Agenda

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C. 34

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Monica Nino, County Administrator
Date:	February 28, 2023

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Board Member Appointment to the Board of the Green Empowerment Zone

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 02/28/2023

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Ken Carlson, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

L. DeLaney, (925) 655-2057

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: February 28, 2023
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPOINT Supervisor Gioia (D. I) to the board of directors of the Green Empowerment Zone and designate Supervisor Glover (D.V) as the alternate board member for Contra Costa County.

FISCAL IMPACT:

No fiscal impact associated with the appointment of a director to the board.

BACKGROUND:

On September 28, 2021, AB 844 (Grayson) was signed by Governor Newsom.


According to the Legislative Counsel's digest:

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

"This bill, until January 1, 2028, would authorize establishment of a Green Empowerment Zone for the Northern Waterfront area of the County of Contra Costa. The bill would authorize the Green Empowerment Zone to be composed of specified cities, upon adoption of a resolution by the city or county, and would provide for the Green Empowerment Zone to be governed by a board of directors. The bill would task the Green Empowerment Zone with various duties, including, among other things, identification of projects and programs that will best utilize public dollars and improve the economic vitality of the Northern Waterfront area of the County of Contra Costa in a coordinated effort to support the development of the clean energy economy.

The bill would require the Green Empowerment Zone to create and maintain an internet website that is managed and updated by an entity designated by the board of directors, produce a report each year that includes recommendations for action by the Legislature and the progress of the zone, and post the report on its internet website, as specified."

The Contra Costa Green Empowerment Zone (the Zone) will provide an organizational framework to assist the region in a just transition to a lower carbon economy. The idea for a Green Empowerment Zone builds off of two previous efforts: The Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative and the San Joaquin Valley Partnership. The Initiative has already laid the groundwork for the regional scope and membership of the Zone. The Partnership provides a framework for legislation and cooperation with Federal partners.

When fully implemented, the Zone will allow stakeholders to leverage the full scope of available economic development tools, including:

Federal Empowerment Zones/Enterprise Communities
The California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority (CAEATFA)
The California Energy Commission’s Clean Transportation Program
The California Workforce Development Board's High Road Training Partnerships Program

The Green Empowerment Zone will be governed by an executive board of directors with the following duties:

Identify projects and programs that will best utilize public dollars to support the development of the green and advanced technology industry.
Serve as a clearinghouse to coordinate and leverage federal, state, local, and private sector resources in an effort to address critical needs in the region.
Work with local elected officials, members of the State Legislature, and the state’s congressional delegation and federal officials to gain support for projects identified by the partnership as critical to the region’s economic development.

Assembly member Tim Grayson has requested that Contra Costa County choose its representative for the Green Empowerment Zone's board of directors. With the consent of the Board of Supervisors, Chair John Gioia will serve in this capacity, and Supervisor Federal Glover will serve as the alternate member on the board of directors.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Unless the Board of Supervisors selects a representative for the Green Empowerment Zone board of directors, the County will have no official representation on the board.