HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5i. 2023 Update to the SLO Climate Coalition Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Item 5i
Department: Administration
Cost Center: 1005
For Agenda of: 6/20/2023
Placement: Consent
Estimated Time: N/A
FROM: Greg Hermann, Deputy City Manager
Prepared By: Chris Read, Sustainability Manager
SUBJECT: 2023 UPDATE TO THE SLO CLIMATE COALITION MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the updated Memorandum of Understanding between the City of San Luis
Obispo and the SLO Climate Coalition.
POLICY CONTEXT
October 24, 2017 – Council approved the Memorandum of Understanding between
the City of San Luis Obispo and the SLO Climate Coalition.1
October 10, 2020 – Council approved the first amendment to the Memorandum of
Understanding between the City of San Luis Obispo and the SLO Climate
Coalition.2
2021-23 Major City Goal Climate Action Task 4.1.i: Continue SLO Climate
Coalition support to provide a resource for community members to participate in
climate action initiatives and build overall community capacity.
2023-25 Major City Goal Climate Action Task 4.5.c: Continue to support and
empower community collaboration for climate action, including support for the
Climate Coalition and the San Luis Obispo Climate Justice Collaborative, as called
for in CAP task 3.1.A.
Climate Action Plan 2023-2027 Work Program Task 3.1.A: Continue to support
and empower community collaboration for climate action.
DISCUSSION
1 10-24-2017 Item 11 - Climate Action Task Force Memorandum of Understanding and Assignment of
Council Member Liaison to the Task Force (slocity.org)
2 Item 08 - Update to the SLO Climate Coalition Memorandum of Understanding (slocity.org)
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Item 5i
Background
The City Council made Climate Action a Major City Goal with adoption of the 2017-19
Financial Plan. As a part of the Major City Goal process, a work program was established
and approved by the City Council on June 20, 2017. One of the primary objectives of the
work program was to “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.”
The SLO Climate Coalition emerged out of that work and in October of 2017, the Council
adopted a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and the SLO Climate
Coalition to ensure clarity of intent, roles, scope, and objectives.
In October 2020, Council approved an amendment to the 2017 MOU to reflect several
notable changes, including a desire to reaffirm and make explicit the distinction between
the work that the SLO Climate Coalition does consistent with the MOU with the City and
the work it does outside of the MOU, and to better reflect the timing of SLO Climate
Coalition annual reports and work plans.
The Climate Coalition’s current work program is nearing completion and has included
supporting the City’s first annual climate party, hosting monthly community meetings,
supporting Earth Week programming including an electric vehicle ride and drive event,
and hosting the annual National Drive Electric Week events. In addition, the Climate
Coalition has been hosting the https://resilientslo.org/ website and has been working with
Cal Poly Climate Corps Fellows to connect community members to the platform. The
Climate Coalition’s next major event will be an “Electrify Your Life” community forum and
SLO Farmer’s Market electric vehicle car show in the Fall of 2023.
Memorandum of Understanding
The updated MOU (Attachment A) makes additional updates to the formal relationship
between the SLO Climate Coalition and City and provides general requirements and
responsibilities for each group. Key features include the following:
1. The SLO Climate Coalition will function as an independent group working with the
City to support and encourage Climate Action Plan implementation and Major City
Goal work program objectives by assisting with public engagement and community
education.
2. The SLO Climate Coalition will create an Annual Work Plan, which will include their
mission and anticipated scope of activities for the year with a clear delineation of
what work is being done consistent with the MOU. The City staff liaison will be
responsible for approving the Work Program and will ensure that tasks implement
the 2023-25 Climate Action Major City Goal.
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Item 5i
3. The SLO Climate Coalition will work to be a key voice in the community to engage
the public and share information about the City’s climate action efforts and
organize community education and collaboration to inform residents and
businesses about climate action opportunities.
4. The SLO Climate Coalition will submit an annual report that describes the actions
taken during the previous calendar year.
Sustainability Manager and Council Member Representative
The Sustainability Manager has served as staff liaison to the SLO Climate Coalition, with
regular attendance and additional support from the Sustainability and Natural Resources
Official. The role of the designated Council Member will be to continue providing input as
a Council representative, keep Council abreast of SLO Climate Coalition’s progress, and
maintain familiarity with the membership, work program, and efforts of the SLO Climate
Coalition. The current Council representative is Councilmember Shoresman.
Previous Council or Advisory Body Action
October 24, 2017 – Council approved the Memorandum of Understanding between
the City of San Luis Obispo and the SLO Climate Coalition.
October 10, 2020 – Council approved the first amendment to the Memorandum of
Understanding between the City of San Luis Obispo and the SLO Climate
Coalition.
Public Engagement
Community members wishing to provide comment on this item may do so at or before the
June 20, 2023 City Council meeting.
CONCURRENCE
Staff have has worked closely with the SLO Climate Coalition leadership team, which
concurs with the contents of this report.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The California Environmental Quality Act does not apply to the recommended action in
this report, because the action does not constitute a “Project” under CEQA Guidelines
Sec. 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted: Yes Budget Year: 2022-23
Funding Identified: Yes
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Item 5i
Fiscal Analysis:
Funding
Sources
Total Budget
Available
Current
Funding
Request
Remaining
Balance
Annual
Ongoing
Cost
General Fund $ $ $ $
State
Federal
Fees
Other:
Total $ $ $ $
The City Council has already established funding of $10,000 per year to provide support
to the SLO Climate Coalition for tasks that implement the MOU. As identified in the MOU,
these funds are to be associated with objectives/tasks outlined in this agreement , and
use of funds must be approved by the City. There is otherwise no direct fiscal impact
associated with the recommended action.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Modify the MOU. The City Council should provide specific direction on what parts of
the MOU should be modified.
2. Do not approve the MOU. This is not recommended as this action would leave in
place the existing MOU.
ATTACHMENTS
A - Updated Memorandum of Understanding between the City of San Luis Obispo and
the SLO Climate Coalition
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MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO AND THE SLO CLIMATE COALITION
This Memorandum of Understanding (“Agreement”) is entered into on _____________________
(the “Effective 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/implement 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; and
WHEREAS, the support of a community climate coalition was reaffirmed in the 2019-21, 2021-
23, and 2023-25 Financial Plans; and
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted the Climate Action Plan for Community Recovery (2020
Climate Action Plan) on August 18, 2020 , which 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 Council adopted the 2023-27 Climate Action Work Program on December
12, 2022, reaffirming the Climate Action Plan for Community Recovery’s goals; 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 is a group of community members that has functioned as
an independent group working with the City to accomplish major city goal work program
objectives by assisting with community outreach; and
WHEREAS, the 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
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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:
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 Plan for Community Recovery. 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 and participation in City climate action adaptation and
GHG emission reduction efforts; and
a. SLO Climate Coalition Annual Work Plan: By March 31 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. The Work Plan must be approved by the City Staff Liaison and focus
on implementing the current Climate Action Major City Goal. Work Plan tasks may
include, but are not limited to: outreach, education, community engagement, and technical
support,
b. SLO Climate Coalition Year End Report: By March 31 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.
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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.
5. Funding. The Climate Action Major City Goal work program identified limited funding
to be available from the City to support the SLO Climate 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 via the annual Work Plan. Funding may not be used
for political advocacy purposes.
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.
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CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO SLO CLIMATE COALITION
Mayor Erica A. Stewart Eric Veium, Chair
Date: Date:
ATTEST: ECOLOGISTICS
Teresa Purrington, City Clerk Stacey Hunt, CEO at Ecologistics, Inc.
Date: Date:
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
J. Christine Dietrick, City Attorney
Date:
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