Resolution 1168RESOLUTION NO. 1168
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON, ESTABLISHING
THE CITY OF EDMONDS SUSTAINABLE BUILDING
POLICY.
WHEREAS, in September, 2006, the City of Edmonds formally expressed
support for the Kyoto Protocol and adopted the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection
Agreement by Resolution No. 1129, and joined the International Council for Local
Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) by Resolution No. 1130.; and
WHEREAS, Edmonds' Citizens Committee on the U.S. Mayors Climate
Protection Agreement has developed a Sustainable Building Policy; and
WHEREAS, representatives of City departments with key involvement in
planned City construction projects have been involved in the development of the
Sustainable Building Policy; and
WHEREAS, the City desires that its buildings and facilities be models of
environmental and economic stewardship, contributing to the City's goals of protecting,
conserving and enhancing the region's environmental resources while setting a
community standard of sustainable building; and
WHEREAS, adopting the Sustainable Building Policy will help ensure
that new and renovated City facilities will be models of environmental stewardship; and
WHEREAS, the Sustainable Building Policy utilizes the U.S. Green
Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating
system and the Energy Star program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and
the U.S. Department of Energy, both of which provide a nationally recognized, common
language for defining building sustainability; NOW THEREFORE,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON,
HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
The Sustainable Building Policy in Exhibit A is adopted as City policy and is hereby
endorsed by the City Council. It is the intent of the City Council that the Sustainable
Building Policy will apply to all new City -owned facilities greater than 5,000 square feet.
Renovations of existing structures that exceed 50% of the assessed value of such
buildings shall also meet this standard. The Council recognizes, however, that it may not
be feasible to immediately achieve Citywide adherence to the policy for those projects
which are already in construction phase. The Council further acknowledges that it retains
the ability to waive any of the provisions of the Sustainable Building Policy at its sole
discretion when necessary to preserve the public health, safety or welfare in emergency
situations.
RESOLVED this 22nd day of April, 2008.
APPROV D:
MAYOR, G(AKY AAAKENSON
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED:
ITY CLERK, SANDRA S. CHASE
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: 04/18/2008
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: 04/22/2008
RESOLUTIION NO. 1168
Exhibit A
City of Edmonds
Sustainable Building Policy
Section 1: PURPOSE
The purpose of a Citywide policy on sustainable building is to demonstrate the City's
commitment to environmental, economic, and social stewardship, to yield cost savings to
the City taxpayers through reduced operating costs, to provide healthy work
environments for staff and visitors, and to contribute to the City's goals of protecting,
conserving, and enhancing the region's environmental resources. Additionally, the City
hopes to set a community standard of sustainable building.
Section 2: ORGANIZATIONS AFFECTED
All City departments and offices and their contractors responsible for financing,
planning, designing, developing, constructing and managing City -owned facilities and
buildings.
Section 3: DEFINITIONS
Sustainable Building
Sustainable building integrates building materials and methods that promote
environmental quality, economic vitality, and social benefit through the design,
construction and operation of the built environment. Sustainable building merges sound,
environmentally responsible practices into one discipline that looks at the environmental,
economic and social effects of a building or built project as a whole. Sustainable design
encompasses the following broad topics: efficient management of energy and water
resources, management of material resources and waste, protection of environmental
quality, protection of health and indoor environmental quality, reinforcement of natural
systems, and integrating the design approach.
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
An inclusive approach to costing a program, facility, or group of facilities that
encompasses planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance over the useful
life of the facilities and finally any decommissioning or disassembly costs. Life Cycle
Cost Analysis looks at the net present value of design options as investments. The goal is
to achieve the highest, most cost-effective environmental performance possible over the
life of the project.
LEED Rating System
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating
SystemTM encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and
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development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood
and accepted tools and performance criteria. LEED is the nationally accepted benchmark
for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED
gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and
measurable impact on their buildings' performance. LEED promotes a whole -building
approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and
environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency,
materials selection and indoor environmental quality. There are four rating levels:
Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
Section 4: POLICY
It shall be the policy of the City of Edmonds to finance, plan, design, construct, manage,
renovate, maintain, and decommission its facilities and buildings to be sustainable. This
applies to new construction and major remodels in which the total project square footage
meets the criteria given. The US Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design) rating system and accompanying Reference Guide shall be
used as a design and measurement tool to determine what constitutes sustainable building
by national standards. New construction of all City -owned facilities and buildings
greater than 5,000 square feet shall meet a minimum LEED Silver rating. Renovations of
existing buildings that exceed this 5,000 square foot threshold shall also meet a minimum
LEED Silver standard for all projects whose value is 50% or more of the assessed value
of the structure. Improvements to buildings that do not exceed these thresholds shall seek
to improve the building's ability to meet LEED standards to the extent warranted by the
scope and funding available for the project without impairing the ability of the City to
maintain its buildings and facilities. In all cases, the City shall utilize budget planning and
life cycle cost analysis in all of its building and facility decisions.
Design and project management teams are encouraged to meet higher LEED rating
levels. A Mayor's Award for achieving a higher rating will be awarded.
Section 5: PROCEDURES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Directors of all City Departments whose responsibilities include planning, designing,
constructing or renovating City -owned facilities shall be responsible for ensuring that
facilities and buildings comply with Section 4.
The City shall establish a Green Building Team, comprised of representatives from the
Engineering, Planning, Building and Facilities Divisions. The Green Building Team
shall be responsible for establishing and updating a LEED reference manual for helping
provide technical expertise on specific sustainable building issues on a case by case basis,
and coordinating LEED training programs within the City. The Green Building Team
shall also establish the minimum number of credits required in each of the LEED
categories applicable to City projects.
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Section 6: BUDGETING AND FINANCING
All capital construction which falls under this policy will be expected to budget to meet
at minimum the LEED Silver rating. Budget planning and life cycle cost analysis to
achieve a higher rating — such as Gold or Platinum — is encouraged.
Section 7: TRAINING
City capital project managers currently managing or likely to manage projects which fit
the criteria in Section 4 will be responsible to attend introductory LEED training and
follow-up training as needed. The City shall encourage and support appropriate staff to
receive LEED accreditations.
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