2020-54 - Council Budget Priorities FY2021

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2020 Council Budget°Priority Submission Form for consideration as part of the 2021 Budget Finance Committee Due date.- August 31, 2020 Title of Project or Policy Priority: Expansion of clean power use for City of Lakewood to 100 percent Submitted by: Tom Bullock, Tristan Rader City Departments to be involved: Public Works; Finance; Purchasing Manager Potential community partners: Which of the Community Vision focus areas does your priority address? Check all that apply: Commercial Development Safety Housing Mobility Community Wellness Education & Culture 1. Provide a brief narrative description of your idea: In line with community values, the City should ensure a its electricity is sourced from clean, renewable power. A growing number of major U.S. corporations and cities are adopting this as a best practice (to reduce pollution) and as a resiliency measure (to prepare in advance for the likelihood of mandatory regulation requiring clean power supplies in the future). This would implement 2019 legislation legislation establishing a goal of using 100 percent clean electricity to power City operations by 2025. 2. Briefly explain how this will benefit the community: Reducing pollution that causes asthma, heart problems, birth defects, and climate change. Living our values as a community that places a high priority on environmental sustainability. Preparing in advance of possible mandatory regulation to supply part, and eventually all, of City Hall operations with clean power. 3. Estimated expense (provide a range): A modest surcharge on our existing bill to ensure the source is 100 percent clean. 4. If applicable, describe any past proposals or discussions that are related to this priority. Community Vision conversations and citizen advocacy have called upon the City of Lakewood to demonstrate leadership in sustainable practices. The WWTP digester retrofits will supply clean power once completed. In addition, the City previously switch City Hall and the VVWTP to 100 percent clean contacts and has installed four solar systems to generate clean power on site. 5. If applicable, describe any preliminary discussions you have had with colleagues, the administration and/or your constituents about this priority. In 2019, City Council and the previous Administration unanimously adopted legislation establishing a goal of using 100 percent clean electricity to power City operations by 2025.