By Loretta Kalb - lkalb@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Saturday, September 6, 2008
Story appeared in OUR REGION section, Page B4
The mayor of Galt says the Berkeley City Council doesn't know squat about the role of Marine recruiters.
But he says the city is right on target when it comes to solar energy financing.
Accordingly, Galt Mayor Andrew Meredith has proposed a solar energy financing plan patterned after one in Berkeley.
The Berkeley plan, facing a vote Sept. 16, creates bond financing for property owners who "opt-in" to an assessment district. Those who do would pay for solar improvements with their property taxes.
Not long ago, Meredith was fed up with Berkeley's City Council, which voted in January to tell Marine recruiters they were "uninvited and unwelcome guests."
Meredith, an Iraq war veteran, wrote to the commandant of the Marine Corps a few months later. On city letterhead, he called the Berkeley action repulsive, offensive and insulting.
The letter "goes back to the fact that I was a soldier, and I kind of have a soft spot" for those in the military, Meredith said Friday. "As a veteran, I found that (Berkeley) was disrespectful."
On the other hand, he said, "I think in the last decade Berkeley has taken a lot of steps that have resonated throughout the state in regards to clean energy."
Steps like the solar financing plan.
Galt's proposed plan not only would provide money for electricity-generating solar panels, but also would help finance energy efficiency upgrades such as new windows and low-flush toilets.
In both cities, residents would "opt in." Galt residents would be allowed to do so during an open enrollment period every other year.
In Galt, bonds sold as part of a financing district would fund improvements of up to $20,000, which would be repaid through property tax payments of up to 20 years.
Galt also would require subdivision home builders to construct at least 20 percent of their inventory in accordance with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District's Solar-Smart program.
In contrast to Berkeley, which is a charter city, Galt is a general law city and its ability to launch the financing side of the program will require a change in state law. Such legislation is now on the governor's desk, said Galt Assistant City Manager Jason Behrmann.
If Galt gets the green light, look for the City Council to pull together. At a meeting Tuesday night when Meredith put the idea to them, council members were generally receptive, said Behrmann.
Meredith said he'll return a final draft to the council in October. Council approval would create the program, he said. Then the city would await financing authority and implementation, possibly by 2010.
Galt is not the only city to find the Berkeley program desirable.
"This is the favorite phone call of the day," said Nils Moe, assistant to Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, when asked to talk about the pilot program.
The council approved the concept in late 2007. Now the city is working with the University of California, Berkeley, to evaluate the program and create a "replication guide" for other cities.
The calls are coming in "from Cambridge, Mass., to Seattle, Portland, Austin and countless cities within the state of California," he said.
Galt Councilman Darryl Clare said Friday he is "very in favor of the general concept, the voluntary aspects."
But he expressed concern about "telling private people" such as home builders how they must build subdivisions.
"Before we start mandating too much," he said, "let's hear from all those involved."
About the writer:
- Call The Bee's Loretta Kalb, (916) 478-2641.
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