
Crews from the Lower Platte Natural Resources District, US Army Corps and Engineers and General Excavating fill sandbags to stop seeping water on the Salt Creek levee south of Haymarket Park in May 2015. Addressing issues and protecting homes in the Salt Creek floodplain is one of the priorities city officials have identified in the city's Climate Action Plan.
Lincoln's search for a second water source, addressing Salt Creek floodplain issues and curtailing the city's own carbon emissions mark the three boldest ideas Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird's administration seeks to prioritize in its climate action plan.
Miki Esposito, the mayor's senior policy adviser who is leading the city's climate action efforts, said a working group has identified about 20 priorities that could be accomplished in the next six years after narrowing down more than 300 strategies.
The city hired a consultant for $97,000 to develop the larger strategic plan with input from a community task force.
Now the work has turned to finding a shorter list of achievable, practical and meaningful early goals to propel Lincoln's overall effort to slow climate change and prepare for its effects, said Esposito, the city's former Lincoln Transportation and Utilities director.
"The worst thing we can do as a city is work really, really hard on the wrong things," she said.
Lincoln's climate may warm by as much as 5 degrees by 2050 and residents may face harsher weather conditions and more extreme weather events as a result, according to the plan.
Gaylor Baird has staked a goal of reducing the city's overall carbon emissions 80% by 2050.
The Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Commission will have a hearing on the plan in mid-February before it goes to the Lincoln City Council for adoption sometime in mid-March, Esposito said.
Developed over the course of a year, the 172-page draft plan included more than 300 strategies when it was released in October.
Those strategies included policies such as transitioning all homes to electric-only heating and cooking appliances, incentivizing the use of green roofs in development and launching a citywide compost collection program, among others.
But after virtual meetings with internal city department leaders, environmental and business groups and input from residents, the Gaylor Baird administration agreed the city must lead the community effort by example, with strategies it can start to build into budgets, Esposito said.
"We really thought there’s a lot we can do by looking at ourselves and focusing inward," she said.
As one of its early steps, the city plans to tackle the emissions goal by increasing energy efficiencies and transitioning the city's vehicle fleet to greener fuels, Esposito said.
StarTran has in recent years upgraded many diesel buses to run off compressed natural gas and, in the last couple years, has been purchasing all-electric buses.
Since 2019, the Lincoln Police Department has begun replacing cruisers with hybrids, Officer Erin Spilker said.
Cruiser 167 was the first marked hybrid cruiser to hit the street, beginning service in May 2020, Spilker said.
"All of the new marked units for this year will be hybrids," Spilker said.
Other priorities include strengthening public transit, expanding the bike trail network and analyzing landfill gas alternatives.
But outside of the city's own practices, the administration also believes the city's climate action efforts should focus on protecting and assisting vulnerable communities, like the neighborhoods along the Salt Creek floodplain, Esposito said.
A recently completed resiliency study of the Salt Creek floodplain recommended strategies to safeguard more homes, and those ideas are being evaluated.
The city has recorded more than 100 flood events on Salt Creek since 1900, according to a news release.
The city is considering efforts to partner with other utilities and organizations to help increase energy efficiency at homes in the Salt Creek floodplain, especially where it can serve low-income families and new Americans, she said.
The plan will not include price tags for policies, and residents should view it as a compass rather than a map in the city's journey to a more climate resilient and greener future, Esposito said.
Future budget meetings of the City Council and hearings on proposed policy changes will shape what can get done, but Esposito said concerns about cost will be kept in mind.
But officials are also keeping in mind the costs associated with inaction, she said.
For example, if the changing climate brings more frequent, extremely rainy events and flooding, inaction may bring costs too, she said.
The city paid out nearly $370,000 in disaster assistance to 148 homeowners who had sewage back up into their homes in 2014 and 2015 because of heavy rains that overwhelmed the city's system in an area of town with older pipes.
Ultimately, the climate action plan aims to show the community how seemingly siloed projects actually work together and the importance of aligning the city's actions to address climate problems, she said.
"We're helping people connect the dots between climate change and how those climate change impacts are making us act with a sense of urgency," she said.
TOP JOURNAL STAR PHOTOS FOR JANUARY
Top Journal Star photos for January
Top Journal Star Photos for January

LINCOLN, NEB. - 01/25/2021 - A man, who did not give his name, clears the sidewalk using a snowblower during a record breaking winter storm hit downtown Lincoln on Monday, January 25, 2021. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star.
Top Journal Star Photos for January

LINCOLN, NEB. - 01/25/2021 - Brothers of the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity hold on to mattresses while being pulled by a pickup truck along the street in front of the UNL Union during a winter storm in downtown Lincoln on Monday, January 25, 2021. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star.
Top Journal Star Photos for January

LINCOLN, NEB. - 01/25/2021 - Judith Andre takes a break from shoveling her sidewalk for a quick portrait during a record breaking winter storm in downtown Lincoln on Monday, January 25, 2021. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star.
Top Journal Star Photos for January

LINCOLN, NEB. - 01/23/2021 - Friends from the village, a group of current and former healthcare workers and volunteers, join together in their open air "fort" during a weekly potluck on Saturday, January 23, 2021. Tauni Waddington and Sheryl Teslow have constructed an open air "fort" in their backyard so the couple could continue to socialize with their close cadre of friends during the pandemic. Built out of PVC pipe, tarp, ropes, and some well placed propane heaters, they are able to stay warm outside. They gather every Saturday starting at 5:30 for a socially-distanced potluck and conversation. Sometimes a movie. they played cards every Saturday for years before the pandemic. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star.
Top Journal Star photos for January

Lincoln Southeast's McGinness Schneider (4) is fouled by Lincoln Northeast's Zander Beard (14) as he drives to the basket in the first half Jan. 23 at Lincoln Southeast.
Top Journal Star photos for January

Lincoln Northeast's Pierce Bazil (23) celebrates at the final buzzer as the Rockets defeat Lincoln Southeast 59-53 on Jan. 23 at Lincoln Southeast High School.
Top Journal Star Photos for January

LINCOLN, NEB. - 01/23/2021 - Northwestern's Maxx Mayfield slams Nebraska's Caleb Licking on the mat in the 157 weight class match on Saturday, January 23, 2021 at the Devaney Sports Center. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star.
Top Journal Star Photos for January

A health care professional work to fill syringes with doses of the Moderna vaccine at a mass vaccination clinic at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Friday.
Top Journal Star Photos for January

A health care worker gets the first dose of the Moderna vaccine by a nurse at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Jan. 22.
Top Journal Star photos for January

Lincoln East's Haley Peterson (left) dives for a loose ball against Lincoln High's J'unti Franklin in the second half Jan. 23 at Lincoln High.
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Lincoln High's Kiana Wiley (left) celebrates a key layup late in the game against Lincoln East on Jan. 23 at Lincoln High.
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Waverly's Abbie Carter (43) reacts after getting called for a foul against Wahoo's Toni Greenfield (10) with 1.3 seconds left in the game, giving Wahoo a chance to tie the game with two free throws Jan. 21 in Wahoo. Greenfield missed both shots and the Vikings held on with a 48-46 win over the Warriors.
Top Journal Star photos for January

LINCOLN, NEB. - 01/21/2021 - Female and male mallard ducks stand on a slightly submerged ice shelf as the blustery winds moves the water around them on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, at Holmes Lake Park. Chilly temps are forecasted for the upcoming weekend. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Top Journal Star photos for January

York's Destiny Shepherd (11) drives to the basket to score a game-tying basket against Norris' Brianna Stai (24) in the closing seconds of the first half Jan. 19 in York.
Top Journal Star photos for January

Norris' Trey Deveaux drives past York's Jake Erwin (5) and Ryan Seevers (23) for a first-half basket Jan. 19 in York.
Top Journal Star photos for January

Due to the pandemic the pool deck is less crowded and swimmers, coaches and race staff are required to wear masks on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, during the Gene Cotter Invitational at Lincoln Northeast High School. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Top Journal Star photos for January

Norris' Dane Small steals the ball from Crete's Isaac Kracl in the second quarter at Norris Middle School on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star.
Top Journal Star photos for January

Austyn Sorensen releases some of her balloons at Nebraska State Capitol during the Walk for Life on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021. The annual Walk for Life was held in front of the state Capitol on Saturday. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star.
Top Journal Star photos for January

Steve Woitaszewski make measurements as he scores a deer during Nebraska Deer and Game Expo, Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, at Lancaster Event Center. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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A pair of bison, one hunkered down with blowing snow adhering to its fur and another on the prowl for food, weather the gusting 30 mph winds and precipitation which came to the area on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, at Pioneers Park Nature Center. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
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Customers order their sandwiches from Colton Harpst and Chris Mathews during lunchtime at Danny's Downtown Deli on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
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Gov. Pete Ricketts (left) does an elbow bump with Sen. Steve Halloran during State of the State, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, Nebraska State Capitol. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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An order of Margaritas: the Sol y Luna (Blended house margarita with a touch of mango, strawberry, and kiwi syrup.), Husker Power and Freeman's (Homemade without a mix! Hornitos, Triple Sec and something else...) on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, at Mi México Lindo, located at 8222 Holdrege St. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
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Cindy Knippelmeyer (left) and her husband Tyson Knippelmeyer fish on the ice of Holmes Lake on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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Lincoln Pius X's Charlie Hoiberg (right) drives to the basket for two points against Bellevue West's Preston Ames in the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, at Bellevue West High School. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Top Journal Star photos for January

Construction of the new high school near Northwest 48th and West Holdrege streets continues, Monday, Jan. 11, 2021. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Top Journal Star photos for January

Melanie Butcher holds her cat Miss Chievous at Staybridge Suites, Monday, Jan. 4, 2021. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Top Journal Star photos for January

Lincoln Pius X's Mac Boatman is flipped on his back by Omaha Northwestern's Eh Mu at Lincoln North Star High School on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star.
Top Journal Star photos for January

Nebraska wrestler Liam Cronin (left) greets Minnesota’s Patrick McKee before the 125 pound match-up on Friday, Jan. 8 2021, Devaney Sports Center. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Top Journal Star photos for January

A family of snowpeople are seen on the front yard of the Parker family on Hickory Crest Road on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. The five human children - Evan, Levi, Mia, Kate and Ella started the project on Monday with a snow family of five. The sculpture collection had since snowballed with the addition of grandparents, triplet cousins, aunt and uncle. At one point, the snow was so heavy, it took four grown man to lift the body section of the father. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Top Journal Star photos for January

Frost coats prairie grass in Frank Shoemaker Marsh on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Top Journal Star photos for January

A red-tailed hawk keeps itself warm by dipping the tail in the water, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, at Holmes Lake. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Top Journal Star photos for January

A view from behind the Zoo Bar bandstand on Wednesday, Jan. 6 2021. The music establishment is launching a membership program to help it survive the COVID-19 pandemic. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Top Journal Star photos for January

Speaker Mike Hilgers (left) greets Sen. Lynne Walz after Walz was elected to be the chair of education committee during the first day of the 2021 legislative session, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Top Journal Star photos for January

Newly elected and re-elected senators, including Sen. Lou Ann Linehan (center), swear in during the first day of the 2021 legislative session, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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Supporters of Pres. Donald J. Trump rally on the north side of the Nebraska State Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6 2021, during the first day of the Legislature. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Top Journal Star photos for January

Lincoln Southeast's Jake Appleget (24) drives to the basket against Lincoln North Star's Brennon Clemmons (right) and Jake Seip (bottom in the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 5 2021, at Lincoln Southeast High School. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Top Journal Star photos for January

A pedestrian crosses over a footbridge during their walk through Holmes Lake Park on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021. A warm and sunny day brought out all kinds of creatures out of their dens. After last weeks heavy snow, High temperatures in the upper 40s were a welcome relief. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star.
Top Journal Star photos for January

Judah Kirsch, 8, gets on a tube next to Phoebe the dog as he plays on a frozen pond at Pioneers Park, Monday, Jan. 4, 2021. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Top Journal Star photos for January

Wyatt Haertel performs a frontside ollie off a hip ramp at Tierra Skate Park on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star.
Reach the writer at 402-473-2657 or rjohnson@journalstar.com.
On Twitter @LJSRileyJohnson.