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Environmentally Friendly Land Use Policies

Ukiah is planning for a sustainable future through the implementation of environmentally friendly land use policies, modeled in part on the principles of New Urbanism. Such principles promote walkable blocks and streets, infill housing development, the siting of commercial businesses closer to residential areas, reducing vehicle miles traveled and reliance on the automobile, and accessible public spaces.

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.

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:

Storm Drains and Your Home

As stormwater or runoff flows over driveways, lawns, and sidewalks, it picks up debris, chemicals, dirt, and other pollutants. This water can then flow into our storm drain system and ultimately damage our rivers and surrounding environment. Polluted runoff is the nation’s greatest threat to clean water, so we must all do our part to keep our storm drain system healthy.
Here are a few simple tips to help keep our storm drains healthy:

Minimize runoff by converting to low maintenance/native plants. Avoid over-watering your lawn.
Ensure that your driveway is clear of motor oil, paint, and all other forms of debris.
Clear away any animal waste or yard clippings and minimize the use of fertilizers and pesticides in your yard.
When washing your car, be sure to only use products labeled “non-toxic,” “phosphate free,” and “biodegradable.”
Storm drains are only designed to drain rainwater. Never dump anything down storm drains, including pool and hot tub water.

Protecting Our Emissions Savings by Preventing Fires

A single fire can wipe out years’ worth of carbon emissions savings. As a result of proactive actions, wise allocation of resources, and a strong network of collaboration, the Ukiah Valley is more prepared than ever to protect our region from the increasing threat of wildfires. We are looking out at the hillsides and open spaces, putting in fire breaks, undergrounding power lines, and clearing fuel. We also swapped out the fire-fighting foam for non-toxic alternatives that are free from the PFAS and PFOS chemicals.

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:

More firefighters and paramedics: A minimum of 33 firefighters are required to serve the Ukiah Valley. With a more secure and robust source of funding, the Fire Authority is increasing our ranks of full-time firefighters and paramedics.
New and improved equipment: Revenue collected as a result of the annexation allows the Fire Authority to purchase more modern equipment in order to be prepared for increasingly dangerous fire seasons.
Faster response times: Through 2020, the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority received over 3,700 calls for service. As a result of the annexation and additional funding, the need to send “Engine Couples” (2 firefighters) instead of the recommended “Engine Companies” (3 firefighters), is minimized.
Fair and equitable funding: Of the over 3,700 calls in 2020, two-thirds came from within the City of Ukiah. The additional revenue will come from applying the Fire District’s two existing special district funding measures (Measures J and B) to City residents, which means City residents will now pay the same small fee currently paid by residents in the District through their annual property tax bill.

Parks and Recreation

Ukiah’s parks and open spaces reflect the natural beauty of the Ukiah Valley, while also remaining eco-friendly and sustainable. Our parks are 100% pesticide free and are increasingly populated with native and low-water plants. Additionally, Ukiah is among the first cities in California to reuse mulch generated at our parks.

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.

Our Electric Utility

The City of Ukiah provides electricity to customers through its municipally owned utility, a department of the City of Ukiah. Ukiah’s electric utility is part of the Northern California Power Agency (NCPA). This consortium of municipally-owned power companies maintains its own power-generating capabilities, which provides access to renewable resources and helps avoid the open market pricing volatility. In California, municipal utilities represent 30% of electricity use throughout California. Compared to other municipal users, the City of Ukiah is at the head of the pack with its green energy portfolio. Ukiah’s power mix consists of various renewable sources of energy, including geothermal and hydroelectric. In 2021, these sources accounted for over 38% of Ukiah’s energy use, exceeding California’s requirement for clean power. Ukiah’s carbon free resource mix, including large hydro, pushes Ukiah’s resource balance to almost 50%. Each year, Ukiah increases our renewable portfolio and has various solar projects planned for behind-the-meter generation.

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.

Increasing Recycling and Reducing Organic Waste

By 2024 all California municipalities will be required to combine food/organic waste with green waste. The City of Ukiah is well ahead of the state requirement, having implemented this requirement in 2016. Additionally, Ukiah runs a very successful recycling program that increased waste diversion rates from about 50% to 68% in the last 12 years. This local recycling rate now far exceeds the state requirement of 50% and supports local jobs at a state-of-the-art recycling facility in Ukiah that serves Lake, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties.

Transition to Cloud Computing

Our Information Technology team has been working hard to move our computer systems onto the cloud to reduce our reliance on energy intensive servers, which require batteries, battery backup systems, and climate controls. This also helps improve cybersecurity protections.

Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled

Creating a community that is walkable and bikeable not only improves our quality of life, but also reduces our dependence on vehicles. Ukiah has adopted Complete Streets principles, which facilitate safe, comfortable travel for all users (pedestrians, bicyclists, vehicles) in advance of the requirements. For future development, the City is adopting policies that reduce sprawl by encouraging affordable housing near economic and civic centers.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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Kyle Nuss

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