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1.
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Introductions |
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2.
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Public comment on any item under the jurisdiction of the Committee and not on this agenda (speakers may be limited to three minutes). |
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Several community members provided comment regarding a pending Land Use Permit application to allow the establishment of a gas and oil well pad on an agriculturally zoned parcel near Brentwood by the Powerdrive Oil & Gas Company. Public comments called for a rejection of the Negative Declaration and demanded a full Environmental Impact Report. County residents commented that oil drilling will continue to enable fossil fuel industry expansion, and actively encourage oil and gas drilling in East County is unconscionable. Commenters expressed concern that oil drilling will have a significant negative impact on our environment. The County should not be investing in fossil fuels, it should rather be investing in clean energy. A resident who lives near the drilling site commented that residents’ health regarding the oil drilling are not being taken into consideration. Many disadvantaged communities will be affected by it and will continue to bear the brunt of negative environmental impacts.
Members of the community urged the County to reconsider its economic recovery solutions and public investments. They commented that the exploration of oil contrasts directly with the 100% renewable energy goals being put out by the County in planning documents and is contradicting with County sustainability goals.
Michael Kent, County Hazardous Materials Ombudsperson, mentioned that the County’s Hazardous Commission will be meeting in June and will consider an item regarding oil drilling.
Supervisor Gioia mentioned that the public comment period for this application has been extended by the Dept. of Conservation and Development (DCD) until June 9. All public comments should be addressed and directed to DCD. |
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3.
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Staff recommends approval of the attached Record of Action for the February 3, 2020, meeting of the Sustainability Committee.
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AYE:
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Chair Federal D. Glover
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Vice Chair John Gioia
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Attachments: |
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02-03-20 SUstainability Committee Mtg Minutes
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4.
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RECOMMEND ADOPTION of Climate Emergency Resolution by the Board of Supervisors
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Jody London, Sustainability Coordinator, reported on the Climate Emergency Resolution. This item came initially from the Sustainability Commission and went to the Board of Supervisors (BOS) in November 2019. The BOS asked the Sustainability Committee to consider it in December. The Sustainability Committee directed the Dept. of Conservation and Development to work with the Sustainability Commission to get more input and ideas.
Supervisor Gioia provided context around what the climate emergency resolution could do and its limitations. He mentioned the importance of understanding that the resolution should identify the framework of actions that are within the County’s control. He commented on the environmental actions occurring at all levels of government -- the state, regional, and county level -- and emphasized that the climate emergency resolution’s intent is to identify things that are specific to the County’s jurisdiction.
Supervisor Gioia highlighted the areas under discussion where climate change issues are relevant. He mentioned that the County’s General Plan is currently in process of being updated for the first time in decades, and added that it was an opportunity to change land use policy, and reflect policies on sustainability and climate change.
Members of the community offered comments on this issue. Mike Moore commented that he strongly supports the Resolution and is most concerned about the financial impact of a future fossil fuel phase out. Marti Roach commented that climate actions included in the resolution should not be symbolic and recommended that the climate emergency resolution should include a statement of leadership from the County with accountability from the County on proposed actions.
Lynda Deschambault suggested including more specific details on commitments from the County in the resolution and suggested the County use stronger language on environmental justice.
The Committee agreed to provide more time to develop the Climate Emergency Resolution. The Committee directed staff to take the resolution back to the Sustainability Commission for further deliberation, and bring it back to the Committee at its next meeting in July.
Supervisor Gioia suggested that there should be a direct linkage to the County’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) in the Climate Emergency Resolution. Jody London commented that there is an updated version of the CAP goals and strategies available to the public at the Envision Contra Costa 2040 website.
Supervisor Glover agreed about referencing the County’s Climate Action Plan because that is where the details of many actions originate.
Jody London mentioned that the next Sustainability Commission meeting will be happening on June 23rd. Recommended actions include strengthening the “Be it resolved” section, providing more direct linkage to the CAP, calling on all levels of government to declare a climate emergency, and acknowledging food systems. |
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Attachments: |
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Draft Climate Emergency Resolution
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5.
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RECEIVE UPDATE on the County’s Asthma Initiative Project through the Green and Health Homes Initiative.
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Demian Hardman provided an overview of the Green and Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI). GHHI started in 2017 with County’s Health Department, coordinating with the Dept. of Conservation and Development’s Weatherization staff to provide the County’s most vulnerable populations, often low-income, suffering from high asthma rates the opportunity to develop home improvement projects and receive technical assistance to improve indoor air quality. In 2018, the County submitted a technical assistance grant in coordination with MCE, the Contra Costa’s community choice aggregator. The grant was awarded, and MCE, the Dept. of Conservation and Development, and the County’s Health Department completed a business plan in November 2019.
The County is currently looking for grant funding to pilot the business plan program. We recently received a $100,000 grant from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. An additional $500,000 grant application has been submitted to the state’s Public Health Division, intended for to support the development of 50 projects/year for the next three years.
Supervisor Gioia mentioned the GHHI is focusing on Contra Costa’s northern waterfront where the populations with highest asthma rates are located.
Michael Kent, Hazardous Materials Ombudsperson, shared the policy perspective from the Health Department on this effort. He emphasized that the GHHI is a way to connect severe asthma patients to County weatherization services. |
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Attachments: |
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Green and Healthy Homes Initiative Business Plan
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6.
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RECEIVE UPDATE on solar energy and energy storage installations at County facilities.
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Frank Di Massa, County Energy Manager, provided an update on solar energy and energy storage installation projects at County facilities. There are existing solar PV systems currently at 12 sites, with 6 additional projects under the Regional Renewable Energy Program.
DiMassa mentioned that Contra Costa County continues to lead in renewable energy implementation. He reported on solar systems performance and the changes in technology. DiMassa commented that a PV Power Purchase Agreement with SunPower is in progress, and includes battery storage in 3 locations. Construction is expected to begin in June with an anticipated end date by December 2020.
DiMassa also reported on solar energy storage resilience opportunities in the County. He said the Equity Self Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) storage battery grant through the California Public Utilities Commission was awarded to the County in May 2020; this grant will cover the cost of battery energy storage systems. He also mentioned a potential opportunity with MCE to develop solar energy storage resilience at one of the County’s public library facilities.
Howdy Goudey commented on the importance of energy storage to be integrated with distributed energy resources for resilience purposes. |
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Attachments: |
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Solar and Energy Storage on County Facilities Report
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7.
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RECOMMEND APPROVAL by the Board of Supervisors for the Director, Department of Conservation and Development, or designee, to apply for Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation grant.
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Jody London reported on the opportunity to apply for a Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation grant from the California Department of Conservation to fund a carbon sequestration feasibility study that would evaluate the potential for carbon sequestration in different land use elements throughout Contra Costa.
The Committee voted to move forward on this. |
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AYE:
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Chair Federal D. Glover
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Vice Chair John Gioia
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Attachments: |
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Carbon Sequestration Fact Sheet
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8.
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RECEIVE report from Sustainability Commission Chair.
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Howdy Goudey, Sustainability Commission Chair, provided an overview of activities since the last meeting. The next Commission meeting will be held virtually on June 23rd. He added that elections for Commission Chair and Vice Chair will be taking place on that meeting. At its February meeting, the Commission received an update on an ongoing update to the County’s tree ordinance. |
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9.
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RECEIVE REPORT from County Sustainability Coordinator.
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Jody London, Sustainability Coordinator, provided an overview of activities since the last meeting and reported on the Climate Action Plan and General Plan update. She said that the General Plan’s environmental justice meeting will be held on June 3rd to discuss environmental justice, community health and sustainability issues. She reported that the solar zoning overlay ordinance approved by the BOS in February is now yielding applicants and solar projects in the County. London reported on BayREN activity at the at the staff and community level, as well as Green and Healthy Homes Initiative and MCE resiliency center update. |
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Attachments: |
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BayREN Response to COVID-19
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10.
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Adjourn |
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11.
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The next meeting is currently scheduled for July 27, 2020. |