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miff?, AUGUST 2009 Dear Friends and Neighbors, BEND V MAYOR STEPI Y I, if'UaECk Letter from the Mayor During recent coverage of the 40"' anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, there was a curious fact. The footprint left on the moon by Astronaut Neil Armstrong is expected to remain long after anyone with living memory of that event turns to dust. With virtually no atmosphere on the moon — no erosion, no wind, no rain — only a deliberate action could erase it. Here in South Bend, we are taking deliberate actions to ensure that the carbon foot- print we leave on our own planet doesn't have such a long - lasting impact on our descendants. In 2008, I signed the Cool Cities charter. Through that action, South Bend is joining other cities that have pledged to reduce the causes of global warming in line with the international Kyoto Protocol on climate change. To follow through on that pledge, the City of South Bend has established a Green Ribbon Commission, chaired by Jim Mazurek, director of sustainability at the University of Notre Dame, and Mike Keen, director of sustainability at Indiana University South Bend. I've just participated in this group's second meeting, and would like to update you on its progress. One of the Green Ribbon Commission's key objectives is to create an inventory of South Bend's local carbon footprint — an accounting of the energy usage of municipal government facilities as well as an analysis of the entire community's impact: from homes and businesses to industry and automobiles. A team of University of Notre Dame students, serving as City government interns, provided an update on the data- collection process, which is soon to be complete. With that information in hand, the Green Ribbon Commission will be able to set emissions- reduction goals and timetables for the City of South Bend. As Green Ribbon Commission members are organizing into committees, members learned that the City of South Bend plans to establish a new high -level Office of Energy. Start-up costs for the first two years of operation will come from a federal stimulus grant. After that, the office must pay for itself through energy savings. We expect to reduce energy consumption costs citywide from $7 million to $5 million. This impact will cut greenhouse gases by 2 percent annually over the next decade, reducing the carbon footprint of City government by 8,000 tons. Through this office, the City will improve energy efficiency, help the environment and save taxpayers money. Based on the experiences of other communities, we anticipate cutting energy expenses by more than 25 percent. Finally, a key reason for convening the Commission was to engage the best Green practices in our community to improve government efficiency and quality of life for all. From Notre Dame computer exhaust heating our greenhouse to converting traffic signals to energy - saving LEDs, the City of South Bend has relied on creative partnerships for environmental innovation. Through our Green Ribbon Commission, we anticipate even greater successes. May our legacy be the kind of footprints that our descendents will want to follow. Sincerely, THIS MONTH... Mayor's Letter Morris Performing Arts Center Schedule Recycle Everyday, Fall Collection 2009 Pet Safety Tips Art Beat Triad Pill Drop Fall Family Fun Fair Composting Workshop • • PERFORMING ARTS CENTER • • Upcoming Performances • • September • 13 Dan Tepfer in Goldberg Variations • • • (At the Palais Royale) • • 26 South Bend Symphony Orchestra • • "Triumphant Beginnings" with • 0 Gleb Ivanov 0 • October • • 1 Comedian Robin Williams • • 9 -10 The Wedding Singer • • 24 The Casting Crowns in Concert • • 31 South Bend Symphony Pops • • "Latin Exposure" with Tito Puente • • November • • 2 Celtic Thunder • • 14 South Bend Symphony Masterworks - • • "Signature Strings" with Euclid Quartet • • 20 The Bob and Tom Comedy Show • • December • • 5 -6 South Bend Symphony Orchestra Presents • "Home for the Holidays" with • • Anita Johnson • • New events are always being added, so • check out www.MorrisCenter.org for the • • latest on the Hottest Tickets in Town, or • • call the Morris Box Office - 235.9190. • SI USTED NO ENTIENDE INGLES Y NECESITA AYUDA PARA TRADUCIR ESTE DOCUMENTO, O SI TIENE ALGUNA PREGUNTA, POR FAVOR LLAME AL Mayor Steve I TELEFONO (574) 235 -5858 X 1000.