HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/3/2019 Item 10, Veium
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Eric Veium <
To:E-mail Council Website
Cc:Hill, Robert; Read, Chris; Quinn Brady; June Cochran
Subject:Item 10 - Climate Action Plan Update - SLO Climate Coalition -
Comments to Council
Attachments:Item 10 CAP Update 12_3_2019 SLO Climate Coalition Comments to
Council.pdf
Honorable Mayor and Council,
Please find attached comments regarding Item 10 Climate Action Plan Update for tomorrow's meeting.
Please let us know if you have any questions.
Highest regards,
Eric
Eric Veium
Chair
SLO Climate Coalition
(805) 835-3669
eric@carbonfreeslo.org
1
Honorable Mayor and Council,
First, thank you for your continued climate leadership!
The SLO Climate Coalition is committed to creating a vibrant, just, and climate-resilient Central
Coast by bringing together community expertise, creativity, and resources to champion high
impact regional climate solutions that inspire other communities to do the same.
Our partnership with SLO City has and will continue to create significant value where the whole
of our efforts has been and will be greater than the sum of its parts. We appreciate the efforts of
your deeply committed staff and the open and collaborative attitude with which they conduct all
of their work. We look forward to continuing to strengthen our partnership’s impact and
effectiveness on our common path towards a vibrant, just, and climate-resilient Central Coast.
Considering the unfortunate timing of this meeting in relation to the Thanksgiving Holiday, we
are only able to provide the following contribution. In the coming months, we plan to work with
council and staff to further explore and develop these ideas for incorporation into the next draft.
Suggested response to Focus Questions
1. Yes proceed with current GHG emissions inventory methodology. Even without
comprehensive inventory of voluntary emission sectors (consumptive-based emissions
inventory), within this CAP we can begin the conversation by defining the voluntary
emissions sectors, estimating the potential magnitude of their emissions relative to total
emissions, and proposing strategies, especially within the circular economy pillar, to start
confronting and engaging likely actions to reduce these emissions.
2. Yes, recommit to Carbon Neutrality by 2035 goal.
3. See comments below.
4. Recommit to Carbon Neutrality by 2035 goal.
5. Yes, update the CAP on a schedule coordinated with the City’s financial plan process.
Additionally, create and fund a Climate Action Reserve Fund to resource emergent
opportunities within planning and budget cycles.
Comments
1. At least one additional FTE employee in the office of sustainability will be needed
immediately to accomplish these additional tasks to build long-term program
effectiveness and success.
2. Strengthen “Ideas for Partners”. Establish framework to collaborate with/support
community partners. Identify specific actions with named partners. Build intentional
partnerships with organizations representing historically marginalized voices and
frontline communities. This should be a focus activity for the next CAP draft.
3. Reimagine Community Engagement.
a. Go to where the people are (neighborhood gatherings, PTA, soccer fields, HOA
meetings, service and social equity organizations., etc.) - create engagement
opportunities for community to participate in both big picture and individual
actions. Utilize Civic Spark / recruit community members to deliver deeper
community engagement using presentation toolkit.
b. Research and develop neighborhood scale community engagement program in
collaboration with community partners and regional agencies.
4. On Clean Energy Systems-
a. Clearly define and articulate “equity and maximum local benefit” with regards to
vision, role, services, support from the Central Coast CCE program.
b. There is a particular opportunity to advocate for a “Central Coast Green New
Deal” to create an overarching vision for our Central Coast CCE program and
others that will accelerate deep decarbonization, strategically invest in resilience
and infrastructure, support human health, housing, and equitable distribution of
benefits, and generate new economic vitality and jobs through transition to a
clean energy economy.
c. Lead and support the development of a framework for regional (MBCP territory)
coordination of GHG emissions inventories and Climate Action Planning to
enhance collective leadership and action.
5. On Connected Community - mobility should be a priority area for stakeholder
engagement and data collection to better understand barriers, vet program ideas, and
define use cases of likely new riders (i.e. parent with children dropoff).
6. On Circular Economy - It is likely that a consumptive-based emissions inventory would
show that the City, businesses and residents of SLO are responsible for an additional
2X-3X the emissions generated within the City limits by their consumption and
purchases. While the City of SLO cannot mandate what people buy, they can certainly
influence the creation of a more circular economy in a number of ways:
a. As part of Economic Development Strategic Plan, study/model what it would take
to create a true circular economy in SLO, and analyze current gaps in products
and services. Incentivize businesses (e.g. repair shops, re-use yards) that
support a local circular economy of goods.
b. Expand the Circular Economy Education Program listed in 1.3 to include a
county-wide campaign in conjunction with the IWMA to educate the public about
the Circular Economy, including the life cycle cost of purchasing, the beneficial
effects of buying local, the idea of purchasing the best one can afford, focusing
on repair rather than repurchase, and generally emphasizing waste reduction
and reuse opportunities over recycling.
c. There are more Ideas at Zero Waste USA: 8 steps to a Zero Waste Community
http://zerowasteusa.org/eight-steps/
7. Prioritize identification and support of opportunities to collect data to inform current and
future policies and programs in the areas of waste, transit, homes/buildings, etc.
We look forward to engaging on these ideas and more at tomorrow’s Climate Action Plan
Workshop and Study Session.
Highest regards,
Eric Veium – Chair and Quinn Brady - Coalition Builder,
On behalf of SLO Climate Coalition