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HomeMy WebLinkAbout100724 - Public Comment re: City of Redmond Resolution U L Ci t Attachment A ACC "°/7 /7 i' 7grin CITY OF REDMOND RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDMOND, WASHINGTON, OPPOSING INITIATIVE NO. 2117, RELATING TO THE REPEAL OF THE CLIMATE COMMITMENT ACT AND PROHIBITING CARBON TAX CREDIT TRADING, SCHEDULED FOR THIS NOVEMBER 5, 2024, GENERAL ELECTION WHEREAS, Washington State has placed a ballot measure before the voters with the official ballot measure title of "Initiative Measure No. 2117 Concerning Carbon Tax Credit Trading"; and WHEREAS, Initiative 2117 is scheduled to go to the voters during the November 5, 2024 Washington General Election; and WHEREAS, Initiative 2117 reads as follows: This measure would prohibit state agencies from imposing any type of carbon tax credit trading, including "cap and trade" or "cap and tax" programs, regardless of whether the resulting increased costs are imposed on fuel recipients or fuel suppliers. It would repeal sections of the 2021 Washington Climate Commitment Act as amended, including repealing the creation and modification of a "cap and invest" program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by specific entities; and WHEREAS, the Climate Commitment Act has already advanced efforts to protect our air and water and has generated $3.25 billion for forest protection, transportation projects, electrification efforts, wildfire prevention and response, salmon Page 1 of 4 Resolution No. AM No. Attachment A recovery, Tribal investments, and more; and WHEREAS, Redmond recognizes the need to foster a healthy environment, with clean air to breathe, healthy drinking water, and a stable climate for our children and future generations; and WHEREAS, in 2020, the Redmond City Council declared a Climate Emergency and adopted a 30-year Environmental Sustainability Action Plan that collectively commits our city to achieve municipal carbon neutrality by 2030 and community-wide carbon neutrality by 2050; and WHEREAS, the Climate Commitment Act is a key policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support implementation of the Environmental Sustainability Action Plan; and WHEREAS, the City has already been allocated more than $2.2M in funding from the Climate Commitment Act to advance critical climate mitigation and resilience efforts; and WHEREAS, in the 2024 State Supplemental Budget Redmond was allocated $1M in the funding for electric charging and transportation infrastructure, but with the contingency that these funds will only be received if the Climate Commitment Act is maintained; and WHEREAS, the City is a founding member and active participant in the King County-Cities Climate Collaboration (K4C) and has adopted by resolution a Joint Letter of Commitment for Climate Change Actions, which includes advocating for comprehensive. Page 2 of 4 Resolution No. AM No. Attachment A federal, regional, and state science-based limits and a market- based price on carbon pollution; and WHEREAS, in compliance with RCW 42 . 17A. 555 (1) , notice of the meeting during which this resolution is being voted on included the title and number of the ballot measure, and members of the public and City Councilmembers were afforded an approximately equal opportunity for the expression of an opposing view. WHEREAS, with this resolution the City Council desires to oppose Initiative 2117 . NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDMOND, WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: The City Council of the City of Redmond hereby declares its official position in opposition of Initiative No. 2117, relating to the repeal of the Climate Commitment Act. ADOPTED by the Redmond City Council this day of , 2024. APPROVED: ANGELA BIRNEY, MAYOR ATTEST: CHERYL XANTHOS, MMC, CITY CLERK (SEAL) Page 3 of 4 Resolution No. AM No. Attachment A FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: RESOLUTION NO: Page 4 of 4 Resolution No. AM No.