HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-06-13 Board of Public Works Meeting AgendaBOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
OFFICIAL NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING
A meeting of the Board of Public Works will be held on Monday, May 6, 2013, at 4:45 p.m. in
Common Council Chambers - Third Floor, City Hall, 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York.
Agenda
1. Additions or Deletions to Agenda (Items 1 -5: 15 min.)
2. Mayor's Communications
3. Communications and Hearings from Persons Before the Board
4. Response to the Public
5. Reports
Special Committees of the Board
Council Liaison
Board Liaisons
Superintendent and Staff
Other Department Heads
6. Approval of Minutes
7. Administration and Communications
8. VOTING ITEMS
8.1 Buildings, Properties, Refuse and Transit
A. Green Garage Trash Facility Program Improvements - Resolution
8.2 Highways. Streets and Sidewalks
8.3 Parking and Traffic
A. To Amend Vehicle and Traffic Schedules XV, Parking Prohibited Certain
Hours for East Falls Street - Resolution
8.4 Creeks, Bridges and Parks
8.5 Water and Sewer
9. DISCUSSION ITEMS
9.1 Boat Slip Rental Fees
9.2 Request for Posthumous Honors for Officer William Dockstader Sr.
9.3 Appeal of Recycling Violation for 205 Thurston Avenue
10. FOR YOUR INFORMATION
10.1 Sustainability Rankings for Public Works Projects
11. New Business
12. Adiournment
If you have a disability that will require special arrangements to be made in order for you to fully
participate in the meeting, please contact the City Clerk at 607 - 274 -6570 at least 48 hours before the
meeting.
The Board of Public Works meets on the second, third and fourth Wednesdays of the months at 4:45 p.m. All meetings are voting
meetings, opening with a public comment period Meeting agendas are created from prior public input, Deparknent operating, planning
issues, and requests made to the Superintendent. The Board reserves the right to limit verbal comments to three minutes and to request
written comments on lengthy or complex issues. This information may then be used to create committee agendas, with the speaker or
author invited to attend.
Notes for BPW Aaenda. Mav 6. 2013
8.1A Green Garage Trash Facility Program Improvements —Resolution
This resolution is the same that was previously distributed to the Board. Please see the April
22, 2013 agenda for more information.
8.3A To Amend Vehicle and Traffic Schedules XV, Parking Prohibited Certain Hours for
East Falls Street — Resolution
This resolution should reflect the Board's thoughts and approval of modifying the parking
regulations on East Falls Street.
9.1 Boat Slip Rental Fees
This is a continuation of the discussion from April 8'. Please bring the documents that were
provided in that agenda. Assistant City Attomey Krin Flaherty has provided an opinion
regarding this appeal and how to calculate the usage fees.
9.2 Request for Posthumous Honors for Officer William Dockstader Sr.
William Dockstader was a retired Ithaca Police Officer that recently passed away. His widow,
Mae Dockstader, has requested that her husband be honored by dedicating the Octopus to his
memory. Officer Dockstader was on duty on February 24, 1974 when a log truck traveling
down Cliff Street lost control and flipped over in the intersection. Officer Dockstader did his
best to get traffic out of the way, and ended up being seriously injured when a log hit him. The
article from the Ithaca Journal is enclosed for you, though it is a little difficult to read. Also
provided is the Protocol for Posthumous Honors that was adopted by Common Council on
December 2, 2009.
9.3 Appeal of Recycling Violation for 205 Thurston Avenue
The property owners are requesting a waiver of the fee for this recycling violation. They had
placed their recycling out on the wrong week.
10.1 Sustainability Rankings for Public Works Projects
Bill Gray has provided an article for your information about a "new" program that is being
developed for civil engineering projects that parallels the LEED certification for buildings.
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Page 2
8.1A Green Garage Trash Facility Program Improvements— Resolution
WHEREAS, the existing trash facility located at the Green Garage requires frequent costly
repair and lacks secure locks, and
WHEREAS, due to inadequate security a far greater number of people and businesses use the
facility than pay for it, and
WHEREAS, in order to provide the service and convenience of a centrally located disposal
facility at a fair and equitable price, now be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works requests authorization of funds for purchase and
installation of fencing, locks, compactor and trash bags for improving the functionality of the
Green Garage trash facility, and be it further
RESOLVED, The Board of Public Works authorizes the institution of a trash bag program for
use at the Green Garage trash facility at a charge of $4.00 per 35 pound bag.
Page 3
8.3A To Amend Vehicle and Traffic Schedules XV. Parkina Prohibited Certain Hours for
East Falls Street — Resolution
WHEREAS, the Board of public Works is authorized by Section 346 -4 of the City Code to
adopt and to amend a system of Schedules in order to administer the Vehicle and Traffic Law,
and
WHEREAS, residents of the 300 block of East Falls Street have petitioned to change the on-
street parking regulations to be odd /even parking on both sides of the street, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works is in agreement with this plan with the understanding
that if the narrowness of the street presents problems in the future that the Board may revisit
and revise the parking regulations to limit day -time parking on one side of the street, and
WHEREAS, staff has noticed that the entries for East Falls Street in the Schedules do not
reflect the signage as currently posted, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the entries for East Falls Street (from North Cayuga Street to Lake Street) in
Schedule XV, Parking Prohibited Certain Hours be amended to only read (meaning other block
faces are not listed in the schedules and are therefore Odd /Even parking in accordance with
Section 346 -26 of the City Code):
Name of Side Time Limit;
Street Hours/Days
Falls Street South gam to
6pm /Monday-
Friday
Page 4
Location
From North Cayuga Street
to North Aurora Street
Page 1 of 1
Kathrin Gehring - Fwd: octopus
From:
Annie Sherman
To:
Gehring, Kathrin
Date:
4/17/2013 9:46 AM
Subject:
Fwd: octopus
Attachments:
Final Protocol for Posthumous Honors 12- 02- 09.doc
Hi Kathy,
Can this be added to an upcoming BPW agenda for discussion and/or action?
Council did adopt the attached Protocol for Posthumous Honors but after a quick scan
I didn't see anything that would address this specific request.
Please let me know and I will respond to Mae Dockstader.
Thanks.
Annie
>>> Mae Dockstader <macdockstader2003 @gmail.com> 4/17/2013 9:09 AM >>>
Good Morning, My name is Mae Dockstader, my husband William C. Dockstader sr. a
retired IPD officer..died on April 3, 2013.. His memorial April 13, was attended by
many active and retired IPD, and Firemen, I thank all who came out to honor him .......... I
am writing to ask you to research Ithaca journal Feb 25, 1974 Ithaca,s Octopus\ log
truck accident..My husband saved many lives that day-He received numerous awards
for Heroism. The accident and his unselfish acts of heroism help decide the fate of the
octopus...... My request is for some kind of naming, honor or dedication at the octopus. I
have a full scrapbook, photos that you are welcome to view ... my home address is 341
Spencer rd. cell phone 607 - 220 -9718 or maedockstader2003 @gmail.com.....I would
appreciate if you could consider this honor. He was born and raised in Ithaca..... thank
you, Mae Dockstader
file://C:\Documents and Settings\kgehring \Local Settings \Temp\XPgrpwise\516E6F66wi... 4/17/2013
Ithaca Journal
Feb. 26, 1974
Officer William Dockstader Sr.
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December 2, 2009 — Regular Common Council Meeting
10.2 Protocol for Posthumous Honors - Resolution
By Alderperson Clairbome: Seconded by Alderperson Myrick
WHEREAS, the passing away of former or present members of the City of Ithaca
workforce (including elected officials), City representatives on the Tompkins County
Legislature, City residents serving in the armed forces of the United States, and other
distinguished City residents with a commendable record of community service can be a
cause for reflecting on their lives in order to recognize and honor their service in a public
manner; and
WHEREAS, at this time the City of Ithaca does not have an official guide or protocol for
responding to the loss of such public servants; and
WHEREAS, such a protocol could lend more consistency and thoroughness to the
City's means of response in such situations, and
WHEREAS, in accordance with state executive law, Article 19, §40321, the (United
States) flag shall be flown at full staff at all times except it shall be flown at half -staff on
the eleventh of September, known as September 11' Remembrance Day, the seventh
day of December, known as Pearl Harbor Day, and to commemorate the death of a
personage of national or state standing or of a local member of the U.S. Armed Forces,
official or public servant who, in the opinion of the local agency concerned, contributed
to the community; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the following Protocol for Posthumous Honors is hereby adopted by
the Common Council of the City of Ithaca for the purpose of setting forth options
available to the Mayor and the entire Common Council during the initial period of
mourning for a highly regarded, deceased public servant in the City of Ithaca:
City of Ithaca Protocol for Posthumous Honors
1. This Protocol may be invoked upon the death of persons in the following
categories:
a. Current or past Mayors of the City of Ithaca
b. Current or past members of Common Council
C. Current or past City representatives on, and chairs of, the Tompkins
County Legislature
d. Current or retired City employees
e. City residents who are currently members of the United States armed
forces
f. Other community servants whose work significantly benefited the City and
whose names the Mayor or another member of Common Council brings
forward.
2. Additionally, this protocol may be applied upon the death of State or federal
officials who represent or otherwise serve the City of Ithaca, unless otherwise directed
from the President of the United States or Governor of New York State.
3. As soon as practical upon learning of the death of a person in any of the
categories listed above, the Mayor and other Common Council members shall take
reasonable steps to facilitate the distribution of this news to the City's elected officials
and senior staff, and to solicit any suggestions for honoring the deceased, per this
protocol.
4. Any of the Options listed below may be implemented under this Protocol and,
although any may be deemed appropriate in any case, the Options generally applicable
to persons in certain categories are as follows:
• For elected officials, Options (a.) through (f.)
• For current employees who die in the line of duty, Options (a) through (f)
• For retired or revered employees, Options (d.) through (f.)
• For other revered members of the community, Options (d) through (f.)
When selected, any Option shall be performed with dignity, either as a separate action
(in the case of the Mayor) or in the early portion of the appropriate meeting of the
Common Council:
a. The Mayor may declare a period of public mourning
b. The Mayor may order the lowering of the U.S. flag at City facilities to half -
staff
C. The Mayor may issue a proclamation honoring the deceased (after
soliciting suggestions as to content from the other members of Common
Council)
d. Common Council may approve a resolution acknowledging and
appreciating the service of the deceased.
e. The Mayor or any other member of Common Council may propose such a
resolution. Unless impractical to do so, any such proposed resolution
shall be circulated in advance to all Council members before the resolution
appears on the Council agenda, and any such resolution shall state that,
in the words used in past Common Council protocols, it "shall be spread
upon the Official Minutes of the Common Council and [that] a copy of the
same shall be transmitted to the family of the deceased by the City Clerk."
f. The Mayor may call for those present at a Common Council meeting to
remain standing and to observe a Moment of Silence in honor of the
deceased following the Pledge of Allegiance. During Privilege of the Floor
at a Common Council meeting any Councilperson may request such a
Moment of Silence, which request shall be honored unless there is an
objection, in which case it shall be automatically deemed to be postponed
until a future meeting. To avoid any potential embarrassment, any
Councilperson who intends to propose a Moment of Silence should inform
the Mayor and other Councilpersons in advance of his or her intention.
g. The Mayor or any other Council member may deliver his or her own
personal tribute to the deceased during Privilege of the Floor at the next
meeting of Common Council:'
And, be it further
5. Options (a.) and (b.) in the preceding section may be initiated and implemented
by the Mayor, acting alone or at the behest of Common Council, within 24 hours
after receiving notice of the person's passing. Any selected action(s) from
Options (c.) through (g.) should occur as soon as practicable but no later than
three months after the date of death, during the next regularly scheduled meeting
of Common Council. Depending on timing, the family of the deceased may be
personally invited to the meeting.
6. In addition to the Options listed herein, the City's Director of Human Resources,
any other department head, or the Mayor may facilitate the following steps, while
observing relevant labor agreements:
• outreach to the deceased (elected, staff, or volunteer) person's family
• notification to all City staff
• allow affected City staff time to attend related funeral services for the deceased
• help facilitate voluntary contributions to charities identified by the deceased's
family (City funds are not to be used for this purpose)
• list and honor City employees who have passed away during the preceding year
at the City's annual picnic for its employees.
Application of this Protocol, or any part of it, to any particular individual shall be
solely within the discretion of the Mayor and the Common Council. Nothing
herein shall be construed to entitle any person to any Option described herein or
to require, limit, or prohibit any particular action on the part of the Mayor or the
Common Council.
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That nothing noted in this protocol is meant to supersede longstanding
traditions or protocols of those covered by the listed categories for posthumous honors
such as members of the U.S. Armed Forces, fire or police officers, and, be it further
RESOLVED, That upon its adoption, this Protocol shall be included in any master
listing, assemblage, or inventory of the City's Policies, Procedures, and Protocols.
Carried Unanimously
Page 1 of 1
Kathrin Gehring - Re: 205 Thurston Ave. Recycling
From: Dan Spencer
To: Gehring, Kathrin
Date: 4/25/2013 11:32 AM
Subject: Re: 205 Thurston Ave. Recycling
Hi Kathy,
The only thing I have on file is the piece of mail from 205 Thurston Ave. with the name Dawn Esposito on it, I
wrote on the mail and remember that they had three large totes full of recycling. A green warning sticker was
placed on the recycling on Monday 3/25/13. That is the same warning sticker we leave for all recycling or trash
curb placement violations. On the sticker we left at 205 Thurston Ave two boxes were checked. One box was
checked recycling and the other box was checked not a recycling collection week
That sticker reads that if trash or recycling is not removed from the curb a special collection fee will be charged.
On Tuesday 3/26/13 the recycling was still at the curb and the warning sticker was still in place so I collected it.
They are asking to be let off with a warning.I feel the sticker we use is the warning. After emptied the totes 1
placed them back behind the main sidewalk with the green sticker still on one of the totes. The totes that were
placed at the curb were right next to the driveway of the home. When they got home in the evening and noticed
that the recycling was still at the curb should have given them notice that something might be wrong.
1 recommend that because we gave the proper notice that we give to everyone for curb placement
violations that the appeal be denied.
Dan
Dan Spencer (Working Supervisor)
City of Ithaca
City Trash and Yard Waste Collection
Trash -- 607 - 272 -1718
Recycle- 607 - 273 -6632
>>> Kathrin Gehring 4/24/2013 11:56 AM >>>
Hi Dan,
We received the attached appeal from Jess Esposito today. Would you please forward any backup related to this
violation, along with your recommendation?
Thank you,
Kathy Gehring
Executive Assistant
Superintendent of Public Works
108 E. Green St., Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 274 -6527
(607) 274 -6587 Fax
file: //CADocuments and Settings\kgehring\Local Settings \Temp\XPgrpwise\5I791455coi... 4/25/2013
CITY OF ITHACA
Invoice Date:
03/29/2013
ipFIiy
108 E GREEN STREET
Invoice # :
00017797
ITHACA NY 14850 V= '{''
Account # :
00003553
Information specific to bill
Due Date :
04/29/2013
®
205 Thurston Ave
RATED
Invoice From: Refuse and Garbaee
Invoice Ref. WORK ORDER 7859
Additional Description: SOLID WASTE FEE
BILLS NOT PAID WITHIN 30 DAYS ACCRUE A LATE PAYMENT PENALTY AT THE RATE OF TWELVE PERCENT PER ANNUM ORS3.00
PER MONTH, WHICHEVER IS GREATER, PURSUANT TO CITY CODE. BILLS REMAINING UNPAID ON NOVEMBER IST ARE ADDED TO
THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF THE NEXT CITY TAX BILLINGS AND COLLECTED AS A PART THEREOF.
Make check payable to:
CITY OF ITHACA
CHAMBERLAINS OFFICE
108 E GREEN STREET
ITHACA NY 14850
DAWN M ESPOSITO
JESS W ESPOSITO
205 THURSTON Ave
ITHACA NY 14850
Return this portion with your payment
Invoice Date: 03/29/2013
Invoice # : 00017797
Please Pay on or before $20.00
04/29/2013
Amount Paid
INV00017797
III IIIIII I IIIIII VIII VIII IIIII IIIII VIII VIII VIII IIII IIII
0000000000000ao00177970000000000000400000001000000002000008
n,WU linnice l'rin�inu
Refuse and Garbage
Bill to:
DAWN M ESPOSITO
General Billing Information
LESS W ESPOSITO
(607) 27"580
205 THURSTON Ave
Information specific to bill
ITHACA NY 14850
(607) 272 -1718
Property :
205 Thurston Ave
Invoice From: Refuse and Garbaee
Invoice Ref. WORK ORDER 7859
Entry Date Item Category
Item Description Qty Price Total
03/26/2013 NOT A RECYCLING COLLECTION
NAME FOUND DAWN ESPOSITO 1.00 $20.00 $20.00
WEEK
Total: $20.00
Additional Description: SOLID WASTE FEE
BILLS NOT PAID WITHIN 30 DAYS ACCRUE A LATE PAYMENT PENALTY AT THE RATE OF TWELVE PERCENT PER ANNUM ORS3.00
PER MONTH, WHICHEVER IS GREATER, PURSUANT TO CITY CODE. BILLS REMAINING UNPAID ON NOVEMBER IST ARE ADDED TO
THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF THE NEXT CITY TAX BILLINGS AND COLLECTED AS A PART THEREOF.
Make check payable to:
CITY OF ITHACA
CHAMBERLAINS OFFICE
108 E GREEN STREET
ITHACA NY 14850
DAWN M ESPOSITO
JESS W ESPOSITO
205 THURSTON Ave
ITHACA NY 14850
Return this portion with your payment
Invoice Date: 03/29/2013
Invoice # : 00017797
Please Pay on or before $20.00
04/29/2013
Amount Paid
INV00017797
III IIIIII I IIIIII VIII VIII IIIII IIIII VIII VIII VIII IIII IIII
0000000000000ao00177970000000000000400000001000000002000008
n,WU linnice l'rin�inu
Page I of I
Kathrin Gehring - BPW Agenda, Any time is fine
From:
Bill Gray
To:
Gehring, Kathdn
Date:
4/17/2013 2:35 PM
Subject:
BPW Agenda, Any time is fine
Sustainability Rankings for Public Works Projects, FYI
As many of you know, there is a rating system for buildings developed by the U.S. Green Building Council
called the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, or LEED. They developed a system for
measuring a building's design, construction and operational features and rank the project on a scale from
certified to gold and platinum. It is an interesting program that encourages good design in its broadest sense, is
flexible, comprehensive, and a little expensive to get the actual certification (probably bemuse we haven't done
it before and the cost of a review for certification is not built into our planning budgets). I have provided the
first page of the wikipedia entry for LEED.
I did not know before last week that there is a parallel program being developed for Civil Engineering projects
( generally public works that are unoccupied structures such as roads bridges, dams, etc.) by the Institute for
Sustainable Infrastructure. I have attached a short article on the topic bemuse I think it will start to get some
standing in the next several years. The concept of sustainability already has standing. This new program will
allow a systematic way to look at projects and rank them. It has taken twenty years for the LEED program to
achieve the recognition that it currently holds. Even if the "Envision" program takes half of that, or all of that
time, the systematic approach provides designers and funding agencies a check list for looking at a project and
asking questions about its benefits and longevity.
For Your Information, WIG
file://CADocuments and Settings\kgehring \Local Settings \Temp\XPgrpwise\516EB32Dcoi... 4/30/2013
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Page I of 13
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction
and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and
neighborhoods.
Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council ( USGBC), LEED
is intended to provide building owners and operators a concise
framework for identifying and implementing practical and
measurable green building design, construction, operations and
maintenance solutions.
Since its inception in 1993, the U.S. Green Building CounciPl
has grown to encompass more than 7,000 projects in the United
States and 30 countries, covering over 1.501 billion square feet
(140 km') of development area.191 The hallmark of LEED is that it
is an open and transparent process where the technical criteria
proposed by USGBC members are publicly reviewed for approval
by the almost 20,000 member organizations that currently
constitute the USGBC.
The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) was established
by USGBC to provide a series of exams to allow individuals to
become accredited for their knowledge of the LEED
system. This is recognized through either the LEED
Accredited Professional (LEED AP) or LEED Green
Associatello] (LEED Green Assoc.) designation. In
2011 GBCI named the organization's first class of
LEED Fellows, the highest designation for LEED
professionals. GBCI also provides third -party
certification for projects pursuing LEED.
. 1 Rating system
1.1 LEED 2009
. 1.1.1 Prerequisites and credits
1.1.1.1 Goal of the credit
system
1. 1.2 Categories
1.1.2.1 Prerequisites
1.1.2.2 LEED 2009 Credit
Weighting Process
. 1.1.2.3 Bonus credits
. 1.1.2.4 LEED for Homes
1.2 LEED Canada
Receiving a Gold LEED rating in
September 2011, the Empire State
Building is the tallest and largest
LEED certified building in the United
States and Western Hemisphere.11l
The Gold and Platinum rating of David L.
Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, is the
first and only convention center in the world to
have such certifications.l 21
http: / /m.wikipedia.org/wiki /Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design 4/15/2013
http: //www.cenem.com /print - magazinearti...
OBNEWS.00m
A newview on civil infrastructure
ENVISION RATING SYSTEM PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR ASSESSING SUSTAINABIUTY AND CONTRIBUTION TO
COMMUNITIES.
By Tim Psomas
We all understand that new infrastructure construction and
upgrades to existing systems are vital to protecti ng the quality of
life in our communities, not to mention supporting economic I\S IANA: I UR
PP g susrnlNnau
competitiveness and jobs in America. The American Society of 11,9111 INFRASTRUCTURE
Civil Engineers (ASCE) predicts that the cost of deferred [ S
maintenance alone on existing infrastructure systems in the United
States could exceed $2.2 trillion.
Envision Is designed to cover all civil Infrastructure, including roads,
bridges, pipelines, rallwaM airports, dams, levees, solid waste landfills,
water supplies, wastewater treatment plants, power transmission lines,
telecommunications towers, and public spaces.
Plato: Cfayton County, Ga., Water AuMwily Sustainable Wafer Supply
pro/ecbCH2N! HILL
Given the inevitable massive investment in infrastructure that the nation faces, it is limey that this
year The Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) launched a groundbreaking sustainability
rating system for this type of constructi on. Called "Envision;' this rating tool is a move to do for
infrastructure what the LEED rating system has done for buildings. ISI'S Envision rating system
focuses on non - habitable infrastructure, which constitutes one -third of all new construction in the
United States.
Much bigger than just green
Page 1 of 5 20130502 09:12
hftp: / /www.cenews.com /print- magazinearti...
Public owners are searching for guidelines and support to respond to the growing community
demand for sustainability in infrastructure. Many civil engineering projects are delivered in a highly
complex setting where the public interest must serve marry masters. Unless all parts of the
environmental/social/economic trilogy are successfully balanced and accepted, the likelihood that
the proposed project will be completed is reduced. The new ISI rating system is designed to
foster a necessary and dramatic improvement in the performance of physical infrastructure
across the full dimension of sustainability— taking into account notjust environmental factors, but
economic and social factors as well.
Envision's intent is to initiate a systemic change to improve not only project performance, but the
mindsets of designers, project owners, and decision - makers, to transform the way infrastructure
is designed, built, and operated. It is this broader recognition of multiple purposes, goals, and
outcomes that inspired the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), The American
Public Works Association, and the ASCE to join forces to form ISI in early 2011. it forms the
foundation of the Envision rating system, which is a collaboration between ISI and the Zof rass
Program for Sustainable Infrastructure at Harvard.
In addition, Envision addresses the poterroal confusion of the more than 900 infrastructure
sustainability rating systems. Policy makers, elected officials, and their constituents cant be
expected to understand hundreds of rating systems. Moreover, this is not an optimal environment
for material suppliers and equipment manufacturers to invest in ways to make their products more
sustainable. There are simply too marry sets of rules. For example, aggregate for trench backfill
or road base doesn't need separate ways to be sustainable. Clearly there needs to be a common
vocabulary.
Regardless of the quantity of recycled materials used, anew highway
system that creates more urban sprawl should not be recognized as a
contributorto sustainability
We don 't see Envision as competing with these other systems. We see Envision as the umbrella
framework to meet the need for a common language defining sustainable infrastructure, with
perhaps the specific rating tools assisting at the design stage. Envision is designed to coverall
civil infrastructure, including roads, bridges, pipelines, railways, airports, dams, levees, solid
waste landfills, water supplies, wastewater treatment plants, power transmission lines,
telecommunications towers, and public spaces.
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Figure 1: Envision offers away of assessing the sustalnability of
Infrastructure projects in terms of their overall contribution to the
communities they serve.
Raising the bar on sustalnabllity performance
As an umbrella framework, Envision offers a way of assessing the sustainability of infrastructure
projects not simply in individual improvements, but in terms of their overall contribution to the
communities they serve (Figure 1). For example, a new highway system can be designed to
preserve wildlife corridors, treat and infiltrate stormwater runoff, and be constructed using
recycled materials. However, unless this system was designed in a way that harmonizes and
integrates the infrastructure systems within the larger community, its overall contribution to
sustainability is diminished and could even be negative. Regardless of the quantity of recycled
materials used or the extent of the wildlife corridors preserved, a new highway system that
creates more urban sprawl should not be recognized as a contributor to sustainability. This and
other aspects make Envision an important contributor in the creation of more sustainable
communities.
Env sion can be used by infrastructure owners, design teams, community groups, environmental
organizations, constructors, regulators, and policy makers to:
• meet sustainability goals,
• publicly recognize high levels of achievement In sustainability;
• help communities and project teams to collaborate and discuss, "Are we tloing the project right?" and perhaps
more Importantly. "Are we doing the right protect ? ";
• make decisions about the Investment of scarce resources,
• include community priorities in civil infrastructure projects;
• assess costs and benefits over the project Ilfecycle;
• evaluate environmental benefits; and
• reach higher levels of sustainabilily achievement.
Thinking broadly at the concept level
To truly foster sustainability, rating systems must prompt new inquiries. For highways, the
questi on ought to be, "What are the transportation choices for improving access and mobility in
the community?" For water treatment plants, "What can be done to reduce, reuse, and restore the
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community's water supply?" For sewer systems and stormwater management, "What can we do
to improve the effectiveness of natural systems ?" Envision is the tool that helps answer these
questions.
To be effective, the rating system should be applied at the concept level as a way to think through
all the options at the earliest stage and make a difference. The RFP stage is too late because
numerous possibilities are unintentionally removed. For example, in terms of a highway project
the questions might be, "Would rail be better, or should a bikeway be added ?"
it also is a means of coordinating with other community projects early on. That highway project
might have excess material that another community project could use instead of hauling it or
dumping it. Recycling concrete from older roads or structures and utiliang it in new projects could
reduce material costs and need for mining new resources. Incorporating a bike path into a
roadway project could tap other community funding resources.
it is too early to present examples using Envision. it will take another year or two to bring
examples to the table. However, we have examples from similar efforts in Europe, where
CEEQUAL (Civil Engineering Environmental Quality assessment www ceequal.com), a principal
model for Envision, has been applied to many projects, including the London Olympics. In the
United States, the rating system was applied to a number of projects retroactively, including a
water main rehabilitation project in Boston, a remote rental car facility at SeaTac Airport in
Washington, and a tunnel and trestle repair project in Lolo National Forest in Montana.
Promoting heightened levels of sustainablllty
In April 2012, ISI launched phase one of the ISI certification program, in addition to unveiling the
project application process.
Upon application, projects that have been developed in accordance with the best practices
incorporated in Envision will be afforded a sustainability rating by ISI and a sustainability
designation. There will be three levels of achievement within the ISI Sustainability Rating System
Each will represent an increasingly aggressive level of performance to promote progressively
heightened levels of sustainability achievement over time. ISI will sponsor an independent, third -
party project verification program that will add value to infrastructure projects and create public
confidence in the decision - making process.
As part of the release of Envision, the following two companion tools were released this year:
• a pre - planning checklist for assessing project sustain ability In Increasing awareness of Issues, and
• a comprehensive guidance document and score calculator that allows users to analyze and rate a project's levels
of achievement for sustains billy objectives.
Both tools currently are available on the ISI website at wwva.sustainabteinfrastructure urg
What consultants can do to prepare
Consultants can take a variety of steps to assisttheir public clients in taldng full advantage of
Envision, including:
• prepare lhemselveslo help their clients byvlshing the 181website;
• sign up for the online education about Envision,
• become cedifed by 151 as a Sustalnabllity Professional and use the credentials EIW -PV;
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• do a presentation to Introduce public age ncles to ISI and the benefits of the rating system;
• assist age ncles In evaluating a recently completed project to see how it might have scored (a simplified tool Is
available to be used by owners to familiarize themselves with the system and the terminology); and
• help public agencies reviswtheir capital project procedures manual in terms of how a project is initiated, the
sequence of tasks, the evaluation of susta Inability options at the concept level, the process for community
engagement, the process for Including ISI project recognition In the RFP Tor design, and a review of standard
details and specifications for susta inability.
ft is clear that infrastructure rating systems need to place greater emphasis on superior
performance achievements. At a time when the United States is facing a serious infrastructure
deficit, lfili2ing Envision Will provide the conte)dto make far more enlightened decisions
regarding these critical investments in the future of our communities.
ISI begins recruiting verifiers for suslainabte imrastructure rating system
The Instftute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISp began In August recruiting Envision sustainable infrastructure project
Verifier applicants for the new rating system. Verifiers, the backbone of ISI's independent, third -parry, Project evaluation
system, are Ind spendent from the projects they verity. Qualified Verifiers are contracted with ISI through their employers.
They review and confirm components of the Envision rating system's levels of achievement, documentation, and scoring
of projects provided by the project team.
The first ISI Verifiers training class was held Aug. 20 -21, 2012, in Washington, D . ISI is accepting applications from
Verifier recruits on a continual basis with future training classes scheduled based on project demands.
For additional information and to access the ISI Verifier application, visit the ISI website at
wow. susta inableinfrastructure.org
Tim Psomas is one of the founders end the first chairman of the Institute for Sustainable
infrastructure. He is the former chairman of the board of Psomas.
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