FAIRFAX TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM #12
MEETING DATE: August 2, 2023
PREPARED FOR: Mayor and Town Council
PREPARED BY: Sean Youra, Climate Action Coordinator
Paul Whang, Climate Action Fellow
SUBJECT: Receive Climate Action Quarterly Update
RECOMMENDATION
Review the Climate Action Update report.
BACKGROUND
The quarterly Climate Action Update report details progress made by staff in implementing the Town’s Climate Action Plan (CAP).
DISCUSSION
This report details progress made in implementing the CAP since the last report provided to Council on May 3, 2023. The table below details actions taken by staff during the past quarter to implement the CAP and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The applicable measures from the CAP along with the estimated GHG emissions reduction that would result from achieving the targets for each of the applicable measures are provided for reference for each action taken.
Action CAP Measure Estimated
GHG
Emissions
Reduction
in 2030 (in
MTCO2e)
Continued to implement the landscape equipment ordinance and promote the rebate program through the Town’s Landscape Equipment webpage, newsletters, and flyers. Staff also created and sent out postcards to all residents informing them of the landscape equipment ordinance and rebate program. Staff has continued to process and approve rebate applications with 23 total applications approved thus far. An estimated $5,800 in rebate funds still remain.
R-6: Electrify
All Landscape
Equipment
191
Applied for a $2,000 California Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP) rebate reservation for the Ford F-150 Lightning that was ordered for the Town fleet and the rebate will be processed upon delivery of the vehicle. Staff also applied for $4,000 in Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) EV Fleet rebates for the Ford Mustang Mach-e purchased for the Police Department and the Gravely electric riding mower purchased for Public Works.
T-1: Zero
Emission
Vehicles
10,648
I-3: Identify
and Secure
Funding
Sources
N/A
Prepared and submitted the reimbursement request form for the Zero Waste Reimbursement Program and received $28,835 for W-4:
Commercial
537
2 Action CAP Measure Estimated
GHG
Emissions
Reduction
in 2030 (in
MTCO2e)
reimbursement of costs for installing three-stream (i.e., landfill, recycling, and compost) waste bins in all municipal buildings and in downtown Fairfax along Broadway. The reusable steel cups that were given out at the Fairfax Festival were also reimbursed through this program.
Organic
Waste
W-6: Waste
from Town
Operations
and Facilities
23 Staff and Climate Action Committee (CAC) members continued to work with ReadySetReplace (RSR) to promote the Water Heating Electrification Campaign Program to help residents in both Fairfax and San Anselmo get electric-ready and install heat pump water heaters (HPWH). Staff continued to promote the campaign in the Town newsletter, flyers, and information available on the website.
Staff is evaluating the effectiveness of the current outreach strategy and identifying ways to improve engagement. Approximately 40 residents from Fairfax have expressed interest in the program and are going through the process of receiving free assessments from local contractors of their current water heaters to determine when they should be replaced with a HPWH and ensure they are electricready to install such appliances. Additionally, 20 residents have pledged to not make their next water heater a gas water heater.
R-1: Building
and Appliance
Electrification
9,138
E-4: Energy
Efficiency
Programs
1,369
Continued to serve on the Community Resilience Center (CRC) team for the Fairfax Library and participated in BayREN Resilient Libraries Network Pilot meetings. Reviewed the energy assessment report of the Fairfax Library provided by BayREN and provided feedback.
Collaborated on a critical needs exercise for the planned CRC at the Fairfax Library, which included identifying what new building features, programming, partnerships, and additional staff may be needed to support the functions of the CRC during emergency activation and year-round.
R-4:
Renewable
Energy
Generation
and Storage
164
R-7:
Innovative
Technologies
N/A
Submitted a grant application for the PG&E Resilience Hubs program in collaboration with CAC members, councilmembers, Public Works staff, and Ross Valley Fire Department (RVFD) staff for the Pavilion Resilience Hub project. As part of the grant application, potential partnerships were identified to help develop and support the ongoing operation of the Resilience Hub once established. Climate hazard vulnerabilities and populations susceptible to these hazards within Fairfax were also analyzed. A project schedule including planned stakeholder outreach was developed along with a project budget covering the costs for conducting stakeholder outreach and a feasibility study to evaluate design and financing options for the Resilience Hub microgrid. Staff applied for up to $25,000 for a Feasibility Project grant as part of the PG&E program that would help cover a majority of the costs in the proposed project budget. Staff R-4:
Renewable
Energy
Generation
and Storage
164
R-7:
Innovative
Technologies
N/A
O-2:
Community
Outreach
N/A
I-3: Identify
and Secure
N/A
3 Action CAP Measure Estimated
GHG
Emissions
Reduction
in 2030 (in
MTCO2e)
also participated in an interview to promote the Resilience Hub project in the MarinCAN newsletter.
Funding
Sources
Continued to serve on the Marin Countywide Building Electrification Plan Steering Committee to develop a building electrification implementation plan in collaboration with community stakeholders (e.g., contractors, CACs, city staff, utilities, affordable housing developers). The Steering Committee prioritized key components of the Plan including policy/program pathways and incentives, training, and education. Staff presented to the Steering Committee on the RSR Water Heating Electrification Campaign details and progress in getting homeowners to be electric-ready and install HPWHs. Staff also researched other platforms/tools including XeroHome and QuitCarbon that can help streamline the electrification process and make it easier for homeowners to understand how they can upgrade their homes to be more energy efficient and reduce household emissions. These tools will be discussed in the Countywide Building Electrification Plan among other ideas to facilitate and support building electrification. Staff is currently participating in the planning for the upcoming community workshops that will help gather feedback on the policies, programs, and other ideas that should be included in the Countywide Plan.
R-1: Building
and Appliance
Electrification
9,138
O-2:
Community
Outreach
N/A
Developed and published a new Single-Use Foodware webpage that includes details about the recently adopted foodware ordinance and additional resources to assist in compliance.
O-1:
Community
Education
N/A
W-5:
Mandatory
Commercial
Waste
Elimination
and Diversion
N/A
Prepared the FY 2023-24 Climate & Environment department budget along with FY 2022-23 accomplishments and FY 2023-24 goals and objectives. This will provide funding for several new projects and programs to help reduce GHG emissions and much of the costs will be reimbursed through grants and rebates.
I-3: Identify
and Secure
Funding
Sources
N/A
Promoted the induction cooktop loaner program that the CAC is running in the Town newsletter. Promoted the Resilient
Neighborhoods Climate Action Workshops in the Town newsletter as well.
O-1:
Community
Education
N/A
O-2:
Community
Outreach
N/A
Prepared and submitted SB 1383 and other waste-related data to Zero Waste Marin for inclusion in the 2022 CalRecycle Electronic Annual Report (EAR).
N/A N/A
4 Action CAP Measure Estimated
GHG
Emissions
Reduction
in 2030 (in
MTCO2e)
Created and implemented new SB 1383 recordkeeping and organic waste product procurement tracking systems to support compliance with SB 1383 requirements. Created and distributed flyers discussing the SB 1383 regulations including edible food recovery to applicable businesses and posted them on the bulletin boards as part of the Town’s required annual outreach. Updated the SB 1383 webpage on the Town website with new resources and additional information for local education agencies. Staff is currently identifying additional projects to support SB 1383 implementation that would utilize the CalRecycle SB 1383 Local Assistance Grant Program funds that the Town received.
O-1:
Community
Education
N/A
W-3:
Commercial
Edible Food
Recovery
46 W-4:
Commercial
Organic
Waste
537
In addition, staff is continuing to:
• Serve as a staff liaison to the CAC, provide updates on CAP implementation during the CAC monthly meetings, and provide feedback on CAC proposed initiatives. • Identify new climate action funding opportunities and manage existing grant funds (Applicable to CAP Measure O-5: Funding Strategies; Measure I-3: Identify and Secure Funding Sources). • Educate community members about climate action-related incentives, programs, events, and regulations through the Town’s newsletter, social media, website, flyers, etc. (Applicable to CAP Measure O-1: Community Education; Measure O-2: Community Outreach). • Coordinate with MCEP members to discuss and develop plans, policies, programs, and strategies that can assist in CAP implementation across all Marin jurisdictions. • Monitor CAP implementation progress and prioritize projects to meet the CAP goals. • Stay abreast of new climate-related state and federal regulations, technological innovations, and opportunities to further the Town’s climate action efforts.
FISCAL IMPACT
None
ATTACHMENTS
None.