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Implementing Green Infrastructure into Municipal Programs
The Raleigh Experience
Kevin Boyer, PE – City of Raleigh
Jonathan Smith, PE – Tetra Tech
Cleaner stormwater and water bodies Better aesthetics, health of streams, lakes Consideration of those living downstream Priority of City Council
(2030 Comp Plan)
Why LID and GI are important to Raleigh…
Drivers for stormwater GI in Raleigh
NPDES Phase I stormwater permit? (1994)
Nutrient-sensitive waters rules? (1998/2003)
Stormwater utility and fee? (2003)
Water supply watershed protection?
Rapid growth and urbanization?
Want clean water/healthy streams? and
Shellfish waters?
Swimming beaches?
Combined sewer overflows?
Consent decree or court order?
Retention standard in NPDES permit?
Expansion of Water Supply Watersheds
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Getting started, first time…
2007: City Council endorsed encouraging LID
Encouraging policy, not enough…
2009: Raleigh’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan and LID
Encouraging policy, not enough…2009: Raleigh’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan and LID
Element C – Environmental Protection
Policy EP 2.1: Green InfrastructureEnsure protection of Raleigh’s unique and significant green infrastructure – its natural resources, landscapes, and ecological systems – through best practices management stewardship and land use regulations.
Policy EP 3.4: Low Impact Systems for ParkingWell maintained pervious pavement or other low impact systems for parking areas should be encouraged throughout the City, especially in environmentally sensitive areas and floodplains, as appropriate.
Policy EP 3.8: Low Impact DevelopmentPromote the use of LID techniques to mitigate the impact of stormwater runoff. This includes the use of green roofs, rain gardens, cisterns, rain barrels, and on‐site wastewater reuse systems in urban and suburban landscapes.
Getting restarted…2011-2013: Citizen commissions jump-started LID
Environmental Advisory Board | Stormwater Management Advisory CommissionSustainable Stormwater Report, August 7, 2012
The Charge from City Council…the Environmental Advisory Board on August 4, 2011 provided City Council a report suggesting consideration of alternatives to the current standard requiring traditional curb and gutter (Streets, Sidewalks, and Driveways Access Handbook) and storm drains on roadways.
Observations and RecommendationsEAB’s and SMAC’s overarching recommendation is that the City’s strategies for managing stormwater on street and roadway‐improvement emphasize not only drainage, but also treating stormwater by slowing, filtering, retaining, and absorbing runoff. This emphasis should begin with the earliest planning and continue through implementation. Planners and designers should be allowed to incorporate proven alternative stormwater management practices as standard practices along with traditional curb and gutter, transitioning from mainly piped systems to systems with natural elements and that recognize stormwater is an important resource, not just a potential hazard.Further, once these practices are made available, the City should take every opportunity to apply them on its street
projects. Recognizing that changes to established institutional practices come slowly and with difficulty, leadership from City administration will be needed to raise expectations that staff and contracted designers will consider alternative stormwater techniques on par with traditional techniques.
Back on the road…
2013: New LID recommendations from Commission; Council again endorsed; City retained a consultant
Regulatory Mandates Creating Greatest Innovation In LID
• Some major cities are linking sustainability plans to regulatory drivers (e.g., CSOs,TMDLs, permit criteria)▪ Philadelphia▪ Washington, D.C.▪ Portland▪ Seattle▪ New York▪ Boston▪ Chicago▪ Milwaukee
• Other cities do LID too to different degrees
Advancing GI/LID without Regulatory Drivers?
• Some common approaches▪ Demonstration project
▪ Grants/cost share programs
▪ Manuals or brochures
▪ Citizen outreach
▪ Get expert help
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Municipal Functions Involved in GI/LID
Core municipal functions involved in GI/LID: Different degrees of implementation and effectiveness
Common Elements of Successful GI/LID Programs
1.Policies & Ordinances
• City policy• Refined codes• Legal Representation
2. Coordinated & Trained Staff• Administration• SOP Development City Property
(roads, parks, facilities)
Utilities Emergency
vehicles Solid Waste
vehicles
3. Tools & Incentives
• GI/LID templates
• GI/LID Checklists
• Performance Standards
• Cost tool• O&M Manual• Strategic plan• Expedited approval
• Fees reduction• Cost rebate
4. Outreach & Education
• Demonstration• Multi‐media• Training & Certification
Advancing GI/LID in Raleigh: A Strategy
• Three Phase Process (to “do it”)
1. Scoping
2. Build Framework
3. Implementation
Scoping: GI/LID Work Plan
• GI/LID Task Force▪ Formed November 2013
▪ Senior staff from 6 departments plus City Manager’s Office
▪ Primary objective: provide input to develop a Work Plan containing priority actions to advance GI/LID
▪ Convened in 5 work sessions
• GI/LID Stakeholders ▪ Invited participants
▪ Primary objective: Review draft Work Plan
▪ Convened in 2 work sessions
Raleigh’s GI/LID Task Force
• City Manager’s Office (including Office of Sustainability)
• Public Works Department (including Stormwater Management, Transportation Field Services, and Design and Construction)
• Planning and Development Department
• Public Utilities Department
• Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Department
• Solid Waste Services
• Fire Department
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Raleigh GI/LID Stakeholders
• Business and development advocacy
• Citizen advocacy
• Environmental advocacy
• Key City commissions and boards
• Professional organizations
• Other public agencies.
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Work Plan– Impediments Identified
• Conducted review of past efforts, staff interviews, comparison to other communities
• Over 60 gaps and impediments noted▪ Policy/operational conflicts
▪ Missing tools and training
Work Plan– Guiding Principles
• Accommodates essential City operations
• Is scalable and affordable
• Considers long-term cost effectiveness (sustainable)
• Considers strategic timing/phasing of projects
• Adds amenities
• Balances multiple City objectives
• Demonstrates leadership/ sets example
• Educates City staff and provides clear vision
• Makes sense to Citizens and City staff
• Considers the social component/complexity
Incorporate GI/LID into new development, redevelopment and existing development such that it:
Scoping Results – Draft Work Plan
• Six priority Work Plan items identified1) Design templates for roadways
2) LID cost-effectiveness tool & applications
3) Site planning checklist & factsheets
4) Operation & maintenance evaluation & guidance
5) Priority opportunities for LID on existing development
6) Incentives review
7) Code and ordinance review (added by stakeholders)
Elements Addressed by GI/LID Work Plan
Policies & Ordinances Coordinated & Trained Staff
Tools & Incentives Outreach & Education
City Policy
Refined Codes
Legal Representation
Administration
Standard Operating Protocols (SOP)
- Development
- City Property (roads, parks, facilities)
- Utilities
- Emergency services
- Solid Waste services
GI/LID Templates
GI/LID Checklists
Performance Standards
Cost Tool
O & M Manual
Strategic Plan
Expedited Approval
Fees Reduction
Cost Rebate
Demonstration Projects
Multi-Media Program
Training & Certification
= comprehensively addressed = partially addressed
Advancing GI/LID in Raleigh
• Three Phase Process (to “do it”)
1. Scoping
2. Build Framework
3. Implementation
The Overall Work Plan forAdvancing GI/LID in Raleigh
Code Review Work Group
• Code review
• Street templates
• Incentives
Implementation Work Group
• Cost effectiveness tool
• Factsheets and checklists
• Maintenance framework
The two work groups’ tasks are linked.
WP#1 – Design Templates for Streets & Roadways
• Purpose: Address issues in 5 road/street cross-sections in UDO▪ Targeted at City staff & development community
• Work Group Role▪ Identify problem street templates
▪ Input on ROW conflicts
▪ Field evaluations
WP#2 – LID Cost-Effectiveness Tool
•Purpose of Tool: Evaluate LID design cost & benefits relative to conventional stormwatermanagement design▪ Educate staff, policy makers, development community,
citizens
▪ Support design planning
•Phase 1: ▪ Evaluate existing tools for applicability
▪ White paper on TBL benefits
▪ Recommendations for Phase 2
WP#3 – Site Planning Factsheets & Checklist
• Purpose: Facilitate discussion between development community and city staff during site planning process
• Work Group Role▪ Select factsheet “topics”
▪ Inform factsheet elements
WP#4 – O&M Evaluation and Guidance for GI/LID
• Purpose▪ Determine costs & responsibilities for O&M
▪ Develop guidance for sustainable O&M
• Work Group Role▪ Review & discuss technical findings
▪ Provide input on GI/LID O&M guidance document
WP#5 – Priority Opportunities for GI/LID on Existing Development
•Purpose▪ Identify best opportunities for GI/LID on existing public
properties▪ Explore benefit of larger scale strategic plan
•Work Group Role▪ Input on priority retrofit criteria & opportunities▪ Support data collection▪ Review technical evaluations & concept designs▪ Input on implementation plan & potential for larger scale
strategic plan
WP#6 – Incentives Review (Existing and New Development)
• Purpose: Research practices & policies and recommend incentives for City consideration
• Work Group Role:▪ Confirm existing incentives
▪ Review technical memorandum on potential GI/LID incentives
▪ Guide selection of proactive incentives
WP#7 – Review of Codes, Ordinances, and Policies for Barriers
•Purpose▪ Identify barriers to GI/LID implementation
•Work Group Role▪ Clarify code interpretation▪ Propose clear effective policies that can be supported.
GI/LID Opportunity Checklist
• Detailed focus on site scale code barriers/opportunities
• 5 goals
▪ Minimize effective or connected impervious area
▪ Preserve the hydrologic functions of unpaved areas
▪ Harvest rainwater to enhance potable and nonpotable supply
▪ Allow and encourage use of multi-use stormwater controls
▪ Manage stormwater to sustain stream functions
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WP#7 – Review of Codes, Ordinances, and Policies for Barriers
• Insert checklist tool here.
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Where do we go from here?
• But you haven’t built anything yet?▪ Framework for advancing GI/LID
▪ Raised awareness about what Raleigh has been and is doing
▪ Ambassadors for GI/LID
• Implementation▪ Code changes
▪ New policies
▪ Documents integrated into program operations
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Lessons Learned/Final Thoughts
• Strong stakeholder champion can drive progress
• Building “buy-in” from city staff is key
• Some surprising conflicts/agreements
• Significant staff turnover
• Maintain momentum
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Questions and Discussion
Contact information
Kevin Boyer
919.996.4009
Jonathan Smith
919.485.2068
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