Sustainability Staff Report.�pW M Oar
.1 s COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
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DATE: OCTOBER 5, 2012
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: GREG LARSON, TOWN MANAGER
MEETING DATE: 10/15/12
ITEM NO: H
SUBJECT: SUSTAINABILITY PLAN. APPLICANT: TOWN OF LOS GATOS
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A SUSTAINABILITY PLAN TO SERVE AS
THE TOWN'S GREENHOUSE GAS (GHG) EMISSIONS REDUCTION PLAN
AND SATISFY 2020 GENERAL PLAN ACTION ENV -13.1. NO
SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS
A RESULT OF THIS PROJECT AND AN ADDENDUM TO THE 2020
GENERAL PLAN EIR IS RECOMMENDED,
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Adopt the Addendum to the 2020 General Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
(Attachment 5) (motion required).
2. Adopt the Sustainability Plan (Attachment 5) (motion required).
BACKGROUND:
In September 2010, the Town Council adopted the 2020 General Plan. Action ENV -13.1 directs
the Town to adopt a GHG Emissions Reduction Plan within 24 months of adoption of the 2020
General Plan. The action requires that a GHG Emissions Reduction Plan be in place prior to the
adoption of any specific plan.
On December 5, 2011, the Town Council reviewed a list of preliminary Sustainability Plan
measures during a Study Session. The video and minutes are available on the Town's website.
Staff and the consultants used the feedback to refine the preliminary list of Sustainability Plan
measures.
On January 3 and 24, 2012, the Town published a '/2 -page advertisement in the Los Gatos
Weekly Newspaper announcing the January 30, 2012, Sustainability Plan Community
Workshop. On January 25, 2012, staff routed a memorandum with a list of preliminary
Sustainability Plan measures and the Existing GHG Inventory to the Planning Commission and
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PREPARED BY: Todd Capurso, Actinector of Community Development
Reviewed by: Assistant Town Manager Town Attorney CZFinance
N:\DEV \TC REPORTS\ 2012\ SustainabilityPlan .TC.10,15.2012.doex Reformatted: 5/30/02
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MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: Sustainability Plan
October 5, 2012
Sustainability Committee. Staff researched membership changes for the Sustainability
Committee and included new members from the Youth, Parks, and Transportation and Parking
Commissions. The memo noted the public comment period would end on February 8, 2012.
The Town held the Community Workshop on January 30, 2012, at the Adult Recreation Center.
Approximately 30 members of the public attended. The consultant presented background
information for the Sustainability Plan including the purpose. The workshop included a period
of time for the attendees to review the measures on large boards located at "stations" staffed by
staff or a consultant. The attendees could make verbal comments which were recorded on large
pads of paper or submit written comments.
The Town received several public comments within the public comment period that ended on
February 8, 2012. Comments were received from members of the public who attended and did
not attend the workshop. The Town also received comments from one member of the
Sustainability Committee from the Youth Commission. Staff and the consultant further refined.
the measures based on this input. Then, the consultant quantified emissions reductions based on
the refined list of measures.
On May 22, 2012, the Town published a %2 -page advertisement in the Los Gatos Weekly
Newspaper announcing the Sustainability Plan Community Open House and Town Council
Study Session. On June 4, 2012, the Town held the Community Open House in. the Town
Council Chambers Lobby. Approximately 10 members of the public attended. Staff and the
consultant presented the parts of the Sustainability Plan process that were completed. The
refined measures, emission reduction quantifications, cost effectiveness, and implementation
schedule were displayed on large boards for review and discussion. Staff and the consultant
answered questions and recorded comments. On June 4, 2012, immediately after the Community
Open House, the Town Council held the second Study Session and reviewed the refined list of
measures, emission reduction quantifications, cost effectiveness, and implementation schedule.
This information was presented as Appendix E of the Sustainability Plan. (A refined version of
Appendix E is available on the Town's website. Due to the length of the Appendices, they are
not included as an attachment.) The Town Council's discussion included whether the proposed
measures were compatible with Town goals and financially feasible within the proposed
implementation schedule. The video and minutes are available on the Town's website.
The Planning Commission forwarded the matter to the Town Council for approval on September
26, 2012.
DISCUSSION:
A. Project SummarX
The Town has developed a Sustainability Plan that identifies how the community can reduce
GHG emissions. The Plan identifies a GHG target, strategies, and specific measures for both
municipal operations and the larger community. The Plan positions the Town to increase
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MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: Sustainability Plan
October 5, 2012
energy efficiency and conservation. The Plan also helps address recent changes to the State
and Federal regulatory environment, pursuant to the California Global Warming Solutions
Act of 2006 (AB32), Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008 (SB 375),
and other related legislation. The Sustainability Plan would serve as the Town's GHG
Emissions Reduction Plan and satisfy 2020 General Plan Action ENV -13.1.
The Sustainability Plan (Attachment 1, received under separate cover) contains six chapters -
an Introduction, the existing GHG Emissions Inventory, the 2020 Business as Usual and
Adjusted GHG Emissions Inventory, a GHG Emissions Reductions Target, GHG Emissions
Reduction Measures, and the Implementation and Monitoring Plan.
The Introduction provides background information on the effects of GHGs, Los Gatos's
existing efforts, and public outreach and participation. The summary of existing GHG
emissions by sectors of transportation, residential and non - residential energy use, solid waste
disposal, water and wastewater, and other sources is included in Chapter 2. The summary of
projected GHG emissions by sectors of transportation, residential and non - residential energy
use, solid waste disposal, water and wastewater, and other sources is included in Chapter 3
for business as usual and adjusted conditions.
The GHG Emissions Reduction Target chapter (Chapter 4) discusses the reduction target set
for the Town including the reason for the target and the amount of GHG emission reductions
the Town must accomplish. The measures the Town will use to meet the target are contained
in the GHG Emissions Reduction Measures chapter (Chapter 5). In the final chapter
(Chapter 6), the plan discusses an implementation schedule based on two time periods (2012
to 2015 and 2015 to 2020), cost effectiveness of the measures, and methods to monitor
implementation of the measures. Appendix E summarizes the information in Chapters 5 and
6. (Due to the length of the Appendices, they are not included as an attachment but are
available on the Town's website.)
B. Planning Commission
The plan was considered by the Planning Commission on August 8, August 22 (continued
with no discussion), and September 26, 2012 (see Attachments 1 through 4 for a thorough
description of the project; received under separate cover). See Attachments 6 through 8 for
the Commission's full discussion.
The Planning Commission recommended approval of the plan and the addendum. The
Commission's recommendation includes changing the implementation period from 2015-
2020 to 2012 -2015 for the following measures:
• GB -5
• RE -4
• WW -1 through WW -6
• SW -8
• CA -2
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MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: Sustainability Plan
October 5, 2012
The Commission also recommended that the Green Building measures be the top priority for
implementation and that the Water and Wastewater measures be the number two priority.
The Planning Commission also recommended that the Sustainability Plan be treated like the
Capital Improvement Plan in that staff should provide yearly reports to the Planning
Commission on progress and plans for future years.
The Planning Commission inquired to the status of the U.S. Mayor's Climate Protection
Agreement. The agreement commits to reducing global warming pollution levels to 7%
below 1990 levels by 2012. Staff is working with outside agencies and other jurisdictions to
determine the proper means of reporting our progress on a 7% reduction of global warming
pollution levels. The Commission also inquired as to staff priorities and a cost- benefit
analysis of the measures. Both areas will be addressed during implementation of the
Sustainability Plan. However, the plan does include an analysis of cost effectiveness of the
measures.
Staff does not oppose the Commission's recommendations. In consideration of the
Sustainability Plan, the Council shall determine whether the Council will incorporate the
Planning Commission's recommendations. Based on Council's determination, the
Sustainability Plan would be revised, if necessary, following the Council meeting.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Public comments were received through the public review process and are available at the
Community Development Department for review.
CONCLUSION:
The Sustainability Plan (Attachment 1, received under separate cover) would serve as the
Town's GHG Emissions Reduction Plan and satisfy 2020 General Plan Action ENV -13.1. (Due
to the length of the Appendices, they are not included as an attachment but are available on the
Town's website.) If the Town Council adopts the plan in October 2012, it will enable the Town
to meet the requirement to adopt a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Reduction Plan within 25
months of adoption of the 2020 General Plan.
The proposed Sustainability Plan is consistent with and supports the General Plan goal to
promote a sustainable community that protects environmental resources and the climate to
prevent negative impacts to future generations. The proposed Sustainability Plan is consistent
with General Plan policies intended to promote sustainability of resources, waste reduction, and
energy conservation. Approval and implementation of the Sustainability Plan would not create
any new or significant environmental impacts studied in the Los Gatos 2020 General Plan EIR.
Therefore, it is recommended that the Council adopt the Addendum to the 2020 General Plan
EIR and approve the Sustainability Plan.
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MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: Sustainability Plan
Ociober 5, 2012
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
No significant environmental impacts have been identified as a result of this project and an
Addendum to the 2020 General Plan EIR was prepared (Exhibit 2, received under separate
cover). The Sustainability Plan measures are considered changes or additions to the project
analyzed in the 2020 General Plan EIR. However, the adoption and implementation of the
Sustainability Plan would not result in new potentially significant impacts beyond those
identified in the 2020 General Plan EIR that was certified by the Town Council (see full analysis
in the EIR Addendum). Therefore, pursuant to CEQA, an Addendum to the EIR was prepared.
The deciding body should determine that: (1) a Final EIR for the Los Gatos General Plan 2020
was certified and adopted by Town Council on September 20, 2010; and, (2) based on the
analysis in the Appendix G Checklist in the Addendum, adoption and implementation of the
Sustainability Plan would not create any new or significant environmental impacts studied in the
Los Gatos General Plan 2020 EIR; and, (3) since the time that Council certified the FEIR in
2010, some changes or additions are necessary, but none of the conditions described in Section
15162- requiring preparation of a subsequent EIR have occurred.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost for preparation of the Sustainability Plan was included in the adopted budget. Funding
is from the General Plan Update deposit account.
Additional costs may be required to implement the measures. These costs are unknown at this
time and will be identified during implementation of the Sustainability Plan.
ATTACHMENTS:
Received Under Separate Cover (October 5. 2012
1. Report to the Planning Commission for the meeting of September 26, 2012
2. Desk Item to the Planning Commission for the meeting of August 22, 2012
3. Report to the Planning Commission for the meeting of August 22, 2012
4. Report to the Planning Commission for the meeting of August 8, 2012
Received With This Report
5. Resolution approving the Sustainability Plan and adopting the Addendum to the 2020
General Plan EIR
6. Excerpt of the Planning Commission verbatim meeting minutes of September 26, 2012
7. Excerpt of the Planning Commission verbatim meeting minutes of August 22, 2012
8. Excerpt of the Planning Commission verbatim meeting minutes of August 8, 2012
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MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: Sustainability Plan
October 5, 2012
Distribution:
cc: The Planning Center DC &E, 1625 Shattuck Avenue, Suite 300, Berkeley, CA 94709
TC:JLS:ct
N:\DEV \TC REPORTS\ 2012\ Sustainabi lityPlan,TC.10.15,2012.docx