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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.7 Resolution in Support of Bay Adapt: Regional Strategy for a Rising BaySTAFF REPORT CITY COUNCIL Page 1 of 2 Agenda Item 4.7 DATE:February 1, 2022 TO:Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM:Linda Smith, City Manager SUBJECT:Resolution in Support of Bay Adapt: Regional Strategy for a Rising BayPrepared by:John Stefanski, Assistant to the City Manager EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:The City Council will consider adopting a Resolution in Support of Bay Adapt: Regional Strategy for a Rising Bay. This item is in response to a January 11, 2022, Item 9 request. STAFF RECOMMENDATION:Adopt the Resolution in Support of Bay Adapt: Regional Strategy for a Rising Bay. FINANCIAL IMPACT:None. DESCRIPTION:This item is in response to a January 11, 2022, Item 9 request for a resolution to support Bay Adapt: Regional Strategy for a Rising Bay. Bay Adapt: Regional Strategy for a Rising Bay is an initiative to establish regional agreement on the actions necessary to protect people and the natural and built environment from rising sea levels. Convened by the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC)and in partnership with a broad range of Bay Area leaders and organizations, the group has developed the Bay Adapt Joint Platform. The Platform outlines the guiding principles and region-wide goals, actions, and tasks to help the Bay Area achieve faster, better, and more equitable adaptation to a rising bay.The platform includes nine actions, including: 1. Collaborate on a “One Bay” vision to adapt to rising sea levels.2. Elevate communities to lead.3. Broaden public understanding of climate change science and impacts.4. Base plans and projects on the best science, data, and knowledge. 135 Page 2 of 2 5. Align local and regional plans into a unified adaptation approach.6. Figure out how to fund adaptation.7. Refine and accelerate regulatory approvals processes.8. Fund and facilitate faster adaption projects.9. Track and report progress to guide future actions. An executive summary of the Plan can be found in Attachment 2. STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:None. NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH:The City Council Agenda was posted. ATTACHMENTS:1) Resolution in Support of Bay Adapt: Regional Strategy for a Rising Bay2) Bay Adapt Executive Summary 136 Attachment 1 Reso. No. XX-22, Item X.X, Adopted XX/XX/2022 Page 1 of 3 RESOLUTION NO. XX – 22 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN IN SUPPORT OF BAY ADAPT: REGIONAL STRATEGY FOR A RISING BAY WHEREAS,climate change is accelerating rising sea levels, increasing storm frequency and intensity, and moving groundwater toward the surface. The confluence of more intense winter storms, extreme high tides, and higher runoff, with higher sea levels, will increase the frequency and duration of shoreline flooding long before areas are permanently inundated by sea level rise alone; and WHEREAS, a major storm within the next decade in the Bay Area could result in temporary flooding impacts to 13,000 existing housing units and 70,000 planned housing units, 28,000 socially vulnerable residents, 104,000 existing jobs and 85,000 planned jobs, and 20,000 acres of wetlands habitat that may become permanently inundated within 40 years; and WHEREAS,there are multiple local, regional, state, and federal government agencies with authority over the Bay and its shoreline, and while local governments have broad authority over shoreline land use they have limited resources to address climate change adaptation; and WHEREAS, the San Francisco Bay Area is a vibrant, diverse, ecologically unique, innovative, and pioneering region that will be deeply and deleteriously affected by climate change without tremendous effort and investments to adapt to a constantly changing shoreline. The San Francisco Bay shoreline constitutes approximately one-third of the California coastline, but the Bay Area is estimated to experience two-thirds of the negative economic impacts due to the flooding that would occur absent adequate measures to adapt and protect people, places, and habitat; and WHEREAS,the Bay Area region’s most socioeconomically vulnerable frontline communities are at the greatest risk of exposure to climate threats, and the impacts of historic and ongoing social and economic marginalization will compound the risks posed by flooding to those communities by reducing a community’s or individual’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and/or recover from a flood event; and WHEREAS, the Bay ecosystem is already stressed by human activities that have drastically lowered its adaptive capacity, and climate change will further alter that ecosystem by inundating or eroding remaining wetlands, changing sediment dynamics, altering species composition, increasing the acidity of Bay waters, changing freshwater flows and/or salinity, altering the food web, and impairing water quality. Moreover, further loss of tidal wetlands will increase the risk of shoreline flooding; and WHEREAS, flood damage to vital shoreline development, public infrastructure, and facilities such as neighborhoods, commercial centers, airports, seaports, regional transportation facilities, landfills, contaminated lands, and wastewater treatment facilities absent adaptation will require costly repairs and likely will result in the interruption or loss of vital services, large-scale social dislocation, and degraded environmental quality; and 137 Reso. No. XX-22, Item X.X, Adopted XX/XX/22 Page 2 of 3 WHEREAS,the increasingly frequent and severe impacts of climate change in the Bay Area do not conform to jurisdictional boundaries or the planning and regulatory authorities of any one agency or organization; and WHEREAS,in 2019, BCDC, in collaboration with a Leadership Advisory Group consisting of 35 Bay Area public, private, and non-profit leaders, embarked on the development of “Bay Adapt,” a consensus-driven strategy for regional sea level rise adaptation. The Leadership Advisory Group includes representatives from numerous public agencies, including the Association of Bay Area Governments/Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC/ABAG), San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, State Coastal Conservancy, Caltrans, BARC, BART, East Bay Regional Parks, US Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority, San Francisco Public Utility Commission, Marin County, and BCDC, as well as environmental justice, environmental, business, scientific, civic, organizations, local government and flood manager networks, and academia; and WHEREAS,in 2020 and 2021, hundreds of stakeholders participated in the creation of the “Bay Adapt Joint Platform” through nine Leadership Advisory Group meetings, two public forums, many expert Working Group meetings, ten community and stakeholder focus groups, over 50 presentations to local governments around the region, and a month-long public feedback opportunity; and WHEREAS,the Bay Adapt Joint Platform lays out a set of guiding principles, priority actions, and vital tasks whose implementation will enable the region, and most notably local governments, to adapt faster, better, and more equitably to a rising San Francisco Bay. If fulfilled, it will reduce flood risks for communities, businesses, infrastructure, and habitat; increase technical assistance for local governments and funding for adaptation; protect natural areas and wildlife; recognize and equitably support low-income, frontline communities; robustly integrate adaptation into community-focused local plans; and accelerate permitting and project construction of local adaptation projects; and WHEREAS,the Bay Adapt Leadership Advisory Group supports the Joint Platform and many members agreed to help implement it at its October 2021 meeting, the BARC Governing Board endorsed it on September 17th 2021, and BCDC adopted the Joint Platform on October 21st 2021; and WHEREAS,implementing the Joint Platform’s many and varied actions and tasks goes beyond the capacity of any single organization or jurisdiction, requires strong and diverse leadership and participation in all aspects of its implementation, and a broad coalition of stakeholders share responsibility for the success of the tasks outlined in the Joint Platform. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Dublin hereby supports the Bay Adapt Joint Platform, a regional strategy for a rising Bay, including the guiding principles, actions, and tasks contained within. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council looks forward to championing and supporting the implementation of Bay Adapt to ensure that it serves the City of Dublin and the larger Bay Area in achieving resilient and equitable adaption to sea level rise. 138 Reso. No. XX-22, Item X.X, Adopted XX/XX/22 Page 3 of 3 PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 1 st day of February 2022, by the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ______________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _________________________________ City Clerk 139 The Bay is Rising The time to come together to act is now. Sea level rise is no longer a distant threat and the San Francisco Bay Area stands to be one of the hardest hit in North America. It’s past time for us to get ready. As we walk the dog along our favorite waterfront, the waves don’t seem any taller. As we wait in traffic at the Bay Bridge toll plaza, the water level looks the same as ever. But the Bay has already started spilling into our highways and street during storms. Another foot or two of rise will seriously affect our homes, jobs, habitats, and safety. San Francisco Bay Area has an enormous amount at stake—and an unprecedented opportunity to address these risks. At risk of flooding by 2040 28,000 socially vulnerable residents 13,000 existing housing units and another 70,000 new housing units 104,000 existing jobs and another 85,000 new jobs 20,000 acres of wetlands, lagoon and tidal marsh habitat 5 million daily highway vehicle trips 60,000 daily rail commuters Impacts from flooding that could occur at 48” Total Water Level from the ART Bay Area Regional Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Study. Why shared solutions? ‣Sea level rise will impact everyone in the Bay Area. ‣A regional problem requires regional solutions. ‣Flooding know no boundaries and doesn’t care about jurisdictional lines. ‣Solutions should center on the most vulnerable people and environments. ‣Bay Adapt is building regional consensus on a joint platform of nine actions that address the region’s strengths and weaknesses, enabling us to respond faster, better and together. ‣Only with strong local and regional actions can we ensure the safety and welfare of all the Bay Area. Attachment 2 140 2 The Joint Platform A regional strategy for a rising Bay Bay Adapt has worked to establish regional agreement on the actions necessary to protect the Bay Area’s people and natural and built environments from sea level rise. Bay Adapt is convened by the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, a state agency, in partnership with a broad range of Bay Area leaders. Through dozens of expert working groups, a public forum, ten community and stakeholder focus groups, over 50 presentations, an environmental justice caucus, and led by a Leadership Advisory Group—hundreds of people from across the Bay came together to achieve a consensus-driven strategy and regional agreement on a path forward. Rather than calling for individual projects, the Joint Platform lays out guiding principles and region-wide goals, actions, and tasks to help the Bay Area achieve faster, better, and more equitable adaptation to a rising Bay. • Reduced flood risk for communities, businesses, infrastructure, and habitats. • Protection of natural areas and wildlife. • Robust integration of adaptation into community-focused local plans. • Recognition and equitable support for low income communities. • Accelerated permitting and project construction. • Technical assistance for local governments. • More funding for adaptation. Guiding Principles ‣Support socially-vulnerable communities ‣Put nature first whenever possible ‣Solve interconnected problems at the same time ‣Practice inclusive, community-led governance and decision-making ‣Support existing efforts but plan for the long term ‣Pick the right strategy for the right place at the right time Working together as one region Centering people and nature through a shared set of solutions The Bay Area is one of the most culturally and geographically diverse places in the country. The risks of sea level rise, and resources necessary to adderss them, are unequal across the Bay Area. This is why all nine actions in the Joint Platform emphasize achieving equitable outcomes for the region. We also know our region’s wetlands are essential to our wellbeing – and also first at risk. We cannot solve these challenges alone. Bay Adapt has been working with partners across the region to integrate and embed Joint Platform actions into existing regional plans and practices. MTC- ABAG’s Plan Bay Area 2050, set to be published in 2021, now incorporates multi-hazards, including sea level rise. The Estuary Blueprint, a map for regional actions on the health and resilience of Bay ecosystems, is also aligning Bay Adapt actions. We need everyone to come together to help us collectively create a resilient Bay Area region. 141 3 The Joint Platform 9 actions, 21 tasks, 1 region moving forward together Action 1: Collaborate on a “one Bay” vision to adapt to rising sea levels. Task 1.1: Create a long-term regional vision rooted in communities. Task 1.2: Lay the foundation for a proactive regional legislative agenda. Action 2: Elevate communities to lead. Task 2.1: Improve how communities and public agencies learn from each other and work together. Task 2.2: Fund the participation and leadership of community-based organizations (CBOs) and frontline communities in adaptation planning. Action 3: Broaden public understanding of climate change science and impacts. Task 3.1: Tell local and regional stories about people and places adapting to climate change. Task 3.2: Weave climate literacy into school programs. Action 4: Base plans and projects on the best science, data, and knowledge. Task 4.1: Align research and monitoring with information gaps. Task 4.2: Make scientific data, information, and guidance easier to use. Task 4.3: Increase access to technical consultants for local adaptation partners. Action 5: Align local and regional plans into a unified adaptation approach. Task 5.1: Provide incentives for robust, coordinated adaptation plans. Task 5.2: Align state-mandated planning processes around adaptation. Action 6: Figure out how to fund adaptation. Task 6.1: Expand understanding of the financial costs and revenues associated with regional adaptation. Task 6.2: Establish a framework for funding plans and projects. Task 6.3: Help cities and counties expand ways to fund adaptation planning and projects. Action 7: Refine and accelerate regulatory approvals processes. Task 7.1: Accelerate permitting for equitable, multi-benefit projects. Task 7.2: Assess environmental regulations and policies that slow down progress on projects. Action 8: Fund and facilitate faster adaptation projects. Task 8.1: Incentivize projects that meet regional guidelines. Task 8.2: Encourage collaboration among people doing projects in the same places. Task 8.3: Facilitate faster construction of nature-based projects. Action 9: Track and report progress to guide future actions. Task 9.1: Measure regional progress using metrics and share results. Task 9.2: Monitor and learn from pilot projects. PEOPLE INFORMATION PLANS PROJECTS PROGRESS 142 What can you do? The Joint Platform is now ready to share! Examine the opportunities it may provide for help, support and guidance on what to do next. We’re all in this together. For local leaders ☑Share the Joint Platform with your staff and colleagues and identify which actions you’d like support for implementation. ☑Write a letter of support for the Bay Adapt Joint Platform to help us advocate for regional implementation. ☑Seek formal endorsement from your City Council, County Board of Supervisors, or other elected body. For the interested public ☑Learn more and provide feedback on the 40-page, easy-to-read Joint Platform. Where can the Joint Platform help? ☑Understand your community’s vulnerability by using online tools such as the ART Shoreline Flood Explorer (www.Explorer. AdaptingToRisingTides.org) for exploring risks of flooding in your area ☑Talk to your community about resilience and preparing for climate change. www.BayAdapt.org Leadership Advisory Group Ana Alvarez, East Bay Regional Parks Tessa Beach, Ph.D., US Army Corps of Engineers David Behar, SF Public Utilities Commission/ Bay Area Climate Adaptation Network (BayCAN) John Bourgeois, Valley Water/ CHARG Allison Brooks, Bay Area Regional Collaborative Amanda-Brown Stevens, Greenbelt Alliance Paul Campos, Building Industry Association Warner Chabot, San Francisco Estuary Institute John Coleman, Bay Planning Coalition Dina El-Tawansy, Caltrans District 4 Tian Feng, BART Julio Garcia, Environmental Justice Caucus Member Ms. Margaret Gordon, West Oakland Indicators Project Terrie Green, Shore Up Marin City Alicia John-Baptiste, SPUR Melissa Jones, Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative (BARHII) David Lewis, Save the Bay Mark Lubell, UC Davis Therese McMillan, MTC / ABAG Mike Mielke, Silicon Valley Leadership Group Michael Montgomery, SF Regional Water Quality Control Board Barry Nelson, BCDC Sheridan Noelani Enomoto, NorCal Resilience Network David Pine, San Mateo County/ San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority Erika Powell, US Army Corp Bruce Riordan, Bay Area Climate Adaptation Network (BayCAN) Amy Hutzel, State Coastal Conservancy Caitlin Sweeney, San Francisco Estuary Partnership Laura Tam, Resources Legacy Fund Will Travis, Independent Consultant Zack Wasserman, BCDC Jim Wunderman, Bay Area Council Photo credits | Page 1 - Side Bar photo courtesy of the California King Tides Project, middle photo by John Morgan licensed under CC BY 2.0; Page 2 - Photo by Annie Frankel; Page 3 - SF Baykeeper, Robb Most, and LightHawk; Page 4 - Photo by LEJ from Estuary News from March 2021. 143