Goals from this Resolution approved on November 5, 2007 are:

1.         It will be a goal for the City organization to become carbon neutral by 2020; and

2.         The City of Leon Valley is committed to the preservation and expansion of the Leon Valley tree canopy by 2020; and

3.         The City of Leon Valley shall promote green home and business construction by 2020 with the goal of 20% of its structures completely green by 2020; and

4.         The City of Leon Valley will commit to water consumption reduction, alternative irrigation sources, and xeriscaping by 2020; and

5.         The City of Leon Valley will adopt measures to reach the goal for the City of Leon Valley to become “El Verde by 2020.”

The American Institute of Architects’ Sustainable Design Assessment Team met with City officials, business representatives, committees, residents, and community stakeholders in 2008 to begin putting together the map for Leon Valley’s sustainability plan.  You can view the final meeting’s slide show and the findings of the SDAT at this link:  http://www.aia.org/aiaucmp/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aias078053.pdf

Other Green Initiatives have sprung from that SDAT Workshop that are important to all in Leon Valley.  With the plan moving forward, the City Council held special meetings and looking at information from the SDAT workshops.  They adopted a new Mission Statement and Vision Statement as posted on this website’s Home Page.  The following slides are from the slide show prepared by the SDAT during their visit to Leon Valley in October 2008 and demonstrate elements important to our sustainability .

Initiatives from the SDAT visit can be seen in the recent adoption of the Leon Valley Tree Challenge.  City Council adopted one of the first five recommendations from the SDAT visit – a tree planting program.  On April 21, 2009, City Council approved Resolution No. 09-012 which adopted the goals for this tree planting challenge – 10,000 trees to be planted by the year 2020:

1.         The “Leon Valley Tree Challenge” is hereby established to support the City’s mission to provide our community with a superior quality of life by balancing social equity, environmental stewardship and economic development to achieve sustainability.

2.         The Leon Valley Tree Challenge will be a cooperative program of residents and businesses support efforts to plant and protect trees in Leon Valley now and for future generations.

3.         Every citizen in Leon Valley will be asked to plant one tree in the City from now until the year 2020.

4.         Trees will be planted on private property with the owner’s permission and maintained for a minimum of two years to be counted during this “Leon Valley Tree Challenge”program.  Trees planted on public property or in public right-of-ways must have approval from the controlling public entity prior to planting.

5.         Trees planted to be part of this program, must be from the approved list of trees approved by the City (Exhibit A) to promote successful planting of drought tolerant trees for  Leon Valley.

6.         Each tree planter will agree to assume responsibility for watering and maintaining the tree for a minimum of two years.

7.         Each planter will receive official “Leon Valley Tree Challenge” Certificate and planting information will be logged with location, planter, tree type, and will the tree will be assigned a unique identification number for the official city record.  This tree log will be maintained by the Office of the City Secretary on the City’s official web page.

8.         A City Tree Board will be established by the City Council to oversee and assist with the Leon Valley Tree Challenge Program.

a.         Oversee enforcement and application of the City’s existing tree ordinances;

b.         Organize a community tree survey that identifies the location of all heritage trees in Leon Valley;

c.         Encourage local schools to conduct Arbor Day events and educational programs;

            d.         Establish a tree section in the Leon Valley Public Library,

e.         Promote the Leon Valley Tree Challenge program at community events and through community tree canopy and planting education programs, and

f.          Provide periodic reports to the City Council and community regarding the program.

9.         A program for public recognition with the City Council will be established to reward tree planting partners two years after the trees were planted and inspections completed.

10.       The goal of the Leon Valley Tree Challenge will to plant 10,000 trees by the year 2020, a goal which supports the efforts of El Verde by 2020.

                                                                                    (From Resolution No. 09-012)

The new Tree Advisory Board was appointed by City Council on May 19, 2009 and will begin work to encourage citizens and businesses to begin planting trees from the approved list of trees on their property first.  Guidelines will be developed to plant trees donated and sponsored by private individuals on public property in the future.  If you have questions about this new Tree Planting Challenge – please contact the Community Development Department at (210) 684-1391, ext. 226.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – another initiative for Leon Valley has been in practice for many years. The Earthwise Living Committee meets monthly – the second Tuesday of each month at 6 pm at the Public Works Service Center at 6427 Evers Road, behind the Leon Valley Community Center.  This Committee works to educate the community in ways to conserve our resources and promote our City’s sustainability.  Annually they host the  Earthwise Living Day the end of each February.

The City of Leon Valley has long been a leader in promoting recycling and was the first city in this region to offer curbside recycling.  Residences in Leon Valley enjoy weekly curbside pickup by the City’s contractor, Waste Management, of the following items that can be recycled.

            PAPER: 

            Most types of paper, such as ad circulars, catalogs, carbonless paper, dry goods packaging with liners removed (example:  cereal, pasta, rice, beer and soda cartons), envelopes, file folders, flattened cardboard, junk mail, magazines, newspapers, office paper, paperback books, paper bags, paper towel/toilet paper core tubes, phone books, non-metallic gift wrap.

            PLASTICS:

            Labeled #1 through #7 – Look for the recycling symbol on the bottom of the container.  Remove lids and rinse any remaining food or liquids from containers or trays.  Examples included:  beverage bottles, shampoo and lotion bottles, meat trays, condiment bottles, prescription and medicine bottles, plastic grocery bags (please tie grocery bags together in a bundle).

METAL CANS:

Aluminum, steel and tin beverage and food cans -  rinse all food or liquids, aerosol cans - empty and with nozzle removed, baking tins – rinse and remove remaining food.

For Household Hazardous Waste Curbside Pickup call 1-800-449-7587.

“Green Initiatives” from Leon Valley work toward the City of Leon Valley becoming carbon neutral by the year 2020.  Join us and become involved for a sustainable Leon Valley!