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Home My WebLink About6/16/2020 Item 11, Bermel1 From:Read, Chris Sent:Monday, June 15, 2020 6:26 PM To:Colby Bermel Cc:Codron, Michael; McClish, Teresa; Christian, Kevin; CityClerk Subject:RE: Politico media inquiry - Item 11 / Harmon post Follow Up Flag:Follow up Flag Status:Flagged Mr. Bermel, Thank you for your inquiry. Regarding public process, a program for all-electric new buildings (known here as the Clean Energy Choice Program for New Buildings) has been a topic considered by Council since 2018, including as topics of focus in public Study Sessions in September 18, 2018 and February 19, 2019, and at a Public Hearing on September 3, 2019. The City has also led, supported, or attended public engagement events including public workshops and panel discussions, small group stakeholder meetings with utility staff, labor representatives, and trade groups, presentations at local organizations and direct outreach through social media and e-mail. The June 16, 2020 Public Hearing has also followed all City and State policies and requirements for public noticing. More information is available at www.slocity.org/cleanenergychoice. Please let us know if you have any additional questions. Sincerely, Chris Read Sustainability Manager City Administration 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3249 E cread@slocity.org T 805.781.7151 slocity.org From: Christian, Kevin <kchristi@slocity.org> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2020 5:20 PM To: Colby Bermel <cbermel@politico.com>; CityClerk <CityClerk@slocity.org> Cc: Codron, Michael <mcodron@slocity.org>; Read, Chris <cread@slocity.org>; McClish, Teresa <tmcclish@slocity.org> Subject: RE: Politico media inquiry ‐ Item 11 / Harmon post Dear Mr. Bermel, Thank you for taking the time to contact the City on this issue. The Mayor has been included on this note as a Bcc concerning the question that you have directly for her. The City Council has also been included so that they are aware of the issues raised in your note and/or attachments concening Item 2 11 on tomorrow’s Council meeting agenda. Further, staff who are the lead for the item, including Sustainability Manager Chris Read, who are responsible for response on this issue are copied on this email. Please note that Attachments to the staff report published with the Agenda provide information on past public process for this item that may be of interest to you. Concerning your question on Ordinance readings: Approval of an ordinance requires a first and second reading, generally with at least five days between. Following passage by a majority of Council, an ordinance summary is published in a newspaper of general circulation, noticed for a “second reading” at an upcoming Council meeting, giving the public another opportunity for input. (If Council adopts this Ordinance, the second reading has been scheduled for July 7, 2020.) With few exceptions, ordinances that pass by a majority Council vote at the second reading, then take effect on the 31st day after adoption. Sincerely, Kevin Christian, CMC Deputy City Clerk City Administration City Clerk's Office 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3218 E kchristian@slocity.org T 805.781.7104 slocity.org Bcc: City Council From: Colby Bermel <cbermel@politico.com> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2020 4:04 PM To: CityClerk <CityClerk@slocity.org> Subject: Politico media inquiry ‐ Item 11 / Harmon post Good afternoon, I'm the energy reporter for Politico California based in Sacramento, writing with an inquiry related to Item 11 on Tuesday's council agenda. Mayor Harmon earlier today made a now‐deleted Facebook post in support of Item 11 and tying it to the systemic racism being protested since George Floyd's death. As you may or may not be aware, the California Black Chamber of Commerce wrote a letter to the mayor in response to her post, criticizing her for the connection she made, while also criticizing the public process surrounding Item 11. The letter is attached for your convenience. Writing to see if Mayor Harmon has a statement on (1) why she made and then deleted the post and (2) any response to the CalBCC letter. Also writing to ask if the city wants to provide comment on concerns by CalBCC and United Latinos Vote (letter attached) that Item 11 hasn't gone through adequate public process. (And a clarifying question: Is there a difference between first reading and second reading? What is occurring tomorrow? Passage of Item 11 would set in motion a SLO reach code, correct?) 3 I know it's approaching close of business, but it'd be great to hear back at your earliest convenience today (Monday). Really appreciate your consideration, and feel free to reach out with any questions. Best, Colby Colby Bermel Energy Reporter, POLITICO California cbermel@politico.com | 617-512-8883 Christian, Kevin To:Colby Bermel; CityClerk Cc:Codron, Michael; Read, Chris; McClish, Teresa Subject:RE: Politico media inquiry - Item 11 / Harmon post Attachments:CalBBC letter.pdf; United Latinos Vote letter.pdf Dear Mr. Bermel, Thank you for taking the time to contact the City on this issue. The Mayor has been included on this note as a Bcc concerning the question that you have directly for her. The City Council has also been included so that they are aware of the issues raised in your note and/or attachments concening Item 11 on tomorrow’s Council meeting agenda. Further, staff who are the lead for the item, including Sustainability Manager Chris Read, who are responsible for response on this issue are copied on this email. Please note that Attachments to the staff report published with the Agenda provide information on past public process for this item that may be of interest to you. Concerning your question on Ordinance readings: Approval of an ordinance requires a first and second reading, generally with at least five days between. Following passage by a majority of Council, an ordinance summary is published in a newspaper of general circulation, noticed for a “second reading” at an upcoming Council meeting, giving the public another opportunity for input. (If Council adopts this Ordinance, the second reading has been scheduled for July 7, 2020.) With few exceptions, ordinances that pass by a st majority Council vote at the second reading, then take effect on the 31 day after adoption. Sincerely, Kevin Christian, CMC Deputy City Clerk The linked image cannot be displayed. The file may have been moved, renamed, or deleted. Verify that the link points to the correct file and location. City Administration City Clerk's Office 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3218 E kchristian@slocity.org T 805.781.7104 slocity.org Bcc: City Council From: Colby Bermel <cbermel@politico.com> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2020 4:04 PM To: CityClerk <CityClerk@slocity.org> Subject: Politico media inquiry - Item 11 / Harmon post 1 Good afternoon, I'm the energy reporter for Politico California based in Sacramento, writing with an inquiry related to Item 11 on Tuesday's council agenda. Mayor Harmon earlier today made a now-deleted Facebook post in support of Item 11 and tying it to the systemic racism being protested since George Floyd's death. As you may or may not be aware, the California Black Chamber of Commerce wrote a letter to the mayor in response to her post, criticizing her for the connection she made, while also criticizing the public process surrounding Item 11. The letter is attached for your convenience. Writing to see if Mayor Harmon has a statement on (1) why she made and then deleted the post and (2) any response to the CalBCC letter. Also writing to ask if the city wants to provide comment on concerns by CalBCC and United Latinos Vote (letter attached) that Item 11 hasn't gone through adequate public process. (And a clarifying question: Is there a difference between first reading and second reading? What is occurring tomorrow? Passage of Item 11 would set in motion a SLO reach code, correct?) I know it's approaching close of business, but it'd be great to hear back at your earliest convenience today (Monday). Really appreciate your consideration, and feel free to reach out with any questions. Best, Colby Colby Bermel Energy Reporter, POLITICO California cbermel@politico.com | 617-512-8883 2 1918 University Avenue l Suite 3 C l Berkeley CA 94704 l Telephone 510.501.6837 June 13, 2020 Dear Mayor Harmon and members of the San Luis Obispo City Council — John D Rockefeller once said “Next to doing the right thing, the most important thing is to let people know you are doing the right thing”. We hope you will keep his words in mind as you are preparing to make a decision that will impact every resident in San Luis Obispo and the financial realities of living and doing business here. You are about to cast a vote that if approved, will signal that natural gas is no longer important to have as part of the daily lives of the residents of this city. In a state where the cost of living has been steadily increasing, utility costs can create a significant negative impact on monthly household budgets. In light of the ongoing health pandemic and its severe economic impacts, families here in San Luis Obispo, like many throughout the state, are looking for cost relief in any and every area. When a policy will have a significant cost impact on a home or business, those who are going to be impacted should have an opportunity to have a conversation with the policy makers about the positive and negative aspects that could result from the decision. Unfortunately, the pandemic prevents the minimum level of public engagement and dialogue necessary to make this consequential of a decision. Residents and workers depend on natural gas every day for essential lifestyle and operational needs of their homes and businesses. A change to San Luis Obispo’s energy code that will make it more difficult and more expensive to operate homes and businesses should not be pursued without a robust public process that includes the voices of those who will bear the economic burdens of such decision. This should not be tak en lightly, especially since the consequences of this policy will disproportionately impact vulnerable communities and communities of color at a time when we should be finding ways to socially and economically empower them. The COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting economic uncertainty has made making ends meet the top priority for working families throughout San Luis Obispo and California. Taking this action will make it more difficult and expensive for residents and businesses to recover economically. We hope you will think of this as you are evaluating if now is the appropriate time to act on this policy and if the necessary level of public engagement has been met. Please delay any decisions until SLO residents and business owners have been fully informed about your impending action on natural gas and can attend, in -person a city council meeting and voice their concerns. Thank you for considering my request. Sincerely, Robert J. Apodaca Executive Director 1600 Sacramento Inn Way, Suite 232  Sacramento, CA 95815  916-467-8878  cbcc@calbcc.org June 15, 2020 Dear Mayor Harmon, We are stunned and angry about your online post this morning where you in effect make climate change a condition for racial justice in America! It is clear why. You put a building code ordinance on the council agenda tomorrow one that you have an obvious political interest in passing. Perhaps your reelection in November has shorted - out your judgment. Therefore you have combined the moral cry of outrage Black Lives Matters with a ban on natural gas as “interconnected” with racial justice! How dare you? This is a cheap political trick that betrays your values and sensitivities as Mayor of the City of San Luis Obispo. And will not go unchallenged. No wonder the council is meeting at the inconvenient time of 3PM in city hall where the public is not allowed to enter. You can be assured that without those restrictions hundreds of your “constituents” would be at city hall in protest. You have only delayed the inevitable. Ordinances require a second reading at a subsequent public council meeting. Next time there will be no hiding behind Stay-In-Place. You must face in person those whose principles you have trivialized, allowing your colleagues the opportunity to disassociate from your statement, and apologize. Sincerely, Jay King President & CEO California Black Chamber of Commerce