Mayor Autry, on Nov. 14, the Fresno City Council passed a resolution for Fresno to join the U.S. Mayors Climate Control Agreement. Since the Mayor did not veto this resolution in the allotted time period, the City Clerk says it is in effect right now. My question is: Has the Mayor's office actually signed and sent off the paperwork to have Fresno join this group?

If not, does he expect to do so in the near future?

Thank you.

Franz Weinschenk

The city of Fresno is on the cutting edge of clean air technologies. We have one of the cleanest fleets in the country and have received several awards reflecting our commitment to the environment, including: the EPA's Green Power Award for our solar energy project installed at our Municipal Service Center, and the 2006 EPA Pretreatment Program Excellence Award - Best in the Nation for our Wastewater Treatment Facilities. In addition, in 2005 I was honored to receive the American Lung Association's Good Government Award.

In addition, I have been working to establish an Air Quality Empowerment Zone for our region to assist us in receiving incentives and funding from the federal government. While the U.S. Mayors Climate Control Agreement has many good things in it, there are also blatantly political statements that create too many questions for me to either support or oppose the agreement. I will look forward to seeing answers to my questions as the whole global warming discussion continues.

I did not veto the Council's action because I am not going to stop them from expressing their opinion. We must be mindful as we work to clean our environment that people should not have to choose between clean air in their lungs and food in their bellies. A strategy that balances the needs of the environment with our economy is one I can support.

Mayor Autry