22-74622-746ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, ESTABLISHING A SCIENCE BASEDTARGET FOR GREENHOUSE GAS MITIGATION AND OUTLINING FUTURE CLIMATEACTION THROUGH THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL
INITLATIVES (“lCLEI150”) AND RACE TO ZERO INITLATIVES AND AUTHORIZING CITYMANAGER TO SIGN THE ICLEI150 COMMITMENT FORM TO SUPPORT A HEALTHY.
RESILIENT, ZERO-CARBON RECOVERY THAT PREVENTS FUTURE THREATS, CREATESJOBS, AND UNLOCKS INCLUSIVE SUSTAINABLE GROWTH; AND PROVIDING ANEFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, The City of Denton recognizes the global climate emergency, and the importanceof climate action and resilience at the local level; and
WHEREAS, the City has conducted and produced greenhouse gas inventories following the
ICLEI U.S. Community Protocols for Accounting and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions to
better understand the communities carbon footprint, beginning with 2002and now, recognizes the
2018 inventory as a baseline; and
WHEREAS, The Simply Sustainable Framework calls for the continued monitoring ofgreenhouse gas emissions through greenhouse gas inventories; and
WHEREAS, the 2020 Simply Sustainable Framework, attached as Exhibit A, outlines the
adoption of a greenhouse gas mitigation target, and a plan to reach the mitigation target; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes the importance of science-based goals and decision makingand
WHEREAS, the Sustainability Framework Advisory Committee was charged with theimplementation of the 2020 Simply Sustainable Framework, established by Resolution 20-2575
attached hereto as Exhibit B; and
WHEREAS, on July 23, 2021, Sustainability Framework Advisory Committee recommended
that the Denton City Council establish a Science Based Target for Greenhouse Gas Mitigation andrecommended committing to the ICLEI 150 and Cities Race to Zero initiatives, to fulfill these
recommendations; and
WHEREAS, the City aims to put inclusive climate action at the center of urban decision
making through programs and policies that equitably reduce the impacts of climate change and build
community resilience to future conditions; and
WHEREAS, the City invites the Denton businesses, universities, and citizens to join us in
recognizing the need for climate action and help us deliver on community wide goals; and
WHEREAS, ICLEl- Local Governments for Sustainability USA, Inc., a Maryland nonprofit
corporation, has been a leading network of local governments dedicated to sustainability, through the
development of tools and programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve communities, and
protect natural resources; and
WHEREAS, in order to join the Cities Race to Zero via the ICLEI 150 initiative, a commitment
form is required; and
WHEREAS, the goals of Cities Race to Zero are in line with Sustainability Framework
Advisory Committee recommendations and existing sustainability framework goals; and
WHEREAS, signing the commitment form will enable the City to receive additional technical
assistance and personalized support from ICLEI related to high impact actions, and recognition withinthe ICLEI USA and ICLEI World Secretariat networks; and
WHEREAS, the ICLEI 150 commitment form requests that the City 1) set a Science Based
Target for the year 2030 and net zero emissions for the year 2050, 2) create a climate action plan to
address those targets and other goals within the next 12 months, 3) proceed with high impact actions
following the approval of the plan, and 4) report to Cities Race to Zero as a part of their existingannual CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) reporting; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes the wide-reaching nature of climate planning, and seeks to
include input from a wide variety of stakeholders and include information from all City departments
and plans; NOW, THEREFORE
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DENTON HEREBYORDAINS:
SECTION 1. The findings and recitals in the preamble to this Ordinance are hereby
incorporated by reference into the body of this Ordinance as if fully set forth herein.
SECTION 2. The City Council hereby establishes a Science Based Target (SBT) to reduce
community wide greenhouse gas emissions 46.3% from baseline by 2030 and to achieve net zero
emissions by 2050, in line with the 1.5-degree Celsius reduction included in internationally recognized
climate goals.
SECTION 3. The City Council hereby establishes the need for a formal climate
action plan, outlining the path to achieving a Science Based Target while addressing the need to buildresilience to climate hazards and vulnerabilities.
SECTION 4. The City council further ratifies intent to join the ICLEI 150 and Cities Race
to Zero initiatives, gaining further access to partners, resources and support in the form of technical
assistance on high impact actions
SECTION 5. The City Manager is authorized to execute the ICLEII 50Commmentform, attached hereto as Exhibit C.
SEe!!QN 6LThis Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its passage and
approval.
The motion to approve this Ordinance was made by TeBe Uvf S and seconded
by % tay\ %R . This Ordinance was passed and approved by the
following vote [l_ - DJ :
Aye
b/
Z
L/
V/
V/
//
Nay Abstain Absent
Mayor Gerard Hudspeth:
Vicki Byrd, District 1 :
Brian Beck, District 2:
Jesse L. Davis, District 3 :
Alison Maguire, District 4:
Deb Armintor, At Large Place 5 :
Paul Meltzer, At Large Place 6:
PASSED AND APPROVED thI, th, Je d,y ,f ++, 2022.
/J--Z#GERARD HUDSPETH, MAYOR
ATTEST:
ROSA RIOS, CITY SECRETARY 1\1111111/
/aM_
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM:
MACK REINWAND, CITY ATTORNEY
By: Benjamin Samples gHB=T-----–--;–
F#
CITY OF DENTON
SIMPLY
SUSTAINABLE
A Framework for Denton's
Future
•
sustainak:) ie.DENTeNJune 2020
/\Table of Contents:
Executive Surnrna ry..................................................................................................... Page 1
Chapter 1, Water...........................................................................................................Page 1 O
Chapter 2, Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Management.........Page 15
Chapter 3, Energy Conservation and Efficiency...................................Page 19
Chapter 4, Land Use and Open/Natural Space....................................Page 23
Chapter 5, Transportation....................................................................................Page 29
Chapter 6, Education, Communication and Community
Involvernent.....................................................................................................................Page 33
Chapter 7, Material Resources Management........................................Page 38
Chapter 8, Resiliency and Public Health.................................................Page 42
Appendix a, Public Engagement...................................................................Page 46
Appendix b, Sustainability Survey Results..............................................Page 49
Acknowledgements................................................................................................. Page 63
8
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Executive Summary
The City of Denton first adopted “Simply Sustainable – A Strategic Plan
for Denton’s Future” in February of 2012, establishing a framework for
improving quality of life, protecting the environment, and creating
economic opportunities for its citizens, businesses and institutions
through sustainability initiatives. The collaborative effort with our
citizens, workforce, business owners, institutional leaders, and elected
officials resulted in a document developed by the community and for
the community. Eighty two (82) percent of the actions in the original
plan were adopted and are completed or on going.
The update to Simply Sustainable includes new strategies based on best
practices, STAR Communities/ LEED for Cities goals and community
feedback. Our Vision and Guiding Principles remain the same moving
forward, while our focus areas and goals have expanded to include
additional strategies to further our sustainability as a community.
The framework is a living document with goals and strategies reviewed
and updated every five to seven years. Progress reports are completed
annually and reported on the Sustainability website. Provided herein is
an Executive Summary of the Framework, for which the full document
can be downloaded at www.sustainabledenton.com.
Sustainable Denton Vision and
Guiding Principles
Sustainability is defined as “meeting today’s needs without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet those same needs.” Working with
the community the City developed a common vision for a sustainable
Denton, along with guiding principles to help lead the way
Page 1
lslon
The City of Denton will be a sustainable community that will
engage our employees, businesses, institutions, organizations, and
citizens in more sustainable practices. We will work in a leadership role
to improve our environment and utilize our resources in ways that are
fiscally and socially responsible. We do all of this to protect and restore
our environment, create economic value, and su rt and strengthen
our comrnunity
D DO
Guiding Principles
• Involve the community in developing and implementing the Framework.
• Develop partnerships that encourage collaboration on sustainability issues.
• Promote energy management practices within municipal operations and
throughout the community that are efficient and economically sound while
reducing emissions.
• Support transportation strategies that reduce air pollution and increase
alternative transportation choices.
• Support waste management strategies. including diversion, reuse, recycling,
and energy producing disposal options.
• Support green building and sustainable site management within the Denton
community through policy implementation, education, and incentives.
• Maintain a diversified power supply portfolio while establishing aggressive
energy efficiency and energy conservation programs.
• Commit to the use and purchase of environmentally and socially responsible
materials and products.
• Provide high quality drinking water, wastewater treatment, and watershed
management in ways that are environmentally and economically sustainable
for current and future customers
• Conduct all of the activities above with a focus on inclusiveness. equity, and
social responsibility
Page 2
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Background
Denton has embraced sustainability concepts for decades, Simply Sustainable
uses a systematic and comprehensive approach to implementing
sustainability improvements throughout the community. The roots of
environmental management in Denton are deep. and the City’s approach to
environmental management aims to balance the protection of natural
resources with the economic and social realities of resource utilization
Historically, sustainability programs in the City of Denton focused primarily on
energy, water, and wastewater management. However, as regulations became
more stringent and far reaching. programs were developed to address land
use, sludge management, waste disposal management, air quality
transportation, environmental, resiliency, public health and energy issues
While the purpose for establishing these programs was predominantly
regulatory compliance and resource protection. the City recognized the
benefits of sustainable management. Today the City's operations are more
focused on balancing the economic. political. and social implications of
policies and programs. One of the goals of City officials and staff is to
encourage and support sustainability projects both internally and externally
Today, sustainability is a priority of the City Council and has been incorporated
into the City’s strategic planning efforts. This commitment continues with the
creation and implementation of this updated Framework
Strategies for a moreSustainable Denton
The document includes strategies across eight focus areas, which were
selected through a public involvement and prioritization process. These
strategies include recommendations for policies, community programs
outreach and education, and capital improvements.
Implementation actions will be identified for each strategy. The sum is
certainly greater than the parts – on its own, each strategy provides a distinct
benefit. but as a collective whole, the Plan provides a substantial opportunity
for improving sustainability in Denton
2 Online Surveys
551 Responses 33 Participants at
3 Public Meetings
32 Participants at
2 Internal Staff
Meetings
Measuring anommunicating
rog ress
Denton has focused on quantitative and representative metrics that are or
can be tracked at the city scale. The Framework utilizes key performance
indicators (KPls) to measure progress. For each KPI, a baseline measurement
is provided and targets are established for sustainability improvements.
Measuring and communicating the status of these indicators is an
important component of the implementation of the document.
Each focus area summary includes strategies and key performance
ndicators (KPI) to help measure progress. Specific targets are identified to
represent milestones and guide the City’s progress. These indicators and
targets may be reported and tracked at either the r strategy levelaoal c
Primary Interest in Sustainability
Dentonites ranked the following concerns in an online survey.
Water Quality
60/6 Air Quality
Health and Safety
Access to Natural Spaces
Conservation of Resources
Page 5
Supporting Plans and Policies
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Stormwater Management PlanIntegrated Pest ManagementPlan
Drought Contingency Plan
City of Denton HazMap
Denton County HazMapMobility PlanBike Pedestrian Plan
Solid Waste Management
Strategy (Future)Parks Master Plan
Urban Forestry Master PlanDenton 2030 Plan
•
•
•
•
City of Denton Strategic PlanClear Creek Natural HeritageCenter Master PlanCity of Denton StormwaterDesign Criteria ManualConsolidated Plan and Action
Plan for Housing &Community DevelopmentConsolidated Plan and Action
Plan for Housing andCommunity DevelopmentGreen Fleet / Idle ReductionPolicies
Green Purchase Policy(Future)Denton Development Code
•
•
•
•
Page 6
Page 7
Focus Area and Goals:
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WATERProtect and restore Denton's water bodies
Maintain high level of drinking water qualityInvest in sustainable stormwater, watershed infrastructuremanagement and educationEnsure wastewater is collected, treated, and discharged inaccordance with all regulatory requirementsTake measures to encourage reductions in per capita waterconsumption
AIR QUALITYImprove regional air quality and take actions to Improve nonattainment status
Take actions to reduce air pollutant emissions, includinggreenhouse gases and emissions from government operationsSet reduction targets for municipal and community greenhousegas emissIonsAnnually Update Greenhouse Gas Inventory and ContributionAnalysisAssess community hazards and vulnerabilitiesCreate a Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Plan
ENERGY
To have under contract by the end of 2020 sufficient renewableenergy supplies to achIeve and maintain the 100% renewableenergy supply objectiveEncourage energy conservation and efficiency in new andexisting homes and businessesEnsure efficient energy use in city government facilities throughdemand reduction in both new construction and buildingretrofits
Continue to require exceptional energy efficiency buildingstandards for new constructIon
LAND USE
Encourage land use and code/zoning patterns that positivelyaffect energy use and the environmentPreserve open space, natural areas, and tree canopyMinimize water use, promote stormwater quality, and reducestormwater quantity through management measuresEncourage redevelopment of infill areas and brownfield sitesCreate and Improve park and open space opportunities within IOminute walking distance of residents' homesPartner with city departments and tocal organizations toimplement tree planting goals to increase the tree canopy to 40percent by 2040
Page 8
Focus Area and Goals:
TRANSPORTATION
Expand infrastructure for non-vehicle modes oftransportationPromote public transportatIon ridership and the use of fuelefficient/alternative fuel vehiclesReduce environmental impacts from impervious parkingsurfaces
Increase amount of non-road trail systems
EDUCATION,COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNITYINVOLVEMENT
Develop and promote city government and communitysustainability programs to ensure community members of alldemographics have access to participate actIvely andeffectivelyEncourage and promote citizen involvement of communitymembers of all ages to further understanding of basicprinciptes of sustainabilitytncrease sustainability education, awareness and personalresponsibility
MATERIAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Reduce solid waste generation and divert waste away fromlandfill disposal through increased recycling and reuse
optIonsLeverage city government's purchasing power to procuregoods and services that cause less harm to humans and theenvironment, in accordance with procurement laws andregulations
RESILIENCY AND PUBLIC HEALTH
increase consumption of fresh, locally produced, organicproduce to promote public health and to minimize resourceconsumption and negative environmental impactsEnsure that no one geographic or socioeconomic group inthe city is being unfairly impacted by environmental hazardsIncorporate Resiliency into CIty of Denton planning efforts
Water pollution can compromise
human and environmental health. Lake
Ray Roberts and Lewisville Lake are
great places for recreation. natural
beauty, and wildlife habitats. Effective
water management (supply, stormwater.
and wastewater) is necessary to
preserve these assets."We never know the worth
of water til the well is dry."
-Thomas Fuller Goals
1. Protect and restore Denton's water
bodies
2. Maintain high level of drinking
water quality
3. Invest in sustainable stormwater,
watershed infrastructure,
management and education
4. Ensure wastewater is collected,
treated, and discharged in
accordance with all regulatory
requirements
5. Take measures to encourage
reductions in per capita water
consumption
Water is an integral part of our
community. Denton Water Utilities serve
our residents, businesses, schools, parks,
and public buildings. As increasing
demands are being placed on finite
water resources, sustainable water,
stormwater. and wastewater systems are
necessary to ensure the environmental
and economic viability of communities.
On average. Denton uses about 18
million gallons of water a day from Lake
Lewisville and Ray Roberts Lake. Water
use relies on the availability of
freshwater supplies and requires a
significant amount of energy to power
pumps and treatment processes.
Improving the efficiency of Denton’s
water treatment and delivery system
also has the potential to significantly
reduce energy demand and help keep
rates affordable. Water quality of
receiving waters is also a high priority.
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Page 10
Successes to Date and OngoingInitiatives
The City continues to place an emphasis on maintaining high
standards for drinking water supply and quality, wastewater reclamation,
stormwater management. and watershed protection. Over the past three (3)
years, the City has added more than 60 miles of water and sanitary sewer lines
to meet the demands of growth. City crews also replaced 17 miles of water
distribution and sanitary sewer collection mains to prevent the failure of old
pipes installed decades ago. By replacing older water and sewer mains with
newer, more reliable materials, we continue to reduce the number of water
main breaks and sanitary sewer blockages experienced annually
In addition to these physical improvements to our infrastructure. Water Utilities
has implemented a process to complete annual updates to the Water and
Wastewater Design Criteria Manual and Standards to better control the quality
of construction in the City of Denton.
Sustainability Metrics:
rat/ Dorfr\rm sn ra 1 nd ir3tnrc TargetsN. MUIR„ Poll.taimg,
Elimination System (NPDES) permitviolations
Compliance with water quality
standards; Number of EPA health
violations
Volume and number of sanitary sewer
overflows {SSOs)
Per Capita Water Consumption
Maintain no violations
Maintain compliance with minirllurn
standards; Maintain no violations
Minimize volume and number of SSOs
5 percent reductioi by 2024(ii ;hi
Water Conservation and Drought
Contingency Plan)
50 percent increase by 2024Number of Participants in Water Audit
Programmvai idG:bl; link=£
(FOGg) collected
5 percent increase by 2024
Page 11
Strategy #l
Minimize Wastewater
Impacts on the
Environment
Discharges of raw sewage into urban or
natural areas can have significant
detrimental impacts. Raw sewage
poses a health risk in urban areas. and
prolonged discharge into waterways
poses a risk to water quality and species
habitats. Monitoring and minimizing
sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) and
instances when raw sewage is
discharged. is an effective way of
reducing negative environmental
impacts of wastewater in Denton. While
few large wastewater systems achieve
zero SSOs, the number of instances,
gallons discharged and net discharge
should be minimized. Tracking the rate
and the location of SSOs can help direct
efforts to improve wastewater and
address point source pollution concerns.
Strategy #2
irnplement Changes to the
Drainage Design CriteriaManual
The quality of Denton's waterways is a
critical component of the region's
environmental sustainability. The goal of
Denton’s current storm water ordinance
is to maintain pre-development runoff
characteristics of a site as much as
possible. Where appropriate, revisions
will be made to promote the use of
landscape design, site design, and low-
impact development (LtD) practices as
acceptable stormlwater collection
and treatment design criteria.
Approaches such as plantings in
medians for roadway runoff and the
reduction of impervious surfaces can
help reduce pollution. In addition. these
practices can reduce the need for
additional separate storm sewer
construction and maintenance, and they
often have the benefit of bringing
attractive landscaping into otherwise
paved urban areas.Page 12
g Strategy #4:HltninHL Exceed Minimum
Regulatory Compliancewith Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality
(TCEQ) MunicipalStormwater Permit7v ;b
Strategy #3 TCEQ requires a permit for municipal
separate storm sewer systems (MS4),
Meeting permit requirements ensures
storrnwater capture, conveyance, and
treatment is compliant with the
minimum stormwater quality measures
established by the TCEQ. Using the
minimum measures as a baseline,
Denton can set goals for stormwater
rnanagernent.
Denton also has a Stormwater
Management Plan that includes Best
Management Practices (BM Ps) which
can be associated with control measures
and goals to reduce pollutant loads in
the city.
Maintain High Quality
Drinking Water
it is important to track water quality to
ensure that high standards are
maintained. The City of Denton
publishes annual water quality reports
listing levels of regulated contaminants.
To obtain an overall picture of water
quality in Denton, information from
water quality reports will be combined
with SSO tracking and other key
indicators to compile ongoing metrics or
indicators of water conditions in Denton.
According to the EPA, the
average household uses 320
gallons of water per day. In
the City of Denton, at least 40
percent of this goes to lawn
irrigation, and this increases
to around 70 percent during
summer. Approximately
IO,000 gallons per household
is lost each year from leakingtoilets, faucets, and valves.
Page 13
Strategy #5
Promote VVater ConservatIon
North Texas often faces persistent drought or near-drought conditions which can limit
or deplete our lake levels. This has led to the development of five-year and ten-year
targets focused on water savings that are also required by the TCEQ. To meet these
goals the City has developed a Drought Contingency Plan that includes various policies
focused on increasing water conservation within our community.
The Learn 2 Conserve program at the City of Denton offers various resources and
materials to the public on how to reduce water usage at home and in the work place.
Another program the city offers allows citizens to receive a water audit which can help
check irrigation systems for leaks.
r,lnnb#Hr•_A. I#nn•niIES rr[ nhi
Additional Strategies forConsideration:
1.Minimize impacts to the environment from on-site sewage facilities (OSSF).
2. Ensure that water. wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure is managed and
maintained so that it meets current and future needs.
Page 14
"When one tugs at a
single thing in nature,
he finds it attached
to the rest of the
world."
-John Muir
Air quality impacts our health and our
environment. Denton is located in a non-
attainment area for ozone; air pollution levels
in the region persistently exceed national air
quality standards set by the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). High
ozone levels can cause shortness of breath
and coughing. It is also linked to lung diseases
such as asthma and emphysema. Greenhouse
Gases and Ozone forming pollutants share
many of the same sources. Through
Greenhouse Gas management and regional
air quality efforts, both GHG mitigation and air
quality improvements can be accomplished
with shared strategies.
Climate change is the rise in global
temperatures resulting in part from
increased levels of greenhouse gases
(GHGs). Recognizing the importance of
this issue Denton initially signed the US
Conference of Mayors Climate
Protection Agreement in 2005.
Goals
1. Improve regional air quality and
take actions to improve non-
attainment status
2. Take actions to reduce air pollutant
emissions, including greenhouse
gases and emissions from
government operations
3. Set reduction targets for municipal
and community greenhouse gas
emissions
4. Annually Update Greenhouse Gas
Inventory and Contribution Analysis
5. Assess community hazards and
vulnerabilities
6. Create a Greenhouse Gas
Mitigation PlanPage 15
Successes to Date and OngoingInitiatives
Air quality is not just a local issue - it is affected by pollutants throughout the
region and thus requires regional solutions. The City has formed partnerships
with regional organizations, including North Central Texas Council of
Governments (NCTCOG ), North Texas Clean Air Coalition (NTCAC), ICLEI - Local
Governments for Sustainability. Denton County Transportation Authority
(DCTA), and Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition (DRMC). Together, the City and
these organizations can use their cotlective resources to identify and
implement regional air quality improvements and make joint decisions to
improve air quality. The City also recognizes ozone action days. During ozone
season (May through November) employees and residents are encouraged to
make clean air choices
Each year. the City will complete a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions inventory
for municipal operations and the community-at-large. The inventory provides
an assessment for establishing GHG emissions reduction targets and
developing action plans to achieve those targets
Sustainability Metrics:
Key Performance Indicators Targets
Air Quality Index (AOI)ACU is a regional issue that is not only influenced
by local City of Denton efforts, yet still importantto track
Reduce GHG emissionsGHG Emissions- Munieipal Government
Operations (MetrIc Tons of Carbon DioxIde
EquIvalent)
GHG Emissions- Community-wide per capita
(Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent)
Annual MunIcIpal Fleet Fuel Consumption
Reduce GHG emissions per capita
-mIl-ci ’ui£m;iGirGl fuelsiiic;Lie
alternative fuel consumption as percentage
of total fuel consumptionIncrease number of AFVsNumber of Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFV)
(Hybrids, CNG, Electric, etc.) in MunicipalVehicle Fleet
hr:e-nia&e-of GHG emis-;imMilnicipal
Fleet (2018 Baseline
25% by 2025
Page 16
Strategy #1
Implement Sustainable
Municipal Fleet Program
The City has recently enacted an
updated -sustainable fleet policy.- The
policy comes from a regional effort to
improve local air quality. Purchases,
operations, efficiency, and necessity are
some of the criteria used to evaluate the
efficiency of the City’s vehicle fleet. The
City has developed a comprehensive
sustainable fleet program to identify
opportunities and actions the City can
take to improve air quality through fleet
operations. The goal is to have a more
sustainable fleet using the most
appropriate vehicle. operated efficiently,
and properly maintained. The intended
results of this policy are to
reduce\emissions. improve fuel
efficiency, and effectively manage the
operating funds required to run the
City’s fleet.
Strategy #2
Continue and Expand GHG
Program for Municipal and
Community Operations
As a member of ICLEl-Local
Governments for Sustainability and
signatory to the 2005 U.S. Conference of
Mayors Climate Protection Agreement,
the City is committed to addressing
GHG emissions from its own facilities
and operations. The City completes an
annual GHG emissions inventory for
municipal operations and forecast GHG
emissions to assess the -business as
usual- scenario of emissions growth over
time. These emissions forecasts can help
determine the City's emissions scenario
projected forward, and help set a
feasible emissions reduction target and
timeline
Understanding fleet performance
enables the City to take targeted actions
to improve efficiency. The City of
Denton’s Fleet Services currently uses a
computerized management system.
Fleet Services maintains an inventory of
fleet vehicles and monitors fuel
consumption, fuel economy, mileage,
maintenance schedules, and repair
costs on a monthly basis.
Page 17
Strategy #3
Create and Implement a Greenhouse Gas Mitigation
Plan
Goals 1, 2, 3, and 6 can be encompassed into the single strategy of a GHG
mitigation plan. GHG mitigation is typically one of the first parts of any climate
action, or community resilience plan, and is designed to limit the impacts of
climate related hazards. The City will first identify a target, and will then select the
actions best suited for Denton to meet that goal. This strategy has the added
benefit of improved air quality as greenhouse gases. ozone precursor pollutants.
and other emissions that reduce air quality share similar sources.
•
UPDATE
The Denton community has
reduced their GHG emissions
by 22% since 2006.
Reductions are anticipated
to decrease further as
Denton continues to
implement actions that
lower their carbon footprint.
it:
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Page 18
"We shall require a
substantially new
manner of thinking ifmankind is to survive"
-Albert Einstein
The current emphasis on improving energy
efficiency is a result of several dynamics–air
quality attainment, GHG reduction, demand
management, and ensuring a consistent supply
of power to Denton residents. The City
recognizes the importance of energy
conservation and efficiency to Denton’s citizens.
environment, and economy. Patterns of energy
use for industrial, commercial, residential, and
transportation sectors are important indicators
of community sustainability. Globally,
population growth, industrialization. and
urbanization have led to the upward trend in
energy consumption. National demand for
electricity has also continually grown, despite
the increases in energy costs and energy
efficiency improvements. According to Energy
Outlook 2020 produced by the U.S. Energy
Information Administration. buildings and
transportation sectors make up a large portion
of primary energy use. Because buildings require
a large amount of energy in the United States,
understanding the distribution of energy
consumption is an important step in setting
goals for energy reduction.
Goals
1. To have under contract by the end
of 2020 sufficient renewable energy
supplies to achieve and maintain
the 100% renewable energy supply
objective
2. Encourage energy conservation
and efficiency in new and existing
homes and businesses
3. Ensure efficient energy use in city
government facilities through
demand reduction in both new
construction and building retrofits
4. Continue to require exceptional
energy efficiency building
standards for new construction
Page 19
Successes to Date and OngoingInitiatives
Denton Municipal Electric (DME) and Sustainability are committed to
environmental responsibility as demonstrated through conservation
projects and investments in renewable energy. Since the 1980s, DME has
implemented energy conservation programs. including energy audit
services. demand management and rebate programs. Specifically, the Green
Sense Energy Efficiency Rebate Program is a customer incentive program
that offers rebates to DME customers who perform authorized energy
efficiency improvements in their homes and businesses. Through regional
partnerships such as the South-central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a
Resource (SPEER), North Central Texas Council of Governments (COG), and
City Efficiency Leadership Council (CELC), Sustainability continues to
research and collaborate to ensure the most up to date information on
energy efficiency and conservation. In 2016, the City Council approved the
Renewable Denton Plan, an industry leading initiative to increase renewable
power from 40 to 70 percent by 2019. The Council replaced the Renewable
Denton Plan with an even more ambitious goal in 2018 with the adoption of
the Renewable Resource Plan. With this plan in place DME strives to provide
and maintain 100% renewable energy to all of its customers by the end of
2020
Sustainability Metrics:
Key Performance Indicators
lptionTo,tIa MMci
Number of participants in energy rebate and
audit prognrns
Renewable percent of DME’s electric power
generation
Number and size of private renewable energy
systems installed throughout community
Targets
Reduce municipal facility energy consumpTiop
Increase number of participants
Continue to evaluate options for renewable
energy generatIon
Continue to evaluate options for renewable
energy generatIon
Page 20
Strategy #1
Expand Commercial,
Residential and Industrial
Energy Efficiency Program
Continue to Evaluate
Building Energy Code
Implementation to
Maximize Energy Efficiency•
a
DME has a variety of tools available to
commercial. residential and
industrial sector customers. The
program is currently centered on
demand management and rebate
programs. DME will continue to explore
opportunities to work with large
customers and provide assessments of
current conditions, alternate sources of
generation. rebates, and innovative
demand management programs.
Continued education will be the key to
DME’s successful programs.
The City of Denton can reduce energy
consumptIon in new construction
through efficiency improvements in
lighting. insulation, and heating and
cooling components of the building
code. The continued evaluation of
building energy codes provides
minimum building energy
requirements, increased energy
window requirements, and mechanical
controls for off-hours, wattage
efficiency. and ensures opportunities
cost savings in utilities. Energy
may include insulation requirements
for
codes
requirements, and other standards to
raise building energy efficiency beyond
rnlnlrnurn requlrernents.
IECC
The International Energy Conservation Code serves as the model energy building code.
The IECC code sets minimum energy efficiency provisions for residential and
commercial buildings, offering both prescriptive and performance based approaches
As standards are updated. or if the City adopts additional green building guidelines or
incentives. it is important to raise the standard of building energy efficiency to help
reduce total energy usage and peak electric demand in buildings.
Page 21
Strategy #3
Improve the Energy Efficiency of Existing Homes and
Buildings
To reduce community energy consumption, the City continues to evaluate opportunities
to improve energy efficiency in existing homes and buildings. Beyond energy efficient
building codes and DME's successful residential and commercial energy rebate and audit
programs, the City will continue to offer educational programs for home and business
owners and track the programs' success. Additional programs centered around
weatherization, and EV/Solar readiness could be possible considerations for the future.
: +
:rt
Additional Strategies forConsideration
1. Continue to research and pursue energy conservation opportunities, on-site power
generation, and other renewable technologies.
2. Pursue district heating and cooling opportunities where technically and economically
feasible.
3. Continue to research and review building rating systems.
Page 22
a literse an
"I thinkthat I shall never see a
poem lovely as a tree."
-Joyce Kilmer
Open space and the preservation of
natural resources are critical to
community character and quality of life.
Land use and development policies
should support efficient use of
infrastructure, minimize environmental
impacts. and prevent sprawl. or
expansive development patterns. When
we preserve the environment we
experience several benefits including
carbon sequestration, improved air
quality, drainage, water quality, soil
health, and biodiversity.
Goals
1. Encourage land use and
code/zoning patterns that positively
affect energy use and the
environment.
2. Preserve open space, natural areas,
and tree canopy.
3. Minimize water use, promote
stormwater quality, and reduce
stormwater quantity through
rnanagernent measures.
4. Encourage redevelopment of infill
areas and brownfield sites.
5. Create and improve park and open
space opportunities within IO
minute walking distance of
residents’ homes
6. Partner with city departments and
local organizations to implement
tree planting goal to increase the
tree canopy to 4D percent by 2040.
A healthy tree canopy has been
shown to reduce energy needs
reverse the heat island effect,
improve quality of life, and air
quality
Page 23
Successes to Date and OngoingInitiatives
The City of Denton continues to prioritize land use and open space
preservation. With Denton’s current park lands, Clear Creek Natural Heritage
Center, and our commitment to preserving environmentally sensitive areas
(ESAs), the City has made great progress in restoring and keeping open
spaces. The City understands that effective land management can help
reduce the loss of open space, improve transportation efficiency, and
improve air quality. This goes hand-in-hand with the City’s commitment to
keep Denton’s tree canopy robust and healthy. Denton recently adopted a
new Urban Forest Master Plan that includes new strategies to help identify
protect and increase the City’s tree canopy
Sustainability Metrics:
Key Performance Indicators
Square feet of new infill development
buildings and acreage impacted
Acres of protected open space and
environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs)
Targets
Continue to increase infill
development and track progress
Continue to increase percentage
of open space and protectedareas
Increase tree canopy cover&Percent of city area currently covered
by tree canopy
Acres of brownfield
sites redeveloped
PursLTL--LdcT_'L–i–L-ah
develonment
Page 24
Strategy #1 Strategy #2
Encourage Infill Incentives Evaluate Available
Affordable Housing
Programs/Incentives and
Implement as Feasible
Infill development is redeveloping land
within a built-up area. It focuses on
reusing obsolete or underutilized
buildings and sites, and can be
important for community character
and growth. Infill development can also
be cost and resource- efficient
Transportation, water, and energy
infrastructure are often already present
for existing buildings, and the cost of
connecting new development to
existing infrastructure is usually a
fraction of the cost of extending
infrastructure to entirely undeveloped
Planning for Denton's future requires
carefu} examination of the community's
affordable housing options and projected
housing demand. The City is in the process
of completing Phase 1 of an Affordable
Housing Assessment to help gain valuable
insight into the city’s housing needs,
existing assets, and future housing needs
with the overall goal to facilitate a policy
discussion and strategic plan to support
the acquisition, preservation, and creation
of affordable housing in Denton, Currently
the City offers Horne Repair Programs to
help preserve affordable housing and a
Homebuyer Assistance Program to help
increase affordable homeownersh ip. The
City’s home repair programs provide
assistance to low-income homeowners to
make essential minor and emergency
repairs when the owner-occupant lacks
sufficient resources or major
repairs, including both rehabilitation and
reconstruction. The Homebuyer Assistance
Program provides assistance to first-time
homebuyer to purchase a safe, affordable
home. The City continues evaluating
existing programs, planning for future
afFordable housing opportunities for
residents, and ultimately meeting the City
of Denton’s changing housing needs.
a reas.
Denton offers a variety of incentives for
businesses interested in locating in
Denton. Denton offers incentives
through tax abatements and Chapter
380 agreements per the City’s adopted
Tax Abatement and Incentive Policy.
,J &gILl/ /
Page 25
Strategy #4
Implement Code Changes
to ensure Landscape
Requirements are based on
the Concept of Multiple
Uses (Stormwater, Shading,
and Drought Tolerance)
The City will evaluate and address
landscaping and stormwater
requirements of commercial
development. Code revisions could greatly
enhance future landscape designs by
incorporating multi-use elements that are
both environmentally beneficial and
aesthetically pleasing. Options for revisions
to the landscape and stormwater
regulations range from a full- scale
integrated stormlwater plan that uses
natural elements, such as swales to
capture stormwater and guidelines that
recommend local plants requiring less
watering. It is also important to emphasize
planting during dormant season and
effectively addressing irrigation. Denton’s
code should strike a balance between key
design features/practices and provide a
menu of different options that leave
ample room for the creativity of the
designer and property owner. Landscape
recommendations will be tailored to the
local climate and environment. Best
practices will also be incorporated into
educational material to promote new
landscapes that also meet code
compliance.
Strategy #3
Implernent Subchapter 7.4
of the Denton Development
Code Regarding
Environmentally SensitiveAreas
SuE>chapter 7.4 of the Denton
Development Code (DDC) provides the
City with the legal framework for the
conservation and protection of
floodplains, riparian corridors / buffers,
wetlands, and eastern cross timbers
forests (-upland habitats”). commonly
known as Environmentally Sensitive
Areas (ESA's). Water-dependent habitats
areas, the interface between land and a
river or stream, are vital for water quality,
habitat and flood mitigation. Upland
areas are home to unique animal and
plant habitats, and often serve as
treasured recreational areas. The City will
continue to preserve and restore these
natural corridors.
Page 26
Strategy #5
Promote Mixed-Use,
Compact Development in
Targeted Areas
Communities such as Denton are
attracting citizens who desire more
compact or dense development with a
greater variety of uses. This type of
development in turn has many
environmental, economic, and social
benefits. The City will promote mixed-
use, compact development in the
downtown transit area and
commercial districts by specifying
minimum density requirements.
Strategy #7
Gas Well Development,
rnonitoring and tracking of
inspectionsStrategy #6
Implement Urban Forestry
Master Plan (UFMP)
The City of Denton is located atop the
eastern edge of the Barnett Shale. The
Gas Well Inspections Division works to
protect the health, safety, and general
welfare of the public, and in addition it
ensures the orderly and practical
development of mineral resources in a
manner compatible with existing and
future development of affected surface
uses. Denton Development Code
Su bchapter 6 regulates gas well drilling
and production within the city limits.
This section of the code was developed
to protect public health and safety while
allowing the practical development of
mineral resources. Monitoring and
Inspection information is available on
the city's website.
Denton’s tree canopy is an iconic part
of the landscape and a critical element
of the natural environment. Currently
at 19 percent of the city’s area, the
urban tree canopy has room to expand
in certain zoning districts. The UFM P
advances the objectives of retaining
existing trees, replacing and replanting
trees. increasing the urban tree canopy,
and planting native trees. Denton
continues to work internally and
partner with other departments and
organizations to promote the planting
of trees.
Page 27
Strategy #8
Implement Clear Creek Master Plan
Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center (CCNHC) is a valuable natural resource with more
than 2,900 acres of open land. It includes ecosystems such as bottomland hardwood
forest, upland prairie, and diverse aquatic habitats. In 2014. a Master Plan was developed
to utilize the area based on the needs of the community. This innovative plan lays out
the vision and goals for Clear Creek along with plans for restoration and reforestation
but also the design for improvements upon the land. The City is building new trails,
natural play structures, and facilities that allow the community to continue utilizing this
area as a natural resource for education and recreation.
IIIII11I11B 1 1e a r
1} Natunrt Fh
$£xQk Il qr IMa
Additional Strategies forConsideration:
1. Review Code to allow/ promote Green Infrastructure Development Code
2. Implement and Review Integrated Pest Management Plan and Update
3. Implement a Program to Clean Up, Redevelop, and Reuse Brownfield Sites
Page 28
Chapter 5:Transportation
"It is every man's obligation to put back into the world at least
the equivalent of what he takes out of it."
-Albert Einstein
Transportation networks are ever changing,
and have a strong influence on the
characteristics of a city. The City will consider
the adoption of a new Denton Mobility Plan in
2020, that will continue to improve this critical
infrastructure. Changes to this network are
often difficult and expensive. Capital and
operating costs for new projects are extremely
high, fuel costs fluctuates. and air quality
continues to be a substantial concern for the
regIon.
Goals
1. Expand infrastructure for non-
vehicle modes of transportation
2. Promote public transportation
ridership and the use of fuel
efficient/alternative fuel vehicles
3. Reduce environmental impacts
from impervious parking surfaces
4. Increase amount of non-road trail
systems
The benefits of increased mobility need to be
weighed against the environmental.
economic, and social costs of transport,
including traffic congestion, impacts of
impervious parking areas to surface water,
stormwater and groundwater supply. air
pollution. long commute times, physical
inactivity. and fuel costs and consumption.
Sustainable transportation options can
decrease our impact on the environment.
reduce the costs of commuting, and improve
quality of life for the Denton community.
Page 29
Sustainability Metrics:
Key Performance Indicators
Number of miles for bike lanes
Targets
increase number of bike lane miles (see
Bike Master Plan)
Increase miles of walking paths/
sidewalks
3
AiFribb Tif iitile; iii-Gill;iAg pAds7
sidewalks
Public transit ridership within the City of
Denton
Page 30
Strategy #2
Ensure Current Parking
Standards Provide
Flexibility and Reduce
Environmental Impacts
Excessive parking and impervious
surfaces – artificial structures such as
pavement that is covered by
impenetrable materials - negatively
impact the built environment and
threaten groundwater and surface
water resources. The City will continue
to revise its current parking standards to
reflect local conditions and parking
demand. The parking standards
incorporate flexible methods for
reducing the stormwater, surface water,
and groundwater impacts from parking
areas. Measures may include multiple
use landscaping islands, the
use of pervious surface paving, and
management practices to improve the
quantity and quality of stormwater
draining from parking lots.
Strategy #1
Adopt and Implernent
Mobility Plan
tn 2019, the City of Denton conducted a
survey and began working with the
cornrnunity to develop a Mobility Plan.
This plan wouid incorporate the resu its
of the study along with strategies to
address citywide transportation,
including vehicles, transit, bicycles, and
pedestrians, for the next 3D years. The
objectives include, engage the
community to understand mobility
issues. build on previous plans, utilize
reliable data sources to weigh mobility
options; and develop an
implementation strategy.
Page 31
Strategy #3
Improve and promote pedestrian opportunities
The City recognizes the importance of walking and the contribution it makes to personal
mobility and the environment. As such, the City will evaluate ways to promote safe, and
convenient opportunities for walking. Improving pedestrian opportunities may include
sidewalks, walkways, trails, and amenities such as lighting and landscaping to encourage
physical activity. The City is evaluating opportunities to increase miles of sidewalk as
compared with miles of streets. New development presents an opportunity to install
pedestrian transportation and avoid the more costly retrofitting sidewalks to existing roads.
Additional Strategies forConsideration:
1. Evaluate traffic signalization to improve safety and mobility and implement as funding
allows.
2. Update and implement idle reduction policy.
3. Update and Implement ADA Transition Plan
Page 32
"You can never have an
impact on society if you
have not changed
yourself."
-Nelson Mandela
Goals
I. Develop and promote city
government and community
sustainability programs to ensure
community members of all
demographics have access to
participate actively and effectively.
2. Encourage and promote
involvement of community
members of all ages to further
understanding of basic principles of
sustainability.
3. Increase sustainability education,
awareness and personal
responsibility
The sustainability challenges of today
require global. local, and individual
action. Although the City of Denton is
implementing many substantial
initiatives to improve cornrnunity
sustainability, government actions
cannot and should not be the only
actions. The success of this Framework
depends on the active involvement of
city residents. businesses. and
institutions.
By providing education and involvement
opportunities, regularly tracking
successes and acknowledging areas for
improvements, the community can
understand what the City is doing to
lead the way, and can participate in
making Denton a more sustainable
comrnuni ty.\:
f/ //
Page 33
Successes to Date and OngoingInitiatives
Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center (CCNHC) was selected as the winner of the
Government Award from Keep Texas Beautiful for a population between 50,000
and 150,000. This competitive award recognizes outstanding contributions to
the Texas environment made by government departments, divisions or
agencies. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the City of Denton's
management of the Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center (CCNHC). Clear Creek
currently has over 7 miles of trails and an education facility on the property. in
2005, the City began working with Denton Independent School District to host
field trips for 2nd, 4th and 5th grade classes throughout DISD. This facilitates the
education of more than 4,SOO school visitors each year at CCNHC
The City promotes community participation in national, regional, and local
environmental events. Denton is working with community organizations and
non-profit groups to educate residents and businesses on environmental issues
and offer tips to address environmental challenges. During the 2018 -2019 fiscal
year, the Sustainability Department participated in 260 events inctuding
workshops, festivals. volunteer events. tours and outreach events. These events
raise awareness and encourage individuals to take personal actions to improve
community sustainability
Sustainability Metrics:
Key Perforrnance Indicators
Social Media Reach and Followers
Targets
Increase scope by 5 percent
Monthly number of people attending
sustainability workshops and education
sessions
h-urn-b& bi;ilstainal>I–e iiI;iii; iii i–nvolvJciiri
the Green Business Program
Number of visits to City’s sustainabIlity website
monthly
Average attendance of 25 or
more
Enro11 10 businesses by 2020
l-Ali iii;b- i-LI FiIE;iQ- ii&i
Page 34
IStrategy #1
Evaluate
Opportunities for
Advisory/Stakeholder
CommIttees
a a atSaaaaB•IB}HIBI ••1:::B••BaR ••a•B l•}al•IIlm1111l•a
BUSINESS PROGRAM
City of Denton
As new projects and strategies form
in Sustainability the City may choose
different methods to involve citizens.
Advisory and Stakeholder
committees will be evaluated as
opportunities arise. These
committees can advise city decision-
makers on sustainability initiatives
and engaging the public and other
community stakeholders.
Strategy #3
Update and Implement
Green Business Program to
Identify and
Recognize SustainableBusinessesStrategy #2 The Green Business Program is intended
to provide recognition to Denton
businesses for their commitment to
sustainability. The City has established
criteria for verifying that businesses
rneet sustainability standards including
energy and water conservation. waste
reduction, and pollution prevention.
Businesses in the program will be
officially recognized by the City.
Sustainability and Learn
2 Conserve workshops
Sustainability plans to continue
providing educational workshops
that teach the public about new and
successful ways to conserve
resources, promote local food
production, connect with nature,
and divert waste from the landfill.
These classes are available to all
members of the community and
focus on helping people live a more
sustainable lifestyle.
A program logo is used to identify
participating businesses. Green
businesses can advertise the logo on
business websites or post a decai on
storefront windows
Page 35
Strategy #5
Expand Denton Sustainable
Schools Program
Denton Sustainable Schools encourages
students, families, faculty, and staff to
Improve our envIronment, create
economic value, and support and
strengthen sustainable communities
through the implementation of
comprehensive sustainability education.
The program works with participating
schools to expand educational
opportunities in several focus areas,
Water. Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas
Management, Transportation, Material
Resource Management, and the
Environment.
Strategy #4
Develop and increaseoutreach material made
available to the put>lie
At the end of the year participating
schools will turn in points accumulated
throughout the year and can potentially
win environmental awards based on their
performance. Points are earned by
recycling, teaching relevant lessons, field
trips, civic engagement, maintaining a
school garden, hosting sustainable
presentation and other engaging
educational opportunities.
The Sustainability Program wit I work
with departrnents within in the city to
develop materials that can be
distributed throughout the city that
highlight sustainable events and
practices. These items. articles, and
newsletters will provide more
information on environmentally and
socially responsible practices
that can be implemented within the
City of Denton. it will also highlight
sustainability trends and educate others
on ways to integrate sustainability
principles into operations and daily life,
Page 36
Strategy #6
STAR and LEED for Cities
In 2017. the City of Denton became a 3-
Star certified community for the STAR
Communities framework. Through an
extensive reporting process the City was
able to accumulate enough points
using the STAR Communities metric to
qualify as one of only 73 cities to be
certified in the Country. In 2018, the
STAR Communities program merged
with LEED for Cities to form a new
program. This program will continue to
allow the City of Denton to measure
progress in sustainability, as well as.
provide direction regarding areas where
growth is needed. It showcases how
Denton is a leader in the Dallas Fort
Worth metroplex.
Strategy #7
Equity and Empowerrnent
The City of Denton wants to ensure
equity in Sustainability by promoting
inclusion and access to resources
throughout the entire community. Some
of the methods by which that the
Sustainability Program plans to
implement these principles is by working
with other departments and outside
organizations to better understand the
needs of their community. This will help
the city understand what sustainable
workshops could benefit neighborhoods
throughout Denton. The city also intends
to distribute resources by working with
various organizations throughout the city.
,);I
Additional Strategies forConsideration:
1. Expand Green Team programing and encourage sustainable practices within the City.
2. Evaluate education and outreach to ensure content and methods provide equitable
engagement opportunities.
Page 37
apter 7: MaterialResource Management
"Til now, man has been up
against nature; from now
on he will be up against his
own nature. "
-Dennis Gabar
At multiple stages of a product's lifecycle
– extraction and processing of raw
materials, manufacturing, distribution,
storage, transport and disposal –
innovations in materials management
can reduce waste and promote reuse.
Examples of strategies include source
reduction, composting, and recycling.The City of Denton promotes sustainable
materials management through
recycling, landfill energy recovery,
environmentally preferable purchasing,
and litter reduction. Material goods can
use energy intensive processes, may
contain excessive packaging and may
be transported over long distances
before they are used once and
discarded. The transportation of waste
to disposal sites produces air pollutants.
as does the decomposition of solid
waste at the landfill. The amount of time
a landfill can be effectively utilized can
also be extended if materials destined
for the landfill can be reduced, reused.
and / or recycled. Fortunately, there are
many local opportunities to manage
material resources efficiently and
promote economic growth and
environmental quality.
q:
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Pg,
Goals
1. Reduce solid waste generation and
divert waste away from landfill
disposal through increased
recycling and reuse options
2. Leverage city government’s
purchasing power to procure goods
and services that cause less harm to
humans and the environment, in
accordance with procurement laws
and regulations.
Page 38
Successes to Date and OngoingInitiatives
Denton has an active recycling program for citizens, governmental facilities
and public facilities. Denton offers innovative programs, including a home
chemical collection program, successful community clean-up events, and
yard waste composting
Through the Home Chemical Collection (HCC) program, the City
provides at-home collection and drop off of Household Hazardous Waste
(HHW) to all residents. In an effort to reuse materials, the City redistributes
HHW material to residents at its ReUse Store
The City’s Solid Waste Department collects municipal yard waste (grass
clipping and leaves, brush and tree limbs) for composting. Yard waste and
waste activated biosolids recycled from the Pecan Creek Water Reclamation
Plant are used to make various Dyno Dirt products. including mulches, STA
certified compost, and ready to use soil. All products are produced and sold
by the Beneficial Reuse Division
Sustainability Metrics:
Key Performance Indicators
Quantity and type of HCC collected
QuantitY of pharmaceutical waste collectedannuall
Quantity of y£rd waste collected annually
TargetsMaintain or increase collection amounts
Increase annually
Continue to collect and increase where
possible
Increase quantity of Dyno products sold
annually
Increase annually by 2%
till;nlt; it–dyna prodtl ii-iad annually
i tbmmercial recycling containers
(serviced by the City of Denton)Residential waste }r canita Decrease annuall
Page 39
Strategy #1
Promote Clean-up Events
The City of Denton promotes and
sponsors clean-up events by providing
supplies and recruiting volunteers in
partnership with internal departments
and external community organizations.
During clean-up events, volunteers
collect trash from streets, waterways.
and neighborhoods. Clean-up sites
often include parks, right-of-ways
grounds, school grounds, and nature
trails. Through its relationships with
local businesses and organizations, the
City can request donations, supplies, or
in- kind support.
}#in
Strategy #2
Implement Environmentally
Preferred Purchasing
Program
The City is establishing a formal
Environmentally Preferred Purchasing
Program to guide the City’s purchasing
decisions and promote the use of
products and services that best align with
the city’s sustainability goals.
In making purchasing decisions, certain
products and services will be evaluated
based on their environrnental impact in
addition to price and performance.
In evaluating environmental
performance, the entire product
lifecycle will be considered. The policy
will cover office supplies, electronic
equipment, cleaning products and food
and beverage materials.
Page 40
Strategy #3
Divert Solid Waste from Landfill through Recycling
Denton is continually expanding its recycling education program to increase and
improve community recycling. The City currently provides curbside single stream
recycling services to single-family residences and the opportunity for recycling at
multi-family residences and businesses. To increase recycling participation in
multi- family residential units, the City offers free waste audits and education to
multi- family complexes that would like to recycle. Commercial recycling
services currently include cardboard, office/mixed paper. or single-stream
(commingled) recycling. Denton recently introduced a recycling program for
businesses located downtown in the Square District to increase recycling
effectiveness.
In addition having a public/private partnership with a Materials Recycling Facility
at the municipal landfill improves recycling efficiency. This facility helps to
minimize trips to deliver recyclables for sorting and allows better tracking of
recycling participation in Denton.
Additional Strategies forConsideration:
1. Incorporate Cornprehensive Solid Waste Management Strategy recommendations.
2. Continue to explore additional food waste diversion opportunities.
3. Promote conscious consumerism/waste minimization in the CIty of Denton.
Page 41
"You can never have an
impact on society if you
have not changed
yourself."
-Nelson Mandela
Goals
1.Increase consumption of fresh,
locally produced, organic
produce to promote public
health and to minimize
resource consumption and
negative environmental
impacts
2. Ensure that no one geographic
or socioeconomic group in the
city is being unfairly impacted
by environmental hazards
3. Incorporate Resiliency into
City of Denton planning efforts
A resilient community is one that is flexible
and continues to function in the face of
stressors. Through holistic actions such as
supporting potlinators, local farmers. urban
agriculture. and community gardens, the
City can establish a healthier more resilient
community. Proper assessment and
adaptations to climate stressors also provide
the community with a level of preparedness
that will benefit both the environment and
public health.
Page 42
Successes to Date and OngoingInitiatives
Sustainability Metrics:
Key Performance Indicators
Resiliency Planning
Targets
2030
Number of permits issued to local food
businesses/artists to participate at Denton
Comrnunitv Market
Number/acreage of community gardens
Increase 5% by 2020
10 acres by 2020
Page 43
Strategy #l
Bee City USA and Monarch
City USA
In 2016 the City of Denton joined Bee City
USA and developed an urban beekeeping
policy that was adopted for the City of
Denton. Since then Denton has become
the first city in the State of Texas to
become a member of the Monarch City
USA program with the intention of
increasing our support for local poltinators
within the community. Denton is also
proud to be a part of the Mayors’ Monarch
Pledge.Strategy #3Strategy #2 Assess and strengthen
Denton's resilience through
community and municipal
planning
Complete the National
Wildlife Federation’s
Community Wildlife Habitat
Certification Resilience planning ensures vulnerabilities
are met where possible, and adaptations
are implemented when current strategies
no longer function. This strategy will
ensure Denton is becoming more resilient
by building a sustainable city, mobilizing
volunteers, engaging partners, and
creating a vibrant workforce. Through
public engagement and research we plan
to identify strengths and weaknesses in
social, economic and government
resilience. and identify practical steps
for improvements.
Denton is committed to the restoration
and creation of wildlife habitats within
our community and is working towards
becoming a certified Wildlife Habitat
Community through the National Wildlife
Federation. This program will be a
collaborative effect between the
community and various programs that
are already taking place at the City of
Denton. The City plans to obtain enough
points to get certified and maintain their
certification within the program.
Page 44
Strategy #4
Encourage Backyard and Community Gardening within
City Limits
To support consumption and production of local food, the City of Denton is
implementing measures to promote backyard and community gardens. A
community garden is land used collectively by a group of people to grow fresh
produce and plants. Community gardens can promote healthier eating and
transform unused land into productive and attractive spaces that demonstrate
the benefits of local food production. Backyard gardens are located and
maintained by an individual on their property. This enables a person to be able
to produce their own source of food.
To increase access and availability of local food, the City provides education on
various topics such as beekeeping, backyard urban chickens, gardening, seed
starting, composting. and forms of permaculture. Many of these classes are
taught by local farmers and experts in the agricultural industry. By partnering
with local experts we are able to connect members in the community with
one another to build support around local food production.
Denton will continue to partner with various organization to provide
gardening resources such as the Emily Fowler Seed Library which provides free
seeds to local residents.
Page 45
Appendix a: Public
Engagement
This section describes the process and results of an extensive public
engagement process and how the information gathered has helped to shapethe Framework. The planning process was designed to give citizens, businesses.
and institutions multiple opportunities to participate and provide input to thePlan
The public engagement process included key stakeholders, city staff, and
community members in identifying and analyzing ideas, studying existing
policies and programs, and developing a list of actions and opportunities for
meeting the City’s sustainability goals. The City received input from over 300
citizens, educators, environmentalists, sustainability experts, business leaders,
homeowners, city officials, and staff throughout this process via multiple
avenues, including working groups, community meetings, and a sustainability
su Ivey
Framework Development
Staff gathered information about existing programs, identified focus areas and
goals, and evaluated sustainability strategies for implementation. Three distinct
groups of influenced the development of the document.
Interdepartmental Team
The City organized a team of employees representing a diverse group of
departments, including Purchasing. Solid Waste, Economic Development,
Planning, Facilities, Community Development. Water and Wastewater,
Communications, Transportation, Building Inspections. Environmental Services,
and Parks. The Interdepartmental Team was tasked with gathering data,
providing recommendations, and refining and evaluating sustainability
strategies. The team’s knowledge of government operations and existing
programs and policies was essential in identifying realistic and actionable
strategies.
Page 46
Committee on the Environment
The Committee on the Environment (COE) consists of three City Council
members dedicated to advancing the City's commitment to environmental
protection. The COE provides expertise and recommendations during the
update. COE was able to provide guidance and feedback on the planning
process, goal identification and strategy prioritization and selection.
Sustainability Survey
A public survey was conducted to gather and prioritize sustainability strategies.
The survey was provided online from Fall 2017 through Spring 2018 to gather
additional input from the community. A detailed report on the survey results
can be found below.
Community Meetings
The community meetings enabled citizens to discuss sustainability in waysthat relate to their everyday lives. Participants were asked to generate ideas
for advancing sustainability in each of the focus areas, and were encouraged
to ask questions of city staff present for clarification as needed.
Sustainability Community Meeting #1 - March 21, 2018, 6:30-8:OO PM:
Purpose,
The first community meeting for citizens was held on March 21st, 2018, to
introduce the citizens to the Simply Sustainable Plan updates and provide an
overview of the planning process, their respective roles. receive feedback
regarding sustainable strategies they would like to include.
Attendees:
Attendees included individuals from the community.
Presentation:
Sarah Luxton, Denton Sustainability Coordinator. welcomed attendees.
Luxton provided a brief presentation on the definition of sustainability, theVision Statement and Goals for Sustainable Denton, and an overview of the
project and timeline. The bulk of the workshop was spent in allowing citizens
to provide feedback in each of the eight focus areas.
Page 47
Community MeetingsContinued
Sustainability Community Meeting #2 - March 22, 2018, 6:OO-8:OO PM:
Purpose,
The second community meeting for citizens was held on March
22, 2018, to introduce the citizens to the Simply Sustainable Plan updatesand
provide an overview of the planning process, their respective roles, receive
feedback regarding sustainable strategies they would like to include.
Attendees,
Attendees included individuals from the community.
Presentation,
Sarah Luxton, Denton Sustainability Coordinator, welcomed attendees.
Luxton provided a brief presentation on the definition of sustainability, the
Vision Statement and Goals for Sustainable Denton. and an overview of the
project and timeline. The bulk of the workshop was spent in allowing
citizens to provide feedback in each of the eight focus areas.
Sustainability Community Meeting #3 - May 6, 2018, 5:OO-7:OO PM:
Purpose,
The third community meeting for citizens was held on May 6.
2018, to present the feedback collected from the previous community
meetings, as well as. all of the information collected from the online
surveys and discuss strategy prioritization.
Attendees:
Attendees included individuals from the community.
Presentation:
Sarah Luxton. Denton Sustainability Coordinator, welcomed attendees.
Luxton provided a brief presentation on the definition of sustainability, theVision Statement and Goals for Sustainable Denton. and an overview of the
project and timeline. Next. we spoke about the feedback that had been
collected in each of the eight focus areas and how we v'„rould implement
this feedback into the updated version of the Simply Sustainable Plan.
Page 48
Appendix b:
Sustainability SurveyResults
Survey Objectives
The City of Denton (City) has updated the Simply Sustainability for City
government operations and the community-at-large. A critical component of a
successful updated plan is stakeholder participation. The City employed various
methods of community outreach and participation, including the Sustainable
Denton Survey. The purpose of the survey was to gather input from City
stakeholders about sustainability strategy ideas, as well as to document how
city stakeholders prioritize the strategies and focus areas of sustainability.
Data Collection Method
Denton Sustainability employees informed City stakeholders of the Sustainable
Denton Survey during public meetings. Public meetings were held on March 21,
March 22, and May 9. 2018. The survey was also publicized on the City website,
the Denton Sustainability website and Facebook page, a City email list, and at
City outreach events. The number of completed surveys for Version 1 and
Version 2 was 287 and 264, respectively. These surveys are thus an importantsource of data from hundreds of stakeholders within Denton.
It is important to note, the potential voluntary response bias inherent to this
non-random survey collection method. People with strong opinions about
sustainability were potentially more likely to respond to the survey. Therefore.
the survey results do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the entire City
population. Nonetheless, the survey results are useful in gauging public opinion
about sustainability.
Page 49
Survey Questionnaire
Data was collected through the use of a semi-structured questionnaire. The
average amount of time to complete both versions of the survey was four
minutes each. The questionnaire assessed the following three areas,
• Residency and role of survey participants
• Definition and conceptualization of sustainability
• Prioritization of sustainability strategies and focus areas
Version 1
Summary of Key Findings
Residency and Role of Survey Participants
As illustrated in Figure 1, the majority of survey respondents – 72 percent – have
resided in Denton for five or more years. Respondents residing in Denton for
less than five years made up 15 percent of surveys. The remaining 13 percent of
respondents who were not Denton residents identified their role in the
community as an education provider, business owner/representative, health
care professional, City of Denton employee/official. environmental professional,
or as a role not identified in the survey, as demonstrated in Table 1.
Community Role Percent Number
Denton Resident for 5 or more years
Denton Resident for 0-5 years
Education Provider (K-12 and Higher Ed)
Business Owner/RepresentativeEnvironmental Professional
Other
Health Care Professional
City of Denton Employee/Official
TOTAL
71.93%
15.09%
4.56%
3.86%
1.40%
1.40%
1.05%
0.70%
100%
205
43
13
11
4
4
3
2
285
Table 1: Role in Community
Page 50
Not a Denton Resident
Denton Resident for 0-5 years
:L5c70
Denton Resident for 5 years or more
72cyo
Figure 1: Residency of Survey Respondents
Definition and Understanding of
Sustainability
The community was asked to select a definition of sustainability they identified
with most. As shown in Table 2. no definition received a majority of votes.
However, the most popular definition among respondents by a significant
margin – receiving 41 percent of votes - was the following, -Using, developing,
and protecting resources at a rate and in a manner that enables people to
meet their current needs and also provides that future generations can meet
their own needs.- The second most selected definition – comprising 29 percent
of survey responses was “Improving the quality of human life while living within
the carrying capacity of supporting eco-systems.- Obtaining 20 percent of
survey responses, the third most popular definition was -Meeting the needs of
the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their own needs.” Unique definitions of sustainability that were not offered as
choices in the survey were provided by seven percent of respondents. A
representative definition described sustainability as “Using only the resources
we currently need while taking actions to enhance future availability of
resources including the environment.- Just three percent of respondents chose
the definition “No net per capita loss of natural or human capital.”
Page 51
Sustainability Definition Percent Number
Using, developing, and protecting resources at a rate and in a
manner that enables people to meet their current needs and also
provides that future generations can meet their own needs
Improving the quality of human life while living within the carrying
capacity of supporting eco-systems
40.91%
29.37%
117
84
58
19
8
286
Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the abilitY
of future generations to meet their own needs
Unique definition from survey respondents
No net per capita loss of natural or human capital
TOTAL
20.28%
6.64%
2.80%
100%
Table 2: Definitions of Sustainability
Importance of Focus Areas
The City developed ten focus areas for the updated Simply Sustainability.
Respondents were asked to rank each of the focus areas on a scale from one to
five. with one being the least important and five being the most important.
Focus areas included the following,
• Purchasing – Use and purchase of environmentally and socially responsible
materials and products.
• Air Quality - Making sure the air is healthy and safe for all community
members. Programs with emission reducing initiatives like ozone action,
transportation reduction and efficiency. and air quality tracking.
• Greenhouse Gas (GHG) management - Promote environmentally and
economically sound GHG management practices throughout the
community. GHG management includes energy efficiency, waste reduction.
transportation upgrades. and community education.
• Green Business Programs – Programs that highlight existing businesses
going a step beyond to reduce their footprint and make a positive impact on
the community.
• Transportation – Enhance and implement strategies that reduce air pollution
and increase alternative transportation choices.
Energy Conservation and Efficiency - Promote energy conservation
techniques and help educate and facilitate residents and businesses in
energy efficiency improvements.
• Ecosystems and Open Space – Protect and manage open space in the
community while taking precautions to protect existing habitats.
•
Page 52
Importance of Focus AreasContinued
• Waste Management - Further strategies including diversion. reuse, recycling
and energy producing disposal options.Involvement of the Community and
• Stakeholders – Involve community and stakeholders in development and
implementation of sustainability planning and activities.
As demonstrated in Table 3, every focus area scored above a four out of five,
based on the weighted average score for each focus area. Respondents
identified Air Quality as the most important, followed by Ecosystems and OpenSpace, Greenhouse Gas Management, Waste Management. Transportation.Energy Conservation and Efficiency, Involvement of Community andStakeholders, Purchasing, Green Building/Sustainable Site Management, and
Green Business Programs, as illustrated in Figure 2.
Focus Area
Air QuB]@
Ecosystems and Open
Space ouse Gas
2 0
7
4
7
6
5
7
13
20
8
14
16
20
15
36
29
40
32
56 221
193
287
284
4.72
4.56
Management
Waste R#anagernent
Transportation
Energy Conservation and
EfficienW
Involvement of CommunitY
and Stakeholders
Purchasing
Green Building/Sustainable
Site Management
Green Business Programs
2
1
2
2
4
3
2
5
68
78
70
112
92
104
91
109
187
187
152
149
142
140
120
286
286
287
286
285
286
286
4.56
4.51
4.41
4.32
4.32
4.24
4.12
Table 3: Importance of Focus Areas
Page 53
Respondents were shown six sustainability strategies and asked to choose the strategy
they would most like to see improved in the upcoming three years. Additionally,
respondents had the option of providing their own unique strategy. As shown in Table4, 28 percent of respondents would like to see more availability of recycling for
businesses, apartments. and other commercial properties. This was followed by 21
percent of respondents who opted
bike/pedestrian opportunities. Fifteen percent of respondents hope to see more Citypolicies promoting sustainable building and development. Twelve percent of
respondents would like more availability of rebates and other measures encouraging
conservation of water and energy at home. Ten percent of respondents want to see
more availability of local food and community garden access. An additional ten percent
of respondents provided their own unique strategy they hope to see in the next three
years. Finally, four percent of respondents would like to see more implementation of a
Green Business Program recognizing and rating local businesses. Some examples of
unique strategies offered by respondents include,
• Investing in renewable energy sources such as wind and solar over natural gas
• Preserving green spaces
• Improving upkeep of sidewalks and parks
• Educating businesses and citizens on their role in becoming a sustainable
cornrnunlty
for more access to public transportation and
Air Quality
Ecosystems and Open Space
Greenhouse Gas Management
Waste Management
Transportation
Energy Conservation and Efficiency
Involvement of Community and Stakeholders
Purchasing
Green Building/Sustainable Site Management
Green Business Programs
Figure 2: 1mportance of Focus Areas (weighted average score
from 1-5)Page 54
Sustainability Strategy Number
Availability of recycling for businesses, apartments,
and other commercial properties
Access to public transportation and bIke/pedestrian
opportunities
City policies promoting sustainable building and
28.22%81
59
43
35
20.56%
14.98%
evelopment
Availability of rebates and other measures
encouraging conservation of water and energy athome
Availability of local food and community gardenaccess
Unique strategy provided by survey respondents
Implementation of a Green Business Program
recognizing and rating local businesses
TOTAL
12.20%
10.45%
9.76%
3.83%
30
28
11
287100%
Table 2: Definitions of Sustainability
Additional Ideas:
In concluding the survey. respondents were given the opportunity to provide
additional ideas for sustainability strategies that were not previously discussed.
Contact information for the City of Denton Sustainability \Nas provided and
respondents were encouraged to reach out with their ideas over specific
projects, community programs. policy changes. educational initiatives. and anyother ideas.
IPage 55
VersIon 2
Summary of Key Findings
Residency and Role of Survey Participants
In this version of the survey respondents were shown various roles within the
community and were asked to select all which applied to them. Many
respondents chose more than one role within the community. As
demonstrated in Table 5. a majority - 74 percent - of respondents identified
themselves as Denton residents. City of Denton employees and officials made
up 22 percent of respondents. Eleven percent of respondents identified
themselves by providing their own role which was not offered as an option in
the survey. Eight percent of respondents indicated that they were business
owners or representatives. An additional eight percent of respondents were
students, while six percent of respondents classified their role in the
community as education providers. Environmental professionals and health
care providers were the least common roles of respondents, making up just
four percent and three percent of the surveyed population, respectively.
Community Role Percent Number
Denton Resident for 5 or more years 71.93%
15.09%
205
43Denton Resident for 0-5 years
Education Provider (K-12 and Higher Ed)
Business Owner/Representative
Environmental Professional
Other
4.56%
3.86%
:1.40%
1.40%
1.05%
0.70%
100%
13
11
4
4
3
2
285
Health Care Professional
City of Denton Employee/Official
TOTAL
Table 5: Role in Community
Page 56
Primary Interest in
Sustainability
Respondents were shown six aspects of sustainability and asked to identify
their largest concern. Responses are demonstrated in Figure 3 and Table 6.
More than one-third – 37 percent – of respondents identified their greatest
concern as conservation of resources. More than one-quarter – 27 percent – of
respondents were primarily concerned with health and safety. Sixteen percent
of respondents selected access to natural spaces as their greatest concern.
Respondents who identified their largest concern as air quality and water
quality made up 11 and six percent of the surveyed population, respectively. Just
three percent of respondents stated that they are most concerned with access
to public transit.
Water Quality
60/6 Air Quality
Health and Safety
27cZo
Conservation of Resources
37c70
Access to Natural
16cFo
Figure 3: Primary Interest in Sustainability
Page 57
Interest in Sustainability
Conservation of Resources
Health and Safety
Access to Natural Spaces
Air Quality
Water Quality
Access to Public Transit
TOTAL
Percent
36,74%
26.52%
16.29%
10.98%
6.44%
3.03%
100%
Table 6: Primary Interest in Sustainability
Importance of Focus Areas
Respondents were shown seven sustainability categories and asked to rank
each category in order of importance with one being the most important and
seven being the least important. The categories were taken from the STAR
Community Rating System framework for sustainability. Table 7 lists all seven
focus areas, and the number of respondents for each rank within each focus
area. A score was calculated to determine how respondents, on average,
ranked each focus area. The rankings are shown in Table 8 from most
important to least important.
Focus Area 1 – Most 2 3
Important
5 6 7 – Least4
Important18 6Had%
Climate & Energy
Natural Systems
Economy & Jobs
Education, Arts, &
Community
Built Environment
83
55
46
41
17
15
4
52
-58
49
27
37
50
17
40
42
37
30
29
43
il
52
18
i5
26
38
46
27
25
50
40
15
30
28
27
20 22
15 29
32 35 45 83
38 54 49 66Equity & Empowerment
Table 7: Ranking of Focus Areas
Page 58
Sustainability Strategy Percent Number
Ava@>i,lity of recycling for businesses, apartrM-s,
and other commercial properties
30.62% 79
Availability of local food and community garden 21.71% sd
access
Access to public transportation and bike/pedestrian
opportunities
Greenhouse gas reporting and climate adaptation
planning
Resources for energy efficiency in low income
housing
21.71% 56
15.12% 39
10.85% 28
TOTAL l00% –- iii
Table 8: Ranking of Focus Areas
Sustainability Strategies to
be Improved
Respondents were presented with five sustainability strategies and asked
to choose the strategy they would most like to see improved in the City.
Responses are shown in Table 9. Nearly one-third of respondents - 31
percent – identified that they would like to see more availability of
recycling for businesses, apartments. and other commercial properties,
mirroring the findings from Survey 1. The next most preferred strategies for
improvement – both receiving 22% of votes – were availability of local food
and community garden access, and access to
bike/pedestrian opportunities. Fifteen percent of respondents identified
Greenhouse gas reporting and climate adaptation planning as the strategy
they would most like to see improved. Finally, 11 percent of respondents
selected resources for energy efficiency in low income housing as the
sustainability strategy they would most prefer to be improved.
public transportation and
Page 59
Preferred Method for
Addressing Sustainability
Strategies
As a final survey question. respondents were asked how they thought the
City should address strategies in sustainability from a choice of three
options. Additionally, respondents were given the option of providing
their own method which was not listed as an option on the survey. As
shown in Table IO and Figure 4, both policy change and communityprograms received more than one-third - 35 percent – of the votes each.
Educational outreach was preferred by 21 percent of respondents, while
nine percent identified their own unique method for addressing
sustainability strategies. It is significant to note that the respondents were
nearly evenly split on the best approach to achieving sustaInability, with a
slight preference towards policy changes and City programs.
Ranking
Health & Safety
Climate & Energy
Natural Systerns
Economy & Jobs
Education, Arts, & Community
Built Environment
1
2
3
4
5
6
7Equity & Empowerment
Table 9: Perferred Sustainability Strategies
Page 60
MethodmEEHH
Community Programs
Educational Outreach
Other
TOTAL
Percent
35.11%
34.73%
21.37%
8.78%
100%
Table 10: Preferred Method for AddressingSustainability Strategies
Other
90/6
Community Programs
35cYo Educational Outreach
21cYo
IJPolicy Changes
35cZo
Figure 4: Preferred
Method for Addressing Sustainability Strategies
Page 61
Conclusion
A majority of survey respondents perceive a sustainable
community as one that is primarily focused on the well-being
of future generations while meeting current needs. One of
the ways a community can protect future generations is
through the conservation of resources, which was identified
by 37 percent of respondents as their greatest concern with
sustainability, as illustrated in Figure 3. This concern was
echoed in Version 1 of the survey when respondents were
asked which sustainability strategy they would like to see
improved over the next three years. As shown in Table 4, 28
percent of respondents identified more availability of
recycling programs as their preferred strategy. Similarly, in
Version 2 of the survey, respondents were asked which
sustainability strategy they would like to see improved
Again, the most popular strategy – chosen by 31 percent of
respondents – was an increase in the availability of recycling
programs, as demonstrated in Table 9
A second major theme is that respondents seem most
interested in strategies which give them more control over
their individual impact. This interest is for infrastructure to be
enhanced in ways that provide them with greater options to
reduce their own personal amount of pollution and waste, for
example, through more public transit and, again, recycling
In conclusion, respondents see importance in protecting the
well-being of future generations, and believe this can be
done by conserving resources and taking actions to reduce
their personal impact on the environment. Thus. respondents
place a higher value on recycling programs over other
strategies for sustainability
Page 62
Acknowledgements
The City of Denton would like to acknowledge all of the
support it received from the various community members
that participated in various surveys and community
meetings. We would also like to thank Brittany Lemay of the
University of North Texas for her assistance with both
Appendix a & b. Furthermore. we would like to thank staff for
their support and assistance with the development of thisFramework.
The photograph on the cover of the Simply Sustainability
was taken by Candace Moon of the City of Denton. Several of
the photographs throughout the document were provided
by Stuart Birdseye of the CIty of Denton.
Page 63
k-\
I
k
rfi
sustainable,DENTeNDRNTUN
Published by Sustainability, 08/20 . ADA/EOE/EDEA . TDD (800 ) 735-2989 . www.cityofdento®
RESOLUTION NO.20-2575
A RESOLUTION OF THE crrY OF DENrON, TEXAS CREATING A SUSTAINABILITYFRAMEWORK ADVISORY coMhwrrEE; ESTABLIS laNG A CHARGE FOR THE
cow4rrrEE; AND, PROviDnqG AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, on September 1, 2020, the City Council approved a resolution adopting a
comprehensive sustahrability &arnework Rx the City called “Simply Sustainable – A Framework
for Denton’s Future” (“Sustainability Framework’); and
WHEREAS, at the October 13, 2020, the City Council asked that a Council.appointed
advisory committee tn muted to advise it on the implementation of, and matters related to, the
City’s Sustainability Framework; and
WHEREAS, the Sustainability Framework Advisory Committee would tn comprised of
seven (7) members who are residarts of the City; and
WHEREAS, the City Council &lds that it is in the public intaest to mute theSustainability Framework Advisory Committee for advising the City Council on theimplementation of, and matters related to, the City’s Sustainability Framework; NOWTHEREFORE,
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DmiTON HEREBY RESOLVES:
SECTION 1. The foregoing recitals are adopted as findings of the City Council as though set
forth fully herein.
SE<,'TION 2. The Sustainability Framework Advisory Committee is created and shall tncomposed of seven (7) members who shall tn residents of the City ofDmton appointed by City
Council. Not less than four (4) ofthe manbers of the committee shall have academic, professional,
occupational, or volunteer knowledge and/or experience in one or more of the following areas set
forth in the Sustainability Framework: air quality; wateR energy; transportation; resiliency;
education; solid waste; and, land use. All terms shall be for two (2) y mrs; however, the membersof the inaugural committee shall draw straws to determine which three (3) members shall be for
e (1) year. Further, the Committee shall perform its functiol >ordance with this resolution
and any matter not addressed in this rwolution shall tn governed by the “City of Denton Handbookfor Boards, Commissions and Council Committees.”
SECTION 3. The charge for the Sustainability Framework Advisory Committee shall be
to advise the City Council on the implementation of, and matters dated to, the City’sSustainability Framework
SEcrioN 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage and
approval.
S 1eIIIIb111 O nd =][:y1rImA:::T : III;II:SIIt== IOtin passed I= approved by IEfollowing vote [2 -a ]:
Aye Nay Abstain Absent
Mayor Gerard Hudspeth:Birdia Johnson District 1 :
Connie Baker. District 2:
Jese Davis. District 3:
John Ryan, District 4:
Deb Armintor, At Large Place 5:
Paul Meltzer, At Large Place 6:
AZsC54./
V/
\/a
PASSED AND APPROVED this the@day of a , 2021.
mRD-MAYOR
ArrEST:
ROSA RIOS, CITY SECRETARY 11111
BY: A Za
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM:
IA =11011011111 KEEI
I Local Governmentsfor SustaInabIlity
ICLEI150 COMMITMENT FORM
I have read the information below about the ICLEI 150 and the Race to Zero commitment and I
understand all that is expected of me, my staff, and ICLEI USA. By signing below, I agree to
participate and to allow ICLEI to publish our commitment, target, and actions on the ICLEI USA
website and to report this information to the global Cities Race to Zero platform.
I pledge to join the ICLEI 150 on the Race to Zero on behalf of
(name of city/county)
(name of state)
Race To Zero is a global campaign (established June 2020) of the United Nations’ Climate
Champions to rally leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions, investors for a
healthy, resilient, zero-carbon recovery that prevents future threats, creates decent jobs, and
unlocks inclusive, sustainable growth.
ICLEI ’s Climate Neutrality Framework provides a framework to engage with the Race to Zero,
and calls for the necessary level of ambition and daring leadership to keep global temperature
rise below the 1.5'’C goal of the Paris Agreement and to put climate action at the center of all
urban decision-making, taking full advantage of ICLEl’s five development pathways:
low-emissions, resilient, circular, nature-based, and people-centered / equitable. The Climate
Neutrality framework directs our work with you as an ICLEI member.
The “ICLEI 150” represents a movement of 150 local governments across the ICLEI USA
network that are stepping up to join the Cities Race to Zero to cut global emissions in half by
2030 and to zero by 2050.
The ICLEI 150 communities in the Race to Zero participants will:
1.
2.
3
4.
Pledge: at the head-of-organization level to get to zero greenhouse gas emissions as soon
as possible and by 2050 at the latest. Set a 2030 interim target reflecting maximum fair
share effort to reach 50% global C02 reductions.
Plan: the actions necessary to achieve both the 2030 and 2050 targets within 12 months
ofjoining.
Proceed : with high-impact action to achieve the targets during 2021
Publish: report Race to Zero actions by 2022
ICLEI USA will provide ICLEl150 leaders and communities with:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Your community’s 2030 Science-Based Target, putting you on a path to climate neutrality
by 2050.
Community-specific high-impact actions to meet the 2030 target.
Technical assistance to proceed with one or more high-impact actions during 2021.
Personalized support package, pairing ICLEI’s resources with your community’s goals.
Reporting your commitment and actions to the global Race to Zero platform. (Targets are
reported via the CDP-ICLEI Unified Reporting Platform).
National and international recognition for your ambition and action from ICLEI USA and
ICLEI World Secretariat.
Provide opportunities to speak about and share your community’s Race to Zero ambition.
As a leader joining the Cities Race to Zero, I endorse the following principles:
1
2.
3.
4.
We recognize the global climate emergency.
We are committed to keeping global heating below the 1.5'’Celsius goal of the Paris
Agreement.
We are committed to putting inclusive climate action at the center of all urban
decision-making, to create thriving and equitable communities for everyone.
We invite our partners – political leaders, CEOs, trade unions, investors, and civil society
– to join us in recognizing the global climate emergency and help us deliver onscience-based action to overcome it.
As an ICLEI 150 Leader, I will:
•
•
•
Commit my staff to work with ICLEI to develop our “member journey” of technical
and implementation aspects of the Race to Zero.
Spend 15 minutes each month amplifying the Race to Zero movement within their
community, with other elected officials, and at national and international forums.
Provide a 1- to 2-minute video highlighting specific examples of what they are doing or
planning to do to equitably reduce GHG emissions and why they are excited to be an
ICLEI 150 leader in the Race to Zero. Submit Here within 30 days or email to
sarah.ditton@iclei.org.
Provide a statement about why the Race to Zero initiative is important to me and my
community (in the box below). Please include a link to a portrait or include an attachment
in your submission email. This will be used on the ICLEI USA website and social media
to highlight your ambition.
•
I anticipate my community will need ICLEI ’s assistance to complete the following steps of the
Race to Zero :
1] A declaration of a climate emergency and/or a commitment to climate neutrality
D A Science-Based Target
1] Planning and implementing at least one inclusive and equitable climate action
1] Reporting progress
a Unsure. I need ICLEI technical advisors to help create my plan.
City Manager Signature Date