CITY OF SANTA CRUZ
809 Center Street
Santa Cruz, California 95060
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
Study Session – March 29, 2022
3:00 p.m. GENERAL BUSINESS, ZOOM
COVID-19 ANNOUNCEMENT: Due to the Omicron variant, this meeting will be held via teleconference ONLY.
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March 29, 2022 City Council Study Session 2
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City Council Study Session
3:00 P.M.
Call to Order
Roll Call
General Business
1. Climate Action Plan 2030 (CM)
Review the Climate Action Plan 2030 progress and provide feedback.
Adjournment
City Council Study Session
AGENDA REPORT
DATE: 03/21/2022
AGENDA OF: 03/29/2022
DEPARTMENT: City Manager
SUBJECT: Climate Action Plan 2030 (CM)
RECOMMENDATION: Review the Climate Action Plan 2030 progress and provide feedback.
BACKGROUND: Since April 2021, City staff have worked with Climate Action Task Force members, equity advisors, other municipal staff and the broader community to develop the Climate Action Plan 2030 (Plan). The aim of the Plan development effort, coined Resilient Together Santa Cruz, is to determine the year and most equitable pathway to carbon neutrality.
At a January 18, 2022 City Council study session on the Climate Action Plan 2030 development process, there were several focal areas reviewed and discussed:
• A working vision and values statements;
• Equity screening tool creation and application;
• Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions forecasts through 2045; • GHG emissions target types, options and considerations; • GHG emissions reduction measures needed to achieve the minimum emissions target for a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) qualified Plan with example actions; and • Cost and implementation considerations for the emissions reduction measures and actions At that meeting, City Councilmembers and members of the public emphasized the importance of:
• Regional and youth collaboration;
• Addressing housing, transportation and land use;
• Setting an aspirational carbon neutrality target;
• Accountability mechanisms;
• Ensuring equitable implementation cost distribution and aggressive pursuit of funding
1.1 DISCUSSION: Since the January 2022 study session, the project team has made considerable progress on the Plan development with the following work completed. A fuller discussion on these items will take place at the Study Session.
Target Recommendations
The project team defined GHG emissions target recommendations from the options presented in Table 1 below based on community and City Council feedback.
For the City to have a CEQA-qualified Climate Action Plan, the State requires that the City of Santa Cruz reduce GHG emissions 40% below 1990 levels by 2030, under SB 32, and make progress toward carbon neutrality by 2045 under EO B-55-18. However, the City may choose to also set a more ambitious, or aspirational, target to meet carbon neutrality before 2045. Setting an aspirational target of carbon neutrality by 2035 would align with Governor Newsom’s recent direction to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to explore carbon neutrality by 20351.
This could make the City more competitive for future funding opportunities to meet a more ambitious carbon neutrality target. In addition, a more ambitious aspirational target, such as the ICLEI 2 science-based target, would provide a conservative approach to keep warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius (°C), which the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)3 determined is necessary to avoid the most negative impacts of climate change and ease climate change adaptation.4
The City could choose to solely adopt the State-mandated target or a more ambitious Statemandated Plus Target, which meet or exceed the SB 32 minimum requirement. The City could also choose to adopt an aspirational overall emissions reduction target on the community-wide or municipal level, including measure specific aspirations, to reflect an aspirational vision. Any aspirational target would not be used for CEQA streamlining purposes but would allow the City to track progress made towards this target and potentially align with a science-based target and/or a more ambitious State target that could be enacted as a result of Governor Newsom’s direction to CARB to explore carbon neutrality by 2035. 1 Office of Governor Gavin Newsom. 2021. Governor Newsom Holds Virtual Discussion with Leading Climate Scientists on State’s Progress Toward Carbon Neutrality. Available https://www.gov.ca.gov/2021/07/09/governor-newsom-holds-virtualdiscussion-with-leading-climate-scientists-on-states-progress-toward-carbon-neutrality Accessed November 11, 2021. 2 ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is an international non-governmental organization that promotes sustainable development. ICLEI provides technical consulting to local governments to meet sustainability objectives. The "International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives" thus became "ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability", with a broader mandate to address sustainability issues, not only environmental issues. As a member of ICLEI, the City’s science based target was computed by ICLEI based on the revised 2019 emissions inventory results. 3 The IPCC is an intergovernmental body of the United Nations responsible for advancing knowledge on human-induced climate change.
4 Hoegh-Guldberg, O., D. Jacob, M. Taylor, M. Bindi, S. Brown, I. Camilloni, A. Diedhiou, R. Djalante, K.L. Ebi, F.
Engelbrecht, J.Guiot, Y. Hijioka, S. Mehrotra, A. Payne, S.I. Seneviratne, A. Thomas, R. Warren, and G. Zhou, 2018: Impacts of
1.5ºC Global Warming on Natural and Human Systems. In: Global Warming of 1.5°C. An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty [Masson-Delmotte, V., P. Zhai, H.-O. Pörtner, D. Roberts, J. Skea, P.R. Shukla, A. Pirani, W. Moufouma-Okia, C. Péan, R.
Pidcock, S. Connors, J.B.R. Matthews, Y. Chen, X. Zhou, M.I.Gomis, E. Lonnoy, T.Maycock, M.Tignor, and T. Waterfield (eds.)]. In Press
1.2 Table 1. GHG Emissions Reduction Target Options
Practically Achievable Emissions Reductions (Legally binding) Aspirational Targets
(Voluntary)
State-mandated Target (that meets SB 32 minimum
requirements)
State-mandated Plus Target (This target could aim to reduce GHG emissions somewhere between 45% - 85% below 1990
levels by 2030)
Carbon
Neutrality by
2030
Carbon
Neutrality by
2035
Science-based
Target
Additionally, the City could choose to adopt a mass (community-wide) or per capita (per person) GHG emissions target. Mass emission targets describe emissions in terms of total MT CO2e without any adjustment for population growth. Many local governments, including the City of Santa Cruz, have been unable to reach their mass emissions targets because of population growth. The most recent (2017) California Climate Change Scoping Plan Update includes guidance that details the methodology and benefits of developing per capita targets. The key benefit of a per capita target is that it accounts for population growth, as the target does not become more difficult to reach if the City grows faster than projected. Since the City’s growth may be about 10% in the next 8 years, adopting a per capita emissions target is strongly suggested by the project team. Per capita emissions targets are developed by dividing the projected emissions in each target year by the forecasted population. Conversely, per capita target can be translated to mass emissions by multiplying the per capita emissions by the population.
City staff recommend the City adopt (1) a SB 32 compliant target of a 40% reduction in GHG emissions between 1990 and 2030 as a legally defensible CEQA qualified Plan target and (2) a voluntary aspirational target of carbon neutral by 2035, consistent with a likely change in the State carbon neutral target year from 2045 to 2035. It is important to recall that the Sciencebased Target is slightly less ambitious than the 2035 carbon neutrality target but also reflects maximum effort toward or beyond the City’s fair share of the Paris Climate Agreement to keep global warming to under 1.5 degrees Celsius. Thus staff’s aspirational target recommendation exceeds compliance with the Paris Climate Agreement. Staff also recommend the City adopt per capita emissions reduction targets for the CEQA qualified plan in order to account for population growth. Figure 1 details the per capita GHG emissions targets compared to the projected Business As Usual5 and Adjusted Forecasts6.
5 The Business-as-Usual Forecast (BAU) projects GHG emissions levels that scale with population, employment and transportation growth consistent with regional projections. 6 The Adjusted Forecast (Adjusted) accounts for GHG reductions expected to occur from adopted State legislation (e.g., 2019 Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards, Senate Bill 100 – California Renewables Portfolio
1.3 Figure 1 Per Capita GHG Emissions Forecast
0.00 1.00
2.00 3.00
4.00 5.00
6.00 7.00
1990 2019 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045
BAU Forecast Adjusted Forecast
SB 32 Minimum (efficiency) Linear Reduction to Zero by 2035 (efficiency) Linear Reduction to Zero by 2030 (efficiency) ICLEI Science-based Target (efficiency) MT CO2e / Per Person
Table 2 presents the level of effort required to achieve the State-mandated SB32 target (40% below 1990 levels by 2030) and a 2035 carbon neutrality voluntary aspirational target. This analysis includes the major GHG reduction measures required pursuant to the State Scoping Plan.
Table 2 GHG Emissions Reduction Measures fto reach Emissions Target Recommendations
State-mandated SB 32
Minimum Target (40% below
1990 levels by 2030 ) Carbon Neutrality by 2035
Energy
Measures
Electrify 33% of existing
residential buildings by 2030
Electrify 30% of existing
commercial buildings by 2030
Assumes 6% non-compliance
for residential and 1.7% for
commercial
Electrify 100% of existing residential
buildings by 2035
Electrify 100% of existing
commercial buildings by 2035
Assumes 100% compliance
Transportation
Measures
25% active transportation
mode share by 2030
>25% active transportation mode
share by 2035
Standard Program, and more). For more information on the forecasts, reference the Santa Cruz GHG Forecasts Memorandum submitted to the City on November 11, 2021.
1.4 (currently 19.5%)
8% public transportation
mode share by 2030
(currently 7%)
35% of passenger vehicles
are electric by 2030
(currently 5% passenger
and commercial)
25% of commercial
vehicles are electric by
2030 (currently 5%
passenger and commercial)
50% off-road equipment
decarbonized by 2030
>8% public transportation mode
share by 2035
35% remaining passenger
vehicles are electric by 2030 or
2035 depending on target
20% remaining commercial
vehicles are electric by 2035
50% off-road equipment
decarbonized by 2035
Waste and
Wastewater
Measures
85% reduction in organic
waste by 2030
35% reduction in inorganic
waste by 2030
0% reduction in
wastewater process
emissions by 2030
100% reduction in organic waste
by 20305
100% reduction in inorganic
waste by 2035
100% reduction in wastewater
process emissions by 2035
Climate
Economy +
Climate
Restoration
Measures
These measures are
outside the State Scoping
Plan and the CEQA
qualified Plan
Carbon Sequestration
Carbon Capture Technologies
Plant Based Diets
Circular Economy
The consulting team is currently estimating costs involved with the three measures with the largest potential emissions reduction impacts.
Engagement
The project team conducted two Climate Action Task Force meetings, a business stakeholder focus group and the third of four major community engagement activities, promoting community dialog in an online platform - Consider.It7 - to weigh the draft action set. The action set specifies the policies, programs and projects that will enable the community to achieve the CEQA qualified Plan emissions reduction measures and target. The draft action set was iteratively developed, applying the equity screening tool and revising actions that created harm or burden for frontline community groups. To date, over 135 unique users have engaged with the Consider.It platform where there was generally strong support for the draft action set of over 100 actions presented. Feedback provided through Consider.It and general email comments enabled the Task Force and project team to refine and clarify draft actions that had lower levels of support and/or numerous comments. See Attachment 1 for a summary of draft action comments 7 https://resilienttogethersantacruz.consider.it/ will be open for community dialog through the second week of April. 2022.
1.5 and revisions. Comments were also utilized to help develop additional climate supportive actions to address climate economy and restoration measures and meet the recommended aspirational target. These and other revised actions will be discussed at future focus groups and internal division meetings in April, 2022. The consulting team is computing the GHG emissions reduction potential of each action to document that implementation of them will achieve the CEQA qualified CAP measures and recommended targets.
Funding, Implementation and Climate / Green Economy
In consultation with stakeholders, the project team developed the following draft climate economy measures, which are more qualitative in nature and complement the measures developed to achieve the minimum CEQA qualified Plan’s emissions reductions targets. The climate supportive actions in development are specified to achieve outcomes that support the community’s climate values around climate economy.
• Prioritize opportunities for greatest climate benefit and economic inclusion • Support entrepreneurship, high road local business development and prioritize minority, vet and women owned businesses in climate related sectors
• Ensure equitable access to quality family sustaining careers and employee retention support in climate related sectors especially for community of low income, people of color, women, unsheltered, veterans and youth.
• Seek large-scale climate investments and partnerships at both local and regional levels that help businesses with a just transition
• Address pressing issues regarding local hire, supply chain, and unequal conditions in the labor market.
• Develop and facilitate equitable access to high-quality training and workforce development programs in climate related sectors
The consulting team is also completing the green jobs analysis to project jobs increases and contraction that could result from implementing high impact GHG emissions reduction measures and actions, e.g., electrification retrofits. This analysis will provide understanding of potential skill and training gaps, the associated magnitude of need for training and education expenditures, appropriate mechanisms to fund implementation of these measures, and best practices for the City to support workers in career changes that may be impacted by the priority Plan measures.
Sample outputs from that analysis will be presented at the Study Session.
The project team is developing the implementation piece to the Plan by interviewing internal departmental divisions and external stakeholders to (1) assign roles and responsibilities for implementation by measure and action, (2) reviewing staffing and resource requirements and draft funding mechanisms, (3) identifying risks and benefits to implementation, (4) determining performance metrics, accountability and reporting mechanisms, and (4) weighing the timeline for implementation of actions. The interviews will also query stakeholders on how to catalyze action towards the aspirational target through innovation, flexibility and partnerships. Interviews will be complete in April 2022 and draft implementation and funding pieces will be presented at a future community webinar and in the draft Plan.
Next Steps
In April, the City will co-host a Heat Pump Selection education webinar. Heat pumps are the primary technology component necessary to transition water heating and space heating and
1.6 cooling to all electric, a key Plan measure. City staff will also launch youth and climate justice focused digital storytelling pieces, featuring local high school and university students to promote the draft Plan public review opportunity.
Between March and May, 2022, the project team will refine the final action set and funding and implementation plan, and draft the Climate Action Plan 2030. The draft public review Plan version will be available in mid-May through mid-June, 2022. The Plan will include a tool for tracking progress and assessing accountability. The project team aims to visit relevant commissions, conduct one additional major community engagement (e.g., community webinar) during that time period and bring the final Plan to City Council for adoption on August 9, 2022.
By September, 2022, the City will have funding through the FY 23 Climate Action Program budget to participate in the regional Community Action Campaign and launch its own community activation platform via a dedicated webpage. The Community Action Campaign is a high-tech, high-touch campaign that achieves measurable progress towards reducing the emissions from home heating/cooling and energy use, transportation, our food choices and waste as well as preparing communities to be resilient in the face of climate change impacts. By activating micro-community leaders (e.g., block leaders, co-worker and church groups, Girl Scout troop leaders, civic clubs, and university groups), the campaign also increases resiliency and achieves equity gains by driving engagement on priority actions using community building, training and BrightAction, a central online organizing community activation platform (https://www.brightaction.com/). The Central Coast Campaign will be delivered locally in up to six central coast counties from Ventura to Santa Cruz with central online tools, training resources and marketing, starting with the launch of dedicated webpages for Santa Cruz County and the City of Watsonville in April, 2022.
The Central Coast campaign concept was sparked by the City of Santa Cruz and Ecology Action in 2019 due to the absence of comprehensive resources for city residents interested in responding to the climate emergency. This led to discovery processes with nonprofits and agencies throughout the Central Coast. The Campaign is now being led by a five member cross-sector regional team and has enrolled over two dozen local agencies to fund and participate in the campaign. It benefits the City and other local governments by providing a central, accessible, bilingual (Spanish) online resource with the information residents need to take action to prepare for climate change and disasters and reduce their carbon emissions. As such it will help the City implement outreach and education actions for climate adaptation, resiliency and the climate action plan, while tracking measurable outcomes toward actions taken and their resulting GHG emissions reductions.
FISCAL IMPACT: The recommended GHG emissions reduction targets have a direct fiscal impact requiring significant investment from both the community and City municipally to implement the Plan. While example order of magnitude and per unit costs for various emission reduction actions were presented for context at the January 18, 2022 target setting study session, the draft Plan will include implementation metrics, costs, and a funding strategy aligned with green economy values.
Prepared By:
Tiffany Wise-West
Sustainability and Climate
Action Manager
Submitted By:
Laura Schmidt
Assistant City Manager
Approved By:
Matt Huffaker
City Manager
1.7 ATTACHMENTS:
1. RESILIENT TOGETHER SANTA CRUZ DRAFT ACTIONS SUMMARY.PDF
1.8 3/20/22
Draft Action #
comments
# opinions Percent
Support
Considerations Changes Necessary ? Refined Action.
Define equity metrics for new and existing building electrification ordinances' implementation and enforcement.
0 38 88.83
Partner to develop all-electric rates by income-level and incentivize equitable allelectric retrofits.0 43 82.585 Advance new and existing building electrification as a priority at all scales. 0 43 80.86 Advocate for state and federal regulatory changes to enable neighborhood level electrification, community solar, natural gas pruning, and rates stabilization policies.
0 44 80.075
Work with PG&E to improve electricity service request delivery, upgrade turnaround time and reliability metrics to accommodate building electrification. 0 41 77.555
Evaluate the need to increase fees to provide outreach, trainings, additional staff for building electrification compliance.
1 37 74.51 Some more mixed opinions
Facilitate equitable access to accurate and current information about electrification programs, incentives and opportunities.
0 43 74.35 Facilitate equitable access to accurate and current information about electrification programs, incentives and opportunities. Develop induction cooktop loaner programs.
Enforce new and existing residential and commercial building electrification ordinance(s) through a permitting compliance program.
0 41 73.54
Enforce new construction natural gas prohibition ordinance through a permitting compliance program.
5 51 72.915
Engage compensated frontline communities in regional and local vehicle electrification strategy development.
4 51 71.655
Mitigate potential equity impacts of existing commercial building electrification ordinance.
2 48 71.61
Facilitate equitable and inclusive funding opportunities for commercial building electrification.
0 49 70.595
Support commercial battery storage installations and business district scale microgrid opportunities.
2 52 70.55
Adopt an electrification ordinance for existing commercial buildings by 2024. 0 50 70.25 Consider building emissions performance standard for commercial buildings over 20,000 square feet.
2 52 70.005
Increase uptake of 100% renewable energy option from 3CE, incentivizing households in affordable housing units.
1 43 69.855
Partner regionally to expand understanding of California Alternate Rates for Energy Family Electric Rate Assistance subsidized rate programs for low income residents.
1 38 69.78 Cons: Action unclear Eliminate and added to REN establishment action in row 26 Support annual analysis of 3CE opt-out rates in the City. 0 36 69.63 Support annual analysis of 3CE opt-out rates in the City and encourage opting up to 3CE prime 100% renewable energy option.
Promote benefits of opting in to 3CE service, particularly those in frontline neighborhoods and small and vet, woman and minority owned businesses. 0 38 69.025
Partner to deliver weatherization, healthy home retrofits, energy efficiency and solar system installs to low income homeowners and rental units. 4 52 68.92
Advocate to reform community solar policies and rates, enabling residential and commercial renters to participate in benefits of local solar. 2 52 68.89
Consider rental building energy performance standards to increase adoption of rebated energy efficiency and electrification measures. 3 45 68.805
Encourage local contractors to participate in electrification incentivize programs, particularly for affordable housing.
1 46 68.68
Participate in regional workforce development opportunities for building electrification.
3 47 68.6
Work with partners to establish a Regional Energy Network for energy efficiency and electrification building resources, expand education on subsidized rate programs, code compliance training and apprenticeship program. 0 47 68.48
Build new infrastructure to ensure there is equitable access to safe bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure throughout the city, prioritizing frontline neighborhoods. 16 79 68.395
Re-establish citywide bike share and make accessible to youth and other frontline groups.
9 76 68.3
Fund, staff and implement the Active Transportation Plan Update, Vision Zero and the 2030 General Plan update.
7 67 68.215 Fund, staff and implement the Active Transportation Plan Update, Vision Zero, Safe Routes to School and the 2030 General Plan update.
Ensure secure bike parking near transit and in major activity centers. Requiring bike parking installation in new commercial developments and existing commercial renovations
9 99 68.16
Complete all bikeway portions of Rail Trail and work with partners to fund and plan light transit to Rail line.
18 84 68.09
Pilot designating streets specifically for bikes only through an inclusive design process, prioritizing low-income neighborhoods.
11 69 67.99 Cons: Many low income people rely heavily on car transportation; better to downsize some streets and remove on street parking and incorporate bike path; do this using accident info not income; Integrate with Safe Routes to School →implementation plan comment; impact will need to be assessed via ATP Pilot designating streets specifically for bikes only through an inclusive, data-driven design process, prioritizing low-income neighborhoods.
Support public transportation prioritizing serving major destinations and frontline neighborhoods.
6 66 67.85
Support funding for public transportation fleet electrification. 4 67 67.76 Equitably market and publicize public transportation improvements and incentive programs as they are planned and implemented.
1 60 67.66
Expand citywide transportation communications and marketing program to residents commuting outside of the City for work.
4 54 67.56
Support countywide coordination to fund and implement 1 dedicated lane of Soquel corridor for Bus Rapid Transit.
6 61 67.42
Advocate for METRO to fund and implement a free public transit pilot program for students, foster youth, and unhoused youth in Santa Cruz. 7 70 67.355
Require more employers to develop education and financial incentives for employees to bike, walk, carpool, or take the bus to work. Require large employers to subsidize alternative modes.
7 65 67.345
Partner with community groups to develop equity metrics and programs, and policies that discourage single-passenger vehicles while addressing equity concerns.
1 50 67.135
Explore implementing a local gasoline+diesel car registration tax with exemption for low income people.
7 52 67.055 Some opposition; could still add(lesser) registration tax for Evs; money raised by tax should fund GHG emissions reductions activities/ transit Discourage single passenger vehicles in high traffic zones considering a congestion charge program, limiting parking options, bans in high traffic zones or transit routes, and rideshare user taxes.
6 50 67.035
Eliminate off-street parking requirements for housing developments close to frequent transit service.
5 50 66.94 Some opposition; suggestion: "reduce" instead of "eliminate"; pros- consider EV car sharing programs for new developments
Reduce off-street parking requirements for new housing developments close to frequent transit service, with sensitivity to low income neighbhorhoods whose parking is already constrained.
Consider limiting parking options for single-passenger vehicles in downtown and other commercial areas of the city balanced with needs of sustaining downtown employees and tourists.
6 51 66.835 Cons: Action unclear; alternatives should be considered before making people change behavior
Consider limiting parking options for single-passenger vehicles in downtown and other commercial areas of the city balanced with needs of sustaining downtown employees, businesses and tourists.
SANTA CRUZ CLIMATE ACTION PLAN 2030 - DRAFT ACTION SET EARLY PRIORITY DEADLINE FEEDBACK SUMMARY + REVISIONS
1.9 3/20/22
Draft Action #
comments
# opinions Percent
Support
Considerations Changes Necessary ? Refined Action.
SANTA CRUZ CLIMATE ACTION PLAN 2030 - DRAFT ACTION SET EARLY PRIORITY DEADLINE FEEDBACK SUMMARY + REVISIONS Utilize dynamic parking pricing for all downtown parking locations and evaluate whether revenue may be used to fund active transportation projects. 1 51 66.705 Some mixed opinions; Cons: should focus on funding public transportation Adjust of parking rates dependent on demand and supply in all downtown parking locations and evaluate whether revenue may be used to fund active transportation or public transportation projects.
Eliminate parking minimums citywide and develop parking maximums, while pricing all public parking spaces based on available transportation options, travel demand, and land use.
4 50 66.485
Support the City's tourism economy by exploring and implementing district parking solutions and use of electric trolleys in high traffic and walkable areas. 4 60 66.455
Pursue affordable, EV car share to serve affordable housing and multifamily developments in frontline neighborhoods
4 55 66.375
Partner to conduct EV education events in frontline neighborhoods. 2 50 66.225 Cons: Should be more focused on public transit Partner to conduct EV and public transportation education events in frontline neighborhoods.
Increase adoption rates of zero-emission vehicles in frontline neighborhoods working with community based organizations.
11 66 66.225 Increase adoption rates of EVs in frontline neighborhoods working with community based organizations.
Advocate for programs and incentives for income tiered residential electric vehicle charger installations and EV purchases.
2 49 66.015 Advocate for programs and incentives for income tiered residential EV charger installations and EV purchases.
Install 1,000+ new public EV charging stations prioritizing frontline neighborhood.
3 54 65.975 Cons: too much emphasis on EVs, not enough on public transit Require new residential multifamily housing and large commercial building owners to install chargers in 20% of parking spaces.
5 57 65.84 Cons: May be costly for small property owners' could require capacity but don't require charger until demand is shown to exist; should prioritize transit Require new residential multifamily housing and large commercial building owners to install chargers in 20% of parking spaces and ensure electric service capacity is sufficient so that >20% of parking spaces are EV ready.
Increase adoption of EV fleets by incentivizing commercial vehicle owners and employers prioritizing small, vet, woman or minority-owned businesses. 2 50 65.75
Prioritize commercial EVs for loading zone access and use other curbside management practices .
2 46 65.695
Mitigate equity impacts of electrifying and upgrading off-road equipment and harbor vessels.
3 60 65.68
Access funding to decarbonize off-road equipment. 6 59 65.635 Engage with small, women, vet or minority owners of off-road equipment fleets with highest decarbonization potential to ensure equitable fleet electrification. 2 59 65.605
Support transition of local employers to zero emissions off-road equipment.
Provide online resources and a test demonstration site for landscaping industry. 3 62 65.565
Ban gas powered small off road engines by 2024, providing income tiered incentives for small businesses.
7 67 65.275
Work with the County, AMBAG, and the CIty's larger employers to support telework programs.
6 64 65.255
Participate in regional advocacy for development of a Statewide telework policy. 4 62 65.24 Cons: telework should not be prioritized compared to having people live closer to jobs
Continue to provide free water conservation devices and rebates for water conservation and develop targeted outreach to frontline communities. 1 51 65.17
Continue to provide rebates or other funding for installing laundry to landscape, rainwater catchment systems, targeting outreach to low and medium incomes homes.
0 52 65.145
Continue public engagement campaign to promote available City rebates and educate residents on the benefits of water conservation and its connection to climate change benefits.
0 48 65.09
Expand watershed stewardship school program to include water conversation. 0 46 65.085 Evaluate the greenhouse gas emissions impact of expanding non potable water usage to City trees, landscapes and bioswales for groundwater recharge and other opportunities as identified in the 2018 Recycle Water Study. 1 49 65.05
Consider an ordinance for installation of greywater for irrigation at new residential construction, including ADUs, including permit fee incentives. 1 51 64.85 Mixed support
Continue bilingual engagement with multi-family property owners/managers and developing waste handling signage for their properties. 2 45 64.85
Pursue funding to conduct detailed planning of food waste to energy infrastructure and process to meet state food waste diversion targets. 2 44 64.825
Continue to participate in Countywide Solid Waste Task Force consortium to plan and pursue funding for infrastructure beyond state 2025 organic waste division targets
0 44 64.545
Conduct waste characterization studies annually to understand the waste stream and plan to increase waste diversion and reduce contamination. 2 44 64.535
Provide training resources to businesses and large institutions on organic waste diversion.
3 49 64.425
Continue to conduct targeted, multi-lingual, culturally appropriate, and geographically diverse waste diversion educational and technical assistance campaigns.
0 41 64.225
Expand the Recycling Boot Camp and Master Recycler's Programs. 0 44 64.05 Explore and potentially develop a regional compost trading program to meet state organic procurement target.
0 41 63.985
Expand enforcement and implement fee for incorrectly sorted materials with sensitivity to shared collection.
3 40 63.91 Mixed opinions; cons- recycling rules are always changing, better to develop improved sorting mechanisms for collection
Pilot and evaluate emerging technologies like at-source organic waste digestion to reduce organic waste by restaurants and other major food waste producers. 0 44 63.82
Continue free training and education program accessible to all residents and employees to learn about waste prevention and diversion strategies and effects of overconsumption.
0 43 63.795
Work collaboratively and leverage grants to prevent food waste and rescue edible food.
0 46 63.75
Enforce implementation of a fee at point of use for single-use food ware by food service providers.
2 47 63.525
Conduct a consumption based emissions inventory and promote a closed-loop circular economy.
1 41 63.31
Encourage lifestyle choices that reduce consumption based emissions including plant based diets, travel alternatives and local purchasing. 5 50 63.24 Cons: Need infrastructure not just encouragement Leverage community activation platform and community partners to encourage lifestyle choices that reduce consumption based emissions including plant based diets, travel alternatives and local purchasing.
ADD: Explore policiy options to increase adoption plant-based, and plant strong diets. [aspirational/climate economy)
Expand edible food recovery program to all restaurants and food generating businesses and incentivize small businesses who otherwise could not participate. 0 49 63.225
Evaluate and implement a program for reusables for restaurant to-go containers. 3 48 63.16
1.10 3/20/22
Draft Action #
comments
# opinions Percent
Support
Considerations Changes Necessary ? Refined Action.
SANTA CRUZ CLIMATE ACTION PLAN 2030 - DRAFT ACTION SET EARLY PRIORITY DEADLINE FEEDBACK SUMMARY + REVISIONS Explore opportunities to promote a "circular economy" among local manufacturers and industry.
0 40 63.125
Explore opportunities related to methane capture and conversion to biofuel through the state's Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) program. 2 42 62.685 Explore opportunities related to methane capture and conversion to biofuel through the state's Low Carbon Fuel Standard program.
Collaborate with surrounding cities and the County to advocate and support GHG reductions at wastewater facilities.
0 45 62.62
Partner with UCSC and others to support forest management on City owned properties and to conduct carbon sequestration feasibility study. 2 46 62.545 carbon sequestration
Partner with UCSC to explore developing and implementing a kelp farming pilot project to sequester carbon.
1 50 62.535 carbon sequestration
Work with local building professionals to expand knowledge and adoption of carbon sequestering building materials and techniques and support reduction of embodied carbon.
1 48 62.125 carbon sequestration
Partner with local lumber companies to promote sustainable and locally harvested lumber for timber construction to reduce emissions from materials transportation and reduce the price premium of emerging timber construction. 2 47 61.97 carbon sequestration
Explore making compost available at no or low cost to community gardeners.
Continue to operate the compost bin rebate program.
0 50 61.85 carbon sequestration
Engage with agriculture industry, master and community gardeners and Homeless Garden Project to plan and set goals around compost development and application.
0 43 61.305 carbon sequestration
Collaborate with UCSC to pilot opportunities for regenerative agriculture and permaculture.
1 48 61.265 carbon sequestration
Reforest or afforest areas of the City that are currently mowed in line with other City parks and open space plans.
2 46 61.145 carbon sequestration
Adopt policy to ensure that open space habitat is preserved. 3 48 60.635 carbon sequestration Adopt regenerative landscaping policies and promote trainings to support commercial and residential land owners to better maintain native and carbon sequestering landscapes.
2 50 60.46 carbon sequestration
Pursue funding to expand forest management to promote carbon sequestration and reduce threat of intense fires.
1 48 60.3 carbon sequestration
Prioritize planting trees in and with low income or frontline neighborhoods as per the Street Tree Master Plan.
3 50 59.945 carbon sequestration
Ensure that the city has the resources and staff to effectively plant and maintain street trees and landscapes.
5 52 59.705 carbon sequestration
Electrify and improve health and safety of city's existing affordable housing stock at a neighborhood level by 2040.
5 49 58.95
Remove obsolete natural gas infrastructure, deploy community solar, and electrify existing buildings in residential neighborhoods.
5 59 58.57
Develop and implement phased, equitable electrification ordinance(s) for existing residential buildings by 2024.
4 55 58.16 Cons: unclear wording (people think we are converting all buildings to electric in 2 yrs); resistance to getting rid of gas stove
Adopt equitable electrification ordinance(s) for existing residential buildings by 2024.
Conduct compensated engagement with frontline communities during development of the existing building electrification roadmap. 3 47 57.025 Some more mixed opinions
1.11 1
Rosemary Balsley
From: Garrett <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2022 11:26 AM
To: City Council
Subject: 3.29.22 Council Agenda Item Climate Action Plan
3.29.22 Council Agenda Item Climate Action Plan
Dear Council,
I would remind you, and you have shown you need reminding, ex-post facto type laws are unconstitutional and buildings when legally built cannot be declared unpermitted. This could apply to any notions of 100% electric compliance households. Climate change is totally a win-win-win-win proposition for every politician. They look like they really care about something really important; will have a mandate to save the planet; Nothing will be of bounds; they look smart, with zero accountability since the demonstrable cause and effect on the earth’ climate of any actions taken are decades away, if any, with no way to tell in the present if they are working.
Since you endorsed the Green New Deal I know your sensibilities are as out of wack as AOC is. How unfortunate for all of us. She’s a loon. Have you noticed how everything is a crisis when Democrats, especially progressive Democrats are in charge? Crisis after crisis.
Never mind man made climate fear mongering has been so wrong so many times in the past; it continues to power opportunities to seize power, control, and profit at the public’s expense.
Climate fear mongering is also an excellent opportunity to hijack all of its legitimacy, and it has some, to power unrelated less legitimate and definitely unAmerican political agendas such as leftist equity, inequality, more welfare dependence subsidy, housing control, heck, load the Marxist boat, those rich middle class publics’ a gonna be a payin for it!
Never mind carbon neutrality is currently pure hypocrisy as when the wind and sun don’t perform, and it’s really natural gas that is the best alternative besides nuclear to power the energy we will need. So ,” yeah, let’s eliminate natural gas now!, er, wait a minute, not good, too late”. To be neutral, more let’s say solar capacity would be needed than can be used to balance natural gas use at night, but if everyone did that, there would be no buyers for the excess. Battery technology awaits some breakthrough.
1.12 2
Your surveys are not more honest random sample surveys, but more likely opinions of climate activists. Really, you think you have support between 63 and 88% for every single one of 60 survey items, as in “sure I’d personally pay plenty for that”? I have a climate action plan to sell.
The earth’s climate has and always will undergo turbulent change as a result of thousands of cyclical events of varying effect. The only two honest attempts at scientifically predicting global warming were satellite and earth shine reflectivity experiments over the last twenty years, since it is only man-made changes in overall earth reflectivity that matters with other factors out of our control or are false observational attributes. With any proof of why, both experiments indicate a decline, but varied by a factor of two meaning at least one or both is wrong. Both do indicate decline, thus predict global warming, but note observed reflectivity changes continuously everywhere, second to second, day to day, across solar cycles, across a full energy spectrum difficult to measure globally over the decade’s necessary to obtain definitive conclusions and the first two attempts don’t fully agree as to any urgency.
The sea rise over the last 20-30 years is higher than the last 100 years, but minuscule compared to the fear mongers estimates. The polar bears are fine. Reducing energy availability is economic doom and makes earth a more inhospitable place.
There is a reason San Francisco, Los Angeles, and the State of California is seeing an exodus of population. Those are the smart people giving up on Leftist California’s politics and policies.
So, it’s a big NO to aspirations of excessive government control.
Garrett Philipp - Westside
1.13 Santa Cruz Community-wide Climate Action Plan 2030 City Council Study Session | March 29, 2022
Targets, Funding + Implementation
1.14 Placeholder for closed captioning / translation slides from resilient coast / how to rename oneself for gender pronous
1.15 3
● Receive update on Climate Action Plan 2030 development progress ● Discuss considerations of funding and implementation of the CAP 2030 Objectives of Study Session
Goal of Climate Action Plan 2030
development process:
● Prepare a CEQA qualified CAP that meets state targets ● Determine the year and most equitable pathway to carbon neutrality
1.16 EQUITY SCREENING TOOL
CAP 2030 Process and Components
VALUES +
VISION
GOALS
+
TARGETS
ACTIONS
CAP 2030
INCLUDING
FUNDING +
IMPLEMENTATIO
N PLANS
MEASURES
1.17 CAP 2030 Timeline
The City’s Climate Action Program is developing it’s second generation Climate Action Plan (CAP). A community focused effort that will develop an equitable pathway to carbon neutrality.
Apr
May - July
Adopt
August
1.18 Recommended Emissions Reduction Targets
CEQA Qualified Targets (legally defensible)
❑ AB 32: 80% by 2050 from 1990 levels (adopted in 2020 CAP) ❑ SB 32: 40% reduction by 2030 from 1990 levels (9% reduction 1990 to 2020) * Minimum required for CEQA
Aspirational or Stretch Targets (voluntary)
❑ State Carbon Neutrality Goal of 2045
❑ Science Based Target (60.7% reduction from 2019 by 2030) ❑ Aspirational Target of Carbon Neutrality by 2030 or 2035
1.19 Forecasts + Targets
SB 32: 40%
reduction by
2030 from
1990 levels
(required for
CEQA).
Pathway to
carbon neutral
by 2045.
^Not CA specific
Carbon sequestration
Climate economy
Carbon Capture Technology
More aggressive measures
^ Climate Safe CA Target
1.20 *
Carbon sequestration is outside
of CEQA qualified CAP but under
consideration in the Scoping Plan
Update
CAP Measures
1.21 Building Energy
Measures
- Reduce natural gas usage by 33% in residential buildings - Reduce natural gas usage by 30% in commercial buildings Transportation
Measures
- 25% active transportation mode share (19.5% now)
- 8% public transportation mode share (7% now; assume no rail thru 2030)
- 35% passenger EV mode share (<5% pas+com now)
- 25% commercial EV mode share (<5% pas+com now)
- 50% off-road equipment decarbonized
Emissions Reduction Measures
Water + Waste
Measures
- 85% reduction in organic waste
- 35% reduction in inorganic waste
- 0% reduction in wastewater process emissions
1.22 Green Economy Actions
● Prioritize opportunities for greatest climate benefit and economic inclusion ● Support entrepreneurship, high road local business development and prioritize minority, vet and women owned businesses in climate related sectors
● Ensure equitable access to quality family sustaining careers and employee retention support in climate related sectors especially for community of low income, people of color, women, unsheltered, veterans and youth. ● Seek large-scale climate investments and partnerships at both local and regional levels that help businesses with a just transition
● Address pressing issues regarding local hire, supply chain, and unequal conditions in the labor market. ● Develop and facilitate equitable access to high-quality training and workforce development programs in climate related sectors
● Leverage community activation platform and community partners to encourage lifestyle choices that reduce consumption based emissions including plant based diets, travel alternatives and local purchasing. Explore policy options to increase adoption plant-based, and plant strong diets. .
14 Climate Restoration Actions (carbon sequestration)
1.23 Engagement on 100+ Draft Actions
<<Consider.It 139 unique users
❑ CATF
❑ Focus groups
❑ Upcoming focus groups
• Public transpo
• Parking
• Building Elect.
• Beach Flats
1.24 Implementation Plan
• Identifying roles for departments, partners and
community members
• Identifying systems, tools, resources needed
• Problem solving largest obstacles or risks
• Identifying equitable, efficient and effective
processes
• Identifying funding plan
• Tying outcomes to HiAP community well being
indicator metrics
Everyone in the
community and all
departments have
a role in Plan
implementation
1.25 Approach
to identifying
funding and
financing
mechanisms
Sample
Measure
Sample
Measure
Analyze Measure Actions Against
Available Funding/Financing
Key
Action
Key
Action
Key
Action
Key
Action
Key
Action
Key
Action
Grants
List Types of
Funding/Financing
Available
Loans
Bonds
Loans
Bonds
Loans
Grants
Grants
Budget
Grants
Partner
Partner
Provide Top
Funding/ Finance
Pathways
Foundation
Federal Loan
GO
Private Partner
Revenue
Revolving Loan Fund
State
Government
City
Regional
PPP
PPA
Reference
Resources/Partners and
Case Examples
Nature Conservancy
FTA
City of Oakland
Apple
City & County of SF
City of Monterey
DGS Building Retrofits
BayWAVE
City of Fremont
Tahoe Conservation
District
3CE
Silicon Valley
Renewable Energy
Repeats for up to
X number of
measures
Resources developing:
● Regional climate
project developer +
grant writer
● Grant writers/admin
● Grants training
Funding Plan
1.26 Draft Plan - public review (June)
1.27 Tracking + Reporting
1.28 Community
Activation
September
1.29 Timeline to Completion!
March
- 3/29 City Council Study Session
April
- 4/1 Youth Digital Storytelling pieces complete
- 4/13 Heat Pump Webinar + more outreach thru May
May - June
- 5/16 Transportation & Public Works Commission
- Parks and Recreation Commision?
- 5/30 Public Review of Draft CAP 2030 thru late June
July - Aug
- 7/7 Planning Commission
- 8/9 City Council Adoption
1.30 Questions?
1.31