Title
Endorse the Annual Report on the Climate Action and Resiliency Plan and the Annual Report on Transportation (Action Item)
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Transportation Commission
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Climate Action and Resiliency Plan and the Transportation Choices Plan require the preparation and presentation of annual reports that the City Council endorses each year.
BACKGROUND
The Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (CARP) was adopted by the City Council on September 3, 2019, after a year and a half plan development process that included significant community and stakeholder engagement. The aim of the CARP is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, build resilience to the local impacts of climate change, and become a more sustainable city. To guide implementation, Annual Reports are presented to City Council and Boards and Commissions to share information and evaluate priorities. This Annual Report is brought to the Transportation Commission in particular because an estimated 70 percent of local emissions come from the transportation sector and the transportation system will face significant flooding vulnerabilities if climate breakdown continues. The CARP Annual Report presents the CARP’s vision and goals, the status of key projects and staffing structure, metrics and funding, and a framework for the next five years of plan implementation (Exhibits 1 and 2).
In 2018, the City Council adopted a citywide Transportation Choices Plan, which establishes 39 priority projects and programs to improve transportation services and facilities in Alameda over the next 10 to 15 years. The Transportation Choices Plan requires an annual review of progress made toward meeting the City’s transportation improvement needs. The Transportation Commission and the City Council approved the first and second annual reports in early 2019 and early 2020, respectively. Thus, this Annual Report on Transportation represents the third one, and provides quick facts on transportation in Alameda, a summary of transportation work completed in 2020 including new projects and programs not covered in the plan, and the work plan for the current year - 2021 (Exhibit 3).
DISCUSSION
The CARP Annual Report is the second annual report on climate action and resiliency. The goals of the CARP are reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 50 percent below 2005 levels by 2030; increasing resiliency to flooding, drought, extreme heat, hazardous air quality and earthquakes; and building social resilience and local government capacity. In addition to the numerical GHG reduction goal, the CARP aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions as soon as possible in accordance with Alameda’s Climate Emergency Declaration, which was passed in March 2019 by the City Council.
The Annual Report on Transportation is being considered by the Transportation Commission in January and the City Council in March. Staff invites the community to review and comment on the Annual Report. Transportation Commission and community member recommended changes or additions will be provided in the staff report to the City Council for their review of the Annual Report.
ALTERNATIVES
City staff requests that the Transportation Commission and the City Council endorse these aforementioned annual reports; however, other alternatives include revisions or to not endorse these reports.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Endorsement of the annual reports will have no impact on the General Fund. The recommended priority actions are designed to be accomplished within existing (or anticipated) approved budgets and with existing (or anticipated) funding sources, where the City is the lead agency. Final budget decisions on specific programs and capital projects will be made by the City Council when it approves the Biennial Budget and Capital Improvement Program. Endorsement of a work priority in the Annual Report does not predetermine or obligate the City Council to make a particular funding decision when it adopts the citywide Budget and Capital Improvement Program.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action does not affect the Alameda Municipal Code. An annual review of the Transportation Choices Plan and the CARP are required by the respective plans. Undertaking the annual reports is consistent with the Transportation Element of the City's General Plan.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Endorsement of the annual reports is statutorily exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), the general rule that CEQA only applies to actions that have the potential to cause a significant impact on the environment.
CLIMATE IMPACT
These planning documents will improve transportation operations and energy and water efficiencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and also will improve the resiliency to the impacts of climate change.
RECOMMENDATION
Endorse the Annual Report on the Climate Action and Resiliency Plan and the Annual Report on Transportation
Respectfully submitted,
Andrew Thomas, Planning, Building and Transportation Director
By,
Gerry Beaudin, Assistant City Manager
Gail Payne, Senior Transportation Coordinator
Exhibits:
1. CARP Annual Report
2. CARP Annual Report Appendix
3. 2020 Annual Report on Transportation
4. Presentation of CARP Annual Report
5. Presentation of Transportation Annual Report