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THIS WEEK: 2 opportunities to help reduce our impact on the local environment

1 - TODAY

Write a letter to the IWMA

Plastics have become the number one issue in ocean-related pollution and we can stop that, or at least start to address our part, by stopping the source of polystyrene foam and plastics at the retail and restaurant level.

Tomorrow, the Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA) will have its second reading of the countywide polystyrene ban. We need your help to make sure the vote goes as well as it did last time!

Do you live in the County Districts of John Peschong, Debbie Arnold or Lynn Compton? If so, you are the most important people in the room! We need you to click here to send an email in support of this ASAP.

If you live in anywhere else in the county, your voice still matters so PLEASE EMAIL them to tell them they MUST VOTE "YES" for our County Polystyrene Ordinance.

DATE & TIME & LOCATION:
WEDNESDAY, October 9th about 2pm
County Gov Center, 1055 Monterey St. SLO
This IWMA Board Meeting begins at 1:30pm, but Polystyrene is #11 on the agenda

2 - WEEKEND

Tiny homes and tiny footprints = big fun!

As the fourth of our Climate Solutions Series events, the Tiny Footprint Expo may be the biggest! As part of our Zero Waste initiative, and in partnership with dozens of other organizations and businesses from around the region, this event promises to be fun and informative.

The first legal tiny house on wheels to move into a SLO City backyard was backed into its new home on August 13th. The tiny homeowner and yard homeowner are pioneers in a new program to improve access to affordable, sustainable housing by utilizing existing resources (city backyards).

SmartShare Housing Solutions partners with the City of San Luis Obispo and 33 other tiny house & sustainability organizations to bring you the Tiny Footprint Expo to help educate and inspire people about this new housing option! Join us to tour tiny homes and other alternative dwellings, learn from industry leaders in fun seminars, browse the vendor area, grab a snack from the food trucks, and help the efforts toward climate action!

The tiny living movement is sweeping the nation--come see inside these cute, cool dwellings and learn about the tiny lifestyle from a great lineup of speakers. From tinies to skoolies to vans and more, the Tiny Footprint Expo will expand your definition of 'home'!

DATE & TIME & LOCATION:
Friday October 11, 3-7pm (VIP Kickoff Event)
Saturday October 12, 10-5pm (General Admission)
Sunday October 13, 10-3pm (General Admission)
Madonna Meadows Event Center (outdoors)

WASTE REMINDER:
This is a low waste event--please bring a reusable water bottle or cup. Water is provided, food/beverage trucks on site. Registered service animals only. Please walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation. Parking available on site for $5/day Sat and Sun

UPDATES

Building Decarbonization Reach Codes

As you may know by now, the City of SLO is working to adopt the "Clean Energy Choice" Program to encourage new homes built under the new 2020 California building codes will take full advantage of their solar panels and clean electricity from Monterey Bay Community Power by using all-electric appliances. This approach will save money in the building phase and eliminate carbon emissions from those homes for as long as they are occupied! On September 3rd, the council voted 4-1 to adopt this ordinance despite significant pressure from the gas industry.

It may not surprise you to hear that SoCalGas is not backing down. They filed a formal complaint which claimed that City Councilwoman Andy Pease has a conflict of interest because she's an architect. We don't think that alone constitutes a conflict of interest but to expedite this ordinance and ensure there is no further controversy around this, she has offered to recuse herself from ANY work that comes from this ordinance.

We are now anxiously awaiting a decision by the state ethics board about whether we can proceed with her recusal. Stay tuned, team.

Community Choice

On October 1st, the County Board of Supervisors received and debated a financial analysis of Monterey Bay Community Power from a local CPA. It was an opportunity for the community to come out in force and ask them to adopt this powerful program that will save us money, reduce our carbon impact and keep our energy dollars on the central coast.... but the board continues to take it slow.

Debbie Arnold and Lynn Compton were against the idea from the beginning and no amount of community support would sway their opinions... but John Peschong put his cards on the table: "If this program saves my constituents money, then I'm for it. If it costs them more, then I'm against it." (paraphrased) and he seconded a motion by Bruce Gibson to fund another feasibility study (the 3rd they've done) to be prepared in time for joining MBCP next year and for a 2022 start date.

We are now awaiting the next steps. Staff must prepare an RFP and present it to the board as soon as possible (a requirement of Lynn Compton) before they can hire a vendor to do the study. We just hope it can be completed in time for adoption in 2020. Stay tuned.

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What's next:

The next public Climate Coalition meeting is Thursday, October 17th
We invite you to attend our meeting to see what we're up to and what you might be able to do to help SLO become carbon free by 2035: the most ambitious goal of any city in the United States!

6:30 - 9pm
Ludwick Community Center
864 Santa Rosa St
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Click here for more meeting dates

The SLO Climate Coalition is looking to fill a deputy Task Force position for Outreach & Communications
This person (maybe you or someone you know?) would assist us in our efforts to engage the community via our website, emails (like this one), social media and traditional media too.

An ideal candidate would have basic knowledge of climate change and climate action practices, be a dynamic communicator, have a flexible schedule, be a self-starter and self-manager.

Email our Outreach task force member Justin Bradshaw to apply or get more info

The SLO Climate Coalition is an evolution of SLO Clean Energy, whose goal of Community Choice on the central coast is almost fully realized...