After a year of work by dozens of local environmentalists, City Council members have narrowed down a long list of goals to create the city's first "environmental sustainability action plan," to be approved early next year.

There are currently 19 goals in the plan, after 89 possible goals were developed by a 60-person Sustainability Task Force earlier this year. Making the cut are several green building programs, water conservation plans, composting and recycling programs, public education programs, a plan for hundreds of new trees and plans to encourage walking, biking and transit use.

Council members Jac Siegel, Margaret Abe-Koga and Ronit Bryant discussed the 19 goals on Monday. The members were pleased to see that city staffers intend to provide details on each goal, including costs and possible "unintended consequences." For Siegel, the main issue was money as the city's $90 million general fund faces a projected deficit of about $6 million next year.

"Every city in the country is facing financial problems," he said, adding that it might come to "whether to pay $200,000 for this or lay off a policeman or close the library an extra day."

Task force members were adamant that the economic recession should not slow the efforts. Task force chair Bruce Karney said the council should move faster to adopt goals for greenhouse gas reduction, which are due next fall.

"There is a climate war going on we can't afford to delay," Karney said. He added that the city would have to decrease its emissions by 2.5 percent a year over the next 40 years to meet the requirements of AB32. He said cities that lead the way will be more likely to receive help from President-elect Barack Obama's administration.

The city has met with the Valley Transportation Authority for one goal: to provide better transportation within Mountain View with a shuttle service. A staff report said city funds should not be used to subsidize such a service, as many have suggested. Instead, Abe-Koga, the city's VTA liaison, said the transit agency likely will start working with local cities to develop effective shuttle programs, as many cities have had similar complaints about poor transportation planning.

One of the committee's more ambitious sustainability goals is a "zero waste" action plan which is at least three years off and would follow Palo Alto's lead in recycling or composting every bit of garbage in the city (the city currently recycles over 60 percent of its waste). A pilot food composting program for businesses also is being considered. Another proposal would put recycling bins near every garbage can in public places and provide them free to businesses.

Council members selected two different goals to encourage green building, as buildings are the second largest source of emissions in the city after transportation. One would train city planning staff and building inspectors to be familiar with green building techniques, another would require all new public buildings to be rated LEED Silver, which the council already voted against once before. Bryant said she was "embarrassed" the first time it was rejected, but hopes for a second chance to persuade the council.

The committee also wants a pedestrian master plan, which would outline ways to make the city more connected and walkable for pedestrians. City staff said it would require up to $200,000 for a hired consultant to coordinate the effort, but task force members said they were close to having made their own.

"We have volunteers offering to provide a draft," Bryant said. "I would say 'thank you.'" City staffers said they would have to think about it.

One short term goal was to redesign the city's utility bills to encourage water conservation, possibly giving cheaper rates to those who use less water. Educational goals included a rotating sustainability book display at the library and sponsor outreach at local events.

To continue to get the expert input of task force members, the council is considering an ongoing Green Citizens Collaboration and Action Team.

For more, see www.sustainablemountainview.com.

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