Agenda

Return

D.1

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	John Kopchik, Director, Conservation & Development Department
Date:	March 30, 2021

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

RECEIVE REPORT from Interdepartmental Climate Action Task Force.

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 03/30/2021

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
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

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: March 30, 2021
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

RECEIVE Report from Interdepartmental Climate Action Task Force and provide direction as appropriate.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no fiscal impact associated with receiving the report. If the Board is supportive, staff will report back to the Board regarding ongoing research on how other cities and counties have set up sustainability funds.

BACKGROUND:

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

On September 22, 2020, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors (Board) declared a climate emergency that “threatens the long-term economic and social well-being, health, safety, and security of the County, and that urgent action by all levels of government is needed to immediately address this climate emergency.“ Among other actions, the Climate Emergency Resolution adopted by the Board resolves that the County establish an interdepartmental task force that will “focus on urgently implementing the County’s Climate Action Plan” and identify additional actions, policies, and programs the County can undertake to reduce and adapt to the impacts of a changing climate.

The task force is directed to report to the Board as a discussion item on a semi-annual basis starting in March 2021.

The Department of Conservation and Development (DCD), working in partnership with the Department of Public Works (Public Works), is staffing the work of this Interdepartmental Climate Action Task Force (Task Force). The Task Force has met twice to develop the initial report (attached). The report recommends three immediate actions by the Board:

(1) Support continuation of County services and meetings online where possible after the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted to the extent departments determine such services to be beneficial and have the capacity to continue offering them;

(2) Establish a Sustainability Fund that is supported by an annual investment and/or is structured as a revolving fund that reinvests cost saving in additional improvements. This fund would support improvements to County facilities and operations (i.e., recycling, composting and purchasing practices) that reduce greenhouse emissions and reduce energy costs over time. If the Board is supportive, staff will report back to the Board with recommendations on details for the fund, including potential amounts, funding sources and approaches on how to structure the fund, based on best practices from other jurisdictions with similar funds; and

(3) Advocate with the State that virtual advisory body meetings be permitted to continue after shelter-in-place orders are lifted.

The report also identifies additional opportunities for the Task Force and County departments to pursue going forward, with direction from the Board.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Failure to receive the report and provide direction would contradict the direction provided in the Climate Emergency Resolution.