HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 08 - Update to the SLO Climate Coalition Memorandum of Understanding Department Name: Administration
Cost Center: 1005
For Agenda of: October 6, 2020
Placement: Consent
Estimated Time: NA
FROM: Greg Hermann, Deputy City Manager
Prepared By: Robert Hill, Sustainability & Natural Resources Official
Chris Read, Sustainability Manager
SUBJECT: UPDATE TO THE SLO CLIMATE COALITION MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the updated Memorandum of Understanding (Attachment A) between the City of San
Luis Obispo and the SLO Climate Coalition to continue a partnership to help achieve the Climate
Action objectives of the 2020 Climate Action Plan for Community Recovery and related Major
City Goal work program tasks.
DISCUSSION
Background
In January of 2017, the City Council made Climate Action a Major City Goal in 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 is 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 Task Force, which is now called SLO Climate Coalition, is an unincorporated organization
and is a wholly independent group of interested individuals. The SLO Climate Coalition is not
considered a “legislative body” within the meaning of the Brown Act. In October of 2017, the
Council adopted the original MOU to ensure clarity of the Task Force’s intent, roles, scope, and
objectives as the City and the Task Force work toward achieving the City’s Climate Action goals
which are of mutual interest to both groups.
Since that time, a number of things have changed that require the MOU to be updated.
Substantive changes that have occurred since October 2017 include:
1. The organization changed its name from “Climate Change Task Force” to the “SLO
Climate Coalition.”
2. The organization changed its fiscal sponsor from The Community Foundation San Luis
Obispo County to Ecologistics.
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3. Completion of the 2017-19 Climate Action Major City Goal work program, substantive
progress on the 2019-21 Climate Action Major City Goal work program, and re-
organization of City objectives as part of the 2020-21 Major City Meta-Goal.
4. Rapid growth of volunteer participation in the SLO Climate Coalition and subsequent
need to reorganize its governance and work planning approach.
5. An agreement between City staff on SLO Climate Coalition Leadership to have the MOU
focus on process and the Coalition’s annual work plan to focus on the content of the
work.
6. 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.
Memorandum of Understanding
The updated MOU (Attachment A) re-establishes a relationship with 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 research, evaluation, public engagement, design,
and implementation of objectives.
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.
3. The SLO Climate Coalition will 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 and collaboration to inform residents and businesses about greenhouse gas
reducing opportunities.
4. The SLO Climate Coalition will submit an annual report on their annual work plan that
describes the actions taken during the previous calendar year.
Climate Coalition – 2019 Annual Report and 2020 Work Plan
The previous MOU required that the SLO Climate Coalition submit to staff an Annual Report
and Work Plan. The Work Plan, provided as Attachment B, outlines the work that the Coalition
has committed to for calendar year 2020; the 2019 Annual Report, provided as Attachment C,
provides highlights of SLO Climate Coalition activity in 2019.
Sustainability Manager and Councilmember 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 Off icial as
identified in the MOU. The role of the designated Councilmember will be to express the position
of the Council and provide input as a Council representative, keep council aware of SLO Climate
Coalition work, and to maintain familiarity with the membership, work program, and efforts of
the SLO Climate Coalition. The current Council representative is Mayor Harmon.
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Policy Context
Support for the SLO Climate Coalition is considered in the Climate Action Major City Goal and
Meta Goal Work Program. Further, implementation of the Climate Action Plan for Community
Recovery is dependent on the outreach and technical support of the SLO Climate Coalition.
Specific work will be provided by the Climate Coalition in support of the building retrofit
program in the 2020-21 meta-goal (e.g., researching existing building conditions and identifying
existing rebate and financing opportunities) and will provide technical support for electric
vehicle planning that had been included in the 2019-21 Climate Action Major City Goal.
Public Engagement
The City worked with the Climate Coalition to identify portions of the original MOU that
required updating. Regarding the Climate Coalition work program, the Climate Coalition held an
open call for project proposals and continues to accept them on the rolling basis. The City will be
submitting two applications to provide technical support for electric vehicle analysis planned in
2021 and outreach support to better understand local market conditions regarding existing
buildings and rebate and financing opportunities to support local retrofits. These projects will be
added to the project plan once approved and will help the City complete open tasks in the Meta
Goal and in carryover tasks from the 2019-21 Financial Plan.
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: 2020-21
Funding Identified: Yes
Fiscal Analysis:
Funding Sources Current FY Cost
Annualized
On-going Cost
Total Project
Cost
General Fund $10,000 $10,000
State
Federal
Fees
Other:
Total $10,000 $10,000
The City Council has already established funding of $10,000 for 2020-21in Natural Resources
budget (101-1005-61013) 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.
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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 - 2020 MOU Update
b - 2020 Climate Coalition Work Plan
c - 2019 Climate Coalition Annual Report
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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/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:
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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 .
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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 Heidi Harmon, Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: SLO CLIMATE COALITION
___________________________________ ____________________________________
J. Christine Dietrick, City Attorney Eric Veium. Chair of SLO Climate Coalition
ECOLOGISTICS
___________________________________
Stacey Hunt, CEO at Ecologistics, Inc.
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SLO Climate Coalition
2020 Work Plan
Effective Feb 1 2020 to Jan 31 2021
Mission, Vision, Values
Vision
A vibrant, just, and climate-resilient Central Coast.
Mission
The SLO Climate Coalition brings together community expertise, creativity, and resources to
champion high impact regional climate solutions that inspire other communities to do the same.
Core Values
Our commitments are reflected in our core values.
Environmental Justice
We focus on solutions that will support and empower those disproportionately impacted by the
climate crisis. We are committed to everyone having a seat at the table and collectively building
a community driven response to our most pressing climate issues.
High Impact Solutions
We prioritize solutions that will have the biggest positive impact on the climate crisis. The
solutions we advance will dramatically increase our region’s decarbonization, resilience, equity,
and economic vitality. This will look like a future powered by carbon free energy; health ier,
resilient, and more affordable homes; electrified transportation and people -centric communities;
natural spaces and technologies that store carbon; and a circular economy that creates zero
waste.
Economic Vitality
Economic vitality requires stability. Pitting jobs against a stable climate is a false argument. In
fact, we believe addressing the climate crisis is the greatest wealth creation opportunity of our
time. We are committed to partnering with business to innovate, develop career opportunities,
and increase profits while becoming a socially just and climate -resilient Central Coast.
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Organizational Priorities
1. Operational Strategy
Development of the organizational framework and process for identifying, adopting, and
supporting programs and outreach efforts.
2. Recruitment
Identification of roles to support organizational development, communications, programs,
and outreach efforts. Development of job descriptions. Recruitment, selection, and on -
boarding and ongoing support of selected candidates.
3. Fundraising
Education and capacity building within the leadership team. 2 -years and 5-years goal
setting. Development of fundraising strategy. Preparing organization, fundraisers, and
materials for fundraising. Initial fundraising efforts.
4. Communications
Maintain Climate Coalition website. Social media drip messaging of climate -related
news, events, and city actions. Regular newsletters and action alerts. Monthly climate
coalition general meetings. Educational webinars. Year-end celebration.
5. Technology
Select, deploy, manage necessary tools to support an effective distributed organization .
Initiatives
1. Education
Educate about policies and programs consistent with mission, vision, and values.
2. Strategic Coalition Building
Establish partnerships with regional stakeholder groups and organizations to support of
our common mission, vision, and values.
3. Strategic Communications
Inform, educate, and advocate. Normalize a culture of climate leadership.
4. Orientation, Onboarding, or Referral
Create clear and meaningful opportunities for passionate, skilled community members to
contribute to regional climate leadership.
Programs
1. Unite the Central Coast for Action
Leads: John Smigelski, Eric Veium
Leadership Team Liaisons: Same
Timing: Ongoing
Description: 5 counties comprise MBCP. To support positive outcomes and work
together on major issues, it is critical that environmental organizations and
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advocates from the region develop a strong voice by working together on a
regular and continuing basis.
2. Resilient Energy Communities Assessment
Leads: Brian Aunger
Leadership Team Liaison: Eric Veium
Timing: Ongoing
Description: Developing a data set of the opportunities and existing examples of
resilient energy system infrastructure in the jurisdiction of Monterey Bay
Community Power (MBCP), is a foundational step towards establishing
standalone essential service districts connecting renewable electricity generation
capacity with where it is needed. The data set will support decisions on how to
spend electrical sales revenue to capitalize electrical resiliency projects. GIS
data tools have been developed to identify potential projects to make a
sustainable electrical landscape to support emergency resilience for critical
services. SLOCC’s Resilient Energy Assessment Team will mentor the collection
of community data by Cal Poly Masters candidates.
3. Micro-Community Collaborative
Leads: Artemisia Shine, Lauren Bell,
Leadership Team Liaison: Lauren Bell
Timing: Ongoing
Description: The education team will evaluate existing block level engagement
programs. Measuring against a designed criteria such as scalability, capit al cost,
and expected outcomes, the education team will present to the leadership team
the recommendation suited best for our community.
4. Existing Building Electrification Retrofit (in development)*
Leads: Mike Horgan, Jon Griesser
Leadership Team Liaisons: Same
Timing: TBD
Description: Support development of an existing building electrification retrofit
program.
Outreach Efforts
1. Clean Energy Choice for New Buildings
Leads: Mike Horgan, Jon Griesser, Justin Bradshaw
Leadership Team Liaison: Same
Timing: Mid 2020
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Description: This outreach effort will provide education about all electric new
buildings.
2. SLO City Climate Action Plan Adoption
Leads: Eric Veium
Leadership Team Liaison: Same
Timing: Late 2020
Description: This outreach effort will support education about the contents of the
SLO City Climate Action Plan update.
3. Drive Electric Week SLO
Leads: Barry Rands
Leadership Team Liaison: Justin Bradshaw
Timing: Late 2020
Description: Drive Electric Week SLO is part of National Drive Electric Week, "a
nationwide celebration to heighten awareness of today's widespread availability
of plug-in vehicles and highlight the benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid-
electric cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, and more. They are fun to drive, are
less expensive and more convenient to fuel than gasoline vehicles, are better for
the environment, promote local jobs, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
Are you considering going electric? Come talk to owners who have successfully
done so."
4. Use Renewable Energy for EV Charging
Leads: Barry Rands
Leadership Team Liaison: Eric Veium, John Smigelski
Timing: Ongoing
Description: California is taking the lead in promoting renewable energy and it
has become so successful that there are days when the renewable supply
exceeds demand. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this trend. The sun
is shining even brighter but bu siness and industry are using less energy. That
could spell bad news for renewable energy providers who need revenue to payoff
construction loans. One way to boost demand during periods of peak renewable
energy is for EV owners to charge during daylight hours. This would also reduce
dependence on fossil fuel powered plants that operate after sundown. This
outreach effort aims to promote daylight EV charging throughout our area of
influence.
* The SLO Climate Coalition accepts program and campaign proposals on an ongoing basis.
Activities adopted after finalizing the work plan will be documented in the following year -end
report.
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Our 2019 Year End Report
This year, the SLO Climate Coalition expanded its membership exponentially and honed in on the vision, mission,
and core values that will most effectively lead to carbon neutrality by 2035.
Vision
A vibrant, just, and climate-resilient Central Coast.
Mission
The SLO Climate Coalition brings together community expertise, creativity, and resources to champion high impact
regional climate solutions that inspire other communities to do the same.
Core Values
Our commitments are reflected in our core values.
Environmental Justice
We focus on solutions that will support and empower those disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis. We
are committed to everyone having a seat at the table and collectively building a community driven response to our
most pressing climate issues.
High Impact Solutions
We prioritize solutions that will have the biggest positive impact on the climate crisis. The solutions we advance will
dramatically increase our region’s decarbonization, resilience, equity, and economic vitality. This will look like a
future powered by carbon free energy; healthier, resilient, and more affordable homes; electrified transportation and
people-centric communities; natural spaces and technologies that store carbon; and a circular economy that
creates zero waste.
Economic Vitality
Economic vitality requires stability. Pitting jobs against a stable climate is a false argument. In fact, we believe
addressing the climate crisis is the greatest wealth creation opportunity of our time. We are committed to partnering
with business to innovate, develop career opportunities, and increase profits while becoming a socially just and
climate-resilient Central Coast.
Principles
Rapid Decarbonization, Equity & Environmental Justice, Clean Economy & Jobs, Resilience, Share & Inspire
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Yearly Summary
In 2019, ten skilled leaders who comprised the Task Force guided issue-focused action teams that accomplished
impactful events and policies. Deputies were added to the teams with the most pressing issues. One of the
strengths of the SLO Climate Coalition is that each member plays a significant role in promoting carbon-free
initiatives as individuals outside of formal Coalition-sponsored action team events. The sum of the parts is greater
than the whole. While members work together to host major events and support collective issues, they also carry
out significant individual activities with the encouragement and support of the various action teams and in line with
the vision, mission, core values, and principles of the SLO Climate Coalition.
Many leaders and members attended a variety of conferences, seminars, symposiums, workshops that were
focused on reducing carbon emissions and participated in interactive digital meetings and webinars. Members
regularly networked and collaborated with local, state, national, and international innovators in carbon reduction.
This year, more of the task force leaders and action team members were selected to train others in relevant fields
and give presentations locally and beyond. Various organizations recognized the depth of knowledge held by many
of our action team members and they were invited to become members of boards and committees locally and
statewide. Also, a number of organizations sent representatives to the SLO Climate Coalition meetings to gain
insights and to network with coalition members. These and other businesses and organizations participated in the
many SLO Climate Coalition events throughout the year.
SLO Climate Solutions Series
Members of the SLO Climate Coalition assisted SLO City staff in designing, organizing, and promoting this series of
climate solutions focused events. They worked on procuring venues, speakers, and food as well as organizing
around making them zero waste events and networked with nonprofits who promoted carbon-reducing actions tied
to the theme of each event.
The series consisted of 5 major events in 2019:
●A “kickoff celebration” for SLO City becoming carbon neutral by 2035
●Climate Solutions That Work with Hal Harvey
●Decarbonizing Our Future With Better Buildings
●National Drive Electric Week
●Tiny Footprint Expo: Sustainability in Action
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Community Choice
One major accomplishment this year for decarbonization was the successful campaign by the Community Choice
Energy (CCE) Action Team to enroll all SLO County cities except Atascadero into Monterey Bay Community Power
(MBCP) within a very short timeline. This was the result of spending hours contacting businesses, residents, and city
council members and attending and speaking at city council meetings. The momentum across the cities in San Luis
Obispo County encouraged neighboring cities in Santa Barbara County and Santa Barbara County to also join
MBCP, uniting the Central Coast. The team created a positive dialogue in print and online media promoting the
benefits of community choice energy ahead of rollout in 2020.
Goals for the upcoming year include developing and supporting programs and policies that influence MBCP to
promote decarbonization, economic development and resiliency across the region working with neighboring cities,
communities and environmental groups and encouraging San Luis Obispo County and Atascadero to join MBCP.
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Decarbonizing Buildings
This action team also had a banner year. The primary and almost-all-encompassing goal this year was supporting
the development and incorporation of the City of San Luis Obispo’s Reach Code encouraging all-electric new
construction.
The Climate Solutions event “Decarbonizing Our Future with Better Buildings” was an all-day event in support of the
City of San Luis Obispo’s Reach Code and revolving around three major aspects:
1.An education session for building professionals hosted by the Tri-County Regional Energy Network in
partnership with the SLO Climate Coalition. This session discussed the significant upcoming changes in
California’s energy code – with a focus on electrification
2.A community panel discussion on electrification with four nationally recognized leaders in building
decarbonization
3.A building expo at the SLO Downtown Farmers Market on Morro St featuring cutting edge appliances,
technologies, and materials presented by vendors themselves.
This event was a massive success in every aspect with hundreds of people across our region and city in
attendance. The effects of the three-part event are still being felt throughout SLO County, as many of the
conversations, which began between participants and attendees from that evening, have permeated into physical
results. Many of the builders who attended are now in regular contact with the manufacturers who presented their
products as they move their home-builds towards better efficiencies and zero-carbon. Despite the city reach codes
being held up in gas company complaints, the two largest developments in town have voluntarily chosen to go
all-electric, proving not just the environmentally-positive aspects of removing fossil-fuels from construction, but
also, just as importantly, proving the financial benefits of removing fossil-fuels from design and construction.
In 2020, this team will continue helping the City of SLO with its implementation of the new Reach Code as well as
the State’s new Building Codes. The team will also turn its attention towards:
1.Educating and training building professionals about the concept and impact of embodied carbon in
construction and various electrification and resiliency technologies and strategies
2.Advocating, in coordination with the CCE Acton Team, for regional and local government policies and
programs that address barriers to building decarbonization, prioritize beneficial electrification, and provide
resources that help residents benefit from electrification and resiliency technologies and strategies.
3.Building strategic coalitions and partnerships that help generate awareness and demand among residents,
homeowners, and consumers about the energy and non-energy benefits of electrification including various
technologies, appliances, and equipment.
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Decarbonizing Transportation
This action team has focused this year on electric vehicles (EV) and EV infrastructure. This team of experts utilized
major events in order to promote the benefits of EVs including The Green Car Show at Earth Day and the National
Drive Electric Week events comprised of a Ride & Drive event at Madonna Inn and the Electric Vehicle Showcase at
Farmers Market. One of the dealers, Jonathan Crabtree of Alfano Motors, who participated in National Drive Electric
Week said that the event resulted in his best month of sales for 2019. He sold 8 Chevrolet Bolts as a direct result of
contacts made at the event. One team member organized the showing of a new documentary charting the history of
bicycles, “Motherload,” at the Palm Theater.
Primary action team activities included promoting EV adoption through events and an EV focused mailing list,
advocating for increased EV charger installations in public and workplace settings, assisting with EV charger repairs
in the Target and Home Depot parking lots, promoting carbon-free transportation policies and programs with SLO
City Council and city staff, providing information for transportation blogs, and promoting cycling, mass transit and
other forms of clean transportation.
Goals for next year include building upon the same events as last year and joining with Bike SLO County and other
cycling organizations to organize a cycling event during May: Bike Month.
Other goals include
●Assisting staff with the Bike Share Program (prepare RFP, help put together review committee, assist with
rollout and implementation, etc.)
●Developing an EV charger maintenance and repair team
●Encouraging businesses to install their own workplace charging infrastructure with state incentives
●Starting up an Electric Auto Association chapter
●Promoting an accelerated adoption of "neighborhood greenways" in SLO
●Assisting MBCP with transportation related program planning and implementation
●Working with C5 to promote incentive programs
●Setting up a dedicated transportation website
●Collaborating with C5 and MBCP to secure funding and implement a California Electric Vehicle
Infrastructure Project (CALeVIP) program for SLO, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.
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ZERO Waste
This action team centered their efforts around what it would take to achieve the maximum impact regarding waste,
including equity, resilience, inspiration, and political will. To that end, they partnered with HomeShare SLO and
Ecologistics to support the first annual Tiny Footprint Festival, including pre-event promotion, organization, and
volunteer recruitment. At the 2-day festival that attracted over 6,000 attendees, they facilitated hourly sustainability
classes and panel discussions on a variety of sustainability topics including zero waste. Many of the speakers and
panelists were coalition members. They also actively supported the passage of the county-wide styrofoam ban by
writing letters to the Integrated Waste Management Agency (IWMA) and attending and speaking at IWMA Board
meetings.
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Carbon Sequestration/Natural Solutions
This action team assisted in the transfer of the California ReLeaf 2019 Social Equity Forest Improvement Grant to
ECOSLO and in procuring volunteers to find locations and volunteers to plant the 120 trees by April 2020. By the
end of 2019, 64 trees had been planted.
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Outreach and Communications
This action team has assisted all teams with events, communications and planning. They wrote and distributed
press releases to local and national media, sent numerous newsletters to a large and growing email list, designed
posters and flyers for events, did photography and videography to enhance our events, and gave presentations
about our work to several groups of people.
Outreach members have hosted booths at many events and created materials for businesses, developers,
community leaders, and the general public to broaden the coalition and promote SLO City goals. Our email list of
dedicated volunteers and climate concerned citizens has swelled this year along with attendance to our meetings.
Our team is active on social media to engage with the community on Facebook, NextDoor, Twitter and Instagram on
the issues this coalition cares about and to smooth the transition to MBCP and the Clean Energy Choice program.
A sub group of outreach has begun a program to educate children in schools and the community with a block level
neighborhood education program.
The brand recognition we have now built carries with it a strong reputation for our advocacy in the community and
has opened doors when we need to bring in volunteers or discuss issues with business, governmental or nonprofit
leaders.
Organization Development
This action team supported other teams in a variety of ways so they could efficiently focus on their goals and build
off of each other’s work. They also kept up the internal metrics. Since so many new faces appeared at the monthly
meetings, a new feature created and orchestrated by the team was holding orientation sessions during each
coalition meetings for individuals new to the coalition.
As the SLO Climate Coalition looks forward to its work in 2020, its focus will be on IMPACT and ACCESS. The
structure of the organization is transiting into a program/campaign format instead of an action team approach and a
Leadership Team will guide all actions based on the stated vision, mission, core values, and principles listed above.
The three goals of this structure will be 1) shape policy and programs, 2) grow political leadership and community
support, and 3) support individual and group action. Because of the rapid growth of this coalition, one emphasis this
year will be in developing support services for the initiatives that will be undertaken.
The coalition will continue building on the foundation begun in 2018 and 2019 and widen the established climate
coalition that includes business, labor, social, faith, and environmental organizations consistent with tenants of the
Green New Deal and the goal of SLO City to be carbon free by 2035. As one team member wrote in his team’s
year-end report and applies to every member of this coalition, “this team works their butts off, day-in, day-out, and
we love it. We’re focused, determined, smart, and resourceful.” We appreciate the continued support from the city
and elected officials as we attempt to do all that we can in the name of a better future for our younger generations.
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