Marina Mayor Bruce Delgado signs the Urban Environmental Accords and the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement making Marina the fourth Monterey County city to become a Sierra Club Cool City.
Photo Steve Zmak

by Denyse Frischmuth

Mayor Bruce Delgado, in a special public signing ceremony held Monday, July 13, at City Hall, signed the Urban Environmental Accords and the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, adopted by the Marina City Council on a 4 to 1 vote.

Although the city has already implemented several sustainability measures, signing on to these agreements officially and publicly proclaims Marina’s willingness to be an active and sustained participant in the process leading to decreased global warming pollution, reduced dependence on imported fossil fuels, increased savings of tax dollars, and improved economic opportunities.

Mayor Delgado recognizes that the road ahead will be long and arduous, but he is confident that, by working together, the city and the residents will create a community that enjoys greater and greater quality of life. All interested citizens are invited to help by participating in Go Greener Marina, a committee recently established by the city, and Citizens for a Sustainable Marina, a newly formed grassroots organization dedicated to helping the community meet the challenges posed by climate change and Peak Oil.

By adopting these agreements, Marina has joined a growing number of local signatory cities: Pacific Grove, Monterey, Salinas, Capitola, and Santa Cruz.