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look for more ways to encourage walking and biking to school, and to make it safe, was noted. RECOMMENDATION Review and consider the Draft Energy Element of the General Plan (as shown in Attachments 1 and 2) and provide feedback prior to incorporation into the Draft General Plan document. FINANCIAL STATEMENT The Draft Energy Element includes recommendations for additional programs related to energy supply, energy conservation, and the use of alternative energy sources. The cost/benefit implications would be analyzed prior to the implementation of specific programs and would be reported on at that time. BACKGROUND In June 2001 a group of interested citizens (including residents, business leaders, environmentalists and energy industry experts) was convened to provide input and direction on matters related to the energy crisis. This Energy Advisory Group (EAG) drafted the City's Energy Plan (Attachment 4), which was adopted by City Council on December 3, 2002. At that time, the Council also established the Pleasanton Energy Committee (PEC), which included the core members of the EAG, and which was given a two year charter and directed to develop a General Plan Energy Element to serve as the policy document for Pleasanton's energy strategy. The PEC met approximately twice a month between January 2003 and December 2004 to draft, discuss, and agree on goals, policies, and programs for a Draft Energy Element. On April 28, 2004, the Planning Commission reviewed a list of ideas the PEC wished to include in the Energy Element. At that time, the Planning Commission directed the PEC to continue working on the Energy Element to more fully develop these ideas into policy-type statements. The PEC reached agreement on a draft document in early 2005, and that document was subsequently reviewed by the Economic Vitality Commission (EVC) and the Government Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, prior to review and consideration by the Planning Commission. DISCUSSION The objective of the Draft Energy Element is to guide Pleasanton towards a more sustainable energy future. The advantages of this include economic stability and improved environmental quality. Although this draft element is new for this update of the General Plan, it encompasses several policies and programs which are already being undertaken by the City, such as the Green Building ordinance and the Solar Cities program, and provides a policy framework for other projects carried out by the City such as the LEED certified Fire Station #4. The Draft Element contains background information and Goals, Policies, and Programs addressing several topics, including: City Leadership in Energy Sustainability, Reducing Page2of4