FAIRFAX TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM #13
MEETING DATE: November 1, 2023
PREPARED FOR: Mayor and Town Council
PREPARED BY: Sean Youra, Climate Action Coordinator
SUBJECT: Receive Climate Action Department Quarterly Update
RECOMMENDATION
Receive 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 August 2, 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. Continued to process and approve rebate applications with 26 total applications approved thus far. An estimated $5,300 in rebate funds remain.
R-6: Electrify
All Landscape
Equipment
191
Submitted a combined MCE and TAM rebate reservation form for installing EV chargers in the Town Hall parking lot for Town vehicle use. A total of $19,500 in rebates has been reserved for this project that will be issued to the Town upon project completion. The total project cost is estimated at $38,196 that includes electrical panel upgrades at the Public Works building to provide sufficient power to the chargers.
T-1: Zero
Emission
Vehicles
10,648
I-3: Identify
and Secure
Funding
Sources
N/A
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). Promoted the campaign in the Town R-1: Building
and Appliance
Electrification
9,138
2 Action CAP Measure Estimated
GHG
Emissions
Reduction in
2030 (in
MTCO2e)
newsletter, flyers, and information available on the website. Explored opportunities to streamline the overall electrification process for homeowners and innovative funding options to lower the upfront installation costs for electric appliances. Updated the Town’s Green Building webpage with new content to help homeowners and renters plan for electrification.
E-4: Energy
Efficiency
Programs
1,369
O-1:
Community
Education
N/A
O-5: Funding
Strategies
N/A
Continued to serve on the Community Resilience Center (CRC) team for the Fairfax Library. Reviewed applicable funding opportunities for the CRC project with one of BayREN’s technical advisors as part of the Resilient Libraries Network Pilot, primarily focusing on infrastructure-related grants. The library’s focus in terms of energy upgrades is to install LED lighting and replace the gas HVAC system with a heat pump before considering installing a solar PV + battery energy storage system. They are also planning on installing 2 -4 EV chargers in the parking lot that would be open to the public.
R-4:
Renewable
Energy
Generation
and Storage
164
R-7:
Innovative
Technologies
N/A
I-3: Identify
and Secure
Funding
Sources
N/A
Facilitated meetings of the Pavilion Resilience Hub project group including a discussion of the microgrid study prepared by an electrical engineering consultant and how the various Town-owned buildings could be connected through multiple microgrids. Prepared a critical needs exercise for the Resilience Hub project and met with the project team to discuss what new building features, programming, partnerships, and additional staff may be needed to support the functions of the Resilience Hub during emergency activation and year-round. Researched additional grant opportunities for the project, in addition to the PG&E Resilience Hub grant that staff already applied for.
R-4:
Renewable
Energy
Generation
and Storage
164
R-7:
Innovative
Technologies
N/A
I-3: Identify
and Secure
Funding
Sources
N/A
Continued to serve on the Marin Countywide Building Electrification Plan Steering Committee to develop a building electrification plan/roadmap in collaboration with community stakeholders. Helped facilitate two stakeholder workshops organized by County staff that had over 45 attendees at each one representing contractors, utilities, government staff, realtors, environmental advocates, affordable housing developers, etc. from across the County. Valuable feedback was received during these workshops that will be incorporated into the building electrification plan. Reviewed the residential and R-1: Building
and Appliance
Electrification
9,138
O-2:
Community
Outreach
N/A
3 Action CAP Measure Estimated
GHG
Emissions
Reduction in
2030 (in
MTCO2e)
commercial building inventories for Fairfax that were developed by Christine O’Rourke, which include insightful information on gas use in buildings, estimated age of the buildings, the estimated number of different appliances that will need to be electrified broken out by housing type, and other factors that will be incorporated into the building electrification plan.
Promoted the Resilient Neighborhoods Climate Action Workshops in the Town newsletter. Helped organize and promote the EV and Ebike show that was held in Fairfax in partnership with the Town of San Anselmo and Ride and Drive Clean. Ride and Drive Clean estimated that 200-300 people attended the EV and E-bike show. Of those that participated in the event survey, over 45% said they planned to purchase an EV over the next 24 months and 29% said they already drove an EV. Promoted the Marin Green Home Tour (that the Town is sponsoring again) and webinars hosted by the County covering home energy improvement projects such as installing heat pump water heaters and solar + battery storage.
O-1:
Community
Education
N/A
O-2:
Community
Outreach
N/A
Researched various e-bike rebate programs currently offered by local governments/agencies along with the e-bike incentive program funded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that will be available to California residents. This research will be compiled and analyzed to support the development of an e-bike rebate program that could be administered by Town staff and initial funding for this type of program has already been allocated in the FY 2023-24 Town budget.
T-2: Bicycling 25
Approved waivers issued by Marin Sanitary Service (MSS) for Fairfax businesses that qualified for an exemption from complying with SB 1383 requirements. Collaborated with MSS staff on how to handle enforcement of non-compliant organic waste generators to ensure they enroll in organics collection service. Updated the Town’s SB 1383 Local Assistance grant budget to include new potential programs such as ordering kitchen compost bins that would be made available to residents that need them and allocating additional funds towards procurement of compost and mulch to assist in meeting the Town’s required procurement targets. Trained on how to use the ArcGIS Recovered Organics Procurement and Distribution Tracker developed by PlaceWorks that will be used to identify opportunities for using compost/mulch within Fairfax and countywide, and can be used to track how much compost/mulch has been applied on an annual basis along with associated costs.
W-1:
Residential
Organic
Waste and
Waste
Diversion
1,201
W-4:
Commercial
Organic
Waste
537
Presented the Marin Countywide EV Acceleration Strategy to the Town Council and began developing a work plan to prioritize selected strategies for implementation. Drafted a Fleet ZeroT-1: Zero Emission
Vehicles
10,648
4 Action CAP Measure Estimated
GHG
Emissions
Reduction in
2030 (in
MTCO2e)
Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) policy in collaboration with Public Works and other departments that is compliant with the Advanced Clean Fleets regulation adopted by the CARB and aligned with the recommended strategies in the Marin EV Acceleration Strategy and the Town’s Climate Action Plan. Updated the Town’s fleet vehicle inventory spreadsheet to include fields that will be required to report to CARB starting in April 2024 and determine how many fleet vehicles will be subject to the Advanced Clean Fleets regulation.
T-2: Bicycling 25
T-9:
Renewable
Carbon Fuels
105
In addition, staff is continuing to:
• Serve as a staff liaison to the Climate Action Committee (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