TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Mark Danaj, City Manager
FROM:
Anne McIntosh, Director of Community Development
Dana Murray, Environmental Programs Manager
SUBJECT:Title
Introduction and Approval of Environmental Work Plan for 2018-2020 (Community Development Director McIntosh).
APPROVE
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_________________________________________________________
Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Environmental Work Plan for 2018-2020.
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
No fiscal implications associated with the recommended action at this time. Although, the City may consider hiring a consultant to help administer some of the long-term planning projects such as the creation of a Sustainability Plan and Local Coastal Plan update. Consideration can be given to expand the scope of work for these projects to ensure the City receives comprehensive studies and reports. A budget adjustment may be required to complete the full scope of work. Staff will have more information once the Environmental Task Force is formed and City Sustainability Goals are identified.
BACKGROUND:
Manhattan Beach has a long history of environmental leadership, policy, and stewardship, both as a community and as a city government. The vision for the sustainability movement in the City came from the original Environmental Task Force “to unite the community in a comprehensive effort to promote sustainable living in the City of Manhattan Beach.” To guide action on and establish sustainability goals, the City developed the 2008 Green Report, 2012 Environmental Action Plan, and Climate Action Plans. In addition, the City’s 2015 Strategic Plan included Environmental Stewardship as essential to the continued success of the City and its community. The City’s Environmental Stewardship Governance Activities include: 1. proactively reviewing changes in environmental stewardship best practices; and 2. identifying leadership opportunities for environmental stewardship.
In August 2017, Dana Murray became Manhattan Beach’s Environmental Programs Manager. Under her environmental leadership, we propose that the City put together a new Environmental Sustainability Task Force composed of multi-departmental city staff, city council members, and community leaders. Meeting regularly throughout 2018-2019, this Task Force will assess and update the city’s Environmental Sustainability Goals, including the development of a Sustainability Plan for the City.
DISCUSSION:
The City’s Environmental Programs Manager has prepared an Environmental Work Plan for City Council's approval that outlines the policy focus for the next two years, as well as long-term planning elements to create a Sustainability Plan for the City.
The Work Plan is provided as an attachment to this staff report for the City Council to consider and approve (Attachment 1). If the Work Plan is approved by the City Council, once formed, the Task Force will identify and describe City environmental accomplishments, assess which sustainability goals are in progress, and identify new environmental and sustainability goals and actions to pursue over the next five+ years.
The 2018-2020 Environmental Work Plan Long-term Sustainability Planning items include:
1. Forming an Environmental Task Force
2. Assessing and describing the City's last 10 years of environmental achievements
3. Increasing City Accountability and Measurements with a City Sustainability Reporting Tool
4. Developing the City's Environmental Sustainability Plan and Goals, for adoption into the City’s General Plan
5. Creating the City’s Community and Municipal Climate Action Plan
6. Identifying priority areas for environmental action and forming sub-committees
In addition to the six long-term sustainability planning processes above, key topical areas of Manhattan Beach's 2018-2020 environmental work will include: building climate change resiliency in the City, performing a sea level rise vulnerability assessment and adaptation planning, exploring the City's renewable energy purchasing through joining a Community Choice Aggregation, continuing to reduce plastic pollution, enhancing our City's water conservation and management, and mitigating climate change through actions identified in our Climate Action Plan and Council directives.
The City's Environmental Sustainability Program should remain nimble to engage on and incorporate areas of emerging concern or opportunities. The Work Plan identifies science and policy areas related to the sustainability initiatives below, with the goal to have Environmental Task Force subcommittees assist the Environmental Manager with areas of priority:
1. Pass policies and launch public education programs to prevent plastic pollution.
2. Advance the City's Climate Change Mitigation Actions and Renewable Energy Goals.
3. Build the City's Climate Change Resiliency capacity, including Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning and Vulnerability Assessment.
*Note: Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Study mandated by State Agencies*
4. Promote and enhance Water Conservation and Smart Water Management.
5. Build environmental community and professional partnerships for the City.
6. Remain nimble to incorporate and consider action on areas of emerging concern/opportunity.
If this Work Plan is approved by the City Council, the Environmental Manager and Task Force will consider policies that support each of these areas as described in the Attachment.
POLICY ALTERNATIVES:
City Council can decide not to approve the Work Plan or provide direction on alternate actions to consider in the Environmental Work Plan. If there are any additional items recommended, staff would work on incorporating any alternate items into the Work Plan. In addition, items can be added in Sustainability Initiatives 6, where emerging and opportunistic environmental issues are included for consideration.
PUBLIC OUTREACH/INTEREST:
As part of the Work Plan, the Environmental Manager would initiate the formation of an Environmental Task Force composed of the public, stakeholders, community groups, City staff and Council, and other governmental agencies.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Actions associated with topical areas and goals laid out in the Work Plan will greatly improve the environment.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
Attachments:
1. 2018-2020 Environmental Work Plan
2. State Lands Commission Letter to City Re: Sea Level Rise Assessment
3. California Coastal Commission Sea Level Rise Policy Guidance Cover
4. PowerPoint Presentation