2006-07-18 SubmittalsThe World Masters Open Water Swimming
Championships are coming to Alameda!
2006 FINA World Masters Open Water Swimming Championships
Noon, Friday, August 11, 2006
Over 900 of the finest open water swimmers in the
world, ages 25- 90, and representing 85 countries, will
be navigating a 3K loop beginning from Alameda's
Crown Beach, through the Ballena Harbor and finishing
back at Crown Point. No wetsuits... No whining!
FINA, the World Swimming Federation, has recognized our
Island City's long standing traditions and association with
aquatics in their selection of Alameda as host for this
event. We are proud and excited to bring the world to our
fair corner of the Bay Area.
The Championships will be a great
opportunity to showcase Alameda, the
Island City we are so proud of. Our
excellent parks, fine shops and restaurants,
and our welcoming hospitality will be on full
display for all participants. What better way
to play ambassadors than through an event
like this!
We hope you will join us and show your support and hospitality.
First Heat Starts at Noon - Course Closed at 3:00 PM
Vessel Traffic will be Restricted During Race Hours
For more information, contact:
Alameda Aquatic Masters
510.769.0317
Submitted by Linda Gilchrist and
Paul White at the 7/18/06 Regular
Council Meeting
Re: Agenda Item #3 -C
2006 FINA World Masters Cham_ ionships
3K Open Swim
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I=INA World Masters Championships
pen Water Swim
League of Women Voters of Alameda
P.O. Box 1645
Alameda. California 94501 * (510) 869 -4969
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Mayor Johnson and Members of the City Council;
The League of Women Voters of Alameda lends its strong support to the Alameda
County Climate Protection Project and the resolution before you tonight -- Participating
in the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives ( ICLEI).
We are delighted to see Alameda's participation in ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection
(CCP) campaign. We join cities throughout the nation and around the world in this
coordinated, countywide effort. We congratulate Alameda for its leadership as a `green'
city in a `green' county and look forward to the action plans that will lead to better public
health, better quality of life and a more sustainable future.
This CCP campaign is designed to allow local governments to understand how
municipal decisions can be used to mitigate global climate changes while improving
quality of life. Since these decisions will require changes in practice by governments
and citizens, the formation of a Task Force with representatives of selected boards,
commissions and the public is an essential part of the process. The Task Force would
assist in goal setting, developing community action plans, and establishing a process for
broad community involvement.
Through community discussion and grassroots participation in the development of the
City's goals for ICLEI we can raise awareness on issues of global warming,
environmental pollution, resource stewardship and ways we can all participate. We
urge the City to include a strong focus on public participation.
League of Women Voters is ready to work on this effort and serve on groups that are
formed. The League of Women Voters is a national grassroots, nonpartisan, political
organization. Its members -- men and women -- are committed to making democracy
work. The League encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in
government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Our support
of this resolution is based upon work and study of the issues and is reflected in national
and state positions supported by the membership.
Karen Butter
League of Women Voters Alameda, Action Committee
Submitted by Karen Butter at the
7/18/06 Regular Council Meeting
Re: Agenda Item #5 -B
What is a
plug -in car?
In an all- electric car, high performance
batteries store cleaner, cheaper, domestically
produced electricity, and an electric motor
provides propulsion with zero emissions.
Ina plug -in hybrid, more batteries than a
conventional hybrid allow local all - electric,
zero - emission driving with a gasoline
engine for longer distances.
Sounds great! Can I get one?
It's very difficult to find an electric car today.
Carmakers should offer us the choice of
electric cars and plug -in hybrids. The
automakers produced great electric cars to meet
California's Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate
during the '90s. But only a small number of
these electric cars were ever offered For
sale. The auto and oil industries spent
millions lobbying in Sacramento, sued in
federal court and successfully eviscerated
the Mandate, eliminating any real choice for
consumers.
Electric cars are very reliable.
No oil changes, no tune ups. EVs
have fewer than 1 /10th as many
parts as a gas car. No engine,
transmission, spark plugs, valves,
fuel tank, tailpipe, distributor, starter,
clutch, muffler or catalytic converter.
Electric car resources
Who Killed the Electric Car?
Must -see documentary.
In theaters Summer, 2006.
whoki lledtheelectriccar.com
Plug In America/
Electric Auto Association
www.pluginamerica.com www.eaaev.org
CalCars Plug -In Hybrid Project
www.calcars.org www.eaa- phev.org
National Plug -in Hybrid Campaign
www.pluginpartners.org
GM, Honda, Ford and Toyota confiscated and
destroyed thousands of electric cars, despite
offers of cash from satisfied customers. In 2005
as a result of the DontCrush.com campaign to
save electric cars, Ford and Toyota agreed to
stop crushing their great electric cars.
But the automakers still only sell gas cars. The
Electric Auto Association and Plug In America are'
working for the electric choices we want now.
EDRIVE Plug -in Hybrid
www.edrivesystems.com
Plug -In Hybrids: The Cars
that will Recharge America
a book by Sherry Boschert
pre -order at: www.sherryboschert.com
EV World Online Magazine
www.evworld.com
PLUG IN AMERICA
LO
O
www.PlugInAmerica.com
contact: info @pluginamerica.com
Why
Plug -in Cars?
Cleaner, cheaper,
domestic fuel!
Zero emissions!
No noise!
No kidding!
(And no money goes to
gr
dic
Submitted by Marc Geller at the
7/18/06 Regular Council Meeting
Re: Agenda Item #5 -B
FAQ
RAV4 EV
Range: 125 miles
Top Speed: 80 mph (governed)
Weight: 3480 pounds
Motor: 50 kW perm. magnet
Batteries: 24 12 -volt NiMH
Voltage: 288 -volt system
Charger: 220 volts /30 amp;
5 kW inductive
Battery Capacity: 25.9 kWh
EDrive Systems Plug -in Prius
All Electric Range: 50 -60 miles
Top All- Electric Speed: 34 mph (governed)
Weight: 2989 pounds
Motor: 50 kW perm. magnet AC (67 HP)
Batteries: Lithium -ion
Voltage: 201.6 -volt system
Charger: 110 volt /15 amp;
1 kW; 3 -prong plug
Battery Capacity: 9 kWh
• How many miles can the RAV4 EV
go between charges?
The RAV4 EV has a maximum range of
about 125 miles on one full charge, but
you can add charge anytime. In
California, you can charge up at many
shopping centers and public parking lots,
and it's free.
• How many miles can the Plug -in Prius
go on electricity? How fast can it go?
The Edrive plug -in Prius has a maximum all
electric range of 50 to 60 miles. After that,
or over 34 mph, the gasoline engine kicks
in as in the conventional Prius.
• How long to recharge the batteries?
Less than a good night's sleep.
Where do you charge?
Usually in one's garage overnight, but there
are public chargers for electric cars as well
(www.evchargernews.com).
• Is it expensive to charge?
Less than $i to fill a plug -in hybrid;
$2 -4 for an all - electric car.
• Aren't electric cars inefficient?
EVs are the most efficient cars on the road:
Toyota RAV4 EV: 887 BTU /mile
Toyota Prius: 2250 BTU /mile
Toyota RAV4 Gas: 4423 BTU /mile
RAV4 EV rated 112 MPG equivalent.
fuel economy. gov /feg /byfuel /byfueltypeNf.shtml
• Aren't conventional hybrids better?
Maybe for some people. But most people
have access already to electricity. And
electricity is cleaner, cheaper and domestic.
• Isn't hydrogen the solution?
No. Hydrogen fuel cell cars are 4X less
efficient than battery EVs if the hydrogen
is produced from electricity. It's 1.4X less
efficient if made from natural gas. Where
and how will the hydrogen be stored? Who
will pay the billions required for this new
infrastructure? (Hint - us taxpayers.) With
plug -in cars, the infrastructure is already in
place - the electric grid.
• What about the pollution created
making the electricity? Aren't you just
moving the pollution?
No. Even using coal, emissions are lower
with EVs and moving the pollution away
from population centers is a good thing.
But there's more. Utilities have plenty of
excess generating capacity at night which
could charge millions of plug -in cars. While
electricity is getting cleaner and more
renewable every year, even the cleanest
gasoline car becomes ever more polluting.
An electric car, on the other hand, just gets
cleaner over time as the grid gets cleaner.
• Can I charge a plug -in car with solar
or wind power?
Yes, the cleaner the power the cleaner
the car. Putting solar PV on your home or
business makes even more sense with a
plug -in car. The investment pays off faster,
and the car becomes truly zero- emission.
What can I do?
Say no to oil! Tell the automakers and
dealers you won't buy another new car
until you can buy an electric or plug -in
hybrid car. Buy an electric scooter or
bike. Take public transit (lots of
electric!). Bike. Walk. Buy a used
electric conversion (www.evfi nder.com),
or make one. Put solar (photovoltaics)
on your roof.
Sign the pluginpartners.org petition.
Join Plug In America
www.PlugInAmerica.com