A CAP for Everybody

The state of California is moving ahead really fast with its new energy policies and GHG emissions reduction requirements. Part of its strategy is to incorporate local Climate Action Plans (CAP) as a way of bringing emissions down to meet the goals established by the legislature.

I've been working on this climate issue for over a decade now, as you're probably aware, and as an architect involved with agencies for 40 years I've seen the administration of policy at the state and national level handled in very bureaucratic and overbearing ways. That's why I want our community to take its own position and get square with the new state regulations in the way that we see fit. These regs are now a reality because of the way the state needs to reduce its GHG carbon emissions. (check out this page)

 In order for energy and water conservation efforts to work, San Marino needs to put its OWN policy into place. Recently we had the experience of the County imposing its bike lane strategy on Huntington Drive, which fell through but also made everyone angry. This is the kind of thing that we don't want to have coming down on us from either the county or the state. But the way to tackle this is for San Marino to craft its own policies and strategies such that they will meet the state's GHG emission requirements, and also preserve our community character. Otherwise they'll be imposed on us, like we saw with the bike lanes, and we won't be able to fight it.

The reason the local action plan works is because it is a community document that establishes guidelines for our city to implement, following California state law. These guidelines are developed and adopted by the residents of the community, resulting in a Climate Action Plan. The GHG emissions are calculated by our consultant, so the numbers are based upon the requirements used by the state. Once this plan is finalized, it is then adopted by the City Council as part of the General Plan. Per California Land Use Law, this is a final document that has to be respected by the state, and would represent our own methods for reducing the necessary GHG emissions. That's why the process is set up that way.

~ Laurie Barlow

Pursuing a climate action plan in and for San Marino

Welcome to our San Marino Climate Network blog.  

Our purpose here is to provide information, resources and news related to our advocacy for a climate action plan for the city.  Our hope is to find a way forward on climate that reflects our community's tradition of extraordinary commitment to our children as evidenced by our award-winning school system.  It is they who will most benefit from our efforts...or pay the price of our inaction.  

We're respectful of all points of view, including those that represent understandable concerns about budgetary impacts as well as feared intrusion into matters heretofore left to the individual.  We're committed to forging a path that integrates the entire range of community opinion.  Understanding that no single plan can satisfy everyone perfectly, we're nonetheless dedicated to a process that hears everyone.

The link on our resources tab shows our most recent presentation on CAPs, delivered on 9/25 at the Crowell Library.

~ Jordan Sollitto