HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem NAGENDA STAFF REPORT
DATE: September 12, 2016
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
THRU: Jill R. Ingram, City Manager
FROM: Jim Basham, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: CLIMATE ACTION PLAN UPDATE
SUMMARY OF REQUEST:
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That the City Council receive and file an update on the preparation of the City of
Seal Beach Climate Action Plan.
BACKGROUND:
The California Legislature passed Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32), the Global Warming
Solutions Act, which set greenhouse gas emission (GHG) reduction goals into
law. AB 32 required the Air Resources Board to prepare a Climate Change
Scoping Plan which outlined the State's strategy to achieve GHG emission
reductions to 1990 levels. The Southern California Association of Governments
(SCAG) developed the 2012 -2035 Regional Transportation Plan /Sustainable
Communities Strategy in response to AB 32 which require GHG emission
reductions. The State of California now requires all GHG emissions within the
state to be lowered to the levels released in 1990. In order for this to be
accomplished, all regions and local governments must take an active part in
reaching for this goal.
Local governments have limited control over outside factors impacting air quality
within the community, but they do have control over the operations of public
buildings, facilities and local policies. Local governments can prepare a Climate
Action Plan (CAP) that will develop locally relevant measures to meet regulatory
obligations, establish cost - effective energy efficiency and conservation practices,
and promote environmentally responsible lifestyles. The Climate Action Plan will
develop a baseline inventory of required environmental components such as
building energy use, transportation, waste reduction and recycling, along with air
and water quality to determine current greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the
local jurisdiction. Once an existing condition baseline is determined, the CAP
can develop different strategies aimed at reducing emissions within the
community.
Agenda Item N
ANALYSIS:
The City was awarded a grant from SCAG to prepare a Climate Action Plan. City
staff coordinated with SCAG to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP), review
submittals and interview consultants. The grant agreement established that all
grant administration would be provided by SCAG so the contract agreement with
the selected consultant was made directly with SCAG. Five consultants
submitted proposals and were interviewed by SCAG and City staff. As a result of
those interviews, PMC was selected to prepare the CAP based on their extensive
experience. PMC has since been acquired by Michael Baker International
however, the Project Manager has remained throughout the project.
The consultant has been working to collect community greenhouse gas
emissions data and completed a baseline assessment. The consultant is now
ready to conduct an outreach program in order to introduce the CAP project to
the community and identify community goals. The next step for the consultant
will be to develop recommended strategies and policies for reducing greenhouse
gas emissions. The recommended strategies are intended to meet GHG
reduction goals and be reflective of community priorities. The consultant will
incorporate these goals and recommended reduction measures into the CAP.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
There is no environmental impact related to this item.
LEGAL ANALYSIS:
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The City was awarded a grant of $150,000 from the Southern California
Association of Governments that is being used to pay for all services from the
consultant.
RECOMMENDATION:
the City Council receive and file an update on the preparation of the Seal
I'tClimate Action Plan.
ED BY: NOTED AND APPROVED:
r
i it Ingram, City WaJager
Community Development Director
Prepared by: Crystal Landavazo, Senior Planner
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