Sonoma County Asthma Coalition

1
Sonoma County Asthma Coalition

• Addressing Local Diesel Pollution
• With
• Refuse Hauling Vehicles

2
Overview of Current Situation

• Garbage Trucks run on diesel drive and idle
  through neighborhoods daily.
• When City of Santa Rosa renewed Garbage Hauling
  Contract, it looked for vendors who offered
  alternative fuel conversion.
• North Bay Corporation (NBC) won contract and
  agreed to convert its 33 vehicles by 2006
  (beginning of contract with the City).
• American Lung Association was already serving as
  a watchdog to make sure NBC started process of
  conversion, but needed more person-power to be
  effective.

3
GOALS for ADVOCACY

• Change in practice of how city council negotiates
  and monitors contracts with companies that commit
  to alternative fuel vehicle use.
• Change in NBCs behavior and accountability
  towards the community and city council.

4
STRATEGIES for EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY

• Internally developed clear goals indicators of
  success.
• Chose first project as doable in our timeline.
• Allied with scientists/industry leaders who can
  address complex issues.
• Play the role of expert, offering resources and
  tools.
• Chose to work within negotiation process.
• One point of contact.
• Plan for EVERY interaction.
• Used Emailing and Mailing, rather than phone
  calls to make City Council more accountable to
  respond in a timely manner.

5
CHALLENGES

• Challenge Getting a consistent seat at the
  negotiation table.
• Challenge City Council members not educated
  about the technical nature of the conversation.
• Challenge Stalling and misstatements on the
  behalf of refuse hauling company.

6
OTHER TOOLS for ADVOCACY

• Media Campaign, as big or as small as you need.
  Can start with letters to the editor, seeking out
  a reporter, or calling into local radio shows,
  etc.
• Use Upcoming Elections to get out the word on the
  issue. Talk to candidates about supporting this
  issue.