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Article, Rule filed under Energy | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Jan 15, 2009

Global Warming Initiative – Seattle, WA

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/climate-change/2533-2/

In July 2001, Seattle Mayor Paul Schell and four members of the City Council announced support for the Kyoto Protocol and called on other local governments to adopt policies to combat global warming. TheSeattle City Council voted on resolutions supporting the goals of the Kyoto Protocol and committing Seattle City Light — the city’s public electric utility — to a policy of zero net greenhouse gas emissions. Continue reading

Rule filed under The Public Good | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Jan 15, 2009

Commercial Free Schools Act – San Francisco, CA

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/advertising/2524-2/
In June 1999, San Francisco became the largest school district yet to approve policies on commercialism in schools.

TheAct requires all long-term corporate sponsorships to be approved by the Board of Education. It also prohibits teachers from using corporate sponsored educational materials, including Channel One and ZapMe.

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Rule filed under Broadband | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Jan 15, 2009

Citywide Wireless Network – Corpus Christi, TX

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/2518-2/

CorpusChristi did not set out to create a citywide wireless network. Theproject arose as a logical extension of the upgrade to wirelessautomated meter reading for the city’s gas and water utilities.

In2002, the City was facing a large investment in updating its meterreading capabilities, and was actively considering privatizing itsmunicipal utilities. It was still utilizing meter readers who walkeddoor to door, a risky job with high turnover. If they couldn’t get intoa yard for any reason, they would skip the house, which was the sourceof inaccuracies. Also, the once-monthly monitoring meant system leakswere not quickly recognized and repaired.

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Rule filed under Broadband | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Jan 15, 2009

Smart City Initiative – Fredericton, New Brunswick

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/2517-2/

In 1999, Fredericton (population 80,000 and the capital of New Brunswick, Canada) began building a high-speed information infrastructure. The City was looking to reduce its internal communications costs. There was no local competition. "We were paying three times the prices people in Toronto were paying," says Maurice Gallant, the City’s chief information officer. It came up with a strategy to build its own fiber optic network, and cover some of the costs by selling spare capacity to other organizations and businesses in the city. Continue reading

Rule filed under Broadband | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Jan 15, 2009

Municipal Internet Service – Chattanooga, TN

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/2515-2/

A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE INTERNET DIVISION OF THE ELECTRIC POWER BOARD TO PROVIDE CERTAIN ADDITIONAL SERVICES. 

WHEREAS,The Electric Power Board of Chattanooga, an independent board of the City of Chattanooga, (“Electric Power Board”) has developed a detailed business plan for the provision of internet services directly and through MetroNet, Incorporated; has submitted the business plan to the State Director of Local Finance; and has considered the State Director of Local Finance’s analysis of the business plan; Continue reading

Rule filed under Broadband | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Jan 15, 2009

Fiber Network Building Code – Loma Linda, CA

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/2514-2/

Loma Linda has built a publicly owned citywide fiber optic network. Originally, the city added this rule to the developer agreement but later also codified it in the Municipal Code.  Any new building (or substantial re-model) must be built ready to interface with the network and meet a wiring requirement to allow the occupants to take full advantage of the network. Continue reading

Article, Rule filed under Energy | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Jan 15, 2009

Carbon Caps With Universal Dividends

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/climate-change/2506-2/

Many proposals addressing climate change advocate for a cap on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or carbon content of fuels.  The limiting and lowering of carbon or GHG emissions will create a new market value for carbon. Many agree that there should be a 100 percent auction of carbon permits, and estimates indicate that carbon allowance auctions could raise $50-$200 billion annually at the national level. However, there are many different opinions as to how this money should be used.  We believe that carbon cap with universal dividends on a per capita basis is the best solution and be the most politically acceptable solution.  It will inspire substantial investment in clean energy technologies while protecting tens of millions of households from the impact from potentially steep increases in energy prices resulting from the cap Continue reading

Rule filed under General | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Jan 12, 2009

Distance-Based Impact Fees – Lancaster, CA

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/land-use-policy/2469-2/

In 1993, the city of Lancaster developed an innovative model for assessing impact fees on new development. Known as the Urban Structure Program, the model included a surcharge levied on new development beyond the central core (5 mile radius). The further out from the central core, the higher the surcharge. A typical new house located within the core, for example, incurred an impact fee of $5,500. The same house located one mile beyond the core incurred a fee of $10,800. The program was abandoned in 1997. Continue reading

Rule filed under The Public Good | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Jan 12, 2009

Landscape Ordinance – Chicago

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/land-use-policy/2467-2/

In July 1999 significant amendments were added to Chicago’s landscape ordinance, making it stricter. For instance any new parking lot of 3,000 square feet or more was required to install landscape islands and trees within the lot. New parking lots of 1,200 square feet or more that are visible from a public right-of-way were required to surround themselves with 2-to-4 foot hedges. In addition, a shade tree must be planted for every 25 feet of new building frontage in most commercial and residential neighborhoods. In addition, the city has embarked on a tree-planting campaign, with the intention of planting 500,000 more trees over the next five years. Continue reading

Rule filed under The Public Good | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Jan 12, 2009

Light Pollution – Tucson/Pima County, AZ

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/light-pollution/2466-2/

In the heart of downtown Tucson, Arizona, a city of nearly 500,000, one can view the Milky Way with the naked eye. Tucson and Pima County first adopted outdoor lighting ordinances in 1972 in an effort to provide standards so that night lighting did not interfere with nearby astronomical observatories. The lighting control ordinance of Tucson/Pima County has been revised many times over the years. The 2006 Code is still quite strong and it is copied below. Continue reading