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CC - Adoption of a Resolution Supporting and Declaring Clean Air Day on October 7, 2020.
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Meeting Date: September 14, 2020
Contact Person/Dept: Shelly Wolfberg/City Manager’s Office
Phone Number: (310) 253-6000
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date:
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (09/10/2020);
Department Approval: John M. Nachbar (09/XX/2020)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a Resolution supporting and declaring Clean Air Day on October 7, 2020 (Attachment 1) or provide alternate direction as deemed appropriate.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
California Clean Air Day is a multifaceted program built on the idea that shared experiences unite people to action to improve our community health. This statewide effort allows individuals and communities throughout California to participate in ways that make sense for them. Clean Air Day is a project of the Coalition for Clean Air (“CCA”). The CCA is a California nonprofit corporation dedicated to the protection of the environment and public health with an emphasis on air quality. CCA states that it is committed to the advancement of technology, laws and environmental practices that will help promote clean and healthy air for all of California. The City Council proclaimed Clean Air Day in Culver City in 2018 and 2019.
CCA is promoting Clean Air Day in 2020 by pointing out that the actions we take right from our living room make a huge difference in creating clean air in our communities. California Clean Air Day is designed to allow every Californian to participate from where they are, even during a time of social distancing. There are also resources to connect employees, customers and stakeholders together to help create a community through shared - virtual - action. The 2020 CA Clean Air Day pledge has 19 options, of which 15 can be done alone or within a person’s household. Individuals and organizations are encouraged to take the Clean Air Day Pledge by visiting <https://www.cleanairday.org/take-the-pledge/>.
Opportunities for City Participation in Clean Air Day
City staff has evaluated potential low or no-cost ways to commemorate Clean Air Day on October 7, 2020. The following list of highlighted activities is envisioned to commemorate Clean Air Day:
Transportation Department
The Transportation Department plans to commemorate Clean Air Day activities in the following way:
1) Social Media Campaign from September 30 - October 7 (the week of Clean Air Day)
a) Post on Facebook
b) Post on Twitter
c) Bulletins through Gov Delivery
d) Messages on Nextdoor
e) Connect clean air with health
i) Highlight new “Clean Air” Bus wrap
ii) Air Quality in Culver City
iii) Reduced emissions from our CNG bus system
iv) Connect clean air with health, i.e. Clean air means more steps.
f) Facts about Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
i) City fleet is powered by Renewable Natural Gas and renewable diesel
ii) City has had an anti-idling policy since 2009
iii) Facts about our Renewable Fuel
g) Highlight the new fleet purchases of clean air vehicles using Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC) funding
i) Culver CityBus is purchasing zero and near zero vehicles wherever possible
ii) City continues to deploy near-zero emission vehicles
iii) City is working to install additional Electric Vehicle charging stations at the Transportation Facility for use with new electric fleet vehicles
iv) Fleet services is replacing light duty vehicles with hybrid or electric models whenever possible
v) Culver CityBus is committed to our first four electric buses to be delivered Summer of 2021 and plans to add six more electric buses in early 2022.
vi) A long-range facility plan for the facility is underway to support full conversion of our buses to electric buses by 2028.
h) Incentives to try transit
i) Provide incentives / reasons to try transit
ii) Encourage the community to ride our Clean Air wrapped buses
iii) Place Clean Air wrapped buses on high traffic routes
2) On Bus Announcements
a) Culver CityBus for Clean Air
b) Ride the bus on Clean Air Day
3) Culver CityBus Website
a) Add an image "Culver City for Clean Air"
b) Pictures of Clean Air Bus wrap
Public Works Department
The Public Works Department plans to highlight the following programs and projects to help commemorate Clean Air Day:
• The City currently has 10 electric vehicle charging stations available for public use at four City facilities.
• Since 2006, the City has implemented numerous energy efficiency projects that have reduced its electricity use by 33%, earning Platinum level status in Southern California Edison’s - Energy in Leadership Partnership program. These projects have collectively reduced the City’s Greenhouse Gas emissions by 2,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, which is equivalent to taking 432 gasoline-powered cars off the road for an entire year.
• in May 2019, the City completed its transition from purchasing 34% renewable electricity from Southern California Edison to 100% renewable, carbon-free electricity from the Clean Power Alliance. 95% of the City's businesses and residents have continued to purchase 100% green power from the Alliance.
• In 2019, the City received a grant from the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) that covers the entire cost to prepare an Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan to foster the transition from fossil fuel powered vehicles to electric for City facilities, residents (including multifamily dwellings), and commercial properties. The plan will be completed in late 2021 and includes a comprehensive outreach plan to engage stakeholders, reviewing City policies and codes (to determine where they should be improved), preparing geographic information system maps identifying existing plug-in hybrid and electric vehicle use, identifying the best sites to install charging stations, developing rebate/incentive programs aimed at particular user groups, and developing reference guides for residents thinking of buying an electric vehicle and another for private property owners that provides the information they need to install charging stations on their property.
• The Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan was approved by Council on June 8, 2020. Staff has been pursuing grant funds under the Urban Greening, Baldwin Hills Conservancy, and Active Transportation grant programs. Sample projects contained in the Action Plan and being pursued for grant funding include:
o 1.2 miles of a two-way cycle track on Culver Boulevard and Washington Boulevard between Duquesne Avenue and Helms Avenue and
o 0.8 route miles of continued Class II and Class IV bike lanes combined with pedestrian improvements along the Overland Avenue - Playa Street corridor between Venice Boulevard at the north end and the Culver City Transit Center at the south end; and
o Ballona Creek Bike Path will be upgraded to include resurfacing the Path with permeable pavement, installation of over 100 solar powered lights, and planting 116 drought tolerant shade trees along the segment located between Duquesne Avenue and National Boulevard.
• Staff is also developing multi-modal safety improvements as part of its ongoing work on the Local Road Safety Plan expected to be considered for Council approval in November 2020. Additionally, four grant applications are being submitted in October 2020 under the Highway Safety Improvement Grant Program to implement some of the improvements contained in the Safety Plan.
• Staff is coordinating with Metro about the deployment of Metro’s bike share program in Culver City, which will contain a hybrid of Classic and Electric bicycles. An agreement between Metro and the City is expected to be reached and the Program Initiated towards the end of 2020.
• Staff will remind the public about fall ideas to compost leaves and pumpkins to help clean the air and promote ways that residents can expand the use of their green bins.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There is no fiscal impact to adopt the Resolution, and any cost associated with the marketing and implementation of the recommendations for Clean Air Day activities will be absorbed in the current FY 2020/2021 budget.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2020-09-14 - ATT 2020 Clean Air Day Resolution
MOTION
That the City Council:
1. Adopt a Resolution supporting and declaring Clean Air Day on October 7, 2020; or
2. Provide alternate direction to the City Manager as deemed appropriate.