TO: Napa County Climate Action Committee
FROM: Brian D. Bordona, Director, Napa County Planning, Building & Environmental Services
REPORT BY: Ryan Melendez, Planner II, Sustainability
SUBJECT: Update: California Green Business Network - Lodging Pilot Program
RECOMMENDATION
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PRESENTATION: UPDATE ON THE CALIFORNIA GREEN BUSINESS NETWORK LODGING PILOT PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VISIT NAPA VALLEY
Staff will provide a brief update on the pilot program to administer and promote the California Green Business Network and the Green Lodging Certification Pilot Program.
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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California
Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
In June, 2024, the CAC heard a presentation from Linsey Gallagher and Rachel Miers on the partnership between Visit Napa Valley and Napa County staff to market and implement the California Green Business Network (CA GBN) to businesses in the tourism industry as well as the Green Lodging Certification Pilot Program led by Rachel Miers. The pilot aimed to certify eight (8) small-to-medium-size hotels in Napa County through the CA GBN with an “Entry Level” certification. Thus far, two (2) businesses have completed the necessary steps to earn this certification, and another four (4) businesses are underway in their sustainable efforts to earn this certification. River Terrace Inn (City of Napa) and Auberge Du Soleil Resort (County of Napa, East of St. Helena) have both completed their final inspections to become Entry-Level Certified Green Businesses under the CA GBN.
The CA GBN is led by a coalition of cities and counties in California to work with small-to-medium-sized businesses to create a vibrant green economy. Businesses begin by registering and completing information on their business on the GBN website. Once registered, business work with program coordinators (Napa County and Visit Napa Valley) to implement a comprehensive suite of measures to improve the sustainability of the business’ operations. The different measures are summarized in a checklist which includes actions to improve the processes of energy consumption, pollution prevention, solid waste monitoring and disposal, transportation, wastewater, water consumption, and community relations and benefits. Once a business successfully implements all the required actions (as shown on a completed checklist) staff from the County and Visit Napa Valley will conduct an audit in which compliance is verified and certify the business as a “Green Business.” Businesses are then allowed access to use the CA GBN online tool to create a company profile and let the public know who they are and be featured on the CA GBN website. There is no cost to businesses to sign up and become certified (other than any costs associated with implementing the required measures), and businesses located within the City of Napa can receive a $500 stipend for becoming a certified Green Business.