To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
From: Steve Potter, City Manager
Prepared By: Deborah Elliott, Management Analyst II
TITLE:
Title
Climate Action Update and Discussion of Next Steps
LABEL
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommendation
Receive a presentation on the City of Napa’s progress on climate action, an update on the Countywide Climate Action Committee activities, as well as potential future actions, and provide input to staff on next steps.
Body
DISCUSSION:
History of Climate Action & Sustainability
In 2012, the City of Napa published a Sustainability Plan. In 2019, the City Council joined each jurisdiction in Napa County and proclaimed the "Countywide Commitment to Address Climate Change." Also in 2019, the City began participating in what became the Countywide Climate Action Committee (CAC). In 2022, the Council passed a Climate Emergency resolution and included a Climate Change and Sustainability Element in the 2040 General Plan. A Management Analyst II was hired in January 2023 to focus on climate action and sustainability.
Climate Action Updates
Staff have made progress in several areas since the October 2024 Council presentation.
Grants
Since January 2023, staff have been awarded grants to support climate action and resilience.
Electric Vehicle and Ebike Charging Planning Grant - California Air Resources Board
The City of Napa was awarded $439,796 from the State to create an Electric Vehicle (EV) and Ebike Charging Plan. The plan will prioritize future implementation of clean transportation solutions within the City of Napa’s low-income census tracts. The project focuses on resident engagement and education around clean transportation options and will include a community transportation needs assessment. The City will work closely with the Napa County Resource Conservation District and the Napa County Bicycle Coalition on the project. The grant also provides funding for the City to identify up to 15 publicly owned properties on which a facilities assessment will be completed to determine whether these properties are suitable for implementation of publicly available electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) and e-bike charging and storage. The project kicked off in March 2024.
Local Public Fleet Electrification Planning Program - Metropolitan Transportation Commission
The City of Napa has been awarded technical assistance from MTC for City fleet electrification planning. MTC will hire a consultant to develop a fleet electrification plan for the City which will include assessing existing conditions (vehicles and facilities) and creating a fleet transition and infrastructure plan. It will likely commence mid-2025 and will take 6-12 months to complete.
California Climate Action Corps Fellows - California Volunteers
The City was awarded two California Climate Action Corps Fellows (Fellows) that have been conducting outreach, working on policy development and working with partners on climate action initiatives. The Fellows’ term with the City was February 1 - September 13, 2024.
Leafblower Rebate - American Rescue Plan Act
The City of Napa received funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. In February 2023, $85,000 in ARPA funding was awarded to the Solano-Napa Small Business Development Council to provide rebates of up to $1,000 per business for the purchase of commercial grade battery-powered leaf blowers for commercial landscapers licensed in the City of Napa.
Federal Grants
The City continues to monitor the Federal funding landscape. The City has one grant in contract with the Department of Energy and the City applied for an EV charging grant in December 2024. The status of those grants are unknown.
Stakeholder Engagement
Staff have given several presentations to City committees, the public and City of Napa staff on the City’s progress and focus area related to climate action. Staff is in the planning stages for several other stakeholder engagement activities, and the City has an agreement with the Napa County Resource Conservation District to provide additional climate action engagement with residents and stakeholders. Staff continues to work with partners such as MCE Clean Energy, Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) and the Climate Action Committee to explore opportunities for outreach and education.
Climate Action Committee (CAC)
The CAC meets monthly to recommend policies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and limit future adverse impacts of climate change. The CAC is focused on the development of a Regional Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (RCAAP) that would prioritize climate action projects for the region and the City of Napa. All items discussed at the CAC meetings must be brought to Council for adoption or approval before implementation.
Regional Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (RCAAP)
The RCAAP is in development and stakeholder outreach has begun. The RCAAP aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resilience to climate change impacts throughout the Napa region. It will prioritize emission reduction in the areas of transportation, building energy, waste disposal, water use, and land use, while also promoting preparedness for climate-related hazards (extreme weather, wildfires, and floods). The CAC is currently discussing how to move forward with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance for the RCAAP and is working on the budget for fiscal year 2025/2026.
Reusable Foodware Ordinance
The CAC has received presentations on a Reusable Foodware Ordinance and County staff have developed a model reach code that could be considered by jurisdictions for adoption.
Presentation
Staff will provide a presentation with updates on climate action and sustainability activities and future actions. The presentation will include an update on activities at the Countywide Climate Action Committee. During the presentation, staff will be providing recommendations and seeking direction on items to move forward as future areas of focus.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
This agenda item is informational and does not result in a financial impact without future council discussion or actions.
CEQA:
The City Manager has determined that the Recommended Action described in this Staff report is not subject to CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15060 (c).
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
None.
NOTIFICATION:
None.