To: Board of Supervisors
From: Planning and Building Department
Agenda Section: Departmental
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Revised Proposal for Completion of the Countywide Climate Action Plan
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Authorize the redrafting of the Climate Action Plan (CAP) such that it can be a Qualified Climate Action Plan.
2. Allow the funds provided by a REAP grant through Humboldt County Association Of Governments (HCAOG) to be used for revision to the CAP rather than preparation of an EIR.
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
The revision to the CAP will be paid for by REAP funding obtained from HCAOG. The staff time will be paid for by the existing budget allocation for the Long-Range Planning.
DISCUSSION:
This is a request to allow the Draft Climate Action Plan to be modified such that it can be a Qualified CAP, and to allow money allocated for preparation of the environmental impact report (EIR) for the CAP to be used for this revision. Attachment 1 is a discussion explaining the complications which have been encountered in proceeding to adoption of the CAP. In summary many of the goals and measures in the CAP are overly ambitious. When these are sized to be achievable, the CAP does not achieve Qualified Status. A qualified CAP achieves the state goals for greenhouse gas reductions. The proposal in Attachment 1 is being provided to all stakeholder jurisdictions for consideration.
Staff has solicited a proposal from Rincon, the consultant hired to complete the EIR, to make modifications to the CAP. The proposal will do two primary things: redo the inventory of greenhouse gases to eliminate those baseline emissions which are not under local government control, and; design measures and goals to achieve a qualified CAP. A point of controversy has been whether to include point sources in the inventory. In consultation with Rincon, it is debatable whether there is sufficient local control over these emissions and so point source emissions are not being included in the inventory.
This is being brought back to the Board of Supervisors because on June 7, 2022, the Board approved the Draft CAP for use as the project description for preparation of the EIR. Staff is recommending the Board allow the draft CAP to be modified as outlined in the attached proposal from Rincon Associates. This will take up to 6 months. As this is progressing, grant funds will be sought to finance preparation of an environmental document.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Narrative Explanation of Financial Impact:
This will not have a new financial impact on the department budget or General Fund. A new source of funding will need to be found for the needed environmental document.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework priority of advancing local interests in natural resource discussions
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
As noted in Attachment 1, the preparation of the CAP has been a collaborative effort that has involved:
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City of Arcata City of Blue Lake City of Trinidad |
City of Eureka City of Ferndale Redwood Coast Energy Authority |
City of Fortuna City of Rio Dell Humboldt County Association of Governments |
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The alternative would be to stay with the existing draft CAP which would require substantial work to complete, and probably could not be completed faster than the work being done by Rincon. This would not likely result in a Qualified CAP and the money for the EIR could not be used for a CAP that is not qualified and the money must be spent by March 2024. This alternative is not recommended.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Refocused CAP Discussion
2. Rincon Proposal
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: H-1
Meeting of: June 7, 2002
File No.: 22-699