City Council voted to adopt a resolution at its Nov. 12 meeting to support the Clean Air Coalition and the Ozone Advance Program by participating in efforts to voluntarily reduce emissions.
The city is a member of the Central Texas Clean Air Coalition, an association of local jurisdictions associated with the Capital Area Council of Governments, whose purpose is to develop, adopt and implement clean-air initiatives.
Georgetown Conservation Services Manager Kathy Ragsdale told the council that the Environmental Protection Agency is expected to change its active standards to lower the acceptable amount of ozone in the atmosphere, which would mean the city would be considered in nonattainment at current emission levels and could affect future development.
The resolution sets up standards to help control the amount of ozone in the Georgetown area by encouraging and participating in emission-reducing activities.
Emission-reducing activities include:
- Using vehicles powered by alternate fuels that reduce emissions
- Using Texas Low Emission Diesel equivalent fuels in all diesel vehicles
- Maintaining fleet vehicles to the manufacturer's specifications and performing preventative maintenance at regularly scheduled intervals
- Limiting vehicle idling to five minutes
- Providing direct deposit for city employees
- Providing and promoting online access to services such as utility bill payment and permit applications
- Providing a citywide single-stream recycling and curbside yard waste pickup program as well as maintaining a reused water utility
- Decreasing electric demand by following energy conservation programs such as solarpanel installation, home energy audits and home weatherization programs
- Promoting activities such as the conservation services campaigns that advocate walking and carpooling
Source: City of Georgetown
