HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.2 Beacon Award Program
STAFF REPORT CITY CLERK
File #530-10
CITY COUNCIL
DATE:March 4, 2014
TO:
Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM:
Christopher L. Foss, Acting City Manager
SUBJECT:
Participation in the Institute for Local Government’s Beacon Award Program
Prepared by Roger Bradley, Assistant to the City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City Council will consider participating in the Institute for Local Government’s Beacon
Award Program, which provides communities with recognition for achieving various efforts in
environmental sustainability and stewardship.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Program participation is voluntary, and the only financial resources required to participate come
from the completion of a greenhouse gas emission inventories for the community, which the City
has already accomplished and committed to conduct. Participating in the program may increase
the City’s competitiveness for future state or other grant funding.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the Resolution supporting the City’s participation
in the Beacon Award recognition program.
Submitted By Reviewed By
Assistant to the City Manager Acting Assistant City Manager
DESCRIPTION:
The Beacon Award is an established program of the Institute for Local Government (ILG),
recognizing and celebrating cities and counties that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
energy use, adopt policies and programs to address climate change, and promote sustainability.
ILG is the non-profit research and education affiliate of the League of California Cities and the
California State Association of Counties.
The Beacon Award program is funded by the California utility ratepayers and administered by
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Diego Gas and Electric Company, Southern California
ITEM NO. 8.2
Page 1 of 4
Edison and Southern California Gas Company, under the auspices of the California Public
Utilities Commission.
In order to participate in the Beacon Award, cities and counties must complete a simple
application and do the following:
Adopt a resolution by the governing body committing the agency to participate in the
program;
Designate a lead staff person as a point of contact;
Prepare, or commit to prepare, a baseline greenhouse gas emissions inventory for
agency facilities and the community as a whole;
Prepare, or commit to prepare, a climate action plan that includes actions in each of the
Best Practice Areas;
Demonstrate compliance with AB 939, the California Integrated Waste Management Act
of 1989, which requires that 50% of a community’s solid waste be diverted from the
landfill; and
Achieve specified measurable greenhouse gas reductions and energy savings in agency
facilities, and achieve measurable greenhouse gas reductions and promote energy
conservation activities in the community.
Participating cities and counties will be recognized with Silver, Gold and Platinum Beacon
Awards for achieving specified measureable reductions. The program will also recognize
participants for interim accomplishments. Awards are achieved through the tiered scale of
criteria below. At the current time, the City has completed a greenhouse gas emissions
inventory and adopted a Climate Action Plan. As a result, the City is well situated for
participation in the program and may be able to receive valuable recognition for its many
environmental accomplishments.
Silver Beacon Award
Agency Facilities & Operations
GHG Reduction: 5 percent in agency facilities & operations
Energy Savings: 5 percent in agency faculties & operations from energy
efficiency retrofits
Community
GHG Reduction: 5 percent in the community as a whole
Energy Savings: 1 activity that promotes energy efficiency in the
community
Best Practice Areas: 1activity in each of the ten Best Practice Areas
Gold Beacon Award
Agency Facilities & Operations
GHG Reduction: 10 percent in agency facilities & operations
Energy Savings: 10 percent in agency faculties & operations from
energy efficiency retrofits
Community
GHG Reduction: 10 percent in the community as a whole
Energy Savings: 2 activities that promote energy efficiency in the
community
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Best Practice Areas: 2 activities in each of the ten Best Practice Areas
Platinum Beacon Award
Agency Facilities & Operations
GHG Reduction: 20 percent in agency facilities & operations
Energy Savings: 20percent in agency faculties & operations from energy
efficiency retrofits
Community
GHG Reduction: 20 percent in the community as a whole
Energy Savings: 4 activities that promote energy efficiency in the
community
Best Practice Areas: 3 activities in each of the ten Best Practice Areas
The 10 Best Practice Areas referenced are from ILG’s California Climate Action Network’s Best
Practices Framework which offers suggestions for action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
in each of the areas, for both agency facilities and the community at large. The 10 Best Practice
Areas are:
1. Energy Efficiency & Conservation
2. Water & Wastewater Systems
3. Green Building
4. Waste Reduction & Recycling
5. Climate-Friendly Purchasing
6. Renewable Energy & Low-Carbon Fuels
7. Efficient Transportation
8. Land Use & Community Design
9. Open Space & Offsetting Carbon Emission
10. Promoting Community & Individual Action
Once a city or county is accepted as a Beacon Award participant, it will work towards achieving
one or more of the three award levels at its own pace. There is no deadline or timeline for
meeting award level criteria; awards will be given out on an ongoing basis. However,
participants will be asked to provide periodic information about their efforts to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and save energy as well as progress in completing a greenhouse
gas inventory, climate action plan and undertaking activities in the ten best practice areas.
Fulfillment of the criteria required to receive a full Beacon Award is no small undertaking as to
date, only one city, San Rafael, has received the award. Staff understands that it generally takes
time to document successful greenhouse gas reductions as required to receive a full Beacon
Award. However, ILG presents Spotlight Awards to program participants for completion of
portions of the overall program requirements, which the City can pursue as it works to receive a
full award.
Participants will receive special recognition at League of California Cities and California State
Association of Counties events, will be highlighted on the Beacon Award website, and will
receive certificates and other materials to display in agency facilities. They may also receive
other appropriate and visible public tributes acknowledging their accomplishments.
Participation in the Beacon Award program will increase the City’s visibility within the region and
statewide. It is an opportunity for the City to showcase its existing efforts to promote
sustainability and save energy, even while it is working towards one of the three award levels.
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NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH:
None.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution of Participation in the Beacon Award Program
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RESOLUTION NO. XX - 14
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN
* * * * * * * * * * *
SUPPORTING PARTICIPATION IN THE INSTITUTE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT’S
BEACON AWARD PROGRAM
WHEREAS,
the City of Dublin is undertaking policies, programs and activities to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and save energy; and
WHEREAS,
these policies, programs and activities conserve natural resources, save
energy and money, and promote sustainable land use and transportation planning in the
community; and
WHEREAS,
cities and counties statewide are leading by example by adopting innovative
sustainability programs and policies, including working with community residents, business
groups and others; and
WHEREAS,
the City of Dublin has completed a greenhouse gas emissions inventory for
the community and is municipal operations, adopted a Climate Action Plan, adopted a Green
Plan for the City, and conducted various impactful energy reduction improvements and
;
campaigns within the City and
WHEREAS,
the City of Dublin wishes to expand these activities, share its experiences
with other communities, and be recognized for its accomplishments; and
WHEREAS,
the Beacon Award: Local Leadership Toward Solving Climate Change is a
voluntary program of the Institute for Local Government, the non-profit research and education
affiliate of the California State Association of Counties and the League of California Cities; and
WHEREAS,
the Beacon Award recognizes and celebrates achievements of cities and
counties that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save energy; and
WHEREAS,
participating in the Beacon Award is an opportunity for the City of Dublin to
be recognized for its efforts to promote sustainability, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
save energy.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED
that the City Council of the City of Dublin
agrees to participate in the Beacon Award Program;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that the City of Dublin will work towards achieving the
Silver, Gold and/or Platinum Beacon Award levels.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED
this 4th day of March, 2014, by the following
vote:
AYES
:
NOES
:
ATTACHMENT 1
ABSENT
:
ABSTAIN
:
______________________________
Mayor
ATTEST
:
_________________________________
City Clerk
ATTACHMENT 1