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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Resolution 13484 (Climate Change Action Plan Support)RESOLUTION NO. 13484 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND ONGOING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CITY'S CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION PLAN AS PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE STATE AND NATIONAL STRATEGY TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GASES WHEREAS, according to the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, scientific evidence and consensus continues to strengthen the idea that climate disruption is an urgent threat to the environmental and economic health of our communities; and WHEREAS, in June 2005, San Rafael was one of the early signatories to the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, committing the City to working to meet or exceed Kyoto Protocol targets for reducing global warming pollution; and WHEREAS, on September 27, 2006, the State of California adopted AB 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act, requiring local governments to respond to prescribed reduction levels in greenhouse gas emissions; and WHEREAS, on December 12, 2008, the California Air Resources Board adopted an AB 32 Scoping Plan requiring cities to achieve a 15% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of San Rafael recognizes the importance of local action and on April 6, 2009, adopted a Climate Change Action Plan with the goal of a reducing greenhouse gases by 25% by 2020 and 80% by 2050; and WHEREAS, on July 18, 2011, the Council of the City of San Rafael adopted Resolution No. 13212, amending the San Rafael General Plan 2020 to add a new Sustainability Element; and WHEREAS, in accordance with the Climate Change Action Plan and its goals to reduce greenhouse gases, the City of San Rafael has adopted a Zero Waste resolution that commits the City to reaching a 94% diversion rate by 2025. The City provides community recycling, curbside food waste collection and composting through its waste franchisee, Marin Sanitary Service; supports a joint project by the Central Marin Sanitation Agency and Marin Sanitary Service to collect commercial food waste and convert it to energy at the wastewater treatment plant; and adopted an ordinance prohibiting polystyrene take-out containers; and WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael supports Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit planning efforts to bring commuter rail to the 101 corridor in 2016, implemented traffic signal coordination to limit automobile idling, installed charging stations for plug-in electric vehicles in City garages, has implemented bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure improvements; and WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael has adopted a Green Building Ordinance with building efficiency standards above the State green building and energy codes, adopted a construction and demolition (C&D) debris recycling and reuse ordinance that requires a minimum of 70% of C&D waste to be recycled rather than deposited into the landfill, participated in the Energy Upgrade California program that provided substantial rebates to homeowners to perform energy audits and "whole house" energy upgrade retrofits, joined the Marin Energy Authority and provided San Rafael ratepayers with the ability to purchase electricity with a higher renewable energy content; and WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael has implemented Marin Municipal Water District's Ordinance 421 to further meet conservation measures within the District's service area, as well as meet 2010 California Green Building Standards, improve the effectiveness of the District's water waste prevention program, and increase efficiency standards; and WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael has increased tree planting city-wide, adopted a wood smoke ordinance, implemented environmentally responsible practices in City sponsored events, and implemented an integrated pest management policy; and WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael has supported the development of affordable housing, supported the development of housing near transit and supported green businesses; and WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael has supported and sponsored Community Gardens and sponsored a Resilient Neighborhoods Program and Resilient Businesses Program to help residents and businesses learn how to reduce their carbon footprints; and WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael has replaced all holiday lighting with LED lighting and is in the process of converting 385 street lights to LED lights, switched all City electricity accounts to Marin Clean Energy light green electricity, implemented a City employee commute program to reduce single -occupancy automobile commutes, replaced printers in City facilities with energy efficient models, convened a City Employee "Green Team," switched to environmentally sensitive janitorial supplies at all City facilities; and WHEREAS, in the 2013 inaugural address, the President of the United States called out the need to address climate change and transition to cleaner energy sources. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council, on behalf of the residents of the City of San Rafael, pledge to do our part to reduce greenhouse gases in our community by educating and engaging the public, continuing to establish operational practices that maximize the use of clean and renewable energy, moving towards a zero waste goal and eliminating organic materials from the landfill. The City will work to maximize transportation, land use and other regulations to encourage a walkable City, support transit, add new housing near transit, support local food growth, protect and support the urban forest, and support San Rafael's community efforts to encourage everyone to take significant steps that contribute towards reducing greenhouse gases; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of San Rafael recognizes that local efforts are a necessary and important part of a comprehensive state, national, and global strategy to reduce greenhouse gases; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of San Rafael urges the President and Congress to take immediate action to demonstrate that climate change is a national and global priority, to take actions to move away from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy, and to take actions to create American jobs building a clean energy economy and re -building climate -resilient homes, businesses and infrastructure. I, Esther C. Beirne, 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 the City of San Rafael, held on Monday, the 4th of February 2013, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Councilmembers: Colin, Connolly, Heller, McCullough & Mayor Phillips NOES: Councilmembers: None ABSENT: Councilmembers: None Esther C. Beirne, City Clerk