City Council Hearing tomorrow Jan. 18, 2022 at 5 pm

Gas Station: 16-pump fuel center in Crocker Village

Come to the meeting. For background, see ECOS’ letter to the City.

In 2015, the Council denied the permit on a 7-2 vote. The Planning Staff are again recommending Approval based on the 2015 assessment.

This is a zoom council meeting. You can still comment by eComment and provide comments during the hearing by phone. Here is how you can do it —

  1. Send an eComment to the Council. The City counts comments and provides council members with a red and green pie chart showing numbers of opposed and support comments. A comment that simply says something like “I am opposed to a fuel center in Crocker Village” will be counted, but please add detail as desired. Click here for the city’s comment portal. https://sacramento.granicusideas.com/meetings/4221-5pm-city-council/agenda_items/61e0a26ff2b6701967003998-16-rehearing-third-party-appeal-curtis-park-vill
  1. Log in at 5PM on the 18th (click on “Join this meeting” link below), raise your hand* using the Zoom “raise hand” function when Item 16 is opened for public comment and you will be placed in line to comment. The clerk will call on you. You will not be on camera. Give up to 2 minutes (or less) in verbal comment. It is the second discussion item

Join this meeting via Zoom: https://cityofsacramento-org.zoom.us/j/98316981872?pwd=eHBBb20rY29idkZBN0NML0crWlJOdz09

Webinar ID: 983 1698 1872 Passcode: 802467
Dial in via telephone: 888 788 0099 (Toll Free) – Meeting ID: 983 1698 1872 # #

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Letter re Curtis Park Village Fuel Center

On December 31, 2021, the Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) submitted a letter to the City of Sacramento recommending the City Council deny an application for a gas station, aka a fuel center, in Curtis Park.

Gas stations are major emitters of benzene, a potent carcinogen. Even though the applicant moved the planned location to be further from residences, exposure to benzene will harm the health of those who work there, and of those who frequent the area. Also, the gas station will emit volatile organic compounds, which lead to ozone. Based on our climate and topography, Sacramento’s potential for high ozone is the highest in the nation, and we are already in the “top 10” for unhealthy ozone levels.

Click here to read the letter in full.

Letter to City of Sac – ECOS support for Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant

On October 27, 2021, ECOS sent a letter to the City of Sacramento in support of its application for a Sustainable
Transportation Planning Grant for its 15-Minute Neighborhoods Plan.

Dear Mr. Chan,

The Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) supports the City of Sacramento in its application for Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant for its 15-Minute Neighborhoods Plan.

We served on the Mayors’ Climate Change Commission’s Transportation Technical Advisory Committee. As you know, the prioritization of active transportation, then transit and shared mobility, and then zero-emission vehicles was unanimously adopted. This prioritization, coupled with housing around transit, would reduce GHG emissions, increase affordable housing with good local and regional access to shops and jobsites, improve air quality, and improve physical safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

Over half of Sacramento’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) are from the transportation sector. The City’s proposed 15-Minute Neighborhoods Plan will set the stage for increased transit use, walking and biking — travel modes that are essential to reduce GHG and meet our climate goals.

Sacramento’s topography is relatively flat and its neighborhoods are interconnected – these are two necessary but not sufficient preconditions for a large shift to walking and biking for daily errands and for job commutes. Neighborhood studies show that slowing driving is a big concern.

The City’s 15-Minute Neighborhoods Plan will calm the entire network of neighborhood streets to make comfortable places to walk, bike, and scoot. Calmer streets will encourage more trips by active transportation, helping the city to meet its goals around sustainability, speed reduction for cars and trucks, community health, and thriving local businesses. The City’s 15-minute Neighborhoods Plan will further the following:

• The City’s Climate Action Plan;
• The City’s commitment to equitable processes by engaging neighborhood communities about their needs;
• Economic vitality of our retail and restaurants within and next to neighborhoods;
• Affordable and efficient access to jobsites, parks, and schools.

Sincerely,

Ralph Propper
ECOS President

Click here to view the letter.

Local Transition to Zero Emission Vehicles – Join Us Oct 7

ECOS TAQCC Committee, Thursday Oct. 7th

Please join ECOS’ Transportation, Air Quality & Climate Change (TAQCC) Committee for its regular monthly meeting, on Thursday, October 7th. Details about joining this meeting using “Zoom” are provided below.

A four-agency partnership in the Sacramento Area is moving forward on a transition to zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) in the region, based on the need to improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gases, abate exposure to toxics, adapt to a warming planet, and promote efficient mobility. The four agencies have been working together to create a regional ZEV Deployment Strategy to help address these environmental concerns especially in under-resourced communities. Raef Porter (Program Manager, Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District) will describe this nearly $1 billion initiative, and Jofil Borja from Sacramento Regional Transit will provide details about SacRT’s program to convert its bus fleet to ZEVs — a major component of the ZEV deployment strategy. The other two members of the partnership are SACOG and SMUD.

The balance of the meeting will be devoted to updates on other active issues, such as deployment of neighborhood air quality monitors, Sacramento County Climate Action Plan, Climate Emergency Declarations, the proposed expansion of the CapCity bridge over the American River, and other topics raised by attendees.

When: Thursday, October 7th, 2021 at 6 pm
Where: Videoconference, hosted by Zoom
Link to join TAQCC Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85805612058
To phone in: 1-669 900 6833, Meeting ID: 858 0561 2058