Belvedere City Manager’s Blog

Entries categorized as ‘Clean Energy & Sustainability’

Council Meeting Follow-Up

December 9, 2008 · No Comments

The City Council met last night at their regular meeting. The Agenda was pretty light but there were three very important issues for the Council to review and approve. The first was the Second Reading and Adoption of the Marin Energy Authority Joint Powers Authority (JPA). The Council approved the first reading of the Ordinance in November and December’s adoption of the Ordinance formalized the City as a member of the JPA. By the end of December, nearly every City in Marin (and the County) will be founding members of the JPA slated to bring Marin energy alternatives over the next several years. There remains a tremendous amount of work to be done as the JPA begins its mission. The City Council tentatively appointed the Mayor and Vice Mayor as representatives to the JPA, but as the JPA evolves the Council may rotate the membership to members that have the time and specific interest in serving on this very important Board.

The second important issue on the Council’s Agenda was the approval of the request for funding for “Walk Your History.” The City of Belvedere, Town of Tiburon, Belvedere-Tiburon Joint Recreation and the Belvedere-Tiburon Landmarks Society have all joined forces to present, “Walk Your History.” Walk Your History is to be a FREE community event designed to get our residents out on April 5, 2009 to learn about the fascinating Belvedere and Tiburon history. THere will be three walking loops on the Peninsula dotted with volunteer docents at historic hotspots. The new “Then and New” and “Looking Back at Belvedere” stations in Belvedere and Tiburon will be incorporated into the event as well as historical homes, the Belvedere Fire, the China Cabin, Ark Row, Main Street and the local speakeasy & bootlegger - Sam, the Railroad Depot and so much more. Loops will start and end at the Belvedere Park for the Walk Your History BBQ lunch. Watch for more information on this free community event!

Lastly, the City Council confirmed the nominations of Citizen of the Year and Citizen Emeritus put forth by the Citizen of the Year Committee. The Committee met on December 2 to review the nominations and unanimously recommended Dr. Bruce Sams as the 2008 Belvedere Citizen of the Year and Rita Fink as the 2008 Belvedere Citizen Emeritus. These individuals have made significant contributions to the community over extended periods of time and are more than due for their moment. Congratulations to both! Please plan to attend the Annual Belvedere Town Hall Meeting on January 26, 2009 where both will be recognized for their achievements!

For Audio of last night’s meeting, please visit the City’s RSS Audio Feed at feed://www.cityofbelvedere.org/CityAudio.rss.

Categories: Clean Energy & Sustainability · General Government
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ABAG Projections 2009: What If?

November 24, 2008 · No Comments

 

Association of Bay Area Governments

Association of Bay Area Governments

ABAG recently released their Projections 2009: What If? publication.  This publication is produced periodically, but for this update, ABAG created two alternative scenarios that describe how the region may develop.  

 

The first scenario called Scattered Success, local and regional policy makers have made limited progress in developing more transportation-efficient projects.  However, thousands of additional acres of low-density, auto-dependent, single-use neighborhoods were added to the urban footprint.  Transit remains unavailable in many parts of the region and walking is nearly impossible in most places.  

The second scenario is called Focused Future.  In this scenario, policy makers came together to create an incredible amount of region-wide development and redevelopment around light and heavy rail stations, major bus stops and ferry terminals.  Transportation services were extended and improved and many connections are seamless.  Existing, auto-dependent suburbs have been transformed into walkable downtowns and mixed-use neighborhoods, where more housing and businesses have located.  Walking, biking and transit use is the norm.  

So how does this Projections 2009: What If? related to Marin as part of ABAG’s region?  

SCATTERED SUCCESS

Here, well over one-quarter of one million people are projected to live in Marin County by 2035; 25,000 more than today.  Marin’s growth is to be limited by its large older population.  Nearly 40 percent of the population is projected to be over the age of 60, compared to only 14 percent in 1980.  Access, mobility, and independent living become dominant concerns with few solutions in sight.  Local communities take matters into their own hands by instituting free shuttles, meals on wheels programs, etc. while high gas prices make these programs prohibitive for most cities to operate in the long term.  San Rafael and Novato are projected to remain the largest and most urbanized cities.  These cities will account for 48 percent of the county’s projected population.  

FOCUSED FUTURE

Under this scenario, 7,200 less people are projected to live in Marin County.  Marin’s growth is still limited by the aging population, but also by its limited transit options and smaller job base.  San Rafael and Novato are still projected to be the largest urbanized communities.  New train stations, as well as pedestrian and bike trails accommodate the area.  

SO WHAT’S THE IMPACT?

Projections 2009: What If? contains more detail on Marin County and the other counties areas in ABAG’s region on the impact of these projects on driving, carbon monoxide emissions, daily particulate matter, and more.  For more information, visit the ABAG site and download the full publication at http://www.abag.ca.gov/rss/pdfs/whatif.pdf.

Categories: Clean Energy & Sustainability · Planning
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Clean Energy and Choice

October 5, 2008 · No Comments

 

Marin Clean Energy Logo - Click For Link

Marin Clean Energy Logo - Click For Link

In September, the City Council held a special Study Session on the Marin Clean Energy proposal that has been floating around the County for the last two years+.  This wasn’t the first time the Belvedere Council heard the proposal and it wasn’t the first bit of information they had received on it.  Prior to this public meeting they had had one other public meeting and they had received a nearly 4 inch thick binder on the details including the business plan, a draft ordinance, a draft JPA agreement, and literally stacks of answered Q&A.  Plus - Marin Clean Energy has had a website up and going with ALL of the details:  www.marincleanenergy.info.  

 

So, at this special Study Session, the consensus of the Council after hearing a presentation by Marin Clean Energy and PG&E was to bring the item back for consideration as an Ordinance and JPA Agreement.  That’s the next step for the City to be involved.  In fact, that’s next step for all the agencies in Marin and the County.  It is anticipated that they all will be taking action one way or another by the end of December. 

Is there risk? Certainly.  But that risk would be limited to the JPA itself.  The JPA would be separate legal entity - not the respective individual jurisdictions.  Are local elected officials experts in the energy market?  No.  Not likely.  And neither are any of the Marin Manager’s in each jurisdiction.  That’s why the JPA, as a separate legal entity, would hire professional staff experienced in the energy market.  We all know there are plenty of consultants out there in the business.  As a separate legal entity, any financial risk involved would be limited to the JPA and each agency’s general fund would be isolated.  Streets and roads, public safety, local projects, and community would continue to be the focus of local agency budgets.   

On Monday night at Tiburon Town Hall, the City of Belvedere and Town of Tiburon are hosting another informational meeting on the issue (7 p.m. Tiburon Town Hall).  Your attendance is greatly encouraged.  It will involve plenty of opportunity for Q&A.  Whether or not to form a JPA and adopt ordinances is not something that will be coming before the voters.  It is a decision that rests with each jurisdiction.  The jurisdiction can choose not to participate.  However, in doing so, every residence and business within the jurisdiction must remain with PG&E.  They will not have the opportunity to choose between staying with PG&E or staying with Marin Clean Energy.  At the end of the day, from my perspective it comes down to the opportunity for choice.  If Belvedere decides not to join the JPA, residents and business owners in Belvedere do not have the choice of green energy over brown - at whatever the difference in price.  

Check out the Marin Clean Energy website (www.marincleanenergy.info).  Come to the Community Forum on Monday.  Voice your opinion.  It always counts and always helps.

Categories: Clean Energy & Sustainability
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