Sunday, June 07, 2020

Two important things on Monday

First, at 4 p.m. our time, a national coordinated action:




At 6, there's an online public hearing on the City of La Crosse budget for 2021-2025 capital projects. Normally, people would register at the meeting to speak on individual budget items. Since this meeting is online, if you'd like to speak, please if you'd like to speak in favor, please write to Tim Acklin at acklint@cityoflacrosse.org

The meeting will be conducted through video conferencing: https://stream.lifesizecloud.com/extension/3286075/0c19151b-3006-4d33-af75-c1d452407a87 

June 8, 2020 Meeting Agenda: http://cityoflacrosse.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=791879&GUID=9C86F2C9-5D12-43A3-85C4-FF45AFD63FAF 

June 1, 2020 Meeting Minutes: http://cityoflacrosse.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=791300&GUID=915F38B5-31AD-4A6B-BE53-32900EF57A30 

Public link to the updated Capital Budget: https://www.cityoflacrosse.org/your-government/departments/finance/budget/capital-improvement

Please consider speaking or emailing about at least this item: #257: Greenhouse gas emissions inventory and Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (document page 22 under section Plans and Studies.)  In July 2019, nearly one year ago, the City Council passed a resolution committing our city to zero carbon emissions and 100% renewable energy. A greenhouse gas emissions inventory is the first step in that process. Creating a Climate Action Plan will follow. These are vital steps that can't be delayed. 

These plans are in the budget now, but as the City considers cutting to meet projected budget shortfalls due to COVID-19, anything is possible. While the funding for this item is a pittance (there are about 44,000 La Crosse residents 18 and older in the city, so less than $2 per adult per year), items that have no advocates may look like tempting opportunities. Also, consider that this minor amount of money is all that is allocated for the next five years.

If we had ten years to act on climate when the city's resolution was passed, now we have just nine. May 2020 was the hottest on record worldwide. April was the second hottest. A few days ago, atmospheric CO2 levels topped 418 ppm. This is unsustainable. This very small budget item will help us begin the process of making a difference. 

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