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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 04242012 - PR.1RECOMMENDATION(S): Presentation to recognize the new Bay Area Green Businesses for 2012, as recommended by the Health Services Director. FISCAL IMPACT: None. BACKGROUND: Green Business Program Highlights: • We have certified 26 new Green Businesses in Contra Costa since staff reported to the Board last year and currently have 357 certified businesses in the County. • The Bay Area Green Business Program continues to have more than 2,200 certified Green Businesses in the Bay Area (despite the closure and decertification of many businesses due to the economy and stricter standards). • Four public organizations were certified, including: the US Social Security Administration, Contra Costa College – Buildings and Grounds, Martinez Chamber of Commerce, and the County Administrator’s Office. • We are now recertifying approximately 60 Green Businesses per year, working with APPROVE OTHER RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE Action of Board On: 04/24/2012 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER Clerks Notes: VOTE OF SUPERVISORS Contact: Paris Greenlee, 335-3213 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: April 24, 2012 David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By: , Deputy cc: Tasha Scott, Demetria Gary, Paris Greenlee PR. 1 To:Board of Supervisors From:William Walker, M.D., Health Services Director Date:April 24, 2012 Contra Costa County Subject:PRESENTATION to recognize the new Bay Area Green Businesses for 2012 BACKGROUND: (CONT'D) them closely to meet all of our new, higher standards for being green. This effort has resulted in the creation of a streamlined recertification procedure. • Continued collaboration with Chambers of Commerce and Sustainable Contra Costa to recognize restaurants. • The Statewide Green Business Certification database was brought online after several years of hard work. Now it is easier for businesses to apply online and to find resources to help their businesses. Checklists are being shortened to simplify the certification process for: the businesses, the Green Business Program, and external programs that are involved with the site audit process. • Maintained a partnership with the Chinook Book, which is a coupon book with green resources and coupons for green businesses throughout the East Bay. The Chinook Book green businesses are now easily located with many handheld electronic devices. Requirements to Become a Green Business: Certified Green Businesses must meet high standards of environmental excellence established by the Program’s partnership. In addition, with the passage of AB 913, a statewide Green Business Program has been established to assist the local government programs, support the development and maintenance of the statewide certification database, promote the establishment of new programs, and provide technical guidance. To be certified, a business or public entity must: * Fully comply with all environmental agencies including: Hazardous Materials, Fire, Stormwater, Wastewater and the Air District; and * Conserve energy, water and other natural resources; and reduce or eliminate pollution from any hazardous wastes. The Contra Costa Green Business Program has twenty-four partners with representatives from public agencies, cities and the utility districts. We all work hard together each year to achieve our vision of Contra Costa as a place where businesses contribute to the sustainability of our communities by being green themselves. Our annual report and newsletter are attached to help convey the accomplishments of this past year. NEW CONTRA COSTA GREEN BUSINESSES: District 1 (Kensington): Wessne's Janitorial Service, LLC – Wessne Gebrmedhin, Alion – Chris Johnson, Annie's Annuals & Perennials – Elayne Takemoto, US Social Security Administration –David Rouggly, Sunny Hill Bookkeeping Services – Sunny Hill, Realty World Green Living – Brett Stratton, Contra Costa College Buildings & Grounds Department – Bruce King, PAX Water Technologies – Karen Losee District 2 (Lafayette): Jules Thin Crust, LLC – Heather Clapp, Sideboard – Ford Andrews, vCom Solutions – Isabel Fergadiotis, Orinda Taxi – Julian Juricevic, Yankee Pier – Michael Moore, The Rising Loafer Café & Bakery – Ahmed Shibli, Olive EcoFriendly Fashion – Kristy Crowell, One Earth Health Foods - Cathy Stainken & Tim Fanella, SpringLoaf Catering – Caroline Somary, Green School Clothing – Jason Morte District 3 (Brentwood): REI Brentwood – Stephen Noble District 4 (Pleasant Hill): Sleep Train Pavilion – Amanda Pyle, Five Little Monkeys – Katye Anderson, PAC Integrations, Inc. – Kara Chiono, Acclaro Wealth Management – Ryan Wells District 5 (Pittsburg): A Nobel Smile – Thang Nguyen, Martinez Chamber of Commerce – Cynthia Murdough, County Administrator's Office – Dorothy Sansoe CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION: If this Presentation is not approved, Green Businesses will not be publicly recognized for their achievements. CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT: Not applicable. ATTACHMENTS G:\NON CONTRACTS\2012\SGJul11.pdf G:\NON CONTRACTS\2012\GBPAnnualRept11.pdf One of the newer requirements to be certified in the Green Business Program is to not be offering disposable plastic bottles of water to staff or clients. The Facts: The primary reason for this is that it’s pretty much a myth that they are recycled—in fact they estimate that somewhere around 75% of them are not recycled (about 2.5 tons in 2008). As you probably also know, many of these litter our roads, and end up in creeks and channels leading to the Delta and Bay, making their way to the Pacific Ocean. Once there, because the plastic never degrades—it just breaks up into small pieces, it ends up being digested by creatures large and small. As we eat seafood, those same pieces will enter our bodies as well. Other important issues created by so many plastic bottles include the amount of oil used to manufacture and transport the bottles, and the quality of the water used. The Solutions: Tap water is readily available, doesn’t come in petroleum-based packaging, is free and does- n’t pollute! Use a filter if you want more control over the quality of your tap water, and be sure to use reus- able (BPA free) bottles whether you’re at work or on the road. For meetings, provide water in pitchers. If disposable cups are needed, provide paper cups (no Styrofoam!) that can be composted in (contd. Pg 2) Robin Bedell-Waite rbwaite@hsd.cccounty.us 925/335-3213 Claudia Pingatore CPingatore@hsd.cccounty.us 925/335-3220 Contra Costa’s Green Business Program brings you... have happened. And we’ve changed. We’ve raised our standards, ex- panded the businesses we work with, grown the number of partners (environmental agencies and cities) we work with, and now have online certi- fication with our new data- base. And, speaking of that, as of July 25th it will have been reformatted to make the database super 500th Green Business Certified! "Being a green office not only helps our en- vironment, but also our finances. By print- ing less, carpooling when possible, turning off lights in our conference room, etc., we are saving tax- payer money that can be used for other im- portant programs." Karen Mitchoff, Supervisor, District IV Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors STAYING GREEN user friendly! Check it out at greenbusinessca.org. And while you’re there, go into your “Profile” which is what the public will see in the directory about your business, and add your logo and a description! The attached sheet will give you instructions you’ll need as well as examples of profiles that have already been done. It’s easy and we’re always here to help! July 2011 We just certified our 500th Green Business! Those of you early Green Busi- nesses are really to be thanked for our being here today. An earnest thanks to you!! These early busi- nesses certified were all auto repair shops, and without their willingness to work with us, and their interest in showing their customers how green they were, none of this would GREEN TIP….Dispose of Using the Disposables—Bottles, That Is! ► Green Businesses Help the Food Bank— So many of you are not only green, but are active in your communities, and M Service of Walnut Creek and Bill Wygal of the Bill’s Ace Hardware stores are no exception. Both have recently been recognized by the Contra Costa & Solano Food Bank for their generous efforts and donations. ►Offices of Entire Contra Costa Board of Supervisors Certified— The individual offices of all five members of the Board of Supervisors have been certified—the first county to do so! ►Intern Helps to Recertify Green Businesses—Some of you will be contacted by Tyler Hopkins for recerti- fication audits. Tyler has been actively working with Sustainable Contra Costa and has been impressed with how green our businesses are. Keep show him your green side! WHAT’S UP IN THE PROGRAM? STAYING GREEN Karine Brighten hails from an intensive pro- gram in event planning at the Institut de tour- isme et d’hôtellerie du Québec, and from the largest event planning company in Canada. As an event planner, she has worked on many types of projects, includ- ing fundraising events, green weddings, grand openings, professional conferences, and corpo- rate parties, and is dedi- cated to affordable, eco- friendly events. For green events, the venue is one of the most important decisions. Selecting a location near public transportation and one that offers recycling or composting are just a couple of considerations. Reusing materials for multiple events cuts down on both costs and materi- als. Selecting electronic invitations, in lieu of paper invitations, further reduces the carbon footprint. When it comes to select- ing vendors, Karine always prefers local—and green—vendors. This reduces fuel and trans- portation usage and ultimately delivers higher quality items and fresher ingredients when it comes to food. Organizing a green event provides the opportunity to create an open dialogue between the planner and client, to exchange ideas about the event and how to make it green. Further, it educates others about how they can make their daily lives more green, which ultimately makes for a better tomorrow. Do check her out at kbrightenevents.com! Woods, Walnut Creek El Sobrante Optometry Evergreen Services, Concord Garden Natives, Martinez Gardener's Guild, Richmond Hesperian Cleaners, Danville High Spirits Event Planning, El Cerrito Karen Mitchoff, Member, Board of Supervisors, Concord Acclaro Wealth Management, Walnut Creek Barbara Chan Consulting, El Cerrito BishopWisecarver Corp, Pittsburg Connie English Studio, Martinez Contra Costa Assoc. of Realtors, Walnut Creek County Administrator’s Office, Martinez Donahue Gallagher Lafayette Chamber of Commerce LandSpaces, Richmond Maas Boat Company, Richmond Martinez Chamber of Commerce Mary Piepho, Member, Board of Supervisors, Brentwood & Danville Mechanics Bank, Lafayette REI, Brentwood Springloaf Catering, Lafayette Steeltown Coffee & Tea, Pittsburg PAGE 2 GETTING TO KNOW OUR GREEN BUSINESSES: KARINE BRIGHTEN EVENTS WELCOME NEW GREEN BUSINESSES! areas with composting. For field workers use the orange coolers, encouraging staff to use their own reusable cups or bottles. And spread the word to others about this issue so that we can quickly shift from using all of this plastic. Karine goes for reusables, recyclables & saving money GREEN TIPS (CONTINUED) 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 516 businesses have been certified as Green Businesses since 1998 through a partnership of 24 local agencies and cities that provide funding ($56,144), active leadership, staff time and resources to certify businesses. In addition to the program meeting its goals and objectives for the year, the partnership continues to be a strong, focused group aimed at working together to strategically and successfully green Contra Costa’s businesses. Highlights of 2011  44 new Green Businesses were certified in Contra Costa—and 2300 in the Bay Area.  Four public agencies were certified locally—Office of Contra Costa County Administrator , Board Member Karen Mitchoff, Board Member Mary Piepho (both offices) & Contra Costa College’s Buildings & Grounds.  Two Chambers of Commerce—Lafayette and Martinez—continue to lead the way in partnering with the Green Business Program.  Three large facilities in Richmond and Concord were certified—U.S. Social Security Administration, SunPower corporation and Sleep Train Pavilion.  Final completion of the new online database. This included hiring a firm to revamp the website so that it could be user friendly to businesses and staff, shortening all of the checklists and eliminating duplicate measures throughout the system.  Completion of a checklist for Property Managers, which is currently being used for the certification of Bishop Ranch.  Initiation of certifying restaurants, and working with various partners to ensure that all of the compliance and other issues are handled properly. Given the turnover of staff in restaurants, this is a business sector that requires more effort and attention, but has the ability to make a significant positive environmental impact.  Almost 70 Green Businesses were recertified in 2011, with another 50 nearing completion. Green Business Program Annual Report 2011 2 MISSION OF THE GREEN BUSINESS PROGRAM To strengthen and sustain the quality of the environment in Contra Costa County through a collaborative partnership of public and private organizations that encourages, enables and recognizes businesses taking action to prevent pollution and conserve resources. GOALS (2008-2012) FOR THE GREEN BUSINESS PROGRAM 1. To expand the program to sustainable levels by increasing the number of participating businesses and business sectors, including governmental agencies. 2. To encourage improved environmental performance of GBs by ensuring checklists that reflect up-to-date standards and technologies. 3. To improve the visibility and marketing of the program and of the participating businesses. 4. To build a strong program partnership to support the implementation of the Green Business Program. 5. To create sufficient organizational capacity to successfully operate the program. INTRODUCTION The focus of Contra Costa’s environmental agencies is to protect the environment by preventing pollution and conserving natural resources. In an effort to further these goals, they have partnered to implement the Green Business Program (GBP). By leveraging resources and combining expertise, the GBP works with Contra Costa businesses to address a full range of environmental concerns all at the same time. This is done in a cooperative, direct and personal way with businesses. The program began by working with auto repair shops in 1998, and expanded to all businesses in 2002. Each business is certified for compliance with all environmental regulations (hazardous materials, air, wastewater and storm water), and achievement of specific standards to conserve water and energy, prevent pollution, reduce waste and conserve resources. The GBPs in the nine counties of the Bay Area are coordinated by ABAG (the Association of Bay Area Governments), through its Hazardous Waste Committee. ABAG ensures consistency between the programs and hosts the program’s website: www.greenbiz.ca.gov. There are now 1,600 certified Green Businesses. This annual report covers who the partners are in the Green Business Program, our goals, as well as an evaluation of progress in achieving these goals, a budgetary report, and our revised strategic plan and goals for the future. GREEN BUSINESS PROGRAM PARTNERSHIP The Green Business Program partnership is made up of virtually every public agency within the County working to protect the environment, including those focusing on stormwater, wastewater, 3 air, fire, hazardous materials, reduction of solid waste, conservation of water and energy, and reduction of greenhouse gases. As partners, each of these entities provides a variety of support for the Program:  Leadership and program guidance  Funding  Materials and other resources  Inspections or audits of businesses  Expertise in setting program standards  Promotion of the program to businesses and community  Referrals of worthy businesses  Green Business certification of their own entities to show the community that they are leading by example Contra Costa’s Green Business Partners  Contra Costa Hazardous Materials  Contra Costa Clean Water Program  Central Contra Costa San. District  Mt. View Sanitary District  Delta Diablo Sanitation District  West County Wastewater District  Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority  West Contra Costa Integrated Waste Management Authority  CCC Watershed Program  City of Antioch  City of Brentwood  City of Concord  Town of Danville  City of Martinez  City of Pittsburg  City of Richmond  City of San Ramon  City of Walnut Creek  PG&E  Contra Costa Water District  EBMUD  511 Contra Costa  San Ramon Valley Fire District  Bay Area Air Quality Mgmt. District EVALUATION OF 2011 PROGRAM GOALS & OBJECTIVES In 2001, 2004 and again in 2007, long-term planning by the GBP Partners yielded a strategic plan and program goals to guide the program for the subsequent three years. Below is an evaluation of work done in 2011 to achieve these goals. Program Goal 1: To expand the program to sustainable levels by increasing the number of participating businesses and business sectors, including governmental agencies. For 2010 we set several specific objectives for this goal. Objective 1: To certify 50 new businesses. Results: We certified 44 new businesses 4 Objective 2: To certify two partner or public agencies. Results: Four public agencies were certified: Office of Contra Costa County Administrator, Board Member Karen Mitchoff, Board Member Mary Piepho (both offices) & Contra Costa College’s Buildings & Grounds. 44 new businesses were certified, bringing the total number certified to 516. Growing the program in sustainable ways—rather than certifying as many as possible—continues to be a focus of the partnership. As the number of businesses needing recertification grows and as the standards of certification for Green Businesses rises, program staff and auditors are spending more time on recertifications. The online database again required significant work to enable it to serve both the businesses and staff. This necessitated the hiring of a firm to evaluate the user interface and revise the webpages for clarity and ease of use. The company, Pier Two in San Francisco (and a Green Business themselves) did an amazing job. The database has now been fully revised. In addition to making the online process more clear for businesses, we also shortened all of our (almost 20) checklists, again, with the goal of making the process an easier one for businesses. The other challenging work has been to certify restaurants—a business sector that we had previously chosen to not work with very much because of compliance issues, and because of high staff turnover. With a number of businesses promoting their use of organic foods, we felt that restaurants would be ripe for “completing” their conversion to being green—in the back of the house where customers can’t see what is happening. Some partners are hesitant about certifying restaurants due to wastewater and storm water compliance, and others are anxious to work with them because of the potential to save water and energy, and reduce waste. We will be following the restaurants closely, and at time of recertification of a number of these restaurants, we will re-evaluate certifying them. Program Goal 2: To encourage improved environmental performance of GBs by ensuring checklists that reflect up-to-date standards and technologies. Almost 70 businesses were recertified with our newer standards that require low-flow toilets, efficient T-8 and CFL lighting, 30% post-consumer waste paper, green cleaning products and the use of Integrated Pest Management to manage pests. This has been done by working one- on-one with each business. We are very proud of the improvements so many of our businesses have had to make. When these businesses are recertified again in three years, because the standards are not expected to change, recertification should be a very brief process. Program Goal 3: To improve the visibility and marketing of the program and of the participating businesses. As a result of creating the online database, and with more work in 2011, we now have a fully searchable database of businesses on the website. As part of the user interface upgrade, the 5 searchable database itself was revamped, allowing businesses more exposure—with logos, business descriptions, etc. Finally, the program continued to do its standard program promotion. We continue to participate in various community events—West County & John Muir Earth Day events, West County Trade Show, Sustainable Contra Costa’s Restaurant Workshop; and the monthly Green Lunches. Program Goal 4: To build a strong program partnership to support the implementation of the Green Business Program. The partnership continues to seek self-education of all environmental issues and programs in the county. Towards this end we have dedicated a significant amount of time at our quarterly meetings to presentations on what the partners are particularly focusing on, and exploring in depth any issues that they may be having. Program Goal 5: To create sufficient organizational capacity to successfully operate the program. A strength of the GBP continues to be the partners themselves, and their ability to work together effectively. These partners contribute in essential ways: funding, staffing, policymaking, program promotion and providing referrals for the program. The partnership itself includes 24 partners. The interest and importance of all of the partners is evidenced in the work done every three years to strategically plan the future direction of the program. BUDGETARY REPORT Contributions to the Green Business Program are made on a fiscal-year basis. Contra Costa Hazardous Materials continues to provide funding for the program coordinator, with the partners contributing an additional $39,550 in FY10/11. This contribution funds program staff ($36,000) to work directly with businesses, promoting the program and verifying the pollution prevention part of the checklist. The remaining funds are dedicated to program promotion and materials. 6 FIVE-YEAR GOALS (08-12) FOR THE GREEN BUSINESS PROGRAM These goals, with their associated outcomes, provide the program with both its general direction and guide the setting of specific annual objectives. 1. To expand the program to sustainable levels by increasing the number of participating businesses and business sectors, including governmental agencies. Outcomes: This goal will be satisfactorily met when: a. Appropriate educational materials have been developed and distributed to businesses considering certification. b. Inspectors regularly make referrals to the Green Business Program. c. The program focuses on business types selected in response to environmental considerations, size and partner needs. d. The annual targeted goal is met for the number of businesses certified e. The certification process runs smoothly, in a timely fashion, and with opportunity for problems encountered at a business to be resolved. f. Partners have been either partially or fully certified. g. The GBP continues to emphasize certification of public organizations. h. Green Businesses are recertified every three years. 2. To encourage improved environmental performance of GBs by ensuring checklists that reflect up-to-date standards and technologies. Outcomes: This goal will be satisfactorily met when: a. Checklists used for certification and recertification have appropriate standards to meet the environmental expectations of the partners, and exceed current business practices. b. Ongoing education of GBs occurs through the biannual GBP newsletter and email communications with GBs on trainings, events and information on how to be green. 3. To improve the visibility and marketing of the program and of the participating businesses. Outcomes: This goal will be satisfactorily met when: a. More prominent use and recognition of the GBP logo and tagline (Environmental Values at Work) occurs. b. Green Businesses have sufficient tools to market themselves effectively. c. Program promotion to the public includes:  Website  Promotional materials distributed to GBs  Environmental and business fairs (identified by partners)  Promotions by partners within their own jurisdictions  Partner newsletters d. The website is revamped to effectively serve the public, GBs and the media. e. We strategically market the program to the public. 7 f. Outreach resources such as materials, appearances at events, and giveaways are leveraged and shared among partners, reducing costs for all. g. Develop partnerships with Chambers of Commerce. h. Measured environmental results of participating in the GBP are communicated to the public. i. PR effectiveness with GBs and the public has been measured. 4. To build a strong program partnership to support the implementation of the Green Business Program. Outcomes: This goal will be satisfactorily met when: a. A sufficient number of partners have joined to successfully implement the program. b. All appropriate environmental agencies and cities have been identified and encouraged to participate. c. Partners are provided program updates and program evaluations and/or annual reports. d. Sufficient training in compliance and/or pollution prevention/resource conservation is provided. e. The Green Business Program is seen as a valuable asset to the partners and a means to achieve their own environmental protection, conservation and public relations goals. 5. To create sufficient organizational capacity to successfully operate the program. Outcomes: This goal will be satisfactorily met when: a. An effective organizational structure and process are in place. b. Appropriate policies and procedures have been developed and implemented. c. Sufficient funding from GBP partners exists to realize our goals and outcomes. d. Sufficient funding from outside sources exists to realize our goals and outcomes. e. Partner agencies commit sufficient personnel as inspectors and auditors to successfully certify Green Businesses. f. Roles are clearly defined for the steering committee, its task forces and subcommittees, and program staff.