03/19/09 - City Council Newsletter

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this year’s Earth Day, visit the website earthdayoregon.com. City and EWEB Urge Eugeneans to Participate in Earth Hour The City of Eugene and Eugene Water & Electric Board are urging Eugeneans to use their light switch to “Vote Earth” on the last Saturday in March. March 28 will be the third annual “Earth Hour,” an international event that asks households, businesses, schools and governments to turn off their non-essential lights and electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness of the need to address climate change. The City and EWEB are participating by turning off non-essential lighting at the Eugene Public Library and the utility’s headquarters building for one hour starting at 8:30 p.m. on March 28. Certain essential lighting needed for operations and to ensure public and employee safety will remain on. “Extinguishing non-essential lights in City government buildings for one hour and urging all businesses and citizens to do the same will send a clear message that the people of Eugene are concerned about climate change and stand with the rest of the world in seeking solutions that will help stop climate change,” said Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy, who on February 23 signed a proclamation supporting Earth Hour. “We encourage Eugene businesses, families and organizations to join us in this demonstration of our commitment.” Earth Hour’s “Vote Earth” campaign will count each participant as a vote in favor of combating climate change. The World Wildlife Fund, which started Earth Hour, will present the list of “Earth votes” to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen later this year. This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against climate change, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. Earth Hour began in Sydney, Australia, in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008, 50 million people switched off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Coliseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness. In 2009, the Earth Hour campaign has a goal of 1 billion participants. Nearly 1,000 cities and towns in more than 80 countries and territories have pledged support for Earth Hour. Learn how to be a part of Earth Hour at www.earthhour.org. For more information, contact Sustainability Manager Felicity Fahy at 682-5017 or felicity.m.fahy@ci.eugene.or.us. UPCOMING COUNCIL BREAK: MARCH 12 – APRIL 8 4/8 W Noon All Council Work Session McNutt Room 4/13 M 5:30pm All Council Work Session/URA McNutt Room 4/13 M 7:30pm All Council Meeting/URA Council Chamber 4/15 W Noon All Council Work Session McNutt Room 4/20 M 7:30pm All Council Public Hearing Council Chamber 4/22 W Noon All Council Work Session McNutt Room 4/27 M 5:30pm All Council Work Session McNutt Room 4/27 M 7:30pm All Council Meeting Council Chamber 4/29 W Noon All Council Work Session McNutt Room 4/29 W 5:30pm All Budget Committee Bascom/Tykeson Rm UNAVAILABLE FOR CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS Mayor Piercy: April 19 - 21 ** Denotes changes or additions to calendar EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 4 March 19, 2009