ELIZABETH PATTERSON

REMARKS AT THE VALERO FORUM

Good Afternoon. I am Council Member Elizabeth Patterson. Thank you Sue and Chris for inviting me today.

As Mayor I will work hard to help Valero meet its 2012 greenhouse gas reduction cap requirements.

I, like you, am concerned about the environment. I admire your can do approach to greenhouse gas reduction already underway and know that you are making progress. More needs to be done.

What can WE do as a city? In addition to being self employed, a consultant and establishing and running a wine bottling business, I have over 20 years as a state and local government land and water planner. I know how to get government moving in the right direction. To avoid polarization, we must plan collaboratively with private business

We know when government is on OUR side we all do better.

As Mayor I will convene the long overdue conversation with Valero and the community about how we can collaborate to save energy, reduce our carbon footprint and help Valero achieve the mandates of AB 32. By prmotoing innovation we will attract innovators.

First, we will identify opportunities at our first rate schools. Our schools are our most valuable asset were we teach our children to prosper in a very competitive world. Together we can help BUSD meet energy needs so they can focus on education.

Second, we must foster economic development by investing in the city. It is important that we do our part for attracting businesses and keeping them by maintaining our waste water and water treatment facilities, streets, landscaped areas, street lights and infrastructure. [And by the way Chris, WHEN was that landscaping project going to start?]

Third, we need to talk about a strategic plan for greenhouse gas reduction. How can we invest in energy alternatives and unleash the innovative capacity of Valero. This is for us, our children and our children’s children.

Fourth, what we do with the Seeno Business Park will determine Benicia’s special status. The wrong decision will condemn Benicia to anyplace USA – big boxes, and faceless warehouses. With the right decision we can be embracing the 21st century with vision and vigor.

I will be a different kind of Mayor and I invite you to join me in my new office.

Thank you.


CLOSING REMARKS

Again thank you for inviting me and for your interest.

I love Benicia for its history, its location on the water and framing by our hills and its small town feeling that I consider it as my family. I have lived here for 24 years and raised my children and served in my community for the arts, the swim team and in civic affairs. I have served on city committees and the council since 1991.

My record speaks for itself: the successful General Plan of 1999 after 7 years and two committees; the urban growth boundary line; starting the traffic calming program to provide safe streets; seeking and getting professionally trained staff; sequestering reserve funds for maintenance, and equipment; getting the downtown master plan adopted after several faults starts; getting the Sunshine Ordinance passed; establishing the Urban Water Management Planning Task Force and meeting all the state standards for reporting for the first time in the history of the city; and recommending that the waste water recycle program not go forward because it did not make sense in terms of cost – both energy and money.

I want to be a Mayor who moves forward. I worked to improve the environment and my community my entire adult life. I was born in the same town as my mother - Los Angeles - and as a tom-boy I climbed trees and played cowboys and Indians and morned the loss of the open space.

I am passionate about open space: I campaigned for Measure K for urban growth boundary line for Benicia and Measure J for protecting farmlands in Solano County. I chair the Sky Valley Open Space Committee which is developing a Watershed Protection Plan in order to permanently protect our open space and hills.

I have devoted most of my working years to urban and regional planning to protect and restore our environment, to make better communities and foster sustainable economic development.

I am also passionate about the quality of life for us in Benicia.

And that is why I do not want the Seeno project to be a lost opportunity. But the project is fatally flawed because the proposed 7,000 jobs don’t match our demographics, environmental impacts are significant, such as the grading is massive – enough to fill the Oakland Coliseum 63 times.

Commercial real estate investors advise that Benicia is prime for a research and development campus. My vision for Benicia - to be on the cutting edge for the 21st century with one of the most innovative refinery companies in the United States. By designing and designating the Seeno site for hi-tech, and biotech manufacturing and research we can foster incubator companies for solutions that we must find for greenhouse gases.

If we invest, invent and inspire we call all move forward together.

I thank you for this opportunity to speak to you today and to answer your questions.