10 Staff Report - Green InitiativestpW N 0
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DATE:
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FROM:
SUBJECT
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
August 30, 2007
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
MEETING DATE: 9/4/07
ITEM NO: 10
PAMELA JACOBS, INTERIM TOWN MANAGER `L
"GREEN" INITIATIVES:
A. ACCEPT REPORT REGARDING "GREEN" INITIATIVES FOR THE
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
B. AUTHORIZE $15,000 BUDGET TRANSFER FROM MANAGER'S
PRODUCTIVITY RESERVE TO THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
FUND
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Accept report regarding "green" initiatives for the Town of Los Gatos
2. Authorize $15,000 budget transfer from Manager's
Productivity Reserve to the Solid Waste Management
Fund
BACKGROUND:
At its June 18 meeting, Council discussed its goals and priorities in the area of climate
protection, and considered several recommended actions for future Town activities. This report
wiii serve as a progress report on these actions, which comprise the following:
A. Direct staff to return to Council with recommendations regarding a greenhouse gas
emissions inventory, reduction goals, and a reduction plan.
B. Direct staff to work with regional climate protection agencies, including but not limited
to Joint Venture: Silicon Valley, to determine the best approach for development of a
regional greenhouse gas reduction plan.
C. Consider designation of an advisory body on climate protection activities.
D. Direct staff to incorporate climate protection policies and goals in the upcoming General
Plan review process.
E. Provide direction to staff regarding the U.S. Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement.
PREPARED BY: Regina A. At7~ornmunity Services Director
N_\CSD\TCRPTS\2007 Town Council Reports\Green Update.doc
Reviewed by: Assistant Town Manager Town Attorney
Clerk Administrator Finance Community Development
PAGE 2
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: INFORMATIONAL PROGRESS REPORT ON "GREEN" INITIATIVES
AUGUST 30, 2007
DISCUSSION:
Green Initiative Progress Report
Following is a summary report of progress made on each of the five recommended actions:
A. Direct staff to return to Council with recommendations regarding a greenhouse gas
emissions inventory, reduction goals, and a reduction plan.
Based on direction received from Council on June 18, staff has continued to participate in the
Climate Protection Task Force formed by Joint Venture: Silicon Valley. The Task Force
Executive Committee is working with representatives of Sustainable Silicon Valley (SSV) and
the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) to develop a greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions inventory, reduction goals, and reduction plan. The key elements of the
Joint Venture plan are:
■ Municipal Operations GHG Emissions:
Develop and provide GHG Emissions inventory
Assist with the development of an action plan for municipal operations.
Community-Wide GHG Emissions:
One-day workshops to help municipalities develop community-wide inventories of GHG
emissions. The first workshop will be held on September 7tn
Assistance with the development of community-scale action plans.
■ Preparation of a Regional Inventory based on the ICLEI Inventories.
Assuming that at least 20 agencies join in this effort, the cost for the above services will be
$13,000 per agency plus annual membership fees to join ICLEI ($600 per year) and SSV ($1,000
per year). In future years, municipalities may conduct their own inventories, but would continue
to pay the annual membership fees to ICLEI and SSV for the use of the tools and technical
assistance.
Joint Venture will be sending a letter to each local municipality describing the program and
inviting their participation.
B. Direct staff to work with regional climate protection agencies, including but not limited to
Joint Venture: Silicon Valley, to determine the best approach for development of a regional
greenhouse gas reduction plan.
As noted above, one of the key elements of the Joint Venture plan is preparation of a regional
inventory based on the community wide inventories.
PAGE 3
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: INFORMATIONAL PROGRESS REPORT ON "GREEN" INITIATIVES
AUGUST 30, 2007
C. Consider designation of an advisory body on climate protection activities.
Council designated as its advisory body on climate protection activities the Community Services
Commission, with the added participation of members of the Planning and Parks Commissions.
At its August meeting, the Community Services Commission held a preliminary discussion,
orienting members to the climate protection issue. The next steps will be to create a
subcommittee of Community Services, Planning, and Parks Commission members, which will
meet in tandem with Community Services Commission meetings.
D. Direct staff to incorporate climate protection policies and goals in the upcoming General
Plan review process.
The Community Development Department will take the lead on the upcoming General Plan
review process. The scope of work for this process will be brought to Council for its approval
this fall, and it is anticipated that the work itself will begin in the winter.
E. Provide direction to staff regarding the US. Mayors ' Climate Protection Agreement.
Mayor Pirzynski has signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, and
announced the signing at the August 6 Council meeting. Having signed this agreement, the
Town has also committed to the following next steps:
To urge the federal and state governments to enact legislation that includes the GHG
emission reduction goal set by the Kyoto Protocol.
To urge the U.S. Congress to pass GHG reduction legislation that includes clear goals
and timetables, and that includes a market-based system of tradable allowances among
emitting industries.
To strive to meet or exceed the GHG emission reduction goal set by the Kyoto Protocol
in their own communities.
Related Efforts
The Town organization has a long history of environmental protection, including resource
conservation and pollution prevention. A summary of our "Environmental Protection Efforts" is
posted on the Town's web site and can be found at www.losgatosca.gov/green. The page
outlines the Town's green efforts in the area of energy, building and development, water, earth,
waste, and air. Also highlighted is the Mayor's recent signing of the U.S. Mayor's Climate
Protection Agreement, which formalizes the Town's commitment to reduce global warming
pollution. Staff will continue to enhance the visibility of the Town's green initiatives through the
use of the Town's home page and What's New email subscription service.
At the June Study Session, Vice Chair Spector sought and received support to join the cities of
Monte Sereno and Saratoga in holding a "Green" community meeting at the end of September.
The City of Saratoga will be hosting the meeting on September 27th. The meeting goals, as
presented, are to educate residents and empower them to make changes in their lifestyles that
will result in reduced household carbon footprints. Although the agenda is still being developed,
the thought is to have the attendees identify the top three green actions, and then have residents
PAGE 4
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: INFORMATIONAL PROGRESS REPORT ON "GREEN" INITIATIVES
AUGUST 30, 2007
of the three municipalities compete in taking the identified actions. More information, including
a meeting agenda, will be posted on our website as soon as the information is available.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost to the Town to participate in the Joint Venture GHG emissions inventory will include a
one-time cost of $13,000, plus annual membership fees of $600 to ICLEI and $1,000 to SSV; a
total cost of $14,600. Sufficient funds are available in the Manager's Productivity Reserve.
Staff recommends that this amount be transferred from the reserve to the Solid Waste
Management Fund. Ongoing annual membership fees and any other project-related costs will be
budgeted in the SWM fund in future years.
At this time, no other new operating costs for climate protection activities have been identified.
Once any are determined, staff will return to Council with that information. Similarly, should
any capital projects be contemplated, those costs would be addressed through the Capital
Improvement Program process.
Attachments*
1. Invitation to participate in community-wide GHG inventory.
Distribution (via email
Community Services Commission members
Susan Baugh, Siemens
Joanne Benjamin, Santa Clara County Cities Association
Tom Carson, Los Gatos resident
Seth Fearey, Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network
Connie Kirby, Los Gatos resident
Rob Rennie, Sierra Club Cool Cities Team
Sally Tomlinson, Sustainable Silicon Valley
BAY AREA
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F,'ANAQ EM LtdT
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t) t 4'F k f c. T I-_ for sustainabii.itl
Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Work Session
For Local Governments in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties
Join us for the first in a series of Bay Area Climate Protection Work Sessions for local governments.
Date: September 7, 2007
Time: 10:00 am - 2:30 pm
Location: San Mateo Public Library
55 West 3`d Avenue
San Mateo, CA 94402
650.522.7802
Who should attend:
Interested local government staff
(e.g., energy managers, environmental
coordinators, public works directors
and environmental services managers)
and interested elected officials.
At this Work Session you will:
• Obtain emissions data for your jurisdiction's major Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions sources
(e.g., utilities, transportation, and waste sectors)
• Prepare a report on your jurisdiction's community-scale GHG emissions inventory utilizing the
Clean Air Climate Protection (CACP) Software'
• Learn how to develop and update your community's emissions inventories
• Hear and discuss ideas for advancing climate protection locally
• Join your peers in a climate protection network
Agenda
9:45 am Doors Open/Check-in
10:00 am Welcome and Introductions
10:15 am Introduction to Local Government Climate Protection & GHG Emissions Inventories
10:45 am Discussion of Major GHG Emission Sources & Data Sources
11:30 am Introduction to Inventory Tools
12:00 pm Lunch & Networking Time (lunch provided)
1:00 pm Hands-on Activity: Developing Your Community's Community-Scale GHG Inventory
2:00 pm The Next Step: Communicating Results to Your Elected Officials
2:30 pm Adjourn
Capacity is limited, so please RSVP by Tuesday, August 28`h to Ayrin Zahner at
ayrin.zahnerCiclei.org or (510) 844-0699 ext 307.
Hosted by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and ICLEI - Local Governments for
Sustainability, in coordination with Sustainable Silicon Valley, Pacific Gas & Electric, and Joint Venture
Silicon Valley Network Climate Protection Task Force's. For additional questions, please contact Ana
Sandoval, Principal Environmental Planner, Bay Area Air District at 415.749.4667 or
a ando a1_ta-haagrrid.2o~-.
I Use and support for the CACP software is available to ICLEI members. This work session will allow local governments who
are not ICLEI members to utilize the software at the time of the workshop. Work session facilitators will provide source data and
underlying assumptions in the emission factors used by the CACP software to all participants to ease future replication.
Attachment 1
Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Work Session
For Local Governments in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties
Hosted By:
B A Y Alt EA Bay Area Air Quality Management District is responsible for maintaining air quality in the San
ukU1" Francisco Bay Area. On June 1, 2005, the Air District launched its regional Climate Protection
Program. One focus of the program is to provide technical assistance to local governments and
n facilitate local climate protection action. The September 7 h work session represents the launch of a
regional effort by the Air District to assist all Bay Area local governments with their community-scale
inventories.
ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability is an international membership association of more
than 650 cities, counties, towns and villages around the world. In the US, ICLEI has grown from a
L Local handful of local governments in 1993 to over 250 that are now providing national leadership on
Governments climate protection. With ICLEI's guidance, these local governments are achieving over 23 million
for Sustain ability tons of greenhouse gas reductions annually. ICLEI has 45 members in the Bay Area alone, 25 of
which have already used ICLEI's tools and methodologies for their greenhouse gas inventories.
Throughout the operation of this campaign, ICLEI has hosted over 40 training workshops for local
government staff.
The Clean Air and Climate Protection (CACP) software, which will be used at this work session, was
launched in 2003 and developed through a collaboration between ICLEI and the State and Territorial
Air Pollution Program Administrators and Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials
(STAPPA/ALAPCO, now the National Association of Clean Air Agencies). It is designed to
specifically help state and local governments asses and manage their greenhouse gas emissions. The
CACP software is the preeminent tool in use by local governments in the United States to conduct
greenhouse gas emission inventories.
In Coordination With:
srntxr~i ( Sustainable Silicon Valley (SSV) is a collaboration of businesses, governments, and non-
governmental organizations that are identifying and addressing environmental and resource pressures
in the Valley. SSV is collaborating with ICLEI and the Joint Venture Silicon Valley Network Climate
Protection Task Force in providing climate protection assistance to the local governments of Santa
Clara and San Mateo counties.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is one of the largest combination natural gas and electric
utilities in the United States. It provides natural gas and electric service to approximately 15 million
people throughout a 70,000-square-mile service area in northern and central California. PG&E has
undertaken numerous climate protection initiatives, among them being a charter member of the
California Climate Action Registry and launching Climate Smart, the first-of-its-kind voluntary
customer climate protection program. PG&E has also exemplified a commitment to assisting local
governments in climate protection by regularly providing utility data, building programs to assist cities
with their Sustainability goals, and by participating in this ground breaking work session.
b~'t3 { Joint Venture Silicon Valley Network Climate Protection Task Force
The Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network Climate Protection Task Force includes most of the cities
in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, the Counties themselves and several special districts. The
Task Force plans to conduct greenhouse gas emissions inventories, set goals, identify opportunities for
reducing emissions, and form a procurement pool for technologies that will help reduce emissions
from local government operations.