HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Resolution 14669 (Climate Change Action Plan 2030) 1
RESOLUTION NO. 14669
RESOLUTION OF THE SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL ADOPTING THE
SAN RAFAEL CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION PLAN 2030 (CITY FILE #P19-003)
WHEREAS, on April 20, 2009, the San Rafael City Council adopted Resolution
No. 12725 adopting the San Rafael Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP), which included
programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and
WHEREAS, on July 18, 2011, the San Rafael City Council adopted Resolution
No. 13213 adopting a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy consistent with the Bay Area
Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) adopted Air Quality Guidelines for
administration of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which establish
criteria for analysis of greenhouse gas emission impacts associated with new
development projects; and
WHEREAS, California’s Executive Order S-3-05 established a progressive series
of statewide greenhouse gas reduction targets including a goal to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, and to reduce emissions to 80 percent below
1990 levels by 2050; and
WHEREAS, in 2006, California adopted the Global Warming Solutions Act
(Assembly Bill 32), which requires the State to reduce statewide greenhouse gas
emissions to 1990 levels by 2020; and
WHEREAS, in 2015, California’s Executive Order B-30-15 set a greenhouse gas
emissions reduction goal of 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and reaffirmed the
2050 goal to reduce emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050; and
WHEREAS, in 2016, California adopted Senate Bill 32, which requires the State
to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by
2030; and
WHEREAS, in November 2017, the California Air Resources Board (CARB)
adopted California’s 2017 Climate Change Scoping Plan, which lays out a strategy to
achieve California’s 2030 greenhouse gas target. In the Scoping Plan, CARB
recommends that local governments adopt greenhouse gas reduction goals that align
with statewide targets for 2030 and 2050 and develop plans to achieve the local goals;
and
WHEREAS, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) allows local
governments to use sufficiently detailed and adequately supported greenhouse gas
(GHG) reduction plans to streamline project-level environmental review. Under CEQA,
individual projects that comply with the strategies and actions within an adequate local
GHG reduction plan, including Climate Action Plans, can streamline the project-specific
GHG analysis; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael has prepared the San Rafael Climate Change
Action Plan 2030 (CCAP 2030) as an update of the 2009 Climate Change Action Plan
and the 2011 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy in order to incorporate new
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information and develop a set of local climate action measures to address the statewide
reduction targets established by Senate Bill 32 and Executive Order B-30-15; and
WHEREAS, the draft CCAP 2030 has been distributed to the Bay Area Air
Quality Management District (BAAQMD) for review and comment. BAAQMD staff has
reviewed and commented on the strategy, and revisions have been made to address
these comments; and
WHEREAS, following the completion of the draft CCAP 2030, the City
commenced with environmental review of the project. Consistent with the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines and the City of San Rafael Environmental
Assessment Procedures Manual, the appropriate steps were followed to complete
environmental review of the project. As the quantitative analysis contained in the CCAP
2030 relies on the development projections of the General Plan 2020, the General Plan
2020 certified Final Environmental Impact Report (General Plan 2020 FEIR) was used
as a base for environmental review. “Tiering” from the General Plan 2020 FEIR is
appropriate and consistent with CEQA Guidelines Section 15152. This review included:
a) review of the General Plan 2020 FEIR to determine if it adequately assesses the
environmental impacts of the project; and b) the preparation of an Initial Study to
determine if the project would result in new significant impacts, an increase in the
severity of the impacts, or new or expanded mitigation measures from those analyzed
and determined in the General Plan 2020 FEIR. As a result of this review, it was
determined that the CCAP 2030 would not result in new significant impacts, an increase
in the severity of impacts, or new or expanded mitigation measures from those analyzed
and determined in the General Plan 2020 FEIR. In fact, the CCAP 2030 would aid in
reducing air pollutants further than those projected in the General Plan 2020 FEIR.
Consequently, an Addendum to the General Plan 2020 FEIR (Addendum No. 4) was
prepared and has been adopted by the City Council; and
WHEREAS, the custodian of documents which constitute the record of
proceedings upon which this decision is based is the Community Development
Department;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council adopts the San
Rafael Climate Change Action Plan 2030 dated April 23, 2019 on file in the Community
Development Department. This adoption is based on and supported by the following
findings:
1. The public interest would be served by the adoption of the CCAP 2030 in that
it provides tangible and feasible measures for reducing greenhouse gas
emissions in San Rafael. The implementation of the strategy would be in the
best interest of the public and community as it would effectively decrease
greenhouse gas emissions by: a) placing less reliance on the use and
consumption of fossil fuel and non-renewable resources; b) supporting
programs that provide sustainable alternatives to energy use and
consumption; c) reducing vehicle miles by promoting transit-oriented
development and the use of transit, biking, and walking; and d) promoting
support for local-based businesses and activities.
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2. As drafted, the CCAP 2030 would be consistent with the General Plan 2020,
specifically the Sustainability Element, as it would provide an effective tool for
implementing and monitoring greenhouse gas emissions.
3. The CCAP 2030 has been prepared consistent with the standard elements
and requirements set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15183.5 which states
that a plan for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions should: 1) quantify
greenhouse gas emissions, both existing and projected over a specified time
period, resulting from activities within a defined geographic area; 2) establish
a level, based on substantial evidence, below which the contribution to
greenhouse gas emission from activities covered by the plan would not be
cumulatively considerable; 3) identify and analyze the greenhouse gas
emissions resulting from specific actions or categories of actions anticipated
within the geographic area; and 4) specify measures or a group of measures,
including performance standards, that substantial evidence demonstrates if
implemented on a project-by-project basis would collectively achieve the
specified emissions level; and 5) be adopted in a public process following
environmental review.
4. As drafted, the CCAP 2030 would be consistent with the California Global
Warming Solutions Act (Assembly Bill 32), Senate Bill 32, and the California
Air Resources Board’s 2017 Scoping Plan as it provides tangible and feasible
measures for achieving the goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by
2020 and 2030 and puts the City on a trajectory to meet the 2050 goal.
I, LINDSAY LARA, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing
resolution was adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 6th day of May
2019.
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Bushey, Colin, Gamblin, McCullough & Mayor Phillips
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk