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Home My WebLink AboutMemo - Mail Packet - 5/30/2023 - Memorandum From Megan Demasters And Jacob Genuise Re: May 23, 2023 Municipal Innovation Fund UpdateEnvironmental Services Department 222 Laporte Avenue PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970-221-6600 MEMORANDUM DATE: May 23, 2023 TO: Mayor and Councilmembers THRU: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager Tyler Marr, Deputy City Manager Jacob Castillo, Chief Sustainability Officer Lindsay Ex, Environmental Services Director FROM: Megan DeMasters, Lead Specialist, Environmental Services Jacob Genuise, Climate Program Assistant, Environmental Services SUBJECT: May 23, 2023, Municipal Innovation Fund Update The purpose of this memo is to update City Council on projects that were funded in 2023 through BFO offer 32.1- the Municipal Innovation Fund (MIF) which is an internal competitive fund to advance innovative, results-driven sustainability projects for the organization in alignment with the City’s Municipal Sustainability and Adaptation Plan (MSAP), Our Climate Future, and the organization’s commitment to lead by example. Background: Since its inception in 2011, these internal innovation funds have delivered more than 115 projects across the organization, saving money and resources and supporting the City’s culture of innovation. MIF funds were paused in 2019 due to budget cuts and were reinstated in the 2023-24 budget. $100,000 was available in 2023 for projects and the total request from MIF applications this year was $270,816. For 2023, 13 projects were funded (Attachment 1), and an interdepartmental committee evaluated and selected the projects that were awarded. These projects contribute to the advancement of the City’s MSAP goals while reflecting and aligning with Our Climate Future Big Moves, and updated City values. Alignment of 2023 funded projects and these broader city goals, plans and objectives are highlighted in the Attachment. Funded Projects Summary • 3 projects will support LED lighting upgrades that will increase energy efficiency. • 4 projects advance water efficiency by reducing water use and implementing water-wise landscaping practices. • 6 projects selected support employee well-being, resilience and belonging highlight how the City can Lead By Example by utilizing technology and resources to support staff in day-to-day work that also benefits the community. o One example of this is the LGBTQ+ Inclusive Customer Service Training which will allow external facilitators to provide a city-wide training to staff to better understand how to deliver inclusive customer service. This helps to foster belonging and create a safer work environment for LGBTQ+ staff while also improving our community facing customer service. Next Steps: Projects have until the end of 2023 to complete the project. Staff will provide Council with an update on the impacts of the selected projects in Q1 of 2024. DocuSign Envelope ID: 6A76EE18-3F55-4F39-AE14-A020EA189CF4 Attachment 1: 2023 Municipal Innovation Fund Project Summaries 1 Project Name Service Area and Department Description Strategic Alignment with Our Climate Future Big Moves and City Values Traffic Operations Building Xeriscaping ($15,000) PDT, Traffic The Traffic Operations Building (626 Linden St.) currently has non-native sod and landscaping that uses large amounts of water. This project will replace sod with native grasses, drought tolerant trees, and water-wise landscaping. Big Move 3- Climate Resilient Community City Value- Sustainability Lincoln Center LED Conversion ($13,574) Community Services, Cultural services In pursuit of an expanded LEED status for the Lincoln Center, this award will help advance lighting conversions from fluorescent to LED while reducing energy costs, lifecycle waste and maintenance, and providing well-lit areas to improve employee safety and wellbeing. Big Move 6- Efficient, Emissions Free Buildings City Value- Sustainability D1 Police Building LED Conversion ($12,500) Operation Services, Facilities This project will replace outdated fluorescents in the Division One Police Building with LED occupancy and daylight-sensing lighting. These smart lights reduce energy use by adapting their brightness to incoming sunlight and automatically turning off. Big Move 6- Efficient, Emissions Free Buildings City Value- Sustainability Fossil Creek Park Shop Lighting Upgrades ($9,330) Community Services, Parks This project will fund motion activated lighting and programmable light switches at Fossil Creek Park Shop. This pilot project will help determine if similar improvements should be made at other park shops. Big Move 6- Efficient, Emissions Free Buildings City Value- Sustainability DocuSign Envelope ID: 6A76EE18-3F55-4F39-AE14-A020EA189CF4 Attachment 1: 2023 Municipal Innovation Fund Project Summaries 2 Pollinator-Friendly Landscaping: 300 Block Linden ($5,000) Community Services, Parks Following the Linden Street Renovation project last year, Parks identified an opportunity to extend water-wise, attractive, and ecologically beneficial landscaping from the Linden project up towards the Poudre River. Pollinator-friendly landscaping will provide vibrant biodiversity to this well- enjoyed area of downtown. Big Move 3- Climate Resilient Community City Value- Sustainability Primrose Studio Efficient Dishwasher ($4,544) Community Services, Natural Areas Primrose Studio in Reservoir Ridge Natural Area provides a comfortable and collaborative meeting space for City Staff, City partners, and 1,900 community members in 2022. This project will allow installation of an upgraded dishwashing machine that eliminates the need for detergents and decreases energy and water use by 79%. Big Move 6- Efficient, Emissions Free Buildings City Value- Sustainability Downtown Organic Planter Pilot ($3,000) Community Services, Parks This pilot program will reduce the use of water and chemical fertilizers by converting three high- profile downtown beds along Magnolia & College and Laporte & college into organic planters. This pilot project provides the opportunity to establish organic management practices for downtown horticulture that can expand in future years! Big Move 3- Climate Resilient Community City Value- Sustainability Digitization of Plan Sets/Mylar Films ($12,500) PDT, Community Development and Neighborhood Services and Engineering This project will convert physical plan sets and mylar film to digital ones creating a more efficient process for staff and making valuable storage space available for office space. Digital plans are also more resilient in the event of fire or flooding. Big Move 3- Climate Resilient Community City Value- Sustainability Get FC Movin': a CoFC Employee Transportation Program ($10,500) PDT, FC Moves Funding will go toward renovating and creating new bike rooms in City buildings, hosting free Bike Fix-It events, and support an employee walking competition. These programs encourage Big Mov 4- Convenient Transportation Choices City Value- Sustainability DocuSign Envelope ID: 6A76EE18-3F55-4F39-AE14-A020EA189CF4 Attachment 1: 2023 Municipal Innovation Fund Project Summaries 3 employees to stay active and learn how to incorporate active modes of transportation into their work life. LGBTQ+ Inclusive Customer Service Training ($5,500) Information Employee Services, Human Resources Our PRIDE Employee Resource Group (ERG) identified a need for expanded LGBTQ+ inclusive training. This award provides funding for external facilitators to work with ERG staff to facilitate this citywide training to provide inclusive customer service and a safer work environment for LGBTQ+ staff. This also lessens the burden on queer staff to facilitate these trainings themselves. Big Move 1- Shared Leadership and Community Partnerships City Value- Belonging E-Cargo Bike for Downtown Horticulture Crews ($5,248) Community Services, Parks Currently, downtown horticulture crews must navigate and contribute to traffic along College Ave. to move materials between planter beds which results in increased fuel use and staff time. This award funds an electric cargo bike that horticulture crews will use to safely and efficiently transport planting materials downtown. Big Mov 4- Convenient Transportation Choices City Value- Sustainability Municipal Court Digital Smartboard and Additional Municipal Kiosk ($3,304) Executive Judicial Services, Municipal Court Our Municipal Court is tasked with safely and efficiently checking in large numbers of visitors. A smartboard and additional court kiosk will allow City Staff to communicate important information to visitors in the courthouse, reduce wait times, and increase the ability to allow effective social distancing, and personnel safety. City Value- Safety and Well-being DocuSign Envelope ID: 6A76EE18-3F55-4F39-AE14-A020EA189CF4