HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOARD STANDING COMMITTEES - 04232018 - Sustainability Cte Min PktSustainability Commission Meeting Minutes – April 23, 2018
RECORD OF
ACTION
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION
An Advisory Body to the Board of Supervisors
April 23.2018
5:00 P.M.
30 Muir Road, Martinez
Present: Victoria Smith, Member, District 2, Chair
Howdy Goudey, At-Large, Community Group,
Vice-Chair
Reid Edwards, Alternate, District 2
Doria Robinson, At-Large, Environmental Justice
Gretchen Logue, Alternate, District 3
Wes Sullens, Member,
District 4
Travis Curran, Alternate, District 4
Charles Davidson, Member, District 5
Harry Thurston, At-Large, Community Group
Kathy Cutting, At-Large, Business
Shoshana Wechsler, Alternate, District
1
Not Present: John Sierra, Member, District 3
Nick Despota, Member, District 1
Mark Thomson, Alternate, District 5
Nick Snyder, At-Large, Business
Vacant, At-Large, Education Institution
Staff Present: Jody London, Sustainability Coordinator
Deidre Hodgers, Administrative Aide, DCD
John Steere, Contra Costa Watershed Program
Attendees: Carol Weed
Jan Warren
Michael Kent, Citizen’s Climate Lobby
Juliana Gonzalez
Pierre Bull
J.R. Killigrew, MCE
Alex DiGiorgio, MCE
1.Call to Order and Introductions
2.Pledge of Allegiance
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Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes – April 23, 2018
3.Public Comment
Michael Kent, a member of the Citizen’s Climate Lobby, a national non-partisan group, is
looking for support for the Carbon Fee and Dividend Policy (CF&D). The CF&D would place
a fee on greenhouse gases (GHG) produced. The fees would be returned to households as a
monthly energy dividend. He described how the fee would be collected, disbursed, and
distributed to American families. He says this initiative is in line with the Climate Action Plan
implementation goal GO-5, which has identified action items surrounding advocacy for
regional, state, and federal activities that support GHG reduction. He is requesting that the
Sustainability Commission consider supporting the CF&D and recommends that the Board of
Supervisors add language to the County’s legislation platform.
4.APPROVE Record of Action for February 26, 2018 meeting.
The record of action was approved unanimously.
Motion: Howdy Goudey Second: Kathy Cutting Abstain: Harry Thurston
5.RECEIVE presentation on transition of Contra Costa jurisdictions to MCE.
Alex DiGiorgio and J.R. Killigrew gave an update on the progress of the transition of
Contra Costa jurisdictions to MCE. They discussed the enrollment timeline and gave
sample comparisons of residential costs, opt out rates, and community outreach. MCE has
held informational community meetings, mailed customer notices, and held Facebook live
events with open question time. DiGiorgio and Killigrew also discussed some of the
programs and local developments they are working on, such as, Feed-In Tariff (FIT), FIT
Plus, and MCE Solar One. They answered questions from the Commission and offered to
come back at a later date to provide the information that they did not have readily
available.
6.RECEIVE presentation on North Richmond Watersheds Connection Project.
John Steere, Contra Costa County Watershed Program, Juliana Gonzalez, The Watershed
Project, and Doria Robinson, Urban Tilth, presented on the North Richmond Urban Farm and
two community gardens, the North Richmond Community based Cleaning and Outreach
Program, Greening Corps and Hot Spot (Creek) Cleanups, and The North Richmond Green
Team Project. These initiatives seek to reduce blight, develop green infrastructure, promote
urban greening, provide safe routes to school, increase its resiliency and give residents a sense
of pride of place and stewardship of North Richmond. The Sustainability Commission asked
Steere to report back on the green benefits district concept and on other areas in the County
where urban greening can be implemented.
7.RECEIVE report from Sustainability Commission Chair.
Chair Victoria Smith reported that the Supervisors’ Ad Hoc Committee on Sustainability was
excited about the presentation from Alhambra High School students regarding the Idle Free
Pledge. Supervisor Gioia suggested the Sustainability Commission should provide input to the
General Plan. The Commission is planning for a retreat on a Saturday in August or September.
She recommended an article from SF Magazine, May edition, regarding the split in the
environmental community over land use planning and Senate Bill 827.
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Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes – April 23, 2018
8.RECEIVE report from Sustainability Commission members and alternates, and PROVIDE
DIRECTION as needed.
Travis Curran reported that Crestwood Healing Center, a residential mental health facility,
a Bay Area Green Business, and Pleasant Hill’s 2016 Green Business of the Year, is
partnering with Last Plastic Straw, a movement aimed at reducing plastic straw usage
worldwide.
Jody London noted that the County Public Works Department is developing a Styrofoam
ban and would like to present to the Sustainability Commission at a future meeting.
Howdy Goudey is hosting a Fix-It Clinic with Michelle Krosowski at the El Cerrito library
on June 7, 2018. They are also planning to have one in San Pablo.
Harry Thurston, Howdy Goudey and Nick Snyder are looking at energy issues, including
charging stations, zoning, feed-in tariffs, and battery storage at oil stations.
Commission members also discussed the Green Benefits District concept, which can help
improve the quality of public streets, sidewalks, parks and open spaces. They discussed ways
to reduce trash and increase compostable items in the County and questioned the possibility
of Public Works collaborating with waste agencies. It was suggested to look into what
Berkeley is doing.
9.RECEIVE report from Sustainability Coordinator.
Jody London summarized the written report provided in the agenda
10.The next meeting is currently scheduled for June 25, 2018 from 5:00-7:00 P.M.
11.ADJOURN
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