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Home My WebLink AboutCM Climate Change Inheritance ProtectionSAN RAFAEL THE CITY WITH A MISSION Agenda Item No: 4.f Meeting Date: April 17, 2017 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Department: CITY MANAGER Prepared by: Cory Bytof, Sustainability & Volunteer Program Coordinator TOPIC: CLIMATE INHERITANCE RESOLUTION City Manager Approval: SUBJECT: RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL EXPRESSING A COMMITMENT TO PROTECT FUTURE GENERATIONS FROM THE RISKS OF CLIMATE CHANGE RECOMMENDATION: Adopt the Resolution X1:1*401III M*111►&ILTA 1e1'VA At the January 17, 2017 Council meeting students from the Marin School of Environmental Leadership (MSEL) presented a climate report card to the City of San Rafael. At this presentation, the MSEL students asked Council to adopt a Resolution with a commitment to protect future generations from the effects of climate change. BACKGROUND: MSEL is a school within a school at Terra Linda High School, which emphasizes group learning in service of the environment. This is its 5th year, and it has made a big impact in the community in those five years contributing thousands of hours of volunteer service county -wide. Students are encouraged to learn public speaking immediately, and to engage with the community to work on collective solutions to environmental problems. One group of students joined the national iMatter Youth program and conducted an analysis of the City's efforts to combat climate change. San Rafael received an overall 'B' grade, which the students reported as one of the highest grades they'd seen. However, they noted some areas where we still have work to do, specifically in the areas of zero waste and zero net energy, both of which are huge endeavors and require the compliance of all our residents and businesses to achieve. One area we received extra points for is our active youth engagement. MSEL and other students from San Rafael schools are routinely included in Climate Change Action Plan meetings and other activities related to sustainability. San Rafael received high grades in renewable energy thanks to our local electricity provider, MCE Clean Energy, and in carbon removal thanks to our efforts in being a Tree City USA and preserving so much open space. FOR CITY CLERK ONLY File No.: 13-1 Council Meeting: 04/17/2017 Disposition: Resolution 14310 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2 ANALYSIS: The students provided Council with a draft Climate Inheritance Resolution at the January 17 Council meeting, which was later reviewed by Mayor Phillips and Councilmember Colin for suggestions. A few amendments were made to the Resolution and vetted with the students, who gave their nod of approval. The final Resolution before you focuses on the City's commitment to continue to work aggressively toward reducing San Rafael's impact on the climate and doing what we can to ensure a safe and healthy environment for future generations. Additionally, it commits the City to developing a formal means of engaging students in local climate solutions. Toward that end the Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) update planning team has committed to including youth representatives in the CCAP update working group, being conducted later this year. COMMUNITY OUTREACH: In addition to the presentation at the January 17 Council meeting, MSEL students gave their presentation to the January CCAP meeting, which routinely includes 20-30 community members. MSEL students have been included in our CCAP quarterly update meetings for the past three years, and have been engaged in City activities since the inception of the MSEL program. Notice of this has gone out through our normal City Council noticing as well as through the Sustainability Initiatives email newsletter. aI-TI1_1IILVA lViT4111119 There is no direct fiscal impact to adopting this Resolution. OPTIONS: The City Council may choose to: 1. Adopt the Resolution. 2. Direct staff to return with more information. 3. Take no action. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt the Resolution ATTACHMENTS: Resolution RESOLUTION NO. 14310 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL EXPRESSING A COMMITMENT TO PROTECT FUTURE GENERATIONS FROM THE RISKS OF CLIMATE CHANGE WHEREAS, 195 countries, including the United States and every country that is a member of the United Nations, reached an agreement in Paris, France on December 12, 2015, that recognizes the greatest burden resulting from an inadequate response to the climate crisis will be carried by future generations; and WHEREAS, the risks from an inadequate response are potentially devastating, and include economic and environmental disruptions, many of which are already being felt globally including more severe storms, longer and hotter heat waves, worsening flood and drought cycles, growing invasive species and insect problems, accelerated species extinction rates, increased wildfires, a dramatic increase in refugees from climate impacted lands, increased asthma cases, and sea level rise, which could inundate some heavily populated areas, roadways, and thoroughfares in Marin; and WHEREAS, leading climate scientists have indicated that further delay in significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions will rapidly push humanity past the point where disastrous consequences can be avoided; and WHEREAS, numerous governmental and non-governmental bodies across the nation and the world, including the City of San Rafael, have already adopted climate action plans to immediately and rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also stopping them entirely within 25 years; and WHEREAS, the youth of San Rafael have brought the San Rafael City Council a Youth Climate Report Card highlighting the successes the City is currently achieving, areas for improvement, and further actions that would be necessary to protect our future; and WHEREAS, the youth of San Rafael have indicated a willingness to work with the City of San Rafael on such actions. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL DOES RESOLVE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS: that San Rafael City Council commits to working constructively, using ingenuity, innovation, and determination to update the current Climate Change Action Plan in order to protect our community and future generations from the risk of climate destruction. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: that a mechanism will be created for the ongoing inclusion of young people in the process of creating and executing climate related policies and actions. I, Esther C. Beirne, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Rafael, held on Monday, April 17, 2017, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Colin, Gamblin, McCullough & Mayor Phillips NOES: Councilmembers: None /G1:1•92101�0?07iT�11P iL-'i1: X01106 � er— ^ #Z --w - ESTHER C. BEIRNE, City Clerk ROUTING SLIP / APPROVAL FORM INSTRUCTIONS: Use this cover sheet with each submittal of a staff report before approval by the City Council. Save staff report (including this cover sheet) along with all related attachments in the Team Drive (T:) 4 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS 4 AGENDA ITEM APPROVAL PROCESS -)� [DEPT - AGENDA TOPIC] Agenda Item # Date of Meeting: Click here to enter a date. From: Cory Bytof Department: City Manager Date: 4/17/2017 Topic: CLIMATE INHERITANCE RESOLUTION Subject: RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL EXPRESSING A COMMITMENT TO PROTECT FUTURE GENERATIONS FROM THE RISKS OF CLIMATE CHANGE Type: ® Resolution ❑ Ordinance ❑ Professional Services Agreement ❑ Other: APPROVALS ® Finance Director Remarks: no fiscal impact ® City Attorney Remarks: Approved with recommended minor changes to staff report. ETD. 4-10-17 ® Author, review and accept City Attorney / Finance changes Remarks: UPDATE: report card removed, title amended to reflect Dept Director discussion. ® City Manager Remarks: