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SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE

RECORD OF ACTION FOR
April 26, 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; John Kopchik, Director, Dept of Conservation and Development; Maureen Toms, Deputy Director, Dept of Conservation and Development; Daniel Barrios, Senior Planner; Erin Steffen, Senior Management Analyst, County Administrator's Office; Julie Enea, Senior Deputy County Administrator; Dom Pruett, Field Representative, Office of Supervisor Andersen; Michael Kent, Hazardous Materials Ombudsman; Jo-AnMarie Ricasata, Conservation Planner; Susan Psara, Green Business Program Manager; Wade Finlinson, Integrated Pest Management Coordinator; Luz Gomez, Building Healthy Communities Manager; Nicole Shimizu, Climate Corps Fellow, Dept. of Conservation and Development
Attendees:	Tanya Sundberg, Marti Roach, Cinthia Hernandez, Jose Arebalo, Karen Rosenberg, Berna Idriz, Dulce Galicia, Aryana, Glenn Loveall, Chuck Leonard, Betty Lobos, Brandon Matson, Denice Dennis, Kimberly Lam, Chris Easter, Mike Coody, Mark Goodwin, Mike Moore, Richard L, Aaron Sage, Susan Hurl, Sonia Rivas, Kelly Malinowski, Chirag, Devin Murphy, Jan Warren, Lisa Zimmer-Chu, Jason Ruhl, RG, Monte, Lisa Jackson, Scott Shaia, Marcia Liberson, Fred Glueck, Charles Davidson, Deborah Drake, Meg Keeley, Justin Marquez, Rachel Shoemake, Wes Sullens, Madeline Kronenberg, Isabella Zizi, Katrinka Ruk, Laurence Nagel


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).
				There was no public comment.

3.				Staff recommends approval of the attached Record of Action for the March 22, 2021, meeting of the Sustainability Committee.
				The Record of Action from the March 22, 2021 meeting of the Sustainability Committee was approved.

4.				RECEIVE update and PROVIDE DIRECTION on draft environmental justice policy guidance for updated County General Plan.
				PlaceWorks consultant Tanya Sundberg summarized the Sustainability Committee’s involvement with the development of the draft environmental justice policies for the County General Plan update. Sundberg offered an overview of the extensive community outreach that was documented and reflected in the draft environmental justice policies. Sundberg requested guidance from the Committee regarding three main items: replacing the term “disadvantaged community” for “impacted community,” Just Transition guidance, and removal of the action to create an environmental justice advisory group. The Sustainability Committee requested staff to track the Committee’s suggestions and provide follow-up on how the suggestions were incorporated into the document. If any policy statements shifted out of the General Plan, the Committee requested that staff specify where the policy statement went. Will Nelson, Department of Conservation and Development principal planner, responded that some of the policies might fit in plans that do not exist yet. The Committee provided comments on policies and actions within the draft policy document. Staff committed that the Committee’s comments would be reflected in the next draft. The Committee supported using the term “impacted community” in place of the term “disadvantaged community.” During the public comment period, Cinthia Hernandez, Dulce Galicia, Jose Arebalo, Karen Rosenberg, and Marti Roach urged the Committee to include the recommendations provided by Richmond LAND into the environmental justice policies and actions. The Committee noted that some of Richmond LAND’s recommendations would better fit in Contra Costa Health Services’ Health Plan or in another department like Contra Costa Social Services. The Committee asked staff to include items specific to North Richmond from Richmond LAND’s comment letter in the community’s community profile. Berna Idriz asked about the implementation and transparency process of General Plan policies and actions. Idriz suggested creating community-facing resources to keep track of where polices that might not fit in the General Plan are implemented elsewhere in the County. Nelson stated that the agenda item only covers environmental justice policies. Other issues that have been brought up during the public comment period may be addressed elsewhere in the General Plan. The Committee supported the removal of the action to create an environmental justice advisory group because of its possible replication of the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice’s and the Sustainability Commission’s work. The Committee requested to review the next iteration of draft environmental justice policies at a Sustainability Committee meeting in June.
				Attachments:
				4. Presentation - Draft Environmental Justice Policies.pdf


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

6.				Adjourn

For Additional Information Contact:

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