TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: David Morrison, Interim County Executive Officer
REPORT BY: David Morrison, Interim County Executive Officer
SUBJECT: Discussion of CAC Proposed Budget for FY23/24
RECOMMENDATION
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The Interim County Executive Officer (CEO) requests that the Climate Action Committee discuss the proposed budget for fiscal year 2023/2024 (FY23/24).
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In accordance with Section 7(a) of the Joint Powers Agreement, the Administering Agency is providing the Estimated Amount for FY23/24 to all Parties. The Estimated Amount was developed based on the services described above as well as the following CAC support items: agenda, staff report writing, and staff to support monthly meetings of the CAC; administration of any future grants or state/federal funds and related tasks; and other administrative support. If the CAC directs additional actions or efforts, this Estimated Amount may be supplemented with the approval of all Parties.
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
At the May 2023 Climate Action Committee (CAC) meeting, the CAC will discuss and give staff direction on the following potential actions for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 (FY23/24). Proposed priorities including those that carried over from the prior year, as follows:
1) EV Charging Station Blueprint
Work Plan: Evaluate constraints and opportunities to accelerate EV adoption and increase EV charging stations strategically throughout the County.
Potential Cost: $75,000.
2) Streamline solar permits through the adoption of SolarAPP+
Work Plan: SolarAPP+ is a standardized plan review software developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) that can run compliance checks and process building permit approvals for eligible rooftop solar systems.
Potential Cost: Approximately 10-20 hours in CAC staff costs.
3) Begin developing a program to achieve 90% waste diversion by 2030
Work Plan: Collaborate with partners to develop policies, programs, and education campaigns to reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfills.
Potential Cost: $75,000
4) Regional Climate Action Plan
Work Plan: Develop a menu of quantifiable and measurable actions to reduce GHG emissions as identified in the regional inventory to achieve net zero emissions
Potential Cost: $200K - $600K
The total estimated amount for FY 2022-2023 is $300,000 - $775,000 in consultant costs plus $52,052 in staff time, calculated as follows. It should be noted that the FY22-23 Budget was approved at $138,560. Due to grants and changes/vacancies in staffing, actual costs for the current fiscal year are estimated at approximately $50,000.
Staff recommends that the CAC move forward based on the Scenario 1 budget listed in the attached memo. This budget assumes that all four previous projects move forward (as may be modified by the CAC in determining their priorities) and that the Regional Climate Action Plan and associated CEQA document can be paid for using State grants and funding. If State grants and funding are not approved, then staff will return to the CAC for further direction. The costs per jurisdiction would be as follows:
Napa County (33%): $66,677
Napa (29.9%): $60,414
American Canyon (12.8%): $25,863
St. Helena (8.5%): $17,174
Calistoga (8.3%): $16,770
Yountville (7.5%): $15,154
Alternatively, the CAC may wish instead to focus on the Regional Climate Action Plan and redirect funds from the other priorities towards CAP preparation, along with any unused funds from the current fiscal year.
The attached memo details the total proposed budget for FY23/24. Staff requests that the Committee discuss the draft budget and provide feedback, so that the CEO may finalize the numbers with the City Managers.