HomeMy WebLinkAboutPS 2017-06-19 Item 2D - Public Safety Plan - Sustainability GoalsCity of Tukwila
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Allan Ekberg, Mayor
TO: Public Safety Committee
FROM: Rachel Bianchi, Communications and Government Relations Manager
CC: Mayor Ekberg
DATE: May 31, 2017
SUBJECT: Sustainability Goals for Fire Station Construction
ISSUE
With the assistance of Weinstein A+U, the Committee had an initial discussion on May
15, 2017 regarding potential sustainability goals associated with the construction of
three new fire station. Staff is seeking direction from the Committee as to next steps,
BACKGROUND
The Weinstein A+U memo provided a comprehensive took at various • routes -w City
could take regarding sustaina• ility in design and construction of the fire station rogra
The memo covered potential certification programs such as LEED, examples of projec
in neighboring jurisdictions that were cered, and alternatives to certification. The
memo also included a recommendation section that indicated that funding will be a
N river in the "intensity" of the City's sustainabi�lity goals,
Per the discussion in committee on May 15, 2017, it was acknowledged that the costs of
certification ailone can be in the $100,000 range, depending on which certification one Is
seeking, and' that doesn't include the hard costs associated with constructing to that
certification, Pursuing certification — such as LEED gold status — is one route for the
City
• consider to achieve its sustainability goals, However, staff is mindful as to the
budget implications associated with this choice.
The Pacific Northwest is known for its strong building, energy and other codes that
positively affect sustainability-related issues. The City has a "do nothing" option that
would still produce buildings that are mindful • energy and water use and have
relatively low impacts on the environment.
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However, the City also has the opportunity to find a more sustaina• ly middle •
• • oo b • o d o o
roun"I
that is cnscius f cst ut als frwar-thinking in lng-term investments that cu
save natural and financial resources. For instance, focus on energy efficiency woul
have a positive impact on the long-term maintenance and operations budget of eac
building, while also saving environmental impacts associated with operating an
inefficient HVAC system.
RECOMMENDATION
Due to the budget implications associated with certification, and acknowledgement of
the City's long-term desire to steward the environment and community, staff
recommends the City choose the latter option of a sustainable middle ground. By
providing Weinstein A+U with specific direction as to identifying sustainable features
that will produce long-term financial and environmental savings, the City can have a 31
INFORMATIONAL MEMO
Page 2
meaningful impact over the life of these bu�ildings, This direction will require Weinstien
A+U and sub consultants to have a sustainabil Ity charrette and assess project
sustainability elements at Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction
Documents and project completion stages. Project fees outside of construction costs
associated with this sustainability efforts range from $40,000 - $60,000. The Council is
being asked to provide consensus on the above approach at the June 26, 2017
Committee • the Whole meeting.
ATTACHMENTS
Weinstein A+U Sustainability Memo
W;QOV Info MemWSusta inability Memo 2 FINALdoc
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EVALUATING THIRD PARTY GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION FO0TWKW|LARRE STATIONS
MAY 9,20,17
Submitted by Weinstein A +U in collaboration with O'Brien and Company
Introduction
According to the Tukwila Comprehensive Plan, published )n2Dl5, the City uf Tukwila desires brbea
community that prioritizes livability for its residents and responsible environmental stewardship for
the benefit of future generations. |nthe execution of the Public Safety Program, the City now has a
unique opportunity ho embody those priorities hmaset of buildings that will continue to serve Tukwila
for the next 50 years or more. The design team for the new Tukwila Fire Stations, led by architecture
firm Weinstein A+U,is delighted io assist the City incrafting new buildings that embody the cuibureoy
the City, in addition to optimizing the operations of the Tukwila Fire Department.
The design team recognizes that the City already has many critical goals directly related to
susta|oab)|ity, such as low building operating costs, the use of materials that will continue toperform
and be attractive for the |ifespanof the buildings, and promoting the health of the city's waterways, 0y
choosing to fund high-performance buildings, not only will Tukwila support a healthier environment
for all and save money over the life of the buildingis, but it will also provide resilient, restorative
facilities for its first-responclers. A building that operates with minimal energy input will have an
enhanced ability %o function in the event ofa natural disaster m, fuel shortage, running much longer
than a conventional buHding when forced to use a back-up generator, Buildings that incorporate
quality day||ghLUng strategies and high indoor air quality standards have been demonstrated to
improve both the physical and mental health of their occupants, increasing worker productivity and
reducing the number of sick days taken by employees. Lastly, cities that are growing at a rate such as
Tukwila's have an opportunity to influence the quality of that growth by setting a good example with
their public facilities. High-performance public buildings can be advertised as saving tax-payers
money in the lmmgi term, but they can also further educate constituents about the varied benefits of
sustainable design, inspiring consumers - and by extensiom, private developers - to value suistainable
strategies in all types mfconstruction.
Given the many benefits of choosing to pursue high sustainability goals for new public buildings, the
purpose of this memo is to help the Tukwila City Council understand how Green Building Certification
could help achieve those goals on their new fire stations, as well as adding further value to these
projects.
Why consider third party certification?
Third party certification ofaproject's green building features provides three main benefits:
accountability, public recognition, and better building performance. Accountability means that
an owner can use third party certification to hold the design and construction team to established
standards, and receive verification that those standards were met by an impartial outside entity. This
leads to a transparency and comparability that allows public owners to communicate to constituents
and stakeholders that they are providing a building of a certain standard, which can be compared to
projects provided by other public entities using the s,ame certification system.
The most direct value for owners from using a third-party certification is driving better building
performance, Many certification programs are comprehensive, requiring projects to address numlMp|e
environmental issues to a certain level in order to earn certification. This acts as a driver for owners
and project teams to identify ways to improve all aspects of environmental sustainability addressed in
a certification program. Third party certification also provides an additional, impartial metric for
evaluating individual strategies for a project, allowing teams to determine which strategies will best
achieve a given performance threshold within a project budget.
Alternatives to third-party certification
Third-party certification has an additional cost to the project and c�n, sometimes require projects to
implement strategies that are not the best #t, There are other tools om owner can use tm achieve the
accountability and building performance that third-party certifications provide. These tools can also
be used in conjunction with a third-party certification tu assure a successful certification; however,
they do not provide the same ability to promote a, project's achievements, or to understand how the
project is performing compared to similar projects.
• Contracting methods: Integrated Project Delivery, Design/Build with performance guarantee
• Decision-making tools: Life-Cycle Cost Analysis and EnepgyBenchmark|mg
• Verification tools: Monitoring-based commissioning, building envelope commissioning,
Energy Star Portfolio Manager
Regional Precedents
Since third-party certifications for green building began to show up in the market in the late 1990s,
many government entities of all sizes have looked to these outside resources to help set consistent,
impartial standards for achieving environmental, climate, and performance goals for the assets they
build and manage. According 10 the US Green Building Council's PubUic Policy Library, there are
Currently 215 government policies in the US requiring some sort of green building certification for
public buildings (searched 0510312017). These, stretch from the federal level to small and large cities
and are in the East, South, Midwest, Southwest, and Western parts of the country. The following
section highlights some of those policies relevant to the Pacific Northwest region,
Federal, State, and LocadAxuoicipm/ Certification Requirements
Federal Executive Order 13423, adopted in 2007, requires federal agencies to meet high-performance
and sustainable building goals. Those goals have been translated into federal guidelines by the
General Services Administration, who has endorsed both LEED and a version of Green Globes as tools
for agencies tm prove compliance with the guidelines.
Since 2OO5, Washington State has required that all major tad|ityprojectsofpub|icagenciea^ecei*ing
funding ina state capitaU budget, or projects financed through afimancimg contract, be designed,
constructed, and certified to at least the LEED Silver standard. RCW 39.35.Q40 also requires these
projects to conduct a life-cycle cost analysis to evaluate energy efficiency options.
King County's 2013 update to the Green Building and Sustainable Development Ordinance requires all
eligible new construction projects to strive for LEED Platinum certification or, for non LEED-eligible
projects, the highest level of certification available onan internal sustainable infrastructure scorecard
or other approved third-party certification. Other approved programs include Built Green, Evergreen
Sustainable Development Standard, Salmon Safe, and Living Building Challenge.
City of Seattle's Sustainable Buildings and Sites Policy for municipal facilities requires new
construction and major renovations 5,000 square feet or greater to meet LEED Gold, as well as key
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performance requirements for energy and water efficiency, waste diversion, and bicycle facilities.
Seattle also has several private-sector incentive programs in place that provide fast track permitting,
additional FAR, and additional height.
The cities of Kirkland, Shoreline, Lynnwood, Bothell, Newcastle, and Redmond all have private-sector
incentive programs for green building (fast-tnack permitting |s the most comrnon), but nmpolicy
requirements for municipal buildings. Issaquah has Resolution 2084-ll, which requires LEEO Silver Vr
Built-green 4-star. Non-applicable building types must refer to those systems for applicable green
building practices but do not have to pursue certification.
Certification Status for Fire Stations Locally and Nationally
LEEDisbv far the most common certification pnog ram used bvagencies and municipalities for fire
stations and related facilities. There are over 30}LEED certified fire facilities internationally and
another 3OOregistered. Seventeen of the certified projects are in Washington, primarily inSeattle.
Olympia, Vancouver, and Issaquah also have certified fire stations. Green Globes has a handful of
certified fire stations across the US, none in Washington. Overall Green Globes has certified 53
buildings in Washington nf all types, many owned by federal agencies.
Seattle Fire Station 2O, completed m20l4`is the highest rated LEED Platinum Fire Station certified.
It is 9,400 sf with space for two apparatus and features a solar PV array, green stormwater
infrastructure, durable low-maintenance materials, and high-efficiency glazing for daylight, sound
control, and energy efficiency. |n2Q16|t earned the FJf.R.O. Honor and Seattle Design Excellence
Awards.
° City of Eagan Public Safety Center in Minnesota was the first Green Globes certified fire station in
2011. The 38,0OOs[ building combined two, previous fire stations into one centralized location
and also serves asa training center and dorm for volunteer fire fighters. It features aground
source heat pump, dav|ighting and LED lights, and recycled materials.
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City of Olympia Fire Station 4 was also completed |n20ll and earned LEED Gold. It is13,37Dst
including some administrative space, and features aggressive insulation, heat exchangers, and a
highly efficient HVAC system along with functional clayUghtimg design. This project won the
National Fire Chief Station Style First Place award.
When evaluating use of a third-party certification program, it is important to consider that there are a
variety of options, including the most common system, Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEEU) by the U5 Green Building Council. Some address green building across multiple
categories and some focus on one aspect of sustainability that may align best with an owner's goals.
Comprehensive Environmento/Sustoinbility Certifications
BfD
° Most widely recognized and accepted program; used by most municipal, county, and state
policies for green building.
° Estimated $85,000 to $125,000 in administrative costs and certification fees per building,
Some efficiencies for projects desigmedandbui8tatthesanmehnnebythesanmeteanns.
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° The latest version, LEEDv4, has a number of new credits that can drive better building
performance, such as those for integrative process, whole building life-cycle assessment,
green stormwater infrastructure, and advanced commissioning.
° LEED certification for similar buildings are likely to be one level lower in Version 4 than it
would have been |n the previous version, e.g' L£EDv3 Gold building =LEEDv4 Silver building
Green Globes
• Criteria substantially similar to LEED, except no prerequisites and includes the ability' to
determine which credit categories are applicable.
• Uses surveys and on-site verification tnease documentation requirements. Access toverifier
via phone and e-mail during design.
• Estimated $60,000 - $80,000 in administration, verification, and certification fees.
• All features of the program are required for LBC certification, and the features from three of six
categories are required for Petal certification. Net Zero certification is available for buildings
that produce l0S46of the energy they use Vnaw annual basis.
• Requirements are high, e.g' net zero energy or net zero water, which results |nahigh
performing building.
- Performance verified after one year of continuous operations.
° $1S/]DO-$Z5,08Uin certification fees. Additional administrative costs could exceed LEGD
costs.
Certificutions Specific tomn Environmental Attribute
Salmon Safe
• Unique local program focused on regional issues of storm water management, water quality,
habkatamd&sndscapenoanagement.
• Requires recertification every five years to maintain recognition, Requirements customized in
agreement between certifier and organization receiving certification. On-site verification.
• Fees variable a�nd grants sometimes available. Less cost than LEEQ and Green G�obes.
Energy Star
• National, federal benchmadking program for buUd'ing energy and water efficiency,
• Based an one year of performance data, verified bvamengineer.
• No certification fees. Costs for verification, negotiated with verifier,
° New standard focused on health and weUbeimg. Developed and run bv for-profit "B°
corporation with support from the US Green Building Council (also manages LEEO)and
International Living Future Institute (also manages LBC).
* Compatible with LEED and L8C, with a segment of overlapping requirements.
* $,25,00O in certifications fees. Administrative costs stiII unknown.
Recommendations
Since the values of the City of Tukwila and the functional needs of the Tukwila Fire Department are
both supported by the construction of high-performance fire stations, the design team strongly
suggests that the City incorporate sustainability goals into it's Public Safety Program. The intensity of
those goals and the decision how (or if) to certify those buildings will be largely determined by the
available funding,
In order to meet those goals, regardless of whether a third-party certification system is used:
• Set specific measurable objectives for bui8d�ing performance and develop owner's project
requirements (OPR) early )n the design phase.
• Establish a fair method of verifying results to hold the project team accountable for achieving the
project goals and requirements.
• Engage commissioning professionals for both building systems and building envelope
commissioning. Consider ongoing, monitoring-based commissioning.
• Use Energy Star Portfolio Manager to benchmark and track building performance. Consider
Energy Star building certification.
|n considering whether to use a third-party certification system:
• Understand how your project goals and desired suytaimabi|ity strategies align with what the
system measures. Projects that follow the steps above and craft a strong approach to green
building often are very easy tm certify, requiring limited adjustments mr additions to what was
already planned.
• Articulate what makes a certification valuable to this project soitisdearwxhatrheprmcessshou|d
achieve - additional accountability, tools for public recognition and reporting, a higher level of
building performance, etc.
• Decide as early as possible if YOU Will proceed with a: certification to allow the project team to
integrate the standards in the system into the design from the beginning. This minimizes possible
additional costs for redesigning and backtracking tocoU;ect information.
Timeline
While it is most efficient for a design team to have established sustainability goals, to work with when
going into the programming phase for a new building, we understand that the City mfTukwib^s
priorities for it's new fire stations are still evolving. Before moving forward into the schematic design
phase of the first station \n August 2Ol7, the programmatic needs and desires of both the fire
department and city will need to be reconciled with the budgets that have been established for all
three stations. Given that there is likely to be some modification of either budget or building scope
that comes out of that reconciliation process, we recommend adding a desired level of sustainability
performance lo that decision matrix.
In order to facilitate those decisions, the clesign team will strive to organize our final building
programs and subsequent cost enalysis into a set of options that will help the City choose which level
of spending best aligns with it's highest priorities, For the City's part, it will be crucial to understand
and finalize their priorities in the coming weeks so that a final decision on scope and budget can be
made efficiently during the budget reconciliation period, which is currently scheduled for July 2017.
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Public Safety Committee Minutes .... ........ __ ......... ....... ... ____ ........ ........ ..... . ............. ...... . _ . , _ - - May 15, 2017
and reporting will fall on the construction contractor and construction management team on
the projects,
associated with implementation of a formal community workforce agreement, Since local/DBE
hire is a Council priority, the Councit should make the decision about whether to direct
resources to it. He restated an interest in finding a template agreement that could work in
Tukwila. Councilmember McLeod asked how a 10-mile radius was decided for the local hire
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from other jurisdictions. Councilmember Duffie spoke in favor of the proposal as a starting
point for the City, The Committee did not reach a co on and requested that this topic
return at a future meeting. RETURN TO COMMITTEE.
C. Discussion on Public Safety Plan Susta inabilit oaks
Staff is seeking direction from the Committee on sustainability goals and strategies with regard
to the Public Safety Plan buildings program, The architect hired to design the three fire stations,
Weinstein A+U, prepared information for the Committee on various options relating to
sustainability goals including third party certification, energy benchmarking, life-cycle cost
analysis, verification tools, and more. Weinstein A+U strongly recommends that the City
incorporate sustainability goals into its buildings but decision making around this will be
determined by available funding. They recommend that sustainability goats be factored into
decision-making around the same time as programmatic features, since choices made in both
areas will impact budget availability. Staff will work with Chair McLeod on direction for next
steps for engaging the Committee and Council on this topic. RETURN TO COMMITTEE.
D. Public 5afety Plan - Location of Fire Station 51
This item was postponed due to time constraints.
E. 2017 111 Quarter Police Department Rgport:
Chief Villa updated the Committee on items of interest from the Ill quarter of 2017, including
staffing, recognitions, community outreach, significant operations, and events. The Committee
requested a future update on the Police Department Strategic Plan, INFORMATION ONLY.
aw— Committee Chair Approval
Minutes by LH
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