HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 1918City of Palo Alto (ID # 1918)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Consent Calendar Meeting Date: 7/18/2011
July 18, 2011 Page 1 of 4
(ID # 1918)
Summary Title: Adoption of a Resolution for the Beacon Award
Title: Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing City Participation in the Beacon
Award Recognition Program: Local Leadership toward Solving Climate Change
From:City Manager
Lead Department: City Manager
Recommendation
Staff recommends that Council adopt the attached resolution supporting the City of Palo
Alto’s participation in the Beacon Award recognition program.
Executive Summary
The Beacon Award: Local Leadership toward Solving Climate Change is a newly
established program of the Institute for Local Government (ILG) recognizing and
celebrating cities and counties that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy use;
adopt policies and programs to address climate change; and promote sustainability. ILG
is the non-profit research and education affiliate of the League of California Cities and
the California State Association of Counties.
The Beacon Award program is funded by the California utility ratepayers and
administered by Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Diego Gas and Electric
Company, Southern California Edison and Southern California Gas Company, under the
auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.
In order to participate in the Beacon Award, cities and counties must complete a simple
application and do the following:
·Adopt a resolution by the governing body committing the agency to participate in
the program;
·Designate a lead staff person as a point of contact;
·Prepare, or commit to prepare, a baseline greenhouse gas emissions inventory
for agency facilities and the community as a whole (previously completed
inventories using a commonly accepted methodology will be accepted);
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·Prepare, or commit to prepare, a climate action plan that includes actions in each
of the Best Practice Areas (previously completed plans using a commonly
accepted methodology will be accepted);
·Demonstrate compliance with AB 939, the California Integrated Waste
Management Act of 1989; and
·Achieve specified measurable greenhouse gas reductions and energy savings in
agency facilities, and achieve measurable greenhouse gas reductions and
promote energy conservation activities in the community.
Participating cities and counties will be recognized with Silver, Gold and Platinum
Beacon Award for achieving specified measureable reductions. The program will also
recognize participants for interim accomplishments. Awards are achieved through the
tiered scale of criteria below:
Silver Beacon Award
Agency Facilities & Operations
GHG Reduction:5 percent in agency facilities & operations
Energy Savings:5 percent in agency faculties & operations
from energy efficiency retrofits
Community
GHG Reduction:5 percent in the community as a whole
Energy Savings:1 activity that promotes energy efficiency in
the community
Best Practice Areas:One activity in each of the ten Best Practice
Areas
Gold Beacon Award
Agency Facilities & Operations
GHG Reduction:10 percent in agency facilities & operations
Energy Savings:10 percent in agency faculties & operations
from energy efficiency retrofits
Community
GHG Reduction:10 percent in the community as a whole
Energy Savings:2 activities that promote energy efficiency in
the community
Best Practice Areas:2 activities in each of the ten Best Practice
Areas
Platinum Beacon Award
Agency Facilities & Operations
GHG Reduction:20 percent in agency facilities & operations
Energy Savings:20percent in agency faculties & operations
from energy efficiency retrofits
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Community
GHG Reduction:20 percent in the community as a whole
Energy Savings:4 activities that promote energy efficiency in
the community
Best Practice Areas:3 activities in each of the ten Best Practice
Areas
The ten Best Practice Areas referenced are from ILG’s California Climate Action
Network’s Best Practices Framework which offers suggestions for action to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions in each of the areas, for both agency facilities and the
community at large. The ten Best Practice Areas are:
1.Energy Efficiency & Conservation
2.Water & Wastewater Systems
3.Green Building
4.Waste Reduction & Recycling
5.Climate-Friendly Purchasing
6.Renewable Energy & Low-Carbon Fuels
7.Efficient Transportation
8.Land Use & Community Design
9.Open Space & Offsetting Carbon Emission
10.Promoting Community & Individual Action
Once a city or county is accepted as a Beacon Award participant, it will work towards
achieving one or more of the three award levels at its own pace. There is no deadline
or timeline for meeting award level criteria; awards will be given out on an ongoing
basis. However, participants will be asked to provide periodic information about their
efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save energy and as well as progress in
completing a greenhouse gas inventory, climate action plan and undertaking activities
in the ten best practice areas.
Participants will receive special recognition at League of California Cities and California
State Association of Counties events, be highlighted on the Beacon Award website, and
receive certificates and other materials to display in agency facilities. They may also
receive other appropriate and visible public tributes acknowledging their
accomplishments.
Additional detailed information about the program can be found at:
www.ca-ilg.org/BeaconAward.
Background
The City of Palo Alto is currently a leader in adopting polices that are proactive in
addressing climate change issues. Participating in the Beacon Award program will
increase the City’s visibility within our region and state. This is an opportunity for the
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City of Palo Alto to showcase its existing efforts to promote sustainability and save
energy, while working towards these award levels.
Resource Impact
The program is designed to piggyback on existing efforts. The only resource impact that
would result from participation in this program would be a minor amount of staff time.
Further, participating in the program may increase the City’s competitiveness for future
state or other grant funding.
Environmental Review
Opting to participate in the Beacon Award program is not a project under the California
Environmental Quality Act. CEQA review for individual projects or best practices that
may qualify toward Beacon Award criteria will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Attachments:
·Resolution Authorizing City Participation in Beacon Award Program (PDF)
Prepared By:Richard Hackmann,
Department Head:James Keene, City Manager
City Manager Approval: James Keene, City Manager
** NOT YET APPROVED **
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1
Resolution No. ________
Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto
Approving the City’s Participation in the Institute for Local
Government’s Climate Action Network Recognition
Program, the Beacon Award: Local Leadership Toward
Solving Climate Change
WHEREAS, the City of Palo Alto is undertaking policies, programs and activities to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save energy; and
WHEREAS, these policies, programs and activities conserve natural resources, save
energy and money, and promote sustainable land use and transportation planning in the
community; and
WHEREAS, cities and counties statewide are leading by example by adopting
innovative sustainability programs and policies, including working with community residents,
business groups and others; and
WHEREAS, the City of Palo Alto is currently a leader in adopting polices that are
proactive in addressing climate change issues; and
WHEREAS, the City of Palo Alto wishes to continue these activities, share its
experiences with other communities, and be recognized for its accomplishments; and
WHEREAS, the Beacon Award: Local Leadership Toward Solving Climate Change
is a voluntary program of the Institute for Local Government, the non-profit research and
education affiliate of the California State Association of Counties and the League of California
Cities; and
WHEREAS, the Beacon Award recognizes and celebrates achievements of cities and
counties that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save energy; and
WHEREAS, participating in the Beacon Award is an opportunity for the City of Palo
Alto to be recognized for its efforts to promote sustainability, reduce greenhouse gas emissions
and save energy.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Palo Alto does hereby
RESOLVE as follows:
SECTION 1. The City of Palo Alto agrees to participate in the Beacon Award:
Local Leadership Toward Solving Climate Change.
SECTION 2. The City of Palo Alto will work towards achieving the Silver, Gold
and/or Platinum Beacon Award levels.
** NOT YET APPROVED **
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2
SECTION 3. The Council finds that this is not a project under the California
Environmental Quality Act and, therefore, no environmental impact assessment is necessary.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:
___________________________ ______________________________
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED:
___________________________ ______________________________
Sr. Deputy City Attorney City Manager