Priority: Urban Design
Oakland has made great progress in the area of urban design.
Green Building
Civic Green Building Ordinance
On May 17, 2005, the Oakland City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 12658 C.M.S., a Civic Green Building Ordinance, thereby adding Oakland to a growing list of cities on the West Coast and throughout the Country that officially promote Green Building techniques. Such techniques minimize the environmental and health impacts of the built environment through energy, water and material efficiencies and improved indoor air quality. Green Building techniques also reduce the waste associated with construction, maintenance and remodeling over the life of the building. Oakland’s Green Building ordinance requires that all new buildings owned or occupied by a City Department or Agency that equal or exceed $3 million in construction costs meet a minimum Silver rating under the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, and be so certified by the USGBC.
Education and Incentives for Private Developers
Green Building is being promoted in private development in two ways. First, an "Oakland is Going Green" flyer was developed by Planning Division staff and the Mayor’s office which highlights various incentives available to private developers for incorporating green building design elements into their projects. Such incentives include fast tracking permits if a project commits to a fairly stringent Green Building standard and a listing of energy efficiency and green building design assistance resources available to developers in Oakland. This flyer is included in the Basic Application for Development Review packet that every project applicant must complete and submit to the City.
In 2006, sustainability staff in the Mayor’s office authored the Green Building Guidelines Resolution (PDF) which provides, as official City reference documents, and the Alameda County Residential Green Building Guidelines [for new home construction, home re-modeling and multifamily residential development], U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Rating Systems [for new commercial construction and remodeling], and Bay-Friendly Landscape Guidelines, and recommending their use in the City of Oakland. These guidelines can be found at at the City’s Zoning Permit Center, the City’s Environmental Services Division, Oakland’s Main Library, West Oakland Branch Library, Temescal Branch Library, and the Temescal Tool-Lending Library.
Redesign of Green Building Resource Center
Sustainability staff in the Mayor’s office have been working with the Environmental Services Division in the Public Works Agency on a fundamental redesign of the Green Building Resource Center (GBRC). This Center, conveniently located next to the Planning & Zoning Counter on the 2nd floor of 250 Frank Ogawa Plaza, was established in 2000 to provide the public with easy access to educational materials about the benefits of sustainable building practices. Over 23,000 people have visited the Center since its opening in 2000.
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
In conjunction with Oakland’s Laney College and a non-profit called Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, the City of Oakland developed a one day seminar on Green Roofs which was held on February 9, 2006 at Laney College. Green roof technology has significant potential to improve the health and well-being of citizens in communities across North America and advance green building and sustainable community goals.
Green Economy, Business and Jobs
Green Business
In 1996, the Alameda County Green Business Program began offering technical assistance and incentives to auto repair shops wishing to go beyond basic regulatory requirements. The program was extended to printers and hotels in 2000. So far, over 230 Alameda County businesses and public agencies have formed partnerships with the San Francisco Bay Area Green Business.
Socially Responsible Business Checklists
In November 2002, Councilmember Jane Brunner convened a Socially Responsible Business Task Force, for the purpose of developing recommendations for attracting and supporting socially responsible businesses in the City of Oakland. One of the outcomes of the Task Force was the development of a set of criteria, in the form of a checklist, which defines attributes of a Socially Responsible Business.
In July 2005, the City Council approved implementation of a new City protocol whereby any organization receiving more than $250,000 in City support, including loans, grants, or subsidies, submit a checklist that highlights the social equity and environmental protection initiatives and programs in place in that business. While such a protocol is only advisory to the Council, it is designed to measure the relative level of social responsibility of firms nominated to receive major financial assistance from the city.
Housing
A major initiative launched by Mayor Jerry Brown when he took office in 1999, the 10K Downtown Housing Initiative is realizing its goal of attracting 10,000 new residents to downtown Oakland by encouraging the development of 6,000 market-rate housing units.