Key activities since the Sustainability Committee's last regular meeting on May 24, 2021, are listed below.
- Staff is working on implementation of the actions directed in the Climate Emergency Resolution, particularly the Interdepartmental Climate Action Task Force and the process to plan for a Just Transition. Staff is working on next steps for the Task Force, which is scheduled to report to the Board again around September.
- Sustainability staff continue to support the General Plan update.
- Sustainability staff are resuming work on the update to the County’s Climate Action Plan. We are revising the schedule to ensure opportunities for community engagement.
- The Contra Costa Asthma Mitigation Project, a collaboration between Department of Health, the Department of Conservation and Development, and MCE, presented at the June 23 Sustainability Exchange meeting (a professional learning and networking forum for local government staff in Contra Costa County who work on sustainability issues).
- The Asthma Mitigation Project has been awarded a $200,000 EPA Environmental Justice grant to provide funding to Lifelong Medical Clinic and La Clinica to train their Health Promoters and Promotoras to provide their clients in-home asthma trigger education and to engage their community on air quality issues. The Asthma Mitigation Project has also applied for a grant with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to expand the Asthma Mitigation Project to specifically serve clients living in areas affected by traffic pollution.
- County permitting staff presented on how the County has adapted its permitting practices during the pandemic at a Bay Area Regional Energy Network forum on Building Permits and Clean Technology: Innovations and Challenges.
- Evaluated proposals for consulting services to support Healthy Lands, Healthy People, the carbon sequestration feasibility study funded through a grant from the California Department of Conservation. We are in the process of executing agreements with our partners, the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District and the University of California Cooperative Extension. We hope to have all contracts in place by August.
- Transportation Planning staff is currently conducting the Carquinez Strait Scenic Loop Trail Study. The study looks at opportunities to close three existing gaps in the Carquinez Strait Scenic Loop Trail (link) in Contra Costa County: southern end of the Benicia Bridge, Downtown Martinez to the George Miller Trail, and the George Miller Trail to Crockett.
- Active Transportation Plan Update: Public Works staff presented to the Sustainability Commission on June 28. Since this time, County staff has been working with the consultant on what additional public outreach can be conducted, considering the additional cost and impact on meeting all deliverables within the tight timeframe. Additional ideas proposed by the consultant include in-person pop-up events at already established venues like farmers markets, additional presentations at committee meetings such as MAC meetings, in-person charrettes with advocacy groups, and development of an engagement toolkit. As mentioned at the Sustainability Commission meeting, Caltrans has set a firm date of February 2022 before all deliverables of the grant must be met; the request for a time extension due to the COVID-19 pandemic was denied. In addition to increased public outreach efforts, collaboration is ongoing with the consultant on what relevant information will be depicted on the existing conditions web map of our active transportation infrastructure. Such information will be useful when establishing priority projects within the County.
- Public Works staff completed the Rodeo Pedestrian Enhancement Project, which improves accessibility and safety for pedestrians. See attached photos.
- Staff across departments continue to plan for SB 1383, legislation regarding solid waste that goes into effect January 1, 2022.
- Met with staff from both MCE and the California Solar on Multifamily Housing regarding programs focused on bringing more solar energy to multi-family housing developments.
- Nicole Shimizu, our Climate Corps Fellow, completed her fellowship on July 15. She has been a tremendous addition to our team and we wish Nicole well as she starts a full-time job. A new Climate Corps Fellow will start in September.
- Frank DiMassa, the County’s Energy Manager, is retiring July 31. Under Frank’s leadership the County has continued to improve County facilities: contributing to the design of the new Administration Building and Emergency Operations Center; installing energy efficient lighting in County buildings; installing additional solar energy and battery storage; helping develop new building design guidelines and plans for electric vehicle charging. Thank you, Frank!
- Staff hosted Lunch and Learn sessions for County staff with graduate students from UC Berkeley who did capstone projects with the County. The first student reported on options for financing investments by low- and moderate-income homeowners in energy efficiency and clean energy. The second student studied options for Climate Resilience Districts that can fund investments in green infrastructure and related community improvements. Both reports can be found at https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/7025/Planning-for-our-Future.
- Participated in professional learning opportunities regarding environmental justice, carbon sequestration, communication and facilitation strategies, race and equity, and related.
- Collaborated with County staff working on topics including land use and transportation, hazardous materials, green business program, the County’s state and federal legislative platforms, economic development, health, codes, solid waste, energy, and related.
- Participated in regional activities.
|