From Streets to Creeks, make a difference in your community by volunteering for the 2024 Ukiah Valley Russian River Cleanup taking place on Saturday, September 28th from 8:30 AM to noon! Meet us at Low Gap Park for registration and a not-to-be-missed safety talk! Bring sturdy shoes, a water bottle and work gloves. No flip flops! Register at https://tinyurl.com/RRCleanup24 by Sept. 23. For more info, contact Jessica Reid at j.reid@mcrcd@org
Greening Your Home and Business
In today’s era of escalating energy costs and climate change, making energy efficiency improvements to your home or business is a top priority. You can secure immediate cost savings by lowering your overall energy usage, which also reduces your carbon emission footprint. You can also save money in the areas of waste reduction, equipment use, transportation, and building design. We’ve gathered 21 green business tips that you can implement quickly and easily in your own business.
Here are some additional information links:
Water-Efficiency, Treatment, and Storm Water Improvements
Wastewater Treatment Plant
The City of Ukiah has made significant investments to build conservation into the structure of our operations. A critical component of our structural conservation has been our state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant. This plant has allowed us to reduce overall water use, reduce discharges to the river, and enhance the supply of sustainable, reliable water resources. The treatment plant also relies on LED lighting and Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) motors, which greatly increase energy efficiency.
Ukiah secured a grant from the State Water Resources Control Board to cover about a third of the cost of the recycled water system and secured another grant from CalRecycle to filter storm water before it is discharged to the river.
Learn more about the wastewater treatment plant.
Converting Water Fixtures
As the City modernizes its buildings, we are replacing traditional toilets and sink faucets with low flow fixtures, significantly reducing the amount of water used in our facilities.
Using Recycled Water for Outdoor Irrigation
The City is using recycled water at the Ukiah Sports Complex, at Oak Manor Elementary, and Oak Manor Park, keeping our fields and parks green while also promoting responsible and sustainable use of our water resources; additional expansion of the recycled water program is underway. Learn more about the Recycled Water Project.
Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled
Bike Lanes
There are currently approximately 11.2 miles of class II bike lanes in the City of Ukiah. The City is in the design process and intends to expand the distance of bike lanes to 3.8 miles, which will be a total of approximately 15 miles.
Expanding the Great Redwood Trail – Ukiah
With broad public support, the City has been very active in developing the Great Redwood Trail within the City limits. The existing 2 miles of class I multi-purpose pathways provides a safe and efficient corridor for bicycle and pedestrian traffic to access major employment centers, services, shopping, residential areas, and the future Mendocino County Courthouse, as well as connectivity to other bicycle routes throughout the City. The fourth phase of this trail will add an additional mile and complete the trail within the City limits from north to south. Learn more about the trail.
Our Electric Utility
Learn more about the Electric Utility as well as few simple things you can do at your home and at work to reduce your own energy costs.
Parks and Recreation
The City secured an Urban Greening Grant from the California Natural Resources Agency, which is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment. This $1.78 million grant was awarded in 2017 and used to support the build-out of the Rail Trail.
At the direction of the City Council, the City of Ukiah Paths, Open Space and Creeks Commission prepared a document establishing the policies and procedures for the City crews and other agencies and organizations to follow when performing creek maintenance and garbage and rubbish removal. Learn more.
In partnership with the Community Foundation of Mendocino County and the ReLeaf program, the Parks team has set a goal of planting 50 trees per year. An emphasis on planting trees that provide street shade will expand the benefit of the City’s urban forest.
Environmentally Friendly Land Use Policies
The City is in the process of updating its General Plan. Included in the proposed 2040 General Plan are new policies prioritizing complete streets, the development and implementation of a Climate Action Plan, preservation of agricultural lands and open space, and other climate friendly policies and goals. Additionally, Ukiah has created a Green Building Toolkit to actively promote energy efficiency upgrades for homeowners and contractors.
Increasing Recycling and Reducing Organic Waste
Transition to Cloud Computing
Our Hybrid Fleet and Clean Equipment
Well ahead of state goals, the City of Ukiah is replacing gas and diesel-powered vehicles and equipment with hybrid vehicles and Tier 4, California Air Resources Board compliant equipment. Ukiah Police have deployed an electric vehicle and all City vehicles that travel out of town are certified hybrid vehicles.
Ukiah has always been forward-looking with regard to electric vehicles. We have had electric vehicle (EV) charging stations since the 1980’s. Currently, the City has public EV charging at the public parking lot on Oak and Standley Streets.
The City has also invested heavily in retiring outdated diesel equipment and replace generators, mowers, and tractors and other equipment used by public works and parks maintenance teams with vehicles that are compliant with new emission requirements from the California Air Resources Control Board.
Lighting Upgrades at City Facilities
City facilities have transitioned to energy efficient LED lighting, which are estimated to consume 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than traditional incandescent lighting. These changes resulted in significant cost savings for the city.
The facilities that have made this conversion include the Ukiah Valley Conference Center, the Grace Hudson Museum, City Hall, the Water Treatment Facility, and more.
Storm Drains and Your Home
Protecting Our Emissions Savings by Preventing Fires
We have also streamlined how our fire response teams are structured to ensure full funding, adequate resources, and available equipment.
Ukiah Valley Fire District Annexation
In November 2021, the Ukiah Valley Fire Protection District increased its service territory to include the City of Ukiah within its boundaries, creating a unified district that serves the entire Ukiah Valley. This annexation of service territory resolved a funding discrepancy, establishing an additional $900,000 to $1 million in annual revenue necessary to meet the growing needs of our region. This has included:
Converting to Solar Energy
To reduce our reliance on the electrical grid, the City of Ukiah has identified city buildings ideal for solar installation. To date, the City has installed 40 Photovoltaic (Solar) panels at the Civic Center, saving the City approximately $26,061 and reducing our carbon footprint by 42.6 metric ton over 17 years.
Additionally, the water re-circulation system that heats the Ukiah Municipal Swimming Pool is 100% solar powered.
The City continues to pursue funding opportunities to outfit additional municipal facilities with solar. The City is currently involved with adding 123 kW of solar system at Anton Stadium parking lot. This solar system will help reduce our carbon footprint by approximately 62 metric ton yearly. We have also implemented automation for heating and cooling of City facilities to reduce power use during peak times.
