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<br /> <br /> <br />City Plans to be Carbon Neutral by 2020 <br />On October 8, the City Council adopted the goal that all City- <br />owned facilities and City operations shall be carbon neutral by <br />2020. The goal states that the City shall become carbon <br />neutral by focusing first on reducing the City's greenhouse <br />gas (GHG) emissions and purchasing approved, local GHG <br />offset credits to mitigate any remaining emissions. The <br />council also directed City staff to develop an annual work plan <br />for council approval that outlines recommended <br />implementation strategies for reaching this goal, and analyzes <br />associated costs and resource savings. The City has made <br />good progress in reducing emissions through a number of <br />initiatives including use of hybrid vehicles and bio-diesel fuel, <br />installation of solar panels to heat City swimming pools and <br />the capture of methane gas at the wastewater treatment <br />facility - but it is still a long way from being carbon neutral. An <br />internal City staff team (Project Manager Matt Rodrigues, Rich Fay, Ethan Nelson, Keith Nicolson, Glen Svendsen, <br />Jeff Narin, Lynne Eichner-Kelley and Sharon Olson) has been assembled to develop a Climate Action and Energy <br />Plan for the City to help achieve carbon neutrality by 2020. Matt and the climate team are working with <br />departments and divisions to develop creative ways to further reduce emissions, cost out the initiatives and <br />prioritize further action. The plan will detail short- and long-term strategies to achieve the carbon neutral goal by <br />2020. As part of this work, the team will be investigating how to reduce the City's reliance on fossil fuels, the City's <br />primary greenhouse gas source, to limit exposure to supply and price fluctuations. For more information contact <br />Project Manager Matt Rodrigues, for the Climate Action and Energy Plan, at 682-6036. <br /> <br />Collaborative Effort Grows Sustainable Landscape Program <br />When timing, enthusiasm and the right mix of people come together to grow an idea into a feasible project, many <br />things are possible. This summer, when Ross Penhallegon of the OSU/Lane County Extension Service invited a <br />group of people to talk about creating a certified landscape program for homeowners, representatives from many <br />organizations and businesses – including Eugene’s Stormwater Management Program – enthusiastically voiced <br />their support for creating a sustainable landscape program. The program is designed to educate area residents <br />about healthy yard-care practices that are good for people and the local environment. Classes offer information <br />about water efficiency, fertilizing, mulching, recycling, managing yard pests, planting for wildlife, right plant/right <br />place, minimizing stormwater runoff and groundwater, and streamside protection. Following a successful pilot <br />program to “train the trainers,” the first series of classes begins next week and is already filled. Early next spring, <br />Master Gardeners with the OSU Extension Service will continue to roll out the program by providing more classes <br />and certification assessment. The certification program for homeowners, yard-care services and landscape <br />designers is currently being put together. By completing classes and meeting requirements on a checklist, <br />homeowners will be able to display certified landscape signage in their yards. Yard-care services and landscape <br />professionals who complete required classes will also qualify for a program certification. Partners in this <br />educational collaboration include the cities of Eugene and Springfield, Lane County, EWEB, DEQ, SUB, OSU <br />College of Agriculture and Extension Service, Portland Environmental Services, native plant specialist Bruce <br />Newhouse, Bruce Kreitzberg of Back to the Roots Landscaping, and Patti Paris of Sweet Pea Garden Design. For <br />more information about involvement of the Public Works Department, contact Kathy Eva, Stormwater <br />Management Program, at 682-2739 or via e-mail: Kathy.a.eva@ci.eugene.or.us. Classes offered through OSU <br />Extension Service will be scheduled in the spring. Go to http://extension.oregonstate.edu/lane/ or call 682-7308 or <br />682-7313. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 <br />December 4, 2008 <br />