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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJ1 env action plan and mayoral proc 11-27-06 Commission Memorandum REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission FROM: Brit Fontenot; City Clerk and Chris A. Kukulski, City Manager SUBJECT: Commission Response to Special Presentation by Citizens Concerned about Climate Change Effects a. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement b. Draft Bozeman Environmental Action Plan MEETING DATE: November 27, 2006 BACKGROUND: On October 30, 2006 during a regular Commission meeting, several citizens spoke during the public comment period and suggested that local citizens concerned about climate change effects make presentations regarding the effects of climate change before the City Commission. Additionally, some of the same concerned citizens suggested adoption of the Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement and a Bozeman Environmental Action Plan. RECOMMENDATION: Review and comment on the special presentation by Citizens Concerned about Climate Change Effects. Acknowledge receipt of the Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement and Draft Bozeman Environmental Action Plan and direct staff to review the documents and return to the Commission with suggestions for adoption. ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the City Commission. Respectfully submitted, ____________________________ ____________________________ Brit Fontenot, City Clerk Chris A. Kukulski, City Manager Attachments: US Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement Draft Environmental Action Plan 2 ENDORSING THE US MAYORS’ CLIMATE PROTECTION AGREEMENT (Endorsed Language) ENDORSING THE U.S. MAYORS CLIMATE PROTECTION AGREEMENT WHEREAS, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has previously adopted strong policy resolutions calling for cities, communities and the federal government to take actions to reduce global warming pollution; and WHEREAS, the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the international community’s most respected assemblage of scientists, has found that climate disruption is a reality and that human activities are largely responsible for increasing concentrations of global warming pollution; and WHEREAS, recent, well-documented impacts of climate disruption include average global sea level increases of four to eight inches during the 20th century; a 40 percent decline in Arctic sea-ice thickness; and nine of the ten hottest years on record occurring in the past decade; and WHEREAS, climate disruption of the magnitude now predicted by the scientific community will cause extremely costly disruption of human and natural systems throughout the world including: increased risk of floods or droughts; sea-level rises that interact with coastal storms to erode beaches, inundate land, and damage structures; more frequent and extreme heat waves; more frequent and greater concentrations of smog; and WHEREAS, on February 16, 2005, the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement to address climate disruption, went into effect in the 141 countries that have ratified it to date; 38 of those countries are now legally required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on average 5.2 percent below 1990 levels by 2012; and WHEREAS, the United States of America, with less than five percent of the world’s population, is responsible for producing approximately 25 percent of the world’s global warming pollutants; and WHEREAS, the Kyoto Protocol emissions reduction target for the U.S. would have been 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012; and WHEREAS, many leading US companies that have adopted greenhouse gas reduction programs to demonstrate corporate social responsibility have also publicly expressed preference for the US to adopt precise and mandatory emissions targets and timetables as a means by which to remain competitive in the international marketplace, to mitigate financial risk and to promote sound investment decisions; and WHEREAS, state and local governments throughout the United States are adopting emission reduction targets and programs and that this leadership is bipartisan, coming from Republican and Democratic governors and mayors alike; and WHEREAS, many cities throughout the nation, both large and small, are reducing global warming pollutants through programs that provide economic and quality of life benefits such as reduced energy bills, green space preservation, air quality improvements, reduced traffic congestion, improved transportation choices, and economic development and job creation through energy conservation and new energy technologies; and WHEREAS, mayors from around the nation have signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement which, as amended at the 73rd Annual U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting, reads: The U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement a. We urge the federal government and state governments to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the target of reducing global warming pollution levels to 7 percent below 1990 3 levels by 2012, including efforts to: reduce the United States’ dependence on fossil fuels and accelerate the development of clean, economical energy resources and fuel-efficient technologies such as conservation, methane recovery for energy generation, waste to energy, wind and solar energy, fuel cells, efficient motor vehicles, and biofuels; b. We urge the U.S. Congress to pass bipartisan greenhouse gas reduction legislation that includes 1) clear timetables and emissions limits and 2) a flexible, market-based system of tradable allowances among emitting industries; and c. We will strive to meet or exceed Kyoto Protocol targets for reducing global warming pollution by taking actions in our own operations and communities such as: 1. Inventory global warming emissions in City operations and in the community, set reduction targets and create an action plan. 2. Adopt and enforce land-use policies that reduce sprawl, preserve open space, and create compact, walkable urban communities; 3. Promote transportation options such as bicycle trails, commute trip reduction programs, incentives for car pooling and public transit; 4. Increase the use of clean, alternative energy by, for example, investing in “green tags”, advocating for the development of renewable energy resources, recovering landfill methane for energy production, and supporting the use of waste to energy technology; 5. Make energy efficiency a priority through building code improvements, retrofitting city facilities with energy efficient lighting and urging employees to conserve energy and save money; 6. Purchase only Energy Star equipment and appliances for City use; 7. Practice and promote sustainable building practices using the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED program or a similar system; 8. Increase the average fuel efficiency of municipal fleet vehicles; reduce the number of vehicles; launch an employee education program including anti-idling messages; convert diesel vehicles to bio-diesel; 9. Evaluate opportunities to increase pump efficiency in water and wastewater systems; recover wastewater treatment methane for energy production; 10. Increase recycling rates in City operations and in the community; 11. Maintain healthy urban forests; promote tree planting to increase shading and to absorb CO2; and 12. Help educate the public, schools, other jurisdictions, professional associations, business and industry about reducing global warming pollution. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors endorses the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as amended by the 73rd annual U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting and urges mayors from around the nation to join this effort. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, The U.S. Conference of Mayors will work in conjunction with ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability and other appropriate organizations to track progress and implementation of the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as amended by the 73rd annual U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting. 4 Initial Ideas for Possible Bozeman Action Plan to Reduce Our Community’s Contribution to Global Warming and Respond Constructively to Anticipated Impacts of Global Warming November 2006 (The bolded actions 1-12 below come from the Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement, with local examples listed with each.) Actions for Local Government to Consider 1. Inventory global warming emissions in City operations and in the community, set reduction targets, and create an action plan a. Establish a citizen task force, including MSU instructors/researchers with expertise on different facets of climate change, to advise staff in assessing changes each department can make and prepare a draft action plan for the City; the recommendations could include a benefit-cost analysis, assessing both short-term and long-term costs and benefits of implementing/not implementing various recommendations; b. Adopt a long-term, overarching commitment covering all City departments, programs, and policies to consider the impact of actions on global warming and to adopt more climate-friendly practices, including reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, minimizing waste through reuse and purchase of recycled supplies, and maximizing energy efficiency; 2. Adopt and enforce land-use policies that reduce sprawl, preserve open space, and create compact, walkable urban communities a. During the 2020 Community Growth Plan Update, consider any objectives and policies not already in place that would help reduce carbon emissions as the community grows; b. Promote mixed use; 3. Promote transportation options such as bicycle trails, commute trip reduction programs, incentives for car pooling and public transit a. During the Transportation Plan Update, consider any objectives not already in place to help reduce carbon emissions as the community grows; b. Expand Streamline bus routes for greater convenience and use; c. Continue improving walkability and bikability of community through completing networks of walking and biking lanes/routes/paths, completing safe routes for children to walk and bike to all schools, and improve intersection and arterial crossing safety for pedestrians; d. Install more energy-efficient traffic lights; e. Favor roundabouts for intersections, which reduce idling (and thus emissions); f. Ask Bike Board, Pedestrian Traffic Safety Committee, Transportation Coordinating Committee, and interested community groups to participate in developing recommendations; 4. Increase the use of clean, alternative energy by, for example, investing in “green tags”, advocating for the development of renewable energy resources, recovering landfill methane for energy production, and supporting the use of waste to energy technology 5. Make energy efficiency a priority through building code improvements, retrofitting city facilities with energy efficient lighting, and urging employees to conserve energy and save money a. Include reducing emissions and maximizing energy efficiency as goals for all capital improvements/facilities planning; b. encourage retrofitting of existing homes for reduced energy use, perhaps through rebate program; work with power company to build on its existing programs; c. revise Building Code to promote construction of more energy-efficient buildings; d. consider other policy changes to promote less energy use and create a more climate-friendly built environment, including lighting, heating/cooling, fans, and load reduction; 6. Purchase only Energy Star equipment and appliances for City use a. Encourage local businesses to promote Energy Start appliances to customers 5 7. Practice and promote sustainable building practices using the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED program or a similar system a. The new library is an excellent example of what’s possible; post data on web site to make information easily accessible on its sustainable building features; 8. Increase the average fuel efficiency of municipal fleet vehicles; reduce the number of vehicles; launch an employee education program including anti-idling messages; convert diesel vehicles to bio-diesel a. Build on the great start the City has already made regarding biodiesel vehicles, and the Planning Department’s bicycle program for staff use during the workday; purchase hybrid vehicles when appropriate; b. Ask police and other departments to develop appropriate policies regarding idling; 9. Evaluate opportunities to increase pump efficiency in water and wastewater systems recover wastewater treatment methane for energy production 10. Increase recycling rates in City operations and in the community a. Set targets and publicize availability to all households and businesses; b. Adopt practices for events that occur in public places (Sweet Pea, Christmas Stroll, etc.) to foster recycling and less waste; 11. Maintain healthy urban forests; promote tree planting to increase shading and to absorb CO2 a. Ask Tree Board and City forestry staff to work together to create a plan to dramatically increase tree planting program in parks and on boulevards; 12. Help educate the public, schools, other jurisdictions, professional associations, business and industry about reducing global warming pollution 13. With reduced snowpack and water supply predicted as one regional impact of climate change, adopt and fully implement the already studied and proposed water conservation plan for Bozeman and consider additional measures a. Implement the recommended rebate program for individuals (and maybe businesses and nonprofits) to retrofit homes with water-conserving devices and appliances; b. Revise Building Code to require (or encourage) installation of optimally water-conserving devices and appliances in new homes and workplaces; c. Consider other policy changes to promote water conservation; d. Retrofit City buildings for better water conservation. 14. Revise Economic Development Revolving Loan standards to promote investment in businesses pursuing clean energy alternatives or with climate-friendly business practices 15. Support bills in the 2007 legislative session to help Montana respond to climate change.