HomeMy WebLinkAbout1221 - SUPPORTING Boulder's membership compact of colorado communities1
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RESOLUTION 1221
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING BOULDERS MEMBERSHIP IN THE
COMPACT OF COLORADO COMMUNITIES
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5 WHEREAS, Colorado communities share in common a strong quality of life deeply rooted in the
6 state's vigorous economy, agricultural and environmental resources, and rich cultural heritage;
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9 WHEREAS, There is scientific consensus regarding changes to our climate caused by human
10 activity, especially the combustion of fossil fuels that create greenhouse gases; and
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12 WHEREAS, Climate change has been widely recognized by government, business and academic
13 leaders as a worldwide threat to our economy, safety, public health, and quality of life; and
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15 WHEREAS, Colorado communities, residents and businesses throughout the state are already
16 beginning to feel the impacts of climate change such as reduced snowpack, high heat days,
17 earlier snowmelt runoff, and more frequent and severe floods, droughts and wildfires; and
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19 WHEREAS, The City of Boulder has demonstrated a legacy of leadership to reduce the threat of
20 climate change and will continue to prioritize climate and energy efforts in our community and
21 beyond; and
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23 WHEREAS, On December 6, 2016 the Boulder City Council unanimously adopted Boulder's
24 Climate Commitment and updated community greenhouse gas goals and targets to reduce such
25 emissions 15% below 2005 by 2020, 50% by 2030 and 80% by 2050, and achieve 100% of
26 Boulder's electricity supply from renewables by 2030; and
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28 WHEREAS, On June 13, 2017 the Boulder City Council adopted Resolution 1207 unanimously
29 declaring the City of Boulder's commitment to honor and uphold the Paris Climate Agreement
30 goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050 as compared to a 2005
31 baseline; and
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1 WHEREAS, The City of Boulder is joined in acting on climate change by a global coalition of
2 cities, state and national governments and community and private sector leaders who recognize
3 the importance and potential of these actions to protect and enhance the well-being of current
4 and future generations; and
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6 WHEREAS, The City of Boulder continuously seeks to join neighboring cities and counties in
7 developing innovative ways to address climate change, build community resilience and stimulate
8 local economies; and
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10 WHEREAS, On May 19, 2017, elected officials and senior staff from Colorado cities and
11 counties pledged to present a formal charter to become co-founding members of the Compact of
12 Colorado Communities ("Compact"); and
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14 WHEREAS, The mission of the Compact of Colorado Communities is to build capacity of
15 Colorado cities and counties in developing and implementing aggressive climate change and
16 clean energy initiatives thus ensuring the security and economic prosperity of its member
17 communities; and
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19 WHEREAS, The Compact of Colorado Communities objectives are to:
20 o Dramatically enhance local government capacity to address climate change and clean
21 energy throughout critical decision-making roles
22 • Create jobs, improve public health and demonstrate bold actions;
23 • Drive the development of visible community improvement projects that will be coveted
24 by residents and businesses;
25 • Spur economic development through sound clean energy and preparedness programs;
26 • Provide an important forum addressing public engagement and awareness;
27 a Facilitate flow of funding frorri Colorado/Federal agencies, philanthropy and the private
28 sector to member initiatives; and
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30 WHEREAS, The Compact will be governed by a Steering Committee that includes
31 representation from member communities nominating their own elected officials and/or
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1 senior staff (the "Steering Committee"); and
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3 WHEREAS, The Compact will be administered by staff hired and dedicated to its own
4 mission without conflict of interest; and
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6 WHEREAS, The Association of Climate Change Officers ("ACCO") will act as a
7 temporary fiscal agent for the Compact until such time as the Compact may establish its
8 own organization or has identified a successor organization to serve in that role; and
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10 WHEREAS, The City also participates in the Colorado Communities for Climate Action
11 whose mission is to advocate for state and federal policies to protect Colorado's climate
12 for current and future generations, and thus is complementary to and not duplicative of
13 the mission of the Compact; and
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15 WHEREAS, The City Council finds that participation in the Compact to address climate
16 change will further the City's Climate Commitment and resilience strategy goals,
17 stimulate the local economy and is in the best interest of the citizens of the City of Boulder.
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19 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
20 BOULDER, THAT:
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22 The City of Boulder hereby joins the Compact of Colorado Communities, and will
23 adhere to the requirements for all Compact members that are summarized below and accounted
24 for in the Compact's published guidelines:
25 A. Training & Capacity Building
26 i. Commit at least one elected official and assign at least one senior staff
27 member to participate in the annual convening of the Compact.
28 ii. Commit leadership and senior staff participation in annual climate change
29 training as referenced in the Compact's published guidelines.
30 B. Contribution & Funding
31 i.Make an annual contribution to the Compact of $2,800 subject to annual
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1 appropriation, with the first contribution due by no later than 30 days after the local
2 government's fiscal year start date.
3 iii. Encourage staff, as appropriate, to provide non-financial support to the Compact's
4 fundraising efforts to ensure that the Compact has sufficient and sustainable funding to
5 supports its members.
6 C. Actions
7 i. Establish and publicly announce a new goal or initiative by no later than
8 September 30, 2019 that meets an appropriate aggressiveness threshold to be agreed
9 upon by the Steering Committee in consultation with ACCO and Compact staff.
10 D. Participation
11 i. Assign one elected official and one senior staff person to serve as liaisons and
12 official representatives to the Compact.
13 ii. Elected officials will be invited to participate in activities designed and
14 appropriate for elected officials and government leaders (to be held no more frequently
15 than twice annually).
16 iii. Staff liaisons will be asked to address administrative issues, process annual
17 contributions, coordinate usage of Compact benefits and participate in Compact -wide
18 meetings (to be held no more frequently than on a quarterly basis).
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20 PASSED AND ADOPTED this 21st day of November, 2017.
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28 ATTEST:
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32 City Clerk
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CITY OF BOULDER, COLORADO