HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOARD STANDING COMMITTEES - 12092019 - Sustainability Cte Min
Record of Action
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION
An Advisory Body to the Board of Supervisors
December 9, 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
Mike Moore, Alternate, District 3
Wes Sullens, Member, District 4
Travis Curran, Alternate, District 4
Charles Davidson, Member, District 5
Reneé Fernandez-Lipp, 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
Sarah Foster, 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
John Sierra, Member, District 3
Mike Moore, Alternate, District 3
Wes Sullens, Member, District 4
Travis Curran, Alternate, District 4
Charles Davidson, Member, District 5
Reneé Fernandez-Lipp, Alternate, District 5
Russell Driver, At-Large, Business
Harry Thurston, At-Large, Community Group
Sarah Foster, At-Large, Environmental Justice
Absent: Ryan Buckley, Alternate, District 2
Nicholas Snyder, At-Large, Business
Doria Robinson, At-Large, Environmental Justice
Kim Hazard, At-Large, Education
Staff Present: Demian Hardman, Senior Energy Planner, Department of Conservation and Development
Jody London, Sustainability Coordinator, Department of Conservation and Development
Cindy Cortez, Climate Corps Fellow, Department of Conservation and Development
Dom Pruett, Office of Supervisor Andersen
Attendees: Linda Flower
1. Call to Order and Introductions
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Public Comment
There was no public comment.
4. APPROVE Record of Action for August 26, 2019 meeting.
Motion: Victoria Smith. Second: Sarah Foster.
Vote: 12 Aye, 1 Abstention (Despota).
5. REVIEW and Possible ADOPTION of 2019 Annual Report and 2020 Work Plan
Commission members discussed the Annual Report and Work Plan. Members requested that the report
be amended to reflect work the Commission anticipates in 2020 on building electrification, carbon-
neutral building materials, a climate emergency resolution, and increasing resiliency to climate-related
disasters and incidents.
The Annual Report and Work Plan were adopted unanimously.
Motion: Wes Sullens
Second: Nick Despota
6. REVIEW and Possible ADOPTION of Climate Action Plan Progress Report for 2019.
The Commission discussed the draft Progress Report on the Climate Action Plan (CAP), which is
usually submitted with the Commission’s Annual Report and Work Plan. Commissioners made
suggestions for the final report, if feasible:
• Provide an explanation for why the reported energy efficiency projects for non-residential
buildings were lower than those for residential buildings.
• Provide data on where energy efficiency and rooftop solar projects are located geographically.
• Provide information on the obstacles and challenges departments encounter in trying to achieve
the CAP goals.
• Provide context for the Progress Report in the introduction of the Report.
Commissioners expressed interest in better understanding what is viable for CAP goals, where the
Commission can assist, context for CAP goals, etc. The Commission directed sub-groups to meet with
key County staff in the areas of transportation (Russell Driver, Sarah Foster) and water (Sarah Foster,
John Sierra, Reneé Fernandez-Lipp).
The Commission asked whether the energy financing opportunities will be expanded. Some observed
that Property Assessed Clean Energy programs are not designed for all income brackets or available to
all County residents. The Commission discussed whether future CAP Progress Reports can include an
equity statement for every measure.
Victoria Smith moved adoption of the CAP Progress Report for 2019, with the provision that the
comments and additional information discussed by the Commission be included. Nick Despota provided
a second. The Progress Report was approved unanimously.
7. RECEIVE Update on Draft Goals and Strategies for the Climate Action Plan.
Jody London reported that Sustainability staff are working with other County staff to develop CAP goals
and strategies, working off the ideas developed by the Sustainability Commission and in the community
meetings held in September and October. The Commission discussed a possible presentation on the
Commute Survey for County employees at its February 2020 meeting.
Sustainability Commissioners provided the following specific suggestions:
• Include phase out of fossil fuels.
• Include fire danger and power shutoffs.
• Track the number of electric vehicle charging stations.
• Under education, include education on electric vehicle rebates.
• Track the number of electric vehicles in bus fleets and other forms of public transportation.
• It will be important to be able to rank CAP measures in terms of their effectiveness and to
consider the capacity of County staff to do the work.
The Commission also discussed the letter from a number of environmental groups included in the
agenda. Specific to the recommendation VIII. “Initiate plans for how an orderly phase out of fossil fuel
refining will occur in the County,” Commission observed that should include brown fields. They also
observed that “managed decline” is broad language, and that the County should be considering a
gradual stepping down of oil production in the County, staying ahead of a potential crisis and not
throwing the workforce into disarray.
8. DISCUSS Climate Emergency Resolution, as May Be Requested by Board of Supervisors
Sustainability Committee
Howdy Goudey provided an update on the discussion about a Climate Emergency Resolution that
occurred that morning at the Sustainability Committee of the Board of Supervisors. The Committee
directed staff to take a first cut at the resolution. Goudey said the Committee appears to be more
interested in discrete actions than a broad vision, and there was comment and discussion at the meeting
on the merits of each approach. Commissioners observed the resolution provides an opportunity to
change how the County works on these topics. For example, every staff report to the Board of
Supervisors could include a climate action statement, similar to how reports now include a children’s
impact statement. Some think the resolution should provide guiding principles and vision. The County of
Los Angeles Our County plan was cited as an example of a visionary document. Commission members
would like to see the Board of Supervisors make a statement that they will take action on climate issues.
9. RECEIVE UPDATE on Low-Carbon Concrete Codes
Nick Despota provided an update on this issue, as documented in the attached written report. Despota
observed that low-carbon concrete codes would allow the County to use its procurement power to
purchase different concrete aggregates. Marin County recently issued a report on this that outlines
different concrete mixes for different applications.
The Commission discussed whether the Sustainability Commission should recommend that the Board
direct staff to research and possibly adopt low-carbon concrete standards for Contra Costa County.
Funded by a BAAQMD grant, Marin County developed the specifications as “model codes”, so they
could be more easily adopted by other jurisdictions.
Jody London observed that developing new codes is a time-consuming process for staff, even when there
are models from other jurisdictions. Staff must perform due diligence, bring new codes and policies
through the legislative process, consult with numerous stakeholders. The Commission did not reach a
conclusion regarding whether to recommend that the County adopt low-carbon concrete standards.
The Commission discussed the potential for employing reach codes as a mechanism for implementing
low-carbon concrete standards.
The suggestion was made that the recommendation for adoption of low-carbon concrete standards be
prioritized for consideration in this calendar year.
10. RECEIVE Reports from Sustainability Commission members and alternates, and PROVIDE
DECTION as needed.
There were no updates.
11. RECEIVE Report from Sustainability Coordinator.
Jody London reviewed the report included in the agenda.
Demian Hardman reported on energy efficiency work. Hardman said the Bay Area Regional Energy
Network (BayREN) in recent months has hosted a series of energy retrofit workshops for homeowners in
Contra Costa County. Hardman reported that BayREN will have a new focus and target market in the
new year, with the multi-family program focusing more on low-income properties. BayREN also provided
in-house training for County building and permitting staff on the new building code that goes into effect
in 2020. Hardman is working with the County Health Department to build out the Green and Healthy
Homes program, which focuses on providing medical and energy retrofit and weatherization services
households with high asthma rates. Hardman also reported that the California Public Utilities
Commission approved the fuel substitution proceeding, which allows energy efficiency implementers such
as BayREN, to develop new incentives to encourage customers to switch from electricity to natural gas.
12. RECEIVE Report from Sustainability Commission Chair and IDENTIFY TOPICS for next report
to Ad Hoc Committee on Sustainability.
Howdy Goudey reported that the Sustainability Committee had a very full meeting that morning,
discussing topics that include enrolling County accounts in MCE’s Deep Green program, the County
employee commute survey, the climate emergency resolution, and possible participation with MCE in the
CALeVIP electric vehicle infrastructure program. Items on building electrification and the federal Green
Act had to be held over to the January meeting because the Committee ran out of time.
13. The next meeting is currently scheduled for December 9, 2019.
14. Adjourn