HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-07-13 City Council (11)City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
TO:
FROM:
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS
DATE:JULY 13, 1998 CMR:298:98
SUBJECT:EARTH DAY 1998
This is an informational report, no action by Council is required.
BACKGROUND
The City of Palo Alto has supported Earth Day since its inception in 1970, and served as the
international headquarters for Earth Day in 1990. In 1998, various City departments with
environmental protection programs renewed efforts to coordinate outreach prior to and ¯
on Earth Day itself, April 22.
DISCUSSION
Earth Day 1998 was an excellent example of interdepartmental cooperation, and included the
following activities:
Mayor Rosenbaum signed an Earth Day Proclamation, renewing the City’s
commitment to protecting our natural resources.
Staffwas involved in developing the theme, "A Sense of Place; Bringing Earth Day
Home," which was selected by Bay Area Action and the Peninsula Conservation
Center, overall Earth Day coordinators.
The Community Recycler newsletter was used to promote the theme and relate it to
ongoing City programs. The City’s traffic congestion management, energy
conservation, recycling, and Bay and creek protection programs were all featured in
a special issue, which was distributed through the Palo Alto Weekly.
A one-page flier, Ten Actions You Can Take to Bring Earth Day Home, was
developed with ideas taken from all City programs. They listed the following
suggestions on the flier: Compost; Get Kids Involved; Ride a Bike; Divert Hazardous
Waste from the Landfill; Plant a Tree; Use Efficient Light Bulbs; Turn in Mercury
Thermometers; Reduce Pesticide Use; Recycle; Clean-up Creeks and Bay
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A month-long display in the City Ha!l lobby illustrated the link among the City’s
environmental programs and the connection to our local environments.
On Earth Day, a noontime gathering for City employees at City Hall provided food
and prizes with environmental themes. Staff members committed themselves to
unique pledges, including the following:
"Use lemon juice to clean sink"
"Use a dish towel for gift wrap"
"Ride my bike to the .store"
Staff held an open house at the Recycling Center and conducted a tour at the Water
Quality Control Plant.
RESOURCE IMPACT
While the Earth Day activities were all low-cost activities, virtually all the suggested actions
will result in resource and dollar savings.
PREPARED BY: Philip Bobel, Manager, Environmental Compliance Division
DEPARTMENT HEAD:
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
GLENN S. ROBERTS
HAR SON’
Assistant City Manager
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