New Mexico News
| Council Calls for U.S. Dept. of Peace |
| Posted by Peter Phipps (pphipps) on Jun 10 2008 at 7:32 PM |
City councilors haven't limited themselves to telling the mayor what to do lately. They're also providing advice to Congress.
A resolution adopted 6-2 on Monday urges New Mexico's senators and representatives to support creating a U.S. "Department of Peace and Nonviolence."
The bill, sponsored by Councilor Rey Garduño, said creating the department would help "change the tone of society" and support programs addressing domestic violence and other problems.
Trudy Jones and Sally Mayer voted against it. Don Harris was absent. The remaining six councilors voted in favor.
Jones said she was elected to shape city policy, not the federal government.
The bill "has nothing to do with the City Council," Jones said. "It just makes us look foolish."
Garduño said a peace department would help counterbalance the military by offering nonviolent solutions.
"Our purview is anything that affects our community, and our community is affected by military" actions and policy, he said.
MORE TIME TO GO GREEN: Homeowners could get a lot more time before having to worry about new furnace requirements in the city's "green" building code.
Councilor Isaac Benton won approval this week for amendments to the code, postponing enforcement of a furnace-replacement rule until July next year. The amendments now go to the mayor for his consideration.
The new code is intended to boost energy conservation and help address global warming.
Homeowners who replace a furnace are required to install one that is 90 percent efficient— unless they opt to make other energy-saving changes, such as increasing their roof insulation.
Opponents of the measure say the high-efficiency furnaces will cost homeowners thousands extra and are pre-empted by federal rules. The city says opponents are overestimating the costs and that the ordinance is legal.
Regardless, the furnace rule won't go into effect until July 1, 2009, or perhaps even later.
Homeowners can also get an exemption if installing the furnace would require extensive remodeling to the home, under Benton's amendments.
Benton, who proposed the original code, said he will consider making further changes to avoid "an undue burden on anybody."
REDUCING FUEL USE: Gas prices aren't straining household budgets only. City Hall is feeling the pinch, too.
At Councilor Michael Cadigan's request, the City Council unanimously directed department heads to develop plans to reduce gasoline use. They are to report back to the council in August.
Cadigan wants each department director to focus on reducing fuel use by at least 10 percent. The plans are to include reducing the amount of driving done by the department, using smaller vehicles and other tactics.
The bill estimates gasoline and lubricants are costing an extra $1.1 million a year because of price increases.
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