BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:
Title
Adopt a Resolution Recognizing April 22, 2021 as Earth Day.
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Adopt the Resolution RECOGNIZING APRIL 22, 2021, AS EARTH DAY.
Body
SUMMARY:
Every year on April 22nd, over a billion people worldwide celebrate Earth Day. Earth Day is intended to raise awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s natural environment. At a 1969 UNESCO Conference in San Francisco, peace activist John McConnell proposed a day to honor Earth and the concept of peace, and then-U.S. Senator Nelson formally established Earth Day on April 22nd, 1970. On that day 20 million people participated in rallies nationwide, which helped lead to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and the passing of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.
Earth Day continues to serve as a platform to promote responsible and caring acts for the environment, thus improving quality of life. It is celebrated in more than 192 countries each year and promoted by the non-profit Earth Day Network.
According to the Earth Day Network, the theme for Earth Day 2021 is “Restore Our Earth” to encourage natural system processes and emerging green technologies to restore the world’s ecosystems and forests, conserve and rebuild soils, improve farming practices, restore wildlife populations and rid the world’s oceans of plastics.
With this Resolution, the Valley Water can further promote its mission for flood control, stewardship including pollution prevention, and providing Silicon Valley safe, clean water for a healthy life, environment, and economy. Valley Water currently has a broad array of services that align with Earth Day objectives, such as building a new wetland and restoring Llagas Creek as part of the Upper Llagas Creek Flood Protection Project and rehabilitating habitat through the South Bay Salt Ponds Restoration. Valley Water is committed to environmental justice for the fair treatment and meaningful engagement of all people.
Valley Water will recognize and celebrate Earth Day with a News You Can Use Article prepared by the Green Team Employee Resource Group (ERG) to commemorate Earth Day. The Green Team ERG serves as a resource to all employees to promote sustainable best practices, to support Valley Water’s sustainability mission, and to help generate new sustainable ideas and solutions in the workplace.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact associated with this item.
CEQA:
These recommended actions do not constitute a project under CEQA because they do not have a potential for resulting in direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Resolution
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER:
Manager
Lisa Bankosh, 408-630-2618
Bhavani Yerrapotu, 408-630-2735