Climate Smart Communities Certification Report

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bronze Certified

This is the Climate Smart Communities Certification Report of Pittsford, Town (Monroe). Pittsford, Town (Monroe) is a bronze certified Climate Smart Community.

Pittsford, Town (Monroe) was certified on September 19, 2022 with 124 points earned from 20 completed actions. Listed below is information regarding Pittsford, Town (Monroe)’s Climate Smart Communities efforts and materials associated with its certified actions.

The certification for Pittsford, Town (Monroe) will expire on September 30, 2027.

Contact Information

The designated Climate Smart Communities contact for Pittsford, Town (Monroe) is:

Name:April Zurowski
Title/Position:Planning, Zoning, & Development Assistant / Planning, Zoning, & Development
Address:11 South Main Street
Pittsford, New York 14534

Actions Implemented

Each approved action and supporting documentation for which Pittsford, Town (Monroe) was approved for in 2022 appears below. Note: Standards for the actions below may have changed and the documentation listed may no longer satisfy requirements for that action.

  • 1. Build a climate-smart community.

    PE1 Action: CSC Task Force

    20 Points
    Bronze Mandatory Silver Mandatory

    Program Summary: The attached resolution, meeting minutes, and member list outlines the Task Force and Coordinator for Climate Smart Communities, as approved by the Pittsford Town Board. The Task Force includes a group of volunteer community members who also serve on the Pittsford Environmental Board. Members of the Environmental Board showed interest in serving as the Town's Task Force when asked by Supervisor Bill Smith. The Environmental Board serves as an advisory board to help mitigate climate and environmental concerns within the Town, and will now further their duties as the CSC Task Force for the Town. The attached member list includes their role on the Town's Environmental Board as well as their role on the CSC Task Force. The attached resolution appoints the members of the Environmental Board to serve as the Task Force. The attached meeting minutes are from Environmental Board meetings within 2022.

    PE1 Action: CSC Coordinator

    10 Points
    Bronze Mandatory Silver Mandatory

    Program Summary: We have attached the resolution from the Pittsford Town Board appointing Town Board Member Stephanie Townsend as CSC Coordinator, as well as a memorandum explaining her duties in this role.

    PE1 Action: National/Regional Climate Program

    3 Points

    Program Summary: The attached letter from NYSERDA states that the Town of Pittsford has been named a Clean Energy Community by the State of New York.

    PE1 Action: Partnerships with Other Entities

    3 Points

    Program Summary: The Town of Pittsford has collaborated with the Village of Pittsford, Town of Brighton, and Town of Irondequoit for implementation of a Community Choice Aggregation program. These municipalities have joined together seeking to bring our residents electricity from 100% renewable sources at a lower cost. Though this program has been initiated and out to bid twice, the municipalities have not received a conforming bid. Supervisor Smith expects a compliant bid in near future months. Read more here: https://www.townofpittsford.org/community-choice-aggregation-information.

  • 3. Decrease energy use.

    PE3 Action: Government Building Energy Audits

    10 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: The attached Level-3 AHSRAE audit was performed by NYS Pollution Prevention Institute in 2020. This report covers two of the six Town owned and operated buildings: Town Hall and Highway Department. Other buildings include the Library, Parks Department, Sewer Department, and the Community Center. Per this action, "The percentage of buildings audited can be calculated based on either the simple percentage of buildings, or the percentage of square footage of the total building portfolio." This equates to approximately 33% of Town buildings, or by square footage, equates to 28%. The calculations for these percentages is attached.

    PE3 Action: Benchmarking - Municipal Buildings

    2 Points

    Program Summary: Attached is the NYSERDA Benchmarking Clean Energy Communities Benchmarking High Impact Action approval letter.

    PE3 Action: LED Street Lights

    8 Points

    Program Summary: The Town of Pittsford has completed the NYSERDA High Impact Action for converting 106 out of 111 streetlights to LED Cobra Head fixtures.

    PE3 Action: Energy Code Enforcement Training

    5 Points

    Program Summary: The Town of Pittsford Fire Marshal attended the Energy Code Enforcement Training, see attached notice of completion.

  • 4. Shift to clean, renewable energy.

    PE4 Action: Solar Energy Installation

    9 Points

    Program Summary: The Town of Pittsford installed a total of 43 solar modules atop buildings located at King's Bend Park, 170 W Jefferson Rd, for a peak wattage of 15.48kW. These modules were installed by Solar Liberty Energy Systems Inc. in December of 2020. The Town has attached the contract specifying kilowattage and installer, as well as Facebook promotion and posted signage for the panels and images of the installation.

  • 5. Use climate-smart materials management.

    PE5 Action: Organic Waste Program for Government Buildings

    2 Points

    Program Summary: The Town of Pittsford hosts a composting program at the Spiegel Community Center. Food scraps are collected here, picked up by Impact Earth, and the compost is returned to the Town for use in the Community Garden at Thornell Farm Park. The Spiegel Center is 34,790 square feet of our government-owned and operated buildings, totaling 112,527 square feet. This equates to composting in 31% of Town buildings.

    PE5 Action: Residential Organic Waste Program

    4 Points

    Program Summary: The Town has a yard debris pick-up program extending from the end of March to mid-December for residents. During this time, our crews will pick up brush, loose branches, leaves, and yard debris. Contractors and homeowners may also drop off such materials at our Highway Department. Wood and leaf mulch generated by the Town’s yard debris recycling program are available free of charge to residents who visit the East Street storage bins (enter at 34 East Street) located just before the gate to the Town Parks Department office building. For more information, please visit https://www.townofpittsford.org/leaf-collection#yard

  • 6. Implement climate-smart land use.

    PE6 Action: Comprehensive Plan with Sustainability Elements

    12 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: The Town adopted the Updated Comprehensive Plan on October 1, 2019, see minutes. This plan recommends many features to maintain a sustainable community and future for residents. The attached memo outlines specific areas in which sustainability elements are incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan. The full plan can be found here: https://www.townofpittsford.org/comp_plan_info_page.

    PE6 Action: Smart Growth Policies

    6 Points

    Program Summary: The attached memo outlines how the Town implements smart growth policies with links to specific sections of our Town Code.

    PE6 Action: Unified Solar Permit

    5 Points

    Program Summary: We have attached the dated NYSERDA e-mail verification of approval for the Clean Energy Communities Unified Solar Permit High Impact Action, as well as the Town Board approval minutes for said action.

    PE6 Action: Policies for Local Food Systems

    3 Points

    Program Summary: The Town has developed regulations for Rural Farming and Farm Market Stands in our Pittsford Town Zoning Code adopted September 18, 2012. Further information can be seen in the attached memo.

    PE6 Action: Planning for Biking and Walking

    3 Points

    Program Summary: The Town has adopted an Active Transportation Plan, in December 2020, which incorporates a plan for biking and walking that covers the entire community: https://www.townofpittsford.org/active-transportation-plan. There are numerous sections that relate to biking and walking within the region, specifically pages 60-93, which discuss recommendations to implement for future projects.

    PE6 Action: Infrastructure for Biking and Walking

    5 Points

    Program Summary: The Town has completed numerous projects to expand sidewalks and walking/biking paths throughout Pittsford. We have attached an example of a recently expanded sidewalk on East Avenue. The attached map lists three phases: Phase 1 and 2 are complete, while Phase 3 is planned for the future. When creating these paths and sidewalks, safety signage is implemented. Please see the attached signage plan and completed signage for the example of the East Avenue Sidewalk project.

    PE6 Action: Alternative-fuel Infrastructure

    8 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: The Town owns and operates two EV charging stations: one at the Town Library and one at the Spiegel Community Center. Both EV chargers are classified as Level-2 stations and each have two charging ports per site. Both sites are available for public use 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. The attached documents and photos validate the installation of these stations and that both are currently active.

  • 8. Support a green innovation economy.

    PE8 Action: Farmers’ Markets

    3 Points

    Program Summary: The Town hosts the Pittsford Village Farmer's Market every year at the Town's Spiegel Community Center. We have attached promotional materials and photos from the event, as well as the permit issued by the Town. The Town also promotes the many other farmer's markets on our website https://www.townofpittsford.org/stands-markets and in our Town-wide newsletter, an example attached.

  • 9. Inform and inspire the public.

    PE9 Action: Social Media

    3 Points

    Program Summary: The Town of Pittsford regularly updates the Town Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/pittsfordtown1789. Please see the attached posts as examples for how the Town Facebook page encourages clean energy and sustainability.