HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOARD STANDING COMMITTEES - 06242019 - Sustainability Cte Min Pkt
Record of Action
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION
An Advisory Body to the Board of Supervisors
June 24, 2019
5:00 P.M.
30 Muir Road, Martinez
Howdy Goudey, Chair, At-Large, Community
Group
Nick Despota, Vice-Chair, Member, District 1
Shoshana Wechsler, Alternate, District 1
Victoria Smith, Member, District 2
Ryan Buckley, Alternate, District 2
John Sierra, Member, District 3
Gretchen Logue, Alternate, District 3
Wes Sullens, Member, District 4
Travis Curran, Alternate, District 4
Charles Davidson, Member, District 5
Vacant, Alternate, District 5
Harry Thurston, At-Large, Community Group
Russell Driver, At-Large, Business
Nicholas Snyder, At-Large, Business
Doria Robinson, At-Large, Environmental Justice
Kim Hazard, At-Large, Education
Agenda
Items:
Items may be taken out of order based on the business of the day and preference of the
Committee
Present: Howdy Goudey, Chair, At-Large, Community Group
Nick Despota, Vice-Chair, Member, District 1
Shoshana Wechsler, Alternate, District 1
Victoria Smith, Member, District 2
Ryan Buckley, Alternate, District 2
Travis Curran, Alternate, District 4
Charles Davidson, Member, District 5
Harry Thurston, At-Large, Community Group
Kim Hazard, At-Large, Education
Absent: John Sierra, Member, District 3
Gretchen Logue, Alternate, District 3
Wes Sullens, Member, District 4
Russell Driver, At-Large, Business
Nicholas Snyder, At-Large, Business
Doria Robinson, At-Large, Environmental Justice
Staff Present: Jody London, Sustainability Coordinator
Will Nelson, Department of Conservation and Development
Demian Hardman, Senior Energy Planner, Department of Conservation and Development
Chris Wikler, Field Representative, Supervisor Mitchoff
Jill Ray, Field Representative, Supervisor Andersen
Warren Lai, Deputy Director, Department of Public Works
Attendees: Marti Roach, Carol Weed, Jan Warren, Eli Krispi, Tammy Seale, Peter Engel, Tim Haile,
Joanna Jansen, Joanne Fanucchi
1. Call to Order and Introductions
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Public Comment
Joanne Fanucchi called for government agencies to wake up to the climate emergency in our community
and our world. She asked that we speak out as a collective and apply pressure to decision makers to
change things; no more business as usual.
4. APPROVE Record of Action for April 22, 2019 meeting.
The Record of Action was unanimously approved.
Motion: Despota; Second: Smith
5. RECEIVE Presentation on Contra Costa County Transportation Expenditure Plan and
Sales Tax
Tim Haile, Deputy Executive Director, Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA), reviewed the
timeline for ongoing updates to the County Transportation Expenditure Plan (TEP). CCTA is on an
accelerated schedule to adopt the TEP, which is required before CCTA can go to the voters to seek
approval for a sales tax. CCTA is working to have this measure on the March 2020 ballot; a decision by
the CCTA Board is needed in early November.
Haile reviewed the public outreach process in which CCTA is engaged. CCTA is finding that Contra
Costa County residents are interested in congestion relief. There is a lot of interest in better transit as
well as additional, safer modes, for example bicycling and walking. The Commission discussed with
Haile the outreach strategies, the proposed allocation of funds, focus on environmental justice, polling,
and other aspects of the TEP and potential sales tax measure. Haile clarified that there is not any
proposal to alter the Urban Limit Line.
6. CONSIDER Recommendation to Board of Supervisors to Support Local and Regional
Non-Profit Groups Regarding CCTA Transportation Expenditure Plan
Nick Despota reviewed the letter included in the agenda from a group of environmental, transit, and
land use advocates regarding priorities for the County Transportation Expenditure Plan and proposed
allocation of any sales tax funds. The Sustainability Commission discussed the letter and clarified with
Tim Haile from CCTA that the advocates and the current CCTA proposal are aligned on the goals, and
not aligned on the allocation of funds.
Nick Despota moved that the Sustainability Commission send a letter to the Board of Supervisors
endorsing the priorities of the letter from the advocates, and indicating that the Sustainability
Commission has no recommendation regarding allocation of funds. Kim Hazard provided a second.
The Sustainability Commission endorsed this action unanimously.
7. RECEIVE Presentation on Public Involvement Strategy and Environmental Justice
Issues in the General Plan and Climate Action Plan and PROVIDE SUGGESTIONS, as
needed
Joanna Jansen from PlaceWorks, the consultants on the General Plan, reviewed the community meetings
held to date for the General Plan and upcoming opportunities for community involvement. Jansen said
the team is hearing concerns from the public regarding air quality and health, and greater access to safe
bicycling, walking, and transit. Jansen encouraged people to review the Briefing Book posted at
EnvisionContraCosta2040.org, which contains information on the existing conditions on a range of
topics and will be considered the “baseline” for analysis purposes.
Jansen described anticipated upcoming community engagement meetings. These will include focused
meetings in the fall that take advantage of specific expertise. Environmental justice and sustainability will
likely be combined.
Sustainability Commission members asked about large industrial facilities and how they are accounted
for in the General Plan and Climate Action Plan. There is concern about compounded health risks in
communities near these facilities. Jansen noted that new State requirements for environmental justice and
general plans have not changed the regulatory structure for large industrial facilities, which continue to
be regulated by the State and regional air quality management districts. Will Nelson (County staff) noted
that the uses at large industrial facilities predate the County’s zoning ordinances (which were first
adopted in 1947) and General Plan. Sustainability Commission members were encouraged to review the
online Briefing Book and provide feedback. Some Sustainability Commission members suggested it
would be interesting to consider land use designations near large industrial facilities, and consider how
to move people further away from them. Some also expressed interest in exploring what it would look like
in Contra Costa County if these facilities closed, how to implement a Just Transition, consider green
jobs, and strategies for divesting.
The group discussed outreach specific to the Climate Action Plan, in addition to the ongoing outreach for
the General Plan. There is interest in helping the Sustainability Coordinator conduct community
meetings in different areas of the County.
8. RECEIVE Presentation on Climate Action Plan Vulnerability Assessment and
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets and PROVIDE DIRECTION as needed
Tammy Seale and Eli Krispi from PlaceWorks reviewed the vulnerability assessment, which is a
component of the General plan. They also discussed goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. They
noted that the State is shifting the methodology for establishing these goals to a per capita (per person)
system starting in 2030, as opposed to a total reduction methodology. This is something Contra Costa
County will need to decide for its Climate Action Plan. Seale and Krispi described the spectrum of
implementation measures, from mandatory to voluntary to incentive-based. Sustainability Commission
members agreed to research options for setting reduction goals and report back to each other at the
August meeting.
9. ADOPT Environmental Justice Rubric Developed by the Commission’s Environmental
Justice Working Group and RECOMMEND Its Use in Updating the County’s General
Plan.
The Commission lost its quorum and was unable to take up this item.
10. RECEIVE UPDATE on proposal from Member, District 1, to Recommend the Use of
Carbon-Neutral Building Materials in County Projects.
The Commission lost its quorum and was unable to take up this item.
11. AMEND Sustainability Commission Bylaws to Extend Term of Service for 60 days or
Until an Appointment Is Made to a Vacant Seat
The Commission lost its quorum and was unable to take up this item.
12. DISCUSS Proposed Polystyrene Ordinance, and PROVIDE DIRECTION as needed
The Commission lost its quorum and was unable to take up this item.
13. RECEIVE Reports from Sustainability Commission members and alternates, and
PROVIDE DIRECTION as needed.
The Commission lost its quorum and was unable to take up this item.
14. RECEIVE Report from Sustainability Coordinator.
The Commission lost its quorum and was unable to take up this item.
15. RECEIVE Report from Sustainability Commission Chair and IDENTIFY TOPICS for
next report to Sustainability Committee.
The Commission lost its quorum and was unable to take up this item.
16. The next meeting is currently scheduled for August 26, 2019.
17. Adjourn