Fresno Mayor And City Council Disagree On Global Warming Agreement

The City Council of Fresno, California, endorsed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement on July 18th to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but the city's Mayor has stated he won't sign off on the proposal.

2 minute read

August 20, 2006, 5:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


"The Fresno City Council last month endorsed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, making Fresno the first central San Joaquin Valley city to embrace the brief document that already has the support of 275 (sic) American mayors.

There's one problem: Fresno Mayor Alan Autry has not signed on. And that leaves city officials struggling to figure out what the council's action means."

The nonbinding agreement challenges mayors to get their cities to voluntarily meet pollution-fighting goals based on the Kyoto Protocol. The Clinton administration signed the protocol, but the U.S. Senate has not ratified it, and President Bush opposes the treaty.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels is spearheading support for the agreement."

"Autry, a Republican, says he is not bound by the council's action because it's not city policy. He says he neither signed nor vetoed the resolution because the agreement was born out of political opposition to President Bush at a U.S. Mayors Conference last year. Nickels is a Democrat."

"As a form of protest, I'm not going to sign off on [the council resolution], but I'm not going to veto it because there's a lot of good stuff in there," Autry says.

"City Attorney James Sanchez says it's too early to predict the agreement's legal significance, saying the answer will have to be "fleshed out on a case by case basis.

But Council President Jerry Duncan, who voted no in the council's 5-1 decision July 18, says he fears environmental groups will use the resolution to launch "frivolous lawsuits" against the city. Council Member Henry T. Perea was out of town the day of the vote."

Thanks to Susan Frank via Central Valley Air Quality Coalition Forum

Monday, August 14, 2006 in The Fresno Bee

View form second story inside Southdale Mall in Edina, Minnesota with escalators and model cars parked on downstairs floor.

The Mall Is Dead — Long Live the Mall

The American shopping mall may be closer to its original vision than ever.

March 21, 2024 - Governing

Houston, Texas skyline.

Report: Las Vegas, Houston Top List of Least Affordable Cities

The report assesses the availability of affordable rental units for low-income households.

March 22, 2024 - Urban Edge

White three-story brick single-room occupancy hotel in downtown Los Angeles, California.

‘Micro-Apartment’ Trend Underscores Housing Crisis

SROs are making a comeback under a new name as the housing supply remains strained and costs soar.

March 22, 2024 - Associated Press via Yahoo News

Red public transit bus in Bangalore, India.

Indian States Give Women Free Bus Passes

The programs are part of an initiative aimed at helping more women join the workforce and improving access to basic needs.

43 minutes ago - Next City

Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota skylinw with stone arched brige in foreground.

Study: How to Revitalize Downtown Minneapolis

A proposal calls for a reevaluation of the city’s skyways, a focus on street-facing businesses, and an improved public realm.

1 hour ago - Minneapolis Post

Aerial view of Milwaukee, Wisconsin skyline with freeway interchanges in foreground at night.

Milwaukee Residents Challenge Freeway Expansion

Residents are voicing opposition to a planned expansion of Interstate 94, arguing that the project would eliminate the limited green space in the neighborhood.

2 hours ago - Spectrum News 1

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.