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sector, educational institutions, hospitals,. <br />neighborhood groups, social service <br />providers, public interest groups, civic <br />leaders, academic institutions, and <br />elected officials. <br />• Research and offer policy proposals to <br />address sustainability issues both within <br />the community at large and within <br />the City government. <br />• Develop and support sustainability <br />research, educational and technical <br />assistance partnerships and consortiums. <br />• Continually gather and. quantify data on <br />the benefits and costs of sustainability <br />found by local organizations and share this <br />with the public. <br />• Serve as the citizen body that provides <br />oversight of City government's <br />sustainability efforts. <br />4. Adopt a Goal Uf Becoming Carboxi <br />Neutral By 2020 antl I:)evelop a <br />Cl.irnate Action Plan <br />We recommend that the City of Eugene <br />adopt the goal of becoming carbon neutral <br />(which means net greenhouse gas emissions <br />are reduced to zero) in all City owned <br />facilities and operations by 2020. To achieve <br />this goal, we recommend that the City <br />implement an internal City government <br />climate action plan. The plan should be <br />phased in carefully. It should include specific <br />improvement targets, with the -first being to <br />reduce emissions to 7 percent below 1990 <br />(or 1992) levels by 2010 (earlier if possible). <br />The plan should include a combination <br />of increased energy efficiency, renewable <br />energy, carbon offsets, and other carbon <br />reduction strategies. It should be regularly <br />measured and improved. A climate action <br />plan will reduce the City government and the <br />community's greenhouse gas emissions, help <br />drive the market for low-carbon products and <br />services, and provide a role model for others <br />to follow. It will also complement Governor <br />Kulongoski's recent directive for all state <br />agencies to switch to 100% renewable energy <br />by 2010. <br />5. Purchase and CTse Sustainable <br />Practices and Local Products <br />and Sen~ices <br />We recommend that the City of Eugene <br />continue to build on its outstanding <br />efforts and adopt a formal policy of using <br />sustainable practices and purchasing locally <br />produced and sold sustainable products and <br />technologies throughout all City operations <br />whenever possible. The City of Eugene <br />spent $17;364, 737 on purchasing in FY <br />06 of which 55% was spent in the Eugene- <br />Springfield area and 75% was spent in <br />Oregon. This suggests the City is already <br />doing a good job of buying local. Including <br />sustainability criteria as part of its purchasing <br />policies would enhance Gity government <br />operations and help build the local market <br />for sustainable products and services. The <br />type of practices, products and services should <br />include, but not be limited to, those described <br />on pages I7-19 of this report. <br />6. Adopt sustainability Criteria for <br />I3ecisivn Making, Beginning with <br />`I'ri.ple Bottom. I..,ine Policy Assessments <br />and Purchasing Palicies <br />Following from recommendation number <br />five, we recommend that the City adopt <br />sustainability criteria to be used as a screen <br />for decision making in all aspects of City <br />operations, planning and policy. These criteria <br />should initially be implemented in two ways: <br />a) Staff should analyze proposed policies or <br />actions for city council from the perspective <br />of how they may impact sustainable. business <br />and jobs, the environment, and human rights <br />and social equity. Upfront analysis of the <br />