TO: Napa County Climate Action Committee
FROM: Brian D. Bordona, Director of Napa County Planning, Building, & Environmental Services
REPORT BY: Ryan Melendez, Planner II - Sustainability
SUBJECT: August 2024 RCAAP Update: Ascent Presentation on a Draft Climate Adaptation Strategies, Measures and Actions Memorandum
RECOMMENDATION
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ACTION ITEM: DISCUSSION & PRESENTATION: Staff requests the CAC receive a presentation from Ascent Environmental and RCAAP project staff on the Draft Climate Adaptation Strategies, Measures and Actions Memo. Ascent and staff will also present the Top Ten (10) Recommended Adaptation Measures for Cost and Funding Analysis. Staff requests the CAC discuss the presented top ten draft measures, provide guidance to staff on any adjustments, and vote to accept them to move forward with Cost and Funding Analysis for each measure.
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BACKGROUND
RCAAP Documents: The Ascent Environmental team has completed a Draft Climate Adaptation Strategies, Measures and Actions Memorandum (Adaptation Memo). The Adaptation Memo is now available on the RCAAP Project Website <https://climateactionnapa.konveio.com/> where members of the public can review and provide comments. Public comment on this document, as well as the Draft Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Mitigation Measures Memo and Matrix, will be open through August 30, 2024. The Adaptation Memo attached to this staff report highlights the Top Ten Recommended Measures - designated by a “Green Star - for CAC review and discussion to move forward with cost/funding analyses.
The Adaptation Memo aims to (1) provide a framework for climate adaptation strategies, measures, and actions specific to Napa County Climate Vulnerabilities to be considered for inclusion as part of the Napa County Regional Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (RCAAP); (2) provide an implementation matrix with example adaptation strategies, measures, and actions; and (3) summarize existing policies and implementation measures already in place in adopted local hazard mitigation plans, general plan safety elements, or other related plans (Adaptation Memo - Attachment 1).
The framework is comprised of strategies, measures, and actions. Strategies serve as overarching goals and guidelines for adaption to changing climate conditions and climate hazards. Within each strategy, are measures that include more specific policies or categories of action intending to achieve the strategies. Lastly, the listed actions are more detailed implementation steps that various actors will take to realize the measures. Actions help break down measures into specific actional steps, such as programs, projects, etc.
The Adaptation Memo highlights six adaptation strategies proposed for the RCAAP. The six strategies are as follows: (1) Improve the Overall Climate Resilience of Napa County; (2) Prepare for and Adapt to Increased Wildfire Risk; (3) Prepare for Increased Temperatures and More Frequent Extreme Heat Events; (4) Prepare for More Frequent Extreme Precipitation and Flooding Events, Combined with Sea Level Rise Threat; (5) Prepare for More Frequent Drought Events and Enhance the Region’s Overall Water Supply Resilience; and (6) Improve the Region’s Energy Grid Resilience.
Attachment 1 of the Adaptation Memo describes the regional hazard mitigation and general plan safety element actions and measures which are already in place in Napa County and/or the five incorporated jurisdictions. These actions and policies are categorized by each hazard type under each tab.
The Top 10 Recommended Adaptation Measures in the Adaptation Memo to move forward on cost/funding analyses are as follows:
1. Measure All-3: Increase the climate resilience of existing and new residential and commercial development through structural strengthening and hardening to adapt to multiple climate stressors.
2. Measure All-5: Improve the resilience of the region’s transportation infrastructure against climate stressors.
3. Measure All-7: Guard the region’s biodiversity and ecologic habitats from the impacts of various climate stressors.
4. Measure All-8: Incorporate climate change considerations into the County and its jurisdictions’ emergency management planning and response processes.
5. Measure Fire-5: Enhance forest resilience, reduce tree mortality, and manage beetle infestations.
6. Measure Temp-2: Create or enhance programs focused on urban greening and urban agriculture and engage community-based organizations to develop and implement these programs.
7. Measure Flood-2: Evaluate and improve the capacity of stormwater infrastructure for high-intensity rainfall events.
8. Measure Drought-3: Support efforts to evaluate vulnerabilities of water supply systems and networks and develop strategies to improve water supply resilience.
9. Measure Energy-2: Enhance the resilience of energy infrastructure systems against climate-related impacts and collaborate with PG&E and MCE to bolster redundancy in the energy network.
10. Measure Energy-4: Install backup batteries, generators, or microgrids at critical facilities (e.g., fire stations, hospitals, campuses), community resilience centers, or similar sheltering locations.
Community Engagement:
Napa RCD, City and County of Napa, and Ascent held a sixth (6th) Focus Group Discussion on August 6th. This focus group discussion was an overflow meeting for those who were unable to attend a prior meeting in their respective categories. Two (2) individuals participated in the August overflow meeting. Additionally, the Virtual RCAAP Community Meeting took place on July 30th via Zoom. This meeting was open to all members of the public. The meeting was facilitated in English with Spanish language accessibility. At this meeting, Napa RCD, City and County RCAAP team, and Ascent staff provided an overview of the RCAAP and the documents produced to date, provided a prospective timeline of RCAAP development, and led an interactive group activity to solicit feedback on the RCAAP and Climate Action in Napa County. Lastly, the RCAAP Community Survey response deadline has been extended through the end of August. For any questions regarding community engagement efforts, please reach out to RCAAP@countyofnapa.org <mailto:RCAAP@countyofnapa.org>.
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.