Agenda

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).

Mike Moore brought forward a new report from Communities for A Better Environment published on July 6, 2020 titled “Decommissioning California Refineries”. The report includes a plan to offset economic and societal impacts resulting from fossil fuel phase out. He suggested that the report should be reviewed by the Committee.

3.

Staff recommends approval of the attached Record of Action for the May 29, 2020, meeting of the Sustainability Committee.

Record of action from the May 29, 2020, meeting of the Sustainability Committee was approved.

AYE:	Chair Federal D. Glover
	Vice Chair John Gioia

Attachments:

05-29-20 Sus-Comm Minutes

4.

RECOMMEND ADOPTION of Climate Emergency Resolution, with any modifications the Committee might direct.

Jody London, Sustainability Coordinator, provided a report on the history of the resolution. A current version of the climate emergency resolution is included as an attachment in the current meeting agenda, including a redline version that includes changes directed by the Committee at the May 29, 2020 Sustainability Committee meeting.

The Sustainability Commission voted unanimously to include the following recommendations in the Climate Emergency Resolution:

Adopt more aggressive greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets than those adopted by the State, with a goal of zero emissions by 2035
Develop a building electrification reach code that includes all building types, not only residential.
Adopt specifications for low-carbon building materials in all construction in the unincorporated County and in County facilities.
Promote agricultural preservation with emphasis on lowering agricultural carbon emissions and helping to realize increased agricultural productivity and revenue streams associated with regenerative carbon sequestration in soil
Establish a bi-annual report from the County Interdepartmental Task Force to the Board of Supervisors.
Require reporting from staff on issues in the Climate Emergency Resolution directly to the Board of Supervisors.
Encourage Contra Costa employers and businesses to incentivize remote work.
Provide direction for additional infrastructure for alternative modes of transportation including bicycling, walking, and public transportation.
The Just Transition task force will be initiated by the Sustainability Commission, with the understanding that it is envisioned to grow beyond the Commission’s scope of work.

Written comments support frequent reporting regarding the climate emergency resolution’s process as well as the adoption of more aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets. The Sustainability Coordinator will attach all written comments in the meeting minutes for the current meeting.

During public comment for this item, members of the public expressed their strong support in favor of the recommendations made by the Sustainability Commission. Members of the public commented on the linkage between the Climate Action Plan (CAP) and the Climate Emergency Resolution, and suggested that the CAP and the climate emergency resolution should be separate from each other. Public members also suggested that the bi-annual report from the County Interdepartmental Task Force to the Board of Supervisors be in the form of an in-person report.

Members of the public expressed strong approval and appreciation for the climate emergency resolution and urged the County to approve it. Public members said that the County should be showing leadership in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions beyond the State’s goals. Public members also expressed concern over the lack of environmental justice and equity measures in the climate emergency resolution. They suggested that the environmental stressors present in the communities of color and low-income communities should be prioritized. Members of the public suggested that the County Interdepartmental Task Force and the Just Transition Task Force should consider the County’s refinery decommissioning process.

A public member recommended that a progress report on the climate emergency resolution’s progress should be included to be shared within 90 days before the end of the calendar year. Public comment section was closed.

Supervisor Gioia commented on the recommendations provided by the Sustainability Commission to the climate emergency resolution. He said that the resolution is not meant to delineate every action that the County will take and that the County’s Climate Action Plan is being updated with an extensive community process and will include more detail on climate action strategies to be implemented by the County. Supervisor Gioia commented that the California Air Resources Board has taken far-reaching actions to achieve California's GHG reduction goals, using the example of goals for buses, trucks, and other heavy-duty vehicles. He observed that public transit agencies have not always been supportive of these goals. He said that setting a goal in the County’s climate emergency resolution for carbon neutral by 2035 directly conflicted with this and was not realistic. Supervisor Gioia emphasized that the State’s goals continue to be the most ambitious in the country.

The Committee agreed with the recommendation to expand the building electrification reach code to all new construction, including residential and commercial buildings. The Committee recommended adding in language that encourage the County to advocate for building electrification in the statewide building code.

Supervisor Gioia commented on the recommendation regarding the bi-annual reporting to the Board of Supervisors. He explained that if a report goes directly to the Board without the Sustainability Committee, the report does not get enough attention. He recommended that reporting should continue to be transmitted from the Sustainability Commission to the Sustainability Committee, and then from the Sustainability Committee to the Board of Supervisors.. The Committee agreed that these bi-annual reports should be transmitted as a full presentation to the Board, not on the consent agenda.

The Committee observed that there will be more discussion on how to move forward with the Just Transition planning work after Board of Supervisors approves the climate emergency resolution. Supervisor Gioia encouraged public members to attend the Board of Supervisor’s meeting and transit agency board meetings to use collective power to continue advocating for meaningful climate action.

The Committee recommended the following for inclusion in the Climate Emergency Resolution:

Add language that directs the Board of Supervisors and the Sustainability Commission to seek input from the community (with a special focus on highly impacted Environmental Justice communities), workers (especially impacted workers), and business/industry to help plan for a just transition away from an economy based on fossil fuels;
Use the State’s GHG emission reduction targets in the climate emergency resolution, including the County’s commitment to the Governor’s Executive Order B-30-15 (80% GHG reductions below 1990 levels by 2050).
Expand the building electrification reach code to include all new construction, both residential and commercial buildings.
The Interdepartmental task force will continue to report from the Sustainability Commission to Sustainability Committee, and Sustainability Committee to the Board of Supervisors, not as an item under consent but as a full presentation to the Board.
Be mindful of strategies from regional agencies such as BAAQMD, MTC and other agencies for employer incentives being taken to incentivize behavioral change for remote work.

AYE:	Chair Federal D. Glover
	Vice Chair John Gioia

Attachments:

Building Electrification Reach Codes by Other CA Jurisdictions

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals - California and Other Counties

Climate Emergency Resolution - Clean

Climate Emergency Resolution - Redline

Community Correspondence Regarding Revised Draft Climate Emergency Resolution

5.

RECEIVE report from Sustainability Commission Chair.

Howdy, Goudey, Sustainability Commission Chair, reported on the activities from the Sustainability Commission. He gave an update on the results from the elections for Commission members, which took place during their last meeting. Howdy Goudey will continue to serve as Chair to the Commission and Wes Sullens will serve as Vice Chair. Chair Goudey noted that the Sustainability Commission voted unanimously to send a letter to the Board recommending a moratorium on oil and gas drilling, and a prohibition on oil and gas drilling in the conservation element of the updated General Plan.

6.

RECEIVE REPORT from County Sustainability Coordinator.

Jody London provided a report to the Committee on County activities. She mentioned that the next Sustainability Commission meeting scheduled for August 24, 2020, at 5 p.m. will be focused on the draft environmental justice policies for the County’s General Plan. She noted that she is working on a grant proposal to the California Department of Conservation for funds to develop a carbon sequestration feasibility study for the County.

7.

The next meeting is currently scheduled for September 28, 2020.

8.

Adjourn