Environmental Leadership

By Helene Schneider

Enacting strong policies that protects our environment is crucial, both locally and on a global level. As a member of the Council Sustainability Sub-Committee, we set policies ranging from recycling, to water and energy conservation, to green building design, to carpooling. Below is a summary of some first term achievements.

Environmental Sustainability: As a member of the Council Sustainability Sub-Committee, I play a leadership role establishing recommendations to the full Council on citywide environmental sustainability policies as well as tracking the City's progress on its own programs. As an example, the City of Santa Barbara is the first southern California city to create a baseline of energy use in all its facilities, with the goal of reducing our energy use over time. These programs and policies are categorized into six subjects: Green Building Design, Energy Conservation, Waste Prevention, Water Conservation, Hazardous Material Reduction, and Alternative Transportation/Flexible Schedules.

Toxic Free Parks: One of my first votes on the City Council was to establish the City's Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program. This program promotes best management practices in creating and maintaining toxic-free parks and ensures that toxic pesticides are rarely used and only under strict scrutiny from a community-based Advisory Committee. Santa Barbara City Parks are now 98% green (i.e. no toxic pesticides used) and all maintenance programs and new projects include these policies as a matter of course. In 2006 per my request, the Finance Committee reviewed the citywide fiscal policies in relation to IPM in order to ensure adequate staffing and funding for capital improvements. The FY 2008 budget includes an additional grounds maintenance worker for this purpose as well.

Recycling Programs: I serve as the Council representative to the Santa Barbara School District Recycling Committee, where in the last 18 months the City was able to assist the District to significantly increase their recycling efforts and save over $100,000 in trash fees by placing needed supplies at each campus, and through training and outreach efforts with School administrators, principals, teachers, students and janitorial staff.

Restoring Lower Mission Creek: As the Council liaison to the Lower Mission Creek Design Subcommittee, I worked to finalize plans and secure funding that will restore Lower Mission Creek and create two pocket parks. In August 2006, I testified in support of this project to the California Coastal Commission, which unanimously supported the project. I'm excited that the densely populated West Downtown neighborhood will have more green open space and a healthier creek by the end of the project.

Also, in July 2005, I hosted a "Westside Walkabout" at Bohnett Park, organized by the Westside Study Group. Westside neighbors received an update on the placement of the new ultra-violet filtration system (SURF) that kills harmful bacteria before reaching Lower Mission Creek, as well as the creation of a new pocket park on San Andres Street.

Regional Leadership: This is my third year as an appointed member of the League of California Cities Environmental Quality Policy Sub-Committee. This committee makes recommendations to the League of CA Cities Board of Directors on statewide legislation as it relates to environmental quality. In addition, I have consistently worked with and encouraged coordinating efforts between the City's IPM programs and that of the Santa Barbara School District and worked with Supervisor Janet Wolf and Assemblymember Pedro Nava to reduce the State Department of Agriculture's potential use of toxic pesticides and to ensure a better notification procedure with the when they deem necessary to eradicate pests with toxic pesticides.