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Supervisor John Gioia, Chair
Supervisor Federal D. Glover, Vice Chair |
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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. | Staff recommends approval of the attached Record of Action for the March 22, 2021, meeting of the Sustainability Committee. | |||||||
The Record of Action from the March 22, 2021 meeting of the Sustainability Committee was approved. | ||||||||
4. | RECEIVE update and PROVIDE DIRECTION on draft environmental justice policy guidance for updated County General Plan. | |||||||
PlaceWorks consultant Tanya Sundberg summarized the Sustainability Committee’s involvement with the development of the draft environmental justice policies for the County General Plan update. Sundberg offered an overview of the extensive community outreach that was documented and reflected in the draft environmental justice policies. Sundberg requested guidance from the Committee regarding three main items: replacing the term “disadvantaged community” for “impacted community,” Just Transition guidance, and removal of the action to create an environmental justice advisory group. The Sustainability Committee requested staff to track the Committee’s suggestions and provide follow-up on how the suggestions were incorporated into the document. If any policy statements shifted out of the General Plan, the Committee requested that staff specify where the policy statement went. Will Nelson, Department of Conservation and Development principal planner, responded that some of the policies might fit in plans that do not exist yet. The Committee provided comments on policies and actions within the draft policy document. Staff committed that the Committee’s comments would be reflected in the next draft. The Committee supported using the term “impacted community” in place of the term “disadvantaged community.” During the public comment period, Cinthia Hernandez, Dulce Galicia, Jose Arebalo, Karen Rosenberg, and Marti Roach urged the Committee to include the recommendations provided by Richmond LAND into the environmental justice policies and actions. The Committee noted that some of Richmond LAND’s recommendations would better fit in Contra Costa Health Services’ Health Plan or in another department like Contra Costa Social Services. The Committee asked staff to include items specific to North Richmond from Richmond LAND’s comment letter in the community’s community profile. Berna Idriz asked about the implementation and transparency process of General Plan policies and actions. Idriz suggested creating community-facing resources to keep track of where polices that might not fit in the General Plan are implemented elsewhere in the County. Nelson stated that the agenda item only covers environmental justice policies. Other issues that have been brought up during the public comment period may be addressed elsewhere in the General Plan. The Committee supported the removal of the action to create an environmental justice advisory group because of its possible replication of the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice’s and the Sustainability Commission’s work. The Committee requested to review the next iteration of draft environmental justice policies at a Sustainability Committee meeting in June. |
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5. | The next meeting is currently scheduled for May 24, 2021. | |||||||
6. | Adjourn | |||||||
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