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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010/08/03 Item 3 ~\~ -.~ '--- ---- --=::-::::--= - -- CllY OF CHUlA VISTA Councilmember Pamela Bensoussan City Of Chula Vista 276 Fourth Avenue Chula Vista, Ca 91910 619.691.5044 - 619.476.5379 Fax MEMO DATE: TO: FROM: CC: RE: July 28, 2010 Honorable I\hyor and City Council Councilwoman Pamela Bensoussan Jim Sandonl, City Manager Scorr Tulloch, Assistant City Manager Bart J\1:iesfeld, City Attorney Donna Norris, City Clerk Resolution in Opposition to Proposition 23: California Jobs !nitianve It was the consensus of the Chula Vista City Council on July 27, 2010 to place the following resolution in opposition to AB 23 on the agenda for the City Council meeting on Aug 3, 2010 Proposition 23, The California Jobs Initiative, was placed on November's ballot by opponents of AB 32. The proposition would suspend enforcement of AB 32 regulations reqniring reduced greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming, until California unemployment falls below 5.5 percent or less for four consecutive quarters. Unemployment stands at 12.4 percent as of May. Passage of Prop 23 would require the State to abandon implementation of comprehensive greenhouse-gas reduction programs that include increased renewable energy and cleaner fuel requirements, and mandatory emission reporting and fee requirements for major polluters such as power plants and oil refineries, until suspension is lifted. California's state pollution laws, such as the landmark clean energy law, A B 32, are fundamental to the growth that California is experiencing in clean energy development. AB 32 provides the necessary planning target for reducing harmful emissions from transportanon, our built environments and electricity generation, as well as reduces energy costs by fostering cost-effective energy efficiency and new renewable technologies. So far, this target has attracted $9.1 Billion in private investment for clean energy technology and created 500,000 green jobs. If it were suspended as proposed by Proposition 23, private investment will significantly decrease and green jobs will leave California for other states and countries, and we will not be protecting public health by reduc111g harmful air pollutants. In keeping with our leglslanve priorities as spelled out in legislative programs adopred by Council, I we would like to propose the following resolution in opposition to Proposition 23. I have also attached a letter sent in May from the Encrgy Sub Committee to the Attorney General outlining our opposition to any efforts to undermine 1\ B32. This lerrer was sent prior to Proposition 23 qualifying and being placed on the November ballot. Therefore our position needs to be clarified and restated regarding Proposition 23. 3-1 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA IN OPPOSITION TO PROPOSITION 23 - THE CALIFORNLAJOBS INITIATIVE ; WHEREAS, the City of ChuIa Vista employs an economically and environmentally sustainable approach to establishing a broad range of environmental programs to restore and maintain the environment, public health and quality of life for all our citnens; and WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista was the only City in the world with a population under 1 million to be a founding member of ICLEI and the Cities or Climate Protection under the UN climate Framework Convention; and WHEREAS, through its CO2 Reduction Plan, Chula Vista committed to reducing Municipal and Community greenhouse gas emissions to 20% below 1990 levels; and WHEREAS, the City's most recent greenhouse gas inventory demonstrates that despite the City's dramatic growth, Municipal GHG emissions have reduced 45% below 1990 levels and Community emissions are "per capita," 27% below 1990 levels; and WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista "';oluntarily" participates in programs that support AB 32 because they contribute to the public health, safety and quality of life for ChuIa Vista residents; and \X'HEREAS, there arc no unfounded municipal mandates from AB 32 and the repeal of this bill will not reduce the City of Chula Vista's costs but could change the willingness of environmental companies to invest in California and Chula Vista to create the sustainable economy of the 21" century; and WHEREAS, this proposition would also destroy Califonua's newly emerging clean energy busmesses that have flourished because of California clean energy and clean air laws; and WHEREAS, since 2005, California green jobs have grown 10 times faster than the statewide average. Califonlia's clean technology sector received $2.1 billion in investment capital in 2009 - more than five times the investtnent in our nearest competitor - and is generating tens of thousands of jobs; and \X'HEREAS, trus proposition would halt the dynamic growth we've seen in clean energy businesses, resulting in the loss of tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic growth; and WHEREAS, Proposition 23 formally opposes the landmark Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 C""B32); NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Chula Vista that we hereby authorize the listing of the City of Chula Vista in opposition to Proposition 23, the California Jobs Initiative and instruct staff to fax a copy of this resolution to Attorney General Brown and odler interested parties. Presented by: Approved as to form by Pamela Bensoussan Councilwoman Bart C. l\Iiesfeld City Attorney 3-2 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA IN OPPOSITION TO PROPOSITION 23 (THE CALIFORNIA JOBS INITIATIVE) WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista employs an economically and environmentally sustainable approach to establishing a broad range of environmental programs to restore and maintain the environment, public health and quality of life for all our citizens: and WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista was the only City in the world with a population under I million to be a founding member of ICLEI and the Cities or Climate Protection under the UN climate Framework Convention; and WHEREAS, through its CO2 Reduction Plan, Chula Vista committed to reducing Municipal and Community greenhouse gas emissions to 20% below 1990 levels; and WHEREAS, the City's most recent greenhouse gas inventory demonstrates that despite the City's dramatic growth, Municipal GHG emissions have reduced 45% below 1990 levels and Community emissions are "per capita," 27% below 1990 levels; and WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista "voluntarily" participates in programs that support AB 32 because they contribute to the public health, safety and quality oflife for Chula Vista residents; and WHEREAS, there are no unfounded municipal mandates from AB 32 and the repeal of this bill will not reduce the City ofChula Vista's costs but could change the willingness of environmental companies to invest in California and Chula Vista to create the sustainable economy of the 2151 century; and WHEREAS, this proposition would also destroy California's newly emerging clean energy businesses that have flourished because of California clean energy and clean air laws; and WHEREAS, since 2005, California green jobs have grown 10 times faster than the statewide average. California's clean technology sector received $2.1 billion in investment capital in 2009 - more than five times the investment in our nearest competitor - and is generating tens of thousands of jobs; and WHEREAS, this proposition would halt the dynamic growth we've seen in clean energy businesses, resulting in the loss of tens ofthousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic growth; and WHEREAS, Proposition 23 formally opposes the landmark Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB32). 3-3 Resolution No. Page 2 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City ofChula Vista that it hereby authorizes the listing of the City ofChula Vista in opposition to Proposition 23 (the California Jobs Initiative) and instructs staff to fax a copy ofthis resolution to California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown, Jr. and other interested parties. Presented by Approved as to form by AI~ Al Bart C. Micsfeld City Attorney Pamela Bensoussan Councilwoman 3-4 i , ....