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SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE

Meeting Date:	09/23/2019
Subject: CONSIDER next steps regarding implementation of the Adapting to Rising Tides studies
Submitted For:	John Kopchik, Director, Conservation & Development Department
Department:	Conservation & Development
Referral No.:
Referral Name:	CONSIDER next steps regarding implementation of the Adapting to Rising Tides studies
Presenter:	Jody London, 925-674-7871	Contact:	Jody London, 925-674-7871

Information

Referral History:

On September 10, 2019, the Board of Supervisors accepted the report “Climate Resilience in Contra Costa County: Implementing the ART Study,” prepared by students from the UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy under commission from the Department of Conservation and Development, and referred the report to the Sustainability Committee for further consideration.

Referral Update:

In 2015-2016, the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) worked with Contra Costa County (County) and shoreline cities, property owners, community groups, and other stakeholders in the coastal region from Richmond to Pittsburg to develop the Adapting to Rising Tides (ART) study. The ART study examines the potential for sea level rise, and catalogs potential impacts on all sectors of the economy, including critical infrastructure and public services.
In 2017, the Delta Stewardship Council asked BCDC and the County to conduct an ART study for East County (Pittsburg to the eastern boundary of the County). The Board of Supervisors on May 23, 2017, invited BCDC to extend the study to eastern Contra Costa County, as recommended by the Ad Hoc Committee for the Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative. That study is ongoing and is expected to conclude later this year.

When the ART Study for East County is complete, the County will have even more data about potential impacts of rising waters along the Contra Costa shoreline. What the ART studies do not provide are recommendations for how to take action with this information, including how to govern and fund any initiatives that might be formed to address these issues.

The Department of Conservation and Development (DCD) successfully applied in November 2018 to the UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy for a student team to examine the ART studies and recommend potential actions the County and its many partners can take moving forward. The Goldman School team worked pro bono under the direction of the County’s Sustainability Coordinator to develop a written report (attached). Following completion of the report, two members of the team worked this summer as interns in DCD and the Department of Health Services, and provided two lunchtime seminars for County staff on the ART studies and the recommendations in the Goldman School report (see attached presentation).

The Goldman School report recommends the County create a cross-sector working group to review vulnerabilities from rising tides, share information, coordinate policies, and develop a long-term vision regarding adapting to rising tides. Other governance structures considered in the report, and recommended for future consideration as collaboration around climate resilience deepens across the County, include memoranda of understanding and joint powers authorities. The report details the key steps in launching a working group and recommends an initial list of stakeholder organizations to engage. It also provides information on potential funding sources that could be pursued to fund implementation of the ART studies.

The ART studies contain valuable data about how rising water levels may impact our County. The ART studies will inform the General Plan and Climate Action Plan updates. At this time, the County has not determined what steps it will take to further act on the ART studies.

A challenge is there is not existing funding or staff for this work, nor is it clear which entity is best suited to lead this. A next step wold be to identify the scope of a project and funding for an inter-jurisdictional working group that would meet with the goal of identifying state funding opportunities, potential projects, governance, and other next steps.

Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):

CONSIDER next steps regarding implementation of the Adapting to Rising Tides studies

Fiscal Impact (if any):

Specific fiscal impact is unknown.

Attachments
Goldman School Report on Implementing the ART Studies
Presentation on ART process and Goldman School report