STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: June 14, 2022
To: Honorable Mayor & City Council
From: Robert Welch PE, Utilities General Manager
Josette Descalzo, Environmental Compliance and Sustainability Programs Manager
Subject: Climate Action And Adaptation Plan Update
Attachments: None
INTRODUCTION
This report presents an update on the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) project. The CAAP project has progressed significantly with the completion of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory and forecast and the guidance from the Community Advisory Committee (CAC). The CAC has had several discussions of GHG and vulnerability measures and there have been several community engagement events promoting climate action leading to the completion of the GHG emissions inventory and forecast.
DISCUSSION
The City of Beverly Hills is in the process of adopting its first Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP). The goal of the CAAP is for Beverly Hills to achieve carbon- neutrality by 2045.
The Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) project began in early 2021, with data gathering and analyses in order to complete the community’s 2015 and 2019 GHG emissions inventory and forecast. The 2015 GHG emissions inventory was intended to be the baseline and the 2019 GHG emissions inventory is intended to see if there are changes (increase or decrease) in the community’s emissions. Data to produce the inventory came from the community’s energy (electrical and natural gas) consumption, transportation, solid waste and water consumption. In addition, an inventory was completed to include all City operations (municipal inventory).
The reporting and calculation of GHG emissions are consistent with the recommendations of ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives -
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Meeting Date: June 14, 2022
Local Governments for Sustainability), and the emissions were organized into four sectors: energy, transportation, water and wastewater and solid waste.
Summary of the 2015 and 2019 Beverly Hills Community-wide GHG Inventory Results
The 2015 and 2019 community-wide GHG inventories provide the total GHG emissions resulting from activities occurring within or attributable to the community within the City of Beverly Hills. In 2015, the City generated approximately 452,956 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions (MT CO2e). The results of the 2015 community GHG inventory show the transportation and energy sector GHG emission sources generated nearly equivalent total GHG emissions, contributing 47% and 48% respectively, to the 2015 GHG emissions total. Solid waste and water and wastewater emissions combined are less than 4% of the community emission. In 2019, the City generated approximately 406,656 MT CO2e. The City of Beverly Hills 2019 community GHG emissions were largely dominated by the transportation sector emission sources generating 50% of the City’s total GHG emissions, with energy being the second largest source, generating 45% of the City’s total GHG emissions. Solid waste and water and wastewater emissions accounted for less than 5% of the community emissions. Overall, the 2015 and 2019 GHG inventory showed the community had seen a 10% reduction of GHG emissions. The reduction is attributed to energy reduction and efficiencies through technology and City participation in the Clean Power Alliance (CPA) program where residents and businesses are using 50% renewable electricity. Figure 1 illustrates the reduction.
Figure 1
Beverly Hills Community-wide GHG Emissions Reduction between 2015 and 2019 The 2019 GHG inventory results also showed that the transportation and energy sectors make up the majority of the community GHG emissions. In order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045, the City will need to prioritize GHG reduction measures that would be focusing on to address these two sectors. Figure 2 illustrates the breakdown of GHG emissions.
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Meeting Date: June 14, 2022
Figure 2.
2019 Beverly Hills GHG Emissions Inventory Results
A detailed GHG inventory report was presented to the Public Works, Planning and Traffic and Parking Commissions in 2021. The inventory results were also used as foundational information for the CAAP’s Community Advisory Committee’s (CAC) discussion and the development of GHG measures.
Development and Progress of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) The formation of the CAC was presented to City Council as a Study Session Informational Item (C-item) during the June 1, 2021, meeting. The intent of forming the CAC is to have active community members engaged in a more focused setting, in the development of the CAAP. The report indicated that the CAC will be a fifteen (15) seat committee comprised of ten (10) commissioners (two from each commission), from Public Works, Planning, Traffic and Parking, Recreation and Parks and Health and Safety Commissions and five (5) general at large community members. City Council appointed the members of the CAC during its September 21, 2021, City Council meeting. The CAC was initially scheduled to meet a total of four meetings during the CAAP process.
The CAC first convened on October 19, 2021, at its kick off meeting. During that meeting, the CAC was introduced to the goals of the CAAP and the CAC’s role in the development of the CAAP. The CAC’s role consists of the following:
1. Represent the community in the CAAP process.
2. Deeper understanding of climate change and GHG emissions-related issues in Beverly Hills.
3. Inform and engage the community on CAAP topics.
4. Participate and raise awareness about the CAAP’s community engagement opportunities.
5. Develop strategies to reduce GHG emissions and improve resilience towards climate change.
6. Provide consensus recommendations to commissions and City Council in the CAAP process.
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Meeting Date: June 14, 2022
In that meeting, committee chairs were also elected by other CAC members to comply with the Brown Act requirements for committee for virtual meetings. Commissioners Peter Ostroff of the Planning Commission and Wendy Nystrom of the Public Works Commission were elected as co-chairs of the CAC.
Thus far, the CAC has held a total of five meetings and with the anticipation to have a few more before the completion of the CAAP in early 2023. Agendas and staff reports for all the CAC meetings are posted in Granicus and at:
www.beverlyhills.org/CAAPCommittee. Agendas for CAC meetings are set by staff and the CAC co-chairs. Early meetings of the CAC focused on introducing the CAC members to the City’s current sustainability programs and operations, policies and projects. The City’s shuttle program and the solid waste program and waste stream processes are a few examples of topics in the early meetings. A set of sustainability-related background information has been posted in the CAAP website: www.beverlyhills.org/BHCAAP under “Resources.” The CAC also discussed key parts of the CAAP, which are:
1. GHG Emissions Baseline, Inventory and Forecast
2. Emissions Goals and Time Frames
3. Framework towards setting GHG measures
Due to the complexity of developing GHG measures for Beverly Hills, the CAC created four Ad-Hoc committees to further examine and propose GHG measures for the general CAC’s consideration. These Ad-hocs are:
1. Transportation Ad-Hoc
2. Solid Waste and Water Ad-Hoc
3. Energy and Building Ad-Hoc
4. Community Outreach Ad-Hoc
The ideas and discussion from these Ad-Hoc committees have helped staff and consultants developed a focus list of GHG measures for the general CAC to consider.
The CAC will be reviewing the latest iterations of these measures in the upcoming monthly meeting on June 27, 2022.
The CAC was also introduced to the climate change vulnerability assessment of Beverly Hills. The CAC is in general agreement with the assessment that Beverly Hills will be experiencing additional climate hazards that may affect the City’s infrastructure, water resources and vulnerable population. In the upcoming monthly meetings, the CAC will be introduced to the climate change vulnerability measures that would help the City manage the effects of climate change.
Community Engagement Process
The CAAP project has been introduced to the majority of City commissions. The GHG inventory and forecast subject was introduced to the Public Works, Planning and Traffic and Parking Commissions in late 2021.
The formation and the convening of the CAC has been critical to the community engagement process. The Community Outreach Ad-Hoc of the CAC has provided valuable feedback the City will need to expand its messaging to inform the community of Meeting Date: June 14, 2022
the many sustainability programs and initiatives currently underway. It will also assist in suggesting additional climate action events and challenges to further engage the community. Staff and CAC members have worked together to advertise the CAAP booth during this past Earth Day event. The CAAP booth was active throughout the day where community members were informed about the project and provided their input as to what GHG measures they prefer the City to prioritize in the CAAP.
In addition, the first CAAP Community Engagement meeting occurred virtually on May 25, 2022. Staff promoted this event through multiple avenues ranging from social media posts, newspaper ads, email blasts to Beverly Hills School District contacts, community members and through other CAC members. The first community event is intended to introduce the CAAP to the general community, present the GHG emissions inventory and discuss high-level GHG measures. Another community meeting will be scheduled in Winter 2022, when the draft plan is expected to be completed.
Lastly, the City will host a climate action movie night at Roxbury Park Community Center on July 20, 2022. The event will have several sustainability related organizations and the movie screening of Ice on Fire™, followed by a panel discussion.
NEXT STEPS
The CAAP project with the GHG measures and climate change vulnerability measures subjects are scheduled to be presented to various commissions after the CAC completes its discussion in their June meeting. Staff is planning to present the same topics to the commissions during the Summer and Fall of 2022 and the Draft CAAP plan in Winter 2022. When the draft plan has been recommended by the Public Works, Planning and Traffic and Parking Commissions, staff intends to present it to City Council in Winter 2022, with anticipated adoption by early 2023.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact.
RECOMMENDATION
The report is to inform City Council of the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) progress.
Shana Epstein, Director of Public Works
Approved By