RESOLUTION NO. ________
A RESOLUTION OF THE CUPERTINO CITY COUNCIL
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CUPERTINO ADOPTING THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN 2.0 AND CEQA GHG EMISSIONS THRESHOLDS WHEREAS, the Environmental Resources and Sustainability Element of the City of Cupertino’s General Plan Strategy ES-1.1.1 directs the City to “[a]dopt, implement, and maintain a Climate Action Plan to attain greenhouse gas emission targets consistent with state law and regional requirements”; and, WHEREAS, in 2006, the State of California adopted the Global Warming Act of 2006 (Assembly Bill 32), which created a statewide greenhouse gas emissions requirement and goal to reduce emissions to 1990 levels by 2020; and in 2016, California Senate Bill 32 established a new greenhouse gas reduction target of 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030; and, WHEREAS, in January 2014, the Cupertino City Council adopted a Climate Action Plan which put Cupertino on a path to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in response to climate change; and, WHEREAS, in September 2018, the Governor of the State of California issued Executive Order B-55-18, establishing a statewide goal to achieve carbon neutrality as soon as possible, and no later than 2045, and achieve and maintain net negative emissions thereafter; and, WHEREAS, on September 18, 2018, the Cupertino City Council adopted a climate emergency declaration, calling for a mobilization effort to end citywide greenhouse gas emissions as quickly as possible, and recognizes the need for an organized and equitable transition away from fossil fuels used in buildings and transportation; and, WHEREAS, as part of the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 City Work Program, City Council directed staff to prepare an update to the greenhouse gas reduction plan, to be known as the Climate Action Plan 2.0 (CAP 2.0); and, WHEREAS, on November 19, 2020, the Sustainability Commission recommended the City Council direct staff to update the Climate Action Plan with the following goals and vision statement:
Achieve community-wide carbon neutrality no later than the year 2040 Achieve negative net carbon emissions after the year 2045 Achieve carbon neutrality in city-owned facilities and operations no later than the year 2030 Establish a mid-term 2030 carbon emissions target of 50% below a 2010 baseline Establish a Zero Waste Community target date of 2035
Adopt the following vision to guide the update process:
Equity: Activate and celebrate the multiracial character of Cupertino. Take every effort to include traditionally under-represented voices and those who might be displaced by climate hazards in the planning and selection of strategies, as well as business, faith groups, neighborhoods, and schools. Create a plan that reflects the diversity of the city and sets us on a path towards a more welcoming and inclusive City.
Innovation: Develop measures in short-term and long-term action plans that position Cupertino as a leader in climate innovation and technological development, new ways of working and studying, and commit to educating the community on innovative strategies at least once a year.
Urgency and Flexibility: Establish a frequent cadence of updates to the near-term action plans, with the aim to both focus community resources and stay flexible in a fast-moving world. Work with haste commensurate with the Climate Emergency Declaration that Council adopted in 2018 and the unprecedented opportunity that climate and waste plans present to our community by taking bold steps in the early planning horizon.
Resilience and Adaptation: Establish climate adaptation measures such as green infrastructure and protecting biodiversity that keeps Cupertino residents and businesses safe, productive, and happy while climate risks accelerate. And, WHEREAS, the Sustainability Commission established a public outreach subcommittee to organize and review public engagement in the preparation of the CAP 2.0; and WHEREAS, the City organized a series of noticed workshops and public engagement events to obtain direction with respect to the community’s goals regarding the design of emissions reductions strategies within the City; and, WHEREAS, the CAP 2.0 includes a greenhouse gas emission inventory and forecast, analysis and quantification of greenhouse gas reduction measures and targets, and the CAP 2.0 also set forth a general process for implementation, monitoring and reporting of progress, and meaningful community engagement; and, WHEREAS, the CAP 2.0 includes a set of strategies, goals, emission reduction targets, City actions, supporting measures, and adaptation strategies based on regional and local climate planning expertise, the knowledge and experience of City staff and consultants, and the input of the Sustainability Commission, City Council and the public; and, WHEREAS, the GHG Emissions Thresholds and Guidance Report quantifies greenhouse gas emissions thresholds of significance which were created on the basis of the best available science and factual evidence, and provides guidance for future projects to reduce GHG emissions to less-than-significant levels; and, WHEREAS, the CAP 2.0 meets the criteria of Section 15183.5 of the State CEQA Guidelines and therefore is a California Environmental Quality Act Qualified Climate Action Plan; and, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council does hereby Based on the above facts, the City Council makes the following findings:
The adoption of this CAP 2.0 and GHG Emissions Thresholds is consistent with the Cupertino General Plan, and is in the best interests of the public’s convenience and general welfare; and The CAP 2.0 and GHG Emissions Thresholds are consistent with the goals and vision statement recommended by the Sustainability Commission in November 2020; and The following GHG emissions thresholds are applicable to new developments until the year 2030 or when new GHG emissions thresholds are adopted by the City, were developed on the basis of scientific and factual data, reduce future project GHG impacts to a less-than-significant level, are supported by substantial evidence, were developed through a public review process, and are hereby adopted by resolution:
GHG Efficiency Threshold of 0.97 MT of CO2e per resident for residential new development; and GHG Efficiency Threshold of 2.16 MT of CO2e per employee for non-residential new development; and GHG Efficiency Threshold of 1.82 MT of CO2e per service person for mixed-use new development The City Council hereby ADOPTS the Cupertino CAP 2.0 and CEQA GHG Emissions Thresholds PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cupertino this ____day of _________, ____, by the following vote:
Members of the City Council
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
SIGNED:
________
Darcy Paul, Mayor
City of Cupertino
________________________
Date
ATTEST:
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Kirsten Squarcia, City Clerk
________________________
Date
Resolution No. __________________