City plan for adapting to climate change and sea level rise

(a) The office shall develop policies and coordinate climate change adaptation actions of departments and agencies within the city to take a proactive approach in adapting to impacts resulting from climate change and sea level rise, and to align programs to help protect and prepare the city and its residents for the physical and economic impacts of climate change to the maximum extent practicable. Under such policies, the city hereby expresses its commitment to lead, plan, and implement the development of comprehensive and balanced planning, regulations, design, and construction of climate change and sea level rise adaptation of city infrastructure systems. (b) As set forth in this section, there is hereby established a one water policy, principles, and procedures for city departments and agencies. This policy will provide a climate change adaptation solution and one water collaboration framework to be incorporated in the planning of all city infrastructure systems. (1) One water principles will consist of the following: (A) Value all water in the natural and built environment, utilize and manage freshwater, wastewater and stormwater resources for their best use, and preserve water's quality and quantity; (B) Increase climate resilience and adaptation for freshwater, stormwater, wastewater, water reuse, water desalination, and transportation systems; (C) Find opportunities to partner on projects taking advantage of co-benefits, overlapping goals, and limited funding. Identify projects to leverage the multiple benefits of one water practices; (D) Consistent messaging with the public and developers around stormwater, wastewater, freshwater, water reuse, and sea water; (E) Encourage consistent use of national industry best practice guidelines and emerging technology to ensure the efficient and best use of water resources; (F) Recognize one water as a long-term investment that can save money over time; and (G) Build partnerships with stakeholders and organizations, including identifying to the extent possible, potential federal funds that can be secured to help advance the one water goals of the city. (2) One water procedures will guide city departments and agencies to: (A) Establish a one water panel of affected city departments and agencies to consult on city projects and programs, private development infrastructure master plans, and updating building codes and design standards; (B) Develop an inter-agency memorandum of understanding detailing collaboration procedures for research and monitoring, policies and procedures, plans and programs, regulations and design standards, capital improvements, and shared and supplemental funding opportunities; (C) Incorporate one water climate resilience in the city's development and sustainable communities plans, watershed management plans, infrastructure plans, and developer coordination for climate change adaptation; (D) Develop a checklist of strategic and tactical actions for one water climate resilience and collaboration including but not limited to research and monitoring, policies and regulations, coordinating resources, planning and engineering, public outreach, and design and construction for climate change and sea level rise adaptation, with both a 2050 and 2100 time outlook; (E) Prioritize and sequence one water climate resilience initiatives to address critical infrastructure serving economic and transportation centers, and other critical facilities; (F) Identify one water projects to promote innovative and scalable concepts; and (G) Develop an alternative coordinating mechanism for private developments interested in participating in such a mechanism to more simply navigate the permitting systems among the various city agencies and align investments with city plans, regulations, and infrastructure capacity for climate resilience. (3) The city's policy is to employ a one water collaboration framework for climate change and sea level rise adaptation in the planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operation of the city's infrastructure under the jurisdiction of the directors. The one water panel shall be coordinated and organized on a regular basis by the office. (4) The city's policy is to jointly adopt a one water climate resilience checklist and associated procedures to be used by the directors and their staff as guidance when initiating, policies, regulations, rules, planning, designs, and construction of any infrastructure project. The checklist must be jointly updated from time to time by the directors, as necessary and appropriate, to facilitate the implementation of this article. (5) The city's policy is to evaluate and initiate updates of existing policies, rules, regulations, and design guidelines to ensure consistency with the one water climate resilience policy, principles, procedures, and national industry best practices. The updates may occur from time to time, as necessary, by the directors to reflect current best practices. (6) One water climate resilience features are not required if the head official of an affected city department, agency, or semi-autonomous city agency determines, in writing with appropriate documentation, prior to or during the project planning and design process, that: (A) The resilience feature is prohibited by law; (B) The cost of the resilience feature would be excessively disproportionate to the need, savings, or probable future use over the long term; (C) There is an absence of current or future need for the resilience feature; or (D) The safety of the public may be placed at unacceptable risk by implementation of the resilience feature. (7) The office shall submit to the council, within 120 days following the end of each calendar year, beginning with the year ending December 31, 2021, and each year thereafter, a report detailing compliance with the one water climate resilience policy, and the principles and procedures included therein, during the prior calendar year. The report must detail the climate resilience actions initiated during that year and must include a list of exceptions made, with the accompanying appropriate documentation, pursuant to subdivision (b)(6) for that year. (8) The annual report required in this section may be part of the annual sustainability report required by § 2-10.15 for purposes of compliance with this section.