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:
- EECBG Funding application for Induction lighting project.
- Pursuing LEED Certification for new Municipal Buildings City Hall, Under Construction; Recycling Center, In Design
- Active Non-Motorized Transportation Program
- Adopted Circulation Plan for Bicyclists and Pedestrians; Active Bike Locker, Bike Rack and Bike Lane program; Bike Parking Requirements in all new construction
- Created an Environmental Newsletter of local news and ways to get involved for their interested residents.
- Adopted Urban Forest Plan
- Planting over 200 trees in upcoming year along major thoroughfare
- Eliminated building permit fee for solar panel installation
- Hosted climate change community meeting in April 2007 and showed "Inconvenient Truth" at local movie theater.
- Education about Bay Area Plants for reduction of landscaping impact.
- Council appointed Environmental Quality Committee comprised of residents and businesses who work to involve the community in understanding and reducing the entire community's impact on the environment.
- Presented GHG Inventory PowerPoint to City Council on May 5, 2008.
- Hired an intern to start City GHG Inventory
- Signed the US Mayors climate Protection Agreement
- Community Wide Green house Gas Inventory completed.
- Joined ICLEI’s Cities for Climate Protection Campaign
- City Environmental Services Division Page
- City of El Cerrito Website