v . 0 04 P a g e | 1
July 16, 2024
ITEM TITLE
Grant Award: Accept San Diego Community Power Member Agency Grant Funds for Energy and Climate Projects and Amend the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget to Appropriate Funds For Energy and Climate Projects Report Number: 24-0037
Location: No specific geographic location
Department: Economic Development
G.C. § 84308: No
Environmental Notice : The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
Recommended Action
Adopt a resolution accepting $50,000 in grant funds from San Diego Community Power to be used for energy and climate projects and appropriate funds for that purpose. (4/5 Vote Required)
SUMMARY
San Diego Community Power is providing its member agencies, including the City of Chula Vista, a grant of up to $50,000 to be used for clean energy adoption, carbon emissions reduction, climate equity, local economic development, and/or energy resilience projects. Grant funds are administered by the San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative at the University of San Diego and must be expended by grantees within 12 months from the award start date. City staff are proposing to use the Chula Vista Member Agency grant to fund:
Climate Action Plan (CAP) support to complete CAP document design and s upport for Chula Vista Community Based Organiz ations to assist with CAP outreach to support inclusive community engagement that promotes climate equity, and
Expansion of the sustainable toolkit program available at Chula Vista public libraries with procurement of approximately 30 portable battery and 20 solar panel systems for City event use and P a g e | 2
for check-out to community members through the library to increase clean energy awareness, usage, and energy resiliency.
Based on ongoing contract negotiations and product availability , staff has flexibility to make necessary adjustments regarding the use of the grant , but will ensure compliance with grant guidelines, as listed in Attachment 1. Staff will provide a performance and impact update to the Sustainability Commission and City Council after the work related to the grant is complete.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Director of Development Services has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a “Project ” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines because it will not result in a physical change in the environment; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, the activity is not subject to CEQA.
Thus, no environmental review is required.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
Not applicable
DISCUSSION
The City of Chula Vista was a founding member of San Diego Community Power (SDCP), formed in 2019, and fully enrolled Chula Vista accounts community-wide in 2021. SDCP is a Community Choice Aggregator (CCA) that buys electricity for residents and businesses within its member agencies, then partners with San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) to deliver that electricity to SDCP customers. In addition to the City of Chula Vista, current SDCP member agencies include the cities of San Diego, National City, Encinitas, Imperial Beach, La Mesa, and the County of San Diego. SDCP currently serves more than 944,000 accounts and provides a base service of 67% clean energy a nd an option to purchase 100% clean energy (Power100). As part of their community engagement efforts, SDCP is currently accepting applications from member agencies for $50,000 grants.
Grant Programs
As part of SDCP’s community engagement efforts, they launched a community and member agency grant program in 2023. Community grants of up to $45,000 were awarded to the organizations listed below:
Casa Familiar
Climate Action Campaign
Community Housing Works
Environmental Health Coalition
GRID Alternatives
Hammond Climate Solutions
La Mesa Park & Recreation Foundation
MAAC
San Diego Green Building Council
United Women of East Africa
P a g e | 3
SDCP has announced that they will be funding the community grant program again in fiscal year 2024-25.
The Member Agency Grant Program is administered by the University of San Diego, through the San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative, and during fiscal year 2024-25 will provide a $50,000 grant to each member agency. The Program aims to be responsive to critical climate action capacity needs in our region and serve as a catalyst to support SDCP’s seven member agencies (Chula Vista, Encinitas, Imperial Beach, La Mesa, National City, and the City and County of San Diego) in reaching their climate action goal s. Program funds can be used to support initiatives, projects, or programs that advance or promote one or more of the following focus areas:
Clean energy adoption
Carbon emissions reduction
Climate equity
Local economic development
Energy resilience
Grant funds are administered by the San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative at the University of San Diego and must be expended by grantees within 12 months from the award start date. Funds may be used to cover direct and indirect costs incurred by th e project. Grantees will be required to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations.
Proposed Use of Grant Funding:
Anticipated Amount of
Grant Funds Allocated
Description of Proposed Work Grant Focus Areas
$30,000 Climate Action Plan (CAP) support to complete
CAP document design and support for Chula
Vista Community Based Organizations to assist
with CAP outreach to support inclusive
community engagement that promotes climate
equity.
Clean energy
adoption
Carbon emissions
reduction
Climate equity
Energy resilience
$20,000 Expansion of the sustainable toolkit program
available at Chula Vista public libraries with
procurement of approximately 30 portable
battery and 20 solar panel systems for City
event use and for check -out to community
members through the library to increase clean
energy awareness, usage, and energy resiliency.
Clean energy
adoption
Carbon emissions
reduction
Climate equity
Energy resilience
Based on ongoing contract negotiations and product availability , staff has flexibility to make necessary adjustments regarding the use of the grant , but will ensure compliance with grant agreement, as listed in Attachment 2. Staff will provide a performance and impact update to the Sustainability Commission and City Council after the work related to the grant is complete. Where possible staff will utilize the Climate Equity Index (CEI) to prioritize communities within Chula Vista that have been most impacted by pollution, climate change and historical racism. The CEI was created in 2020 with community stakeholders and is an effort to look at environmental and historic disparities within Chula Vista.
P a g e | 4
Staff recommends that Council adopt the proposed resolutio n, which will: 1) accept $50,000 in grant funds from the University of San Diego and appropriate such funds accordingly; 2) authorize the City Manager to enter into and execute any documents necessary to accept and implement this grant; 3) authorize the Ci ty Manager to administer the grant funds in compliance with the Program, including authorization to enter into contracts with third parties to implement or use the grant funds; and 4) authorizes the Finance Director to establish a special interest-bearing account for the Grant funds, if required.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the property holdings of the City Council members and has found no property holdings within 1,000 feet of the boundaries of the property which is the subject of this action. Consequently, this item does not present a disqualifying real property -related financial conflict of interest under Californ ia Code of Regulations Title 2, section 18702.2(a)(7) or (8), for purposes of the Political Reform Act (Cal. Gov’t Code §87100, et seq.). Staff is not independently aware, and has not been informed by any City Council member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision-maker conflict of interest in this matter.
CURRENT-YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this resolution will result in a one -time appropriation of $50,000 to the Supplies and Services category to the Economic Development Section of the Other Grants Fund. Funding from the San Diego Community Power will completely offset these costs, resulting in no net fiscal impact to the General Fund.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
There is no ongoing fiscal impact to the General Fund as a result of applying for and accepting this grant.
ATTACHMENTS
1. SDCP Member Grant Guidelines
2. SDCP Member Grant Agreement
Staff Contacts: Coleen Wisniewski, Environmental Sustainability Manager Cory Downs, Conservation Specialist