City moves to conserve for the future City moves to conserve for the future (April 16, 2004)

Council gives nod to clean air plan, drafting residential 'green' ordinance
by Dolores Fox Ciardelli

Take a deep breath and think of the future.

County Supervisor Scott Haggerty presented the Clean Air Plan for the Tri-Valley Area to the City Council last week and urged that council members review it and consider it for adoption.

The plan, which was funded by Alameda County, outlines voluntary steps specific to the Tri-Valley that can be taken to keep the air clean. Measures are divided into four areas: technology, transportation control, land use and public education.

"What I have learned is the geography and topography here make it the perfect basin for air pollution," said Haggerty. The mountains tend to trap pollutants when conditions are right, which is during very hot summer days or very cold winter nights.

"But that doesn't let us off the hook," he added.

Pleasanton was one of the first cities in California to adopt an Air Quality Element in its General Plan. Much of the new Clean Air Plan is already city policy but there are some additional measures that could be implemented, according to the staff report.

It noted that some of the measures would be costly: € Lawnmower trade-in subsidies € Alternative fuel vehicle fleet

Others measures would be controversial: € Charging parking fees € Expanding local bus routes € Restoring school busing € Achieving a jobs-housing balance

But some of the measures are practical and simple: € Proper fleet maintenance € Public education programs € Good fueling practices

The City Council voted unanimously to refer the plan to city staff for its incorporation into the General Plan update process. To view the Clean Air Plan in its entirety, visit www.acgov.org/board/district1.

In other action, the council also voted unanimously to proceed with a residential green building ordinance, similar to that established for commercial buildings.

The Alameda County Waste Management Authority has developed a Green Points rating system, which was presented to the council. Out of a possible 357 points in the categories of indoor air quality, energy efficiency and resource efficiency, a home that earns 50 points is considered to be "green."

"Your Planning Commission asked developers to incorporate as many 'green' features as possible," said Wendy Summer, green building program manager for the county. "It becomes confusing so we developed the green point system."

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