Councilman Kevin McCarty wants the city government to make it easier for residents to be environmentally conscious. Environmental programs — one program focused on energy efficiency measures and another on water conservation — are among his top three priorities for the year.

At the same time, McCarty is emphasizing the importance of the city’s looming budget gap. He said the city budget will be his first priority for 2010. City leaders made major cuts to local services when they closed out last year’s $50 million budget deficit.

“The budget is probably the single most important act that we do every year that affects ... the quality of life in our neighborhoods,” McCarty said.

The city should examine possible ways to increase revenues and set up efficiencies and consolidations in order to save money, he said.

While the city should keep public safety as its top budget priority, “we also can’t eviscerate other programs,” he said.

McCarty represents neighborhoods that include Fruitridge Manor, Tahoe Park and Colonial Village. He is running for Assemblyman Dave Jones’ seat against his colleague, Councilwoman Lauren Hammond, and Sacramento County Supervisor Roger Dickinson.

McCarty’s second priority for the year will be to advance two of his environmental programs. One of his programs, which received $740,000 in federal stimulus funds in November, would let homeowners and businesses fund energy efficiency improvements at their properties over a period of years. The cost of the upgrades would be charged to participants through their property taxes. McCarty plans to start the program this spring.

In addition, he said he is starting work on a plan to provide residents with incentives to lessen the amount of water they use for landscaping.

“I think that we as a city ought to be helping people do their part,” McCarty said. He noted that he believes in Mahatma Gandhi’s sentiment that people can “be the change” they hope will occur.

McCarty’s third priority will be programs at parks. The San Francisco Giants selected a park in his district, the George Sim Community Center, to receive grant funding, he said. The baseball team is providing money to upgrade the park’s baseball fields, according to McCarty. Sacramento’s Junior Giants play at the baseball fields at the park.

“We’re going to really have these top-notch, brand new baseball fields for a league that I created out there about five years ago,” he said.

McCarty is also working to set up a community garden at Tahoe Elementary School. The community garden could be used by the public when school is not in session, he said. He plans to put funds from cell towers toward the community garden project.

McCarty mentioned that he’s also working to set up parks at the Fruitridge Manor and East Tahoe Park neighborhoods.

The Sacramento Press is publishing a series on the 2010 goals of City Council members. Read about Councilwoman Lauren Hammond’s goals for the year here. Steve Cohn’s 2010 goals can be read here.

Photos by Anthony Bento.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.