HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8897INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8897
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council November 1, 2007
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W SUBJECT: The American Institute of Architects Center for Communities By
'•*' Design Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) Program
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) releases an annual Request for Proposal (RFP) to provide
selected communities with technical assistance and process expertise to help develop a vision and framework
for a sustainable future under its Center for Communities by Design's Sustainable Design Assessment Team
(SDAT) Program It is the intent of the City staff; in cooperation with the membership of the City's
Sustainability and Green Building Task Force (the Task Force), to respond to this RFP with the sponsorship
and partnership of the local Fort Worth AIA chapter.
The SDAT program focuses on the importance of developing sustainable communities through design. The
SDAT program brings together multidisciplinary teams of professionals working with community decision -
makers and stakeholders through an intensive planning process to design and direct the implementation
effort based on the sustainability and green building goals and objectives developed by the City's Task
Force. Through the issuance of this RFP, the AIA is seeking communities who desire assistance in assessing
community sustainability, have identified their key issues, and are in a position to build strong partnerships
to plan for the future. Since program launch in 2005, twenty (20) cities, including Oklahoma City, OK, New
Orleans, LA, Tucson, AZ, and Albany, NY, have benefited from participation in the SDAT program If
uccessful, the City of Fort Worth would be the largest and only Texas city to participate in the SDAT to
date.
The City of Fort Worth's Sustainability & Green Building Task Force, an 18 member committee
representing a diverse representation of the construction, development, and operations community, as well as
membership from established and new residential neighborhoods, has been charged with providing
recommendations to the Mayor and Council on the establishment of a Sustainability and Green Building
program for the City. The Task Force has completed its evaluation of nationwide best practices and is
developing goals and objectives around which an implementation plan will be developed. From Vision
North Texas to the Fort Worth Mobility and Air Quality Plan, our region is taking steps to address future
growth and sustainability. Each of these efforts are analyzing the effects of growth on the community and
developing recommendations to address these issues. However, with so many plans being developed across
the region, the continuity between the regional plans and the recommendations of an overarching local plan
for sustainability will need to be examined. The SDAT will help us achieve that task.
It is the intent of the Task Force to utilize the SDAT to examine the Task Force program recommendations to
forward awareness of these issues in our community. The SDAT will also evaluate other local sustainability
and green building efforts in recommending an effective implementation plan of action increasing
sustainability for our greater community based on the Task Force's program goals and objectives. A broad
assessment is necessary to frame future policies in the context of sustainability.
part of the program award, the AIA will provide funds and services not to exceed $15,000 toward the
ject budget. Each community will be required to provide a monetary match of $5,000 to cover costs
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
K re SUBJECT: The American Institute of Architects Center for Communities By
-EV
Design Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) Program
above the AIA contribution of $15,000. Historically, successful projects require between $20,000 and
$30,000 for total implementation cost.
Without objection from Council, an SDAT application will be submitted to the American Institute •
Architects on or before November 16, 2007. The City's Task Force will be updating the Fort Worth City
Council in the coming months regarding its progress with this and other initiatives under development.
Council briefings will be provided as these plans progress.
If you have any questions related to the work of the Sustainability or Green Building Task Force or the
information in this report, please contact Brian Boerner, Director, Department of Environmental
Management, at 817-392-8085.
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Charles R. Boswell
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS