nyuuzyou/wikis huggingface dataset:
Benton County, OR Bicycle Transportation Plan

Type: Policy
Status: Adopted in 2001
Source File: http://www.co.benton.or.us/pw/committees/btp.php
Description:
Benton County, through its Department of Public Works and the Bicycle Advisory Committee, is updating the Bicycle and Pedestrian element of the County Transportation System Plan (TSP). The TSP is a background document to the County Comprehensive Plan and guides in part, the development of Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities in Benton County including areas in the urban growth boundary of cities. The Public Works Department and the County Bicycle Advisory Committee are asking for your input in the Plan update; identifying gaps in the road system and identifying areas where improvement is needed on County Roads.
Background
The County Board of Commissioners adopted the TSP in 2001 to provide a transportation system for a twenty-year period of growth. The plan inventoried and summarized the existing and needed bicycle and pedestrian facilities at that time. Since then, few of the identified needs have yet to be completed and others have surfaced as a result of development in and around cities. Although it is not expected that goals and philosophy of providing these facilities will change - the Plan is aggressive providing alternate modes to the Single Occupant Vehicle - the Bicycle Advisory Committee has asked that the Plan be modified to reflect today's needs.
Why Should We Care About the TSP?
Funding for nearly all-capital projects is dependant on projects being identified in the TSP. Documenting bicycle and pedestrian-related needs as potential projects helps ensure that these projects will become funded in the future.
How Can You Help?
Tell us how the road system could be improved for bicyclists. Let us know where a roadway shoulder is insufficient, where you think a traffic light is needed, where a separated bicycle and pedestrian path would improve safe and easy travel around Benton County. We'll use your comments to prioritize a list of projects for the plan to reference and some day they just might get constructed.
Category:County Governments
Category:Foot-Powered Transportation
Category:Oregon
Category:Policies
Berea College, KY Ecological Design

Type: Policy
Status: Adopted
Source File: http://www.berea.edu/sens/sustainabilityinitiatives/ecologicaldesign.asp
Description:
Ecological design at Berea College
I see our work as an effort to make architecture relevant to the central challenge of our time: designing for change in ways that are compatible with maintaining the living systems that support all life on earth. Our work marries nature and technology. Design is the link between nature and culture.
—Sim Van der Ryn
Ecological design is the application of ecological principles to the design of sustainable technologies, buildings and communities. Working with nature instead of against, ecological design promotes dramatic increases in the efficiency of energy and water use, reduces wastes, maximizes recycling and reuse, and emphasizes the use of renewable energy sources.
Ecological design is the foundation of Berea College’s transformation to a sustainable campus- an educational facility that can meet it current needs without decreasing the ability of the world’s social, economic, and ecological systems to the needs of future generations
As part of the sustainability initiative in Berea College’s strategic plan Being and Becoming: Berea College in the 21st Century, the College is applying ecological design to:
Renovation of buildings to increase energy and water-use efficiency, while improving:
* Comfort and functionality
* Construction of student residences and teaching facilities
* Campus operations including heating and lighting systems, recycling, purchasing, grounds maintenance, and sustainable management of the College farms and forest
* Experiential education as students, staff, and faculty work together to design, construct, and live in a sustainable campus
* Ecological design encourages the participation of all members of the community in the design process. The resulting building and landscapes are beautiful and desirable places to live and work. Nature is sustained even as the needs of people are met.
* Experiential education- learning by doing- is the heart of Berea’s approach to teaching ecological design and sustainable living.
Students participate directly in all aspects of ecological design at Berea-planning, construction, and operations- and in so doing gain invaluable experience that complements their more traditional classroom training.
As natural processes are more visible through ecological design, people living or working on campus will receive daily lessons in sustainable living.
The Sustainability and Environmental Studies (SENS) Program offers courses and internships in ecological design. Students working for the SENS program organize workshops and demonstrations on ecological design and sustainable living for the campus and surrounding communities.
Category:Berea College
Category:Building Standards
Category:Colleges
Category:Kentucky
Category:Policies
Berea College, KY Ecological Machine

Type: Program
Status: Ongoing
Source File: http://www.berea.edu/sens/ecovillage/ecomachine/default.asp
Description:
Ecological Machines are wastewater treatment systems that naturally treat sewage and industrial waste to reuse quality. Fresh water is a limited resource and living machines provide sustainable wastewater treatment systems in a cost effective, aesthetically beautiful manner. Ecological machines bring advanced wastewater treatment technology and unsurpassed aesthetic, economic, and environmental advantages to companies, communities and institutions around the world.
Ecological Machines accelerate nature’s own water purification process. Unlike chemically based systems, Ecological Machines incorporate helpful bacteria, plants, snails and fish that thrive by breaking down and digesting organic pollutants. This clean, simple approach efficiently transforms high-strength industrial wastewater and sewage into water clean enough to be reused. Model Ecological Machines are functioning in several places on the Berea College campus, including the student organization lounge in the Alumni Building. These Ecological Machines do not process human waste, but demonstrate the biological functions that occur in sewage treatment Ecological machines like the one that is constructed as part of the Berea College Ecovillage.
View the Ecomachine Photo Gallery.
Category:Berea College
Category:Colleges
Category:Kentucky
Category:Programs
Category:Wastewater Treatment
Berea College, KY Recycling Program

Type: Program
Status: Established in 1991
Source File: http://www.berea.edu/sens/sustainabilityinitiatives/recycling.asp
Description:
Berea College's recycling program began in 1991 with a campus group made up of faculty, staff, and students whose proposal stated, "Berea College has a moral responsibility to recycle its own waste and to provide leadership for students to carry out the values clearly expressed in our sixth Great Commitment- maintain our campus and…encourage in our students a way of life characterized by plain living, pride in labor well done, zest for learning, high personal standards and concern for the welfare of others."
Over the next ten years the Recycling Department continued to grow and was located in various areas on campus and operated along with the help of the Facilities Management Grounds Department. The main focus of the Recycling Department has remained constant: increased awareness and education about recycling and diverting recyclable material out of the waste stream and landfills.
The Berea College Recycling Department is currently staffed by one full-time labor supervisor and nine primary labor positions. The department serves the entire college campus including, administration, academic and student buildings. Students do a majority of the recycling pickups across campus. Recyclables are then brought back to the central recycling center and sorted out into eight different categories. Below are the eight different categories and the average monthly recycling weights (lbs.) for each category:
# White Paper- 2,177
# Mixed/Color Paper- 2,003
# Newspaper- 1,959
# Magazine/Glossy- 3,489
# Brown Paper/Folders- 2,057
# Fiberboard/Thin Cardboard- 932
# Corrugated Cardboard- 2,256
# Shredded Paper- 2,049
The recycling department also recycles aluminum and tin cans, plastic and glass bottles, scrap metal and most large appliances.
In the spring of 2000 Berea College made the commitment to improve the recycling program in all first year residence halls on campus. Enough bins for all the first year residence halls were purchased and the recycling center was doubled in size. A forklift and new scale were also purchased to meet the needs of the recycling center. The Recycling Department believes that with the continued support of the college community, the goals of increased recycling understanding will be met.
The Recycling Department is currently located at Facilities Management on Berea College's campus and is open Monday-Friday during regular business hours.
Category:Berea College
Category:Colleges
Category:Kentucky
Category:Programs
Category:Recycling
Berkeley, CA Anti-War Resolution

Type: Resolution
Status: Adopted on 9/13/05
Vote: Unanimous
Source File: 
Text:
RESOLUTION NO. 63,055
WHEREAS, The Council of the City of Berkeley strongly supports the women and men serving in the United States Armed Forces in Iraq and recognizes the sacrifices that each of them is making; and 
WHEREAS, the costs of the call-up of California National Guard members for deployment in Iraq have been significant, as determined in lost lives, combat injuries, psychic trauma, disruption of family life, financial hardship for individuals, families, and businesses, interruption of careers, and damage to the fabric of civic life in many California communities; and 
WHEREAS, these are costs which would be suffered willingly were there a threat to our nation, but which are not tolerable where there is none; and 
WHEREAS, Californians have joined the Guard thinking that they would be serving their neighbors by helping with California-based emergencies, unless there was a danger to the United States requiring transfer to active duty; and 
WHEREAS, stop-loss orders violate the mutual understanding between Californians in the Guard and the state and nation the agreed to serve; and 
WHEREAS, there is reason to believe that the federalization and deployment of National Guard members has rendered the remaining Guard force less able to carry out its state activities effectively; and 
WHEREAS, the United States Constitution provides that Congress shall have the power to “provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the laws of the Nation, to suppress insurrections and repel invasions,” and the California State Assembly, the California State Senate, and the Governor of California to direct the training and arming of members of the California National Guard for defense of the State; and 
WHEREAS, since 1986 the President and Congress have had nearly total control over state militias, including the California National Guard; now, therefore be it 
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Berkeley calls upon the Governor of California to insure that the President and Congress take immediate steps to withdraw California National Guard troops from Iraq now and, 
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Berkeley sends a copy of this Resolution to Governor Schwarzenegger, President Bush, each member of the California Congressional Delegation, and the President Pro Tempore of the California Senate.
A
Category:California
Category:City Governments
Category:Peace
Category:Resolutions
Berkeley, CA Calling for an End to Tax Breaks for Millionaires

Type: Resolution
Status: Adopted on 4/27/04
Vote: Unanimous
Source File: http://209.232.44.21/citycouncil/resos/2004/62450.pdf
Search Strings: millionaires, tax breaks, inequity
Text:
Because of the small size of the graphic below, you still may want to view the document from the source file.
Category:Berkeley
Category:California
Category:City Governments
Category:Resolutions
Category:Tax-Related
Berkeley, CA Endorsing Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act

Type: Resolution
Status: Adopted on 1/29/08
Source File: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/uploadedFiles/Clerk/2008-01-29_Item_04_Prevention_of_Farm_Animal_Cruelty_Act.pdf
Text:
ENDORSING THE PREVENTION OF FARM ANIMAL CRUELTY ACT, A STATEWIDE BALLOT INITIATIVE REQUIRING THAT CALVES USED FOR VEAL, EGG-LAYING HENS AND BREEDING PIGS ON INDUSTRIALIZED FACTORY FARMS HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO TURN AROUND AND EXTEND THEIR LIMBS.
WHEREAS, Animal welfare charities, veterinarians, family farmers, conservation
organizations, health professionals and concerned citizens have formed a coalition
called Californians for Humane Farms to start gathering the 650,000 signatures needed
to place this initiative on the November 2008 ballot through an all –volunteer effort; and
WHEREAS, if passed, this initiative will ban the use of veal crates for calves, battery
cages for egg laying hens, and gestation crates for breeding pigs in the State of
California; and
WHEREAS, the extreme overcrowded conditions that have become the norm in some
sectors of animal agribusiness cause immense suffering for the animals while polluting
the air, contaminating groundwater and threatening human health; and
WHEREAS, young calves are kept in tiny enclosures, purposely confined so intensively
that they are not even able to turn around; and
WHEREAS, the vast majority of egg-laying hens are confined in barren battery cages
that are so small they can barely move; and
WHEREAS, during their pregnancies, the female breeding pigs are severely restricted
in individual “gestation crates” measuring just two feet wide where they are unable to
exercise or even turn around.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Berkeley
endorses the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, a statewide ballot initiative
requiring that calves used for veal, egg-laying hens and breeding pigs on industrialized
factory farms have enough room to turn around and extend their limbs.
Category:Animals
Category:Berkeley
Category:California
Category:City Governments
Category:Farm-Related Policies
Category:Resolutions
Berkeley, CA Green Purchasing Policy

Type: Policy
Status: Adopted in 2004
Source File: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/news/2004/11nov/111704greenpurchasingpolicy.html
Description:
By official policy, the City of Berkeley now considers environmental attributes when making its purchases. By approving one of the first environmentally preferable purchasing policies in Alameda County, the City continues its tradition of leading by example. The policy requires consideration of environmental factors such as energy efficiency, resource conservation, waste minimization, recycled content and toxicity when selecting vendors and products for its operations.
The adopted purchasing policy is based on a model developed by the Alameda County Waste Management Authority that guides government and business purchases. Following the City’s adoption of the Precautionary Principle in October 2003, the Precautionary Principle seeks to protect human health and the environment in its decision-making.
The catalyst for the Precautionary Principle and environmental purchasing derived from the on-going valuable contributions of the Women's Cancer Resource Center, Breast Cancer Action, Commonweal, Clean Water Fund, and the Ecology Center to the Ad Hoc Precautionary Principle Working Group that also includes members of four Berkeley commissions (Energy, Solid Waste, Community Environmental, and Community Health).
Adopting the policy builds on current practices, since the City has been incorporating environmentally friendly purchasing into their business practices for some time. “This new policy reaffirms the City's commitment to the environment and sustainable businesses,” says Tom Bates, Mayor of Berkeley. “Environmentally preferable purchasing helps us to further green our City government operations and at the same time, to support sustainable or green businesses, particularly local businesses.”
Like other cities in the Bay Area and across the country, department staff find that it costs no more to buy environmentally preferable products, and in some cases, costs less. Switching to safer, “green” cleaning products, for example, saves money because the products last longer while reducing incidents of allergic reactions, burns and eye damage associated with toxic chemicals used in many traditional cleaning products. “We thought the change would cost more money and take more time, and in fact, found quite the opposite,” says Rene Cardinaux, Director of Public Works.
For more information, contact Kate Squire or visit the Alameda County Waste Management Authority’s website at http://www.stopwaste.org. Fact Sheets on how and where to buy environmentally preferable products in Alameda County are available.
Category:Berkeley
Category:Buy Green Policy
Category:California
Category:City Governments
Category:Policies
Berkeley, CA Instant Runoff Voting for City Elections

Type: Charter Amendment
Status: Approved by voters on 3/2/04
Vote: In Favor - 72% Opposed - 28%
Source File: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/Elections/measures/2004/march/Iirv.htm
Text:
Measure I
Charter Amendment - Instant Runoff Voting
(Majority Vote)
Ballot Title
Shall the Charter of the City of Berkeley be amended to authorize the city council to adopt an instant runoff election system upon finding that acceptable voting systems and equipment make it technically feasible, consolidation of City election with County elections will remain feasible and the City will not incur additional election costs?
Financial Implications: Savings, between $100,000 to $300,000 if separate runoff election avoided which may be offset by start up costs for instant runoff voting.
Ballot Text
The People of City of Berkeley hereby amend the Charter of the City of Berkeley to read as follows:
Section 1. Article III, Section 5, shall be amended to add subsection (12) to read as follows:
(12) Use of instant runoff voting in lieu of runoff elections
For purposes of this charter “instant runoff voting” shall refer to a voting system which, in a single election, determines the candidate supported by the voters. Notwithstanding any section of this charter to the contrary, upon a determination by the city council of all of the following, that: a) the voting equipment and procedures are technically ready to handle instant runoff voting in municipal elections; b) instant runoff voting will not preclude the City from consolidating its municipal elections with the County; and c) instant runoff elections will not result in additional City election costs, the council may by ordinance establish a system of instant runoff voting for the offices of mayor, city council, and auditor, in any manner permitted by the State of California Elections Code. Once the council institutes a system of instant runoff voting, future elections shall be conducted as instant runoff voting elections, unless the council finds that circumstances have changed such that one or more of the prior council findings required by this section are no longer valid. In such case, the council shall articulate the specific basis therefor in order to suspend an existing system of instant runoff voting. The fourteenth paragraph of Section 9 of Article V relating to the percentage threshold to trigger a runoff election shall have no application to a system of instant runoff voting. The city clerk shall conduct voter and community education to familiarize voters with instant runoff voting.
Section 2
The People find that the passage of a charter amendment on the ballot at the March 2004 election to reduce the threshold for triggering runoff elections and to delay any such election to the February of the year following the general municipal election does not conflict with this amendment.
Category:Berkeley
Category:California
Category:Charter Amendments
Category:City Governments
Category:Voting Systems
Berkeley, CA Needle Exchange Distribution Program

Type: Resolution
Status: Adopted on 3/25/03
Vote: Unanimous
Source File: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil/resos/2003/61973.pdf
Text:
RESOLUTION NO. 61,973-N.S.
REVIEWING AND CONTINUING THE CITY COUNCIL'S DECLARATION OF EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY IN REGARD TO HIV TRANSMISSION WHICH HAS RESULTED IN THE CITY COUNCIL ORDERING THE LOCAL HEALTH OFFICER TO TAKE SUCH STEPS AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO ENABLE THE OPERATION OF NEEDLE EXCHANGE EMERGENCY DISTRIBUTION
WHEREAS, the high rate of HIV infection among injection drug users threatens to increase the number of HIV infected persons unless steps are taken to stem the spread of the disease; and 
WHEREAS, the sharing of HIV-infected needles is a major route of transmission of AIDS among injection drug users, and a high rate of HIV infection among drug users causes the spread of AIDS among people who are sex partners of injection drug users; and
WHEREAS, the operation of a needle exchange program will stem the spread of HIV-infected needles; and
WHEREAS, on December 7, 1993, by Resolution No. 57,280-N.S., the Council found that a state of local emergency exists regarding the transmission of HIV through contaminated needles, and pursuant to Government Code Sections 8630 et.seq. did so declare; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to authority granted by Resolution No. 57,280-N.S. this council authorized the local health official to take such steps as may be necessary to enable the operation of Needle Exchange Emergency Distribution; and
WHEREAS, the emergency continues to exist.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Berkeley that it is hereby proclaimed and ordered that a local emergency continues to exist within the City of Berkeley which led to enactment of Resolution No. 57,280-N.S., and the emergency will continue until its termination is proclaimed and ordered by the City Council, and it will be reviewed every fourteen days by the Council pursuant to Government Code Section 8630; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that during the existence of this local emergency the local health officer is authorized to take such steps as may be necessary to enable the operation of Needle Exchange Emergency Distribution.
Category:Berkeley
Category:California
Category:City Governments
Category:Health
Category:Resolutions
Berkeley, CA Opposing Efforts to Impede Local Governments from Regulating GE Plants and Food

Type: Resolution
Status: Adopted on 7/25/06
Vote: Unanimous
Source File: http://www.cityofberkeley.info/recordsonline/export/12725385.pdf
Search Strings: genetically engineered, community food systems, agriculture, regulations
Text:
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Category:California
Category:City Governments
Category:Farm-Related Policies
Category:Food-Related Policies
Category:Genetic Engineering
Category:Resolutions