City of Columbia Climate Action and Adaptation Plan

Offer community solar program through Water & Light.

Develop and implement virtual/aggregate net metering policies and procedures with Water & Light to allow privately developed community solar.

Install solar panels on all City buildings and sites, where feasible.

Streamline and offer expedited permitting for renewable energy installations.

Make it easier for large multi-family, commercial, and industrial customers to maximize the benefit of using their space for photovoltaics (e.g., feed-in tariff, third-party lease agreements, roof space rental).

Require production meters on all new net-metered photovoltaic installations.

Determine the true value and potential of customer-owned photovoltaics to the infrastructure, economics and renewable goals of Water & Light. Analysis should include time of generation, capacity credit, distribution circuit support, customer characteristics, technical and market potential, etc.

Require all new commercial buildings to be solar ready.

Establish a permit lease program for photovoltaic on buildings connected via net metering open to Water & Light and third party vendors.

Include CAAP priorities in Columbia Water & Light’s long-range electric and water resource planning goals.

Consider all renewable energy sources on a cost per metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent reduction in the City’s integrated electric resource plan.

Invest in local renewable energy generation.

Remove 3% rate cap to allow for increased investment by Water & Light in renewable energy resources.

Codify through ordinance Columbia Water & Light’s responsibility to meet 100% renewable energy generation or purchase by 2035, including parameters for the use of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) and equity and cost impacts.

Develop energy storage (battery) programs for all customer types to reduce peak demand, support electric grid reliability and improve the effectiveness of solar and other renewable energy options

Ensure equitable implementation of grid resilience actions by partnering with high-risk neighborhoods and non-governmental organizations to develop resilience hubs—community facilities that offer power and other services during times of need. Establish criteria to screen and select locations for community microgrids to support grid and community resilience.

Maintain current rate of reliability due to weather-related power outages. Investigate energy storage, such as batteries, to increase reliability

Install meters that allow for rate structures incentivizing lower electricity use at peak hours

Increase, enhance and implement demand side management programs

Implement utility-scale energy storage

Promote and offer incentives for improving residential energy efficiency during retrofit projects that exceed existing building energy code requirements. For example, using higher performance insulation materials in order to meet new construction energy code standards.

Increase energy efficiency funding options for families (low-interest financing, on-bill financing, Pay As You Save, PACE, etc.).

Establish a date by which all rental housing will be required to meet basic energy efficiency standards at license renewal.

Develop and test an energy performance rating/labelling program for homes listed for sale or upon rental license renewal.

Phase in NetZero or highly energy efficient building requirements into the building code.

Develop standard deep retrofit specifications and incentives for existing residential building owners to reduce the carbon footprint of the building to zero.

Promote and offer incentives for improving residential energy efficiency in new construction (e.g., insulation, energy-efficient windows, electric heat pumps). New construction incentives shall support measures for projects that exceed code requirements.

Formalize a Community Cost Share Fund for tax advantaged donations to go towards energy efficiency education and improvements for renters. Track with event attendance and participation in rental efficiency improvements.

Provide assistance to commercial buildings above a minimum gross floor area to track energy and water usage. Require all such commercial buildings to disclose their energy and water use.

Develop specific energy efficiency programs for hard-to-reach segments of commercial properties (e.g., commercial rental, restaurants, large scale manufacturing, offices, affordable multifamily housing).

Promote and offer incentives for improving energy efficiency (e.g., insulation, energy-efficient windows, electric heat pumps) in newly constructed commercial properties. New construction incentives shall support measures for projects that exceed code requirements.

Identify funding strategies to ensure rebate budgets are sufficient to meet expanded offers and goals.

Create Utility Services rebate programs that provide incentives based on energy use reduction in addition to demand reduction (e.g., lighting controls, outdoor lighting, energy recovery ventilation, carbon dioxide controls, custom rebate).

Require newly constructed buildings larger than 15,000 square feet to meet LEED Gold, Enterprise Green Communities, the 24 National Green Building Standard ICC/ASHRAE 700, or an equivalent certification.

Require existing buildings larger than 15,000 square feet and exceeding minimum alteration thresholds to meet building certification of LEED Silver, Enterprise Green Communities, the 27 National Green Building Standard ICC/ASHRAE 700, or an equivalent certification.

Develop deep retrofit standard requirements and incentives for owners of existing commercial buildings less than 15,000 square feet to reduce the carbon footprint of the building to zero.

Create a policy that all City buildings shall reduce energy usage by 20% over the next five years.

Create a policy, to be part of assigned duties and presented during new employee orientation, that City employees shall turn off lights and equipment when they are done using them.

Introduce a policy that requires all new and existing municipal buildings to meet and maintain energy and resource efficiency standards (ENERGY STAR, LEED, Home Energy Score or other).

Introduce a policy that requires all municipal buildings to be benchmarked with the current Energy Score rating, the energy use intensity (kBTU/sqft) and the energy reduction goal. These benchmarks and goals shall also be posted on the City’s website.

Create a target of net zero energy use at all municipal buildings by 2025.

Work with school districts to support energy efficiency programs, geothermal energy and solar energy installation.

Require that the City adopts the International Building Energy Conservation Codes for municipal, commercial and residential buildings as written.

Improve training, certification, and education opportunities for professionals involved in the disposal and use of refrigerants.

Require, when cost comparable, that new air conditioning units use refrigerants with low global warming potentials (e.g., carbon dioxide or ammonia instead of hydrofluorocarbons).

Develop incentive programs to transition lawn care companies and homeowners from using fuel-burning lawn equipment (e.g., lawn mowers, blowers) to electric.

Incentivize switching space and water heating from fossil fuel-based to electric heat pumps.

Invest in district heating and cooling for downtown City and County buildings.

Require light colored roofs and/or a minimum specified reflectance for commercial roofs when new or at replacement.

Develop affordable and efficient (temporary/transitional) housing options.

Introduce a policy that limits new construction in the 500-year flood zone and/or requires infrastructure to be elevated two feet above anticipated flood level (no infrastructure equipment in lowest level).

Prioritize transportation funding for Vision Zero engineering improvement projects to create safe streets for people walking, biking and riding transit.

Revise street design standards to prioritize people walking, biking and riding transit while also accommodating vehicles.

Prioritize transportation funding to achieve mode share goals.

Improve efficiency, convenience and reliability of bus service and infrastructure (e.g., increase frequency, shorten wait times, construct bus stop shelters).

Build and maintain a network of on-street protected bike lanes on streets with speed limits above 30 mph. Build other bike facilities (e.g., bike boulevards, etc.) on streets with lower traffic/speed.

Establish a bike share program.

Accelerate building sidewalks, crosswalks, and other walking infrastructure in high-need areas and fill connectivity gaps as identified in the Sidewalk Master Plan.

Install universal design accessibility features at crossing locations to ensure the crossing is accessible for everyone (e.g., pedestrian traffic signals, audible signals).

Revise zoning codes to favor walkable, connected neighborhoods in the existing built environment, near schools and new development.

Incentivize infill and mixed-use development (e.g., through alternative code compliance, fee waivers, density bonuses, investment prioritization, development impact fees, tax benefits).

Revise zoning codes to encourage Accessory Dwelling Units (i.e., mother-in-law units).

Preserve and enhance affordable housing, especially near bus service, to prevent displacement of vulnerable populations.

Partner with Columbia Public Schools to adjust school siting requirements to prioritize building schools in walkable and bikeable areas.

Eliminate parking minimums and reduce surface parking.

Introduce a policy to replace City fleet vehicles and buses with electric and hybrid options at the time of replacement, and require emissions standards, testing and biofuel preference for any combustion vehicles remaining in the fleet.

Create an electric vehicle roadmap to increase number of electric charging stations in public parking areas (e.g., schools, parks, libraries, City-owned parking garages, near City Hall) and in commercial and high-density residential areas.

Encourage installation of electric vehicle charging capacity in single family and multifamily residences (e.g., how to address residences that lack garage access).

Incentivize the purchase of electric vehicles through rebates on vehicles and/or residential chargers.

Solicit a car share program, such as Zipcar or Get Around, to provide cars in a central location.

Identify locations and partners to facilitate carpooling, telecommuting options, and parking buyback programs for municipal and other employers in the region.

Implement street design to improve road and vehicle efficiency (e.g., roundabouts, synchronize traffic signals, road diets).

Create a reuse program for curbside collection and purchase a warehouse to store and sell items that are not accepted by local non-profit groups.

Partner with local organizations (e.g., Habitat for Humanity for demolition waste pickup and reuse.

Restructure all solid waste rates to reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill.

Require multifamily homes to offer on-site recycling for residents.

Study the short and long term cost/benefit of a City composting program.

Offer five days a week (Monday through Friday) collection for food waste and certified compostable material at businesses. Change the type of compost operation or increase land allocation to handle additional feedstock, as needed.

Offer curbside compost collection to all residential properties (e.g., single-family and multifamily) for yard waste, food waste and certified compostable products. This service is optional for all residential properties.

Research management practices of construction and demolition waste diverted from the landfill.

Promote a C&D recycling industry in Columbia by preparing ordinance and construction permit changes that would be implemented if a C&D recycling company wishes to operate in the Columbia area. City staff will actively seek C&D recycling companies that might be interested in the Columbia area following the proposed policy changes.

Offer positive reinforcement and indirect financial incentives to encourage businesses and residents to divert material from the landfill.

Develop and enforce ordinances requiring commercial customers to recycle material streams like cardboard, paper, beverage containers, etc.

Offer quarterly curbside bulky-items pickup for residents and businesses.

Research and add best practices for recycling hydrofluorocarbons (potent GHG used in refrigeration and air conditioning) in next CAAP update.

Remodel and upgrade the City’s Material Recovery Facility to increase processing capacity, add sortation technology and provide space for additional material types to be recycled, including (but not limited to) e-waste, mattresses, cartons and household hazardous wastes.

Research new technologies for enhanced landfill methane capture.

Conduct a comprehensive waste composition study every five years.

Develop and implement a plan to monitor climate change related illnesses. Utilize results in resource and policy planning, with particular focus on neighborhoods. Communicate results to the public on a periodic basis.

Coordinate with community health improvement teams to incorporate climate change and CAAP goals into the Community Health Improvement Plan and Health Impact Assessment

Review and effectively communicate emergency and evacuation plans on a regular basis to update for climate change forecasted data, paying particular attention to flooding, extended heat waves and tornadoes.

Build City staff capacity to support community-led, neighborhood-focused resilience actions (e.g., identifying best practices, establishing resilience hubs and implementing neighbor-based emergency response).

Partner with outside agencies to offer community resilience model training.

Conduct a needs assessment of accessible community centers for extreme weather or other emergency situations. Create a development improvement plan, if needed.

Deploy point-in-time alert systems (e.g., RAVE, Nixle) to notify people of extreme weather events, periods of dangerous cold, and heat waves and refer them to resources on symptoms and prevention of climate-related illness.

Develop a long-term plan for potential growth in foreign and domestic refugees.

In planning for additional fire stations and resources, incorporate projections for increased grass, brush, and backyard fires.

Identify a sustainable funding source for increased utility assistance for low-income residents, including support for energy efficiency projects, such as weatherization.

Increase availability to cooling mechanisms in low-income housing and rental units (e.g., air conditioning units, fans, window screens).

Develop a plan to improve bus stop shelters' ability to provide relief from extreme heat (e.g., reflective materials, cooling fans).

Monitor the number of utility disconnects during heat waves and assess if current policy should be updated for changing community needs.

Create anti-idling policies and enforcement plans.

Update property maintenance code to manage and mitigate mold or fungus.

Establish funding for a program to trap mosquitoes and ticks to monitor for disease or disease-carrying species.

Expand outdoor treatment to mitigate the spread of vector-borne diseases when evidence of local disease is identified.

Identify sources of ozone pollution in Boone County and establish a countywide system to gather data and set thresholds to trigger actions.

Conduct a health impact assessment for areas that may have unsafe levels of air pollution from vehicle traffic, and use data to modify zoning.

Form a team to develop action plans to address climate-related mental health resilience at the individual, neighborhood and community level.

Ensure the community has robust resources to address increases in violence and crime, particularly domestic violence, during periods of stress including emergencies and heat waves.

Support organizations and schools promoting local food production and community gardens, through partnerships, funding, and educational programs on the benefits of a plant-based diet.

Review ordinances and development regulations to promote urban farming.

Work with Regional Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) to develop an entrepreneurship program for commercial urban farming.

Update code to provide incentives or require developers to preserve topsoil and provide space for backyard or community gardens.

Continue to provide enrollment assistance for participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program and other food assistance programs.

Manage publicly-owned natural areas to enhance and maintain diverse native communities.

Establish and effectively manage native-habitat corridors along trails and utility easement areas to restore and maintain landscape connectivity.

Create an ordinance that establishes a Transfer of Development Rights program to protect undeveloped lands for land conservation and/or agriculture.

Support the Urban Forest Master Plan to identify programs and suitable locations to maintain and expand Columbia’s urban tree canopy.

Update current tree preservation requirements to protect tree root systems and large legacy trees during construction.

Assess whether or not to purchase and preserve greenspace in and surrounding the city by quantifying the equitable, environmental, and economic benefits, along with the costs of maintaining and owning the property.

Require the use of native plants in landscaping at City-owned properties.

Update current development regulations to recommend or require the use of appropriate nativetrees and plants for new- and re-development.

Identify underutilized paved areas and incentivize conversion to sustainable green space.

Complete change to rate structure to encourage reduced water use.

Update building code to require water conservation measures (e.g., grey water infrastructure, drought resistant landscaping) in new construction and renovations.

Develop a technical assistance and incentive program to encourage water conservation behavior and upgrades, such as use of drip irrigation and low-flow toilets.

Complete change to rate structure to encourage reduced water use.

Update building code to require water conservation measures (e.g., grey water infrastructure, drought resistant landscaping) in new construction and renovations.

Mine existing data sources (e.g., FEMA Risk Maps) to identify areas prone to flooding.

Perform detailed studies to identify areas that are at high risk for flooding and may be a prospect for property acquisition or mitigation.

Increase stream buffer requirements to provide additional flood water storage and minimize property damage due to erosion and flooding.

Perform a flood risk assessment using historical data and future precipitation forecasts to identify areas and critical infrastructure vulnerable to flooding.

Use recommendations in the annual report to identify budgetary priorities that support implementation of the CAAP.

Identify State and Federal legislative issues that support the goals of the CAAP and enable its implementation.

Create Community Climate Commission to advise staff on the implementation of the CAAP. The Commission will represent the diversity of the community with relevant expertise in the social, scientific, economic and environmental components of CAAP strategies.

Advise staff in the preparation of an annual CAAP progress report and recommendations for City Council.

Present annual CAAP progress report policy and budget priorities to City Council for acceptance.

Identify opportunities and barriers to equitable implementation of CAAP strategies.

Hold biannual meetings with all division heads to highlight progress, plans and challenges related to projects with climate impacts.

Form a CAAP Action Group with representatives from across departments tasked with short- and medium-range planning of CAAP implementation activities.

Develop a decision matrix to be used to integrate mitigation and adaptation priorities into City planning and standards (e.g., zoning, construction standards, CIP review). City departments will utilize forecasted model data (e.g., climate, health, population, economic, etc.) during these processes, where available.

Develop a process for requiring mitigation, adaptation and climate-equity impact assessments for all new policies and projects that meet threshold criteria, such as cost burden, vulnerability or increase to net emissions.

Integrate annual CAAP report goals during the budget review process at the direction of the City Manager.

Include a report in the City Manager’s proposed budget on the existing and proposed projects that improve mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Assessment of progress toward CAAP goals shall be included in the City Manager’s annual performance review by the City Council.

Create a data management and reporting system for key performance indicators of activities related to CAAP goals.

Create and distribute an annual municipal adaptation and GHG emissions report to staff to be used in assessment of current and proposed activities.

Conduct annual GHG emissions inventories, including identification of improved processes for quantifying net carbon sequestration and solid waste emissions.

Continue to align performance measurements of CAAP actions with existing planning metrics.

Provide training and other capacity building opportunities to staff to facilitate creative, climate positive innovations in operations, project design and implementation.

Create a report that identifies the differential impact of climate change on neighborhoods and communities.

Develop and incorporate equity metrics in the evaluation of CAAP activities. This evaluation will be used as a criterion for the CAAP Action Group, Community Climate Commission and budget team during review of program cost, viability and success.

Align existing City educational and engagement programs with CAAP goals and programs. Provide additional support to education and outreach for the CAAP and its individual actions.

Engaging with community partners, identify unmet community needs, barriers and opportunities to improve access to the green job economy for all community members.

Design and promote CAAP educational materials to ensure full engagement of community members by using methods that are accessible and relevant to all.

Develop CAAPtains to serve as ambassadors for the CAAP activities, especially youth.

Develop specific funding options for CAAP priorities.

Track cost savings associated with CAAP action across the City organization and allocate for use in supporting further mitigation and adaptation actions.

Evaluate staffing requirements to ensure successful CAAP implementation and allocate required resources.

Use online dashboard to report on the status of CAAP priority actions/KPIs (e.g., progress of actions that have been initiated, implementation schedule of other actions not yet started, community and municipal GHG emissions, equity impacts of actions implemented).

Host a community event every two years to celebrate the annual progress report on the implementation of the CAAP.