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OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL

INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBER NANCY NADEL

RESOLUTION CREATING A TASK FORCE COMPOSED OF ELEVEN (11) APPOINTEES - EIGHT (8) BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND THREE (3) BY THE MAYOR, REPRESENTING VARIOUS FIELDS OF EXPERTISE - THAT WILL DRAFT AND SUBMIT A PLAN FOR OAKLAND TO BECOME OIL INDEPENDENT BY 2020.

WHEREAS, in testimony before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee former CIA director James Woolsey discussed reasons why U.S. dependence on foreign oil is more likely than ever to precipitate a national energy crises including the increased likelihood of oil shortages, economic recession, escalating food prices, and increased costs for energy and basic human needs; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. has only two percent of world oil reserves yet consumes 25% of world oil production, demonstrating an undue reliance on a shrinking resource; and

WHEREAS, in 2004, the burning of fossil fuels in the U.S. resulted in the release of 5656.6 million metric tons of Carbon Dioxide, and is considered one of the chief causes of global warming; and

WHEREAS, global warming in California alone is expected to lead to potential water shortages, powerful heat waves, more frequent wildfires, and property damage and disappearing coast lines related to rising sea levels, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists; and

WHEREAS, the country of Sweden has successfully adopted the goal of becoming oil independent by 2020 and has created an expert panel headed by the Prime Minister to recommend immediate, feasible actions particular to the climate, geography, available energy resources and energy of Sweden; and

WHEREAS, there continues to be a profound lack of leadership in the U.S. on energy policy for cities and their residents to move away from oil dependence; and

WHEREAS, recent history has shown that leadership at the city level has in turn driven national policy on sustainability issues, thereby creating an imperative for cities to take the lead in reducing dependence on oil; and

WHEREAS, Oakland residents are negatively affected by rising oil and energy costs, making renewable energy investment a cost effective and vital priority; and

WHEREAS, Oakland residents suffer from asthma disproportionately in neighborhoods adjacent to freeways and major sources of exhaust and pollution generated by traffic and the burning of fossil fuels; and

WHEREAS, Oakland's air quality as part of the Bay Area is increasingly out of compliance with State and Federal standards due to increased emissions; and

WHEREAS, there are a variety of solutions in the form of efficiency measures, conversion technologies, infrastructure improvements, public programs and other means that Oakland and other cities worldwide are beginning to implement to reduce their oil consumption; and

WHEREAS, Oakland has been ranked the fifth most sustainable city in the U.S. in public reports and is poised to become a leader in an emerging billion dollar green economy, and would be the first city in the U.S. to create a plan to reduce oil consumption specifically for cities; and

WHEREAS, Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (R., Md.) drafted House Resolution 507 which expresses the likelihood of an oil crisis in America as necessitating a solution driven by "an energy project with the magnitude, creativity, and sense of urgency that was incorporated in the 'Man on the Moon project’"; and

WHEREAS, according to the Apollo Alliance, a nationally recognized coalition of labor unions, environmental groups, businesses, and civil rights organizations, taking action to reduce dependence on oil will position Oakland as a leader in the growing "green economy" and create good jobs and economic growth in the City; and

WHEREAS, Oakland is a city primed to take advantage of the emerging renewable energy and fuel economy, boasts an educated and willing labor force and a history of strong participation in the manufacturing, construction, operating and maintenance industries - jobs that make up a renewable energy economy; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the City Council of the City of Oakland shall create a Task Force comprised of eleven (11) experts from various areas of expertise - eight (8) to be appointed by the City Council and three (3) by the Mayor - to develop an action plan for Oakland to become oil independent by 2020; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED: That this plan will be a collaborative effort, using proven domestic and international laws and programs already in effect as examples for the future of an oil independent, economically vibrant, and green Oakland; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED: That this action plan will address strategies to create jobs and economic growth in Oakland, by examining potential new policies within the City of Oakland's municipal power, that will benefit our residents; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED: That this action plan will be presented to the City Council within six (6) months of the appointment of the Task Force members and will be the guide for Oakland's transition towards an oil independent future.

IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA