CITY OF TALLAHASSEE
CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED ON: September 23, 2009
SUBJECT/TITLE: Approval to Adopt the Unnecessary Idling Resolution
TARGET ISSUE: Environmental Policy and Energy Resources
STATEMENT OF ISSUE
In 2006, staff prepared a preliminary greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory for the Tallahassee community. This GHG inventory, often referred to as a carbon footprint, was prepared in conjunction with the Integrated Resource Planning project and was presented to the City Commission at its September 27, 2006 meeting. Based on the findings of the inventory and its subsequent updates (2008 & 2009), staff was authorized by the City Commission to implement a Carbon Reduction Plan to reduce the City’s carbon footprint and also to encourage citizens to reduce their carbon footprints as well. The City’s transportation sector is a major source of Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, contributing more than one-third of the CO2 emissions for the Tallahassee area. Unnecessary idling of motor vehicles and equipment contributes to the CO2 emissions from the transportation sector.
This agenda item seeks the Commission’s adoption of an Unnecessary Idling Resolution and authorization for implementation of a Community Unnecessary Idling Educational Campaign. The proposed educational campaign will educate residents regarding the adverse impacts of motor vehicle idling and encourage motorists to avoid unnecessary idling with the goal of reducing greenhouse gases from mobile sources.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Option 1: Adopt the Unnecessary Idling Resolution and authorize the Community Unnecessary Idling Campaign.
FISCAL IMPACT
No new fiscal impacts. The recommended program will be funded within the existing budget.
Cynthia S. Barber, Director, Environmental Policy & Energy Resources
Anita Favors Thompson, City Manager
For information, please contact: Ms. Cynthia S. Barber, Director – Environmental Policy and Energy Resources, at 891-2476.
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL/ISSUE ANALYSIS
HISTORY/FACTS & ISSUES
The City of Tallahassee has a longstanding demonstrated record of environmental stewardship, including a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In June 2006, Mayor John Marks signed the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement, pledging the City’s support and commitment in the reduction of carbon dioxide and global warming emissions. Consistent with that commitment, the City Commission directed staff to conduct an initial baseline inventory of greenhouse gas emissions from its facilities and operations. The findings of the initial inventory were presented to the City Commission in September 2006. An updated inventory was subsequently prepared and presented to the Commission in April 2008 and 2009, respectively. According to the findings of the GHG inventory, more than one-third of the CO2 emissions for the Tallahassee area came from the transportation sector. Staff was directed by the City Commission to develop a Carbon Reduction Plan to reduce the City’s carbon footprint. Among the components to be included in the reduction plan was an education program with an Unnecessary Idling Campaign for employees as well as the entire community.
The City Manager’s 2009 New Year’s Resolution called for the reduction of the City’s carbon footprint by five percent through the management and control of City government activities and operations and by encouraging responsible environmental awareness at the individual citizen level. In support of the City’s commitment to the reduction of greenhouse gases, the City Manager recently adopted a Municipal Anti-Idling and Fuel Conservation Policy for City government vehicles and equipment (See Attachment # 1). The policy prohibits the unnecessary idling of City owned or leased motor vehicles and/or equipment for more than five minutes. Exceptions to the policy are approved and provided for on a departmental basis. It is estimated that limiting vehicle and equipment idling could reduce the City’s fuel budget by 15%.
At the state level, Governor Charlie Crist has made the reduction of CO2 a priority of his administration and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has adopted Rule 62-285.420, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), which prohibits diesel-powered trucks from idling for more than five minutes. The Florida Medical Association not only recommends anti-idling legislation for Florida but for the entire nation, and the American Lung Association supports efforts to decrease pollution from mobile sources. Nationally, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has determined that mobile sources are the primary cause of air pollution in many urban areas and emit carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, air toxics, greenhouse gases, and other air pollutants. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers determined that it takes approximately the same amount of fuel to restart an automobile with a six-cylinder engine as it does to idle for five seconds. The proposed Unnecessary Idling Resolution and the Community Unnecessary Idling Educational Campaign are consistent with actions being taken by local and state governments across the country as well as by the federal government. Locally, Leon County recently adopted a resolution recognizing the importance of vehicular idle reduction and calling for the development of an anti-idling campaign.
To address motor vehicle and equipment idling and to ultimately reduce the City’s greenhouse gas emissions from mobile sources, staff is proposing an Unnecessary Idling Campaign. The components of the campaign include:
1) Adoption of a resolution by the City Commission supporting the Campaign;
2) Development and implementation of an educational outreach program to educate the citizens of Tallahassee on the subject matter working through/with community partnerships and coordination with the business community and other public and not-for-profits entities; and
3) Adoption of an internal Municipal Anti-Idling and Fuel Conservation Policy (Adopted by the City Manager – See Attachment 1).
The resolution proposed by staff (Attachment # 2) calls for the development and implementation of outreach programs to educate the public on the adverse impacts of unnecessary idling and to discourage motorists from doing so. The resolution along with the proposed educational campaign clearly demonstrates the City’s continued commitment to lead in the area of environmental stewardship.
The City’s Department of Environmental Policy and Energy Resources (EPER) will take the lead in developing the campaign, working with other departments throughout City government and numerous partners in the community. The campaign contemplates the development of partnerships/coordination with local businesses, universities and colleges, Leon County Schools, Leon County and the State of Florida. Funding for the campaign will be provided for within the current budget resources of EPER. It is envisioned that some of the community partners may also provide funding for the program as well.
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
Not applicable
DISCUSSION OF OPTIONS
1. Adopt the Unnecessary Idling Resolution and authorize the Community Unnecessary Idling Campaign.
The adoption of the resolution will show the City’s continued commitment to environmental stewardship and to reducing the community’s carbon footprint. The educational campaign will educate residents on the adverse impacts of unnecessary idling and encourage them not to idle their motor vehicles and equipment. The campaign will solicit community support for this issue and businesses, institutions, governments and not-for-profit organizations will be encouraged to adopt anti-idling policies.
2. Do not adopt the Unnecessary Idling Resolution and the Community Wide Unnecessary Idling Campaign and direct staff to develop an alternative solution.
Failure to adopt the resolution and implement an effective education campaign may hamper the City’s ability to influence a decrease in the community’s carbon footprint associated with the transportation sector.
ATTACHMENTS/REFERENCES
Attachment # 1 – Municipal Anti-Idling and Fuel Conservation Policy
Attachment # 2 – Draft Resolution for Unnecessary-Idling Campaign