Public Comment from the Website

[Aileen]

I'm sorry this comes in so late. This is a compilation of all the
suggestions I've heard other than in official Task Force public input
sessions. I would very much appreciate their being forwarded to the
appropriate groups. (I'll try to indicate which these might be, but
if I don't get it right, please fix.)

TRANSPORTATION

1. "Car share" of City-owned vehicles on evenings and weekends. The
City of Berkeley has saved LOTS of money with such a program, aside
from its environmental and citizen benefits. The City might have to
contract with an organization (such as City Car Share) to implement
the program.

2. The fee for a taxi license in the City should be inversely
proportional to the fuel efficiency of the vehicles being licensed.
(Low mileage, high
fee.)

WATER

1. Underground storage of rainwater (I've heard this is done in
Australia and elsewhere), specifically for landscaping purposes,
should be encouraged (through the availability and distribution of
info), and probably required for new construction.

WASTE, etc.

1. We do not want to keep generating huge quantities of methane (in
the landfill the City uses) by adding to what causes it. Wet waste
currently going to the landfill as part of "garbage" MUST be diverted,
hopefully to a composting or fuel-generation operation: it's a
RESOURCE! Restaurants and other commercial buildings must have
separate containers for wet waste, and appropriate collection of it
should be provided. Obviously Foothill Disposal should be part of the
conversation.

2. Restaurants should be made aware of facilities that will reuse used
cooking oil, and required to make use of them. I'm referring to
business enterprises that convert the used cooking oil into biofuel.

BUILT ENVIRONMENT

1. Energy efficiency audits should be required, within a short
timeframe, for all multifamily rental housing (including longterm and
shortterm temporary housing and motels/hotels). Costs should not be
borne by tenants. It may in some cases be necessary for the City to
provide funds for this, possibly from a temporary increase in the
utility tax.

2. Following up on the audit results, we need to find a way to get
energy-efficient appliances (I suspect particularly refrigerators),
weatherstripping, additional insulation, into these units. There
should be a mechanism for electricity bill savings to be used for
payback, even if the up-front cost much be borne by the City (see
above). Cooperation of both landlords and tenants will be needed;
appropriate incentives should be designed for each.

UNKNOWN CATEGORY

1. A VOLUNTEER organization should take on the task of coordinating
the volunteer efforts (meaning at least listing what needs to be done,
and finding organizations to do it) needed to help implement those
sustainability recommendations that need such action. (In particular,
those that it is not necessary or appropriate for our city government
to become involved in.)