OUR ENVIRONMENT, OUR FUTURE 2011 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY www.reddeer.ca
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2011 was a watershed year for our community. We adopted a new Environmental Master Plan in the spring and then got right to work on implementing it. Acting as ambassadors of the Plan is our Environmental Advisory Committee. The Committee is a group of citizens and two city councillors who coordinate citizen input on environmental matters and advise City Council on environmental policy.
on the right path → 22 of 27 Environmental Master Plan top priority action items complete or underway at the end of 2011 We are proud of our city’s Environmental Master Plan. Endorsed by City Council in April 2011, the plan helped Red Deer win the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association Innovators Award and was presented at major sustainability and planning conferences. Most importantly, the Plan is already influencing how Red Deer develops. As an example, many actions identified in the Environmental Master Plan have been integrated into The City’s new Integrated Movement Study, which will set out principles and strategies for Red Deer’s transportation networks in coming years. The City of Red Deer approved $250,000 to ‘jump start’ the Plan in 2011. Here are highlights of our year – and plans for a green future – in seven areas of focus:
water
ecology
// OUR ENVIRONMENT – OUR FUTURE
transportation
built environment
air
energy
waste
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If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water. – Loren Eiseley
Litres of water consumed per person, per day
achievements → decreased residential water use per person by 8%; on track to achieve the 2015 target → 25% increase in participation in Naturescaping Contest, which encouraged residents to use less water in their yards
working towards → river and creek water quality monitoring to start in 2012
242 L
211 L
2009 2009
2011
notable → developing water conservation standards for City owned buildings
2009
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ECOLOGY
When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe. – John Muir 2011 Enviro-Fair
achievements → increased land in city devoted to both natural areas and green space by 5%; on track to meet the 2015 target → achieved a 2% decrease in pesticide use on municipal land; on track to meet the 2015 target
working towards → reviewing Neighbourhood Planning Guidelines and Standards to prioritize the protection of natural areas
notable → Environmental Master Plan community launch at Enviro-Fair, City Hall Park, in June
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TRANSPORTATION achievements
Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human 15% race. – H.G. Wells 242 L
2009
2009
211 L
2011
Kilometres of bike lanes in Red Deer 2011
→ achieved a 10% increase in transit ridership during World Car Free Day event in September → investigating how Red Deerians get around the city today, and how we want to move and live as we grow
10 km
2009
working towards → a 5% increase in total kilometres of bicycle routes and mixed-use trails by 2015
18 km
2011
notable → beginning to engage neighbourhoods to participate in walkability audits
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BUILT ENVIRONMENT Achievements
Our environment is going from the natural environment to a built environment. How will you manage that transition is the key. – Sam Jones
Lancaster Green community garden
→ developing city-wide infill guidelines and standards that emphasize minimum densities, compact form and environmental design standards
Working towards → a demonstration infill pilot project to demonstrate environmental design features → density studies to establish baselines and goals for future density targets
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22%
Notable → Red Deer has sprouted a number of neighbourhood gardens, permaculture training courses and community garden events
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AIR
We all breathe the same air. – John F. Kennedy
Idle-free business program
achievements → an idle-free businesses program to reduce/ eliminate vehicle idling → air quality levels moving in right direction to meet 2015 targets
working towards → green house gas inventory analysis and development of a corporate green house gas emissions reduction plan
notable → recognized by Parkland Airshed Management Zone as an Ozone Action HERO for the Plan’s commitment to improving air quality
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ENERGY achievement → creation of home energy audit kits to help citizens make their homes more energy efficient (partnership with Red Deer Public Library)
The law of conservation of energy tells us we can’t get something for nothing, but we refuse to believe it. – Isaac Asimov Percentage of green electricity used by The City of Red Deer
15%
22%
2009
2011
working towards 242 L
→L30% of City of Red Deer electricity to come 211
2009
2011
from green sources by 2015
notable → energy efficient street light program in place and expanded
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2009
10 km
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WASTE
Make less, buy less, use less, throw away less. – Akiko Busch Kick it to the Curb
achievements → over 12,000 tonnes of materials were diverted from the landfill; on track to meet 2015 target → on track to decrease residential waste to landfill by 10% by 2015
working towards → review of landfill fees to encourage further waste diversion
notable → Kick It to the Curb events to reduce waste in June and October
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next steps
let’s keep at it!
Our intent is to move forward on the Environmental Master Plan implementation with the support of our partners and as funding allows in 2012 and 2013.
Taking steps together: our partners
Some exciting priority areas include: → regional partnerships to promote carpooling, shuttle, transit options
Environmental work in our community is actively supported by groups that offer funding, collaborate on planning and provide hands on assistance. Key collaborators in 2011 included: → Red Deer Public Library
→ collaborative strategies to reduce air pollution from key City of Red Deer and industrial sources
→ Waskasoo Environmental Education Society
→ establish a water quality monitoring program at key points along the Red Deer River and creek tributaries to determine the city’s impact and develop methods to mitigate impacts
→ ReThink Red Deer
→ strategies to green the municipal fleet
→ Parkland Airshed Management Zone
→ Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development → International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI)
there’s more! Read the full report on our 2011 activities, with details about each initiative, at www.reddeer.ca/environmentalmasterplan
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FALL 2012
www.reddeer.ca/environmentalmasterplan // OUR ENVIRONMENT – OUR FUTURE