Piedmont's Purchasing Policy May Go 'Green'

Piedmont city council members Monday may adopt a policy that encourages city officials and staff to consider environmental impacts when they make purchases or award contracts for services.

Under the proposed policy, purchasers would be encouraged "to procure products that are environmentally preferable, so long as they are comparable with other products in functionality and long term cost-effectiveness," according to a staff report.

In addition, the report says, "New bids and contracts that the City would undertake shall include requirements that encourage vendors and contractors to
comply with applicable sections of the policy such as following green building and Bay-Friendly landscaping practices and using products that have recycled content; conserve energy, water, and forests; and are bio-based and non-toxic.

"Vendors and contractors that are Green Business Certified, provide packaging and product reuse and recycle, and conform to the City’s EPP [Environmentally Preferable Purchasing] Policy shall be given preference in competitive bids. Current City contractors would be provided a generous lead time to become certified green businesses."

Adherence to the policy would not, however, be mandatory.

According to the report, "The policy specifically provides flexibility to make purchasing decisions that may be based on other factors such as cost effectiveness, delivery, and functionality of products."

The policy stems from 2010 recommendations from the city's Environmental Task Force. It was one of more than 30 measures included in Piedmont's 2010 Climate Action Plan as ways to reach a greenhouse gas emissions target of 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020.

Piedmont is one of only three jurisdictions in Alameda County that have not yet considered adoption of of an EPP policy, according to the staff report. (The others are the City of Emeryville and the Oro Loma Sanitary District in the San Leandro area.)

The council will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 7, in the city council chambers, 120 Vista Ave. A closed session at 6:30 p.m. precedes the public meeting. Click on the PDF above for the complete Nov. 7 meeting agenda. You may download the meeting agenda, the EPP staff report and other agenda materials at the city website.