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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 3.A 03/21/2016DATE: March 21, 2016 TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council FROM: John C. Brown, City Manager Agenda Item #3.A SUBJECT: Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Sign a Letter of Support for SB 1030, Allowing the Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority to Continue to Operate Past January 1, 2020 by Removing the Sunset Provision RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council adopt the attached Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Sign a Letter of Support for SB 1030, allowing the Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority to continue to operate past January 1, 2020 by removing the sunset provision. BACKGROUND The Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority (RCPA) was formed through the enactment of AB881 (Huffman) in 2009 to assist local agencies in meeting their greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals, and to develop, coordinate, and implement programs and policies to comply with the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB32) and other federal or state mandates and programs designed to respond to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. This authorization was granted originally until December 2015 and was extended to December 2019 by AB639 (Huffman). DISCUSSION Petaluma is a member of the RCPA and collaborates with them on many projects including energy efficiency rebates and financing, renewable energy implementation, low carbon transportation planning, electric vehicle infrastructure planning, public outreach, and planning for climate resilience. The RCPA is essential for regional long-range planning and programs and strives to provide efficient and effective services to the cities and the County in responding to State requirements, securing grant funding, managing coordinated projects, and engaging with the community. FINANCIAL IMPACTS None. ATTACHMENTS 1. Resolution 2. Fact Sheet 3. Letter of Support ATTACHMENT I RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR SB 1030, ALLOWING THE SONOMA COUNTY REGIONAL CLIMATE PROTECTION AUTHORITY TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE PAST JANUARY 1, 2020 BY REMOVING THE SUNSET PROVISION WHEREAS, the Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority (RCPA) was formed through the enactment of AB881 (Huffman) in 2009 to assist local agencies in meeting their greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals, and to develop, coordinate, and implement programs and policies to comply with the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB32) and other federal or state mandates and programs designed to respond to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change; and WHEREAS, this authorization was granted originally until December 2015 and was extended to December 2019 by AB639 (Huffman); and WHEREAS, Petaluma is a member of the RCPA and collaborates with them on many projects including energy efficiency rebates and financing, renewable energy implementation, low carbon transportation planning, electric vehicle infrastructure planning, public outreach, and planning for climate resilience; and WHEREAS, the RCPA is essential for regional long-range planning and programs and strives to provide efficient and effective services to the cities and the County in responding to State requirements, securing grant funding, managing coordinated projects, and engaging with the community; and WHEREAS, the State of California is an international leader that has adopted ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meeting those targets will require action and collaboration at all levels of government — local, regional, state, and federal. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City Council of the City of Petaluma does hereby authorize the Mayor to sign the letter of support for SB 1030 to enable the Sonoma County Regional climate Protection Authority to continue operating past January 1, 2020. ATTAC WNT 2 SUMMARY The historic passage of the California Global Warming Solutions Act, AB 32 (Pavley, 2006), and the recent passage of the Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act, SB 350 (De Leon, 2015), has affirmed California's role as an international leader in climate change mitigation. The state is now seeking to further emission reductions through local programs such as the Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority (RCPA). The RCPA assists Sonoma County and the Bay Area in reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) by coordinating with climate change organizations to implement best practices and utilizing available resources most effectively. Being the first organization of its kind in the State, the Legislature required a sunset clause to ensure the RCPA achieved the goals set out for it in the original legislation. In accordance with the RCPA's proven trach;, record, this bill eliminates the sunset clause. BACKGROUND The RCPA is made up of the same board of local elected, officials as the Sonoma County Transportation Authority. The RCPA membership includes representatives from the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, all nine cities in Sonoma County, and works with many other climate change organizations around the Bay Area. In 2014, the RCPA was recognized by the federal government as a White House Climate Champion. The RCPA's core function is to coordinate a unified response to climate change across Sonoma County. Their fundamental strategies include adopting regional goals that positively impact cities and counties, formalizing partnerships, pooling resources, and working across public and private sectors. The RCPA engages in GHG mitigation through reduction of energy consumption, enhancing alternative transportation options, and increasing water use efficiency. Their efforts have exceeded expectations, and it is clear that the core of climate change action will increasingly take place at the local level. HOW DOES THIS COMPARE WITH STATE ACTIONS? The RCPA's climate action plan finds that local climate action strategies will account for over 677,000 metric tons (or 1.6 billion pounds) of CO2 annually by 2020. This is equivalent to removing 142,500 passenger cars from the road, or the carbon sequestered by 554,900 acres of forest. In comparison, the State's Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) Scoping Plan measures are expected to generate reductions in Sonoma County of over 750,000 metric tons of CO2. Through the RCPA, Sonoma County is matching State efforts to nearly a 1 to 1 match. PROBLEM Climate change is an ongoing and increasingly volatile issue. Most scientific studies agree the problems associated with climate change are set to intensify. While the RCPA continues to adopt strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change, grant making entities want assurances that any funding awarded will contribute to the long-term and widespread response to climate change, while reducing emissions locally. the ability to retain highly qualified and at the RCPA is challenged without ►rding the continuation of the agency. SOLUTION The RCPA's success is proof that GHG mitigation will happen at the local level. Removing the sunset clause from statute ensures the RCPA will retain highly qualified staff, reassure grant making entities of its long term status, and increase efforts to the ongoing and long- term challenges we face as a community and as a state. Therefore, for these reasons SB 1030 seeks to remove the sunset clause CONTACT Buck Ellingson, Senate Fellow Buck.Ellingson@sen.ca.gov 916-651-4343 SB 000 (McGuire) Fact Sheet • 02/23/16 L ATTACHMENT 3 CITY OF ETALUlV1. A POST OFFICE Box 61 Y 8 5 g PETALUMA, CA 94953-0061 David Glass lVfayor Chris Albertson Teresa Barrett Mike Healy Gabe Kearney Dave King Kathy Miller Councilinembers City Manager's Office 11 English Street Petaluma, C,i 94952 Phone (707) 778-4345 Fax (707) 778-4419 E -Mail: citytngr@,)ei.petaluma.ca.us Economic Development Phone (707) 778-4549 Fax (707) 778-4586 KousingDivision Phone (707) 778-4555 Fax (707) 778- 4586 Information Technology Division Phone (707) 778-4417 Fax (707) 776-3623 Risk Afanagement Division Phone (707) 776-3695 Fax (707) 776-3697 190*41 EUVAL1p115G0 OV>OPiUNITV March 21, 2016 The Honorable Mike McGuire California State Senate State Capitol 1303 10th Street, Room 5064 Sacramento, CA 95814 RE: Support for SB 1030 (McGuire) — Sonoma Climate Protections Dear Senator McGuire: On behalf of the City of Petaluma, I am writing to express our support for SB 1030 to remove the sunset date on the Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority (RCPA). Petaluma is a member of the RCPA, collaborating with the RCPA on many projects including energy efficiency rebates and financing, renewable energy implementation, low carbon transportation planning, electric vehicle infrastructure planning, public outreach, and planning for climate resilience. Sonoma County communities rely on the RCPA to advance a countywide long- term response to climate change by providing a regional policy forum, staff level coordination, public education, program management, grant administration, and reporting. The RCPA is able to efficiently develop climate action strategies on behalf of multiple local agencies at once, aligning projects across governments towards maximum, integrated benefits and creating a consistent approach throughout the county. The RCPA is essential for regional long-range planning and programs, including the community climate action plan and regional electric vehicle planning, working to harness funding which we otherwise could not pursue due to staffing and resource constraints. The State of California is an international leader that has adopted ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Success in meeting those targets will require action and collaboration at all levels of government — local, regional, state, -and federal. The RCPA is a proven model for local governments to participate fully and take charge in solving the problem. Local action by Sonoma County communities, working in unison with the RCPA, has immediate and impactful results in the fight against climate change. Removing the sunset clause will enable the RCPA to work long-term on the climate challenges ahead for our communities. Thank you for your leadership in support of the RCPA. Sincerely, David Glass Mayor of Petaluma