Burlingame approves climate plan

Just in. A solid step forward by Burlingame.

For Immediate Release
Contact Kathleen Gallagher, 650-483-9097,
kathleen-gallagher@sbcglobal.net


Burlingame City Council Approves Climate Action Plan

BURLINGAME, Calif. – June 16, 2009 – The Burlingame City Council unanimously approved the city’s first Climate Action Plan on June 15 to guide the city and community in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. State legislation (Assembly Bill 32) requires a 15 percent reduction in emissions below 2005 levels by the year 2020 and an 80 percent reduction below 2005 levels by the year 2050.

Developed by the city's Green Ribbon Task Force, the Climate Action Plan states priorities and policies for the city and makes recommendations to reduce emissions and promote sustainable practices. Among actions recommended for immediate implementation are adoption of a water-efficient landscape ordinance, consideration of a solar and energy-efficiency financing program, and hiring a part-time sustainability coordinator.

In 2007 the City Council endorsed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which pledges taking action to reduce emissions; joined ICLEI (now called Local Governments for Sustainability) to share best sustainable practices with other cities; and formed the city’s Green Ribbon Task Force.

The City Council directed the Green Ribbon Task Force to draft a Climate Action Plan in January 2009. The Task Force is comprised of local residents, business owners and education representatives, as well as members of the Burlingame City Council and the Burlingame Planning Commission. The council also approved the completion of a community greenhouse gas inventory to serve as a baseline for measuring future greenhouse gas emissions.

That inventory showed that Burlingame had base year emissions of 336,944 metric tons (calculated for 2005, which serves as the base year) and, therefore, needs to reduce emissions by 15.0 percent (50,542 metric tons) by 2020. However, if Burlingame consumption trends continue to grow at the current rate, the city will have to reduce emissions by 29.9 percent (122,387 metric tons) by 2020 – or roughly 12,000 metric tons per year.

The plan proposes 15 recommendations for implementation prior to 2012 (Phase 1) and another 14 recommendations for the period of 2012 to 2020 (Phase 2) which would allow Burlingame to meet the higher target. Phase 1 recommendations are:

• Adopt water-efficient landscape ordinance, as required by AB 1881

• Adopt a voluntary residential energy conservation policy to provide energy- and water-efficiency home audits for residents at a reduced cost

• Consider a solar and energy-efficiency financing program for residents and commercial users

• Adopt a green building ordinance for residential new construction and remodels

• Adopt a commercial green building ordinance (after a voluntary period of 12 to 18 months) to require large commercial properties to meet a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard

• Develop a commercial energy efficiency policy.

• Establish a policy that requires strategies for new development of large commercial properties that encourage shuttle use, carpools, bicycles and public transit.

• Offer prioritized parking for hybrid, rideshare and alternative-fuel cars.

• Incorporate bicycle-friendly intersections in street design and modifications.

• Research methods to increase ridership and expand shuttle service and partner with local groups to increase public transportation alternatives.

• Upgrade residential and commercial recycling service to “single stream” recycling. For residential, begin weekly collection and include organics/food collection.

• Adopt a commercial recycling ordinance that requires businesses to divert recyclables, organics, cardboard and paper.

• Encourage development of a community group to expand promotion and education about climate action programs.

• Dedicate a part-time sustainability coordinator to oversee programs and seek grant funding

• Develop a “City Green Team” to implement sustainable practices in city departments.

Phase 2 recommendations for implementation from 2012 to 2020 are:

• Identify and implement methods to expand solar and renewable energy generation for residential and commercial users. Streamline the permit process.

• Adopt a voluntary commercial energy conservation policy and include a checklist to encourage commercial properties sold to comply with minimum energy efficiency and water conservation.

• Adopt a mandatory commercial energy conservation ordinance (after 12 to 18 months of voluntary education)

• Adopt a mandatory residential energy conservation ordinance (after 12 to 18 months of voluntary education and promotion)

• Research methods to expand and enhance shuttle ridership and public transportation services

• Encourage development that is mixed use, infill and higher density

• Evaluate the current construction and demolition ordinance and consider increasing the current required diversion rate

• Require recycling of cardboard, paper, contains and food/organics at major public events in Burlingame

• Adopt a policy to achieve a city-wide diversion rate of 75 percent by 2015

• Adopt a civic green building policy that requires a LEED green building standard for new municipal construction and major remodels

• Consider establishing a Sustainable Commission

• Complete a feasibility study to install solar or other renewable energy at select city facilities

• Adopt a sustainable purchasing policy with two mandatory requirements: City fleet purchases must require hybrid or alternative-fuel vehicles (with some exceptions) and require a minimum 30 percent recycled content in paper product purchases

• Dedicate a sustainability coordinator to oversee programs and seek grant funding

The complete Burlingame Climate Action Plan can be downloaded here:
https://www.burlingame.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=4645

Individuals can sign up for the “Go Green” free city e-newsletter, as well as other city notifications, here: http://www.burlingame.org/signup