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2011 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITYwww.reddeer.ca

OUR ENVIRONMENT, OUR FUTURE

// OUR ENVIRONMENT – OUR FUTURE

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 infl uencing how Red Deer develops. As an example, many actions identifi ed 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 transportation built environment air energy waste

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.

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notable

→ developing water conservation standards for City owned buildings

If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water. – Loren Eiseley

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

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

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ECOLOGYWhen we try to pick out anything by itself, we fi nd it hitched to everything else in the universe. – John Muir

notable

→ Environmental Master Plan community launch at Enviro-Fair, City Hall Park, in June

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10 km

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2009 2011

15% 22%

211 L242 L

Litres of water consumed per person, per day

Enviro-Fair

2009 2011

// OUR ENVIRONMENT – OUR FUTURE

achievements

→ 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

working towards

→ a 5% increase in total kilometres of bicycle routes and mixed-use trails by 2015

Achievements

→ developing city-wide infi ll guidelines and standards that emphasize minimum densities, compact form and environmental design standards

Working towards

→ a demonstration infi ll pilot project to demonstrate environmental design features

→ density studies to establish baselines and goals for future density targets

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TRANSPORTATION Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race. – H.G. Wells

notable

→ beginning to engage neighbourhoods to participate in walkability audits

Our environment is going from the natural environment to a built environment. How will you manage that transition is the key. – Sam Jones

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BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Notable

→ Red Deer has sprouted a number of neighbourhood gardens, permaculture training courses and community garden events

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15% 22%

211 L242 L

Kilometres of bike lanes in Red Deer

Lancaster Green community garden

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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

achievement

→ creation of home energy audit kits to help citizens make their homes more energy effi cient (partnership with Red Deer Public Library)

working towards

→ 30% of City of Red Deer electricity to come from green sources by 2015

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ENERGY

AIR We all breathe the same air. – John F. Kennedy

notable

→ recognized by Parkland Airshed Management Zone as an Ozone Action HERO for the Plan’s commitment to improving air quality

The law of conservation of energy tells us we can’t get something for nothing, but we refuse to believe it. – Isaac Asimov

notable

→ energy effi cient street light program in place and expanded

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2009

2011

2009 2011

15% 22%

211 L242 L

Idle-free business program

Percentage of green electricity used by The City of Red Deer

// OUR ENVIRONMENT – OUR FUTURE

achievements

→ over 12,000 tonnes of materials were diverted from the landfi ll; on track to meet 2015 target

→ on track to decrease residential waste to landfi ll by 10% by 2015

working towards

→ review of landfi ll fees to encourage further waste diversion

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WASTE Make less, buy less, use less, throw away less. – Akiko Busch

notable

→ Kick It to the Curb events to reduce waste in June and October

Kick it to the Curb

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next steps

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.

Some exciting priority areas include:

→ regional partnerships to promote carpooling, shuttle, transit options

→ collaborative strategies to reduce air pollution from key City of Red Deer and industrial sources

→ 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

→ strategies to green the municipal fl eet

let’s keep at it!

Taking steps together: our partners

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

→ Waskasoo Environmental Education Society

→ Parkland Airshed Management Zone

→ ReThink Red Deer

→ 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, atwww.reddeer.ca/environmentalmasterplan

// OUR ENVIRONMENT – OUR FUTURE

FALL 2012

www.reddeer.ca/environmentalmasterplan

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