City of Sacramento
City Council - 5PM Report
915 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2023-00345 5/2/2023 Discussion Item 31.
Quarterly Climate Update
File ID: 2023-00345
Location: Citywide
Recommendation: Receive and comment.
Contact: Jennifer Venema, Climate Action Lead, (916) 808-1859, [email protected], Office of the City Manager
Presenter: Jennifer Venema, Climate Action Lead, (916) 808-1859, [email protected], Office of the City Manager
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Status of Climate Tasks
3-2023 Climate Action Milestones
Additional Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: This serves as a quarterly report on the City’s climate action progress, including updates for late 2022 and the first quarter of 2023. Staff will provide a verbal update on progress and considerations for future implementation. Attachment 2 includes additional details on implementation status of priority early actions for climate, building on the actions identified in the 2021 Climate Implementation Work Plan (Climate Work Plan). With extensive collaboration and coordination across City departments, City staff have leveraged the City Council’s investments in climate and related priorities and worked with partners to secure more than $100 million in external funding for accelerated climate-related action since 2021.
This sizable external investment demonstrates City staff’s commitment to identifying and pursuing available funding and leveraging local resources to build a larger pool of funding for more impactful outcomes. Staff will continue to evaluate all relevant funding opportunities. A determination of whether to pursue future state and federal funding opportunities will be based on several factors, including the availability of local match funding and staff’s ability to apply for and meet all
File ID: 2023-00345 5/2/2023 Discussion Item 31.
programmatic requirements.
Notable examples of recent partnership to accelerate local climate action include the Fiscal Year 2023 Congressionally Directed Spending Requests, including the following:
· $1,977,200 for resiliency improvements to the Sam and Bonnie Pannell Community Center, secured by Representative Matsui.
· $4,300,000 for zero-emission fleet infrastructure to support the City’s municipal fleet, secured by Senator Padilla.
Currently, award decisions are outstanding for approximately $1.7 million in competitive grant applications that staff recently submitted for climate adaptation and environmental justice needs.
In early 2023, the winter storms dealt significant impacts to the City of Sacramento, highlighting the compounding impacts and escalating costs of climate change. Citywide, staff estimate that 1,500 fallen trees caused damage to public and private property. Trees were especially vulnerable to the high winds after years of drought (also exacerbated by climate change) that contributed to shallow root systems. Two unhoused Sacramentans lost their lives from direct storm impacts. This tragedy highlights the disproportionate impact of climate change on our community’s most vulnerable members. City staff continue to calculate the direct costs to the City from the storms, with initial cost estimates in the millions of dollars. The portion of these costs eligible for FEMA reimbursement is still under evaluation by City staff.
Policy Considerations: The City of Sacramento is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 (Resolution No. 2019-0433). The City’s Climate Emergency Declaration advances the City’s commitment to “maximum feasible efforts to implement emergency-speed carbon reduction actions towards eliminating emissions by 2030 as much as possible” (Resolution No. 2019-0465) in collaboration with a range of stakeholders, while evaluating available resources.
Economic Impacts: This staff report does not include recommended action with direct economic impact. However, climate change will continue to pose economic impacts to City operations and infrastructure.
Environmental Considerations: This report does not involve activities that constitute a “project” as defined by Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15378(b)(4) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
Sustainability: Staff continue implementation of priority projects, while developing plans to address long-term sustainability, climate action, and climate adaptation needs. The City’s forthcoming Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) includes a Vulnerability Assessment and adaptation strategies, which will serve as a foundation to help staff prioritize future projects and infrastructure needs.
File ID: 2023-00345 5/2/2023 Discussion Item 31.
Commission/Committee Action: Not applicable.
Rationale for Recommendation: Quarterly climate reports to the City Council are responsive to City Council direction. These reports provide transparency and accountability on implementation of the City’s climate action initiatives.
Financial Considerations: City staff continue to implement initiatives using funding from the Climate Action Initiatives Program (I02002300). This funding has been leveraged to secure external funding.
However, this one-time funding is limited. Additional local funding sources are necessary to address long-term climate action and adaptation needs, and prepare for more extreme climatic events.
The draft CAAP identifies a long-term estimated cost to the City of $3.2 billion to achieve the City’s greenhouse gas reduction goals. This cost just reflects direct estimated costs to the City, and does not include additional costs to other key partners, such as SacRT. Appendix D of the draft CAAP provides additional detail. However, these costs do not include additional expenses for climate adaptation or related infrastructure investments. A critical issue to address during finalization of the draft CAAP includes identification of viable funding options.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
Background: Climate change poses impacts to City operations and infrastructure, as well as impacting lives, homes, and businesses throughout the community. While the City has budget mechanisms to cover traditional emergency and storm response, climate change is anticipated to drastically accelerate extreme events and pose greater challenges to City operations and available fiscal resources. The 2023 winter storms serve as a prime example of these risks and community impacts.
In 2023, staff will continue to advance key policies and ordinances, and implement pilot projects and programs. A critical 2023 milestone is the anticipated release of the complete draft 2040 General Plan and CAA) this month. As these plans are released, staff can revisit timelines for completion of other Climate Work Plan tasks and update the Climate Work Plan to identify the next phase of priority actions. Attachment 3 includes a summary of upcoming climate-related milestones for 2023.
In addition, priority pilots and near-term efforts are underway to address climate change. Some recent City accomplishments include:
· Creative climate engagement, with launch of the City-led $4.7 million Creative Corps Capital Region program for artist-led campaigns on climate and conservation issues, in addition to the issues of public health, COVID-19, civic engagement and social justice. · Climate youth workforce funding, by award of approximately $500,000 in the first phase of funding to local nonprofits for youth and young adult workforce funding in clean and green
File ID: 2023-00345 5/2/2023 Discussion Item 31.
sectors through the CaliforniansForAll program.
· Support for residential energy efficiency, with launch of the new online tool, XeroHome in partnership with SMUD, to help homeowners and renters reduce energy costs and their carbon footprint (available at XeroHome.com).
· Retrofits to City facilities including fire stations, to reduce municipal energy use and costs. · Partnership to apply for $1.7 million in climate-related grant funding, including collaboration with SacRT to seek Caltrans funding for transportation-related climate adaptation needs, and partnership to pursue funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Justice Government-to-Government program with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento, the Sacramento Tree Foundation, the Sacramento City Unified School District, and other local and regional partners.
Status of Critical Climate Action Tasks
Updated April 2023
1 2022 - 2023 Tasks
This table summarizes priority tasks for the Office of Climate Action and Sustainability (OCAS), and other department leads. Staff presented this list to the City Council in early 2022 as an update to the 2021 Climate Implementation Work Plan. The table below includes minor modifications to the original version presented in 2022 for accuracy, to reflect changes since that time.
Legend:
Ongoing Initiated
Ongoing; active work
underway Delayed or postponed
Complete
Tasks & Status
Task Department or
Office Leads
and Support1
Status
Internal & administrative tasks
1 Expand team capacity with intern support
and/or on-call assistance OCAS - Lead Role
1 full-time equivalent
(FTE) vacancy filled, 1
intern hired, 2 on-call
contracts executed
2 Continue convening the Green Team
monthly with participation by key
departments
OCAS - Lead Role
Support: All
Ongoing
3 Establish and launch the internal Climate
Action Task Force, with an initial audit of
each department’s performance
OCAS - Lead Role
Support: All
Preparation underway for
early 2023 in conjunction
with the CAAP release
4 Create an internal climate leadership,
learning, and collaboration cohort OCAS - Lead Role Postponed
1 Department and Office abbreviations:
CDD: Community Development Department
DOU: Department of Utilities
DPW: Department of Public Works
HR: Human Resources
IT: Information Technology
OCAS: Office of Climate Action and Sustainability
OEM: Office of Emergency Management
OIED: Office of Innovation and Economic Development
YPCE: Department of Youth, Parks, and Community Enrichment
Status of Critical Climate Action Tasks
Updated April 2023
2 Task Department or
Office Leads
and Support1
Status
5 Develop and administer the Sustainability
Performance Monitoring Tool OCAS - Lead Role
Tool created for internal
operations and shared
with key departments, for
review with and
finalization with the
internal Climate Action
Task Force
6 Prepare a GIS resource hub for climate,
sustainability, and equity-related data
OCAS - Lead Role
Support: IT, ODE
Complete, with ongoing
refinement with GIS
Team
7 Embed sustainability and racial equity
decision-making into City processes
OCAS & ODE -
Leads
Engagement initiated with
Budget Office and Office
of Diversity and Equity
8 Create new guidance for the
“Sustainability” section of City staff reports OCAS - Lead Role Coordination initiated - to
be completed in
conjunction with other
forthcoming resources
9 Establish tools and processes to track City
fiscal activity from a climate perspective
OCAS - Support
Lead: Budget
Postponed
10 Create an internal Nexus City webpage with
resources and information
OCAS - Lead Role
Support: IT
Complete
11 Continue public quarterly reports on
climate action progress
OCAS - Lead Role
Support: Varies
Ongoing
12 Coordinate City efforts for climate-related
state and federal funding, and align efforts
to seek and apply for external funds
OCAS - Lead Role
CMO
Ongoing; successful
recent applications include
USDN Energy Innovation
Fund ($60K), successful
SMUD partnership for
TECH Quick Start Grants
($350K)
13 Support updates to the City’s Sustainability
Procurement Policy and Telecommuting
Policy
OCAS - Support
Lead: CMO,
Finance, HR
Formalization of
Sustainability Policy
update in process;
Telecommuting Policy
update in progress
Status of Critical Climate Action Tasks
Updated April 2023
3 Task Department or
Office Leads
and Support1
Status
Partnership, outreach, capacity-building and other
collaboration
14 Establish a climate equity outreach pilot
that advances CAAP implementation, and
increase community outreach
OCAS - Lead Role
Delayed: webinars
convened in September
2022 and staff issued RFP
in late 2022 for
administration support,
receiving 0 responses;
staff evaluating other
options to secure
administration support
and leverage related
efforts
15 Launch a climate ambassadors program
OCAS – Lead Role
OIED
In process: coordinating
internally to leverage
potential funding and
programmatic resources,
such as the
CaliforniansForAll
program
16 Distribute an Office newsletter monthly
OCAS - Lead Role
PIO
Ongoing
17 Continued engagement and collaboration
with the Sacramento EJCGC and other
local environmental justice groups
OCAS - Lead Role
Ongoing
18 Continued engagement and support for
integration of climate and sustainability into
City youth programs
OCAS - Support
Lead - YPCE
Ongoing - Supported the
Summer@City Hall
Sustainability Workshop
Series in 2022;
coordinating with YPCE
for 2023 programming
19 Continued convening of a regional working
group for city and county staff on climate
action
OCAS - Lead Role
Support: CDD
Ongoing
20 Facilitate a standing open networking and
collaboration meeting with climate-focused
stakeholders
OCAS - Lead Role
Not yet initiated
Status of Critical Climate Action Tasks
Updated April 2023
4 Task Department or
Office Leads
and Support1
Status
21 Participate in and facilitate collaboration
with external agencies, partners, and
stakeholders for successful grant
applications to secure state and federal
climate investments
All
Support: CMO,
DPW, DOU,
YPCE, CDD,
OIED
Ongoing
Strategic project actions – OCAS Oversight,
Support, or Management
22 Support completion of the CAAP for
Council adoption, including identification
of carbon zero reductions and funding
options for Council direction
OCAS - Support
Lead: CDD
Support: DPW, all
Delayed, but CAAP
release scheduled for April
28, 2023
23 Seek grant funding to prepare a climate
resilience infrastructure and program
strategy, with shovel-ready project list for
adaptation funding needs
OCAS - Support
CDD, DOU,
DPW, OEM,
YPCE
Coordination underway
for upcoming programs;
DPW-led application in
partnership with SacRT to
the Caltrans Adaptation
Planning Grant program
(submitted in March 2023)
24 Facilitate City efforts to seek state grant
funding for community center retrofits and
resilience improvements
OCAS – Support
DPW, OEMS,
YPCE, SMUD
Ongoing - $1.97 million
secured through Fiscal
Year 2023 Congressionally
Directed Spending
Requests
25 Support development of a shovel-ready list
of energy efficiency and resiliency project
list for City facilities and implementation
OCAS - Support
Lead: DPW
Ongoing: SMUD CES
participation approved by
Council on 10/11/22;
implementation underway
at fire stations,
preparation for other City
facilities in process
26 Support expansion of the City’s zero-
emission fleet and charging infrastructure
OCAS - Support
Lead: DPW
Ongoing : design in
process, and coordination
underway for upcoming
incentives and grants
27 Support preparation for implementation of
the New Building Electrification
Ordinance, including participation in the
Infeasibility Waiver Technical Panel, and re-
adoption of the Ordinance with Infeasibility
Guidelines, to go into effect 1/1/2023
OCAS: Support
Lead: CDD
Complete
Status of Critical Climate Action Tasks
Updated April 2023
5 Task Department or
Office Leads
and Support1
Status
28 Guide and support preparation of the
Existing Building Electrification Strategy
and related stakeholder engagement for
Council action in 2023
OCAS: Support
Lead: CDD
Ongoing; outreach was
reconvened in early 2023,
preparing for City Council
action in summer 2023
29 Manage City’s execution of a memorandum
of understanding with SMUD and
Sacramento County on building
electrification, and facilitate the City’s
participation in related efforts and pilots
OCAS – Lead
Support: CDD,
DPW
MOU executed; ongoing
coordination. Exploration
of additional
opportunities for
partnership ongoing
30 Support critical transportation initiatives,
including completion of the Transportation
Priorities Plan (TPP), the Active Streets
Plan, and identification of funding strategies
for transportation
OCAS – Support
Lead: DPW
Ongoing ; TPP
prioritization list adopted
11/15/22; Active Streets
Plan consultant to be
selected in early 2023;
team to coordinate to
evaluate new funding
strategies
31 Support implementation of the Electric
Vehicle Implementation Blueprint
OCAS – Support
Lead: DPW
Ongoing
32 Support completion of the technical study
for on-site water reuse and dual plumbing,
including preparation of a dual-plumbing
ordinance
OCAS – Support
Lead: DOU
CDD – Support
Ongoing; Phase 1
complete with City
Council adoption of
ordinance on 12/13; staff
preparing RFP for Phase
2 to commence in
summer 2023
33 Support the launch of a new community
tree-planting initiative with partners
OCAS – Support
Lead: DPW
Timing to be confirmed;
DPW evaluating grant
opportunities to leverage
with the one-time City
funding
34 Support expansion of shared use recreation
spaces and completion of the Parks Master
Plan (Parks Plan 2040)
OCAS – Support
Lead: YPCE
Ongoing: technical
committee meeting in late
2022 to inform draft
document; presentation to
Parks and Community
Enrichment Commission
Status of Critical Climate Action Tasks
Updated April 2023
6 Task Department or
Office Leads
and Support1
Status
35 Support for the City’s clean and green
workforce and economic development
initiatives, and including completion of
regional green jobs analysis and opportunity
mapping
OCAS and OIED,
Leads
Ongoing; March 2023
announcement of first
phase of
CaliforniansForAll youth
and young adult
workforce funding to
local nonprofits;
completion of regional
green jobs report and
Clean & Green working
group meeting in late
2023
36 Support City participation in food access
and resiliency planning, including
completion of the US EPA Local
Food/Local Places action plan, ongoing
coordination of City staff, and food-
anchored hub development
OCAS - Support
Mayor’s Office,
OIED, YPCE,
CDD, DPW
US EPA Action Plan
complete. Ongoing: food
justice NOFA award
recipients announced in
December 2022
37 Support climate resiliency partnerships and
identification of pilots OEMS
Ongoing: grant funding
secured for low-income
home electrification and
rehabilitation; additional
opportunities TBD
38 Manage the City’s partnership with the
Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality
Management District for air quality
monitoring, and support related community
outreach and education
OCAS - City Lead
Lead implementer:
Air District
Ongoing: launch of air
sensors giveaway on
12/12/2022; air sensor
distribution in process,
and coordination
underway for mobile air
monitoring partnership
2023 SCHEDULE: CLIMATE ACTION MILESTONES
The City of Sacramento is accelerating rapid decarbonization. This agenda summarizes critical upcoming milestones. More information and links are available online at CityOfSacramento.org/ClimateAction. Note that this list serves as a summary, and is not inclusive of all City actions related to climate change.
To stay up to date, sign up for email updates online: Link to climate action & sustainability updates.
Priority Climate Actions in 2023 – Anticipated Schedule *Dates are estimates and subject to change.
Timeline Milestone
April 28, 2023 Public review period begins, with launch of next round of outreach and hearings:
Climate Action & Adaptation Plan
2040 General Plan
Late Spring 2023 Public review period begins: Existing Building Electrification Strategy
CaliforniansForAll climate workforce pilot kickoffs
Summer 2023 City Council hearing: Existing Building Electrification Strategy
July 1 effective date: Alternate Water Systems
Ordinance
Phase 2, on-site non-potable water reuse strategy
kickoff
Public review period begins:
Parks Plan 2040
Urban Forest Plan
Public outreach begins: Active Transportation Plan
Late 2023/early 2024 EV Blueprint Phase 2 construction completion, with new Level 2 chargers at City libraries, community
centers, and a regional park
Climate Equity Pilot kickoff
Adoption hearings:
Climate Action & Adaptation Plan
2040 General Plan
Work plan updates and task prioritization