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Councilmember Sullivan agreed that the Council has no control over independent expenditures and clarified that the issue lies with special interest monies. He explained that this is relatively new to Pleasanton but that the last few election cycles have presented a huge influx of these monies and resulted in a set of candidates with significantly more funding than the others. Vice -Mayor Cook Kallio acknowledged the influx of special interest campaign funds but suggested that the public use its critical thinking skills to take in the breadth of campaign donors and look for a balance in those interests, some of which concur while others compete. Councilmember Thorne expressed hesitance to define a special interest group as it pertains to campaign finance, noted that it could be anything from a developer to a church group, and advised that the term "business interest" may be much too narrow for what it is intended to represent. Mayor Hosterman noted that the Council did place limitations on expenditures at $1 per registered voter, an amount she considers to be realistic. MOTION: It was m/s by Cook- Kallio/Thorne to approve the City Council Annual Work Plan for 2009- 10. Motion passed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Cook Kallio, McGovern, Sullivan, Thorne, Mayor Hosterman Noes: None Absent: None Councilmember Sullivan voiced support for the plan overall and particularly in the area of the environment and green economies. He thanked staff for working with the Council to create the Work Plan and said that he looks forward to its implementation. 15. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to participate in a cost sharing agreement with StopWaste.Org for the proposed Green Packages Project Operations Service Director Daniel Smith presented the staff report, providing an overview of StopWaste.org and the proposed project. StopWaste.org is a collaboration of the Alameda County Waste Management Authority and the Alameda County Source Reduction and Recycling Board operating together as a single agency. The agency was formed in 1976 and is comprised of 17 member agencies (Alameda County, 14 cities, and 2 sanitary districts). StopWaste.org has proposed a partnership intended to maximize the City's opportunity to leverage additional grant monies in excess of the $692,700 in stimulus funding Block Grants. If approved, the program will also be submitted as part of the City's energy conservation strategy and energy efficiency Block Grant package. StopWaste.org is requesting a contribution equaling approximately 4 or $22,500, of the City's stimulus allotment. The Green Packages Project is a comprehensive program for implementing energy efficiency, solar and other improvements, water and waste conservation, recycled products, and various other programs. The core objective of the project is to stimulate demand and strengthen infrastructure to retrofit the City and County's existing residential and small commercial buildings by overcoming obstacles that hinder widespread deployment of proven resource retrofit strategies. Each member agency will participate in a technical advisory group and have representation to streamline the implementation and leveraging of these funds. The project will focus on public outreach materials as well as training for local installers and third -party building inspectors, verification procedures for City Council Minutes Page 5 of 11 June 2, 2009