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SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE

RECORD OF ACTION FOR
March 28, 2021

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

Present:	John Gioia, Chair
	Federal D. Glover, Vice Chair
Staff Present:	Jody London, Sustainability Coordinator; Will Nelson, Principal Planner, Conservation and Development; Maureen Toms, Deputy Director, Conservation and Development; John Kopchik, Director, Conservation and Development; Erin Steffen, Management Analyst, County Administrator's Office; Steve Kowalewski, Chief Deputy Director, Public Works; Michael Kent, Hazardous Materials Ombudsman; Jason Crapo, Deputy Director, Conservation and Development; Wade Finlinson, Integrated Pest Management Coordinator, Health Services; Luz Gomez, Building Healthy Communities Manager, Health Services; Susan Psara, Green Business Program Manager, Health Services; Lara Delaney, Senior Management Analyst, County Administrator's Office; Nicole Shimizu, Climate Corps Fellow, Conservation and Development; Sonia Bustamante, Chief of Staff, Supervisor Gioia; Ellen Dempsey, Hazardous Materials Specialist
Attendees:	Assemblymember Tim Grayson, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, Steven Stenzler, Tanya Sundberg, Brent Easter, Pamela Meigs, Ogie Strogatz, Susan Hurl, Debi Cooper, Charles Davidson, Dennis Wasco, Lisa Jackson, Betty Lobos, Will McGarvey, Carol Weed, Derene Hinchliff, Domonique Jones, Martha Goralka, Fred Bialy, Justin Marquez, Bryan Reece, Porsche Bunton, Joann Pavlinec, Gary Farber, Brandon Matson, Fred Glueck, Ellen Beans, Susan Hurl, Janet Callaghan, Jackie Garcia, Aimee Henry, Debi Clifford, Catalin Kaser, Brenna Shafizadeh, Isabella Zizi, Devin Murphy, Madeline Kronenberg, Herb Salomon, Floy Andrews, Marti Roach, Allison Johnson, Chuck Leonard, Ryan Rauzon, Laura Cottril, Laurie Ozone, Katrinka Ruk, Maureen Brennan, Nick Despota, Jan Warren, Roshi Sirjani, Mike Moore, Aaron Winer, Michael Coody,


1.				Introductions

2.				Public comment on any item under the jurisdiction of the Committee and not on this agenda (speakers may be limited to three minutes).
				Marti Roach asked how the newly passed American Rescue Act’s funds will be used, how the public would be informed about how the money is used, and if there were opportunities to use some of the money for work with sustainability or environmental justice co-benefits. The Sustainability Committee said it would be able to answer Roach’s question once specific details are worked out.

3.				Staff recommends approval of the attached Record of Action for the February 22, 2021, meeting of the Sustainability Committee.
				The Record of Action from the February 22, 2021 meeting of the Sustainability Committee was approved.
				Attachments:
				02-22-21 Minutes


4.				DISCUSS options for a process that will facilitate an inclusive Just Transition and PROVIDE DIRECTION.
				Assemblymember Tim Grayson introduced his legislation to create Green Empowerment Zones which includes language around clean technology, economic development, and the preservation of good jobs for Contra Costa County. Congressman Mark DeSaulnier introduced his three-bill package focused on proactively preparing the community for the impacts of refinery closures. DeSaulnier highlighted the need for new economic opportunities and the need to convene affected stakeholders. The Committee elaborated upon the stakeholders it imagines would be part of a Just Transition discussion and voiced interest in the grants that would be introduced by DeSaulnier’s proposed bills. The Committee emphasized that this conversation is far-reaching and one that goes well beyond Contra Costa County alone. The Committee asked DeSaulnier about stakeholders with whom he engages. DeSaulnier mentioned having intentional conversations with research institutes in California and his desire to deploy the work that research institutions are doing into the community. He talked about the importance of dialogue with refineries and unions. The Committee pointed to the all-union electric bus company in Lancaster as an example of policy’s influence on clean tech and clean tech’s role in replacing refinery jobs with new varieties of jobs. In Contra Costa County there has to be development of local jobs to replace refinery work and partnership with community colleges to train up the workforce for these new jobs. Supervisor Glover pointed to the Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative as a possible hub for new these kinds of jobs in the clean tech industry. Jody London, Sustainability Coordinator, reminded the Sustainability Committee of the staff report corresponding to this item, which included a letter to the Board of Supervisors signed by over 60 community groups on the issue of Just Transition. The staff report referenced models that could be used to form a process around a Just Transition. London asked the Committee for direction for staff working on the Just Transition topic. The Committee advised staff to collaborate with Supervisor Gioia and Supervisor Glover’s offices to identify a list of organizations to be part of a discussion on Just Transition. At the Committee’s next meeting, the Committee will discuss the potential list of stakeholders to suggest to the full Board of Supervisors. The Committee suggested that staff coordinate with Assemblymember Grayson and Congressman DeSaulnier’s offices for additional stakeholder recommendations. The Committee voiced interest in having Assemblymember Grayson and Congressman DeSaulnier at the Board presentation. During the public comment period, members of the public thanked the Committee for discussing the topic of Just Transition proactively. Members of the public voiced their concern over the potential consequences of repurposing the Marathon and Phillips 66 refineries into renewable diesel plants including environmental, odor, pollution, and community impacts. Several community members voiced concern over repurposing facilities for renewable biofuel, an intermediary fuel, instead of focusing on electrifying transportation. Members of the public urged the Committee to hold refineries accountable for the remediation of their operational sites to avoid leaving communities holding the bag and leaving land fallow. One member of the public suggested creating an East Bay regional group focused on Just Transition. Other members urged the Committee to continue to think about protecting workers in a Just Transition, environmental justice, and groundwater flooding risks due to sea level rise. Gioia stated that the land use process would address issues that people raised. He said that the Just Transition discussion would deal with more than just the Phillips 66 and Marathon refineries. John Kopchik, Director of the Department of Conservation and Development, spoke about the role the County plays with regards to land use and the Phillips 66 and Marathon refinery project proposals. Kopchik recommended the Committee focus on issues outside of land use. The Committee acknowledged that the County is in a transformational time and that land use plans play an important role in Just Transition efforts. The Committee stated that it would learn from other efforts and devise a model unique to Contra Costa. Going forward, there will be work to identify stakeholders to include in any discussions, identifying and conducting additional research, and development of a transition plan.
				Attachments:
				Executive Order N-79-20
				Letter from Community Groups re Just Transition


5.				RECEIVE update and PROVIDE DIRECTION on draft environmental justice policy guidance for updated County General Plan
				This item was postponed to a Sustainability Committee meeting to be scheduled for April 2021.
				Attachments:
				Attachment A - Environmental Justice Online Survey Summary
				Attachment B - Environmental Justice Meeting Series Summary
				Attachment C - Hazardous Materials Commission Questions and Suggestions on October 2, 2020 EJ Memo
				Attachment D - Hazardous Materials Commission EJ Letter to Board of Supervisors, February 1, 2021
				Attachment E - Hazardous Materials Commission EJ Letter to Board of Supervisors, March 1, 2021
				Attachment F - Revised Draft Environmental Justice Policies
				Attachment G - Draft Environmental Justice Policy Guidance Context Memo
				Attachment H - Contra Costa Health Services Comments on Draft Environmental Justice Policy Guidance
				Attachment I - Richmond Land Comments Comments re Environmental Justice Goals, Policies, & Actions
				Attachment J - Draft Environmental Justice Policy Guidance Numbering Changes Crosswalk
				Presentation re Environmental Justice Policies


6.				RECEIVE UPDATE on Interim Climate Action Plan Work Plan.
				Jody London explained that the Interim Climate Action Plan Work Plan will track and report sustainability progress in the County until the adoption of the new Climate Action Plan next year.
				Attachments:
				2021-2022 Interim Climate Action Work Plan


7.				RECEIVE report from Sustainability Commission Chair.
				Jody London provided the report, noting the new leadership on the Commission and the Commission’s focus on transportation for this year. The Chair this year is Wes Sullens, and the Vice Chair is Sarah Foster.

8.				RECEIVE report from Sustainability Coordinator.
				Jody London referred the Committee to the written report in the agenda. London mentioned that the Interdepartmental Climate Action Task Force will bring its first report to the Board of Supervisors’ March 30, 2021 meeting. At the same meeting, a support letter for GRID Alternatives to administer an electric vehicle program being sponsored by PG&E will be brought to the Board.
				Attachments:
				Solar Installations at County Facilities - Progress Report


9.				The next meeting is currently scheduled for May 24, 2021.

10.				Adjourn

For Additional Information Contact:

Jody London, Sustainability Coordinatorf
Phone (925) 674-7871
Jody.London@dcd.cccounty.us