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happening in Pleasanton because the City requires it as part of its conditions of approval. This ordinance would codify that process by setting a standard of what is expected from builders before a project is designed and presented to the Planning Commission. This approach would allow applicants to integrate green building into the designj~r, ocess, avoiding delays and costly change orders. Applicants would be required to use LEED"~ as a standard. A project would not have to be certified by the United States Green Building Council. The City has spent over a year in developing and refining this ordinance and has been responsive to the building community's concerns. The Planning Commission has agreed this ordinance will be the benchmark for green building and will replace various green building conditions currently imposed on projects. She pointed out most builders will not own, occupy, or operate the buildings they construct. There is no incentive to have an energy efficient building, since in most cases the prospective owner is not identified when the building is being designed. This was different in the case of Shaklee and Applied Biosystems, which have committed to building green. She felt it was difficult for small businesses to reap the benefits of green building since they don't have an opportunity to participate in the design process. By having an ordinance in place, small business can enjoy dividends of green building, including reduction in maintenance costs due to the use of more durable equipment, reduction in operating costs from energy and water savings, and reduced health costs and increased productivity of employees from improved indoor air quality. She said there was also concern about materials not being available. It is important to emphasize that green building does not include exotic building materials and technology. All products are available offthe shelf and are produced by major manufacturers. Major building material manufacturers have adapted to this trend. For example, all Kelly Moore paints are LEED qualified as of January 2003; all Johns Manville insulation will be formaldehyde free. These changes are direct responses to the LEED system and the cities which have adopted green building policies. The green building ordinance also applies to City projects, showing the city's willingness to prove its commitment to green building. She indicated the Waste Management Authority is willing to provide training for the staff and to assist in implementation of the program. She welcomed the opportunity to schedule an informational workshop with the Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Michelotti asked how many cities in Alameda County have adopted this ordinance for their civic buildings? Ms. Sommer said there are several cities that are considering adopting this ordinance. The County GSA is considering such an ordinance. Pleasanton will be the first to have the ordinance apply to City buildings. Ms. Dennis noted that Pleasanton is also certified as a green business. She noted there is assistance available from the County for the City and private businesses for the design and technical assistance and information. David Gottfried, 290 Alhambra Street #11, San Francisco, indicated he was the founder of the U. S. Green Building Council, which established the LEED system. It started a decade ago and has 2,000 organizational members around the country. The largest membership is in the Bay Area with a dozen chapters of the Council in the United States, including one in the Bay Area with 450 members. There are a thousand architectural firms, including most of the major Pleasanton City Council 12 10/15/02 Minutes