COB: Plastic Bags

Group pushes for plastic bag ban in Burbank
Task force recommends the city ban their use by retail stores.
Burbank Leader: 7.26.2011 by Maria Hsin

A ban on plastic bags from store checkouts has been recommended by the Sustainable Burbank Task Force.

Councilman Gary Bric, a non-voting council representative to the task force, said the task force recommended the city move forward with a ban.

6666666

The county ban went into effect July 1 for stores with gross annual sales of $2 million, or that have at least 10,000 square feet of floor space. Smaller stores in the county must comply by Jan. 1, 2012.

In addition to the plastic bag ban, the county ordinance imposes a 10-cent charge on recyclable paper bags.

Jessica Aldridge, executive director of the Burbank Green Alliance, who attended the task force meeting, said she is supportive of a plastic bag ban. READ MORE !

Plastic Bag Poll @ Burbank Leader

Burbank Sustainability Task Force

Sustainability is group's task: City advisory organization focuses on finding more efficient ways to do business.
Burbank Leader: September 10, 2010 by Gretchen Meier

Burbank may be able to cross a few items off its checklist as it works to become a more sustainable city before the end of the month.

The Burbank Sustainability Task Force has the opportunity to weigh in on upcoming City Council agenda items that coincide with the priorities outlined by officials in July.

"The task force's role and impact is evolving," said Public Works Director Bonnie Teaford. "It's a voice that hadn't been organized before in Burbank."

The task force, organized into six priority groups — sustainable design, urban heat island effect, transportation, energy, zero waste, strategic communications — is a city advisory group on issues relating to sustainability, as well as promoting policies, improvements and early input for projects.

The organization comprises nine members appointed by the council, including six residents and three others who do not have to be residents, but who must be involved in the business community and engaged in environmental issues, real estate or the development industry. They can also represent the faith-based or nonprofit community.

The additional six members represent a number of boards and city organizations, as well as two City Council members.

Johnny Carson Park development, implementation of the county's own sustainability program, closing gaps in the city's Bicycle Master Plan and fostering public involvement are all priorities the task force hopes to focus on this fiscal year. READ MORE !

Burbank Survey: Are You Green?

Burbank asks “Are You Green?”
Survey results to assist in future communication efforts

BURBANK, Calif. (April 27, 2010) – The Sustainable Burbank Task Force is asking for public input on what citizens and businesses in the City are doing to be more environmentally responsible.

The short, seven question survey asks participants to highlight some of their current behaviors and practices when it comes to sustainability. Topics include driving, recycling habits and familiarity with the City’s already existing ‘green’ efforts.

“It’s essential to find out what people are actually doing to protect and preserve the environment,” says Burbank Vice-Mayor Anja Reinke. “We want to prioritize our efforts and goals and community input is very important.”

The Sustainable Burbank Task Force is a 15-member body intended to advise and make recommendations to the City Council on matters related to the implementation of the Sustainability Action Plan and to help engage the community by participating in various public education, outreach and promotional activities. The Sustainability Action Plan is the framework for the community to be environmentally proactive.

The survey can be found by clicking here. Results will be compiled in June and presented to both the Sustainable Burbank Task Force and the Burbank City Council.

Sustainable Burbank Task Force

Cataloging Green Efforts
Burbank Leader: June 26, 2009 by Christopher Cadelago

The Sustainable Burbank Task Force, a newly assembled group of developers, small-business owners and community leaders, began its meeting earlier this month deciding how not to spend its first year.

After a protracted discussion, former Mayor Jef Vander Borght took issue with one of the suggestions.

“Somebody said, ‘We’re not here to save the world,’” he said. “That I disagree with.”

His attitude appears to have permeated the Media Capital of the World, from the school district to the studios, City Hall to Burbank Water and Power, said Ron Davis, the utility’s general manager.

The City Council last year adopted the Sustainability Action Plan with an emphasis on waste, water usage, business practices, urban design, open space and transportation. Cities are urged to implement as many of the 21 actions before World Environment Day 2012.

Burbank modeled its plan on the United Nations Urban Environmental Accords, designed to promote energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase environmentally beneficial jobs and protect drinking water.

Charged with advising and recommending ways to the council for implementing the plan, the task force will examine initiatives at its monthly meetings as well as bring a fresh perspective to the agenda, said Public Works Director Bonnie Teaford.

“For the first time ever, Burbank has put together a comprehensive review of what the city’s efforts are,” she said. “All these little efforts added up will make a difference, and that is what we are starting to see happen.” READ MORE !

Burbank Sustainability Strategy

Burbank Driving Ahead of The Pack on Road to Future: City’s Sustainability Strategy a Model for Other Municipalities. SFV Business Journal: June 8, 2009 by Eric Billingsley

“Going green” isn’t a new concept in the city of Burbank. The city began automated curbside recycling in the early 1990s, has powered municipal vehicles with alternative fuels for nearly a decade, and is a pioneer in generating electricity from its landfill.

But government officials and businesses in the Media Capital of the World, population approx. 105,000 and home to production facilities for Warner Bros. Entertainment, NBC, and Disney, want to take environmental sustainability to the next level.

“The need for sustainability isn’t something that’s going away tomorrow,” said Burbank’s mayor, Gary Bric. “It’s about looking towards the future.”

In January 2008, the city council adopted the Burbank Sustainability Action Plan to boost environmental sustainability in areas such as energy, waste, water usage, urban design, parks/open space, transportation, and city business practices.

The plan is based on the United Nations Urban Environmental Accords, a list of action items that can be adopted at the local level to achieve urban sustainability, promote healthy economies, advance social equity and protect the world’s ecosystem.

The city also recently formed a sustainability task force, a 15-member group of businesses, non-profits and residents that will advise the city council on green issues and help educate the public.

“As long as I can remember Burbank has been committed to environmental sustainability, but adopting the action plan has made the efforts more formal and focused,” said Burbank council member Dave Golonski. “We still have a long way to go though.”

The city has an exhaustive list of environmental goals. But it’s already starting to see some results.

Burbank recently surpassed the milestone of generating more than 3 gigawatt hours of electricity from local solar energy, enough to power 6,000 homes for a month. It’s recognized as one of the top ten municipalities in the nation for solar power.

City-owned Burbank Water and Power (BWP) has supported 36 solar energy projects in the area, including installations on carports, residential and commercial rooftops, city pool facilities, movie studio stages, Jay Leno’s green garage, and a new airport hangar.

READ MORE !

Green Burbank

SUSTAINABLE BURBANK TASK FORCE

Applications are being accepted through Friday, February 13, 2009 by the Burbank City Council to fill vacancies on the newly-established Sustainable Burbank Task Force.

The Task Force was established on October 14, 2008, as a 15-member body intended to advise and make recommendations to the City Council on matters related to the implementation of the City of Burbank Sustainability Action Plan. The Task Force will also help engage the community by participating in various public education, outreach and promotional activities related to environmental sustainability.

GET INVOLVED !

The City of Burbank prides itself on citizen involvement in all issues.

Serve in an advisory capacity to the City Council on one of the city's various commissions, committees or boards that performs valuable service by addressing community issues and needs.

Applications and supplemental forms available at the City Clerk's Office in City Hall, 275 East Olive and on the City's website.
The deadline: February 13, 2009 at 5:00 p.m.

Appointments scheduled to be made at the March 3, 2009 Council meeting. All City Board, Commission, and Committee members serve without compensation (BMC Section 2-405).