HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Resolution 11967 (US Mayors Climate Protection)RESOLUTION NO. 1 967
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN THE U.S. MAYORS CLIMATE
PROTECTION AGREEMENT AS AMENDED AT THE 74TH ANNUAL U.S.
CONFERENCE OF MAYORS MEETING
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 socias 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 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.
Page 2 of 4
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 Cat; and
12. Help educate the public, schools, other jurisdictions, professional associations,
business and industry about reducing global warming pollution.
'age 3 of 4
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL DOES
RESOLVE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
THE MAYOR OF SAN RAFAEL IS AUTHORIZED TO SIGN THE U.S. MAYORS CLIMATE
PROTECTION AGREEMENT AS AMENDED AT THE 74TH ANNUAL U.S. CONFERENCE OF
MAYORS MEETING.
I, Jeanne M. Leoncini, City Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing
resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of said
City held on the 5ch day of June, 2006, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Cohen, Miller, Phillips and Mayor Boro
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Hel l er
11.,o,'�eanne M. Leoncini, City Clerk
W:\Management Services- WorkFile\Finance- WorkFile\Council Material\Resolutions\2006\City\ii-�ayor conf-climate
protection.doc
Page 4 of 4
ENDORSING THE US 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, is clear that there is no longer any
credible doubt 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% 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, entered into force 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% of the world's global warming pollutants yet is
not a party to the Kyoto Protocol; and
WHEREAS, the Kyoto Protocol emissions reduction target for the U.S., had it ratified the treaty,
would have been 7% 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 (list attached) which reads:
The U.S.Mayors Climate Protection Agreement
A. We urge the federal government and state governments toenact policies and programs
to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol target of reducing global warming pollution levels to
7% below 1990 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, methan recovery for
energy generation, wind and solar energy, fuel cells, efficient motor vehicles, and
biofuels;
& VVeurge the U.S.Congress topass the bipartisan Climate Stewardship Act sponsored
bvSenators McCain and Lieberman and Representatives Gilchrist and O|ver.which
would create a flexible, market-based system of tradable allowances among emitting
induatrieo'. and
C. VVewill strive to meet or exceed Kyoto Protocol targets for reducing g|ubo| vvanninQ
pollution by taking actions in our own operations and communities such as:
1. Inventory global warming emissions in City operations and in the community, sot
reduction targets and create anaction 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, or example, investing in "green
tags", advocating for the development of renewable energy resources, and
recovering landfill methane for energy production;
5, Make energy efficiency o priority through building code improvements, retrofitting
city facilities with energy efficient lighting and urging employees to conserve
energy and save money;
8. 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 orasimilar 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 tobio-dieae|;
9� Evaluate opportunities to increase pump efficiency in water and wastewater
systems; recover wastewater treatment methane for energy production;
1O.Increase recycling rates inCity operations and inthe 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 US
Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and urges mayors from around the nation to join this
effort,
BE|TFURTHER RESOLVED, The U.0.Conference of Mayors will establish aformal
relationship with international Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) Cities for
Climate Protection Program to track progress and implementation of the US Mayors Climate
Protection Agreement.
USConference #fMayors Climate Protection Agreement — Signature Page
You have mysupport for the U8Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.
Date: JUD8 5, 2006
Mayor: ALBERT J. BORO
-Signature:
Address: P.O. BOX 151560,
City: SAN RAFAEL State: CA Zip: 94915-1560
K8avmr'sEnnoU: sanrafael.mayor@ci,san-rafael.ca.us
Staff Contact Name: ROBERT BROWN
Staff Contact Title: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Staff Phone: /415\ 485-3090 '
Staff Email: bob.brOwn@Ci.San-rafael,ca.us
Please add mycomments insupport ofthe U8Mayors Climate Protection
We will add these to the Website (optional):
Please return completed form skyour earliest convenience to:
USMayors Climate Protection Agreement
By Mail: (206) 684-3013
cJo City ofSeattle
Office ofSustainability and Environment john.nneuro@seatt[e.gov
Seattle K1unicipn| Tower
PO Box 94729 For more Information: (206) 733'9084
8eattka.\VA 98124-4729
US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement — Contact Information
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels is coordinating this initiative. He can be reached at 206-684-4000.
The primary staff contacts for Seattle are:
John Mauro, Climate Project Analyst
Office of Sustainability and Environment
(206) 733-9084
iohn.mauro(d�seattle.qov
PO Box 94729
Seattle Municipal Tower
Seattle, WA 98124-4729
Kim Drury, Senior Policy Advisor
Office of Sustainability and Environment
(206) 684-3214
kim.drury(Z. seattle.qov
PO Box 94729
Seattle Municipal Tower
Seattle, WA 98124-4729
US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement Website: www.seattle.ciov/mavor/climate