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PR.2

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	William Walker, M.D., Health Services Director
Date:	April 19, 2016

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Annual Recognition of New Green Businesses

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 04/19/2016

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:	Randy Sawyer, 335-3210
cc:	Tasha Scott Paris Greenlee M Wilhelm

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: April 19, 2016
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

Recognize the new Bay Area Green Businesses for 2016.

FISCAL IMPACT:

None.

BACKGROUND:

Green Business Program Highlights
• Sixteen new businesses were certified and fourteen recertified since staff reported last year. We currently have 340 certified Green Businesses in Contra Costa County.

• The Bay Area Green Business Program (Nine Counties) has more than 2,400 certified Green Businesses.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

• Recertified Green Businesses perform additional work to meet the new standards and receive additional benefits and services, while at the same time collecting valuable environmental data. Streamlined recertification procedures were developed to allow their applications to be processed more efficiently.
• Continued collaboration between our program Partners has led to more efficient auditing procedures, identification of more resource conservation opportunities, and greater public visibility of the advantages of patronizing Green Businesses.
• The Statewide Green Business Certification website (www.greenbusinessca.org) is continually improved to allow more efficient processing of Green Business applications, and is the statewide repository of quantifiable data showing how much businesses are saving each year and the benefits to the environment. Businesses and communities can now quickly calculate: reductions in solid waste and hazardous materials, energy and water saved, wastewater and greenhouse gas emissions reduced as a result of the Green Certified Businesses. It is also easier for businesses to apply online and to find resources to help market their green business achievements. Checklists continue to be shortened to simplify the certification process for: businesses, the Green Business Program, and external programs that perform site audits.
• We are continuing our partnership with the Chinook Book - a coupon book with green resources and coupons for green businesses throughout the East Bay. The Green Businesses listed in the Chinook Book are now easily located with many handheld electronic devices.

Requirements to Become a Green Business

Certified Green Businesses must meet high standards of environmental excellence established by the Program’s partnership. In addition, with the passage of AB 913, a Statewide Green Business Network has been established to assist the local government programs, support the development and maintenance of the statewide certification website, promote the establishment of new programs, and provide technical guidance.

To be certified, a business or public entity must:

? Fully comply with all environmental regulations including: Air Quality, Environmental Health, Fire, Hazardous Materials, Stormwater, Wastewater, and Water Quality

? Conserve energy, water and other natural resources

? Reduce or eliminate pollution from any hazardous and solid wastes generated

The Contra Costa Green Business Program has twenty-four funding partners with representatives from public agencies, cities and the utility districts. Working together each year we achieve our vision of Contra Costa as a place where businesses contribute to the sustainability of our communities by being Green themselves.

Our agency and utility funding Partners includes: 511 Contra Costa , Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority, Contra Costa Clean Water Program, Contra Costa Hazardous Materials Program, Contra Costa Water District, Contra Costa Watershed Program, Delta Diablo, East Bay Municipal Utility District, Mt. View Sanitary District, Pacific Gas & Electric, Town of Danville, West Contra Costa Integrated Waste Management Authority, West County Wastewater District, and the Cities of: Antioch, Brentwood, Concord, El Cerrito, Martinez, Pittsburg, Richmond, and Walnut Creek. This year the City of Pleasant Hill has become an official partner. In addition, the Green Business Program benefits from the outreach efforts of local Chambers of Commerce and solid waste recycling services.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Green businesses will not be publicly recognized for their achievements.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

Not applicable.