Consultant recommends eight priority sustainability strategies for West Linn
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Summary
Parametrics, the sustainability consultant, presented a prioritized 1-to-4-year implementation plan to the West Linn City Council on June 16 recommending eight priority sustainability strategies.
Parametrics, the sustainability consultant retained by the city, presented a prioritized set of recommended climate and sustainability actions to the West Linn City Council on June 16.
The consultant reviewed existing plans and 71 previously suggested strategies, then recommended eight priority actions intended for a 1-to-4-year implementation window. Five recommendations focus on city operations: adopt a green fleet purchasing policy, incorporate sustainability features in the new operations complex design, complete LED lighting upgrades in city facilities, prioritize HVAC improvements and rooftop solar opportunities for public buildings, and develop a funding strategy to sustain future sustainability work.
Three community-focused recommendations aimed at residents and local businesses were to expand electric-vehicle charging access in partnership with private property owners, create programs to reuse and repurpose goods to reduce waste, and publish a directory of local repair services and events. Parametrics also drafted a green-fleet purchasing policy for city review and supplied a spreadsheet of grant and financing options for further staff follow-up.
"Our intent with this scope of work was to come up with some recommendations to help the City of West Linn prioritize and focus what could be the most impactful," consultant Grace Thirkell said during her presentation. The memo the consultant provided ranked strategies by cost and staff capacity, funding potential, alignment with council goals and greenhouse-gas reduction potential.
Councilors asked about implementation sequencing, lighting impacts on wildlife and incentives to encourage private-sector installation of EV chargers. Staff and the consultant suggested increasing staff capacity over time, pursuing smaller incentive or grant-funded projects early, coordinating with utilities and considering code or fee incentives for private developers when appropriate.
Council members and the Sustainability Advisory Board expressed support for the prioritized list and indicated they will consider a joint meeting to set implementation priorities and pursue grant opportunities.