San Carlos Green: Climate Action Plan

Fresh Links to CAP

2009-10-12T09:29:00.000-07:00

Fresh Links to CAP

Due to a city staff reorganization of the documents posted on the e-packets web site, the links posted on our blog on Thursday no longer work. Here are the updated links:

The new version of the CAP, released Thursday, is available here. Its appendices can be found here. A recent staff report regarding changes to the CAP and green building alternatives can be found here. Its attachment, a summary of green building ordinances, prepared by the state Attorney General's office in Sept. 2009, is here.

Community comments on the draft CAP were moved to the EIR section of the agenda, and can now be found here.

Join Us at Monday's City Council Hearing

2009-10-09T16:34:00.001-07:00

Join Us at Monday's City Council Hearing
We encourage you to come to the City Council hearing Monday 10/12/09 at 7:00 to provide your comments on the proposed Climate Action Plan. Although City staff had said the Climate Action Plan would be discussed before the rest of the General Plan, it currently appears very last on the agenda -- so we do not know what time the discussion of the CAP will begin.

The CAP is agenda item 10.d, which you can indicate on your speaker slip when you arrive at the meeting.

The new version of the CAP, released Thursday, is available here. Its appendices can be found here. A recent staff report regarding changes to the CAP and green building alternatives can be found here. Its attachment, a summary of green building ordinances, prepared by the state Attorney General's office in Sept. 2009, is here.

Where is the Draft CAP?

2009-10-01T10:07:00.000-07:00

The City appears not to have posted the most recent revised version of the Climate Action Plan on its General Plan web site. So here are links to the current versions. We anticipate additional errata documents and/or revised versions may be released in advance of the City Council's 10/12 hearing on the CAP and GP.

draft General Plan
City's proposed changes to draft General Plan

9/09 draft Climate Action Plan (see links at "Consideration of Resolutions concerning the San Ca - Climate Action Plan, Attachment 3, Exhibit A.pdf" as well as A-1, A-2, A-3, and A-4)
9/14 PMC memo regarding changes to draft CAP
9/18 PMC memo regarding changes to draft CAP

San Carlos Lagging Behind in Green Efforts

2009-09-29T15:35:00.000-07:00

press release from San Carlos Green:

For Immediate Release - September 29, 2009

San Carlos Lagging Behind in Green Efforts
Important Green Building Ordinance may be excluded from Climate Action Plan

As other neighboring cities are adopting green building standards, the City of San Carlos is lagging behind in adopting similar green standards for homes and businesses that improve energy efficiency and water conservation -- and achieve important greenhouse gas emission reductions.

Palo Alto, Brisbane, San Mateo County, Hillsborough, San Jose and 53 other California cities have already adopted green building ordinances -- and more cities such as Redwood City and San Mateo are adopting standards soon. These policies call for minimum green building standards such as increased insulation or water conserving plumbing in new construction. In spite of public support for green building standards, the City of San Carlos is in jeopardy of not including a green building ordinance in their greenhouse gas reduction planning document, known as the San Carlos Climate Action Plan. Most cities are completing climate action plans to guide their efforts to meet emission reduction targets that were established by Assembly Bill 32, California’s Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. AB 32 mandates a 15% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and 80% reduction by 2050. San Carlos drafted the Climate Action Plan and the Plan is slated for consideration by the San Carlos City Council on October 12 and 26 at 7pm.

“A green building ordinance is crucial for successfully reducing emissions since nearly half of our emissions are from building, lighting and heating our homes and businesses,” says Kathleen Gallagher, a member of San Carlos Green. “Residents benefit from a green building ordinance since green standards save energy and water costs -- a green home can reduce energy consumption by as much as 65%.” San Carlos Green, a community task force that works to promote sustainable practices, has been promoting green building standards in San Carlos. Several other organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, Laureola Association, League of Women Voters, and Community United Church of Christ, also support green building efforts and over 143 people signed a San Carlos Green/Cool Cities petition last year asking the City to immediately begin phasing in a Green Building program.

Instead of adopting a green building program, an alternative that is favored by city staff is to rely on a less flexible State green building requirements for single-family homes anticipated in 2011, and as-yet-undeveloped State requirements for commercial buildings. The problem with this option is that the resulting emissions are too small for San Carlos to meet its emission reduction targets according to San Carlos Green. A recent city report showed that a green building ordinance would result in reducing emissions by 15,106 tons but the state code standards would only reduce emissions by 728 tons. “Many cities choose not to wait for the state to develop a green building code for construction and are now implementing local green building ordinances. Many other cities are developing a Green Building ordinance, including Redwood City, Foster City, and Pacifica,” says Suzanne Emerson, San Carlos Green member and Chair of the city’s Climate Action Plan Subcommittee. “A green building ordinance provides an important opportunity for San Carlos to build energy efficient, water conserving, resource efficient and healthier homes in San Carlos.”

There are excellent cost benefits to a green building ordinance when the cost per ton of emissions is considered. The estimated cost for the green building ordinance is 42 cents per ton of reduced emissions according to a city report. “When you compare the environmental benefit of the green building ordinance in comparison to other programs in the Climate Action Plan that range in costs up to $59 per ton, the green building ordinance is clearly the better economic and environmental choice” says Kathleen Gallagher. A recent study shows that green design results in life cycle savings of 20% of total construction costs -- more than 10 times the initial investment. “There are so many cost effective & inexpensive green choices homeowners can make to design or remodel a home, and, if they plan from the beginning to incorporate green concepts, the cost can be further reduced” says Susan Davis, a local home builder and designer from Spectrum Fine Homes.

“Neighboring cities that have adopted green building ordinances use grant funds to implement green building programs and use free resources provided by Build It Green, a non-profit green building organization. If San Carlos continues to choose to promote itself as a green city, then the city needs to at least adopt a green building ordinance similar to other green communities,” says Ann Iverson, a San Carlos Green member.

The full green building report by San Carlos Green can be found at www.sancarlosgreen.org

About San Carlos Green
San Carlos Green is a citizens’ task force collaborating with the city of San Carlos to explore and promote conservation and resource management best practices for the city, businesses, schools, and citizens in order to inspire a more sustainable community and achieve a positive financial impact. Activities include policy recommendations, community volunteer activities, and educational programs regarding environmental issues such as climate change, waste reduction, energy and water conservation, green building, sustainable landscaping, and urban canopy.

For further information:

Kathleen Gallagher, San Carlos Green, 650-906-1089, kathleen-gallagher@sbcglobal.net

Ann Iverson, San Carlos Green, 650-595-3719, ann@sancarlosgreen.org

San Carlos Green Comments on draft Climate Action Plan

2009-09-18T22:54:00.000-07:00

San Carlos Green Comments on draft Climate Action Plan

San Carlos Green has provided comments and information to the Planning Commission in support of adopting and implementing a Green Building ordinance. City Staff has stated that an option for adopting a Green Building ordinance will be included in errata language for consideration at the Planning Commission hearing on the CAP on Monday, September 21, 2009.

Members of the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter have also submitted comments in support of a Green Building ordinance.

GPAC member Suzanne Emerson has submitted comments supporting adoption and implementation of a Green Building ordinance, explaining the State "CalGreen" code, recommending the CAP waste diversion goal be increased, and suggesting modified General Plan language to help protect city-owned open space from being sold on short notice.

If you would like to submit written comments in advance of the hearing, your comments can be e-mailed to Deborah Nelson, San Carlos Planning Manager at DNelson@cityofsancarlos.org.

Staff Deletes Green Building Program

2009-09-15T20:48:00.000-07:00

Green Building Program Deleted from draft Climate Action Plan

Changes to the draft General Plan Update and a revised version of the Climate Action Plan were posted today with the agenda for the Planning Commission 9/21 hearing. CAP element 3.1b, known as "Option 2" -- the optional language that would have provided for development of a green building program -- has been completely deleted. Text states that "Based on guidance from City Council and the Climate Action Plan Subcommittee, Option 1 will be analyzed in this Plan."

Really? The CAP Subcommittee and General Plan Advisory Committee approved of drafts of the CAP that included both Green Building Option 1 (aka Do Nothing and Hope the State Develops a Robust Green Building Plan) and Option 2 (aka Adopt a Green Building Ordinance Similar to Other Cities). It was intended that City Council decide between the two options, with input from the public.

At the Planning Commission and City Council study sessions, City staff suggested the Commissioners and Council Members "take a look at" the Green Building Options, expressing concern about the cost of such programs. Not one of the City Council members commented on the Green Building options at the study session. So, which council member(s) requested Option 2 be removed, and when? Or was it removed solely by staff, even though it has been strongly supported by the public at every turn?

San Carlos Green intends to request Option 2 be put back in. We encourage you to join us at the Planning Commission hearing Monday, Sept. 21 at 7:00 pm in City Hall.

State "Green Building Code" -- What is it, and why shouldn't we just wait and let the State come up with something?

It would be great to have a robust, state-wide green building code, but we are nowhere close. There has been a lot of talk about the State Green Building Code, but it is not the easiest code to read through and understand the effect of. The 2008 California Green Building Standards Code (24 CCR Part 11) (“CalGreen Code”) currently contains descriptions of many techniques for making construction greener. But very few of these techniques are slated to become mandatory.

CalGreen Code Application Matrix (AM-HCD) (pdf pages 73-74 of the Code linked above) lists the elements applicable to single-family homes and other residential structures under 3 stories.[1] As shown on this Matrix, the requirement that low-flow water fixtures be used or that indoor water use be calculated to be 20% below baseline, and the prohibition against multiple showerheads simultaneously providing one shower with more than the combined maximum federal flow rate, go into effect in July of 2011. A one-and-a-half-page list of other mandatory elements, including low-VOC limits on some products, sealing areas of air leakage between the home and the outside, and covering heat ducts during construction to keep dust out, are slated to go into effect on the effective date of the 2010 round of code updates. The State Building Commission is currently aiming for January of 2011 for the effective date of the 2010 Code updates, so unless the list is modified, this is the list of elements that would become effective in early 2011 for low-rise residential.[2]

The matrix for most other buildings (not including hospitals and public schools) is Application Matrix AM-BSC (pdf pages 66-72 of the code linked above). The list of elements that may become mandatory in the future for this category is the subject of much discussion. The matrix currently only identifies six of the elements as potentially being required, and it is our understanding that most of these are mandated elsewhere in the codes already. As to the rest of the listed elements, according to the Building Standards Commission, the involved government agencies are “looking at their current voluntary regulations to determine which, if any, can be made mandatory, and which others should remain optional.”[3] So it is really a matter of speculation which elements, if any, will become mandatory for commercial and high-rise residential, and when.

The CalGreen Code clearly states that it is not a substitute for the certification requirements of any green building program not adopted by the state BSC, that this code should be viewed as minimal Green Building standards, and that local government entities retain their discretion to exceed these standards.[4] Local governments are provided with a procedure to adopt any of the listed elements as mandatory sooner than the State does[5] – so there is nothing to stop San Carlos from adopting more of these elements as mandatory, and they could do so immediately. However, our understanding from the Building Department staff is that they do not intend to propose for adoption as mandatory any element that is not mandatory state-wide.

[1] E-mail from Jane Taylor, Senior Architect, California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) Dec. 2, 2008.
[2] Telephone conference with Erica of CBSC, Sept. 15, 2009.
[3] E-mail from Jane Taylor.
[4] 24 CCR §§ 101.3, 101.7.
[5] §§ 101.7, 101.7.1; E-mail from Jane Taylor: “local jurisdictions may adopt any or all of the provisions as mandatory, providing they meet the findings requirements.”

9/21 Planning Commission Hearing on Climate Action Plan and General Plan

2009-08-27T16:37:00.000-07:00

On September 21st, the Planning Commission will be holding a public hearing to receive comments on the draft General Plan and Climate Action Plan. Some of the ideas from staff, commissioners, or Council Members discussed at recent Planning Commission or City Council study sessions include:

adopting only the greenhouse gas reduction measures required by law,
eliminating the proposed Green Building program,
eliminating the proposed shuttle service, and
removing language that would slow down any proposal to sell off City-owned Open Space.

If you have an opinion about these issues or others that you would like to see remain in, be added to, or be removed from the General Plan or Climate Action Plan, you can speak at the hearing for up to 2 minutes or submit your comments in writing to Al Savay, Community Development Director, 600 Elm St., San Carlos, CA 94070 or by e-mail to asavay@cityofsancarlos.org. The hearing will be held at 7 pm at City Hall.

Current draft General Plan and CAP: http://www.cityofsancarlos.org/generalplanupdate/whats_new_/default.asp.

Minutes of 7/6 Planning Commission study session on the CAP and General Plan: http://www.epackets.net/pubmtgframe.aspx?meetid=928&doctype=MINUTES.

Minutes of 7/20 Planning Commission study session on the CAP and General Plan and hearing on the General Plan EIR: http://www.epackets.net/pubmtgframe.aspx?meetid=930&doctype=MINUTES.

Video of 8/10 City Council study session on CAP and General Plan: http://www.epackets.net/pubmtgframe.aspx?meetid=901&doctype=AGENDA.

If these links to video and minutes don't work, try searching for the meeting date at www.epackets.net

Planning Commission & City Council to Consider Climate Action Plan, General Plan

2009-06-29T14:40:00.000-07:00

The draft San Carlos Climate Action Plan, draft General Plan, and Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the General Plan and Climate Action Plans will be discussed by the Planning Commission in study sessions Monday, July 6th and Monday, July 20th, starting at 7 pm in the Council Chambers in City Hall. The purpose of the study sessions is to familiarize the Planning Commission with the materials prior to public hearings on the plans. The July 6th study session will cover the Climate Action Plan, Housing Element, Parks and Recreation Element, and Safety and Community Services Element. The July 20th study session will cover the Land Use Element and Environmental Management Element. The public is welcome to attend. Additional information and copies of each of the documents can be found here.

The July 20th Planning Commission meeting also incorporates a public hearing on the draft environmental impact report (DEIR). You are encouraged to present your comments on the DEIR at the hearing or submit your comments in writing no later than August 10 to Al Savay, Community Development Director, Community Development Department, City of San Carlos, 600 Elm Street, San Carlos, CA 94070, asavay@cityofsancarlos.org.

Following the Planning Commission study session and hearing on the DEIR, the City Council is scheduled to hold a study session on the documents on August 10th. This will be followed by 4 public hearings, at which you are encouraged to present your opinions about the draft General Plan Update and the draft Climate Action Plan:
Sept 7, Planning Commission Public Hearing 1
Sept 21, Planning Commission Public Hearing 2
Oct 12, City Council Public Hearing 1
Oct 26, City Council Public Hearing 2 & proposed date for adoption of CAP and updated General Plan.

As the General Plan and Climate Action Plan are intended to serve as the blueprints for operations of the City of the course of many years, we encourage you to review the sections of greatest interest to you and let the Planning Commission and City Council know your opinions about the direction the City is taking.

Climate Action Plan Sub-committee submits Climate Action Plan to GPAC -- Opportunity for Public Comment

2009-02-12T16:21:00.000-08:00

The City of San Carlos web site at http://www.cityofsancarlos.org/generalplanupdate/whats_new_/draft_climate_action_plan.asp
provides links to the Climate Action Plan completed by the Climate Action Plan subcommittee of the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC). The CAP will be presented to the GPAC for discussion on Wed., Feb. 18, 6:45 at the Library upstairs meeting rooms. The public is encouraged to provide comments on the CAP in person at the GPAC meeting or submit comments in writing to Deborah Nelson, planning manager, at dnelson@cityofsancarlos.org. After presentation to the GPAC, the CAP will be presented to the Planning Commission at a future date for discussion, potential modification, and approval.

The Environmental Management Element will also be discussed by the GPAC on 2/18 and 2/25. To download the proposed new General Plan Environmental Management goals, policies, and actions, click on
http://www.cityofsancarlos.org/sirepub/meeting.aspx?cabinet=PUBLISHED_MEETINGS&ftr=0&docid=6701781
(if the link doesn't work, try http://www.cityofsancarlos.org/sirepub/meet.aspx and click on the link for the 2/18/2008 General Plan Advisory Committee meeting).

We strongly encourage you to review these General Plan goals, policies, and actions, which were prepared by the City's General Plan consultants, and provide written and/or in-person comments on what is missing or should be changed when the GPAC reviews this draft on 2/18 and 2/25. Please take this opportunity to let the City know what you would like the City to be doing about environmental issues -- streams, pest management, urban forests, waste diversion, energy efficiency, open space -- NOW is your best opportunity to modify these policies!

Fresh Draft of Climate Action Plan Available for Review and Comment

2009-01-23T09:59:00.000-08:00

In advance of its presentation to the San Carlos General Plan Advisory Committee on February 18th, the Climate Action Plan subcommittee has posted the draft Climate Action Plan on the web at http://www.cityofsancarlos.org/sirepub/meeting.aspx?cabinet=PUBLISHED_MEETINGS&ftr=0&docid=6538948. You are encourage to provide your comments and recommendations on the draft CAP in writing to Deborah Nelson or in person at the CAP subcommittee meeting 1/26 12-2 at City Hall, or the GPAC meeting 2/18 6:45 in the Library upstairs conference rooms.

Also posted are the CAP Subcommittee's draft proposed Goals, Policies, and Actions for inclusion in the General Plan.

Latest Draft of Climate Action Plan

2008-12-09T20:07:00.000-08:00

In advance of the Monday 12/15 CAP subcommittee meeting, the City has posted the revised draft CAP. You can review it at http://www.cityofsancarlos.org/sirepub/meeting.aspx?cabinet=PUBLISHED_MEETINGS&ftr=0&docid=6394863.

City Council Meeting Video on Greenhouse Gas Inventory

2008-08-13T20:09:00.000-07:00

Consultants presented the Community Wide Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report to the City Council at its August 11th meeting. You can view the video this Link, with the presentation starting at time marker 15:06 and Council discussion starting at 29:30. The plan for the preparation of the Climate Action Plan was also discussed.

Some interesting aspects of the Inventory Report were noted:
- Methane emissions from the treatment plant where our sewage goes are not included;
- Methane emissions from the dump where our garbage goes are not included;
- The electricity generation sources assumed in these calculations are PG&E's California electricity sources, but do not include the CO2 generated by carbon-intensive out-of-state electricity purchased when California-generated electricity is insufficient in peak demand periods;
- Many of the numbers represented in the report are estimates.

San Carlos Community-Wide Baseline GHG Inventory

2008-08-09T22:50:00.000-07:00

The City of San Carlos has just released its Community-Wide Baseline Greenhouse Gas Inventory, available on the City's web site. [11/24/2008 update: the City has moved the report again. Try this link: Report on the Community-Wide Greenhouse Gas Invent - Timeline for San Carlos Climate Action Plan - Aug 5 2008.doc] This report, and accompanying summary information, will be presented to the City Council at its meeting on Monday, August 11, 2008.

Highlights of the Report:

"In the base year 2005, the community of San Carlos emitted approximately 229,193 metric tons of CO2e [CO2 equivalency] . . . [T]he transportation (50%) and residential (21%) sectors were the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions from the commercial sector, waste, and industrial uses contributed 20%, 5%, and 4% respectively. . . . The burning of gasoline, electricity, and natural gas was responsible for most of the greenhouse gas emissions in San Carlos with 48%, 23%, and 22%. The remaining categories, with the exception of diesel, are landfill materials that emitted methane and carbon dioxide."

If you would like to be involved in setting the greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and strategic plan, we invite you to attend the next meeting of the Climate Action Plan subcommittee of the City's General Plan Advisory Committee, on August 19th, 11 AM- 1 PM, in the City Hall West Gallery Conference Room.

Weekend Leisure Reading: Revised Draft Climate Action Plan

2008-11-14T18:57:00.000-08:00

You are invited to join the Climate Action Plan Subcommittee at its meeting from 11 to 1 this Monday, Nov. 17th in City Hall. The revised draft Climate Action Plan, as well as meeting agenda and draft CAP-related General Plan elements, can be downloaded here.

The General Plan Advisory Committee meeting schedule has been changed. Instead of presenting the draft CAP to the GPAC on December 10th, we are now scheduled to discuss the CAP and other environmental management goals, policies, and actions at the January GPAC meeting, which may be held at 6:45 on Wed., Jan. 21st. We encourage you to attend.

Date Change for Next Climate Action Plan Sub-committee Meeting

2008-10-30T14:22:00.001-07:00

The date for the next CAP Sub-committee meeting has been changed from 11/13 to 11/17. We encourage you to join us between 11 and 1 in the West Gallery conference room in City Hall to discuss the draft CAP.

Provide Your Comments on Draft Climate Action Plan

2008-10-24T14:36:00.000-07:00

The first draft of the San Carlos Climate Action Plan is now available for your review and comments. To download a copy, go to http://www.cityofsancarlos.org/sirepub/meeting.aspx?cabinet=PUBLISHED_MEETINGS&ftr=0&docid=6172291 and click on the document marked "New Business".

We encourage you to join the CAP subcommittee at our meeting on Monday, October 27th from 11 to 1 in the West Gallery conference room of City Hall. If you are unable to make it, we encourage you to submit your comments in writing to Deborah Nelson, planning manager, at dnelson@cityofsancarlos.org.

CAP Subcommittee to Meet Monday to Review Community Input

2008-10-02T20:13:00.000-07:00

Following the enthusiastic public participation at the Climate Action Plan Workshop on Thursday, 9/25, the CAP Subcommittee has added an extra meeting to its schedule to discuss the input and finalize the list of elements that the consultants will utilize for their cost-benefit analysis.

Here is information about the new meeting, followed by the rest of the revised schedule:

October 6th – CAP Subcommittee Meeting (11 AM- 1 PM City Hall West Gallery Conference Room) – Review feedback from Community Workshop and Review Financial Analysis Approach.

October 27th – CAP Subcommittee Meeting (11 AM- 1 PM City Hall West Gallery Conference Room) – Review Project Review Criteria for Subsequent Development, discuss CAP implementation program, and provide feedback on Draft CAP.

November 13th –CAP Subcommittee Meeting (11 AM- 1 PM City Hall West Gallery Conference Room)– Review Revised CAP.

December 10th - GPAC Meeting - Discuss Environmental Management Goals, policies and actions and present Climate Action Plan

To download an agenda and background information for Monday's meeting, visit http://www.cityofsancarlos.org/sirepub/meeting.aspx?cabinet=PUBLISHED_MEETINGS&ftr=0&docid=6050960

Initial 125 Potential Strategies to be Discussed Tuesday

2008-09-15T15:07:00.000-07:00

The City's consultants assisting with the preparation of the Climate Action Plan have prepared a draft listing 125 potential climate action plan strategic elements. You are encouraged to attend the CAP sub-committee meeting on Tuesday, 9/16 11 am - 1 pm at City Hall to discuss which of these strategic elements -- or others -- will be presented at the public workshop on Thurs, 9/25, 7-8:30 pm, in the Library upstairs conference rooms.

(To view the full list, to which minor modifications were made on 9/16, see http://www.cityofsancarlos.org/sirepub/cache/2/eyohiba0zmwzj155ev1bhh55/65182280923200811140078.PDF )

Shortened List of 31 Measures Posted

2008-09-23T09:07:00.000-07:00

The City has posted the Climate Action Plan sub-committee's "Shortened List" of 31 preliminary reduction measures that will be considered and discussed at Thursday's community forum. To review the list in advance of the Forum, click on http://www.cityofsancarlos.org/sirepub/meeting.aspx?cabinet=PUBLISHED_MEETINGS&ftr=0&docid=5765800 and download the document labeled "Preliminary Reduction Measures". If you will not be able to make it to the public forum on Thursday, we encourage you to submit your comments in writing to Deborah Nelson, Planning Manager, City of San Carlos, 600 Elm Street, San Carlos, CA 94070, 650 802-4264, dnelson@cityofsancarlos.org.

San Carlos Climate Action Plan Community Workshop 9/25 7 pm

2008-09-09T13:22:00.000-07:00

You are invited to join the San Carlos General Plan Advisory Committee, Climate Action Plan Sub-Committee Community Workshop. This event will feature an opportunity for the Community to participate in the selection of priority emission reduction measures that will be incorporated into the Climate Action Plan and the General Plan.

The event will be held on Thursday, September 25 from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm in Library Conference Rooms A & B, 610 Elm Street, San Carlos.

You are encouraged to please pass this notice along to your friends and local organizations.

We look forward to seeing you at the Community Workshop!

CAP Sub-committee Sets Preliminary CO2 Reduction Target: 15% Reduction from 2005 Levels by 2020

2008-08-19T18:40:00.000-07:00

At the 8/19/2008 meeting of the CAP Sub-committee, the group set a preliminary goal for reduction of the City’s CO2 emission equivalents: 15% reduction below 2005 levels by 2020. Consultants consider this target to be feasible and within the median range of what other local communities have set for their emission reduction programs.

If you would like to comment on this emission reduction target or participate in choosing the greenhouse gas emission reduction programs and policies for inclusion in the climate action plan, we encourage you to participate in the CAP Community Forum, September 25 at 7 pm, San Carlos Library rooms A&B. Written comments can be submitted to Deborah Nelson, City Planning Director, at dnelson@cityofsancarlos.org.

Agenda & Background Materials for 8/19 CAP Meeting

2008-08-14T10:25:00.000-07:00

The Climate Action Plan subcommittee of the General Plan Advisory Committee is meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 19th from 11-1 at City Hall to set a greenhouse gas reduction goal and strategic policy focus. You are invited to attend the meeting and provide your input.

Here is the New Business section of the agenda, including links to background materials:

a) Review of the Agenda

b) Dissemination of background information

Alameda Climate Action Plan – found at the following link:
http://www.ci.alameda.ca.us/gov/pdf/0802_cplap_draft.pdf

Climate Action Handbook: http://www.seattle.gov/climate/docs/ClimateActionHandbook.pdf <http://www.iclei.org/documents/Global/case_studies/beststrategies.pdf>

US Mayors for Climate Protection Best Practices: http://www.usmayors.org/climateprotection/documents/2007bestpractices-mcps.pdf

A study on the challenges of community based social marketing for climate change:
http://environment.yale.edu/climate/americans_and_climate_change.pdf

c) Overview of Baseline Report
August 11, 2008 Report to the City Council – found at the following links:
http://cscfc/sire/cache/116/pv22n0m31jr3e245mbwlycit/61697980808200810062131.pdf
http://cscfc/sire/cache/116/pv22n0m31jr3e245mbwlycit/616979908082008100718750.pdf
http://cscfc/sire/cache/116/pv22n0m31jr3e245mbwlycit/616980008082008100736281.pdf
http://cscfc/sire/cache/116/vrim5kjsrifcic31vmowen45/619293108112008114723625.pdf
http://cscfc/sire/cache/116/vrim5kjsrifcic31vmowen45/619293208112008114803218.xls
http://cscfc/sire/cache/116/vrim5kjsrifcic31vmowen45/619293308112008114835343.xls

d) Develop Climate Action Plan (CAP) Target Reduction Goal and Strategic Policy Focus

e) Review of Next Steps

Upcoming Dates for Climate Action Plan Meetings

2008-08-09T15:58:00.000-07:00

At the Climate Action Plan subcommittee kick-off meeting on Aug. 4, upcoming meeting dates were discussed and set. If you are interested in assisting with the development of the San Carlos Climate Action Plan, or commenting on drafts as they become available, we encourage you to save these dates and join us:

August 11th – City Council Meeting – Presentation of GHG Baseline Report by Staff and Consultants. (Greenhouse Gas Baseline (GHG) data gathered by ICLEI under contract to the City and Joint Venture Silicon Valley and sponsored by BAAQMD). Agenda and reports.

August 19th – CAP Subcommittee Meeting (11 AM- 1 PM City Hall West Gallery Conference Room) – Develop Climate Action Plan Target Reduction Goal and Strategic Policy Focus.

September 16th – CAP Subcommittee Meeting (11 AM- 1 PM City Hall West Gallery Conference Room) – Discuss preliminary determinations in CAP.

September 25th – CAP Subcommittee / Community Meeting (7 PM – 8:30 PM Library Room A & B.) – Receive input from community and interest groups on the Climate Action Plan.

October 1st – PMC to submit draft CAP to City (City distributed to CAP Subcommittee for Review)

October 9th – CAP Subcommittee Meeting (11 AM- 1 PM City Hall West Gallery Conference Room) – Review Project Review Criteria for Subsequent Development, discuss CAP implementation program, and provide feedback on Draft CAP.

October 27th – CAP Subcommittee Meeting (11 AM- 1 PM City Hall West Gallery Conference Room)– Review Revised CAP.

October 30th – PMC to submit Revised CAP to the City

November 6th – GPAC Meeting (6:45 PM - 9:45 PM Library Room A & B) – Discuss Environmental Management Goals, policies and actions, and Climate Action Plan

Climate Action Plan Preparations Begin

2008-07-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

We have good news for the many San Carlos Green supporters who have sent letters to the City or signed our petition demanding the City address climate change: The City has begun the process of preparing a Climate Action Plan (”CAP”), which will be incorporated into the City’s updated General Plan. A three-person Climate Action Plan subcommittee has been formed within the General Plan Advisory Committee, consultants have been retained to assist in the Plan preparation, and a $75,000 grant from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District will be used to fund the CAP preparation.

To provide the public with sufficient input on the process, the CAP subcommittee is working on plans for a public workshop to provide input on and suggestions for Climate Action elements. When a date for this workshop is set, we will circulate this information to the San Carlos Green e-mail list.

The CAP subcommittee meetings, which are expected to begin in mid-July, will also be public meetings that any interested community members can attend, although public comment will be limited to 2 minutes per person as with the GPAC and City Council meetings. If you would like to receive e-mail notification from the City of these and related General Plan meetings, sign up at the City’s e-notify site.

If you would like to submit written comments on the Climate Action Plan preparation process, e-mail:Deborah Nelson, Planning Manager, City of San Carlos (staff lead for CAP preparation) dnelson@cityofsancarlos.org; or Suzanne Emerson, San Carlos Green task force member on CAP subcommittee suzanne@sancarlosgreen.org.

Climate Action Plan Subcommittee Launches

2008-08-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

The first meeting of the Climate Action Plan subcommittee of the General Plan Advisory Committee will be August 4th, 5-7 pm in City Hall, Admin. Conference room. Agenda items include introduction to the consultants hired to assist with preparation of the City’s Climate Action Plan, a proposed timeline for the subcommittee’s work, and discussion of background materials. The public is welcome to attend the meeting and participate in the public comment portion. If you would like to look over background materials, see background.