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Approve Bay-Friendly Landscaping guidelines for City projects. As part of it mission, StopWaste.org has developed programs to assist waste diversion and resource management. As part of this effort, it has developed landscaping guidelines that are directed to homeowners, professional landscapers and governmental organizations. These guidelines provide useful information to help develop sustainable landscaping practices including using material best suited for the appropriate Bay Area, minimizing material that must be landfilled, appropriate soil nutrition, water and energy conservation, protection or water and air quality including pest management, and protection of wildlife habitat. To assist with the program, the Authority has established the Bay-Friendly Civic and Commercial Landscape Scorecard to provide guidance in evaluating landscape design and construction plans and to allow for the tallying of points to determine overall adherence to Bay-Friendly principals. The Scorecard evaluates site planning, site drainage, earthwork, materials, planting, irrigation, maintenance, and innovation. A copy of the scorecard and program materials is included as Attachment 5. While this program is intended to be informational, the Authority has listed it as one of its preferred performance measures. A City staff committee has evaluated the guidelines and determined that they are generally consistent with current City practices and that they can be used on future landscape projects. However, some issues were raised relative to the unique landscape/climate in the Tri-Valley as compared to other portions of Alameda County and certain program administration matters. In response to these issues, the Authority and staff have prepared the resolution establishing the approval criteria (Attachment 4) in a manner that meets the Authority's goal and the City's concerns. Staffs primary concern has been that, unlike LEED standards which are developed on a national level, the Bay-Friendly guidelines and Scorecard are developed at the County level and as a result, they may be amended by StopWaste.org, in a way that does not fully consider the unique climatic conditions of the Tri-Valley. In response, the Authority has agreed to invite the City to participate in any future process involving amendments and to assure that any amendments can be appealed by the City if it is of the opinion that they are impractical for this sub region. Based on this, staff is recommending approval. The guidelines will apply to all City landscape projects, including applicable public works projects and hardscape projects, in excess of $100,000. In addition to meeting the four measures detailed above, the Authority is also requiring that all five measures be met by FY 2009/10. As a result, staff will revisit its current draft Construction and Demolition Diversion ordinance and forward it to the City Council for review and approval prior to July 1, 2009. Submitted by: ~~ Steven Bocian Assistant City Manager Fiscal Review: Appro d by: Nelson Fialho City Manager Dave Culver Finance Director Page 4 of 5 D. ~iid.e~_-