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To: Everett City Council Members <br /> From: Paul Roberts, Chair of the General Government Committee <br /> Scott Murphy, Chair of the Budget Committee <br /> Re: Climate Action Plans Next Steps <br /> Date: March 29, 2017 <br /> The City of Everett has taken steps to address Climate Change including adopting a <br /> sustainable building infrastructure policy (Ordinance No. 2995-07); a Climate Change <br /> Excerpt in the 2011 "Hazard Identification and Vulnerability Analysis"; adopting a <br /> "Climate Change & Sustainability Element" in the City's Comprehensive Plan update in <br /> 2014; and commissioning a study on reducing carbon emissions in 2016. This latest <br /> work resulted in a report to the Planning Commission and City Council with <br /> recommendations for further actions the City might consider (see "Urban Carbon <br /> Reduction Strategies" memo, September 27, 2016 - copy attached). <br /> The steps taken by the City are important early actions. However, we believe more <br /> needs to be done to address Climate Change. The issue of Climate Change is among <br /> the most pressing issues of our time. Addressing it requires actions at all levels of <br /> government, as well as engaging our citizens and the private sector. <br /> We recommend development of a Climate Action Plan (CAP) for the City to be <br /> completed by 2018, that will include mitigation (reducing GHG) and adaptation <br /> strategies. Furthermore, we recommend beginning this work by engaging our citizens <br /> and Planning Commission in a forum/conversation on this issue, intended to inform the <br /> development of strategies to reduce GHG, adapt to changing weather and sea level <br /> events and develop the CAP. <br /> There are many examples of such plans and strategies in the Puget Sound region and <br /> across the nation that can inform the development of a CAP for Everett. The Urban <br /> Carbon Reduction Strategy report commissioned by the City Council contains a number <br /> of recommendations to reduce GHG, and should serve as a beginning point for this <br /> conversation. This effort has implications for the General Government and Budget <br /> Committees. Therefore, it is our intent to bring forward a resolution to develop the <br /> Climate Action Plan. <br /> C: Mayor Stephanson <br /> Allan Giffen, Planning Director <br /> Everett Planning Commission <br /> Attachment: New Energy Cities and Stockholm Environment Institute <br />