Comments on City's Draft Strategic Operational Plan due by Wed. 1/6/21

[ami...@virginiavillageproductions.com]

Dear Energy Action Team members,

 

On behalf of the Local/State Government Action Work Group of the Energy Action Team, I would like to share the following information with you:

 

·         At their work session on Thursday, January 7, the Corvallis City Council will consider proposed changes to their draft 2021-25 Strategic Operational Plan (SOP). The SOP is a tool to help elected officials and City staff prioritize work and make informed long-range decisions. While the Imagine Corvallis 2040 vision document lays out the community’s goals and aspirations, the SOP focuses on the concrete steps that the City is taking to support this vision.

 

·         There are several items in the draft SOP related to energy and climate, most notably in the “Steward and Sustain” section of the attached document (pages 10 – 17). Text of the proposed actions appears on pages 10 – 14, while an implementation timeline can be found on pages 14 – 17. A few examples of action items related to energy and climate are:

S-8 B. Reduce the organization’s carbon footprint by increasing the amount of renewable electrical power used to provide City services, measured as a percent of total electrical power used, with an aspirational goal of 100% renewable power by 2030. [NOTE: At the 12/10/20 City Council work session, Councilor Ellis recommended deleting the word “aspirational”.]

S-8 G. Adopt Building Code amendments requiring new commercial buildings to be solar panel ready.

S-8 H. Adopt Building Code amendments requiring new residential buildings to be solar panel ready.

 

·         Energy Action Team members are encouraged to review the proposed actions on pages 10 – 14 and to submit written comments to City Council regarding the draft SOP prior to Thursday’s work session. Comments may include suggested changes to the text, as well as support of or opposition to specific items. To ensure that councilors have an opportunity to review your comments, it is recommended that you submit comments by Wednesday, January 6, 2021.

 

·         To send an email, direct it to the councilor who represents your ward, and copy it to city.c...@corvallisoregon.gov.  This will send your email simultaneously to the mayor and all city councilors, as well as to the city manager and city recorder. Email addresses for individual councilors are listed HERE. (New councilors for Wards 4 and 6 are being inducted at tomorrow night’s City Council meeting - Monday, January 4, 2021.)

 

If you choose to comment on the SOP, please do so as an individual, NOT as a member of the Energy Action Team. The Corvallis Sustainability Coalition does not take positions on public policy. However, we do encourage community members to become informed and engaged on this and other issues of community interest. Thank you for your participation.

 

Annette

 

Annette Mills, Facilitator
Corvallis Sustainability Coalition
541-230-1237
www.sustainablecorvallis.org