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RECORD OF ACTION
AD HOC COMMITTEE ON SUSTAINABILITY

November 13, 2017
12:30 P.M.
651 Pine Street, Room 101, Martinez

Supervisor John Gioia, Chair
Supervisor Federal D. Glover, Vice Chair

Agenda Items:

Items may be taken out of order based on the business of the day and preference of the Committee

Present:	John Gioia, Chair

Absent:	Federal D. Glover, Vice Chair
Staff Present:	Michael Kent, Hazardous Materials Ombudsman
	Jody London, Sustainability Coordinator
	Frank DiMassa, Energy Manager
	Jason Crapo, Deputy Director, Dept of Conservation and Development
	Will Nelson, Principal Planner
	John Kopchik, Director, Dept of Conservation and Development
Attendees:	Victoria Smith
	Meaghan Doran
	Harry Thurston
	Alice Stover
	Jennifer West
	Gretchen Logue
	Jenny Berg
	Jerry Lahr
	Vijay Kesavan
	Jan Warren

Introductions

Public comment on any item under the jurisdiction of the Committee and not on this agenda (speakers may be limited to three minutes).

Staff recommends approval of the attached Record of Action for the September 25, 2017, meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee on Sustainability with any necessary corrections.

The Record of Action was adopted.

Chair John Gioia,

AYE:	Chair John Gioia
Other:	Vice Chair Federal D. Glover (ABSENT)
Passed

Attachments:

Minutes - 9/25/2017 Ad Hoc Committee on Sustainability

RECEIVE report from Contra Costa County Sustainability Commission.

Victoria Smith, Chair of the Sustainability Commission, reported on the work of the Commission since the last meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee on Sustainability. The Commission nominated Gretchen Logue to the seat on the Integrated Pest Management Advisory Board designated for the Sustainability Commission. The Commission has been discussing its annual report for 2017 and workplan and goals for 2018, which it expects to submit to the Board of Supervisors in January 2018. At its October meeting the Commission received a presentation from Deidra Dingman on solid waste issues and Climate Action Plan implementation goals, and discussed the Idle Free Pledge.

RECEIVE report on discussion paper “Navigating the Changing Landscape of Energy Efficiency Programs in the East Bay”, and PROVIDE DIRECTION as appropriate.

Demian Hardman from the Department of Conservation and Development provided a history and overview of the discussion paper prepared by the East Bay Energy Watch, Navigating the Changing Landscape of Energy Efficiency Programs in the East Bay. Hardman described that both the East Bay Energy Watch (EBEW), a partnership between PG&E and the jurisdictions in Contra Costa and Alameda counties, and the Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN), a collaboration of the nine counties that comprise the San Francisco Bay area, administered by the Association of Bay Area Governments/Metropolitan Transportation Commission, provide funding for County staff to implement energy efficiency programs for residents and businesses in Contra Costa County. As more cities and the County join MCE, which also offers energy efficiency programs, staff want to ensure that the entities that sponsor these programs are coordinating.

Jenny Berg, BayREN Program Manager, provided an overview of the BayREN and the programs it offers. Hardman described the EBEW programs. Alice Stover and Meghan Doran of MCE described the energy efficiency programs that MCE offers. Stover said that as new communities join MCE, MCE must identify funds to provide energy efficiency programs. This can take some time. MCE staff stated that MCE does not want to replace programs being run by local governments currently. MCE is establishing a call center in Pittsburg and is working with Future Build to train 11 people to work at the call center.

Supervisor Gioia expressed interest in how the programs are centralizing outreach, education, and access, noting that people want to go to one, user-friendly place for all the information they need. Staff from the different programs discussed goals and options for streamlining how the public interacts with the opportunities. The groups present agreed they will identify how to better collaborate, and will report back to the Committee.

Attachments:

MCE Handout for Nov. 13, 2017 Ad Hoc Sustainability Committee Meeting

BayREN Handout for Nov. 13, 2017 Ad Hoc Sustainability Committee Meeting

PROVIDE DIRECTION to staff and REFER the issue of access to energy usage data to the Board of Supervisors.

Demian Hardman from the Department of Conservation and Development described the importance of data on energy usage in buildings to determining progress in meeting Climate Action Plan goals. Hardman reported that the data are incomplete, especially in the industrial sector. Without data on energy usage, staff cannot report on greenhouse gas reductions in the commercial and industrial sectors. This is a problem across the State because the investor-owned utilities are not providing the needed data. Staff recommends that the Board of Supervisors authorize staff to work with other local governments and stakeholders to submit formal comments as needed to the California Public Utilities Commission and other entities to obtain accurate and consistent energy usage data, and to identify other, more applicable solutions to this issue. The Committee referred this matter to the Board of Supervisors.

Attachments:

Energy Usage Data Presentation

DIRECT staff to proceed with developing a solar ordinance reach code for Contra Costa County.

Jason Crapo from the Department of Conservation and Development summarized research that staff has performed since the last meeting of the Committee on developing an ordinance that would require the installation of solar energy panels on new residential structures. This would be based on a model ordinance developed by the Bay Area Regional Collaborative, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and Bay Area Regional Energy Network. It is widely expected that the 2019 California Building Code will include a requirement for mandatory solar facilities on new residential structures. The Committee directed staff to bring this matter to the full Board.

RECEIVE update on amendments to General Plan and zoning code that would allow commercial solar energy facilities in the General Commercial, Light Industrial, and Heavy Industrial zoning districts after issuance of a Land Use Permit.

Will Nelson from the Department of Conservation and Development presented the unanimous recommendation from the County Planning Commission to amend the General Plan and Ordinance Code to allow commercial/distribution scale solar energy projects in certain commercial and industrial areas of the unincorporated County. This item will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors.

Attachments:

Commercial Solar Report to Planning Commission 11/8/2017

RECEIVE update from the County’s Sustainability Coordinator and PROVIDE DIRECTION as appropriate.

Jody London, Sustainability Coordinator, referred the Committee to the written report provided in the agenda.

10.

The next meeting is currently scheduled for January 22, 2017, 9:00 A.M.

11.

Adjourn

The Ad Hoc Committee on Sustainability will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities planning to attend Ad Hoc Committee on Sustainability meetings. Contact the staff person listed below at least 72 hours before the meeting.

Any disclosable public records related to an open session item on a regular meeting agenda and distributed by the County to a majority of members of the Ad Hoc Committee on Sustainability less than 96 hours prior to that meeting are available for public inspection at 651 Pine Street, 1st floor, during normal business hours. Public comment may be submitted via electronic mail on agenda items at least one full work day prior to the published meeting time.

STAFF: Jody London, Coordinator (925) 674-7871. Glossary of Acronyms, Abbreviations, and other Terms (in alphabetical order): Contra Costa County has a policy of making limited use of acronyms, abbreviations, and industry-specific language in meetings of its Board of Supervisors and Committees. Following is a list of commonly used abbreviations that may appear in presentations and written materials at meetings of the Ad Hoc Sustainability Committee:

AB Assembly Bill	FTE Full Time Equivalent
ABAG Association of Bay Area Governments	FY Fiscal Year
ACA Assembly Constitutional Amendment	GHG Greenhouse Gas
ADA Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990	GGRF Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds
BAAQMD Bay Area Air Quality Management District	GIS Geographic Information System
BART Bay Area Rapid Transit District	HSD Contra Costa County Health Services Department
BAYREN Bay Area Regional Energy Network	IPM Integrated Pest Management
BGO Better Government Ordinance (Contra Costa County)	JPA/JEPA Joint (Exercise of) Powers Authority or Agreement
BOS Board of Supervisors	LAMORINDA Area of Lafayette-Moraga-Orinda
CALTRANS California Department of Transportation	MAC Municipal Advisory Council
CAO County Administrative Officer or Office	MBE Minority Business Enterprise
CAP Climate Action Plan	MOA Memorandum of Agreement
CARB California Air Resources Board	MOE Maintenance of Effort
CCA Community Choice	MOU Memorandum of Understanding
CCE Community Choice Energy Aggregation	MTC Metropolitan Transportation Commission
CCWD Contra Costa Water District	NACo National Association of Counties
CEC California Energy Commission	NEPA National Environmental Protection Act
CPUC California Public Utilities Commission	PDA Priority Development Area
CEQA California Environmental Quality Act	PV Photovoltaicv
CSA County Service Area	PWD Contra Costa County Public Works Department
CSAC California State Association of Counties	RDA Redevelopment Agency or Area
DCC Delta Counties Coalition	RFP Request For Proposals
DPC Delta Protection Commission	RFQ Request For Qualifications
DWR California Department of Water Resources	SB Senate Bill
DCD Contra Costa County Dept. of Conservation & Development	SGC Strategic Growth Council
EBEW East Bay Energy Watch	SR2S Safe Routes to Schools
EBMUD East Bay Municipal Utility District	TWIC - Transportation, Water, and Infrastructure Committee
EIR Environmental Impact Report (a state requirement)	U.S.EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency
EIS Environmental Impact Statement (a federal requirement)	WBE Women-Owned Business Enterprise