Time Set # 48.
Board of Supervisors
- Meeting Date:
- 12/05/2023
- Brief Title
- Climate Action and Adaptation Plan Update and Budgetary Needs
From:
Leslie Lindbo, Director, Department of Community Services
Staff Contact:
Kristen Wraithwall, Sustainability Manager, Department of Community Services, x8047
Supervisorial District Impact:
Countywide
Subject
Receive update on the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) and consider CAAP budgetary needs. (No general fund impact) (Lindbo/Wraithwall) (Est. Time: 10 min)
Recommended Action
- Receive update on the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP); and
- Direct staff to include prioritization of programs and projects that support CAAP implementation and the County’s goal of achieving net-negative emissions by 2030 in the 2024-25 Budget Principles.
Strategic Plan Goal(s)
 |
Thriving Residents |
 |
Sustainable Environment |
Reason for Recommended Action/Background
History
On September 29, 2020, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors passed Resolution No. 20-114, titled "A Resolution Declaring a Climate Crisis Requiring Urgent and Inclusive Mobilization in Yolo County." This resolution set forth the ambitious goal of achieving a countywide carbon-negative (climate-positive) footprint by 2030 and urged the investment of countywide resources to initiate a just transition to an inclusive, equitable, sustainable, and resilient local economy while also supporting and advocating for regional, national, and international efforts necessary to reverse the climate, social justice, and economic crises. The resolution directed the County to create a working advisory body, the Yolo County Climate Action Commission ("Commission"), to develop and propose a new Climate Action [and Adaptation] Plan ("CAAP") designed to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions in Yolo County and achieve the County's ambitious climate goals. County and the Commission have been working to lay the groundwork to achieve a carbon-negative footprint by 2030, including taking the following actions:
On September 29, 2020, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors passed Resolution No. 20-114, titled "A Resolution Declaring a Climate Crisis Requiring Urgent and Inclusive Mobilization in Yolo County." This resolution set forth the ambitious goal of achieving a countywide carbon-negative (climate-positive) footprint by 2030 and urged the investment of countywide resources to initiate a just transition to an inclusive, equitable, sustainable, and resilient local economy while also supporting and advocating for regional, national, and international efforts necessary to reverse the climate, social justice, and economic crises. The resolution directed the County to create a working advisory body, the Yolo County Climate Action Commission ("Commission"), to develop and propose a new Climate Action [and Adaptation] Plan ("CAAP") designed to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions in Yolo County and achieve the County's ambitious climate goals. County and the Commission have been working to lay the groundwork to achieve a carbon-negative footprint by 2030, including taking the following actions:
- September 2021: Commission begins meeting.
- September 2021 to January 2022: Yolo County staff and the Commission sought applications from the public for "early actions" to further Yolo County's climate action and sustainability initiatives and support the goals in the 2020 emergency climate resolution.
- April 25, 2022: The Commission votes to recommend seven (7) priority early action projects to the Board of Supervisors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon.
- June 7, 2022: The Board of Supervisors approves the first six (6) early action projects, as recommended by the Yolo County Climate Action Commission.
- The Board of Supervisors approves allocation of $149,845 from American Rescue Plan Funds ("ARP") funds to support Carbon Farming Partnership project.
- The Board of Supervisors approves allocation of $100,000 from ARP funds to support the Electrification Retrofit Rebate Outreach Program project.
- July 26, 2022: The Board of Supervisors reviews and approves Climate Early Action Grant Strategy, which leverages the County's investment in achieving the goal of a countywide carbon-negative footprint by 2030 by directing staff to secure grants to implement priority early action projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon in unincorporated Yolo County.
- August 4, 2022: After extensive discussion between the Commission, County Staff, and the public, the County developed a scope of work for the CAAP and released a competitive Request for Proposals ("RFP") for consultants/consulting firms to provide Climate Action & Adaptation Planning Services within unincorporated Yolo County.
- August 22, 2022: The Commission voted to recommend a suite of four (4) equitable community engagement strategies for the CAAP development process.
- September 8, 2022: The RFP closes; the County received 4 proposals.
- October 25, 2022: The Chair of the Commission provides an update to the Board of Supervisors on Commission progress and CAAP timeline.
- November 22, 2022: The Board of Supervisors received update on CAAP Progress and approved contract with Dudek for the development of the CAAP, approved allocation of $45,287 in ARP funding to support the Yolo Resource Conservation District's role in the Climate Action and Adaptation Planning process; and $31,000 in ARP funding to support Equitable Community Engagement Strategies.
CAAP Engagement to Date
Natural and Working Lands Technical Advisory Committee (NWL TAC)
Given the importance of carbon sequestration and natural climate strategies to meeting the County's net-negative goal, the County established a Natural and Working Lands Technical Advisory Committee, which is facilitated by the Yolo County Resource Conservation District (RCD). The NWL TAC focuses on two primary goals: 1) engaging the agricultural community in the unincorporated area in Yolo County's climate action work related to natural and working lands; 2) providing input into CAAP development related to efforts to both sequester carbon on natural and working lands and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural operations.
The NWL TAC is comprised of RCD staff, the County's Agricultural Commissioner, the Executive Director of the Yolo County Farm Bureau, liaisons from the Climate Action Commission and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, and farmers and ranchers from across the County.
Equity and Engagement Technical Advisory Committee (E&E TAC)
To ensure equity and just transition principles are centered in the CAAP development process, the County established the Equity and Engagement Technical Advisory Committee. The E&E TAC focuses on three primary goals: 1) engaging the community in the unincorporated area of Yolo County in the CAAP development and implementation process; 2) providing input into CAAP development related to Yolo County's goal to establish a just transition; 3) providing input into CAAP development regarding ongoing community engagement during implementation of the plan. The Sustainability Division conducted an extensive public recruitment process to recruit volunteers to join the E&E TAC.
The E&E TAC is comprised of community representatives from all 5 County Districts, liaisons from the Yolo Youth Commission and Climate Action Commission, and liaisons from each of the 5 CAAP Community Outreach Partners (described below).
Community Outreach Partners
To ensure that the CAAP development process both builds and maintains relationships with the Yolo County community, the Sustainability Division recruited 5 community-based organizations (CBOs) to serve as paid outreach partners for the CAAP. These partners support CAAP development by engaging the communities they serve in CAAP development and implementation, providing input on outreach activities and communications strategies that will promote and support community engagement, and interacting with the communities they serve to generate input on strategies, policies, and programs that will support a Just Transition to a net negative and sustainable Yolo County. After an extensive recruitment and selection process, the Sustainability Division selected the following five (5) Community Outreach Partners:
- Center for Land-Based Learning
- Cool Davis
- Davis Odd Fellows
- De Colores Resource Center
- Yolo County Food Bank
To date, these partnerships have proved invaluable for expanding the reach of County engagement efforts, connecting with historically underrepresented communities, and increasing the number and frequency of local-level engagement events.
Public Engagement Efforts
In line with the Board's direction that the CAAP center equity, the Sustainability Division has worked with the Commission, NWL TAC, E&E TAC, and the Community Outreach Partners to develop a comprehensive public engagement effort that spans the County's five districts. From April through December 2023, the Sustainability Division will have conducted:
Public Engagement Efforts
In line with the Board's direction that the CAAP center equity, the Sustainability Division has worked with the Commission, NWL TAC, E&E TAC, and the Community Outreach Partners to develop a comprehensive public engagement effort that spans the County's five districts. From April through December 2023, the Sustainability Division will have conducted:
- 24 Community Tabling Events (ie. pop-up events, tabling at festivals, in partnership with County library branches, etc.)
- 18 Presentations at Community Meetings (ie. school boards, Citizens Advisory Committees, Chambers of Commerce, etc.)
- 10 Community Workshops across two workshop series, with a third series scheduled for April.
CAAP Public Input Survey
To collect public input on the community needs, concerns, and priorities for inclusion in the CAAP, staff developed paper and electronic surveys for distribution at in-person meetings and events and through extensive online channels. The County distributed both a general climate survey for use by the general population, and a Working Lands Survey that was distributed specifically to farmers and ranchers both electronically and via a paper mailer in partnership with the Yolo Resource Conservation District and the Yolo County Farm Bureau.
As of December 5th, the Sustainability Division has received more than 1,000 completed surveys reflecting the climate impacts communities were experiencing, priorities for future program development, and self-reported willingness to adopt practices that reduce individual (or in the case of the Working Lands Survey, a farm or ranch's) carbon footprint. Staff are encouraged by the level of community participation and buy-in on the CAAP effort and are working with the Dudek consulting team to analyze the data in order to inform the draft CAAP document, which is under development.
Forming County Green Team
Yolo County's climate net-negative goal is one of the most ambitious of any jurisdiction in the nation and meeting it will require interdepartmental partnership and collaboration. For this reason, the Sustainability Division, in partnership with the County Administrators Office, launched a CAAP Steering Committee (known as the "Green Team"), an internal review team that will ground truth and provide input on the strategies and actions we're considering for inclusion in the CAAP. The Green Team—which includes representatives from the County Administrators Office, Department of Agriculture, Department of Community Services, Department of Financial Services, Department of General Services, and the Health and Human Services Agency—is tasked with reviewing and providing input on the strategies, measures, and actions being considered for inclusion in the CAAP and discussing creative funding strategies to support this interdepartmental effort.
Next Steps
Identifying Priority Climate Action and Adaptation Measures
Based on the extensive input received to date, County Staff are working with the Dudek team to identify the suite of strategies, measures, and actions that will appear in the CAAP and serve as the County's roadmap for reaching net-negative emissions by 2030. Measures and actions are to be divided among the following 10 strategy areas:
To collect public input on the community needs, concerns, and priorities for inclusion in the CAAP, staff developed paper and electronic surveys for distribution at in-person meetings and events and through extensive online channels. The County distributed both a general climate survey for use by the general population, and a Working Lands Survey that was distributed specifically to farmers and ranchers both electronically and via a paper mailer in partnership with the Yolo Resource Conservation District and the Yolo County Farm Bureau.
As of December 5th, the Sustainability Division has received more than 1,000 completed surveys reflecting the climate impacts communities were experiencing, priorities for future program development, and self-reported willingness to adopt practices that reduce individual (or in the case of the Working Lands Survey, a farm or ranch's) carbon footprint. Staff are encouraged by the level of community participation and buy-in on the CAAP effort and are working with the Dudek consulting team to analyze the data in order to inform the draft CAAP document, which is under development.
Forming County Green Team
Yolo County's climate net-negative goal is one of the most ambitious of any jurisdiction in the nation and meeting it will require interdepartmental partnership and collaboration. For this reason, the Sustainability Division, in partnership with the County Administrators Office, launched a CAAP Steering Committee (known as the "Green Team"), an internal review team that will ground truth and provide input on the strategies and actions we're considering for inclusion in the CAAP. The Green Team—which includes representatives from the County Administrators Office, Department of Agriculture, Department of Community Services, Department of Financial Services, Department of General Services, and the Health and Human Services Agency—is tasked with reviewing and providing input on the strategies, measures, and actions being considered for inclusion in the CAAP and discussing creative funding strategies to support this interdepartmental effort.
Next Steps
Identifying Priority Climate Action and Adaptation Measures
Based on the extensive input received to date, County Staff are working with the Dudek team to identify the suite of strategies, measures, and actions that will appear in the CAAP and serve as the County's roadmap for reaching net-negative emissions by 2030. Measures and actions are to be divided among the following 10 strategy areas:
- Decarbonize Transportation
- Reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled
- Decarbonize Energy and Buildings/Increase Energy Efficiency
- Optimize Water Use
- Minimize Waste
- Reduce Offroad Equipment Emissions
- Encourage Sustainable Agriculture
- Sequester and Store Carbon in Natural and Working Lands
- Reduce Carbon Footprint of Consumption and Production
- Build Resilient Infrastructure and Healthy Communities
Currently, there are approximately 150 individual program/policy/project recommendations (together, "measures" and "actions") under across these 10 strategy areas that will be needed to reach our emissions reduction and adaptation goals. Over the coming months, the Dudek team will work to incorporate feedback from the community input survey, workshops, Commission, E&E TAC, NWL TAC, community outreach partners, and the Green Team into a final list of draft strategies, measures, and actions, which are to be presented to the Board of Supervisors in early 2024.
Cost Implications
Throughout the fall of 2023, County staff have been meeting with the Dudek consulting team to develop estimates for the annual cost of CAAP implementation between fiscal years 24-25 and 30-31. While cost estimates will be refined as the list of strategies, measures, and actions is finalized throughout the drafting process, staff were able to identify ballpark cost estimates based on the strategies and actions prioritized to date, an analysis of the County's operating budget, and in scaling down cost estimates from other jurisdictions with similar goals/timelines. Cost estimates were broken up into two buckets:
Cost Implications
Throughout the fall of 2023, County staff have been meeting with the Dudek consulting team to develop estimates for the annual cost of CAAP implementation between fiscal years 24-25 and 30-31. While cost estimates will be refined as the list of strategies, measures, and actions is finalized throughout the drafting process, staff were able to identify ballpark cost estimates based on the strategies and actions prioritized to date, an analysis of the County's operating budget, and in scaling down cost estimates from other jurisdictions with similar goals/timelines. Cost estimates were broken up into two buckets:
- Internal Operating Expenses: These are the expenses needed to get the County's municipal operations to net-negative by 2030 (ie. electrifying our municipal buildings, purchasing electric heat pumps, installing EV chargers for county fleet, etc.). These costs will be shared amongst County departments (with a large bucket going to the General Services Department for facilities upgrades). The consulting team included components in their cost estimate:
- Equipment Acquisition
- Consulting/Contractor Fees
- Potential Additional Staffing (non-Sustainability Division) to support these Initiatives and to coordinate closely with the Sustainability Division on implementation.
- Public-Facing Programmatic Expenses: These are the expenses associated with getting the community to net-negative by 2030 (the ultimate goal approved by the Board of Supervisors in Resolution No. 20-114). These expenses are largely associated with running outreach and incentive programs, such as electrification rebate programs (like SMUD's supplemental electrification incentives), carbon sequestration programs for agriculture (like Santa Clara County's Agricultural Resilience Initiative), supporting the expansion of public charging infrastructure, supporting bike/pedestrian infrastructure expansion, etc. As opposed to the internal operation expenses, these are programs that the Sustainability Team would largely implement in coordination with other County Departments (this includes costs associated with implementing many of the programs we are completing planning efforts for now). The consulting team included the following in the cost estimate:
- Staffing: an additional 2-3FT Sustainability Division positions to manage these soon-to-launch programs
- Consulting Costs: to support grant writing and program implementation (including running rebate call-centers to help community members fill out applications to electrify/adopt new sustainable farming practices, etc.)
- Equipment Acquisition: Supporting the purchase of public charging infrastructure, for example.
- Rebate/Incentives: Providing supplemental rebates for community electrification, adopting carbon sequestration practices, etc.
The Dudek consulting team estimated the following annual costs for each year between FY 24-25 and 30-31 when the County reaches its goal deadline. These costs are in addition to the Sustainability Division's annual budget of approximately $500,000.
- Internal Operating Expenses: $1.6 - 2 million per year
- Public-Facing Programmatic Expenses: $1.5 – 2 million per year
For reference, the total across these two expense categories would represent approximately 0.5% - 0.75% of the County's total operating budget. In looking at other jurisdictions with similar climate goals, our consulting team notes that climate/sustainability budgets are typically around 1% of a jurisdiction's operating budget.
While the Sustainability Division is working closely with the consulting team to explore creative funding mechanisms that would hopefully take these costs down, it is evident that achieving our ambitious goal will require a significant increase in spending on climate action and adaptation initiatives across County departments. Achieving this goal could make Yolo County the first in the United States to achieve net-negative emissions and position the County as a national leader in climate action and adaptation efforts.
A Climate Sustainability Budget Principle
Each year, the Board adopts a series of Budget Principles to highlight and reinforce best practices and guide the budget development process for the upcoming year. This provides the opportunity for the Board to adopt a set of priorities that ensures the county is funding programs that align with the County's mission and values.
Including Climate Sustainability in the 2024-25 Budget Principles, which prioritizes funding for programs and projects that support CAAP implementation and the County's goal of achieving net-negative emissions by 2030, would be a critical step towards meeting the County's ambitious climate goals. Including this principle would enable the Department of Financial Services and Department Heads to prioritize projects and programs that help the County and our community at large reduce emissions and better adapt to the worsening climate impacts—including more frequent and intense heat waves, droughts, floods, and wildfires—that the County is expected to face in the coming decades.
While staff recognize that the funding levels identified above will be challenging to achieve and will need to be phased in over time, prioritizing climate resilience investments in the near term will benefit Yolo County in the long run. The California Natural Resources Agency has reported that the cost of climate change to California will reach $113 billion annually by 2050. Investing in climate resilience initiatives now not only protects County residents and our natural resources, but will also save the County critical resources down the line in mitigating future damages. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that every dollar invested in climate resilient infrastructure saves six dollars in disaster response, a benefit-cost ratio of 6 to 1. A Climate Sustainability Budget Principle would enable a paced approach to meeting—and getting ahead of—state mandates, decarbonizing our buildings and fleets, and supporting community scale programs that support community health and resilience.
While the Sustainability Division is working closely with the consulting team to explore creative funding mechanisms that would hopefully take these costs down, it is evident that achieving our ambitious goal will require a significant increase in spending on climate action and adaptation initiatives across County departments. Achieving this goal could make Yolo County the first in the United States to achieve net-negative emissions and position the County as a national leader in climate action and adaptation efforts.
A Climate Sustainability Budget Principle
Each year, the Board adopts a series of Budget Principles to highlight and reinforce best practices and guide the budget development process for the upcoming year. This provides the opportunity for the Board to adopt a set of priorities that ensures the county is funding programs that align with the County's mission and values.
Including Climate Sustainability in the 2024-25 Budget Principles, which prioritizes funding for programs and projects that support CAAP implementation and the County's goal of achieving net-negative emissions by 2030, would be a critical step towards meeting the County's ambitious climate goals. Including this principle would enable the Department of Financial Services and Department Heads to prioritize projects and programs that help the County and our community at large reduce emissions and better adapt to the worsening climate impacts—including more frequent and intense heat waves, droughts, floods, and wildfires—that the County is expected to face in the coming decades.
While staff recognize that the funding levels identified above will be challenging to achieve and will need to be phased in over time, prioritizing climate resilience investments in the near term will benefit Yolo County in the long run. The California Natural Resources Agency has reported that the cost of climate change to California will reach $113 billion annually by 2050. Investing in climate resilience initiatives now not only protects County residents and our natural resources, but will also save the County critical resources down the line in mitigating future damages. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that every dollar invested in climate resilient infrastructure saves six dollars in disaster response, a benefit-cost ratio of 6 to 1. A Climate Sustainability Budget Principle would enable a paced approach to meeting—and getting ahead of—state mandates, decarbonizing our buildings and fleets, and supporting community scale programs that support community health and resilience.
Collaborations (including Board advisory groups and external partner agencies)
Yolo Climate Action Commission, Equity & Engagement Technical Advisory Committee, Natural and Working Lands Technical Advisory Committee, Community Services Department; County Administrators Office; Department of Financial Services
Competitive Bid Process/Vendor Performance
N/A
Fiscal Impact
No Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact (Expenditure)
- Total cost of recommended action:
- $ 0
- Amount budgeted for expenditure:
- $
- Additional expenditure authority needed:
- $
- On-going commitment (annual cost):
- $
Source of Funds for this Expenditure
- General Fund
- $0
Attachments
- Att. A. Presentation
- Att. B. Correspondence from Emily Albu
- Att. C. Correspondence from Juliette Beck
- Att. D. Correspondence from Karen Urbano
- Att. E. Correspondence from Margaret Ferguson
- Att. F. Correspondence from Scott Steward
- Att. G. Correspondence from Karolyn Ragsdale
- Att. H. Corrrespondence from Sonja Wooley
- Att. I. Correspondence from Robin Datel
- Att. J. Correspondence from Julia Seeback & Scott Smithline
- Att. K. Correspondence from NJ Mvondo
- Att. L. Correspondence from Lynne Nittler
Form Review
| Inbox | Reviewed By | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Bryan (Originator) | Mark Bryan | 11/07/2023 02:05 PM |
| Tom Haynes | Tom Haynes | 11/27/2023 08:37 PM |
| Financial Services | KauXue Thao | 11/28/2023 09:16 AM |
| County Counsel | Hope Welton | 11/28/2023 09:23 AM |
| Berenice Espitia | Berenice Espitia | 11/28/2023 03:33 PM |
| Mark Bryan (Originator) | Mark Bryan | 11/30/2023 05:18 PM |
- Form Started By:
- Mark Bryan
- Started On:
- 11/07/2023 01:49 PM
- Final Approval Date:
- 11/30/2023