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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-32 Adopting the CC4CA Policy_StatementResolution No. 32, Series of 2020 Page 1 of 2 RESOLUTION NO. 32 Series of 2020 A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE COLORADO COMMUNITIES FOR CLIMATE ACTION POLICY STATEMENT FOR 2020-2021 AND SETTING FORTH DETAILS IN REGARD THERETO. WHEREAS, the Town of Vail (the "Town"), in the County of Eagle and State of Colorado is a home rule municipal corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Colorado and the Town Charter (the "Charter''); WHEREAS, the members of the Town Council of the Town (the "Council") have been duly elected and qualified; WHEREAS, the Town of Vail, along with twenty-seven other municipalities and counties in Colorado, have joined Colorado Communities for Climate Action (“CC4CA”), a coalition of local governments across the state which advocates for state and federal policies which support clean air, clean water, reduction of fossil fuel consumption and other contributors associated with greenhouse gas emissions; WHEREAS, an integral part of CC4CA organizational process is the annual adoption of the CC4CA Policy Statement, which is established by a Steering Committee representing all communities by unanimous consent, and identifies legislative issues of interest to the town; WHEREAS, the Town of Vail’s Environmental Sustainability Strategic Plan, adopted by the Vail Town Council in 2009, includes Goal #2, “Reduce the Town of Vail municipal and community energy use by 20% below 2006 levels by 2020, in order to effectively reduce the Town’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and impact on global climate change”; WHEREAS, the Town of Vail supports the goals of the Climate Action Plan for the Eagle County Community of a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of 25% by 2025 and 80% by 2050; and WHEREAS, the 2020-2021 CC4A Policy Statement is in alignment with the town’s adopted strategic plans, goals and objectives, and the Town Council Action Plan; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF VAIL, COLORADO: Section 1. The Town Council hereby adopts the Colorado Communities for Climate Action (CC4CA) Policy Statement as attached hereto as Exhibit A. Section 2. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its passage. Resolution No. 32, Series of 2020 Page 2 of 2 INTRODUCED, READ, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 4th day of August 2020. David Chapin, Mayor, Town of Vail ATTEST: Tammy Nagel, Town Clerk TO: Vail Town Council FROM: Environmental Sustainability Department DATE: August 4, 2020 SUBJECT: Resolution No. 32, Series of 2020, a resolution adopting the Colorado Communities for Climate Action Policy Statement for 2020-2021 and setting forth details in regard thereto. I. PURPOSE The purpose of this memorandum is to present for adoption Resolution No. 32, Series of 2020, adopting the Colorado Communities for Climate Action (CC4CA) Policy Statement for 2020- 2021. II. BACKGROUND The Town of Vail has been a member of Colorado Communities for Climate Action (CC4CA) in since its inception in 2018, and a founding member of its original efforts of the Colorado Climate Network since 2012. As a member, the town has had the opportunity to weigh-in on the development of the CC4CA Policy Statement, which is updated on an annual basis to adjust the policy positions of the organization. CC4CA’s 2020-2021 Policy Statement update reflects unanimous agreement among the coalition members on steps that should be taken at the state and federal level, often in partnership with local governments, to enable Colorado and its communities to lead in protecting the climate. The proposed statements were developed through CC4CA committees, which solicited input from every member jurisdiction and then prepared updates to reflect that input. The Town of Vail participated and provided input in these discussions. CC4CA held its all-member annual retreat to review and finalize the Policy Statement on June 19, 2020. The retreat, and the many months of work by CC4CA's Policy Committee and Board of Directors (on which every member jurisdiction is represented) prior to the retreat, provided the opportunity for all members to share input on each of the policy positions and the statements were modified accordingly. CC4CA members did a significant amount of work to finalize the proposed statement based on the input of all member Councils and Boards and to gain the approval of all members present at the retreat. At this time, all members of CC4CA are asked to formally ratify the updated Policy Statement. Most of the updates are non-substantive, and none of the substantive updates significantly alter any positions from the 2019 Policy Statement adopted by the Vail Town Council. The updates include: 1) The updated Policy Statement eliminates the "explanatory text" that has been part of the format in previous years. These were the paragraphs accompanying each specific policy position that provided additional details and examples. The result is a much more concise and manageable Policy Statement. 2) The most significant substantive changes compared to the 2019-2020 Policy Statement are all still only minor changes: • Position #7, which supports a public process for evaluating retail energy choice Town of Vail Page 2 options for local jurisdictions, now supports such a process for evaluating both retail and wholesale energy choice options for local jurisdictions. • "Resilience" is more clearly called out in the first General Policy Principle and in policy positions #5 (calling to remove barriers allowing local governments to implement resilience-oriented strategies) and #26 (encouraging post-disaster recovery efforts to improve resilience to future disasters). • Position #24 adds "reuse" to "recycling and composting." • There is a new position (#25), which encourages the adoption of climate-positive innovations drawing from the lessons learned during the pandemic. 3) All of the other proposed changes are for grammatical purposes, to improve clarity, or maintain clarity when removing the explanatory text. III. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the Vail Town Council approve Resolution No. 32, Series of 2020. IV. ATTACHMENTS A. Resolution No. 32, Series of 2020 B. CC4CA Policy Statement 2020-2021 Aspen · Avon · Basalt · Boulder · Boulder County · Breckenridge · Broomfield · Carbondale Clear Creek County · Crested Butte · Dillon · Eagle County · Erie · Fort Collins · Fraser · Frisco · Gilpin County Glenwood Springs · Golden · Lafayette · Longmont · Louisville · Lyons · Mountain Village · Nederland · Northglenn Pitkin County · Ridgway · Salida · San Miguel County · Summit County · Telluride · Vail · Westminster CC4CA 2020-2021 Policy Statement Adopted by the Board of Directors on June 19, 2020 For Ratification By Each CC4CA Member Jurisdiction Colorado Communities for Climate Action is a coalition of local governments advocating for stronger state and federal climate policy. CC4CA’s policy priorities for 2020-2021 reflect unanimous agreement among the coalition members on steps that should be taken at the state and federal level, often in partnership with local governments, to enable Colorado and its communities to lead in protecting the climate. CC4CA generally focuses on legislative, regulatory, and administrative action, supporting efforts that advance the general policy principles and the detailed policy positions described below, and opposing efforts that would weaken or undermine these principles and positions. General Policy Principles The following general principles guide the specific policies that Colorado Communities for Climate Action supports: Collaboration between state and federal government agencies and Colorado’s local governments to advance local climate protection and resilience. State and federal programs to reduce carbon pollution, including adequate and ongoing funding of those programs. Analyses, financial incentives, infrastructure, and enabling policies for the development and deployment of clean energy technologies. Locally driven and designed programs to support communities impacted by the clean energy transformation. Prioritizing policies that put people at the center of decision-making, minimizing disparities in growing the clean economy, especially for historically marginalized communities, and enhancing equitable outcomes for all. 2 Policy Positions Colorado Communities for Climate Action supports the following policy positions: Statewide Climate Strategies 1. Reduce statewide carbon emissions consistent with or greater than the State of Colorado’s 2019 codified goals. 2. Secure accurate, frequent state greenhouse gas inventories and forecasts for Colorado which are made accessible to local governments and designed to be useful for stakeholders. 3. Adopt a comprehensive market-based approach to reduce Colorado’s greenhouse gas emissions that ensures the benefits accrue justly and equitably to impacted communities. 4. Expand consideration of the environmental and health costs associated with the use of fossil fuels in making and implementing climate-related policy. Local Climate Strategies 5. Remove barriers and promote opportunities that allow counties and municipalities to maximize the deployment of local clean energy and climate-related strategies, including resilience-oriented strategies, while promoting affordable, accessible, and equitable delivery of reliable clean energy. 6. Enable local governments to obtain the energy use and other data from utilities and state agencies that they need to effectively administer climate and clean energy programs. 7. Support a comprehensive public process for evaluating retail and wholesale energy choice options for communities, informed by a broad variety of stakeholders. 8. Support policies that promote the efficient use of energy in buildings. 9. Provide for cost-effective and equitable policies, strategies, and practices that enable and accelerate beneficial electrification, reduce GHG emissions, improve quality of life, and make the electric grid more robust and resilient. 3 Energy Generation 10. Accelerate retirement of existing fossil fuel generation facilities and their replacement with cost-effective and reliable clean energy supplies, through means that protect both utilities and consumers. 11. Expand the ability of electric cooperatives to independently purchase local renewable electricity and take other steps to reduce carbon pollution. 12. Modernize energy infrastructure to enhance community-based resilience and integrate distributed energy resources. Energy Efficiency 13. Expand demand side savings from efficiency and conservation for all energy types. 14. Support ongoing and sustainable funding for weatherization and renewable energy assistance to low-income households, including those from coal-dominated economies, so that all Coloradans have access to comfortable and affordable homes. 15. Support ongoing and sustainable funding for programs that assist communities in transition from coal-dominated economies. 16. Provide counties and statutory cities and towns with the same authority held by home rule cities to implement local energy conservation policies and programs. Transportation 17. Ensure effective implementation of Colorado’s vehicle emissions standards and other regulatory and programmatic activities designed to reduce carbon emissions from vehicles. 18. Implement the 2020 Colorado Electric Vehicle Plan and other efforts to increase electrification of all motor vehicles. 19. Increase funding and policy incentives for multimodal transportation and multimodal-friendly development statewide. 4 20. Incentivize and select mobility alternatives, including movement of both people and goods, based on energy efficiency and environmental costs and benefits. Fossil Fuel Extraction Activities 21. Expand monitoring and reduction of the full life cycle emissions from fossil fuel extractive industry activities. Solid Waste Reduction 22. Grant CDPHE the authority to implement a plan for meeting Colorado’s statewide and regional solid waste diversion goals. 23. Reduce the use of disposable/single-use products and promote the reuse of materials, including construction and demolition waste. 24. Foster infrastructure, policies, incentives, and programs for reuse, recycling, and composting. General 25. Encourage the adoption of climate-positive innovations like telecommuting, drawing from the lessons learned during the coronavirus pandemic, to substantially reduce air and carbon pollution. 26. Promote proactive programs and efforts that improve the resilience and adaptability of Colorado communities in the face of natural disasters and other major challenges associated with climate change, including ensuring that disaster stabilization and recovery efforts result in reduced carbon pollution and improved resilience to future disasters. 27. Optimize the potential for carbon sequestration through regenerative agriculture, improved soil health, and forest management. 28. Incorporate equity, accessibility, and just transition considerations into climate policies and actions. 29. Encourage investments that achieve climate-positive solutions, including policies that encourage entities investing public dollars to consider partial or full divestment as part of their investment strategies. 30. Maintain protections and authorities currently provided under environmental laws like the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Clean Water Act.