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:
- Participated in a postcard Saturation Campaign to promote comprehensive audits services for small commercial businesses.
- Invited the community to join the Climate Action conversations.
- EECBG Funding to retrofit all City building lighting.
- Scheduled to complete Climate Action Plan by the summer of 2011.
- Retrofitted 400 feet of San Pablo Ave. storm drain system with low impact stormwater rain gardens.
- Replaced all street lights along San Pablo Ave. with LED lamps.
- Supported a statewide ban on plastic grocery bags.
- Updating Animal Ordinance.
- LED street lights in place along San Pablo road since September 2009.
- Obtaining watersmart certification.
- Working with surrounding cities of Albany, Piedmont and San Pablo to create a Climate Action Plan through ARRA grant money.
- EPA awarded El Cerrito one of only 20 US communities grants to reduce GHG emissions.
- City is partnering with Albany, Piedmont, and San Pablo to implement the Small Cities Climate Action Partnership through an EPA grant. See other winners and learn more.
- Offering curbside pick-up of residential compostable food scraps.
- Entering into a design/build contract for a LEED Platinum Recycling Center.
- 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
- Planted over 200 trees and Bay-friendly landscaping along San Pablo Ave.
- 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