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The U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement
tips endorsed by the 7r Annual U.S. Conference of Mayon meeting. Chicago, 2005)
A. We urge the federal government and stale governments to enact polkies and pmgmms
to meet or beat the target of reducing global warming pollution levels to ) percent
below 19901evels by 2012, including efforts to: reduce the United State) dependence
on fossil fuels and accelerate the development of clean, economical energy resources
and fuel -efficient technologies such as conservation, methane mcovery for energy
generator, waste W energy, wind and solar energy, fuel cells, efficient motor vehicles,
and biofuels;
B. We urge the U.S. CpngresW pass bipartisan greenhouse gas reduction legislation that
1) includes clearfimerablesand emissions limits and 2) a gamble, market-based system
of tradable allowances among emitting industries; ami
C. We will arrive to meet or eacesed Kyoto Pmmcol targets for reducing global warming
pollution by taking actions in our own operetons and communities such as:
1. Inventory global warming emissiom In City operations and in the community,
set reduction targets and create an action plan.
2. Adopt and enforceland-use policies that reduce sprawl, preserve open space.
and create compact, walkable urban communi
3. Promote transportation options such as bicycle tails, commute trip reduction
programs,incentives for car pooling and public transit
6. Increase the use of clean, alternative energy by, for prompt, investing In
"green tags", advocating for the development of renewable energy resources,
waeting Landfill methane for energy production, and supporting the use of
ste W energy technology;
S. Make energy efficiency a priority through building code iminionvernents,
retrofitting city facilities with energy efficient lighting and urging employres to
coneyearve energy and save money;
6. Purchase only Energy Star equipment and appliances for CM use,
]. Practice and promote sustainable baking practices using the U.S. Green
Building Council's LEEO program or a similar system;
S. Increase the average Nei efficiency of mu id"Idean vehicles; reduce the
umber of eheles; launch an employee education program Including anti-
idiengmssages, comert diesel vehicles W blo-diesel;
9. Evaluate opportunities to increase pump efficiency in water and wastewater
systems; recover wastewater treatment methane for energy production;
10. Increase recycling aces in City operations and In the community;
11. Maintain healthy urban forests; promote may planting W increase shading
and to absorb COY and
12. Help educate the public, schmis, otherjurisdlcfiom, Professional irradiators,
business and industry about reducing global warming pollution.
Subject: SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES CONFERENCE REPORT
From : Rich Wagner (also attending Dave Baron and Steve Pilcher)
Date: October 1, 2007
To: Pete Lewis (with request to forward to Councilmembers)
Cc: Dan Heid, Dave Baron, Carolyn Robertson, Steve Pilcher, David Osaki,
Eric Robertson, Dennis Dowdy, Shelley Coleman, Daryl Faber, Brenda Heineman.
The Association of Washington Cities organized this Conference, attended by about
100 mayors, councilmembers, planners, economic development and public works
people. It focused on efficient local energy use, economic development aspects of
sustainability and the global climate effects of CO2 generation by the built
environment and by transportation systems.
Sustainabililty concerns are not new, as evidenced by the many environmental interest
groups that have been advocating for 25 years. Some of those groups at the conference
included the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), the
Cascade Land Conservancy, American Planning Association's Community Planning
Assistance Team (CPAT), Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. Most of this
advocacy has focused on "doing the right thing" but recently the emphasis has shifted
to addressing the economic aspects, both costs and benefits. I personally believe that
"green" can be lower cost if implemented scientifically, not emotionally.
Washington State's increased interest in green is evidenced by Governor Gregoire's
formation of the Climate Advisory Team (CAT) co-chaired by Julie Wilkerson,
Director of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) and Jay
Manning, Director of the Department of Ecology which includes a broad-based 22
member working group. Their report is due at the end of 2007 with aggressive goals of
reduced CO2 generation. The CAT expects legislation to be re -introduced (SB 5871 in
the 2007 session) adding a mandatory Energy chapter to local Comprehensive Plans.
This is a good idea in my view, but only if the state provides funding. $50,000 to
$100,000 per plan would be needed.
Also new is the 2007 U.S. Mayors' conference (including Pete) signing up 700 local
jurisdictions to work on sustainability. I suggest caution when joining such efforts
since they often include agendas that we may not agree with, e.g. the Cascade Land
Conservancy's promotion of Transfer of Development Rights (TDR).
The City of Olympia has been emphasizing sustainability throughout their activities
for several years, led by Public Works Director Michael Mucha (Mooka). They point
to energy savings through building design, infrastructure specifications, and
transportation choices. Fire Chief, Larry Dibble, commented about the role of his
sustainconf.doc 10/1/07 9:30m Page 1 of 2
department including the economic and environmental benefits of residential fire
sprinklers. HR Director Cathy Raymond discussed how they use sustainability as a
unifying force for employees. The Evergreen State College people spoke about their
educational programs which seemed economically based, not emotionally driven.
The City of Ellensburg is working on an ambitious solar energy project that currently
has 120 solar panels generating 36 kilowatts and will grow to 550 panels within 5
years. They are involving their customers in financing the project with rate reductions
as an incentive to invest.
Sustainable transportation planning was presented in an interesting light by Ian
Lockwood of Glatting Jackson. He advocates for less automobile mobility on major
streets/freeways and more mobility through the use of "fine grain street patterns" that
allow many options for travel routes. He even wants to convert 4 lane streets to 2
lanes to encourage drivers to choose other routes. Sort of a heretical view, especially
for a traffic engineer which he is. He also advocates curbless streets to improve
walkability, extension of streets to "pull" amenities such as waterfronts back into the
rest of the community, and "built -to -the -street" buildings.
K.C. Golden, former Assistant Director of CTED and Seattle Mayor's Advisor for
clean energy initiatives, spoke very convincingly about the economic benefits of
sustainability. He is currently Policy Director of Climate Solutions and member of the
Governor's Climate Advisory Team. I think he will be very influential in this arena
and should be consulted to define our City's sustainability policies.
Susan Drummond, attorney with Foster Pepper, had a key role in setting up this
conference and could be a useful resource if we face any legal issues relative to the
Auburn Environmental Park (AEP).
Out -going Redmond Mayor Rosemarie Ives spoke about her city's experience in
implementing capital projects with `green" approaches. Although strongly endorsing
the concept of using sustainable practices on local facility construction, she cautioned
against blindly using green certification by the LEED methodology (Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design) because of high cost benefit ratios with some of
LEED's recommendations. This is the common sense approach that Auburn is taking
with our many facility improvements, e.g. Community Center, City Hall Annex
Building, Auburn Avenue Theater, Golf Clubhouse, etc.
This conference (a) heightened my awareness of the economic benefits of sustainable
practices, (b) confirmed my view of LEED as a tool not an end in itself, (c)
highlighted the growing interest in sustainability at the WA state government level,
and (d) reinforced my view that the City should do more to realize the benefits of
Sustainability.
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