Agenda

Return

SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE

Meeting Date:	07/26/2021
Subject: RECEIVE UPDATE on County Sustainability Fund, and PROVIDE DIRECTION.
Submitted For:	Jody London, Sustainability Coordinator
Department:	Conservation & Development
Referral No.:
Referral Name:	RECEIVE UPDATE on County Sustainability Fund, and PROVIDE DIRECTION.
Presenter:	Steve Kowalewski, Department of Public Works	Contact:	Jody London (925)655-2815

Information

Referral History:

On September 20, 2020, the Board of Supervisors adopted a Climate Emergency Resolution (Resolution). Among other things, the Resolution directed the establishment of “an interdepartmental task force of all Department heads, or their senior deputies, that will focus on urgently implementing the County’s Climate Action Plan…, and identifying additional actions, policies, and programs the County can undertake to reduce and adapt to impacts of a changing climate.”

The Interdepartmental Climate Action Task Force brought its first report to the Board of Supervisors on March 30, 2021. One of the recommendations in the first report was to establish a Sustainability Fund.

Referral Update:

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors directed staff in March 2021 to develop recommendations for a Sustainability Fund that could be used to support investments in County facilities that further the County’s environmental sustainability and climate change goals.

Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):

Accept report on Sustainability Fund research findings and consider staff recommendation for a Sustainability Fund for Contra Costa County that would be used to support investments in County facilities that further the County’s environmental sustainability and climate change goals. Refer the report findings and recommendation for a Sustainability Fund to the full Board of Supervisors for consideration.

Staff recommends that a Sustainability Fund be established with an annual allocation of $1-$5 million for the next 5 years. Public Works staff will report back to the Sustainability Committee annually on progress on project implementation and progress towards improving the data quality and performance metrics through improved tracking systems. At the end of 5 years, the Public Works Department will report back to the Sustainability Committee with a recommendation to evolve the Sustainability Fund to a revolving fund based on whether Public Works is able to develop the data and metrics needed to track actual cost savings for sustainability projects.

Staff recommends the Department of Public Works have primary responsibility for the Sustainability Fund, working in consultation with an interdepartmental advisory committee and the County Administrator’s Office. Public Works would identify projects, oversee projects to completion, track savings (estimated or actual), and report annually on the fund’s impact. This conforms to best practices learned from other jurisdictions.

In our research, an interdepartmental committee was identified as a key element for a Sustainability Fund. The recently created Interdepartmental Climate Action Task Force could play this role. The Task Force consists of department heads or designated representatives of each County department. It would convene throughout the year to make ongoing recommendations about the Sustainability Fund’s management including the process of identification and selection of the projects the County should implement.

Fiscal Impact (if any):

Staff recommends an investment of $1-$5 million from the General Fund annually for 5 years. The Committee and the full Board of Supervisors could also consider using one or a combination of General Fund funding, American Recovery Act funding, or if the federal infrastructure bill passes, there may be additional funds that can be directed towards sustainability projects. Investment will be used for projects that benefit the environment and/or reduce operating costs.

At the end of 5 years, the Sustainability Fund may evolve into a revolving fund that is replenished with cost savings from reduced energy usage and reduced fuel and vehicle maintenance costs. If, at the end of 5 years, the Board of Supervisors determined that the revolving fund model will work, the annual investments may be decreased or eliminated depending on the cost savings realized.

Attachments
Sustainability Fund Research Findings and Recommendations