HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTION 2024-141 N.C.S. 11/04/2024 Docusign Envelope ID:CB580FD6-5391-48A9-ABB1-C88FF653EBF1
Resolution No. 2024-141 N.C.S.
of the City of Petaluma, California
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PETALUMA ADOPTING THE BLUEPRINT FOR CLIMATE ACTION
WHEREAS, in 2019 the City of Petaluma adopted a Climate Emergency Resolution; and
WHEREAS, also in 2019, the City Council established the Climate Action Commission to engage
and make policy recommendations on climate-related matters; and
WHEREAS, on January 11, 2021, the City Council adopted the Climate Emergency Framework to
outline principles to guide the City's ongoing response to and discussion about the climate crisis and to
guide and inform subsequent policies and implementation strategies; and
WHEREAS, the Climate Emergency Framework set a goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2030;
and
WHEREAS, the Climate Emergency Framework called for the development of a City of Petaluma
Climate Action Plan; and
WHEREAS, the scope of the comprehensive General Plan Update and associated contract with
Raimi and Associates included the development of a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of the approaching goal of 2030 for achieving carbon neutrality and
the extended timeline for adoption of the General Plan update, the City bifurcated the greenhouse gas
reduction strategy from the adaptation strategies in the General Plan Update; and
WHEREAS, the Climate Action Commission formed ad-hoc committees focused on topics for
inclusion in the City's greenhouse gas reduction strategy and worked collaboratively with Raimi and
Associates to inform the development of the Blueprint for Carbon Neutrality; and
WHEREAS, the public review draft of the Blueprint for Carbon Neutrality was published on
September 26, 2023; and
WHEREAS, on October 12, 2023, the City held a community open house to introduce the draft
Blueprint; and
WHEREAS, the draft Blueprint was presented at a series of public meetings with the City's
commissions, committees, and boards to seek feedback related to the focus areas of individual
advisory bodies; and
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WHEREAS, through a robust community engagement effort and in collaboration with community
stakeholders, the city received more than 1,000 public comments in response to the draft Blueprint;
and
WHEREAS, input received from the members of the public, staff, and the City's CCBs was
incorporated into a revised Draft of the Blueprint, which was released on September 26, 2024, as the
Blueprint for Climate Action; and
WHEREAS, on October 8, 2024, the Planning Commission and Climate Action Commission held
a duly noticed joint public hearing to consider the Blueprint for recommendation to the City Council;
and
WHEREAS, at the October 8, 2024,joint hearing, the Climate Action Commission recommended
by motion that the City Council adopt the Blueprint with recommended changes; and
WHEREAS, at the October 8, 2024,joint hearing, the Planning Commission adopted a resolution
recommending that the City Council adopt the Blueprint with recommended changes; and
WHEREAS, the adoption of the Blueprint has been reviewed in compliance with the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and its Guidelines and found to be categorically exempt in
accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15307 (Class 7) regarding Protection of Natural Resources
and Guidelines Section 15308 (Class 8) regarding Protection of the Environment as it involves
programs and policies that when implemented will protect the environment and its natural resources;
and
WHEREAS, at the November 4, 2024 City Council Meeting, the Council held a duly noticed
public hearing, received a staff report, accepted public comment, and considered adoption of the
Blueprint for Climate Action; and
WHEREAS, as outlined in the November 4, 2024 staff report, the adoption of the Blueprint
protects natural resources and the environment by prioritizing climate action and implementation,
educating City staff and the public about GHG reduction and climate adaptation programs, monitoring
GHG emissions, decarbonizing City facilities and replacing gas fueled equipment, implementing
climate awareness and action programs, expanding EV infrastructure, expanding use of renewable
energy, developing an electrification strategy, creating a resilient water supply, adopting an Urban
Forestry Management Plan,prioritizing local and regional carbon sequestration partnerships, creating a
carbon gardening campaign, adopting an open space management framework requiring zero waste for
events, implementing an edible food recovery program, prioritizing nature-based systems, and phasing
out gas-powered lawn and garden equipment; and
WHEREAS, the 33 identified cornerstone actions of the Blueprint directly and indirectly relate
to the protection and enhancement of natural resources and the environment; and
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WHEREAS, there are no exceptions pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 that would
make the Blueprint ineligible for an exemption in accordance with 15307 and 15308.
NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED,by the City Council of the City of Petaluma as
follows:
1. The above recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein by reference.
2. Adoption of the Blueprint has been reviewed in compliance with the California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA) and its Guidelines and found to be categorically exempt in accordance with CEQA
Guidelines Section 15307 (Class 7) regarding Protection of Natural Resources and Guidelines Section
15308 (Class 8) regarding Protection of the Environment as it involves programs and policies that when
implemented will protect the environment and its natural resources.
3. As outlined in the November 4,2024 staff report,the adoption of the Blueprint protects natural resources
and the environment by prioritizing climate action and implementation, educating City staff and the
public about GHG reduction and climate adaptation programs, monitoring GHG emissions,
decarbonizing City facilities and replacing gas fueled equipment, implementing climate awareness and
action programs, expanding EV infrastructure, expanding use of renewable energy, developing an
electrification strategy, creating a resilient water supply, adopting an Urban Forestry Management Plan,
prioritizing local and regional carbon sequestration partnerships, creating a carbon gardening campaign,
adopting an open space management framework requiring zero waste for events, implementing an
edible food recovery program, prioritizing nature-based systems, and phasing out gas-powered lawn
and garden equipment.
4. As outlined in the November 4, 2024 staff report, identified cornerstone actions of the Blueprint
directly and indirectly relate to the protection and enhancement of natural resources and the
environment.
5. There are no exceptions pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 that would make the Blueprint
ineligible for an exemption in accordance with 15307 and 15308.
6. The City Council adopts the Blueprint for Climate Action with the incorporation of the changes
recommended by the Climate Action Commission and the Planning Commission, including:
• On Page 12, add"establish monitor and publicize metrics"to the statement of intent
• Modify the Executive Summary to include the following:
o Create a visual commitment to resolution of carbon neutrality by 2030
o Include Figure 13 in the Executive Summary to show that we are trying to get
to carbon neutral but that we need to continue to be bold to get toward that
goal
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o Include a graphic showing the whole picture of consumptive (indirect) and
activity based(direct) emissions to show the relative magnitudes
o Include descriptive language like "pioneering" and"bold" for the City's
commitment to the direction of the Blueprint
o Create visual story of success and a narrative vision of the future
o Elevate the benefits and discuss the costs of delay and inaction and explain the
value added
o Add language to note that all adaptation measures are addressed in the
General Plan.
• Include emissions from airport operations as well as aircraft fuel sales, including
leaded vs. unleaded in future inventories, monitoring, and reporting
• Modify OSM-1 to read "Develop a policy that prioritizes local and regional carbon
sequestration partnerships,projects, and sources in the City."
• Add an action to monitoring and reporting strategy: Develop a policy to prevent the
misuse of offsets to meet carbon neutrality goals
• Add action to OSM to develop a priority natural open space program with a code of
care of natural open space
• Modify OSM-4 to change from"open spaces"to "natural open spaces"
• Modify OF-1 c to change "open space"to "landscaped spaces"
• Replace "open space"with "landscaped areas"throughout the document except as
noted above in OSM-4
• Modify first two sentences of Parking Management Strategy (p. 70) to use a positive
tone
• Modify document references to"senior mobility services"to "senior and disabled
mobility services"
• Revise the language of TLUC-1 e regarding the implementation of SB 10 to say
"identify and implement best practices" and add a reference to SB 684
• Modify AT-Ig to specify what should be included in updated streetscape standards to
achieve safe and complete streets, to incorporate specifications for tree canopy,
planting and care, stormwater management, pedestrian and rolling infrastructure to
support multi-modality on streets,paths, and trails, transit stops, removal of
impervious cover where not needed, and other key criteria
• In the Building section, add more robust language emphasizing importance of
workforce housing in reducing commuting and reduce travel emissions.
• Change"citizens"to "residents"throughout the document
• Modify CE-1 to establish a target for 100%renewable energy in conjunction with
Sonoma Clean Power
• Modify OSS-2c to add"towards the City's carbon neutrality goal" after key
milestones
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• Move municipal operations action plans to the beginning of Chapter 5
Under the power and authority conferred upon this Council by the Charter of said City.
REFERENCE: I hereby certify the foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted Approved as to
by the Council of the City of Petaluma at a Regular meeting on the Docusign.&M:
4' day of November 2024,by the following vote: r
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5EF85 AtWWY
AYES: McDonnell,Barnacle,Cader Thompson,Healy,Nau,Pocekay,Shribbs
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
DocuSigned by: Signed by:
c—
61
ATTEST:
City Clerk Mayor
Resolution No. 2024-141 N.C.S. Page 5