Title
RESOLUTION NO. 2014-006 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA (1) ACCEPTING THE PROGRESS REPORT ON CLIMATE ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION, (2) ACCEPTING THE 2012 GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS INVENTORY REPORT, AND (3) DIRECTING THE CITY'S CLIMATE CHANGE WORKING GROUP TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS AS OUTLINED IN THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN UPDATE ROADMAP FOR FUTURE COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
Body
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommended Action
Council adopt the resolution.
Body
SUMMARY
As outlined in the Climate Action Plan progress report, the City of Chula Vista is successfully implementing most of the 18 climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, previously approved by City Council, to avoid greenhouse gas emissions and to reduce future risks from local climate changes impacts. To track the City's progress on reducing carbon emissions, staff recently completed a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory for 2012, which indicates that annual citywide GHG levels have increased by 19% compared to 1990. However, 2012 per capita emission levels in Chula Vista are approximately 36% below 1990 levels and emissions from municipal sources (i.e. operations, facilities, and vehicle fleet) in 2012 are approximately 44% below 1990 levels. To continue the City's leadership and progress, staff proposes to formally update the City's Climate Action Plan over the next year through a stakeholder-driven process. The update will allow Chula Vista to take advantage of new analysis and tracking tools and be more responsive to new State guidance on climate action planning.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Development Services Director has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity qualifies for a Class 8 categorical exemption pursuant to Section 15308 [Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment] of the State CEQA Guidelines. Thus, no further environmental review is necessary.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
Staff presented the 2012 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and the Climate Action Plan Update Roadmap to the Resource Conservation Commission (RCC) on December 9, 2013. The RCC formally accepted the inventory report and unanimously supported the proposed Climate Action Plan update process.
DISCUSSION
For over a decade, Chula Vista has been a nationally-recognized leader in implementing a Climate Action Plan (CAP) to address the threat of climate change to the local community. The current CAP includes 7 climate "mitigation" measures, which are designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and 11 climate "adaptation" measures, which are designed to reduce Chula Vista's vulnerability to expected local climate change impacts. In addition to addressing climate change concerns, these climate action measures offer numerous community co-benefits such as utility savings, better air quality, reduced traffic congestion, local economic development, and improved quality of life. The attached progress report outlines the implementation progress for the current 18 climate-related actions and their 57 associated components. Overall, 70% of components have been successfully completed and/or are being implemented on an ongoing basis (a 7% increase since the last reporting period), while another 26% are still being actively pursued.
To help assess program progress, track changes to emission sources, and guide future policy decisions, staff has completed a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory for Calendar Year 2012. The 2012 GHG Emissions Inventory utilizes the new U.S. Community Protocol, which was developed by ICLEI and approved by the California Office of Planning & Research, to assist local jurisdictions in quantifying their community's climate impact. As a result, staff has recalculated emission levels for 1990 and 2005 inventories, where feasible, based on the new protocol to ensure an "apples to apples" comparison. The 2012 GHG Emissions Inventory indicates that Chula Vista's annual citywide GHG levels have increased to 969,706 metric tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (MT CO2e) with expansion of its housing stock and population. The two greatest sources of emissions were from the transportation sector (41%) and residential energy use sector (25%). Compared to 1990, Chula Vista's citywide GHG emissions have increased by 19%. However, per capita levels are approximately 36% below 1990 levels. Greenhouse gas emissions from municipal sources (i.e. operations, facilities, and vehicle fleet) in 2012 totaled 17,896 MT CO2e and were 44% or 14,084 metric tons lower than 1990 levels.
To continue the City's leadership and to take advantage of new, no-cost GHG analysis and tracking tools, staff proposes to formally update the City's CAP over the next year through a stakeholder-driven process. The Climate Action Plan Update Roadmap outlines the process of reconvening a Climate Change Working Group (CCWG) that will be comprised of residents, businesses, and community group representatives to review and evaluate various strategies to further reduce GHG emissions. The CCWG, which will be chaired by a Resource Conservation Commission member, would meet approximately 12 times over the next year to develop recommendations by consensus. In addition to their publicly-noticed meetings, the CCWG would host up to 2 public workshops to solicit additional community feedback. The CCWG's recommendations would be presented to City Council for review and consideration in late 2014. Based upon City Council's direction, these recommendations would be further developed into a single, more detailed CAP document by staff.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site specific and consequently, the 500-foot rule found in California Code of Regulations section 18704.2(a)(1), is not applicable to this decision. Staff is not independently aware, and has not been informed by any City Council member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision maker conflict of interest in this matter.
LINK TO STRATEGIC GOALS
The City's Strategic Plan has five major goals: Operational Excellence, Economic Vitality, Healthy Community, Strong and Secure Neighborhoods and a Connected Community. The update to the City's Climate Action Plan supports the Healthy Community goal. Specifically, the new program will allow the City to develop new carbon-reducing strategies, which is a key objective under Initiative 3.2.2. - "Update and implement the Climate Action Plan."
CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
The Climate Action Plan is being implemented using existing budgets and external funding sources, resulting in no new fiscal impact in the current year. Likewise, the yearlong process for updating the plan will also be covered through existing departmental budgets and the City's Local Government Partnership with San Diego Gas & Electric and the California Public Utilities Commission.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
There is no new, ongoing fiscal impact due to implementation of the Climate Action Plan, since it is being implemented using existing budgets and external funding sources. Any recommended updates to the Climate Action Plan will be presented to City Council for consideration in the future along with any associated fiscal impact.