Green Ribbon Committee and Steering Committee Kick-Off Event Report

Transcription

1 Green Ribbon Committee and Steering Committee Kick-Off Event Report City of Santa Monica Climate Action & Adaptation Plan (CAAP) July 28, 2016 #SMClimateAction Page 1

2 City of Santa Monica Climate Action & Adaptation Plan (CAAP) Stakeholder Kick-Off Event Report Background The City of Santa Monica is creating the vision and policy framework for a new Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) that will outline the steps necessary to create a carbon neutral city over the next 2-3 decades. The creation of such a transformational, de-carbonized city can only be done with the broad engagement of the community. Deep community (private and public sector) engagement allows the local government to move beyond its current capacities through an integrated planning and partnership approach that best catalyzes innovation, local assets, and action. The first stakeholder meeting was held on July 28, 2016, at the Bergamot Station Arts Center in Santa Monica, California. It was hosted by the City of Santa Monica s CAAP team, including: The City of Santa Monica s Office of Sustainability and the Environment; lead consultant- DNV-GL; Outreach/Engagement Lead: Global Green; Transportation analysis and Modeling: Fehr and Peers; and Land Use/Planning: Raimi and Associates. The facilitators for this meeting were: Garrett Wong- City of Santa Monica; Walker Wells Global Green; Douglas Kot DNV GL. The following Presentations were given before the facilitated discussion portion of the meeting : Rick Cole - City Manager, City of Santa Monica; Welcome Vision for Carbon Neutrality - Dean Kubani - Chief Sustainability Officer, City of Santa Monica Climate Action and Adaptation in Santa Monica - Garrett Wong Sustainability Analyst, City of Santa Monica Developing the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan - Douglas Kot, DNV-GL Objective Input taken from the community stakeholders in the discussion forums at CAAP events will enable the CAAP team to weigh the relative significance of the different greenhouse gas reduction goals and adaptation strategies (forthcoming in the planning process), not solely on the technical feasibility, but according to their relevance in the context of local community values, interests and concerns. During the first Stakeholder meeting The City introduced the CAAP project to the community and officially began the stakeholder engagement process. The goal was to activate, inform and involve the stakeholders for future development of the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. 55 Attendees from ~20 local organizations remained engaged and active participants throughout the 2 hour meeting. #SMClimateAction Page 2

3 Activity #1 Post-it Q&A: Cloudstorming Brainstorming (with post-its) surfaced overall themes around Clean Energy/efficiency, Sustainable buildings, fossil fuel free transportation, Quality of Life, Community Health and Wellbeing, Sustainable Policies and Programs, as well as Local, Regional and State Collaboration. Question 1: What is your vision for a carbon neutral Santa Monica? Community Engagement SM effort to empower regional efforts Accessible and Accurate Information Stakeholder Equity and Representation Opportunities for Involvement Every resident, biz, resident has a feasible carbon accountability Fosters quality of life for everyone Community understands and discusses solutions at NEIGHBORHOOD level Students walking, biking, public transit to schools/events Awareness of carbon neutral but not overwhelming Community gardens everywhere (rooftops, businesses, etc.) Individuals give back and serve community; produce more energy than consume Every student has required courses in carbon neutrality The Central offering/business of the city is wellbeing and sustainability Buildings Beautiful designs Retrofit houses for water hookups, EV cars, Bikes All new buildings green Carbon/water neutral (public and private buildings) Recycled Water use for all landscaping Multi-modal city with bike lanes and sidewalks Buildings produce resources not consumers Green Space Heat Island Reduction Transportation People take trips with transit, bike, etc. Fewer cars on streets Safe conditions for bikes Less traffic and cleaner vehicles More green spaces around and inside buildings Less cars, more bikes/pedestrian friendly Carbon neutral mobility strategies Separated bike lanes More walking, biking and community interaction on streets #SMClimateAction Page 3

4 Urban greenways, trees, trails EV charging infrastructure wide spread Cars have alternative fuel source Energy Solar local generation and storage 100% renewable energy Question 2: How does climate action and adaptation benefit Santa Monica? Clean energy: reliable clean competitive energy that is local creates jobs locally Quality of Life: Enables human and natural communities to thrive To make SM desirable to live and work ; to give a story to educate others Great place to live/work Community health: enhanced community well being Creating a healthy community for our kids Wellbeing health economic vitality and resiliency Air quality Water quality Temperate climate Cleaner environment for our future Clean air vibrant health active connected community Improved mental and physical health for residents Healthy people healthy families Resiliency Policy development: future proof the city Integrate sustainability bill of rights Leadership: model behavior we want to see replicated Clout as stewards and role models Regional: CCA Regional partnerships Model for state through general plan approach Challenge other agencies Question #3: What are the biggest challenges or barriers to success? Local anti- smart growth movement is local Lack of imagination Political will to take stance on controversial issues (opposition from special interest) Money for sustainability programs Economy changing biz model Water meters for multi-family unit dwellings Private vs public compliance #SMClimateAction Page 4

5 Different messages to differ types people/hoods Students on green teams People need ownership from all sectors Behavior change Language used that people understand Seniors not seen as elders How will solution benefit people (people need something out of it) Convince/incentivize people to be part of solution No sacrifice- does it improve quality of life? Educate around carbon neutrality Cars: American way of life/ car centric culture Tourism emissions Lack of EV charging Car policies must change Change regulations about water reuse on site Regulatory barriers on jurisdictions Leverage regional partners to move fast Time to change is too long Short term thinking Culture and language shift in organizations Education Question #4: Who is not represented here who should be? YOUTH and Educational Institutions Climate Action Opposition Business and Private Sector Hospitals Vulnerable Populations Homeless Seniors Activity #2: Small Group Discussions Discussion Cycle I: Who are the key stakeholders? What are their roles? All Levels of Government Community: Residents and Youth Business and Commercial Sector Utilities Educational Institutions Climate Action Opposition Business and Private Sector Hospitals Vulnerable Populations: Homeless, Seniors, Low - Income #SMClimateAction Page 5

6 Discussion Cycle II: Where are opportunities for change? Where is potential for innovation? Transportation Resource Management; Efficiency and Conservation Clean and Renewable Energy Sustainable Building Development Technology Lifestyle and Behavior Food Production and Waste Community Health Synthesis of Emergent Themes: Large Group Discussion The meeting participants seemed to be in favor of moving forward towards a carbon neutral city. The stakeholders envisioned various new programs and policies around sustainable buildings, transportation, energy, solid waste and water systems. Attendees consistently voiced the need for local, regional and state level collaboration on climate action and adaptation planning. Beyond coordination and data-sharing, stakeholders felt Santa Monica should be leading the region. Stakeholders felt strongly that certain vulnerable populations were not or accounted for in the climate discussions, similarly, the lack of both youth and the investors/finance perspective were noted as an essential part of CAAP implementation. Stakeholders were interested in the connection between CAAP planning and transportation/land use planning processes with regard to access, community health, and well-being. Participants noted barriers around the following themes: Culture, Lifestyle and Behavior: Changing the behaviors that are associated with our consumer/convenience focused culture. Education and Awareness: Restructuring education/ classes on carbon neutrality for students, community and producers of goods/service; engaging building trades/ planners. Funding or Investment: New approaches to funding and financing will be necessary to reach ambitious goals, as well as the need to incentivize the right behaviors/technologies Attendees and Representation: City of Santa Monica Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) LA County Office of Sustainability Assemblymember Richard Bloom Northeast Neighbors #SMClimateAction Page 6

7 Next Steps Southern California Gas Company NRDC LA County Metro Parent Connection Group Sustainable Works Senator Ben Allen Climate Resolve Santa Monica College The Energy Coalition Loyola Marymount Center for Urban Resilience GY Creative Studio Los Angeles Regional Collaborative for Climate Change & Sustainability (LARC) Engage Private Sector, specific business sector focused outreach Engage Youth Plan next Steering Committee and Green Ribbon Committee event in advance of the community workshop Plan follow-up community workshop, currently scheduled for October 29, 2016 o Decide on Communication/framing (carbon neutral by when or other) o Create Community Activity Plan that engages participants to come up with specific objectives/actions around the key themes which will lead to carbon neutrality: Draft list of most likely Objectives/Actions (where possible include sphere of influence; ie: community led; city led; partnership, etc); review 15x15 strategies and keep most successful initiatives (build on what is working; get rid of what isn t; discover what we don t have). #SMClimateAction Page 7