TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to work with Long Beach Development Services and the City Attorney's Office to prepare an ordinance enacting a Green Building Program for Private Development based on the Green Building Program for Private Development - Draft Program Summary. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The term "Green Building" refers to the emerging practice of designing, constructing and operating buildings to meet a higher standard of energy and resource efficiency while making them healthier and more comfortable for their occupants. The first example of this type of building in Long Beach is the Mark Twain Neighborhood Library, completed in August 2007. Built in adherence to the City's Green Building Policy for Municipal Buildings, which was adopted by City Council in 2003, the library used the LEED green building rating system.
Seeking to further expand the practice of green building to cover private development projects, in November 2006 the City Council approved a process to explore and develop a green building program for private development using a "Green Ribbon" Committee stakeholder approach. At the same time, the City Council also adopted an Interim Green Build ing Policy for Private Development that would require large development projects (50+ units for residential or 50,000+ sq. ft. for non-residential) to meet minimum green building standards by using the LEED green building rating system. At the time, Long Beach became one of the first large cities in the U.S. to make green building mandatory for large private projects. Soon after the City Council adopted the Interim Policy, the first project subject to it was submitted (the North Long Beach Target Store).
In April 2007, 24 Green Ribbon Committee members were convened from local architects, builders, contractors, designers and developers. The Santa Monica-based non-profit Global Green USA was retained to provide expert facilitation and technical assistance to the process. Global Green had previously worked with other cities such as Pasadena, West Hollywood and Irvine on the development of their green building programs. The Green Ribbon Committee went on to meet three times in 2007 to discuss and develop a draft green building program for Long Beach.
The attached Green Building Program for Private Development - Draft Program Summary is the final product of the combined efforts of the Green Ribbon Committee, Global Green and City staff. The Draft Program Summary was presented to the Planning Commission on February 7, 2008 and the Sustainable City Commission on April 24, 2008.
The Draft Green Building Program for Private Development is composed of four tiers:
· Tier 1 seeks to introduce mandatory green building techniques to all projects through selected code changes to the zoning and building codes.
· Tier 2 makes the Interim Green Building policy permanent by requiring large projects (50+ units for residential or 50,000+ sq. ft. for non-residential) to use the LEED green building rating system to achieve a minimum of LEEDcertified in their building design. Though projects must demonstrate LEEDcompliance, full, official certification is not required.
· Tier 3 allows for the use of alternative green building rating systems on a voluntary basis for those projects not subject to Tier 2.
· Tier 4 seeks to offer development incentives for those projects that voluntarily achieve a higher level of LEED than that which is required by Tier 2.
This letter was reviewed by Assistant City Attorney Mike Mais on May 13, 2008 and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on May 12, 2008.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
This item is not time sensitive.
FISCAL IMPACT
The staff costs associated with the recommendation are currently budgeted in the Development Services Fund (SR 137).
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER