HomeMy WebLinkAbout17-052 Climate Control
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
RESOLUTION 17-052
A RESOLUTION OF ENDORSEMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO
ADDRESS CLIMATE RISKS
Motion By: Braid Second By: Burkart
WHEREAS, the 2040 Strategic Vision plan states, “The City’s lakes, parks and natural amenities
are key to preserving the quality of life in Prior Lake for our residents and visitors. Our
natural resources are our legacy”i and;
WHEREAS, there is scientific agreement from credentialed climate scientists that climate change
is the result of human activityii; and
WHEREAS,
continuing to use fossil fuels at current rate will increase the long-term damage of
climate change which will become more and more difficult and expensive to reverse or
even slow; and
WHEREAS, NASA and NOAA data show that 2016 was the warmest year on record globallyiii; and
WHEREAS, the Minneapolis metro area is the 8th fastest warming city in the United States since
1965iv; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota winters have warmed an average of almost 6 degrees Fahrenheit since
1970v; and
WHEREAS, the 2014 National Climate Assessment states that Minnesota has experienced a 37%
increase in heavy rainfall events, due to a warmer climate vi; and
WHEREAS, these events lead to flooding and infrastructure damage that the City of Prior Lake
taxpayers pay to repairvii; and
WHEREAS, ticks capable of carrying the bacteria that cause Lyme disease and other pathogens
have shown earlier seasonal activity in Minnesota in response to increasing
temperatures associated with climate change and increasing health risks to its
citizensviii; and
WHEREAS, the costs are real, they are growing, and they are already burdening businesses,
taxpayers, municipal budgets, familiesix and our healthx; and
WHEREAS, it’s estimated 68% of Scott County residents say global warming will harm future
generations and 72% support regulating carbon dioxide emissions as a pollutant xi; and
WHEREAS, continued warming poses risks to Prior Lake in the form of water and ice qualityxii, and
flood risks to the City of Prior Lake; and
WHEREAS, those risks, if realized, directly hurt the City of Prior Lake, the businesses and
residents that depend on Prior Lake for recreational activities and adversely impact
the 2040 Strategic Vision plan; and
WHEREAS, these climate risks can be mitigated with national policies that are pro-job, pro-
economic growth, pro-competition that allow the City of Prior Lake, Minnesota and the
2
United States to transition to a 100% clean, renewable energy futurexiii and uphold the
2040 Strategic Vision plan;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE,
MINNESOTA strongly urges the United States Congress and President of the United States of
America to take prompt and effective policy measures to address climate change. The Prior
Lake City Council supports Congress reducing greenhouse gas emissions in a clear,
transparent, and effective way.
PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 24th DAY OF APRIL 2017.
VOTE Briggs McGuire Thompson Burkart Braid
Aye ☒ ☐ ☒ ☒ ☒
Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Absent ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐
______________________________
Frank Boyles, City Manager
i http://156.99.83.130/Weblink8External/DocView.aspx?id=423514&dbid=0
ii https://climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus/ and http://nas-sites.org/americasclimatechoices/more-resources-on-climate-
change/climate-change-evidence-and-causes/
iii https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2537/nasa-noaa-data-show-2016-warmest-year-on-record-globally
iv http://www.climatecentral.org/news/fastest-warming-cities-20535
v http://www.rcc-acis.org/
vi http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/
vii http://www.plslwd.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/July24CityFloodUpdateMeeting.pdf
viii https://health2016.globalchange.gov/executive-summary#finding-46
ix http://www.startribune.com/state-asks-insurers-are-you-ready-for-climate-change/219134871/
xhttp://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2017/03/15/climate-change-making-us-sick-top-us-doctors-say/99218946/ and
https://medsocietiesforclimatehealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/medical_alert.pdf
xi http://climatecommunication.yale.edu/visualizations-data/ycom-us-2016/
xii https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/p-gen4-07.pdf
xiii http://thesolutionsproject.org/infographic/#mn and http://thesolutionsproject.org/
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake. MN 55372
STATE OF MINNESOTA
COUNTY OF SCOTT
CITY OF PRIOR LAKE
l, the undersigned, being the duly qualified and appointed Manager of the City of Prior
Lake, lt/innesota, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the attached is a copy of the full, true and
complete Resolution '17-052 adopted by the City Council of the City held on the date
therein indicated, which are on file and of record in my office.
WITNESS my hand as such lVlanager of the City Council of the City of Prior Lake,
Minnesota this 25th day of April 2017.
City Manag
Phone 952.447.9800 / Far 952.447.1245 / urvu.cityofpriorlake.com