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SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE

Meeting Date:	09/27/2021
Subject: RECEIVE REPORT from Sustainability Coordinator.
Submitted For:	Jody London, Sustainability Coordinator
Department:	Conservation & Development
Referral No.:	N/A
Referral Name:	N/A
Presenter:	Jody London, DCD Sustainability Coordinator	Contact:	Jody London (925)655-2815

Information

Referral History:

This is a standing item of the Committee.

Referral Update:

Key activities since the Committee's last meeting on July 26, 2021, include:

The Interdepartmental Climate Action Task Force met to receive updates on progress since it submitted its first report to the Board of Supervisors on March 30, 2021 and explore how County departments could adopt best practices from the County's Green Business Program. The work around best practices is supported by a cross-departmental steering committee that organized and facilitated the meeting and will continue to support the work of the Task Force in this regard. (see earlier agenda item)
Department of Conservation and Development staff, through a referral from the Sustainability Committee, reported to the Board of Supervisors on August 3, 2021, on options for developing an ordinance that would require all new residential construction and many types of new non-residential construction to be all-electric. The Board approved this. Staff are now developing the language for the ordinance, which will need approval from the Board of Supervisors and the California Energy Commission before it goes into effect. The goal is for this to happen in early 2022.
Staff is resuming work on the update to the County’s Climate Action Plan (CAP). Staff is working with the consultants to develop draft goals and strategies. These are being reviewed by County departments to ensure support. Staff anticipates bringing the draft goals and strategies to the Sustainability Commission at its October 25, 2021 meeting. Staff anticipates bringing the draft CAP, including the goals and strategies, to the Sustainability Committee in January 2022. The draft CAP will be included in the Environmental Impact Report for the General Plan. Staff anticipates working with the community to further incorporate community priorities for the CAP as part of the outreach that will occur in 2022.
Sustainability staff continue to support the General Plan update. Staff is working on a schedule to have the Sustainability Commission review those parts of the General Plan that are related to the Climate Action Plan; this is in addition to the environmental justice policies, which the Sustainability Commission has been reviewing since last year.
We are in the process of executing agreements to support Healthy Lands, Healthy People, the carbon sequestration feasibility study funded through a grant from the California Department of Conservation., the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District and the University of California Cooperative Extension. We hope to begin the actual work in September.
The County hosted a BayREN workshop for single family homeowners on September 15.
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.

Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):

RECEIVE report from Sustainability Coordinator.

Fiscal Impact (if any):

N/A.

Attachments
No file(s) attached.