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C. 79

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	John Kopchik, Director, Conservation & Development Department
Date:	January 21, 2020

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Recommendation of the Sustainability Committee regarding creating an Environmental Justice seat on the Hazardous Materials Commission

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 01/21/2020

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

Contact:

Jody London, 925-674-7871

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: January 21, 2020
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

ADD an Environmental Justice seat to the Hazardous Materials Commission to be filled by a layperson from a community that is highly impacted and burdened by hazardous materials facilities and releases, and who will be able to represent community interests.

DIRECT the Hazardous Materials Commission to amend its bylaws to reflect this addition and to initiate the process for filling the new seat, as recommended by the Sustainability Committee.

FISCAL IMPACT:

None.

BACKGROUND:

At the September 23, 2019 meeting of the Sustainability Committee, staff were asked to bring to its next meeting a report on adding an environmental justice seat on the County's Hazardous Materials Commission. At its December 9, 2019 meeting, the Sustainability Committee considered this item and discussed options for the Hazardous Materials Commission to use in defining eligibility for this seat.

At the meeting, the Executive Assistant to the Hazardous Materials Commission reviewed the current representation on the Hazardous Materials Commission. The Hazardous Materials Commission Chair reported that the prior week, the Commission had voted its preference to replace one of the existing environmental seats with an environmental justice seat. A memo from the Hazardous Materials Commission Executive Assistant is attached detailing the history of this issue.

The Sustainability Committee recommends that a new Environmental Justice seat be created on the Hazardous Materials Commission. The Sustainability Committee recommends the seat be filled by a layperson from a community that is highly impacted and burdened by hazardous materials facilities and releases, and who will be able to represent community interests. The person does not have to be a technical expert.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Failure to create an Environmental Justice seat on the Hazardous Materials Commission will deny the Hazardous Materials Commission the insight and experience of communities most impacted and burdened by hazardous materials facilities and releases.

CLERK'S ADDENDUM

By unanimous vote of the Board, this matter is amended to convert the currently open environmental seat to an environmental justice seat on the County Hazardous Materials Commission. No additional seat is added.