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CC - Adoption of a Resolution Approving the City of Culver City’s Participation in the Institute for Local Government’s Beacon Recognition Program.
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Meeting Date: 08/22/2016
Contact Person/Dept: Joe Susca/Public Works-Administration
Phone Number: 310-253-5636
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [] Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date:
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (08/16/2016); (E-Mail) The Institute for Local Government (08/16/2016); (E-Mail) The Energy Coalition (08/16/2016)
Department Approval: Charles D. Herbertson (08/11/16)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a Resolution approving the City’s participation in the Institute for Local Government’s Beacon Recognition Program (Beacon Program).
BACKGROUND
In 2006, the City established a City Council Sustainability Subcommittee. In 2007, the City signed onto the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which outlined the goal of meeting or exceeding Kyoto protocol targets to reduce global warming through energy efficiency. In July 2016, the City released a Request for Proposals to hire a firm to implement a citywide Sustainable Business Certification Program and the City is currently in the process of preparing an Energy Action Plan. The City is updating its General Plan, which will contain a Sustainable City Plan that includes a Climate Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The City participates in the Green Communities Challenge and currently maintains a Gold status rating in Southern California Edison’s (SCE) Energy Leader Partnership Program. The City participates in the Westside Energy Partnership, The Energy Network and Energize the Westside programs, all of which emphasize sustainability and improving energy efficiency.
The Institute of Local Government (ILG) is affiliated with the California State Association of Counties and the League of California Cities. ILG’s Beacon Program is a statewide program that provides support and recognition to California cities and counties that are working to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, to save energy and to adopt policies and implement programs that promote sustainability. The Beacon Program is sponsored by the ILG in conjunction with the Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative (SEEC). The SEEC is an alliance formed to facilitate city and county efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to save energy. SEEC also collaborates with California’s four Investor Owned Utilities (including SCE).
DISCUSSION
Participating in ILG’s Beacon Program will increase the City’s visibility in Southern California and statewide. It is an opportunity for the City to showcase its existing efforts to promote sustainability and save energy, while the City works towards attaining one or more of the Beacon Program’s three levels of achievement within each of the following Sustainability Best Practices categories (Categories):
1. Reducing City facility greenhouse gas emissions
2. Reducing citywide greenhouse gas emissions
3. Electricity savings at City facilities
4. Natural gas savings at City facilities
5. Sustainability, which includes implementation of the following best practices:
a) Energy Efficiency and Conservation
b) Water and Wastewater Systems
c) Green Buildings
d) Waste Reduction and Recycling
e) Climate-Friendly Purchasing
f) Renewable Energy and Low-Carbon Fuels
g) Efficient Transportation
h) Land Use and Community Design
i) Open Space to Offset Carbon Emissions
j) Promoting Community and Individual Action
The Beacon Program provides a framework for local governments to share best practices that create healthier, more efficient and vibrant communities and honors the voluntary efforts of local governments to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, to save energy and to adopt policies that promote sustainability.
To participate in the Beacon Program, the City is required to:
• Prepare (or commit to prepare) a baseline greenhouse gas emissions inventory citywide and for City facilities;
• Prepare (or commit to prepare) a Climate Action Plan that includes steps to take for each of the Categories;
• Work to achieve specified measurable greenhouse gas emission reductions and energy savings citywide and at City facilities, and to promote energy conservation activities within the community.
ILG provides resources and technical support to assist participants in their journey through the Beacon Program so they may achieve ever increasing levels of awards in each of the Categories. Through their partnership with the SEEC, ILG enables their participants to attain their goals and they provide a mechanism to record their progress. The City may obtain silver, gold or platinum awards in each of the Categories and eventually receive a full Beacon Award once they demonstrate achievement in all five Categories.
Beacon Awards for each of the Categories are given out each Fall/Winter in conjunction with the League of California Cities and the California State Association of Counties conferences.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The Beacon Program participation is voluntary and does not have a direct fiscal impact to the City. Participation in the Beacon Program may enhance the City’s competitiveness when applying for state or other competitive grant funding to complete sustainability projects and programs.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution
MOTION
That the City Council:
Adopt a Resolution approving the City’s participation in the Institute for Local Government’s Beacon Recognition Program.