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SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE

Meeting Date:	09/27/2021
Subject: RECEIVE UPDATE on Interdepartmental Climate Action Task Force (Jody London, DCD)
Submitted For:	Jody London, Sustainability Coordinator
Department:	Conservation & Development
Referral No.:	N/A
Referral Name:	N/A
Presenter:	Jody London, DCD	Contact:	Jody London (925)655-2815

Information

Referral History:

On September 20, 2020, the Board of Supervisors adopted a Climate Emergency Resolution. One of the actions directed in the Resolution was 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 the impacts of a changing climate.”

The Resolution directs the Task Force to report to the Board twice a year starting in March 2021, and specifies that the reports should be discussion items for the Board. The Task Force submitted its first report to the Board on March 30, 2021 (Report #1).

Report #1 described how County departments had expanded their ability to offer services online to County residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, thereby increasing access for the community to County services. In receiving the Report, the Board indicated its support for services to continue to be provided online where feasible on an ongoing basis, recognizing that there are some situations where in-person services are needed.

Report #1 recommended that the County establish a Sustainability Fund that is supported by an annual investment and/or is structured as a revolving fund. The Board indicated its support for an ongoing sustainability investment in County facilities.
The Report also recommended that the County advocate with the State that online advisory body meetings be permitted to continue after shelter-in-place orders are lifted. The Board was already on record supporting legislation on this matter.
The Report also identified a number of actions that County departments could take to better support the County’s climate goals.

Referral Update:

The Sustainability Committee received a report on the Sustainability Fund from the Public Works Department at its July 26, 2021, meeting and provided direction regarding several elements. Public Works is preparing to bring this matter to the Board of Supervisors in the near future.

On September 16, Governor Newsom signed AB 361, which authorizes local agencies to use teleconferencing under certain circumstances until January 1, 2024.

County staff recognized significant overlap between the additional actions for County departments identified in the Report and best practices from the County’s Green Business Program. The Interdepartmental Task Force met on September 9, 2021, to review and discuss these best practices from the Green Business Program and whether they can be adopted by County departments. (See attached presentation.) The Task Force agrees that this is a good path to follow. A steering committee will be working to develop a framework by which each department will identify champions who will take the lead on this work.
The Task Force also received an update on the Sustainability Fund. Staff is recommending that the Task Force serve as an advisory committee to the Sustainability Fund.

Staff expects that implementing the Green Business best practices and launching the Sustainability Fund will be the primary focus of the Task Force for the next 12-18 months. Staff is preparing a formal report for the Board of Supervisors in the near future.

Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):

RECEIVE UPDATE on Interdepartmental Climate Action Task Force.

Fiscal Impact (if any):

There is no immediate fiscal impact from the Task Force meetings beyond the staff time required to prepare for and participate in the meetings and other Task Force activities.

Attachments
CCGBP x Interdepartmental Climate Action Task Force