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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-10-14 CCWG Agenda PacketCITY OF CHOLA VISTA Climate Change Working Group I declare under penalty of perjury that I am employed by the City of Chula Vista in the Economic Development Department and that I posted this document on the bulletin board according to Brown Act re u' a ents. DatedSigned REGULAR MEETING OF THE CLIMATE CHANGE WORKING GROUP (CCWG) OF THE CITY OF CIIULA VISTA �9 October 14th, 2020 VIA TELECONFERENCE 3:00 pm 276 Fourth Ave Chula Vista PLEASE NOTE THAT, PURSUANT TO THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA'S EXECUTIVE ORDER N-29-20, AND IN THE INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, MEMBERS OF THE CLIMATE CHANGE WORKING GROUP AND STAFF MAY PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING VIA TELECONFERENCE. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, THE PUBLIC MAY VIEW THE MEETING ONLINE AND NOT AT 276 FOURTH AVENUE. HOW TO WATCH: Members of the public can access a link to the livestream at www. chulavistaca. gov/virtualmeetings. Members of the public who wish to join by telephone only, may call 1-408-418-9388 (United States Toll) and enter the access code: 146 089 1765 HOW TO SUBMIT COMMENTS: Visit the online eComment portal for this meeting at: www.chulavistaca.gov/virtualmeetiMss. The commenting period will be open shortly after the agenda is published for a particular meeting and will remain open through the meeting, as described below. All comments will be available to the public and the Climate Change Working Group using the eComment portal. Comments must be received prior to the time the Chair calls for the close of the commenting period. Comments received after such time will not be considered by the Climate Change Working Group. If you have difficulty or are unable to submit a comment, please contact Manuel Medrano for assistance at mmedrano@chulavistaca.gov or (619) 585-5766. ACCESSIBILITY: Individuals with disabilities are invited to request reasonable modifications or accommodations in order to access and/or participate in a Climate Change Working Group meeting by contacting the Economic Development Department at mmedrano@chulavistaca.gov or (619) 585- 5766 (California Relay Service is available for the hearing impaired by dialing 711) at least forty-eight hours in advance of the meeting. ***The City of Chula Vista is relying on commercial technology to livestream and accept public comments via Granicus, Inc. With the increase of virtual meetings, most platforms are working to scale their systems to meet the new demand. If we have technical difficulties, we will resolve them as quickly as possible. City staff will take all possible measures to ensure a publicly accessible experience. *** CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL: Chair Legaspi, Vice Chair Adriana Guevara-Gluyas, Angie Guerrero, Carmen Richardson, Carolyn Scofield, Nick Lee, Rich D'Ascoli, Eddie Price, Lisa Cohen, Matt Lowery, Giovanna Castro, Len Hering, Eric Drabb, Clay Clifton, Fabiola Lao, and Noah Harris. CONSENT CALENDAR The Board/Commission will enact the Consent Calendar staff recommendations by one motion, without discussion, unless a Board/Commission Member, a member of the public, or staff requests that an item be removed for discussion. If you wish to comment on one of these items, please submit comments electronically at: www.chulavistaca.gov/virtualmeetinjs. 1. MOTION TO EXCUSE - Angie Guerrero, Nick Lee and Eddie Price. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES of the meeting on September 16'', 2020 Staff recommendation: Working Group approve the consent calendar. PUBLIC COMMENTS Persons may address the Board/Commission on any subject matter within the Board/Commission's jurisdiction that is not listed as an item on the agenda. State law generally prohibits the Board/Commission from discussing or taking action on any issue not included on the agenda, but, if appropriate, the Board/Commission may schedule the topic for future discussion or refer the matter to staff. If you wish to comment, please submit comments electronically at., www. chulavistaca. gov/virtualmeetings ACTION ITEMS The Items) listed in this section of the agenda will be considered individually by the Board/Commission and are expected to elicit discussion and deliberation. If you wish to comment on one of these items, please submit comments electronically at: http://www.chulavistaca.govlvirtualmeetings. 1. Review and vote on Climate Action Recommendation #1 Staff recommendation: Working Group approve recommendation 2. Review and vote on Climate Action Recommendation #2 Staff recommendation: Working Group approve recommendation 3. Review and vote on Climate Action Recommendation #3 Staff recommendation: Working Group approve recommendation 4. Review and vote on Climate Action Recommendation #4 Staff recommendation: Working Group approve recommendation 5. Review and vote on Climate Action Recommendation #5 Page 2 1 Climate Change Working Group Agenda Staff recommendation: Working Group approve recommendation 6. Review and vote on Climate Action Recommendation #6 Staff recommendation: Working Group approve recommendation 7. Review and vote on Climate Action Recommendation #7 Staff recommendation: Working Group approve recommendation OTHER BUSINESS 8. CHAIR COMMENTS 9. STAFF COMMENTS 1 1_u_I DQ1 1 Materials provided to the Climate Change Working Group related to any open -session item on this agenda are available for public review at https://www.chu lavistaca.pov/departments/clea n/conservation/climate-action-pIan or by contacting the Economic Development Department at Conservation@chulavistaca.gov. Page 3 1 Climate Change Working Group Agenda Climate Change Working Group public comment received via email 1. Recommendation #1 - On behalf of South Bay People Power and as a 31-year resident of Chula Vista, I am writing to urge the Climate Change Working Group to support this zero waste recommendation. Banning single use plastics is essential to protecting our natural spaces while reducing emissions from landfills. Thank you. 2. Recommendation #2 - On behalf of South Bay People Power and as a 31-year resident of Chula Vista, I am writing to urge the Climate Change Working Group to support this building electrification recommendation. Methane gas is the third largest source of emissions in our City, and poses dangerous health risks, so we must build cleaner, more sustainable buildings. Thank you. 3. Recommendation #3 - On behalf of South Bay People Power and as a 31-year resident of Chula Vista, I am writing to urge the Climate Change Working Group to support this solar recommendation. Increasing access to renewable energy is essential to reducing emissions. Thank you. 4. Recommendation #4 - On behalf of South Bay People Power and as a 31-year resident of Chula Vista, I am writing to urge the Climate Change Working Group to support this zero emission vehicle recommendation. Transportation is the largest source of emission s in our region, so we must provide more sustainable mobility options like electric vehicles. Thank you. 5. Recommendation #5 - On behalf of South Bay People Power and as a 31-year resident of Chula Vista, I am writing to urge the Climate Change Working Group to support this bike infrastructure recommendation. Safe active transportation infrastructure is essential to reducing car trips while encouraging more sustainable modes of travel. Thank you. 6. Recommendation #6 - On behalf of South Bay People Power and as a 31-year resident of Chula Vista, I am writing to urge the Climate Change Working Group to support this Climate Equity Index recommendation. A Climate Equity Index is essential to ensuring equity and racial justice are at the center of all of Chula Vista’s climate investments. Thank you. 7. Recommendation #7 - On behalf of South Bay People Power and as a 31-year resident of Chula Vista, I am writing to urge the Climate Change Working Group to support this GHG emissions reduction goal. The most recent climate science shows that we must reach zero emissions by mid-century to stave off the worst impacts of climate change, and setting this ambitious goal is a great first step in that direction. Thank you. Climate Change Working Group member comment received via email CSE has suggested language changes to the building decarbonization recommendation: “Support building decarbonization in new construction through education and outreach while evaluating potential building codes options that reduce fossil fuel usage that set the City on a path to eliminate GHG emissions associated with building energy use.” Building codes and updates addressing decarbonization are already happening and will continue to happen without this recommendation, so the use of the word “potential” is pretty null. Additionally, and probably most importantly, the CPUC has two existing proceedings addressing building decarbonization, one explicitly on this topic and another one on the future of natural gas in the state. Commissioner Randolph, the leading commissioner on this NG proceeding, has clearly stated that the state will stop using natural gas. From an Op-ed she wrote for Cal Matters: “…craft a long-term planning strategy to manage our transition away from natural gas-fueled technologies to meet California’s decarbonization goals.” Given that the state will craft future rules/regulations/codes to transition away from NG use, the City of Chula Vista needs to get ahead of these future mandates by using stronger and more direct language in its CAP now. This needs to be reflected in the recommendation that will be discussed and voted on by the CCWG, and eventually the Sustainability Commission and City Council. This is why we’re suggesting “potential” be taken out and that “options” be added. The rest of the edits in red font also address the need for stronger, future thinking language, while navigating the need for language to assuage stakeholders in support of NG. “Reduce” can be associated with energy efficiency, which existing codes already address, so this is why we’re suggesting it be taken out. To reach long-term GHG emission reduction goals, and decarbonization goals, codes will need to look beyond efficiency improvements. This is why we’re also highlighting (and thus reminding folks) that the ultimate goal of this recommendation is to help the City reduce GHGs. If these suggested edits can’t be shared with the CCWG before Wednesday’s meeting and need to be brought up as an alternative during that meeting, I’ll then ask for a motion for these changes/amendments. Just wanted to give you a heads up. Climate Change Working Group Meeting Time: 10-14-20 15:00 eComments Report Meetings Meeting Time Agenda Items Comments Support Oppose Neutral Climate Change Working Group 10-14-20 15:00 18 14 14 0 0 Sentiments for All Meetings The following graphs display sentiments for comments that have location data. Only locations of users who have commented will be shown. Overall Sentiment Climate Change Working Group 10-14-20 15:00 Agenda Name Comments Support Oppose Neutral 1. Review and vote on Climate Action Recommendation #1 2 2 0 0 2. Review and vote on Climate Action Recommendation #2 2 2 0 0 3. Review and vote on Climate Action Recommendation #3 2 2 0 0 4. Review and vote on Climate Action Recommendation #4 2 2 0 0 5. Review and vote on Climate Action Recommendation #5 2 2 0 0 6. Review and vote on Climate Action Recommendation #6 2 2 0 0 7. Review and vote on Climate Action Recommendation #7 2 2 0 0 Sentiments for All Agenda Items The following graphs display sentiments for comments that have location data. Only locations of users who have commented will be shown. Overall Sentiment Agenda Item: eComments for 1. Review and vote on Climate Action Recommendation #1 Overall Sentiment Rita Clement Location: 91914, CHULA VISTA Submitted At: 2:53pm 10-13-20 Hi, my name is Rita Clement and I am a Chula Vista resident. I support the banning of most single use plastics and items in lieu of compostable or recyclable products through our Zero Waste Plan. We must continue to strive to meet the goals of our Chula Vista Climate Action plan in 2030. Plastics are harming our health and the health of our children and grandchildren. There is too much plastic and trash on our ocean floor. Restaurants can use glass and compostable materials. Our elected officials should not accept fossil fuel donations that hold them hostage to the manufacturing of plastics. Waste decaying in landfills emits methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The CAP should achieve zero waste through eliminating single use materials. Becky Thimm Location: 91910, Chula Vista Submitted At: 3:45pm 10-12-20 I support banning most single use plastics. Agenda Item: eComments for 2. Review and vote on Climate Action Recommendation #2 Overall Sentiment Rita Clement Location: 91914, CHULA VISTA Submitted At: 3:10pm 10-13-20 Hi, my name is Rita Clement, Chula Vista resident. I support building decarbonization in new construction through education and outreach while evaluating potential building codes that reduce fossil fuel usage. Methane gas is the third largest source of emissions in Chula Vista and poses dangerous health risks. We must build cleaner and more sustainable buildings. Thirty California jurisdictions have adopted ordinances that require building electrification, such as prohibiting new gas connections or requiring electrical energy for space heating, water heating, cooking, or clothes drying in new residential construction or for major remodels. Now is the time for Chula Vista to join in this decarbonization effort. The overall goal of building electrification is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from both residential and commercial buildings by only allowing new developments to install systems and appliances that run on electricity. By running buildings on electricity only, carbon emissions can be significantly reduced, especially since 60% of California's electricity will be sourced from renewable energy (solar, wind geothermal and battery storage by 2030 and 100% by 2045. Becky Thimm Location: 91910, Chula Vista Submitted At: 3:49pm 10-12-20 I support Recommendation 2 because we need to reduce GHG emissions from new building. Agenda Item: eComments for 3. Review and vote on Climate Action Recommendation #3 Overall Sentiment Rita Clement Location: 91914, CHULA VISTA Submitted At: 3:34pm 10-13-20 Hi, my name is Rita Clement, Chula Vista resident. I. urge the Climate Change Working Group to support this solar recommendation. We must support the transition of workers from fossil fuel jobs to clean energy jobs, including training for these jobs. We must prioritize Environmental justice and challenge the systems that are destroying our environment and placing a disproportionate burden on marginalized communities. Review the commercial solar permitting process and streamline where possible. Our response to this pandemic must be to build back better. We believe it's possible to have a better Chula Vista where we meet and exceed our City's ambitious climate goals. We need to show that the City's public programs are fair and accessible and support our community where it is needed the most. We need to prioritize justice and equity in all that we do. In this moment, taking care of people should be the first priority as we make continued headway on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and address the needs of our community, especially our low income neighborhoods. Becky Thimm Location: 91910, Chula Vista Submitted At: 3:50pm 10-12-20 I support Recommendation 3 because we need to make it easier for commercial owners in Chula Vista to install panels. Agenda Item: eComments for 4. Review and vote on Climate Action Recommendation #4 Overall Sentiment Rita Clement Location: 91914, CHULA VISTA Submitted At: 3:54pm 10-13-20 Hi, my name is Rita Clement, resident of Chula Vista. Our city needs to encourage vehicle decarbonization through education and outreach while evaluating potential building codes that reduce fossil fuel usage. The California Air Resources Board has several programs that incentivize the use of e bikes in exchange for cars over 8 years old with less than 35 miles per gallon of gas. We are promoting efforts to increase energy efficiency. We can reduce vehicle miles travelled through alternatives such as telecommuting. All new cars and light duty trucks sold in California by 2035 and beyond must be zero emission vehicles, that is battery electric or fuel cell electric. We need improved vehicle charging infrastructure included to ensure that environmental justice communities are receiving needed charging infrastructure. Mobile sources account for nearly 40% of the state's greenhouse gas pollution and almost 60% of ground level pollution. Build the charging infrastructure so everyone can breathe clean air! Becky Thimm Location: 91910, Chula Vista Submitted At: 3:52pm 10-12-20 I support Recommendation 4 because electric vehicles reduce fossil fuel usage. Agenda Item: eComments for 5. Review and vote on Climate Action Recommendation #5 Overall Sentiment Rita Clement Location: 91914, CHULA VISTA Submitted At: 4:04pm 10-13-20 Hi, my name is Rita Clement, resident of Chula Vista. I believe we need to increase protected bike lanes. We need to support other active transportation infrastructure as well. Safe active transportation infrastructure is essential to reducing car trips. Youth Opportunity Passes for people under age 24 years would cut down on the transportation cost burden and improve our air quality. Slow and healthy streets in our business district would also be beneficial. Building an electric, regional world class transit system is essential for air quality improvement. Becky Thimm Location: 91910, Chula Vista Submitted At: 3:54pm 10-12-20 I support Recommendation 5 because protective bike lanes are safer and increase bike riding. Agenda Item: eComments for 6. Review and vote on Climate Action Recommendation #6 Overall Sentiment Rita Clement Location: 91914, CHULA VISTA Submitted At: 4:19pm 10-13-20 Hi, my name is Rita Clement, resident of Chula Vista. I strongly support the creation of a Climate Equity Index and a Communities of Concern Map. A just transition to a clean, decarbonized society requires a roadmap for deep decarbonization to be created today. We cannot delay and argue among ourselves. We must take action. I see the difficulty and discomfort that comes with a shift in planning horizons. We are in a crisis. Even before COVID-19, levels of economic inequality were at a near historic high. Americans in the top 0.1% of income earners capture over 196 times the income of the bottom 90%. Racial disparities exacerbate the unfairness even further. We need to prioritize protecting Essential workers, support and expand clean energy initiatives, support housing for all, prioritize racial justice and environmental justice and we can do this with these two planning tools, the Climate Equity Index and the Communities of Concern Map. Becky Thimm Location: 91910, Chula Vista Submitted At: 4:00pm 10-12-20 I support Recommendation 6 because we must prioritize our resources to ensure that all communities in Chula Vista receive the help they need to live healthy lives. Agenda Item: eComments for 7. Review and vote on Climate Action Recommendation #7 Overall Sentiment Rita Clement Location: 91914, CHULA VISTA Submitted At: 4:35pm 10-13-20 Hi, my name is Rita Clement, resident of Chula Vista. I support the GHG reduction goal of 80% by 2050. However, I prefer 100% by 2045. We can develop financial incentives to lower purchase and installation of electric appliances. The California Air Resources Board identified building electrification as one of the key strategies to reduce indoor air pollution by avoiding fuel combustion from gas stoves. Electric stoves provide much healthier and climate friendly options with many chefs preferring new induction models over gas, due to more precise temperature control and quicker heating. Evidence has grown ever clearer that gas stoves pose a serious health concern. Let's get on board to save lives! Becky Thimm Location: 91910, Chula Vista Submitted At: 4:03pm 10-12-20 I support Recommendation 7 because the goal is in line with California state goals. Dinah Willier Public Affairs Manager 8330 Century Park Court, CP31D San Diego, CA 92123 DWillier@sdge.com October 14, 2020 Dear Chula Vista Climate Change Working Group Members, SDG&E shares the City of Chula Vista’s ambitions for achieving meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and we remain committed to helping you achieve the long-term goals outlined in your Climate Action Plan. The Climate Action recommendations being considered by the Climate Change Working Group (CCWG) include reasonable actions that include streamlining the commercial solar permitting process, supporting vehicle decarbonization through education and outreach and creating a Climate Equity Index and Communities of Concern Map to target resources. Recommendation #2 supports building decarbonization for new construction through education and outreach while evaluating potential building codes that reduce fossil fuel usage. SDG&E, in partnership with the labor community, believes that a fuel neutral approach should be considered to help maintain affordability and because all fuels must be on the table in order to meet the important and aggressive climate change goals that the state has set. We encourage the CCWG to consider the impacts this would have on working families, communities of concern and your business community. As such, we ask for you to consider the following: 1. We encourage the CCWG to consider more community outreach to gauge the energy needs related to lifestyles and/or business operations in Chula Vista. Through that outreach, we request the CCWG talk to community members, the public, industry, your local utility provider, the building industry, organized labor and our employees as there are significant cost implications that must be considered when it comes to losing natural gas as a reliable and cost-effective energy source available for their use. The cost implications for exploring future policies in this space may adversely affect communities of concern, and those impacts deserve a thoughtful conversation. 2. We encourage the CCWG to consider looking at all energy pathways and possibilities including renewable natural gas when evaluating updates to the City’s Climate Action Plan. Solutions like hydrogen, renewable natural gas and methane capture technologies are essential for meeting California’s goal of carbon neutrality by 20451 and may provide more, cost-effective choices for our customers. 3. We encourage you to consider the implications to the future of working families and union jobs and include the labor community in future natural gas policy exploration discussions. These highly trained and innovative experts are the backbone of your economy. 4. Collectively, we can work together on solutions that result in meaningful GHG reduction solutions that also preserve customer choice. As you know, the transportation sector continues to be largest contributor of GHGs in our region, which is why the SDG&E team continues to create innovative clean transportation programs (passenger, municipal fleet and mass transit) to encourage and enable the transition to driving electric. We are also excited and energized about the Governor’s recent executive order requiring sales of all new passenger vehicles to be zero-emission by 2035, that will further accelerate the transition to driving electric. While we are proud of our work to date to reduce our carbon footprint through delivering some of the cleanest energy in the nation, enabling rooftop solar through an efficient interconnection process and developing the Renewable Meter Adapter (RMA) to avoid costly panel upgrades, and expanding clean transportation options; we look forward to continuing our partnership with the City in its ongoing work to achieve our collective climate goals. In closing, we recognize the urgency to address climate change and its impacts which is why SDG&E just released a comprehensive sustainability strategy with aspirational goals in the areas of environmental stewardship, clean transportation, grid modernization, community engagement and company operations to support California’s clean energy ambitions. There are some proposed measures such as planting 10,000 trees to support local biodiversity that could result in new partnership opportunities between SDG&E and the City of Chula Vista. The full report is now available at sdge.com/sustainability. We look forward to hearing your feedback on ways we can continue to partner and collectively reduce GHGs in our region. Best Regards, Dinah Willier Public Affairs Manager San Diego Gas & Electric 1 See, Baker et al, “Getting to Neutral, Options for Negative Carbon Emissions in California” (January 2020) available at https://www-gs.llnl.gov/content/assets/docs/energy/Getting_to_Neutral.pdf October 14, 2020 Dear Chula Vista Climate Change Working Group, The Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce is a 93 -year old organization that serves as the voice of the Chula Vista businesses that provides jobs, generate tax revenue, build infrastructure, and provide services for the City of Chula Vista. Our members are the key contributors to the Chula Vista's economy and have helped foster growth of new businesses and commerce throughout the region. They also make significant contributions to the local economy, employing more than 30,000 individuals in Chula Vista. We advocate for programs, projects and public policy that adequately plans for the future and protects Chula Vista's quality of life as well as those impacting the South County region. Our Chamber Board of Directors has voted to support moving the recommendations of the Climate Change Working Group (CCWG) forward to the City Council. This vote is not an endorsement of any specific recommendation, but rather support for moving the recommendations forward into the implementation phase, where details can be worked out and a final suite of recommendations and action items can be identified. The Chamber, as the representative of the Chula Vista business community, is concerned with several of the recommendations of the CCWG. We look forward to "rolling up our sleeves" and working constructively with other affected groups and the City to refine these recommendations. Our goal being to ensure that the final suite of implementation actions does not adversely affect our businesses and residents, or the competitiveness of our businesses or industry groups region - wide. We also support the continuation of the past philosophy of the CCWG to make the final recommendations incentive -based, rather than just imposition of additional regulations. We feel this to be particularly critical given the current state of the economy and ongoing recovery efforts, which so many or our businesses are currently dealing with. We understand the earnestness to tackle climate change and its impacts. We are committed to continuing our partnership and have updates to our Public Policy/EDC Committee and our Board of Directors, so that we can give input and partner with the city, to find solutions to best serve our businesses and our community. Sincerely, Lisa Cohen 233 Fourth Avenue 1 Chula Vista, CA 91910 1 619.420.6603 1 fax 619.420.1269 www.cliulavistachamber.org