A. Scope: City staff shall evaluate, implement, and seek certification from at least one approved third-party certification program, to the extent practicable, to ensure environmental justice and sustainable infrastructure best practices are incorporated into all capital infrastructure projects that meet the thresholds defined in sub-section (F), including new infrastructure and major renovations proposed by the City and its agencies on City owned properties.
B. Sustainable Infrastructure Steering Committee: The City shall have a Sustainable Infrastructure Steering Committee comprised of representatives from, at a minimum, each of the following departments: Airport; Public Services; Public Lands; Community and Neighborhoods, including one representative each from the Transportation and Planning Divisions; Sustainability; Economic Development; Fire: Police; and Public Utilities. The Steering Committee will be responsible for developing rules, templates, and guidance to assist departments in identifying opportunities for the integration of sustainable infrastructure systems and practices into existing City programs. The Steering Committee may be requested to provide recommendations on approved certification pathways or exceptions for qualifying projects.
C. Electric Charging Infrastructure: For all City owned capital improvement projects, such as road or parking lot construction or reconstruction, the City shall evaluate opportunities for the inclusion of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. At the minimum, this should include “electric vehicle ready” parking spaces that have electrical conduit and sufficient electrical capacity for the future use of a minimum 208-240-volt electric vehicle charging station. Where practicable, the project should also include the installation of electric vehicle charging stations in coordination with the Sustainability and Public Services departments, which are responsible for citywide EV planning, grant support, operations, maintenance, and budget.
D. Transportation Infrastructure: Regardless of which department initiates the project, transportation infrastructure projects must comply with Chapter 14.06 of the City Code, which requires that all City owned transportation facilities in the public right-of-way on which bicyclists and pedestrians are permitted by law, including, but not limited to, street bridges and all other connecting pathways, shall be designed constructed, operated, and maintained so that users, including people with disabilities, can travel safety and independently after the improvements are constructed.
E. Approved certification pathways:
1. Envision Certification – recommended for infrastructure projects;
2. SITES Certification – recommended for park projects;
3. LEED – recommended for people occupied spaces; and
4. Additional programs may be approved upon demonstrating that they meet the intent of this policy.
F. Thresholds for project certification:
Project Type | Threshold |
City owned buildings or major renovation | Project size greater than 10,000 square feet |
City owned parks, outdoor plazas and designed landscapes | Project budget greater than $2,000,000 |
Transportation infrastructure | Project budget greater than $10,000,000 |
Public Utilities infrastructure | Project budget greater than $50,000,000 – vertical infrastructure only |
Airport infrastructure not listed above | Project budget greater than $7,500,000 - Vertical infrastructure only |
A. Effective Date: Beginning January 1, 2024, all capital projects meeting the thresholds above must incorporate, where practicable, the certifications described herein. This policy recognizes that projects in the first year will begin to incorporate these standards in the design and budgeting stages.
B. The Sustainability Director, Airport Director, Public Utilities Director, or their designee(s) must approve the certification pathway selected or the exception to sustainable infrastructure standards design and construction requirements for a qualifying project.