The council discussed possible initiatives to increase recycling rates, such as accepting green-colored glass bottles, and picking up certain kinds of cardboard that are not currently accepted in curbside collection.

“None of us go a week or two without a resident asking why they can’t recycle their wine bottles,” Councilmember Nathan Triplett said.

The climate sustainability plan coincides with the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which originally was signed in 2007 by former East Lansing Mayor Sam Singh, East Lansing Environmental Specialist Dave Smith said. The agreement is a national network of mayors, focusing primarily on the reduction of carbon emissions and slowing climate change.

The city’s objectives include increasing recycling for residential neighborhoods and public buildings, as well as moving toward more efficient light sources, according to the written plan.

City Manager Ted Staton said the city must be careful about where to spend funds in light of the current budget crisis.

“If this is a plan that calls us to be opportunistic, I think it’s a workable plan,” Staton said.

The council also continued longstanding discussions on a proposed snow removal ordinance which would introduce fines for residents who failed to shovel their sidewalks by a certain time after the snowfall.

The ordinance — which has been in the works for more than a year — would introduce a tiered fine system based on the number of times the offender had violated the ordinance in the past, and would be enforced by East Lansing PACE officers.

Councilmember Roger Peters said the ordinance should have a more concrete deadline, such as 8 p.m. or midnight, rather than requiring residents to have their sidewalks shoveled 24 hours after the snow stops.

The city also will create an education program to make sure residents understand the aspects of the ordinance once it is passed, Assistant City Manager Marie McKenna said.