A proposed council resolution sparked multiple statements and received what was termed a “tumultuous first reading” Monday night.
The resolution, proposed by Councilman Bill Herald, was “in support of a market-based component to enhance citizen quality of life through improved air quality,” as the matter’s title reads.
The resolution reads, in part, that council acknowledges – and wishes to clearly communicate – that the solution to environmental issues will necessarily be multifaceted; involving innovation in a number of areas including scientific, technological, engineering, economic, and/or governmental areas and that “as part of the comprehensive solution, city council hereby expresses their support for a well-balanced, practical and pragmatic, bi-partisan federal Carbon Fee and Dividend policy as a means to reduce the environmental and human costs of the emissions generated by burning fossil fuels.”
Said policy may result in establishment of a fee onemissions and a carbon dividend, through which all revenues from the fee, minus fixed administration costs, could be distributed equally to all U.S. citizens on a monthly basis to offset any potential increase in the cost of goods and services resulting from the fee.
Perrysburg resident Bob Clark-Phelps, of Citizens Climate Lobby, told council that he supported the measure.
“All of us contribute to emissions and all of us are already feeling the effects of extreme events made worse by these emissions,” he said. “Members of Congress need to hear from us, that our environment is a priority, and they need to see consensus building around specific bipartisan solutions.”
Charlotte Reith, also with Citizens Climate Lobby, said that because the effects of carbon pollution are universal, any action taken, or not taken, “is going to have a direct impact on the lives of BG citizens and the city’s finances.” The resolution, she said, is an important opportunity for council to advocate for Bowling Green’s citizens.
Craig Zirbel noted that with environmental effects such as flooded farms and wild fires, “it’s the wrong people paying the fee. The great thing about the carbon fee and dividend proposal is it has a new fee for a new time” for those doing the polluting.
“Bigger polluters would pay more,” he said.
Councilman Greg Robinette, however, said that the resolution seemed to be a veiled attempt to promote a bill before the U.S. Congress, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. He said that while he supports the goal of eliminating harmful pollution, he had questions about that bill.
“I have questions as to how we come out ahead as a county if we make this bill law” and eliminate “large and key segments of our economy,” he said.
Herald said that the resolution itself did not reference that other piece of legislation.
“What I tried to craft here is something that allows us to communicate with the state and national level that there should be some sort of a solution,” but acknowledged that the carbon fee and dividend would not be a cure-all, he said.
After Herald’s comments, Council President Mark Hollenbaugh asked if there was any further comment on the resolution’s “tumultuous first reading” before moving on, drawing brief laughter.
In other business, council:
• Heard City Attorney Hunter Brown address a question as to whether the work of Councilman Jeff Dennis regarding rental regulations constituted a conflict of interest because he owns rental property. Brown noted that Dennis had reached out to him on the subject, and that he had responded with a letter.
Brown said that, in summary, he felt there is not a conflict of interest, saying that conflicts are related to particularities and direct connections of how someone could benefit from what they are voting on.
“I don’t feel that the issue you’re voting on or have voted on have been close enough to rise to the level of a conflict of interest, or close at all,” Brown said.
• Voted 4-2 to approve an ordinance adjusting the timeframe for the initial interior inspection reporting period for the city’s rental property inspection program. The ordinance changes the dates from June-October 2023 to June-October 2024. Councilmen Nick Rubando and Dennis voted against the measure.
Among his arguments, Dennis noted that the deadline had previously been extended without council legislation and he wasn’t sure the matter was necessary.
• By a vote of 2-4, voted down an ordinance amending portions of the city’s codified ordinances regarding unlawful discrimination. Among the changes proposed was that it would be an unlawful discriminatory practice for an employer to ask about an applicant’s salary history, to screen applicants based on prior compensation, rely on the salary history of an applicant in deciding whether to offer employment to an applicant, or in determining the salary, benefits, or other compensation for such applicant during the hiring process, including the negotiation of an employment contract, or… refuse to hire or otherwise disfavor, injure, or retaliate against an applicant for not disclosing his or her salary history to an employer.
Dennis and Councilman Joel O’Dorisio were the votes in favor of the measure.
• Introduced, gave all three readings to, and unanimously passed as an emergency measure an ordinance authorizing Utilities Director Brian O’Connell to enter into contracts for a baseball field lighting upgrade project at Carter Park. The lowest and best bid for the project was $528,262 and money has been budgeted for the work.
• Introduced an ordinance authorizing O’Connell to enter into contracts for services associated with a Geographic Information System utility pole audit. According to the legislative package document, the audit will provide detailed information and inventory for approximately 6,500 poles, and was included in the 2023 budget. The audit will also identify pole attachments that have been performed without city permission.
• Voted unanimously to excuse the absence of Councilwoman Rachel Phipps from the meeting.
