REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Green Building Program Update: Adopt a Resolution to Update the Green Building Program for Residential Projects, Nonresidential Projects, and Public Facilities, and Find that the Action is Exempt from CEQA Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15308, 15061(b)(3), and 15378(b).
Report
SUMMARY OF COMMISSION ACTION
The Sustainability Commission and the Planning Commission considered this item on March 18, 2019 and March 25, 2019, respectively.
Sustainability Commission Hearing
The Sustainability Commission voted 6-0 (one Commissioner absent) to forward to the City Council the staff recommendation to update the Green Building Program with the following addition:
Include the highly encouraged sustainable measures to the minimum standards for single-family and duplex dwellings:
Applicants are highly encouraged to include any combination of the following items:
* All-electric appliances in every unit (e.g.no gas line connection for the project); or
* Installation of a "cool roof" or "green roof"; or
* Install EV chargers; or
* Greywater, recycled water, and/or rainwater catchment system(s)
The Sustainability Commission was generally supportive of the staff recommendation, but also voiced support for mandatory electrification in future updates. One member of the public spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting. Additionally, the Sustainability Commission made a separate motion (6-0) to recommend that the City Council require all new construction to be all-electric, which may be considered with the future Reach Code efforts and future California Building Code updates. Attachment 9 contains the excerpt draft meeting minutes from the Sustainability Commission hearing.
Staff is supportive of the Sustainability Commission's recommendation to add the language to the single-family and duplex dwellings section and has revised the proposed Green Building Program document to reflect this addition (Attachment 12).
Planning Comm...
Click here for full text