September 24, 2024
City Council Meeting
Written Public Comments
General Public
Comment
Jennifer Connally
From: Janice Brownfield < [email protected]> Sent: Monday, September 23, 2024 7:14 PM
To: City Council Public Comment
Subject: Public Comment Non-Agenda Item
Protecting children from physical harms such as street traffic by using school crossing guards may be more obvious than safeguarding them with a sustainable future by reducing air pollution and hot temperatures. The changing climate is changing children, endangering their lives and threatening their right to a clean and safe environment. We need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from methane and carbon dioxide in order to reduce the intensity and frequency of heat waves and wildfires which adversely affect us all, especially children, whose lungs are still developing.
You can help protect our future by taking action on the Citywide Sustainability Plan received and filed May 14, and thereby make the City eligible for grants to implement its recommendations. Prepared by Chapman University students without cost to the City, some recommendations, such as turning out lights when not needed, will reduce emissions and cost nothing. Switching to renewable energy sources will create a healthier environment for all of us and at the same time save the City money.
The "utmost concern" of the community members interviewed for the plan is the need for more tree coverage to provide shade and cleaner, cooler air to improve the environment and protect residents' health. Their next concerns for sustainability are composting, solar energy, bike lanes and educational programs. The plan recommends that the City opt for electric vehicles when replacing older models, and provide more charging stations.
Creating a greener creek by planting trees, removing trash, and advocating for trails are goals of Santiago Creek Greenway Alliance, which coordinated volunteers at Hart Park and Yorba Park on Saturday for the International Coastal Cleanup Day. Young children wearing blue latex gloves helped to remove trash from the parks, which is important for their health and well- being and that of our communities. Caring for the environment with family and friends teaches them about the human effects on nature. The Greenway Alliance recently met with the City to discuss beautifying the creek trail at East Collins Avenue and North Wanda Road and is accepting ideas and donations as the project goes forward. The Alliance welcomes volunteers to assist with cleaning up the creek the second Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. with the next cleanup scheduled for October 12 when they meet at the Cambridge Street bridge. The morning of October 12 is also the City-Wide Volunteer Day of Love Orange.