

recommendatIons


33

1. designate someone in your community to tackle energy and water issues, and complete an energy and water audit or assessment of all city buildings and facilities. Find out how much water and energy city owned, occupied and operated buildings are using now and how much the facilities have used historically. Utility bills will be useful in collecting this information, which will also be helping in developing an energy and water savings and management plan. An energy and water audit can also be part of a GHG emissions inventory. The EPA offers excellent guidelines for energy management, including a process much like the one we suggested in our Roadmap. See http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=guidelines.guidelines_index for more information.

2. based on the findings from your energy and water audit or assessment, develop an energy and water savings plan. For examples of what a plan might address, check out the Flex Your Power website at http://www.fypower.org/bpg/index.html?b=institutional

3. Set goals for improvements in both water and energy efficiency. Also set target dates for achieving improvements. For many building types, Energy Star’s Portfolio Manager provides a comparison of energy efficiency with other buildings of similar type in similar geographical conditions. Analysis of utility bills, surveys and inspections will also help you get started. Once you’ve established baselines and goals, measure and report progress. Including environmental goals in your municipal strategic plan will help solidify your commitment to reducing energy and water use.

4. implement your plans and track your goals for energy and water reduction. By creating a calendar or schedule with targeted goals for both actions and measurement of positive effects at regular intervals, you can chart progress, achieve results and build momentum. Once projects are launched, it is important to insert additional follow up action items into the calendar/schedule so achievements can be celebrated and shared with employees, the community, surrounding municipalities and the region.

5. educate and engage citizens and challenge them to reduce energy and water use in their homes and businesses. Many local municipalities have citizen-based “Green Teams” that make environmental protection recommendations to city government and residents. The City of Clayton, Missouri formed the Ecology and Environmental Awareness Committee in 1997 to further the city’s sustainability. For more information on Clayton’s environmental initiatives, see page 23.

ImPlementatIon strategIes best PractIcesGreen SchoolS

20 percent of America goes to school every day. Green schools

save money on operating costs, which frees up money for other

things like text books, computers and teacher salaries. In addition,

green schools generally have improved indoor environmental

quality, which improves student performance.

Encourage your school board to include energy conservation

improvements in their budgets. Through an energy audit, the

University City, Missouri School District identified $6.4 million in

improvements. They paid for improvements with a state energy

loan and a bond. By switching boilers from steam to hot water,

renovating piping, improving insulation, adding some new

windows and controls on mechanical equipment, they achieved

a 36 percent savings on gas and 13 percent on electricity.

For more information on Green Schools, see: http://www.buildgreenschools.org

leed by example

By reducing municipal energy and water use and greening

municipal facilities, you can model environmental protection

efforts to businesses and residents in your community. The

Missouri cities of Clayton, St. Louis and Ferguson have all

legislated green building practices by requiring LEED Silver

certification for any city-owned new construction or major

renovation. University City, Missouri achieved LEED certification

on the renovation of their historic city hall, making it the first

LEED Certified City Hall in the state.

The City of St. Louis ordinance can be found at: http://stlcin.

missouri.org/document/aldermen/pdf/bb323cS-wd13.pdf

Also search the United States Green Building Council (USGBC)

Public Policy database to learn about municipalities leading

the way around the country. http://www.usgbc.org/publicpolicy/

Searchpublicpolicies.aspx?pageid=1776

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=guidelines.guidelines_index


http://www.fypower.org/bpg/index.html?b=institutional


http://www.buildgreenschools.org

http://stlcin.missouri.org/Document/aldermen/PDF/BB323CS-wd13.pdf

http://stlcin.missouri.org/Document/aldermen/PDF/BB323CS-wd13.pdf

http://www.usgbc.org/PublicPolicy/SearchPublicPolicies.aspx?PageID=1776

http://www.usgbc.org/PublicPolicy/SearchPublicPolicies.aspx?PageID=1776


municipal liGhtinG enerGy efficient

liGhtinG SyStemS

Lighting represents approximately 22 percent of all electricity

consumed in commercial office buildings. Thus, lighting is a

major portion of total building operating costs. By assessing

municipal lighting—from buildings to street lights and traffic

signals to park lighting—you can identify many energy saving

opportunities. For example, the average energy savings when

switching from an incandescent bulb to an LED (light-emitting

diode) is 60-70 percent with an increase of the lumen/light

output of 50 percent. With such significant energy savings,

LED retrofits can pay for themselves in less than three years.

Routine maintenance (changing bulbs) will also be reduced

since most LED fixtures are generally warranted for 15 years.

revolvinG loan fund for enerGy and

Water efficient improvementS

Encourage your residents and businesses to go green by

creating a revolving loan fund for energy and water efficiency

improvements. Around the country, states and municipalities

offer a variety of revolving loan programs. In some cases,

residents borrow money from their municipality to add

insulation, purchase energy efficient equipment or renewable

energy systems, and pay it back every year through property

taxes. This can help reduce your municipality’s overall

contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and will help your

residents and businesses save money on energy and water

costs. A relatively small investment can go a long way with

a program like this!

Babylon, New York – Long Island Green Homes Program:

http://www.ligreenhomes.com/page.php?page=home

Interview with Babylon Town Supervisor: http://www.usgbc.org/

displaypage.aspx?cMSpageid=1943#steve

Annapolis, MD – Tax-exempt, low-interest loans to property

owners to install energy-efficient equipment (payments included

in property tax): http://www.greenplaybook.org/resources/

whats_new/post21.htm

roadmap to SuStainable Government buildinGS

The Roadmap to Sustainable Government Buildings is a

collection of resources developed by governments with

established and emerging green building programs. The

Roadmap draws on these resources to suggest strategies

for developing a green building program within a typical

government entity framework. The Roadmap includes an

overview of LEED Certification, LEED Training opportunities

for staff and project teams; pre-project planning support,

including budgeting, contracting, procurement, and compliance;

resources for project management of LEED New Construction

and Existing Buildings projects; and program administration

and Green Building Program guidance.

http://www.usgbc.org/displaypage.aspx?cMSpageid=1920

uS department of enerGy’S enerGy

efficiency & reneWable enerGy

Building Technologies Program: The Building Technologies

Program partners with states, industry, and manufacturers to

improve the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings.

This site includes information and resources about innovative

new technologies, as well as energy-efficiency practices for

designing, building and operating commercial and residential

buildings. The site also includes information about Department

of Energy Programs, such as Energy Building Codes and Net-

Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative.

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/

Energy Savers - Tips for Saving Energy & Money at Home,

which can be downloaded for free from the Publications page:

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/library/

enerGyStar

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy that

provides energy efficient products and practices. The Local

Government page includes resources for local governments,

including information on the ENERGY STAR campaign, the

ENERGY STAR Challenge Toolkit (to promote energy efficiency

in the community), and ENERGY STAR’s Guidelines for Energy

Management and the Portfolio Manager, a tool to track energy

and water use in existing buildings. http://www.energystar.gov/

index.cfm?c=government.bus_government_local

EPA offers excellent guidelines for energy management –

including a process much like the one suggested above.

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=guidelines.

guidelines_index

flex your poWer

Flex Your Power is California’s statewide energy efficiency

marketing and outreach campaign. The Best Practices Guide for

Local Government includes specific actions and suggestions for

lighting, building envelope, water use and more. There are also

sections on lessons learned and case studies.


The Flex Your Power website also offers basic information

on performing energy audits. http://www.fypower.org/bpg/

module.html?b=institutional&m=planning_an_energy_

program&s=energy_audits



http://www.ligreenhomes.com/page.php?Page=home

http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1943#steve

http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1943#steve

http://www.greenplaybook.org/resources/whats_new/post21.htm

http://www.greenplaybook.org/resources/whats_new/post21.htm

http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1920

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/library/

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=government.bus_government_local

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=government.bus_government_local




http://www.fypower.org/bpg/module.html?b=institutional&m=Planning_an_Energy_Program&s=Energy_Audits



35

natural reSourceS

ICLEI, an international association of local governments

focusing on environmental best practices, provides access to

software that guides a community in developing energy audits

of government buildings and the entire community, along with

best practices to address the findings of the audits. Several

local jurisdictions are members of ICLEI and have implemented

practices based on its software, which means cities do not have

to “reinvent the wheel” when considering energy conservation.

http://www.icleiusa.org/

GreenhouSe GaS (GhG) emiSSionS

This tool will allow the user to develop an estimate of their GHG

emissions from a variety of sources, including company/city-

owned vehicles; purchased electricity; waste disposal; and leased

assets, franchises, and outsourced activities. It includes examples

of carbon-cutting actions such as recycling, waste prevention,

and green power purchasing. The Office Carbon Footprint

Tool follows the framework that is documented by the World

Resources Institute/World Business Council for Sustainable

Development’s (WRI/WBCSD) GHG Protocol Corporate

Standard. http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/partnerships/

wastewise/carboncalc.htm

This calculator measures the environmental benefits of

reusing building materials in terms of 10 avoided negative

environmental impacts and the embodied energy in the

materials that is preserved when the materials are reused.

http://www.wastematch.org/calculator/calculator.htm

Embodied energy calculator - Utilize calculator to

determine emissions and carbon footprint.

http://www.thegreenestbuilding.org/

ICLEI’s Climate Action Handbook offers examples of actions

that local governments can take to reduce greenhouse gases,

such as ways to encourage alternatives to single occupancy

vehicles. http://www.icleiusa.org/action-center/planning/

climate-action-handbook

energy and Water fundIng oPPortunItIesThe states of Missouri and Illinois both offer funding

to encourage energy efficiency.

http://www.dsireusa.org/index.cfm?ee=1&re=1

The US Green Building Council (USGBC) offers links to a number

of funding opportunities. http://www.usgbc.org/displaypage.

aspx?cMSpageid=76#facilities

Local utilities Ameren and Laclede Gas offer energy

efficiency incentives to customers.

Ameren: http://www.ameren.com/energyefficiency/

Laclede Gas: http://www.lacledegas.com/conservation/

conservation%20&%20energy%20efficiency%20programs/

Don’t forget that if you implement an energy efficiency

or water efficiency project, you stand to see cost savings

in the future. Use these savings for your next upgrade!

Or to fund another green project!

http://www.icleiusa.org/

http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/partnerships/wastewise/carboncalc.htm


http://www.wastematch.org/calculator/calculator.htm

http://www.thegreenestbuilding.org/

http://www.icleiusa.org/action-center/planning/climate-action-handbook

http://www.icleiusa.org/action-center/planning/climate-action-handbook

http://www.dsireusa.org/index.cfm?EE=1&RE=1

http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=76#facilities

http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=76#facilities

http://www.ameren.com/EnergyEfficiency/

http://www.lacledegas.com/conservation/Conservation%20&%20Energy%20Efficiency%20Programs/

http://www.lacledegas.com/conservation/Conservation%20&%20Energy%20Efficiency%20Programs/


nearly everything we do leaves behind solid waste material.

the St. louis metro region contributes approximately 2.4

million tons annually to the united States solid waste stream

(or 1 percent of total). non-residential solid waste represents

40 percent of the total waste stream. Sustainable materials

procurement practices reduce disposal costs; reduce

operational costs due to inefficiencies; lower purchase price

for remanufactured products; protect citizens and employees;

and reduce hazardous management costs by utilizing less toxic

products. What ends up in the waste stream, and what natural

resources are depleted, are largely determined by what a local

government purchases. materials procurement is the starting

point for every community in the struggle against waste.

“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” the 3-R motto of sustainability, is at

the heart of sustainable materials procurement. Does a material

need to be used? Can it be reused? Can it be recycled? All of

these questions should be asked up front. But there is more to it

than this. Energy to produce, transport, and dispose of materials,

the effect of the materials themselves on the environment, and

the effect on human health while in use and when discarded, are

at the very core of this sustainability analysis. Moreover, it is one

of the easiest topics to address by local governments because of

the availability of ever-advancing information and wide-spread

main street support. The issue is readily understandable to local

government officials and citizens, and it is one area in which

local government has exclusive control.

The primary approach to materials sustainability is to use

an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) policy. The

standards for an EPP policy are similar to those adopted and

promoted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and

the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives

(ICLEI.) EPP calls for procuring goods that do not sacrifice

performance or price, while at the same time reduces the

environmental impact associated with their manufacturing,

use and/or disposal. The EPA defines EPP as “products or

services that have lesser or reduced effect on human health

and the environment when compared with competing products

or services that serve the same purpose.” This applies to raw

materials, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, use, reuse,

operation, maintenance and disposal.

Embedded in EPP is the concept that every tangible product

has an impact and must ultimately be analyzed through an EPP

policy model. This includes every product—office equipment,

choice of paper (recycled versus non-recycled), copying and

printing policies, cleaning supplies, vending machines, light

bulbs, furnace filters, and construction materials—as well as the

government’s fleet needs, including cars, trucks, fire equipment

and the fuel products themselves. EPP involves virtually every

aspect of the management of local government operations, and

it all begins with decisions regarding procurement.

In reality, most local governments will look exclusively at “price”

in making a purchasing decision. It is essential that the cost to

the environment and to human health be equal drivers in the

decision making process.

Developing a comprehensive EPP policy is a critical component

of a sustainable community. Materials cut across all aspects of an

organization and impact both cost and the solid waste stream.

Since each life cycle step results in waste generation, having an

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing policy in place allows

local governments to base buying decisions on criteria that are

both cost effective and environmentally sound. It also enables

local governments to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions

by reducing overall energy use.

a typical epp policy includes the following components:

1. Materials Audit process

2. Environmentally Preferred Purchasing Committee

3. EPP Implementation Plan

4. Waste Prevention statement, including the 3Rs.

The FOCUS St. Louis Environmental Task Force Survey reports

that 90.5 percent of the respondents have adopted government

office/facilities recycling and 91.3 percent have citizen/business

recycling. Waste reduction practices curb greenhouse gas

(GHG) emissions, reduce water pollution, save energy and

supply valuable raw materials to industry. In 2007, the national

recycling rate of 33.4 percent (85 million tons) prevented the

release of approximately 193 million metric tons of carbon

dioxide equivalent into the air – roughly the amount emitted

annually by 35 million cars. Waste reduction is an important

way that all communities can be part of the solution to

global climate change.

materIals Procurement summary

Vii. MaterialS procureMent

37


Recycling in government offices and facilities

Recycling for citizens and businesses

Undertaken materials audit for government equipment, supplies % fleet

“Green” purchasing by government

Local/regional purchasing by government

Adopted “Green” building policy for government facilities





SMALL (1)

80%

73%

5%

14%

35%

15%

MEDIUM (2)

100%

100%

22%

33%

56%

13%

LARGE (3)

86%

86%

29%

32%

46%

41%

Survey responses in Table 6 indicate that communities of all

sizes have taken up the recycling banner for their government

facilities, as well as for their citizens and businesses. However,

in other areas dealing with green policies and actions, there is

room for improvement. For extensive web-based resources to

address these issues, refer to the Materials Procurement Best

Practices section.

There is a large body of research available to local governments,

much of it free, to give policy makers and government

employees a more in-depth analysis of this topic. Professional

directors of various local government departments receive the

most current information on sustainable practices from their

professional trade journals and from their counterparts in other

cities. For smaller cities, especially those that rely on St. Louis

County for many services, St. Louis County professionals will

also have current sustainability research and techniques. For

mid-sized cities, this provides a framework for an approach

they can take, without much difficulty, in getting on the road

to sustainable materials practices. It will also identify questions

or issues to be explored because of the greater impact on the

environment. If St. Louis regional local governments can employ

any of these measures, the cumulative impact on green house

gas emissions will be significant, from reduced energy usage and

removal of toxins from the environment, to healthier employees

and citizens.

University City, Missouri is one of 10 cities in the St. Louis

region to become one of the Sierra Club’s “Cool Cities” and

whose mayor has signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors’

Climate Protection Agreement. University City seeks to integrate

sustainability into every decision and action. One of the actions

taken has been the formation of the city’s Green Practices

Committee, formed to provide guidance to the city to continue

reducing its carbon footprint by 2012 in accordance with the

U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement

and increasing green practices throughout the University

City community.

The city has taken other steps towards becoming more

sustainable including:

• Creating a “Green Practices Committee” to develop

sustainability master plan.

• Joining ICLEI and conducting a green house gas

(GHG) inventory.

• Conducting energy audits of all city facilities

• Conducting street lighting audits and developing

a plan to reduce electricity use.

• Adopting and instituting an Environmentally Preferable

Purchasing (EPP) policy. (For more on EPP, see the Materials

Procurement section.)

• Retrofitting historic City Hall to be the first municipal building

in Missouri to be LEED certified.

• Being the first city in the region to institute single stream

recycling to make recycling easier while reducing the

amount of waste.

• Using B-20 bio-diesel fuel for diesel fleet and purchasing

hybrid vehicles.

• Installing energy efficient ball field lighting.

• Working with the Community Action Agency to weatherize

homes of low income residents.

• Installing LED bulbs in all city-owned traffic lights.

• Installing rain gardens throughout the city.

University City, Missouri has always been known for being one of

the more progressive cities in the St. Louis region when it comes

to going green. The city has taken enormous strides towards

becoming more sustainable and is looking to expand on those

efforts in the future by partnering with other cities in the region.

See the city’s green practices section of its website http://www.

ucitymo.org/index.aspx?nid=451 for more information.

caSe Study

http://www.ucitymo.org/index.aspx?nid=451 for more information

http://www.ucitymo.org/index.aspx?nid=451 for more information


Getting Started • Form an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP)

committee comprising representatives from the city departments that procure materials.

• Evaluate and assess what materials are being used by the local government and its various departments.

• Establish an EPP program based on these findings.

• Educate city employees about the EPP program.

• Encourage the 3Rs—Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

on the Way• Audit, assess and create a complete listing of materials

used by all departments.

• Develop a formal EPP policy.

• Research possible Green Purchasing Organizations to assist the Committee in performing an analysis of products used or under consideration for use.

• Consult with similar municipalities for information that may already have been analyzed.

Sustaining• Continue to educate city employees about the EPP policy.

• Update EPP policy as necessary.

• Continue to implement the EPP policy in all government operations.

• Update resources as technology advances.

1. appoint individuals to a Materials Management committee

(MMc), including stakeholders, decision makers, and

citizenry. Charter the group to develop a Materials

Management Policy (MMP) resulting in comprehensive

environmental policy making. To ensure policy is carried

out, incorporate the committee into the community’s

ongoing operations.

2. conduct a Waste audit which will enable the committee

to benchmark and measure its work. As part of the audit,

utilize a carbon footprint calculator for office. http://www.

epa.gov/epawaste/partnerships/wastewise/carboncalc.htm

• Identify waste stream composition. Analyze discarded materials to determine type and quantity. Make special note of high-volume and high-value materials (toner cartridges, aluminum cans, etc.) Be sure to determine their weight and volume. Record which materials can be recycled, reused (repair vs. new purchase) or reduced (high-volumes of office paper, disposable cups, etc.).

• Identify sources of waste. Determine if materials can be:

reduced – Institute two-sided copies, slim down or avoid boxes and bags, discontinue the use of bottled water, etc.

reused – Paper, folders, Ceramic coffee cups and dishes, packing material, etc.

recycled – Institute an organization-wide, single-stream recycling program including the municipal solid waste curbside collections. Utilizing large wheeled recycling totes, with recycling service a mandatory part of basic weekly service, has demonstrated a tremendous increase in the percent of materials recycled.

3. Based on the results of the audit and benchmarking,

determine a plan of action to more efficiently reduce,

reuse and recycle your community’s materials.

4. With direction from the Materials Management Committee,

implement your environmentally preferred purchasing

policy. Locate a recycling collection system. Locate

clearly-marked collection containers where recyclables

are generated and near trash cans to reduce contamination.

Track current and projected costs. Establish current

costs and six months later conduct a second waste

audit to determine waste reduction and cost savings.

Benchmark results; analyze again in six months to

identify more efficiencies.

5. promote success stories to residential and non-residential

customers. The EPA has a great resource for teachers,

students, and researchers to develop an increased

knowledge of solid waste issues. This resource is intended to

increase environmental awareness and inspire participation

in environmental activities. See the following website for

details.http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/education/index.htm

recommendatIons ImPlementatIon strategIes

the epa has five guiding principles that should drive epp:

1. Environmental considerations should become a part of normal practice, consistent with such traditional factors as product safety, price, performance and availability.

2. Consideration of environmental preferability should begin early in the acquisition process and be rooted in the ethic of pollution prevention, which strives to eliminate or reduce, up-front, potential risks to human health and the environment.

3. A product or service of environmental preferability is a function of multiple attributes from a lifecycle perspective.

4. Determining environmental preferability might involve comparing environmental impacts. In comparing environmental impacts, local governments should consider: the reversibility and geographic scale of environmental impacts, the degree of difference among competing products, and the overriding importance of protecting human health.

5. Comprehensive, accurate, and meaningful information about environmental performance of products is necessary to determine environmental preferability.




39

environmentally preferable purchaSinG (epp)

There are a host of reference materials already in the public

domain that can be accessed by local government officials

to provide an in-depth analysis of environmentally preferred

purchasing practices.

Responsible Purchasing Network performs a full life cycle

analysis: http://www.responsiblepurchasing.org/

ICLEI’s Resource Guide to Environmentally Preferred Purchasing:

http://www.icleiusa.org/library/images-phase1-051308/action-

center/epp-guide/?searchterm=epp

EPA’s main page on EPP and their Final Guidance on

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing:

http://www.epa.gov/epp/

http://www.epa.gov/osw/partnerships/wastewise/

pubs/wwupda15.pdf

The City of Santa Monica’s (CA) Office of Sustainability and

the Environment provides great resources, case studies and

procurement policies. http://www.smgov.net/departments/

oSe/categories/buyGreen.aspx

The City of Santa Monica’s Environmental Purchasing,

A Case Study, available through the Pollution Prevention

Information Clearing House

http://www.epa.gov/oppt/epp/pubs/case/santa.pdf

Cities Go Green.com, Greening the Office: January 2009 Issue,

pages 15-18: http://www.citiesgogreen.com/issuearchives/

The City of San Jose, CA sets the standard for EPPs across

the country. http://www.sanjoseca.gov/esd/natural-energy-

resources/epp.htm

certified Green and reuSable productS

Green Seal is a non-profit that set standards for products such

as janitorial cleaners, floor strippers and paints, and certifies

products that meet those standards. http://www.greenseal.org

Greenguard is a non-profit that certifies products that impact

indoor air quality, such as flooring, paints, furniture and cleaning

products. http://www.greenguard.org

GreenSpec Directory is a paper and online directory that lists

over 2,100 environmentally preferable building products based

on uniform environmental criteria.

http://www.buildinggreen.com

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides

vendor lists of product brands.

http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/tools/cpg/index.htm

The Comprehensive Procurement Guideline (CPG) program

is part of EPA’s continuing effort to promote the use of materials

recovered from solid waste by promoting reusable, rechargeable

and refillable items.


ImPlementatIon strategIes best PractIces

GreenhouSe GaS emiSSionS and life cycle analySiS (lca)

EPA has tools to determine the greenhouse gas (GHG) impact

of purchasing, manufacturing, and waste management actions.

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/waste/tools.html

recycle proGram for conSumer electronicS

A source of information about environmentally preferable

products is the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment

Tool (EPEAT). http://www.epeat.net/

The St. Louis Regional Partnership for Electronics Recovery

Web site provides locations throughout the St. Louis area to

encourage reuse and recycling of unwanted electronics.

http://www.ecyclestlouis.org

St. louiS area diStrictS and reSourceS

Environmental Protection Agency REGION 7:

http://www.epa.gov/epahome/resource.htm

Missouri Department of Natural Resources:

http://www.dnr.mo.gov

Resource St. Louis:

http://www.resourcestlouis.org

St. Louis-Jefferson Solid Waste Management District:

http://www.swmd.net

the measurable benefits of an epp are:

• Lower purchase price for items such as remanufactured products.

• Reduced operational costs due to energy efficiency.

• Reduced disposal costs via the purchasing of more durable products.

• Reduced hazardous management costs by utilizing less toxic products.

• Improved work health and safety conditions.

http://www.responsiblepurchasing.org/

http://www.icleiusa.org/library/images-phase1-051308/action-center/epp-guide/?searchterm=EPP

http://www.icleiusa.org/library/images-phase1-051308/action-center/epp-guide/?searchterm=EPP

http://www.epa.gov/epp/

http://www.epa.gov/osw/partnerships/wastewise/pubs/wwupda15.pdf

http://www.smgov.net/Departments/OSE/categories/buyGreen.aspx

http://www.smgov.net/Departments/OSE/categories/buyGreen.aspx

http://www.epa.gov/oppt/epp/pubs/case/santa.pdf

http://www.citiesgogreen.com/issuearchives/

http://www.sanjoseca.gov/esd/natural-energy-resources/epp.htm

http://www.sanjoseca.gov/esd/natural-energy-resources/epp.htm

http://www.greenseal.org

http://www.greenguard.org

http://www.buildinggreen.com



http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/waste/tools.html

http://www.epeat.net/



http://www.dnr.mo.gov

http://www.resourcestlouis.org

http://www.swmd.net


St. Louis County Solid Waste Management:

http://www.stlouisco.com/doh/waste/waste_mg.html

St. Charles County Division of Environmental Services:

http://www.scchealth.org/docs/es/index.html

Jefferson County Government: http://www.jeffcomo.org

City of St. Louis Refuse Division:

http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/refuse/

St. Louis County Municipal League: http://www.stlmuni.org

Missouri Recycling Association: http://www.mora.org

E-Cycle St. Louis: http://www.ecyclestlouis.org

education reSourceS for recyclinG

Education Resources for Recycling

Missouri Botanical Garden’s EarthWays Center:

http://www.earthwayscenter.org/earthways.html

Resource Recovery (Leftovers, Inc.):

http://www.leftoversetc.com/index.htm

St. Louis Teacher’s Recycle Center:

http://www.sltrc.com/index.html

Resourceful Schools (St. Louis County):

http://www.resourcefulschools.org


fundIng oPPortunItIesThe Missouri Recycling Association has an extensive list of

web-based links and information, including success stories.

http://www.mora.org/resources/funding_opportunities

and http://www.mora.org/smrc/reports


http://www.swmd.net/grants.html

St. Louis County: www.stlouisco.com/doh/waste/waste_mg.html

EIERA (Environmental Improvement and Energy

Resources Authority): http://www.dnr.mo.gov/eiera/index.html

Missouri Department of Natural Resources: www.dnr.mo.gov

Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7:



http://www.swmd.net

St. Louis County Solid Waste Management:


St. Charles County Division of Environmental Services:


Jefferson County Government: www.jeffcomo.org

City of St. Louis Refuse Division:


St. Louis County Municipal League: www.stlmuni.org

E-Cycle St. Louis: www.ecyclestlouis.org


representative building Materials for the San diego

environmental Services department renovation:

• low-Voc paints, sealers, and stains - All met California requirements for low-VOC coatings and contained no formaldehyde, petroleum-based solvents, or other toxins.

• acoustic ceiling tiles - Pearlite content with no VOC emissions and no artificial mineral fibers. They also are naturally nonflammable and antimicrobial and contain 10 percent recycled content.

• carpet tiles - Met the state of Washington Indoor Air Quality Specifications for low-VOC products, including a low-VOC adhesive for installation.

• linoleum flooring - Linoleum is made from natural fibers and has minimal VOCs (unlike vinyl flooring).

• cabinetry fiberboard - Manufactured from 90 percent preconsumer recycled wood without using formaldehyde. Cabinets are coated with a low-VOC coating instead of a laminate.

• ceramic tiles - Use glass and clay as the primary materials, which makes them naturally inert with no VOC emissions. The glass tiles contain 70 percent recycled content.

• cellulose insulation - Manufactured without formaldehyde from 100 percent recycled content soy-ink newspapers. Contains no artificial mineral fibers such as fiberglass.

• Gypsum wallboard - Available with 100 percent recycled-content facing and no VOC emissions.

• low-flow plumbing fixtures - Reduce building water consumption by 50 percent.

• Steel framing - Requires no chemical fire retardants or sealants and contains 50 percent recycled content.

• counter tops - Solid surface acrylic polymer manufactured without formaldehyde.

• toilet partitions - Recycled-content HDPE plastic manufactured without formaldehyde.

To see how State and local Governments around the country are Implementing Environmentally Preferable Purchasing practices see http://www.epa.gov/epp/pubs/case/statenlocal.pdf

caSe Study



http://www.jeffcomo.org


http://www.stlmuni.org

http://www.mora.org


http://www.earthwayscenter.org/earthways.html

http://www.leftoversetc.com/index.htm

http://www.sltrc.com/index.html

http://www.resourcefulschools.org

http://www.mora.org/resources/funding_opportunities

http://www.mora.org/smrc/reports

http://www.swmd.net/grants.html

www.stlouisco.com/doh/waste/waste_mg.html

http://www.dnr.mo.gov/eiera/index.html

www.dnr.mo.gov


http://www.swmd.net



www.jeffcomo.org


www.stlmuni.org

www.ecyclestlouis.org

41

bioregion – bioregions are defined by watershed boundaries and soil and terrain characteristics.

carbon footprint – total set of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event or product. A GHG emissions assessment indicates the size of a carbon footprint. A corrective strategy is devised.

carbon Sequestration – removal and storage of carbon from the atmosphere in carbon sinks (such as oceans, forests or soils) through physical or biological processes, such as photosynthesis.

continual improvement – consistently evaluating and improving processes, operations and policies.

ecosystem Services – essential for human life, these are nature’s processes that benefit ecosystems, including water supply, filtration, flood control, protection of the soil, breakdown of pollutants, recycling of wastes, habitat for economically important wild species (e.g., fisheries); regulation of climate, and others.

embodied energy – all the direct and indirect energy required to make a product.

environmental impact Statement (eiS) – describes the positive and negative environmental effects of a proposed action and cites alternative actions.

environmentally preferred purchasing (epp) – purchasing “green” products, establishing policy of utilizing “green” vendors, and establishing a policy of “green” supply chains.

full cost accounting – tracking all costs throughout entire process, e.g., health of uranium miners added to cost of nuclear power.

Green infrastructure – natural habitats and hydrological patterns which, for example, can reduce the overall impacts of traditional stormwater infrastructure, provide clean air, and filter water.

Green rooftop – a vegetated rooftop using either multiple planting containers or consisting of several layers: a waterproofing membrane, insulation, protection layer, drainage layer, filter mat, soil layer, and vegetation. May have an internal drainage network that directs an overflow away from the roof to inhibit ponding. Can reduce overall energy consumption and water runoff volume by up to 50 percent. Native plant species that are drought tolerant are typically used.

heat island effect – increase in ambient temperature occurring in cities because paved areas and buildings absorb more heat from the sun than natural landscape. Additional heat is generated by vehicles, lighting, and other equipment.

infiltration – process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil.

integrated pest Management – reducing or eliminating the use of pesticides while managing pest populations at an acceptable level.

invasive Species – organism that dominates an area and becomes a monoculture, interfering with the natural functioning and diversity of the system it invaded and causing environmental or economic harm.

land Management – activities associated with the management of land as a resource from an environmental and economic perspective.

life cycle assessment (lca) – assessing the costs of extraction, manufacturing, assembling and packaging (and all support functions), processing and transporting, installing, disassembling (if applicable), recycling, decomposition and disposal.

Mobile air pollution – air pollution generated by automobiles, trucks, buses, etc.

native Species – plants, animals, fungi, and micro-organisms that occur naturally in a given area, without human introduction.

non-point pollution – pollution that cannot be traced to a single source, such as pollution from urban runoff.

particulates – fine, tiny particles of solid or liquid suspended in a gas or liquid.

photochemical Smog – chemical reaction of sunlight, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere, which leaves airborne particles (called particulate matter) and ground-level ozone. Nitrogen oxides are released by nitrogen and oxygen into the air, reacting together under high temperature such as in the exhaust of fossil fuel-burning engines in cars, trucks, power plants, and industrial manufacturing factories. VOCs are released from man-made sources such as gasoline, paints, solvents, pesticides, and biogenic sources, such as pine and citrus tree emissions.

point pollution - pollution discharged from an identifiable source.

prairie - a tract of level to hilly land with a predominance of grasses and small broad leaved plants, a scarcity of shrubs, and a scarcity of trees.

rain Garden - landscaping feature planted with native perennial plants that manages storm water runoff from impervious surfaces such as roofs, sidewalks, and parking lots.

riparian – area or corridor adjacent to a stream, river or lake.

Sharrows – short for “shared lane pavement markings.” They consist of an image of a bicycle with a series of chevrons to indicate that motorists and cyclists are to share the travel lane.

Sick building Syndrome – illnesses thought to be caused by flaws in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Other causes have been attributed to contaminants produced by outgassing of some types of building materials, volatile organic compounds, molds, improper exhaust ventilation of ozone (byproduct of some office machinery), light industrial chemicals used within, or lack of adequate fresh air or air filtration.

Supply chain Management – the management of a network of interconnected businesses involved in the provision of products and services for an end user. Supply Chain Management spans all movement and storage of raw materials, work-in-process inventory, and finished goods from point of origin to point of consumption.

Swale – relatively wide, shallow, open channel with a slight gradient, designed to let water flow slowly after storms and soak into soil, and allow pollutants to adhere and/or degrade.

thermal inversion – cool air trapped by warm air, resulting in a stagnant pocket of air at the earth's surface that holds and concentrates pollutants at the surface. Leads to bioaccumulation and bioamplification, affecting animals and humans.

Watershed – area of land where all ground water and surface water drains to the same point.

Wetland – permanently or intermittently wet areas, shallow water, and land/water margins supporting a natural ecosystem of plants and animals adapted to wet conditions

aPPendIx a GLOSSARY


cliMate actionepa’s climate change Site offers comprehensive information

on the issue of climate change in a way that is accessible

and meaningful to all parts of society—communities,

individuals,business, states and localities, and governments.

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange

iclei climate action handbook:

http://www.icleiusa.org/action-center/planning/climate-

actionhandbook/view?searchterm=

The u.S. conference of Mayors best practice documents

provides examples from municipalities big and small.

http://www.usmayors.org/climateprotection/about.htm

buildinGS The u.S. Green building council (USGBC )is a non-profit

organization committed to expandingsustainable building

practices. The Government Resource pageincludes a Public Policy

Database, a Roadmap to SustainableGovernment Buildings and

LEED Green Building Rating Systemresources for Government.

http://www.usgbc.org/displaypage.aspx?cMSpageid=1779

educationThe Missouri’s environmental educators mission is to

provide innovative professional development and networking

opportunities for both for teachers in the classroom and

educators in agencies and organizations to help

Missourians become more environmentally responsible.

http://www.meea.org

Generalthe Green playbook provides local governments with

guidance,resources, talking points, case studies and background

material—everything to advance green buildings, neighborhoods

and infrastructure. It includes strategies, tips and tools. Designed

for elected officials, senior managers and staff seeking to begin

or strengthen their program. Practical program guidance,

policies and regulatory levers flesh out each topic.

http://www.greenplaybook.org/

Global footprint network is an international think tank working

to advance sustainability through use of the Ecological Footprint

a resource accounting tool that measures how much nature a

community has, how much it uses and who uses what.

http://www.footprintnetwork.org

iclei tool Kit for small communities (under 25,000)

http://www.icleiusa.org/action-center/learn-from-others/

smallcommunities- toolkit

Donella Meadows, founder of the Sustainability institute

and lead author of Limits to Growth and Beyond the Limits,

was a pioneer in the application of system dynamics to critical

issues of human survival—poverty, growth in population and

consumption, and ecological degradation.

http://www.sustainabilityinstitute.org

Green JobSthe blue Green alliance is a national partnership of steelworkers,

labor unions and environmental organizations launched in 2006

and dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in

the green economy. The Alliance is committed to transforming

the economy through renewable energy, energy efficiency, mass

transit and rail, a new smart grid, and other solutions to global

warming. It has the potential to create millions of jobs, while

reducing global warming emissions and moving America toward

energy independence. http://www.bluegreenalliance.org

The apollo alliance is a coalition of labor, business,

environmental, and community leaders working to catalyze a

clean energy revolution that will put millions of Americans to

work in a new generation of high-quality, green-collar jobs.

http://apolloalliance.org/about/mission/

Harvard Kennedy School & Ash Institute’s “Better, Faster,

Cheaper” is a new online source for innovative government

and a place for public officials to share best practices.

http://bfc.ashinstitute.harvard.edu

reGionalSustainable St. louis is a non-profit organization dedicated

to the development of a holistic and regional approach to

environmental sustainability, helping to advance a region-

wide sustainability movement by serving as a catalyst for

change throughout the entire St. Louis metropolitan area.

http://sustainstl.org/

uSGbc – St. louis regional chapter is a regional resource

to initiate, develop and accelerate implementation of green

building concepts, technologies and principles that promote

environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places

to live and work. http://www.usgbc-stl.org/

SuStainable city planSchicago climate action plan: http://www.chicagoclimateaction.

org/filebin/pdf/finalreport/ccapreportfinal.pdf

Grand rapids, Michigan’s Sustainability plan:

http://www.sustainablegr.com/

the city of Kansas city, Missouri’s Sustainability in Kansas city:

http://www.kcmo.org/manager/oeq/Sustainability%20in%20

Kc%20(Web).pdf and climate protection plan:

http://www.kcmo.org/manager/oeQ/cpp.pdf

new york city’s planyc: http://www.nyc.gov/html/

planyc2030/html/downloads/download.shtml

Santa Monica’s Sustainable city plan is designed to help

government officials and citizens think, plan and act in a more

sustainable way, and to provide criteria for evaluating the

longterm impact of decisions. http://www.smgov.net/epd/scp

aPPendIx b LeAdinG SuStAinAbiLitY ReSOuRCeS

Viii. appendiceS

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange

http://www.icleiusa.org/action-center/planning/climate-actionhandbook/view?searchterm=

http://www.icleiusa.org/action-center/planning/climate-actionhandbook/view?searchterm=

http://www.usmayors.org/climateprotection/about.htm

http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1779

http://www.meea.org

http://www.greenplaybook.org/

http://www.footprintnetwork.org

http://www.icleiusa.org/action-center/learn-from-others/smallcommunities- toolkit

http://www.icleiusa.org/action-center/learn-from-others/smallcommunities- toolkit

http://www.sustainabilityinstitute.org

http://www.bluegreenalliance.org

http://apolloalliance.org/about/mission/

http://bfc.ashinstitute.harvard.edu

http://sustainstl.org/

http://www.usgbc-stl.org/

http://www.chicagoclimateaction.org/filebin/pdf/finalreport/CCAPREPORTFINAL.pdf

http://www.chicagoclimateaction.org/filebin/pdf/finalreport/CCAPREPORTFINAL.pdf

http://www.sustainablegr.com/

http://www.kcmo.org/manager/oeq/Sustainability%20in%20KC%20(WEB).pdf

http://www.kcmo.org/manager/oeq/Sustainability%20in%20KC%20(WEB).pdf

http://www.kcmo.org/manager/OEQ/cpp.pdf

http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/html/downloads/download.shtml

http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/html/downloads/download.shtml

http://www.smgov.net/epd/scp

43

1. Have you developed an area-specific plan(s) for Open Space within the last 10 years?

a. Yes b. No c. More than 10 years ago? d. No plan(s)? If you don’t have a plan, proceed to the final question.

2. Have you developed a master Open Space plan within the last 10 years?


3. Have you developed a comprehensive community-wide plan that includes Open Space within the last 10 years?


4. If you have an area-specific plan(s) or a comprehensive/ master plan, which of the following area(s) does it include? Check all that apply. If any of the following cross department boundaries, make a note in the margin.

___ Carbon footprint

___ Community education programs

___ Community gardens

___ Corridors (wildlife, riparian)

___ Greenways (for pedestrian, bicycle traffic w/ natural vegetation)

___ Marsh, lake, stream, river

___ Native plantings (restoration programs)

___ Natural habitats (restoration, maintenance programs)

___ Population density

___ Rain gardens

___ Reuse of Stormwater for non-potable uses

___ Recreation area for passive activity, e.g. picnic

___ Recreation area for sports, e.g. soccer field

___ Trails (hiking, biking, horseback)

___ Urban forests

___ Other

5. From the above list, which area(s) would you like to include? List them here:

A. ___________________________________

B. ___________________________________

A. ___________________________________

C. ___________________________________

D. ___________________________________

E. ___________________________________

F. ___________________________________

G. ___________________________________

H. ___________________________________

I. ___________________________________

J. ___________________________________

6. From the above list, which part(s) of the plan do you struggle with? What do you need to move the obstacle(s)?

A. ___________________________________

B. ___________________________________

A. ___________________________________

C. ___________________________________

D. ___________________________________

E. ___________________________________

F. ___________________________________

G. ___________________________________

H. ___________________________________

I. ___________________________________

J. ___________________________________

7. Do you have a Green Practices Committee or an Ecology & Environmental Awareness Committee?

___ Yes

___ No

8. Do you want to create a Greening Committee, including residents?

___ Yes

___ No

9. What are the current City zoning or development guidelines?

a. Overlay Zones

b. Planned Unit Development

c. Formed Based Code

d. Flex Zoning

10. Do you think that the current zoning or development guidelines adequately provide for Open Space?

a. Yes

b. Yes, but could be improved. What will help you proceed?

c. No. What will help you proceed?

d. Other

11. What will help you develop a plan or implement (or refine) the existing plan(s)? Check all that apply.

___ Additional staff

___ Financial resources

___ Green Committee

___ Planning assistance

___ Policy development, analysis assistance

___ Technical assistance

___ Toolkit with assessment checklist, how-to, scorecard, resources

___ Other

aPPendIx c Open SpACe ASSeSMent tOOL


focuS St. louis extends appreciation to the individuals who

served on the environmental Sustainability task force and the

guest speakers who provided their insights. a special thank you

to the co-chairs who provided much guidance, insight, energy,

and support to this project.

co-chairS

Mary Ann Lazarus, Firmwide Director of Sustainable Design, HOK

Wayne Goode, former Missouri State Senator

memberS of the taSk force

Emily Andrews, Executive Director of USGBC –

St. Louis Regional Chapter

Dave Berger, Executive Director St. Louis-Jefferson

Solid Waste Management District

Tracy Boaz, Community Conservationist,

Missouri Department of Conservation

Rev. Dr. Jane Bruss, Citizen with grassroots

and international experience in sustainability

Laura Cohen, Confluence Project Director, Trailnet

Paula Crews, Account Director, Paradowski Creative

Petree A. Eastman, Assistant City Manager,

City of University City, Missouri

Doug Eller, Director of Community Development

at Grace Hill Settlement House

Tim Embree, Special Assistant to the Mayor, St. Louis City

Mark Fogal, Manager of Regional Policy Analysis

at East West Gateway Coordinating Council

Liz Forrestal, Executive Director of Missouri Votes

Conservation, Member of Sustainable St. Louis

Lee Fox, Member of ReSource St. Louis

and Kirkwood Living Green

Deborah Chollet Frank, Vice President of Sustainability,

Missouri Botanical Garden

Monica Fries, Member of Sustainable St. Louis

Michaeleen Gerken, former Natural Resources Educator

for University of Illinois Extension

Stephen Ibendahl, Landscape Architect at HNTB,

Member of the USGBC

Jane Jones, Manager of the Merger Program Office,

Wachovia, Member of the USGBC

Lynn Larkin, Design Extra, LLC.

Mark C. Lindgren, Vice President,

Corporate Human Resources at Ameren UE

Bruce Litzinger, Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District

Steve Mahfood, former Director of Missouri DNR

Larry Marks, Executive Vice President, Development Strategies

John May, Ph.D., Chair, Creve Coeur Climate Action Task Force

Julie Morgan, Mayor of Rock Hill, Missouri

John Posey, Manager of Research Services East West

Gateway Coordinating Council

Richard Reilly, COO, BOA Construction

Terri Reilly, former Executive Director of St Louis Earth Day

Courtney Sloger, Government & Community Affairs/

Legal Department at METRO

Nancy Thompson, Project Manager,

Great Rivers Greenway District

Phil Valko, Active Living Program Manager, Trailnet

Patty Vinyard, Executive Director of the St. Louis

Regional Bicycle Federation

focuS St. louiS project Staff

John Wagner, Community Policy Director

Drew Langenberg, Marketing and Communications Director

Diane Gregory, Public Policy Administration Intern,

University of Missouri, St. Louis

Christine Chadwick, Executive Director

GueSt SpeakerS

The Honorable Mayor Linda Goldstein, Clayton, Missouri

Ms. Erin Budde, formerly with the Gateway Center for Giving

Liz Forrestal, Sustainable St. Louis

Dennis Murphey, Chief Environmental Officer for the City

of Kansas City, Missouri

Amy Malick, the International Council for Local

Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI)

A very special thank to you HOK

for their graphic design assistance.

aPPendIx d ACknOwLedGeMentS

iX. appendiceS

YEAR

the old Post office815 olive street, suite 110st. louis, mo 63101p: 314.622.1250

f: 314.622.1279

www.focus-stl.org

[email protected]

FOCUS St. Louis works to develop leadership, influence

policy, and promote community connections throughout

the bi-state St. Louis region. The mission of FOCUS

St. Louis is to create a thriving, cooperative region by

engaging citizens to participate in active leadership

roles and to influence positive community change.

A nonpartisan 501(c)(3), FOCUS St. Louis has four

key priorities for the 16-county area: good governance,

racial equality and social justice, quality educational

opportunities, and sustainable infrastructure.

FOCUS St. Louis will advocate on behalf of the

environmental sustainability recommendations made

in this report. FOCUS will also work to ensure that the

recommendations in this report are being implemented

and that progress is being made by local communities.

As the quality and content of best practice resources

changes rapidly, FOCUS will continue to provide updates

to these and other resources via the FOCUS St. Louis Web

site for use by local government officials and residents.

If you would like to do more to help your local community

become more environmentally sustainable, or if you

would like to share a success story from your community,

contact John Wagner at 314-622-1250 x105 or john.

[email protected]. To download copies of this full

report, the executive summary, and the toolkit please

visit http://www.focus-stl.org.
