TITLE
Recommendation to approve the Green Business Program Proposal and implement the Long Beach Green Business Program. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Numerous cities and municipalities have created Green Business Programs in order to encourage sustainability in building and business practices, and to foster partnerships and promote local businesses. On June 17, 2008, the City Council requested the City Manager to refer discussion and development of a Green Business Program to the Sustainable City Commission and report back to the City Council on a program proposal.
Other cities such as Santa Monica and Sacramento and the nine bay area counties of San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma have established green business programs. A breakdown of these programs can be found in Attachment A.
The Sustainable City Commission initially heard the Green Business Program proposal at their meeting on June 26, 2008 and it was brought back for approval on July 24, 2008. Based on feedback from the Sustainable City Commission, the Long Beach Green Business Program should include:
• Creating a voluntary program
• Using a simple checklist that a business can fill out
• Incorporating tiers so that business can achieve ongoing green improvements
over a period of time
• Phasing in different types of businesses (restaurants, offices, hotels, retail, etc.)
• Creating an effective green business logo and brand to help with promotion and
recognition of green businesses
• Incorporating elements of existing programs that can be applied in Long Beach
The full Long Beach Green Business Program proposal can be found in Attachment B.
SUSTAINABILITY
Green businesses do their part to go beyond basic environmental requirements and make sustainability part of their business model. Green businesses protect the environment and create healthier communities by preventing pollution, minimizing waste, and conserving energy, water, and other resources.
A Long Beach Green Business Program would encourage each business to take responsibility for positively contributing to a greener Long Beach. The Long Beach Green Business Program will promote green businesses that comply with all baseline environmental standards and requirements, conserve resources and prevent pollution, and protect environmental and public health. These recognized green businesses strengthen their bottom lines through operating efficiencies, improve employee morale and productivity and hold a marketing edge over the competition, by being recognized as a leader in the community. In addition, a Long Beach Green Business Program would capitalize on the purchasing power of consumers and could create a market for goods supplied by green businesses.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda Trang and Budget Management Bureau Manager David Wodynski on Monday November 17, 2008.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
This item is not time sensitive.
FISCAL IMPACT
The creation and implementation of the Long Beach Green Business Program will not result in any cost to the City of Long Beach.
It is recommended that the Long Beach Green Business Program be established through a partnership model with local business organizations and local utility companies to support the administration, operation and incentives provided though this Program. Local business organizations include the Chamber of Commerce and the Convention & Visitors Bureau and local utilities include Southern California Edison, Long Beach Gas & Oil Department, Long Beach Water Department and Environmental Services-Refuse.
A partnership model is recommended due to the clear nexus between green business and saving energy, water, preventing pollution and reducing waste. Local business organizations are uniquely poised to promote green businesses in the community as well as provide and promote the green business program to their business constituents., while local utilities have an interest in encouraging businesses to implement measures to conserve energy and water, prevent pollution and reduce waste. All other cities' Green Business Programs that were referenced are operated using a partnership model, specifically highlighting the benefits of the connection between green business and saving energy, water, preventing pollution and reducing waste.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER