Policies and practices advance sustainable practices in natural resource management

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Policies and practices advance sustainable practices in natural resource management.

The City of Germantown’s continued vibrant quality of life depends on the ability to protect natural resources and implement a strong stewardship ethic, safeguarding the interests of future generations. There is a call for an integrated management system that ensures the health and integrity of the City’s natural resources and their underlying ecosystems. The intent of this strategic objective is to create a broad understanding and commitment for the advancement of sustainable practices through the adoption and full implementation of the Germantown Natural Resources Management Plan. Key performance indicators for plant and wildlife inventory provide data for the natural resources report assessment.

No Information Percentage of Natural Resources Plan recommendations implemented or completed

Description:

An integrated management system ensures the health and integrity of the City's natural resources and their underlying ecosystems. Developing a funding strategy and measuring it annually will help to implement and progress the plan.

Analysis:

15 of the 88 (19%) strategies outlined in the Natural Resources Management Plan have been implemented within parks and natural areas. Staff will continue to implement new strategies from the NRMP by identifying the ones that will have the most impact and include improved access to nature and public awareness.

Impact:
The City has moderate impact on this measure.

On Target Percentage increase in Environmental Program Participation

Description:

The City of Germantown strives to create a more sustainable and healthy community through increased programming and environmental awareness.

Analysis:

In FY23, the City of Germantown conducted 11 outreach programs reaching 430 school aged children and staff.

The educational program led by the Public Works department focuses on recycling practices and promoting sustainability efforts in Germantown.

Outreach

Date	Location	# of students	Grade Level
10/4/22	Lausanne Collegiate School	51	2nd
10/28/22	OLPH	48	6-8th
11/29/22	Houston High School	25	9-12th
11/29/22	Houston High School	25	9-12th
2/17/23	Riverdale K-8 School	50	4-5th
2/28/23	Farmington Elementary School	40	Multi/REACH
3/2/23	Dogwood Elementary School	55	Multi/REACH
3/24/23	Forest Hill Elementary School	25	Multi/REACH
3/29/23	Riverdale K-8 School	60	Multi/REACH
4/13/23	Forest Hill Elementary School	40	Garden Club
5/23/23	Germantown Community Library	11	Multi/Library
		430

Impact:
The City has moderate impact on this measure.

No Information Percentage decrease in energy usage in public facilities

Description:

Analysis:

Public facilities will be identified to measure energy usage. Once the facilities have been identified, energy usage will be collected from MLGW for quarterly comparisons. This will assist in the approach to decrease energy usage at each facility.

Impact:

No Information City-wide tree canopy coverage ratio

Description:

The preservation and protection of Germantown’s city-wide urban forest is a commitment to managing trees as important green infrastructure assets. Measuring the tree canopy ratio annually is a management practice to determine gains and losses in the overall tree inventory city-wide.

Analysis:

FY24 1st Quarter: Three hazard trees were removed within parks, along with 6 invasive Bradford Pears in the medians. No trees worthy of retention have been removed unless by natural causes. There were 5 known trees that fell as a result of storm(s) that occurred during this period.

25 new trees were planted at Oaklawn in preparation of the arboretum recertification and the planned upgrade to a level III. This gives a net gain of 11 trees to the City's overall tree canopy.

Currently, the tree canopy ratio city-wide is 45%. This information is taken from treequityscore.org.

Impact:
The City has moderate impact on this measure.