AGENDA ITEM #7
TOWN OF FAIRFAX
STAFF REPORT
October 6, 2022
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Sean Youra, Climate Action Coordinator
SUBJECT: Receive Climate Action Committee Annual Report and Plan __________________________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
Receive the Climate Action Committee (CAC) 2021-2022 Annual Action Report and 2022-2023 Annual Action Plan.
DISCUSSION
The CAC prepared the attached documents for the Town Council’s information that includes the CAC’s progress in accomplishing its prior fiscal year plan and its proposed fiscal year plan for 2022-2023. The CAC also requested that the attached letter from David Moller, Co-Lead of the Marin/Sonoma Building Electrification and Electric Vehicle Squads, be included that recognizes the Council, staff, and the CAC for their climate leadership.
FISCAL IMPACT
None
ATTACHMENTS
A. 2021-2022 Annual Action Report
B. 2022-2023 Annual Action Plan
C. Letter from Marin/Sonoma BE/EV Squad
To: Fairfax Town Council
From: Fairfax Climate Action Committee
Re: 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan Report
Date: June 30, 2022
As required by the Fairfax Climate Action Plan 2030, the Fairfax CAC began to develop its 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan in early 2021 and adopted its Plan in April of 2021, to begin July 1, 2021. The information below documents progress made throughout the fiscal year toward the implementation of that Plan.
Engagement:
• Created a new logo and slogan; and created a tablecloth and new written materials for tabling for the Climate Action Committee
• Shifted ownership of www.climatefx.org to current CAC member, re-designed the website and launched it June 28, 2022 www.fairfaxclimateactioncommittee.org • Created a Fairfax CAC promotional video; posted regularly on Instagram and FacebookFairfax sites; continued weekly blog through March 2022 • Tabled at several local events: Farmer’s Market; Earth Day; Fairfax Ecofest; Toad Jam Concert, etc.
• Encouraged Mayor Stephanie Hellman to join Climate Mayors, a nation-wide network of climate conscious mayors that share ideas and strategies such as cooperative purchasing which provides discounts on fleet EVs, charging stations, various kinds of equipment, etc., which she did
• Worked with 2 college interns during the Spring-Summer of 2022 who supported the implementation of the CAC, funded by 350Marin.org
Transportation:
• Drafted a Town Fleet Electrification ordinance, passed on to staff October 19, 2021 • Supported the Town’s purchase of an all-electric Ford F-150 Truck and a Ford all-electric Mach E Mustang
• Worked closely with Ride & Drive Clean—in support of three local RDC EV Car Shows held in Marin in March and April and promoted all RDC webinars through the Town newsletter and the climatefx.org website
• Generated a list of current public chargers in town and proposed possible locations for additional chargers for the public
• Supported the promotion of the free/discounted public transit pilot for older adults that was offered through March 31, 2022
• Supported the number of EVs in Fairfax going from 5 to 6% of all vehicles • Reached out to Tesla three times to be considered as a site for a level 3 charger, without response
• Researched and created a contact sheet for outreach to the two local gas stations to approach them with the idea to transition to refueling stations that include EV charging
ATTACHMENT A
• Drafted outline for Carbon Friendly Transportation Campaign, a public awareness campaign that promotes commuting by ferry, bike, bus, ridesharing • Located an informational 30 page EV Policy Toolkit for electrifying transportation in municipalities, which has a multitude of community outreach ideas and case studies showing different strategies by different towns, including a downloadable funding guidebook.
• Requested that the Town Council bring the Bike & Pedestrian Plan back to its agenda in 2022
Built Environment (aka Building Energy)
• Moved the Pavilion electrification project along: Equipment room being cleaned out; Dcbel inverter hopefully close to being available; Budget allocated for the Pavilion inverter & battery & integrated EV charger.
• Researched the replacement of the gas stove in the Women’s Club and the replacement of the gas furnace with a heat pump system; induction stove close to being purchased and electrical wiring in place.
• Ongoing exploration of Town buildings electrical has been done: Near-term priority is to add EV chargers for the Town’s two new electric vehicles, that would be generatorbacked and eventually part of the Microgrid. • Staff-driven electrification of all (5) town hot water heaters is ongoing • Proposed and supported the successful passage of an All-Electric for New Buildings ordinance, effective March 1, 2022
• Held two informational sessions on new CalGREEN regulations; with CBSB for nonresidential buildings on March 15, 2022 and with DCHD for residential buildings on June 13, 2022
• Researched and proposed to staff and Town Council a revision to the All-Electric ordinance to include substantial remodels and the discontinuation of natural gas lines in Town by 2030
• Presented an All-Electric Landscape Equipment draft ordinance to staff/Town Council members for consideration, discussion in May and first reading in June for possible adoption in July 2022
Fairfax Climate Action Committee
Annual Action Plan 2022-23
July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023 Adopted April 2022; Edited August 16, 2022 The Climate Action Committee annually reviews our Climate Action Plan goals and strategies to create an action plan for the next year; priorities are in red Engagement:
• Recruit new members, including youth and underrepresented residents (age, race, income, etc.) • Community Education & Outreach (O-1, O-2): For the community at large, broaden awareness and understanding of the Climate Action Committee--its goals, actions and incentives for this fiscal year and our goal of zero emissions by 2030--through various marketing and communication channels: town newsletter and town events, flyers, tabling, social media (Instagram, Twitter, Town’s Facebook, etc.), and via partner organizations; Use our new promotional video as a communication opportunity
• Keep the new CAC website updated and ensure content is accurate and relevant • Funding Strategies (O-5): Identify partnerships within Town with like-minded organizations to work together to achieve net zero by 2030
Transportation:
• EV Infrastructure (T-1): Generate list of current and proposed EV charging stations-increase by at least 5 (at schools, workplace, multifamily, etc.) - $5K; Develop a strategy for EV charging for Police and Public Works vehicles; Initiate a pilot program of 5 orange outlets to a multi-unit site in Fairfax - $1,500; Pass a ban or moratorium on new gas stations and the expansion of existing gas stations – and support a transition to “fueling stations” • No Idle Campaign (T-7): Research and initiate a no idling campaign throughout Town - $500 • Zero Emissions Vehicles (T-1): Increase visibility and awareness of EVs through education and local/Ross Valley and Ride & Drive Clean events - $1K; Track ownership numbers of new EVs and share data with the community
• Mobility Options (T-2, T-5): Increase visibility and awareness of E-bikes through education and local/Ross Valley and Ride & Drive Clean events; Create a local incentive/rebate program for E-bike purchases - $5K; Track ownership numbers, if possible, of new E-bikes and share data with the community; Encourage carpooling, ride-sharing, transit and telecommutingworking at home or in collective spaces (such as Indie Alley) etc.; Monitor and increase TAM’s electrification of its transit and school buses
• Town Fleet Electrification (T-1): adopt a resolution or ordinance, and replace 1-2 ICE vehicles with ZEV as soon as possible
Built Environment:
• Municipal Building & Appliance Electrification (R-2): Continue to support the Town to electrify the Pavilion as part of its renovation including figuring out the stove issue and deployment of battery backup and bi-directional Level 3 EV Charger. Also improve lighting, water heating, etc. for efficiency and usability - $25K; Participate in ad-hoc working group, if created by the Town, to work with staff to keep multiple “pavilion-related” projects on track;
ATTACHMENT B
Add insulation and heat pump to Women’s Club - $50K; Implement Internal price on carbon for Town emissions only - $5K
• Appliance Electrification (R-1): Study and make recommendations on equipment replacement, sale of building, etc. (continued from 2021-2022)
• Electrify Landscape Equipment (R-6): Work with council to pass All-electric ordinance for landscape equipment
• Building Electrification (R-1, E-1): Work with council to pass All-Electric ordinance for Substantial remodels; Work with council and staff to Adopt Cal Green Tier 2 building code; Work with council to pass 2045, or if possible 2030 requirement for all buildings to be allelectric • Renewable Energy Generation & Storage (R-4): Consider upgrade of PV on Pavilion roof, and additional PV in other location(s) on Town Government block • Phase Out Use of Fossil-Fuel Generators (R-5): Study alternatives and make recommendation on non-combustion backup power for all buildings (residence, commercial, Town) during PSPs or other outages; study what other cities are doing and maybe strengthen; use Pavilion as an example (continued from 2021-2022)
• Innovative Technologies (R-7): Create and publicize a ‘quiver’ of financial tools such as rebates for Town and Residents to use for weatherization/decarbonization projects • Enable and educate residents on adoption of demand management measures July 1, 2022
RE: Recognition for Taking Actions to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions Dear Fairfax Town Council, Staff and Fairfax Climate Action Committee:
This is to recognize and commend the Town of Fairfax for the many leading actions it has taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These actions include adoption of its Climate Action Plan 2030 in July 2021 and Climate Emergency Resolution in March 2019, which several other Marin jurisdictions have used as models, adoption of Marin’s first all-electric ordinance for new buildings effective March 2022, purchasing Marin’s first all-electric police cruiser, and committing to achieve zero net emissions by 2030 – the first Marin jurisdiction to do so.
These actions benefit not only the residents of Fairfax, but all residents of Marin County as well as raising the bar and inspiring other Marin jurisdictions to follow. We are in a climate emergency, and only by taking bold actions, both individually and collectively, can we avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
Thank you, Fairfax Town Council, Staff and Fairfax Climate Action Committee, for your climate leadership!
Sincerely,
David Moller, P.E.
Co-Lead, Marin/Sonoma Building Electrification Squad
Co-Lead, Marin/Sonoma Electric Vehicle Squad
Cc (via email):
Stephanie Hellman, Mayor, Town of Fairfax
Heather Abrams, Town Manager, Town of Fairfax
Jody Timms, Chair, Fairfax Climate Action Committee
Katie Rice, President, Marin County Board of Supervisors
ATTACHMENT C
MARIN ~ ONOMA
Building Electrification
SQUAD
MARI N ~ ONOMA
Electric Vehicle
SQUAD