On November 15, 2016, the Board of Supervisors (board) approved the creation of a Contra Costa County Sustainability Commission. The function of the Sustainability Commission is to:
*Advise the Board on opportunities to realize equity and fairness across the diverse communities of Contra Costa County in sustainability programs that support the Climate Action Plan.
*Provide suggestions to staff and the Board on how to better engage Contra Costa County residents and businesses on sustainability issues and implementation of the Climate Action Plan.
*Provide advice to staff and the Board on successful implementation of the Climate Action Plan, including suggestions on how that work can be performed more efficiently and effectively.
The Sustainability Commission has eleven members and five alternates members, selected as follows:
*Five District representatives and five alternates nominated by individual members of the Board of Supervisors (representatives and alternates must be a resident of that district);
*Two members representing community groups whose mission includes sustainability and/or environmental issues;
*Two members representing commercial groups or organizations whose business focuses on sustainability and/or environmental issues; and
*One member representing environmental justice issues and who lives in a disadvantaged community.
The terms for each At-Large seat were established by the Board when it made initial appointments to the Sustainability Commission on March 14, 2017. The terms of the appointments were staggered to maintain continuity on the Sustainability Commission. The following At-Large seats expired on March 31, 2019: At-Large, Environmental Justice; At-Large, Community Group, Seat #2; At-Large, Business Group, Seat #2. The opportunity to submit applications for these seats was advertised by the Clerk of the Board and Department of Conservation and Development starting January 24, 2019. Applications were accepted through February 22, 2019.
Additionally, on February 25, 2019, the individual in the At-Large, Business Group, Seat #1 resigned. This position was declared vacant on March 12, 2019. The position was advertised by the Clerk of the Board and Department of Conservation and Development. Applications were accepted through April 29, 2019.
Nine people timely submitted applications to serve in the vacant At-Large seats described above. Three are eligible for seats representing community groups; one of those is an incumbent. Five are eligible for seats representing business; one is of those is an incumbent. One is eligible for the seat representing environmental justice; she is the incumbent. Two additional applications were denied, one because the applicant did not meet the criteria for the At-Large seats, and one because the applicant was applying for a seat for which the application period had closed.
Attachment A shows the current members of the Sustainability Commission. Attachment B shows the applicants sorted by eligibility for At-Large seats. Attachment C is a summary of the applications. Attachment D is all the eligible applications received by the Clerk of the Board, with personal contact information redacted.
Applicants eligible for appointment to the vacant At-Large seats for community groups and business groups were invited to an interview with the Sustainability Committee on May 6, 2019. The sole applicant for the At-Large, Environmental Justice seat was the incumbent, who was interviewed by the Committee in 2017 and therefore was not required to interview again. The Committee interviewed the following individuals:
*Andrew Chahrour
*Howdy Goudey
*Janette Drew
*Russell Driver
*Luis Ramirez-Agudelo
*Nicholas Snyder
*Benjuamin Lee
One applicant for the At-Large, Business seats was unable to attend the interview.
The Sustainability Committee recommends that the Board of Supervisors make the following at-large appointments to the Sustainability Commission, with the noted terms of service:
*Environmental Justice seat: Doria Robinson, through March 31, 2023
*Community Group seat #2: Howdy Goudey, through March 31, 2023
*Business Group seat #1: Russell Driver, through March 31, 2021
*Business Group seat #2: Nick Snyder, through March 31, 2023
The Sustainability Committee also recommends that the Board of Supervisors authorize all appointments to the Sustainability Commission to extend 60 days past the stated term of service, or until a new appointment is made, whichever occurs sooner.
If the recommendations are not approved, At-Large appointments will not be made to the Sustainability Commission.
While this is not a direct service program for children and youth up to the age of 18, the goals of the Climate Action Plan have a direct impact on outcome 5 in the Children’s Report Card: Communities that are Safe and Provide a High Quality of Life for Children and Families. The Sustainability Commission provides advice to the Board that can improve environmental conditions for children and their parents and caregivers in Contra Costa County.