RESOLUTION NO. 000608-43

WHEREAS, sustainable building practices conserve energy, water, and other natural resources, promote human health and safety and create high quality enduring structures, and construction and operation and maintenance of buildings in accordance with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (“LEED”) U.S. Green Building Council guidelines promotes these goals; and
WHEREAS, the City of Austin is considered an international leader in sustainable building practices with an award winning City program; and
WHEREAS, the City of Austin reaffirms its commitment to community sustainability; and
WHEREAS, energy conservation directly leads to a healthier air quality, a resource in peril in central Texas; and
WHEREAS, indoor environmental quality has also become an area of significant concern, NOW

THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN:
That the City Council directs the City Manager to take the steps necessary to assure that all future City Buildings are designed and built in accordance with the standards and requirements of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (“LEED”) Green Building Rating System, Silver Level, as specified in the “LEED Green Building Rating System, version current at the time of design be built to the highest LEED Certification appropriate without requiring additional appropriations from Council; and that the new City Hall and those projects approved in the 1998 Bond Package be built to the highest LEED Certification appropriate without requiring additional appropriations from Council..

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That the Council directs the City Manager to:

1. commence staff review of the LEED Green Building program standards and requirements, and to present the Green Building program standards and requirements for discussion by appropriate City Boards and Commissions; and to return to City Council with the comments and recommendations of City staff, and City Boards and Commissions, including the possibility of incorporating LEED Green Building standards or requirements in the City Code as recommended by the Green Builder’s Task Force; and
2. evaluate the feasibility of an ordinance requiring that all City maintained buildings are operated and maintained in a way to improve indoor environmental quality and energy conservation; and
3. evaluate the feasibility of a implementing a process to assure that buildings in which the City has fmancial involvement [including buildings leased to the City, and building projects which are the recipient of City financial incentives] are operated and maintained in a way to improve indoor environmental quality and energy conservation.

ADOPTED: June 8 , 2000 ATTEST: Shirley Brown, City Clerk