FAIRFAX TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM #10
DATE September 6, 2023
PREPARED FOR Mayor and Town Council
PREPARED BY Sean Youra, Climate Action Coordinator
SUBJECT Receive Climate Action Committee Annual Report and Plan
RECOMMENDATION
Receive the Climate Action Committee (CAC) 2022-2023 Annual Action Report and 2023-2024 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 2023-2024.
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 Town Council, staff, and the CAC for their climate leadership.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
ATTACHMENTS
A. 2022-2023 Annual Action Report
B. 2023-2024 Annual Action Plan
C. Letter from Marin/Sonoma BE/EV Squad
To: Fairfax Town Council
From: Fairfax Climate Action Committee
Re: 2022-2023 Annual Action Plan Report
Date: 8.20.23
As required by the Fairfax Climate Action Plan 2030 (I-1), the Fairfax CAC began to develop its 2022-2023 Annual Action Plan in early 2022 and adopted its Plan in April of 2022, to officially get underway on July 1, 2022. The information below documents progress made toward the implementation of that Annual Action Plan throughout the fiscal year, ending June 30, 2023.
Engagement:
• Supported the work of Climate Action Coordinator staff member Sean Youra in reaching out to the community via the Town newsletter, providing copy for landscape equipment, electrification rebates, induction cooktop loaner program, etc. • Worked with the Town Clerk to bring to the Town Council Resolution 22-79 on October 6, 2022 to amend the membership and terms of the Committee; changing terms from 4 years to 2 years, and amending membership to “number at least five and no more than seven voting members…” resulting in the recruitment of three new members: Patrick Costello, Sheryl Shakeshaft; Liz Gottlieb. We also said farewell to 7 previous members:
Walt Vernon, Mitch Greer, Beth Verdekal, Stephanie Hellman, David Haskell, Kiki LaPorta and Kelly Newman.
• Tabled numerous times at several local venues (Good Earth Market; Mill Valley Community Center; Town Baseball Field, etc.), speaking with the pubic and encouraging support for Fairfax Climate Action Plan 2030 initiatives. Numerous educational flyers were generated (Heat Pumps, Landscape Equipment, Fire Season, Induction Cooking, etc.)
• Produced two events, both entitled, “Saving Money by Going Electric,” on April 16th at the Women’s Club and on May 10th at the Fairfax Library; Chair participated in a panel at the library on Emergency Preparedness, Climate Action and Age Friendly Ross Valley on Jan 6, 2023.
• Organized a “Climate Action Now” entry for the Fairfax Parade, with two EVs, several bikes, and a new banner, along with many members of several environmental/climate groups: the Fairfax Climate Action Committee, the San Anselmo Climate Action Commission, 350Marin, Resilient Neighborhoods, Zero Waste Marin, Sustainable Marin, the Climate Center, Citizen’s Climate Lobby, Supervisor Katie Rice, etc. • Worked with 2 college interns during the months of July-Aug 2022, and 2 interns in May-June 2023 who supported the implementation of the Annual Action Plan, and were sponsored and funded by 350Marin.org; one was funded through the University of Chicago
Transportation:
• Worked closely with Ride & Drive Clean and the San Anselmo Climate Action Commission in planning an EV & E-Bike Show for the summer of 2023 • Beginning last Fall, encouraged the Planning Commission (10.27.22) and the Town Council to pass an ordinance banning the expansion of existing gas stations and the creation of any new stations; after several revisions to the document the first and final reading is still pending
• In support of a Bidirectional resolution, invited a speaker from the Climate Center to educate the CAC and assisted in the development of (an eventual) proclamation approved by the Town Council
• Supported the Town in the purchase of a Chevy Mach-E electric vehicle, and in the ordering of a Ford F-150 Lightning truck (other models now under consideration) • Encouraged the acquisition of 2-3 new EV chargers for the Town’s new electric vehicles • Began research to implement the Orange Outlet Pilot EV charging program; reaching out to numerous MUDs and apartment building owners, including low-income, older adult housing facilities Bennett House and Victory Village in an effort to identify interested property owners
• Supported the promotion of the free public transit summer program 2023 for youth beginning June 1st
• Reached out to Tesla three times to be considered as a site for a level 3 charger, without response
• Requested that the Town Council bring the Bike & Pedestrian Plan back to its agenda in 2022
Built Environment
• Supported the development and eventual adoption of an All-Electric Landscape Equipment ordinance to the Town Council in July 2022
• Regarding the Green Building Reach Codes, CAC supported the staff and Town Council in being the first municipality in Marin to adopt the flex compliance path for singlefamily remodels that will incentivize electrification and energy efficiency, along with the expanded EV charging requirements
• Drafted a community survey on electrification which has not yet been distributed • Encouraged Council and the community to attend the Marin Green Homes virtual tour in October 2022
• Created a website portal with information about local, State, and federal rebate and tax credit incentives for electrification
• Collaborated with key partners in establishing the ReadySetReplace Heat Pump Water Heater pilot program; as of the last update, about 40 residents had signed up for the program and 20 had pledged to not make their next water heater a gas appliance • Created a community Resiliency Survey in English and Spanish on the development of resiliency hubs in Fairfax at the Pavilion and Library to gather community input; promoted it through the town newsletter which garnered over 70 responses • Participated in the collaborative process to apply to BayREN for the Fairfax Library to become a resilience hub, writing a letter of support and once granted, have worked ongoing within the team to move the project forward via regular meetings and discussions
• Participated in the Pavilion Electrification/Microgrid project to assess readiness • Supported the purchase of an induction stove (replacing the gas stove) in the Women’s Club and initiated a portable induction cooktop loaner program for the community • Encouraged the replacement of the gas furnace with a heat pump system and other energy efficiency initiatives for the Women’s Club
• Supported the staff-driven replacement of all five town hot water heaters with heat pump technology
Fairfax Climate Action Committee
Annual Action Plan 2023-24
July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024 Adopted April 18, 2023
An “annual action plan” is created by the committee each Spring after reviewing the goals and strategies of the master document, the “Fairfax Climate Action Plan 2030” #1 Engagement:
• Continue to recruit new members and increase visibility of the CAC including via its website
• Plan 4/quarterly events to promote CAC initiatives and support other relevant local events
• Continue to promote to the community funding strategies including rebates/incentives (i.e., portal tool)
• Research communication tools to provide metrics to the community-use of gas/electricity, # of EVs, etc.
#2 Transportation:
• Host an EV and E-Bike Show in Fairfax in August 2023
• Promote an E-Bike Incentive/Rebate Program
• Launch Orange Outlet program at local MUD or Victory Village/Bennett House • Support Town Council to encourage TAM’s electrification of its transit and school buses • Promote low-income/free transit programs and other mobility options: ride-sharing, telecommuting, etc.
#3 Built Environment: • Support development of a countywide plan for the Electrification of Existing Buildingspossibly recommend ordinance at time of changeout, to be phased in over several years • Research requiring energy/disclosure requirements for property at time of sale; and for major remodels
• Continue involvement in and support of the Fairfax Library Resilience BayREN Project with the County
#4 Sequestration: • Support County’s carbon sequestration through composting plan
5.18.23 August 22, 2023
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 during FY2022-2023 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Of particular note are Fairfax’s adoption of its flex compliance pathway ordinance for single family remodels that will incentivize electrification and energy efficiency along with expanded EV charging requirements, adoption of its all-electric landscape equipment ordinance, and its bidirectional EV proclamation.
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):
Chance Cutrano, Mayor, Town of Fairfax
Heather Abrams, Town Manager, Town of Fairfax
Jody Timms, Chair, Fairfax Climate Action Committee
Stephanie Moulton-Peters, President, Marin County Board of Supervisors