HomeMy Public PortalAbout2009-04 Supporting Earth Hour DayRESOLUTION NO. 2009-4
A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE
VILLAGE OF KEY BISCAYNE, FLORIDA, TO SUPPORT
EXTINGUISHING ALL NON -ESSENTIAL LIGHTING IN
ALL VILLAGE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, PUBLIC
SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC LANDMARKS FOR THE HOURS
BETWEEN 8:30 PM AND 9:30 PM ON MARCH 28, 2009 TO
RAISE AWARENESS OF ENERGY CONSERVATION AS
PART OF THE WORLDWIDE CLIMATE CHANGE EVENT:
EARTH HOUR, AND ESTABLISHING MARCH 28, 2009 AS
EARTH HOUR DAY IN THE VILLAGE OF KEY BISCAYNE;
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, our community is deeply concerned about the impacts of climate change and
the future health and well-being of our planet and believes energy efficiency, natural resource
conservation, and a demand by the voting public for action by elected officials are important element
to combating climate change; and
WHEREAS, Earth Hour is both an international and local symbolic event organized by
World Wildlife Fund to raise awareness about climate change issues, to encourage businesses,
individuals and government to take actions to reduce their carbon emissions and their impact on the
environment in their daily lives and operations; and
WHEREAS, Earth Hour asks all citizens, businesses, government agencies, and commercial
and non-commercial establishments to turn off all non -essential lighting for one hour beginning at
8:30 pm on March 28, 2009 and to encourage citizens and businesses to commit to actions they can
take in the coming year to reduce their carbon footprints and conserve energy; and
WHEREAS, Earth Hour will be used as a tool to inform local residents and businesses about
existing information and tools already available within the community to assist them in increasing
energy efficiency and decreasing emissions and use of natural resources; and
WHEREAS, extinguishing non -essential lights in all Village government buildings, public
schools and public landmarks for one hour and urging all businesses and citizens to do the same will
send a clear message that the people of the Village of Key Biscayne in the State of Florida in the
United States of America are concerned about climate change, stand with the rest of the world in
seeking solutions and are encouraging elected leaders to act immediately to take measures that will
help fight global climate change, including the passage of legislation and good -faith participation
in global climate treaty negotiations in Copenhagen in December 2009; and
WHEREAS, turning non -essential lights off in all Village government buildings, public
schools and public landmarks will serve as an important rallying point for the city-wide energy
conservation event Earth Hour.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL
OF THE VILLAGE OF KEY BISCAYNE, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Recitals Adopted. That each of the recitals stated above is hereby adopted and
confirmed.
Section 2. Endorsement. That the Village of Key Biscayne endorses efforts by World
Wildlife Fund through Earth Hour to raise awareness around global climate change and energy
efficiency.
Section 3. Lighting. That the Village of Key Biscayne encourages all Village employees
to turn off all non -essential lighting in city government buildings, public schools and public
landmarks for the hour between 8:30 and 9:30 PM on March 28, 2009 to conserve energy and raise
awareness about global climate change as part of the Village -wide energy conservation event: Earth
Hour Village of Key Biscayne.
Section 4. Declaration. That the Village Council of the Village of Key Biscayne declares
March 28, 2009 to be "Earth Hour Day" in the Village of Key Biscayne.
Section 5. Effective Date. That this Resolution shall be effective immediately upon
adoption hereof.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 10th day of March , 2009.
ATTEST:
e/Azi'
CHITA H. ALVAREZ, MMC, VILLAGE CLE
APPROVED A • TO FORM AND LEGAL SUFFICIEN
VILLAGE A ON Y
MAYOR ROBERT L. VERNON