Council tables green building policy

The policy would require newly constructed city buildings intended for human occupation to meet the requirements of Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, Silver certification. As it stands, the policy would not require those buildings to actually become certified.

Ralph Rognstad, the city’s director of planning and development, said the lack of a certification requirement was an attempt to save costs; he estimated that registration and review costs with the U.S. Green Building Council, which regulates LEED, would increase construction costs as much as 2 percent. The policy also would require that green enhancements achieve cost recovery within five years.

While all members of the public who spoke at the meeting expressed their pleasure with the city’s efforts, most agreed that the proposed policy needs to be tweaked.

Councilman Dan Chiles compared the building policy to the certification process for business professionals.

“When we mention attorneys in this town, we don’t say they’re certifiable attorneys; we say they’re certified,” Chiles said. “To be one, you have to have a third party standing by certifying that person. … A building is such a major commitment and has such a major influence on the lives of the people inside, I think it’s worth putting this (vote) off so we can get some more information.”

Matt O’Reilly, developer of the Green Circle Shopping Center, which is targeting LEED Platinum certification, told council he was in favor of requiring certification, because the process adds credibility. He also noted that many of the most significant energy-saving features of green building don’t achieve full cost recovery for seven to 10 years.

Council tabled the bill until its Oct. 8 meeting. Rognstad said a USGBC representative will make a presentation to council about the advantages of certification during its Oct. 2 luncheon.

CU budget

Council approved City Utilities’ 2007–08 operating budget. The budget includes $701.7 million in expenditures, including $222.5 million for the coal-fired power plant addition at Southwest 2 Power Station.

Total receipts are projected to total $467.1 million, down from a revised projection of $558 million for 2007. CU officials attribute the lower revenues to anticipated lower fuel costs and reduced proceeds from lease financing.

The budget is the first year of a long-range plan that calls for $3 billion in expenditures through 2012, including Southwest 2 construction and $275 million in other capital expenditures such as added emission controls and new city buses.

West Meadows

Council considered a donation of 16 acres owned by BNSF Railway in the western part of Jordan Valley Park, called West Meadows.

The land, which contains no railroad tracks, would be converted to park space and flood plain mitigation as part of the city’s Vision for Jordan Valley plan.

The land also could include a water feature as the city works to return Jordan Creek to its natural environment.

City Economic Development Director Mary Lilly Smith said BNSF has previously leased the space to other companies, though the land is currently unused. The donation is contingent on an ongoing environmental assessment. [[In-content Ad]]