As elected officials we must do our part to protect the environment. It’s past the time to debate whether climate change is occurring. It’s time to act.  As elected officials we need to develop programs to change our practices to reduce the activities that have a negative impact on our local community and to increase practices that have a position impact. We can make a difference.

Janet Abelson, El Cerrito City Councilmember

El Cerrito Accomplishments:

General Plan Update

•  General Plan is being updated beginning in 2013 to include an element on climate, sustainability, and energy. http://www.el-cerrito.org/index.aspx?nid=718

Climate Action Planning

• Scheduled to complete Climate Action Plan by the summer of 2012.
• Held community workshops to involve community in Climate Action Planning process. http://ca-elcerrito.civicplus.com/index.aspx?nid=325
• City Environmental Services Division http://ca-elcerrito.civicplus.com/index.aspx?NID=131 adopted Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Targets of a 15% reduction of the 2005 level emission by the year 2020 and 30% reduction from the 2005 levels by 2035. http://ca-elcerrito.civicplus.com/DocumentView.aspx?DID=440
• Approved participation in Institute for Local Government’s (ILG) ‘Beacon Award Program’ for local leadership towards solving climate change. http://www.ca-ilg.org/BeaconAward
• Together with surrounding cities of Albany, Piedmont and San Pablo received grant money through the EPA Climate Showcase Communities Program. Funding goes towards activities that establish and implement climate change initiatives.   http://epa.gov/statelocalclimate/local/showcase/small-cities.html
• Adopted an Urban Forest Plan to manage trees around the city. http://www.el-cerrito.org/index.aspx?NID=463
• In their support of local food production, El Cerrito updated their Animal Ordinance for hobby level sustainable food production of certain animals. http://www.el-cerrito.org/index.aspx?NID=394
• Council appointed Environmental Quality Committee comprised of residents and businesses that work to raise awareness and encourage involvement in reducing the entire community’s environmental impact. http://www.el-cerrito.org/index.aspx?nid=104
• Presented GHG Inventory PowerPoint to City Council on May 5, 2008. http://www.cccclimateleaders.org/downloads/ElCerrito%20GHG%20Presentation.ppt
• Signed the US Mayors climate Protection Agreement in July, 2006 http://www.usmayors.org/climateprotection/agreement.htm
• Joined ICLEI‘s Cities for Climate Protection Campaign. http://www.icleiusa.org/

Energy

•  Participated in a Neighborhood Publicity Campaign to promote comprehensive audits services for small commercial businesses.  http://www.el-cerrito.org/index.aspx?NID=192
• Applied for and accepted EECBG Funding to retrofit all City building lighting and install LED lighting along the Ohlone Greenway  http://www.el-cerrito.org/index.aspx?NID=333
• El Cerrito created Energy and Water Efficiency Program (EWEP) to generate funding options for energy and water efficiency upgrades in the city. http://www.ca-ilg.org/node/2816
• Replaced all street lights along San Pablo Ave. with LED lamps as part of Streetscape Upgrades. http://www.el-cerrito.org/index.aspx?NID=602
• Participating in an East Bay Green Corridor regional solar permit streamlining study funded by the Department of Energy SunShot Initiative http://www.ebgreencorridor.org/cities.php

Waste Reduction

• Completing construction of a Platinum LEED certified Recycling and Environmental Resource Center. http://www.el-cerrito.org/index.aspx?NID=533
• Supported a statewide ban on plastic grocery bags. http://www.el-cerrito.org/DocumentView.aspx?DID=831
• Offering curbside pick-up of residential compostable food scraps. http://www.el-cerrito.org/index.aspx?NID=338

Water Conservation

• Retrofitted 400 feet of San Pablo Ave. storm drain system with low impact storm water rain gardens. http://www.el-cerrito.org/index.aspx?NID=602
• In partnership with East Bay Municipal Utility District the city replaced median landscaping along San Pablo Avenue with water efficient landscaping and awarded WaterSmart certification for reducing irrigation needs by 7 million gallons. http://www.el-cerrito.org/DocumentView.aspx?DID=686
• Planted almost 200 trees and water wise landscaping along San Pablo Ave. http://www.el-cerrito.org/index.aspx?NID=602

Transportation

• Adopted a Circulation Plan for Bicyclists and Pedestrians; Electronic Bike Lockers, Bike Racks and a Bike Lane program. http://www.el-cerrito.org/index.aspx?NID=638
•  Hosts an Energizer Station on the annual “Bike to Work Day”. http://el-cerrito.org/index.aspx?NID=703
• Held a “No Car Challenge’ for city workers and residents in 2010 to reduce reliance on vehicle transportation. http://www.el-cerrito.org/archives/42/cc100503m.pdf

Open Space

• Established an Urban Forest Plan to manage public trees in the city: http://www.el-cerrito.org/index.aspx?NID=463
• Developed and adopted the Ohlone Greenway Urban Greening Project, to improve open space amenities along El Cerrito’s 2.7 mile stretch of the Ohlone Greenway. http://www.el-cerrito.org/index.aspx?NID=705 Also includes vision and goals of the Ohlone Green Master Plan. http://www.el-cerrito.org/DocumentView.aspx?DID=644

Community Support

•  Environmental Quality Committee http://www.el-cerrito.org/index.aspx?NID=104
•  Created “A Greener El Cerrito” Newsletter with local news and ways to get involved for their interested residents. http://ca-elcerrito.civicplus.com/index.aspx?NID=708
•  El Cerrito Green Teams: http://www.el-cerrito.org/index.aspx?NID=391
• Tree Committee http://www.el-cerrito.org/index.aspx?NID=109
• Friends of five creeks: http://www.fivecreeks.org/

City of El Cerrito Website