HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10122010 - C.54RECOMMENDATION(S):
1. ACCEPT the Greening Contra Costa Together Campaign Commuter Survey (Commuter
Survey) dated October 2010;
2. DIRECT the Department of Conservation and Development Director, or appointee, to
distribute the Commuter Survey to the selected County work-sites;
3. AUTHORIZE the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to request the County departments
at the selected work-sites to participate in the October 2010 Commuter Survey; and
4. DIRECT the Department of Conservation and Development (DCD) to report back to
Board once results of Commuter Survey have been analyzed.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None to the General Fund. The survey is computerized to automate collection and analysis
of the responses. Evaluation of the responses is funded by County's federal Energy
Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant.
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 10/12/2010 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Gayle B. Uilkema, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Susan A. Bonilla, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: Jamar Stamps,
925-335-1220
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board
of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: October 12, 2010
David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: KATHERINE SINCLAIR, Deputy
cc: Joe Valentine, Director, EHSD, Julie Bueren, Director, PWD, Stephen Ybarra, Aud-Cont, Robin Bedell-Waite, HSD, Corinne Dutra-Roberts, 511 Contra
Costa
C.54
To:Board of Supervisors
From:Catherine Kutsuris, Conservation & Development Director
Date:October 12, 2010
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:October 2010 Commuter Survey of Contra Costa County Employees
BACKGROUND:
On June 2, 2009, the Board of Supervisors approved the Strategic Plan for use of the
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant received from the U.S. Department of
Energy. This Strategic Plan included the Greening Contra Costa Together campaign. As
part of this campaign, the Department of Conservation and Development (DCD), along
with 511 Contra Costa is preparing an employee commuter survey. The purpose of the
survey is to identify commute behaviors of County employees at specific work locations
and determine County employee's interest in several commute alternatives. Commute
alternatives consist of methods of travel to work other than driving alone (e.g. carpool,
vanpool, public transportation, bicycle, walking, etc.). The results gained from this
work-site specific survey will help guide employee commute assistance efforts that can
be applied to other County work-sites. The County employee work-sites that have been
chosen are as follows: 1650 Cavallo Road, Antioch; 4545 Delta Fair Blvd, Antioch; 4549
Delta Fair Blvd, Antioch; 400 Ellinwood, Pleasant Hill; 500 Ellinwood, Pleasant Hill;
255 Glacier Dr, Martinez; and 651 Pine St, Martinez.
In 2007 the County conducted an employee commuter survey, which was administered to
all County employees, that revealed several findings: 85% of employees drive alone to
work versus 81% in 2003; costs, convenience and flexibility rank in the top in terms of
priority for employees when choosing a method of commuting; nearly 30% of employees
are not offered flexible work schedules.
The objectives of the 2010 survey are to:
Determine the commute habits and needs of County employees at specific work
locations;
Identify barriers to telecommuting in order to help create opportunities for
employees to take advantage of existing policies;
Introduce a "ridematch" component that will allow County employees to create
carpools/vanpools at their specific work locations; and
Understand what commute strategies can work best at reducing energy use and
greenhouse gases.
The 2007 survey was funded using Transportation Funds for Clean Air (TFCA) Program
funds provided by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. The 2010 survey,
which is developed by 511 Bay Area, was done using federal Congestion Mitigation and
Air Quality (CMAQ) funds. The County's contribution will be in the form of staff time
devoted to administering the survey.
During the month of August 2010, the Greening Contra Costa Together Campaign had
tabling events to promote recycling programs. Similar tabling events were held at the
same work locations during September to promote commute alternatives programs. This
survey will serve as a follow-up and needs assessment for these specific work locations.
The 2010 employee commute survey will identify the commuting patterns of County
employees at these locations and help determine the level of interest in specific types of
employees at these locations and help determine the level of interest in specific types of
commute alternatives. The results of the 2010 survey will identify barriers to using
commute alternatives. Staff will also use the previous 2007 commuter survey findings
and analysis as a guide. This survey will be administered in October and will be
internet-based to the extent possible. Paper surveys may be provided as needed. The
survey will be taken anonymously and only information related to the survey participant's
commute habits will be recorded. A draft of the survey is shown in Exhibit A. 511
Contra Costa will provide prizes to be distributed to survey participants, which will
consist of BART fare cards of various denomination. The prizes were one of the reasons
for the high response rate to the 2007 Commuter Survey. Disbursement of the prizes is
still to be determined.
In order to address compliance with tax regulations enforced by the County Auditor, all
prizes will be funded and processed by an outside agency, 511 Contra Costa. When
awarding financial prizes, the County will also need to include a cover sheet reminding
employees to add the prize amount to their income which may be subject to taxes. It
should be noted that the overall prizes will not add-up to more than $5,000, which would
require approval by the Board of Supervisors.
Relationship to "Greening Contra Costa Together" Campaign
On February 23, 2010 the Board of Supervisors launched the “Greening Contra Costa
Together Campaign." This effort is funded by the Energy Efficiency & Conservation
Block Grant Program in Contra Costa County.
Several departments created “green teams” comprised of County staff to lead the
campaign within their own offices. As part of the overall effort, DCD and 511 Contra
Costa are working together to increase participation in the alternative commute programs
offered by the County and 511 Contra Costa. These include carpooling, vanpooling,
public transit, bicycling, etc.
Information will be provided to employees in the lobbies of a number of County
buildings between September 14 and 28. These tabling events will be followed up with
meetings for interested employees to get more details on commute alternatives. One of
the recommendations of this Board Order is to authorize the Chair of the Board to
request the selected County department heads to notify their employees of the survey and
encourage their participation.
Relationship to Municipal Climate Action Plan
In December 2007, the Board of Supervisors adopted a Municipal Climate Action Plan
(MCAP) which was prepared under the direction of the County's Climate Change
Working Group for the purpose of identifying and analyzing practical methods to be used
for the reduction of green house gas emissions. It is the County's intent to identify and
utilize the best and most efficient solutions for reducing harmful greenhouse gas
emissions.
The MCAP identifies the most effective planned municipal emissions reduction
measures, and existing measures that could be expanded upon. The program encourages
the use of fuel alternatives and alternative modes of transportation as some of the most
effective methods for reducing greenhouse gas emissions output from municipal
operations. In order to achieve the reduction goals forecasted by the MCAP, the County
would need to gain a refined understanding of the commute behaviors and practices of its
employees. Results from the survey will help provide that understanding in order to
create opportunities for the most effective emission reduction strategies through
employee commute practices.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Failure to conduct the commuter survey will jeopardize the county's implementation of
the strategic plan under the Greening Contra Costa Together campaign funded by the
federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Exhibit A