Council Bill No. R 160-06 A

     A RESOLUTION

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, 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, as amended at the 73 ^rd Annual U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting.

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBIA, MISSOURI, AS FOLLOWS:

    SECTION 1.    The City Council hereby endorses the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement modified to read as follows:

A.    The City of Columbia will strive to meet or exceed Kyoto Protocol targets for reducing global warming pollution by taking actions in our own operations and community 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 similar system.

8.    Increasing 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 and promote tree planting to increase shading and to absorb CO ₂.

12.    Help educate the public, schools, other jurisdictions, professional associations, business and industry about reducing global warming pollution.

    ADOPTED this 17th day of July, 2006.