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AGENDA BILL Agenda Item No. 7(A) Date: February 19, 2013 To: El Cerrito City Council From: Maria Sanders, Environmental Analyst Melanie Mintz, Environmental Services Division Manager Karen Pinkos, Assistant City Manager Subject: Public Release of the draft Climate Action Plan ACTIONS REQUESTED Receive a presentation from staff on the elements of the draft Climate Action Plan and the public review process. BACKGROUND On February 22, 2011 the City Council adopted greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets of 15% below 2005 emission levels by the year 2020 and 30% below 2005 emission levels by 2035 (Resolution 2011-12). Staff has completed a Climate Action Plan (CAP) to help guide the City and community towards achieving these goals. On February 12, 2013 the City released the Draft CAP for a 30-day public comment period. The public comment period will close on March 14, 2013. The Draft CAP provides a tangible picture of where El Cerrito’s current GHG emissions originate and where the greatest opportunities exist for reducing them. During the CAP development process, it became apparent that the City of El Cerrito is already laying a strong foundation for meeting these reduction targets; however, it will require robust implementation and more action to create a steady decrease in emissions over the next 22 years. The Draft CAP investigates further actions the City and community can take to meet the targeted reduction levels by 2020 and 2035, such as vehicle trip reduction incentive programs, solar collectors on City buildings, incentives for residential energy efficiency, and increasing the depth and breadth of our waste reduction programs. The Draft CAP includes goals, objectives and strategies to: • Create a transportation infrastructure that invites people to walk, bike, and take transit; • Encourage greater energy efficiency, water efficiency, and renewable energy in existing and new buildings; • Decrease the volume of material going to the landfill through a variety of waste reduction and recycling programs; and ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 7(A) • Establish more compact, higher density, mixed-use infill development along major transportation corridors in order to create more economic activity, serve the daily needs of residents and employees, and decrease daily vehicle miles traveled. Public Review Process: During the regular Environmental Quality Committee (EQC) meeting on February 12, 2013, staff held a public meeting to kick-off the 30-day comment period. At this meeting, staff provided an overview of the content of the Draft CAP, answered questions, and received public comment. The EQC will also receive public comment at its regular meeting on March 12, 2013. The Draft CAP and CAP environmental review documents are available for download from the City's website at http://www.el-cerrito.org/climateactionplan. Hard copies are also available for public review during normal business hours at: • El Cerrito City Hall, 1 0890 San Pablo A venue • Recycling + Environmental Resource Center, 7 501 Schmidt Lane • El Cerrito Library, 651 0 Stockton A venue Written public comments on the Draft CAP must be submitted by 5 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013. Written comments should be directed to [EMAIL REDACTED] or Climate Action Plan, City ofEl Cerrito, 10890 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, 94530. Following this review period, a final CAP will be developed and brought to the EQC on April 9, 2013, which will consider making a recommendation encouraging the City Council to approve the CAP. In addition, the CAP environmental review document (Initial Study/ Negative Declaration) will be brought to the Planning Commission on March 20, 2013, which will consider a resolution approving the CEQA document. It is anticipated that the Final CAP will be brought forward for the City Council consideration on April 16, 2013. Scott Hanin, City Manager Attachments: 1. Draft Climate Action Plan 2. Draft Initial Study/ Negative Declaration. Page 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK CITY HALL 10890 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94523-3034 Telephone (510) 215-4305 Fax (510) 215-4379 http://www.el-cerrito.org February 19, 2013 Regular City Council Meeting Agenda Item No. 7(A) Attachment 1: Draft Climate Action Plan Attachment 2: Draft Initial Study Negative Declaration Documents are available for review online at: http://ca-elcerrito.civicplus.com/index.aspx?NID=325 or Office of the City Clerk 10890 San Pablo Avenue El Cerrito, CA (510) 215-4305 and The El Cerrito Library 6510 Stockton Avenue El Cerrito, CA