RES NO. 2018-27 ENDORSING CLEAN AIR ENERGY INITIATIVE 1631RESOLUTION NO. 2018-27
A RESOLUTION of the City Council of Bainbridge Island, Washington,
endorsing "Clean Air Clean Energy" Initiative 1631, a statewide initiative
to the people that would charge pollution fees on the largest corporate
polluters and use the revenue to invest in healthy communities, clean our
air and water, promote clean energy, and slow down the impacts of
climate change, and urging voters to "Approve" Initiative 1631 on the
November 6, 2018 general election ballot.
WHEREAS, the residents of Bainbridge Island and those throughout Washington
State all deserve to breath clean air, drink healthy water, and live in protected
environments; and
WHEREAS, over 600,000 Washingtonians live with asthma and thousands more
suffer from upper respiratory illnesses and diseases caused by air pollution; and
WHEREAS, climate change is one of the paramount challenges of our generation
and will have near and long-term consequences for the economy, the environment, and
public health and safety on Bainbridge Island; and
WHEREAS, residents of Bainbridge Island are already experiencing the impacts
of a changing climate, including more extreme rainfall events, increasing flooding risk,
and more -frequent heat events that impact health; and
WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes the need to pass on a safe, healthy
environment and a stable climate to our children and future generations of
Washingtonians; and
WHEREAS, the City Council supports policies that provide consumers with
affordable, cleaner, and more efficient fuel, energy, and transportation choices; and
WHEREAS, state, county, and city shared climate change goals cannot be met
without the accelerated phase out of coal-fired electricity and replacement with
renewable energy, investments in energy efficiency, cleaner forms of transportation, and
investments in healthy forests and agriculture, all of which will be aided by the passage
of I-1631; and
WHEREAS, the largest corporate polluters causing the most damage to our
health are currently not being held accountable nor being required to pay to mitigate the
damage they're doing to our communities; and
WHEREAS, I-1631, by hastening a transition from polluting fossil fuel energy to
clean energy, will create thousands of high -paying local jobs that contribute to local
economies, in rural and urban communities alike, without hurting the health of their
neighbors; and
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WHEREAS, I-1631 will provide a source of funding that the City of Bainbridge
Island and other municipalities will be able to apply for to help fund projects that reduce
climate pollution and mitigate the effects of climate change; and
WHEREAS, I-1631 prioritizes the protection of communities disproportionately
harmed by pollution by targeting investments to provide direct, meaningful, and assured
benefits to those communities; and
WHEREAS, I-1631 provides assistance to families with low incomes as we
transition to clean energy; and
WHEREAS, I-1631 invests in our state's natural resources, which are vital to our
state's economy and industries like agriculture, timber, tourism, and fishing, and which
protect our health by reducing pollution in the air and water, and secure our community
by lowering the risk of fires, floods, and landslides; and
WHEREAS, I-1631 provides funding to: restore and protect estuaries, fisheries,
and marine shoreline habitats; prepare for sea level rise; increase sustainable supply of
water; and improve infrastructure for treating stormwater; and
WHEREAS, I-1631 includes provisions for strong public oversight and
accountability; and
WHEREAS, I-1631 respects tribal sovereignty and ensures that affected
communities and tribal nations are consulted and involved in decision-making; and
WHEREAS, I-1631 was shaped by tribal nations and communities most affected
by pollution and climate change, and is supported by an unprecedented coalition of
business, labor unions, environmental and economic justice advocates, healthcare
professionals, communities of color, faith -based organizations, and community leaders;
and
WHEREAS, I-1631 provides Washington State an opportunity to lead the nation
and set an example in how to address pollution and climate change in an equitable and
economically responsible manner; and
WHEREAS, at the City Council's September 25, 2018 business meeting, persons
in favor of I-1631 and those opposed to it were given an equal opportunity to share their
views in an open public meeting; and
WHEREAS, notice of the September 25, 2018 business meeting was given in
accordance with RCW 42.17A.555.
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NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAINBRIDGE
ISLAND DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Council publicly endorses Initiative 1631 as an essential
component of the City of Bainbridge Island's commitment to cut pollution, protect our
citizens' health and well-being, reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, preserve our
environment, and invest in our future.
Section 2. The City Council urges all voters on Bainbridge Island and throughout
Washington State to "Approve" Initiative 1631 on the November 6, 2018 general election
ballot.
PASSED by the City Council this 91h day of October, 2018.
APPROVED by the Mayor this 9th day of October, 2018.
By:
Kol Medina, Mayor
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATE:
By:
Christine Brown, C
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: September 21, 2018
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: October 9, 2018
RESOLUTION NO. 2018-27
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