Sustainable Landscaping RFP Language City of Long Beach, CA

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1 Sustainable Landscaping RFP Language City of Long Beach, CA I. PROJECT DESCRIPTION Design and landscaping techniques for [PROJECT NAME] shall conform to the intent of the City of Long Beach s Green Building Policy (see attached). The intent of the project is to create a sustainable landscaped environment that is regionally appropriate, utilizes sustainable materials and construction practices, conserves water resources, minimizes waste, minimizes power use, protects indoor and outdoor air quality, minimizes light pollution, and minimizes the heat island effect. [Insert site description, location and general project purpose] Landscape architects often balance a variety of concerns (such as cost, aesthetics, accessibility) when designing a project. The selected landscape design firm must address the concerns identified below in the conceptual and final design [customize list]: Sustainability in design, materials selection, project construction and maintenance. The work shall integrate landscaping materials and methods that promote water conservation, rain-water capture and on-site use, native species, and low-toxicity maintenance. [Required] Community involvement: public landscape and park projects typically spring from a community need. The final users of the project should have an opportunity to participate in the formulation of, or at minimum comment on, conceptual and final designs. Resource-efficient landscaping practices can produce significant economic and environmental benefits. Savings include reduced labor, water, and fertilizer costs, lower hauling expenses and disposal fees, and less exposure to workers compensation claims due to crew injury from lifting heavy loads of green material. Recreation Public safety Aesthetic appeal Connections to urban fabric Ease/cost of maintenance. Proper watering, fertilizing, and pruning along with Integrated Pest Management can encourage healthier, disease-resistant plants and can reduce the amount of pesticides, fertilizers, and other toxic runoff entering storm drains and polluting creeks, lakes, and rivers. Durability Accessibility Cost II. CONSULTANT REQUIREMENTS A. Consultant Requirements The team/project lead must have a philosophy, design approach, and demonstrated practice of environmentally sensitive landscaping. The firm s project history should demonstrate commitment to enhancing the environmental quality, and long-term performance of their design and landscaping projects.

2 B. Consultant Selection Criterion Demonstrated ability to provide creative and sustainable landscape projects within strict budget limitations and demonstrated knowledge of native plants, native plant associations, sustainable building materials, weather appropriate irrigation systems, etc. III. PROPOSED SCOPE OF WORK Sustainable & Integrated Design Sustainable landscape design integrates materials and methods that promote environmental quality and social benefit through the design, construction and maintenance of the built environment. These sustainable aspects of the development process encompass the following broad topics: reinforcement and restoration of natural systems, sustainable management of material resources, efficient use of water and energy, and protection of health and outdoor environmental quality. Sustainable design principles affect all phases of project development, from design and construction to operations and maintenance. For best results, sustainability should be clearly articulated as a guiding principle for the landscaping project, and incorporated into the project from the earliest stages. THE PROPOSAL SCOPE OF WORK SHALL INCLUDE [CUSTOMIZE]: 1. The approach to regional design suitability. The landscape design should respond to the local climatic and ecological context by incorporating solar patterns, wind patterns, hydrology and geology into design features. A regional plant design palette should be used. The California Native Plant Society s A Manual of California Vegetation or other comparable reference should be used to identify appropriate native vegetation and regional plant associations for the Southern California region. 1 The final design should incorporate a minimum of 40 percent native plant associations (percentage does not include turf for active recreational areas). Where possible the design should consider the use of field turf for high-use play fields. The site should be developed using ecological design principles to restore and enhance natural systems function where possible. Environmental and habitat benefits of vegetation should be maximized. All projects should maximize habitat protection and environmental restoration. All projects should preserve and enhance habitat for listed species (species of concern or endangered species) of fauna or flora to the maximum feasible extent. Special care should be taken to protect/preserve riparian habitat. Invasive non-natives (e.g. Andean pampas grass, ice-plant, and Scotch broom) and high waste producing plants (e.g. Palm and Eucalyptus trees) should be avoided. Reference the California Invasive Plant Council s Invasive Plant Inventory (also know as "The Weed List") to identify plants that should not be planted in any Long Beach project. Please see: 1 The following web-sites can be used to identify specific native plants appropriate to specific soil, climate, sun and maintenance schedules: index.html

3 2. The approach to incorporating sustainable materials and construction practices into the landscape design and construction process. The design should use products that incorporate recycled materials, rapidly-renewable materials and or sustainable materials in street furniture (benches, trash receptacles, recycling receptacles, lighting equipment, play-equipment, fencing, decking), restroom facilities, public art, paving, and parking. Materials with minimal packaging waste that is recyclable and materials that are easily recycled once their useful life has ended are also preferred. Design should be low maintenance and specify durable materials. Crime and graffiti prevention should be considered. Projects should be built to accommodate standard dimensional lumber lengths where possible to minimize construction waste. All projects should have a jobsite management plan for recycling construction and demolition debris. Easily recycled materials with minimal and recycled packaging are also preferred. Construction plans should include procedures to minimize and mitigate disturbance to adjacent areas during the construction process. 3. The approach to protecting water resources. Water conserving methods should be considered in all aspects of the Landscape design. Designers should develop a water budget for the landscaped project, and consider innovative water technologies. Designers should know how to limit potable water use through the following techniques: Harvesting on-site water flows for landscape irrigation and other possible uses. Appropriate sizing of the irrigation system for the landscape design The use of water efficient irrigation technologies: weather appropriate irrigation system, low-flow systems, solar controllers, etc. Designing with drought tolerant plants (hydrozoning & xeriscape), with appropriate establishment techniques and the possible elimination of a permanent irrigation system. Please review the Metropolitan Water District s recommended drought tolerant plants at: Designing site water flows to minimize erosion, encourage infiltration, and utilize innovative stormwater management techniques. Protecting water quality by avoiding the use of toxic materials on the site during development and maintenance. Low water-use landscaping. Integrated Pest Management strategies to protect water quality. Separate irrigation water metering. 4. The approach to minimize landscape waste. The landscape design should aim to minimize disposal of landscape materials. Landscapes should be designed for mature size of trees and shrubs. Landscape designs should include specification of maintenance practices such as natural pruning that minimize waste generation. Where possible, on-site recycling of landscape waste (grasscycling, mulching, on-site composting) should be included. 5. The approach to minimize power use Energy efficiency lighting methods should be considered for all aspects of the design (e.g. parking, paths, bathrooms, playing fields, pools, etc.). Strategic tree planting should be incorporated to maximize summer cooling and winter lighting. Electric vehicle charging stations should be incorporated into parking areas where practical.

4 Use of solar-powered controllers for irrigation and low-voltage lighting. 6. The approach to protecting indoor and outdoor environmental quality The landscape design should aim to reduce pollutant sources in both interior and exterior environments. Non-allergenic plants should be planted near doors and air intake areas (operable windows, HVAC intake valve, etc.) of site buildings. A long-term pest management plan should be designed for the project in coordination with the City of Long Beach s Pest Control Advisor. 7. The approach to minimizing light pollution The landscape design should aim to minimize light pollution. Use the least amount of lighting equipment possible to achieve the goals of the project. In most cases, it is better to have two luminaries with lower light output and good glare control than one higher output luminaire. Use full or semi-cutoff luminaries where possible to avoid off-site light pollution. Design lighting to produce minimal upward illumination from direct or reflected light sources. Select luminaire locations carefully to control glare and contain light within the design area. Pay special attention to luminaires that are located near the property line to ensure that no measurable light from these luminaries crosses the project boundary. Use the minimum amount of light necessary and only light areas that require it. Include automatic controllers to ensure that unnecessary lighting is turned off, especially after hours and during post-curfew periods. 8. The approach to minimize Heat Island Effect At least one of the following should be included in project design: Shading (within 5 years) and/or open grid pavement (less than 50% impervious) for at least 30% of the site s non-roof impervious surfaces, including parking lots, walkways, plazas, etc.; Light-colored/high-albedo materials (reflectance of at least 0.3) on all surfaces; Providing underground or structure-covered parking for a minimum of 50% of parking spaces; Parks should provide shading (within 5 years) of 50% of parking spaces. Using an open-grid pavement system for a minimum of 50% of the parking lot area. IV. CONSULTANT SERVICES CONTRACT LANGUAGE A. Design Phase The Consultant shall orchestrate and participate in a sustainability goal setting charrette for the landscape project. With follow-up review, the results shall be utilized to develop a concept describing the specific approach and method to accomplish the objectives set out in the RFP. Upon consultation and review by the City, the consultant shall prepare and submit to the City a Final Design, indicating all site component details and their configurations. The Consultant shall also submit a formal detailed cost estimate for the Final Design, which shall not exceed the [insert construction budget amount] B. Project Maintenance and Stewardship Phase The contractor will maintain plantings with a minimum survivability rate of 90% for a 90 day establishment period. The contractor will provide maintenance specifications to be incorporated into future maintenance contracts for the project site Definitions

5 Heat Island Effect -- The term "heat island" refers to urban air and surface temperatures that are higher than nearby rural areas. Many U.S. cities and suburbs have air temperatures up to 10 F (5.6 C) warmer than the surrounding natural land cover. Heat islands form as cities replace natural land cover with pavement, buildings, and other infrastructure. Heat islands increase the cost of airconditioning on surrounding buildings. Invasive Pant - Invasive plants are plant species that exhibit a tendency to spread out of control in your landscaping. Although not synonymous with "exotic plants" ("alien plants"), invasive plants often are plants that have been introduced from other regions. Once introduced, such plants spread like wildfire, because the insects who eat them in their native lands are absent in their new homes. Light Pollution - The illumination of the night sky by waste light from cities and outdoor lighting, which prevents the observation of faint objects. This is why it is hard to see stars in big cities. Native Plant Associations native plants that commonly grow together and create a plant community which is more drought, weed and pest resistant when planted together than the plants are grown separately. Native Plant - A plant that lives or grows naturally in a particular region without direct or indirect human intervention. Rapidly-renewable materials a rapidly renewable building material (such as straw, bamboo, linoleum and cork) which grow to mature harvest in less than three years. Recycled materials -- a product containing post-consumer or post-industrial materials. Sustainability - Meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.