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HomeMy WebLinkAbout102615_cabs01Consent Agenda Commissioners Office JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY AGENDA REQUEST TO: Board of County Commissioners Philip Morley, County Administrator FROM: Julie Shannon, Executive Secretary I DATE: October 26, 2015 SUBJECT: PRESENTAION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL re: Taming Big Foot Community Outreach Program and Request for Endorsement STATEMENT OF ISSUE: PRESENTAION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL re: Taming Big Foot Community Outreach Program and Request for Endorsement ANALYSIS: A request was received from Mr. Bob Bindschandler, NASA Emeritus Scientist to make a presentation re: the Taming Big Foot Community Outreach Program and make a request for endorsement from the BOCC. See attachment. RECOMMENDATION: Move to endorse the "Taming Bigfoot" campaign. REVIE, Y? D BY: ^% Philip Morley, Co dministrator Date Taming Bigfoot A Carbon Footprint Reduction Competition to engage the community and accelerate Jefferson County's progress toward reducing CO2 emissions PURPOSE The Local 20/20 Climate Action Outreach Group applauds the Climate Action Committee's commitment to an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by calendar year 2050 (specified in the Climate Action Plan adopted by the Jefferson County Commissioners and the Port Townsend City Council in 2011). We recognize that many county residents support this goal and many are already taking action to reduce carbon emissions. However, many more of us remain on the sidelines asking "what can /should I do ?" and "will my actions really make a difference ?" Our group suggests the following engaging and educational competition to effectively answer these questions. In addition, this activity will demonstrate commitment to this ambitious carbon - reduction goal by community leaders, empower individuals to become personally involved, and accelerate the county's movement toward achieving this goal. PROPOSAL Our proposal is to hold a carbon - footprint reduction competition among teams. While many details are still being worked out, we envision 6 -8 teams of 6 -10 persons each. The members of each team will reflect the diversity of the county with at least one prominent member (such as a member of the Climate Action Committee, City Council or County Commissioner), a member from some of the more active climate action groups in the county, but also a member who has only begun to consider how to reduce their carbon emission footprint, a member living in the city, a rural member, etc.. After first determining their baseline carbon footprint from their personal behaviors (utility usage, food purchases, transportation usage, etc.) over the previous 6 months, they will decide what steps to take to reduce their emissions footprint during the competition. Their progress will be evaluated using one of the many carbon footprint calculators freely available on the internet. SPONSORS & PUBLICITY Key businesses or agencies, such as the PUD and Jefferson Transit will be sought out to sponsor the event in a variety of ways, such as offering prizes for teams achieving carbon emission reduction of a particular amount, or in particular usage sectors. Local media will be given regular updates on the competition so the public can follow the competition and root for their favorite team, however the more engaging aspect of the competition will be the numerous stories to tell of how each team's strategy was decided, how teams are reacting to other teams' progress, as well as what carbon emission reduction steps and strategies are being followed and, very importantly, which steps and strategies are proving to be most effective. Carbon - footprint reduction milestones achieved along the way will garner a team suitable rewards and some temporary bragging rights. SUCCESS Once concluded, the competition will produce a winner, but the central point of the competition is that everyone, competitors and observers alike, wins. Participants will become more aware of the many trade -offs that must be considered in formulating a broad emission - reduction strategy; engaged agencies and businesses will be seen as partners, not adversaries, in the collective need to reduce our total carbon footprint rapidly; and everyone will get a better idea of the relative effectiveness of various emission - reducing actions to help them make their best personal decisions. The competition may spawn other similar competitions among neighborhoods, or organizations. Our ultimate objective is that by drawing in the broadest set of participants and audience with this activity that is seen to benefit all, we all will be more aware of the common task ahead and be better prepared to contribute effectively, collectively and cooperatively, will have generated considerable momentum to accelerate the county's achieving its eventual goal, in carbon emission reduction, hopefully well before 2050.