Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

To:	Mayor and City Commissioners
From:	David L. Corliss Interim City Manager
cc:	Debbie Van Saun Asst. City Manager
Date:	September 7, 2006
Re:	Update on energy related items

This memo provides an update to the City Commission on some energy related items:

· National Plug-In Partner Campaign – in March, the City Commission was given some background information on this grassroots national campaign to “demonstrate to automakers that there is a ready market for Plug-In Hybrids (PHEV).” (02/28/06 staff memo describing the campaign, sample resolution supporting local campaign, “soft” Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles fleet order form) In an April 19, 2006 memo to the City Commission, the Recycling and Resource Conservation Advisory Board provided support to the campaign and encouraged City of Lawrence participation. Staff seeks City Commission direction regarding next steps for this item, as appropriate:

1. Bring forward a resolution supporting a local “Plug-In Lawrence” campaign

2. Make a ‘soft order” for PHEVs as an expression of interest in adding this type of vehicle to our fleet.

3. Submit Lawrence’s name for use as a “founding supporter” for the Plug-In Partners campaign.

4. Public outreach program to encourage others (Chamber of Commerce, local civic clubs, neighborhood associations, etc.) to endorse the “Plug-In Lawrence” campaign.

· U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement – at their March 7, 2006 meeting, the City Commission authorized the Mayor to sign the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement and directed staff to prepare a baseline emissions survey and follow through with the recommended actions contained in the Agreement. The Public Works Department is researching the best practices and resources available to begin the emissions survey step. The other eleven items included in the Agreement for reducing global warming pollution are under review. Many of those items (e.g. increase recycling rates, promote tree planting, promote transportation options, etc.) are already well underway. A complete report on our community’s progress is forthcoming.

· LEED’s Certification – the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating system is a voluntary consensus-based national standard for developing high performance, sustainable buildings. LEED standards can be applied to new construction (LEED-NC) and existing buildings (LEED-EB). City staff is pursuing both options:

v Staff is working with the design team from Black & Veatch to include LEED standards in the design and operation of the new Wakarusa Water Reclamation Facility.

v The City of Lawrence is now officially a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and will be obtaining guidance materials about the certification process for the existing Wastewater Treatment Plant on East 8^th Street.

· Green Tag Program – staff has arranged for Sarah Hill-Nelson to attend our weekly BusinessLink meeting to present an overview of the local program (Zephyr Energy) to staff from the City Manger’s Office, Public Works, Utilities, Parks & Recreation, Neighborhood Resources, and Fire/Medical departments. Follow-up items to this presentation will involve staff research on appropriate recommendations to the City Commission for opportunities to participate in the program.

· Energy Audit – in the 2007 Budget transmittal letter, I noted than an important element of improving the efficiency of the City organization is improving the energy efficiency of City operations. This energy audit will focus on established best practices and the City’s status in providing services and programs in a sustainable, environmentally-friendly manner. One of the first tasks assigned to the new Infrastructure Coordinator, Kevin Doyle, is the completion of this audit. Kevin’s first week on the job is this week and we look forward to presenting his report to the City Commission in the near future. An effort to update the City Commission on energy conservation efforts was provided previously in a staff report.