Title
a. Receive a presentation from staff and Ascent Environmental on the status of the Community Climate Action & Adaptation Plan and the options for moving forward; and,
b. Recommend to the Board of Supervisors that the Board approve a contract with Ascent Environmental to prepare a "Non-Qualified" climate action plan for the County with CEQA thresholds; and,
c. Provide direction to staff as needed.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Alternative Energy and Environment Committee:
a. Receive a presentation from staff and Ascent Environmental on the status of the Community Climate Action & Adaptation Plan and the options for moving forward; and,
b. Recommend to the Board of Supervisors that the Board approve a contract with Ascent Environmental to prepare a "Non-Qualified" climate action plan for the County with CEQA thresholds; and,
c. Provide direction to staff as needed.
SUMMARY:
Staff recommends that the Alternative Energy and Environment Committee receive an update on the Community Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CCAAP) and Municipal Climate Action Plan and provide direction to staff on options moving forward. In 2022, staff held four stakeholder working groups for the emissions sectors of Resource Consumption, Buildings and Energy, Transportation and Land Use, and Agriculture and Sequestration. This enabled Ascent Environmental to identify strategies supported by the community and stakeholder feedback received in this committee. However, these strategies alone fall significantly short of 2030 and 2045 emissions reductions goals. Staff will need to propose more ambitious reductions targets and develop new strategies for consideration. The County must now decide whether to pursue a California Environmental Quality Act- (CEQA-) qualified climate action plan or a "non-qualified" plan while developing CEQA thresholds of significance to support discretionary development projects. Staff recommend moving forward with Option 1: drafting a non-q...
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