REPORT TO BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Nomination of a Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Representative to the Climate Action Plan (CAP 2.0) Advisory Committee (CAC)
Report
BACKGROUND
The City’s current Climate Action Plan (CAP), adopted in May 2014, outlines more than 130 actions for addressing community greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Based on the first biennial CAP Progress Report completed in 2016, the City is on path to meeting the State’s 2020 GHG reduction target (15 percent below baseline emissions, which is equivalent to 1990 levels). However, the adopted CAP was not designed to meet the new State targets of a 40 percent GHG reduction below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80 percent reduction by 2050. Moreover, new approaches and technologies continue to emerge, which offer additional opportunities to modernize Sunnyvale’s approach to climate action.
As a part of Council’s 2017 Policy Priority, Accelerating Climate Action, the City has embarked on an initiative to update the CAP - the CAP 2.0 Initiative. The main goal of this Initiative is the development of a revised and more aggressive CAP that will contain guiding principles and key strategies designed to achieve or exceed the State’s long-term greenhouse gas reduction targets.
To support the CAP 2.0 Initiative, the City Council approved the formation of a CAP 2.0 Advisory Committee (CAC) in June 2017. The CAC will play a key role in providing input and variety of perspectives during the development of CAP 2.0. The CAC will be responsible for reviewing information, providing feedback on key policy topics, recommending priorities, and representing the various interests of the community. The Council has approved the following composition of the committee (RTC 17-0592):
* Three alternate members will also be appointed to serve if selected primary members cannot participate.
EXISTING POLICY
COUNCIL POLICY MANUAL
Policy 7.2.1: Community Engagement-Goals and Policies
Policy 7.4.13: Council Subcommittees and Council or Mayor-Created Advisory Task Forces
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The creation of the Community Advisory Committee does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378 (b)(5) as it a government organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes to the physical environment.
DISCUSSION
The CAC is intended to represent a broad cross-section of the community and provide a balance of perspectives. For this reason, the CAC includes representation from City Boards/Commissions in addition to residents and representatives of local businesses, volunteer groups, and real estate development or brokerage firms that operate in Sunnyvale. Recruitment is underway for the remaining categories and applications are due August 23, 2017.
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC) is requested to nominate one representative to serve on the CAC during its August 2017 meeting. A Council Ad Hoc Subcommittee will review the nomination and make final member appointments in September 2017. Nominated representatives are expected to submit a CAC application form (Attachment 1) by September 1, 2017, to provide their background and experience for the Council Ad Hoc Subcommittee’s information.
The City anticipates the CAP 2.0 process to kick off in September 2017 and the first CAC meeting to be held in the last week of September 2017 or thereafter. The CAC will hold six to eight core meetings (and supplemental meetings, as needed) between September 2017 and December 2018. Members will need to allow two to three hours for the first meeting and then two hours for each regular meeting. A detailed schedule will be determined in September.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for the CAP 2.0 Initiative is included in Budget Supplement No. 6, Accelerating Climate Action, in the City Manager’s Recommended FY 2017-18 Budget. This funding will cover consultant costs for research, analysis and development of CAP 2.0 including supporting a robust community engagement effort, which includes costs for planning and facilitating CAC meetings.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made through posting of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board, on the City’s website, and the availability of the agenda and report in the Office of the City Clerk.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Nominate one BPAC representative to serve on the CAC.
Staff
Prepared by: Melody Tovar, Regulatory Programs Division Manager
Approved by: Kent Steffens, Assistant City Manager and Interim Director, Environmental Services
ATTACHMENTS
1. CAP 2.0 Advisory Committee Application Packet