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SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE

RECORD OF ACTION FOR
March 28, 2022

Supervisor Federal D. Glover, Chair
Supervisor John Gioia, Vice Chair

Present:	Federal D. Glover, Chair
	John Gioia, Vice Chair
Staff Present:	John Kopchik, Director, Dept. of Conservation and Development; Monica Nino, County Administrator; Jody London, Sustainability Coordinator; Demian Hardman, Senior Planner; Will Nelson, Senior Planner; Steve Kowalewski, Chief Deputy Director, Dept. of Public Works; Joe Yee, Deputy Director, Dept. of Public Works; Matt Kauffman, Environmental Health; Susan Psara, Green Business Program Manager; Wade Finlinson, Integrated Pest Management Coordinator; Dan Peddycord, Climate and Health Policy Officer; Michael Kent, Hazardous Materials Ombudsman; Lisa Chow, Office of Supervisor Mitchoff; Nicole Shimizu, Planner; Robert Sarmiento, Planner; Savannah McCarthy, Climate Corps Fellow; Brendan Havenar-Daughton, Energy Manager, Dept of Public Works; Karen Adler, Dept of Agriculture
Attendees:	Lou Plummer, Madeline Kronenberg, Marcia Liberson, Marti Roach, Ogie Strogatz, Samantha Moy, Shoshana Wechsler, 350 Contra Costa, Aimee Henry, Betty Lobos, Carol Weed, Charles Davidson, Fred Glueck, David Schoenthal, Denice Dennis, D. Hoffman, Emily Warming, Jan Callaghan, Jan Warren, Janet Pygeorge, Howdy Goudey, Marcia Kwarenberg, Marcia Gloarson, Tammy Seale, Eli Krispi, Mike Moore


1.				Introductions

2.				Public comment on any item under the jurisdiction of the Committee and not on this agenda (speakers may be limited to three minutes).
				There was no public comment.

3.				APPROVE Record of Action from November 22, 2021, Meeting of the Sustainability Committee.
				Record approved.
				Attachments:
				11-22-21 Mtg Minutes


4.				RECEIVE UPDATE and PROVIDE GUIDANCE on the proposed draft strategies and levels of participation and recommended targets, including direction on opportunities to achieve further GHG emission reductions should the Sustainability Committee suggest targets that exceed State guidance.
				Jody London, Sustainability Coordinator, joined by Joined Tammy Steele and Eli Krispi from PlaceWorks, presented the proposed emissions reduction targets for the 2022 Climate Action Plan. Seale provided an overview of Envision Contra Costa 2040 the update to the County’s General Plan, Zoning Code, and Climate Action Plan (CAP). PlaceWorks is the consultant on this project. Sections of the General Plan and CAP are being reviewed by the Sustainability Commission, the Sustainability Committee, and the Planning Commission as they are being developed. The official draft General Plan, CAP, and Zoning code will be released for public review later this year along with the environmental impact report (EIR). The CAP will help the General Plan meet California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements. Seale explained the first objective of the CAP is to identify the County’s contribution to global warming, of which the strategy is to mitigate climate change mitigation through greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction. The second part of the CAP is to employ adaptation to increase the County’s resilience. London briefly explained State guidance for GHG reduction targets. Glover asked when the State needs to adopt this plan, to which London clarified is a voluntary action by the County to help with the General Plan under CEQA. London reviewed a forecast of GHG emissions in the County under various scenarios. London reminded the Committee that there are 8 Goal areas and 28 Strategies. The materials included in the agenda indicate that 10 of the 28 strategies have quantifiable emissions reductions. Staff recommends the 2022 CAP should include GHG reduction emission targets that are consistent with State guidance and for which there are demonstrable paths to achieving the necessary reductions. These recommended targets should be no greater Additionally, staff recommends the 2022 CAP include an aspirational target of achieving net carbon neutrality by 2040 or 2045, consistent with the State’s aspirational target. Committee comments included concern with the business-as-usual scenario, as it assumes no intervention or regulatory action is taken.Instead, the Committee recommended forecasting emission reductions by showing State and regional actions that are currently in place, specifically policies that are going to have an impact on these reductions. Additionally, the Committee recommended updating the chart on slide 13 to reflect this forecasting, as well as adding an appendix to see where the forecast is considered. In terms of State’s targets, the Committee requested more information about the cost associated with these targets and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s aggressive regulation and funding capacity. Public Comment included concern with absolute versus per capita emissions reduction strategies. Some spoke in favor of absolute emission reduction strategies so as to not allow an increase of GHG emissions over time due to population increase, while others spoke in favor of per capita targets that are in line with the State’s goals. Other comments included the need for a clearer connection between the CAP and the General Plan, GHG reduction strategies in regionally specific areas of the County, more actionable CAP goals and strategies, absolute emission reductions by 2040 rather than 2050, an annual emissions inventory, and climate justice concerns. Staff responded that reductions per capita are still tremendous. Krispi clarified that per capita considers expected growth under Envision Contra Costa Plan (housing and employment included) and is consistent with most recent guidance from the State. The 2017 California Climate Change Scoping Plan takes projected statewide emissions reductions and translates those into per capita reductions for local government. Thus, translated from absolute to per capita, even with the County’s expected population growth, is a significant reduction. The Committee noted that the California Air Resources Board is in the process of updating its Scoping Plan, and suggested that might provide useful guidance and information The Committee asked to this topic at its July meeting, if the updated Scoping Plan is available by that time.
				Attachments:
				Attachment 1: Community-Wide GHG Inventories - Summary of Results
				Attachment 2: Greenhouse Gas Forecast, Existing Reductions, and Target Setting
				Attachment 3: Strategy Matrix and Implementation Details
				Attachment 4: Quantification Results and Assumptions
				Attachment 5: Proposed Draft CAP Strategies-Rec Targets
				Attachment 6: Written Comments for March 28, 2022 Meeting


5.				RECEIVE REPORT from Sustainability Commission Chair, or Designee.
				Mike Moore, Sustainability Commission Chair, provided a summary of the December and February meetings. The December meeting included presentations from the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) and the Delta Stewardship Council on their projects to address rising water levels. These studies look at the impact rising tides will have on infrastructure, buildings, and people in the County. Commission members participated in a Jamboard activity to provide input and concerns to the two agencies. The February meeting included a presentation followed by a discussion about the definition of sustainability. More research needs to be done before adopting a working definition. The Commission was provided with an update from its Green Building Working Group on low carbon concrete. The Commission voted to move forward to suggest the Board of Supervisors study the low carbon concrete standards. The Commission discussed working on the Adapting to Rising Tides effort. The Commission noted that the Board of Supervisors supported Bay Adapts in February. The Commission voted to recommend the Board of Supervisors follow the guidance for moving forward data from the Adapting to Rising Tides data in line with Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy recommendations. Public comment included support for concern over rising tides, especially as it pertains to railroads along the coastline.

6.				RECEIVE report from Sustainability Coordinator.
				Jody London provided an update on sustainability work by County staff. The All-Electric ordinance was submitted to the California Energy Commission (CEC) and is on track to go into effect on June 1. Sustainability staff are working with building staff on how to handle this. The Climate Action Task Force is launching the G3 Champion Program, which is backed by the County Administrator with an internally broadcasted message and video. The Public Works department filled the Energy Manager position, which is a great addition to the sustainability team in general. Staff has applied for a second round of community projects funding for the Just Transition work, as well as funding to pilot all-electric retrofits for existing residential buildings in Impacted Communities, through Congressmen DeSaulnier’s office. Other highlights include the Board approved the Vision Zero and Active Transportation plans, and electric vehicles are now the default for new County vehicles.

7.				The next meeting is currently scheduled for May 23, 2022.

8.				Adjourn

For Additional Information Contact:

Jody London, Sustainability Coordinatorf
Phone (925) 674-7871
Jody.London@dcd.cccounty.us