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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-08-2020 Climate Coalition MOU Update 2020DocuSign Envelope ID: A7BFB739-FD15-4258-9E00-54F60142554F MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO AND THE SLO CLIMATE COALITION This Memorandum of Understanding ("Agreement") is entered into on 10/8/2020 1 11:2411E Lffiective Date"), by and between the City of San Luis Obispo, a municipal corporation and charter city (herein referred to as "City") and the SLO Climate Coalition, an unincorporated association. City and the SLO Climate Coalition are sometimes referred to herein as "the Parties." WITNESSETH WHEREAS, in January 2017 the City made Climate Action a Major City Goal in the 2017-2019 Financial Plan with an overall goal of reducing citywide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and with a specific work program to update/implementation of the Climate Action Plan, assess requirements/achieve a net -zero city target, develop energy efficiency incentives, improve energy efficiency in City facilities, and to identify/assign resources to perform the work needed to achieve the objectives; and WHEREAS, the 2017-19 Major City Goal work program indicated that the City would support the establishment of a community climate action coalition by engaging other jurisdictions, professionals, elected officials, and residents to enhance community education, participation, and advocacy in all City and regional climate action adaptation and GHG emission reduction efforts; and WHEREAS, the support of a community climate coalition was reaffirmed in the 2019-21 Financial Plan and in the 2020-21 mid -year budget revision; and WHEREAS, the City Council adopted the Climate Action Plan for Community Recovery (2020 Climate Action Plan) on August 18, 2020 that adopted a communitywide target of carbon neutrality by 2035; and WHEREAS, the 2020 Climate Action Plan notes that different organizations are uniquely capable of certain actions and focuses most directly on government actions while mentioning the importance of community and non -governmental organization action; and WHEREAS, the city's intent in supporting a coalition is to work with community members/leverage experience in climate action as well as involve, and keep informed, the community's residents and businesses in the city's climate action efforts; and WHEREAS, the SLO Climate Coalition, a group of community members, has said coalition — to function as an independent group working with the City to accomplish major city goal work program objectives by assisting with research, evaluation, public engagement, design, and implementation of objectives; and WHEREAS, City recognizes that the members of the SLO Climate Coalition will have complimentary experience and will be able to support the City's GHG reduction and community outreach goals, and through this MOU, the Parties wish to work together toward the attainment of mutual goals; and NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, conditions, promises, and agreements herein set forth, City and the SLO Climate Coalition hereby agree as follows: DocuSign Envelope ID: A7BFB739-FD15-4258-9E00-54F60142554F TERMS 1. Replacement. Upon execution, this Memorandum of Understanding shall replace any previous agreements between the SLO Climate Coalition (or any previous names it has had) and the City. 2. Recognition of Mutual Benefit. It is in the interest of the City to explore opportunities for partnership in achieving the goals of the climate action major city goal — reducing communitywide greenhouse gas emissions. The City and the SLO Climate Coalition have aligned goals in this regard and this agreement may serve as a first step for future agreements and a broader scope relative to future climate action objectives. a. The SLO Climate Coalition will select a primary point of contact between the SLO Climate Coalition and the City's Sustainability Manager. b. The City's Sustainability Manager and a Councilmember will be designated as Liaisons to the SLO Climate Coalition to provide updates on City's climate related activities, communicate back to staff and council, and to provide general support to the SLO Climate Coalition on an ongoing basis c. Meetings of the SLO Climate Coalition are expected to be open to individuals who are interested in being involved in climate action efforts and meetings will be as inclusive as possible to those who want to contribute. 3. Scope and Objectives. The SLO Climate Coalition will support implementation of the City's Climate Action Plan with particular attention given to the high impact objectives and will work to enhance community education, participation, and advocacy in all City and regional climate action adaptation and GHG emission reduction efforts; and a. SLO Climate Coalition Annual Work Plan: By Feb 28 of each year, the SLO Climate Coalition will provide the City with a SLO Climate Coalition Annual Work Plan. The annual work plan will include the mission of the SLO Climate Coalition and include the anticipated scope of activities for the year. The work plan will clearly delineate activities and funding in service to this agreement from other non-MOU related SLO Climate Coalition activities. b. SLO Climate Coalition Year End Report: By February 28 of each year, the SLO Climate Coalition will submit an annual report to the City Manager or their designee that describes the actions the SLO Climate Coalition undertook during the previous calendar year. c. Outreach and Community Engagement: The SLO Climate Coalition will maintain a positive presence in the community and work to be a primary voice in the community to engage the public and promote the City's climate action efforts and organize community education materials, forums and events to inform residents and businesses about greenhouse gas reducing opportunities. d. Technical Support: The SLO Climate Coalition will work to help achieve the objectives/timelines outlined in the Climate Action Plan, in particular: i. The SLO Climate Coalition will help with the Climate Action Plan update adoption. ii. The SLO Climate Coalition will help to implement the climate action plan to support the City's 2035 carbon neutrality goal. iii. The SLO Climate Coalition will assist with research, advocacy to, and ongoing support of Central Coast Community Energy (previously Monterey Bay Community Power) including program design and other technical support. 4. Facilities. The City will allow the SLO Climate Coalition to use City facilities, pending availability, and waive rental fees associated with the use of City facilities such as the Ludwick Center. DocuSign Envelope ID: A7BFB739-FD15-4258-9E00-54F60142554F 5. Funding. The Climate Action Major City Goal work program identified limited funding to be available from the City to support a Community Climate Action Coalition. These funds are to be associated with objectives outlined in this agreement and the SLO Climate Coalition will notify the city on how it intends to use said funds. 6. Termination of Agreement by City. Either party may terminate this MOU for any reason whatsoever upon written 90-day notification of such termination. 7. Relationship of Parties. The SLO Climate Coalition shall be considered an independent organization and not an agent, officer or employee of the City. SLO Climate Coalition officers, members, affiliates, volunteers, employees and independent contractors shall not be considered agents, officers or employees of the City. 8. Compliance with Laws. The SLO Climate Coalition shall comply with all applicable statutes, ordinances, or regulations now or hereafter adopted by any federal, state or county governmental entity, and with all ordinances, regulations, policies and guidelines now or hereafter adopted by the City. Upon request by City, the SLO Climate Coalition agrees to have its members execute waivers and releases of liability for any activities which in City's opinion warrants such waivers and releases to be executed prior to participation in such activity. 9. Amendments. The City Manager or designee will consider any proposed amendments to this MOU. Proposed amendments that do not significantly affect scope, objectives, outcomes or deliverables that are considered minor in nature may be approved by the City Manager or designee. Other material amendments shall be reviewed for approval by the City Council. 10. Counterparts. This MOU may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which, taken together, shall constitute one and the same instrument, binding on each signatory thereto. ATTEST CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO Teresa Purrington, City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: 10/8/2020 1 12:42 PM PDT 10/8/2020 1 11:25 AM PDT J. Christine Dietrick, City Attorney ECOLOGISTICS 10/7/2020 1 8:06 PM PDT Stacey Hunt, CEO at Ecologistics, Inc. Heidi Harmon, Mayor SLO CLIMATE COALITION 10/8/2020 1 11:29 AM F 10/7/2020 1 12:22 PM Eric Veium. Chair of SLO Climate Coalition