2019/03/20 Council Agenda Packet

Draft Resolution A Resolution requesting the Everett Planning Commission Prepare a Climate Action Plan for the City of Everett WHEREAS, climate change presents an existential threat to human existence on the planet, and impacts associated with climate change are being realized at global, national, regional and local levels; and WHEREAS,appropriate responses to climate change include rapidly reducing green house gas emissions (GHG) - (aka mitigation), preparing for circumstances such as storm events increasing in frequency and intensity, rising temperatures, flooding, fires and sea level rise- (aka adaptation), and preparing for economic impacts; and WHEREAS,the City of Everett has taken steps to better understand and respond to climate change, reducing GHG emissions and preparing for climate change, including: adopting a"Climate Change And Sustainability Element" in the City's Comprehensive Plan in 2015, studying Everett's carbon footprint in 2016, updating the City's Emergency Management Plans in 2017 & 2018, updating elements of the City's Comprehensive Plan to improve transit oriented development and link housing and transportation in 2018, as well as ongoing monitoring of water supply and flooding along the Snohomish River; and WHEREAS,the City's Climate Change And Sustainability Element calls for development of a Climate Action Plan to be prepared in collaboration with the Puget Sound Regional Council, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, Snohomish County PUD, Snohomish County, and the State Department of Ecology; and WHEREAS,the City's Climate Change And Sustainability Element calls for public participation, outreach and education to reduce GHG and adapt to climate change; and WHEREAS,the City's Climate Change And Sustainability Element recommends a number of steps to respond to climate change including but not limited to: reducing GHG generated by transportation, improving building energy use and efficiency, solid waste reduction, green economic development, and adapting to impacts of climate change; and WHEREAS,the Governor and Legislature are considering measures to reduce GHG, mitigate and adapt to climate change; and WHEREAS,the Everett City Council believes the policies set forth in the City's Climate Change And Sustainability Element should be implemented;