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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 7/27/2021 - Memorandum From Our Climate Future Team Re: July Our Climate Future UpdateEnvironmental Services 222 Laporte Ave PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970-221-6600 fcgov.com MEMORANDUM DATE: July 21, 2021 TO: Mayor and City Council THRU: Darin Atteberry, City Manager Kyle Stannert, Deputy City Manager Climate Action Plan (CAP) Executive Team0F 1 FROM: Our Climate Future Team1F 2 RE: July Our Climate Future Update Bottom Line: The purpose of this memo is to provide information to Council about climate efforts by the City and community, including information about Our Climate Future (OCF) implementation, connections between OCF and State efforts, an update on the Shift campaign, and other highlights from the past month. Our Climate Future (OCF) Implementation Our Climate Future, a combined planning process that updated the City’s Climate Action Plan, Energy Policy, and Road to Zero Waste Plan, has launched into implementation by forming two new staff teams to begin implementing the 2021/22 OCF Tactical Plan. OCF is also getting support from both City Council through the work identifying Council Priorities and from some of the State’s new Bills. Our Climate Future and Council Priorities: Many of City Council’s newly identified priorities will reinforce or support OCF Big and Next Moves, including two priorities that advance OCF “critical path” strategies that will be crucial to the community achieving its goals: o Accelerate composting (curbside and business) o Advance transit initiatives that remove barriers Additional Council priorities as adopted by Resolution 2021-077 related to OCF Big and Next Moves are shown at the end of this memo. State movement on OCF-related Bills: Several Bills passed the State legislature that will support our community’s climate, waste, and energy goals, address community priorities, and advance the OCF Big Moves. A few significant examples are: o HB21-1162 – Management of Plastic Products Bans plastic bags, puts a fee on paper bags in large grocers and retailers and bans polystyrene food containers in certain retail food establishments. The Bill 1 Jackie Kozak Thiel, Chief Sustainability Officer; Theresa Connor, Interim Utilities Executive Director; Caryn Champine, Planning, Development, and Transportation (PDT) Director; Lindsay Ex, Environmental Services Director 2 The Our Climate Future Team includes staff from across the City. This month’s contributors include Katy McLaren, Acting Climate Program Manager; Jensen Morgan, Sr Sustainability Specialist; John Phelan, Energy Services Sr. Manager, and Molly Saylor, Sr Sustainability Specialist. 2 also repeals the State’s Pre-Emption law. Changes will be phased in between 2023 and 2024. Staff will update Council on the details and impacts of this Bill to the Fort Collins Disposable Bag Ordinance in August after detailed review. o Energy related bills HB21-1266 – Requires Platte River Power Authority to complete a Clean Energy Plan by August 2022 (already planned). Establishes a state-level environmental justice task force with funds from greenhouse gas emission fees. HB21-1286 – Establishes a building benchmarking program and energy performance standards for commercial buildings greater than 50,000 square feet. These requirements will be aligned with the City’s Building Energy and Water Scoring program which is already set to eventually include commercial and multifamily buildings down to 5,000 square feet. Utilities staff may also participate in the state’s task force to establish performance standards. SB21-261 – Removes the 120% size limitation for solar systems. Does not apply to municipal utilities; however, staff will propose revised code language for 2022. Tactical Plan July Highlight o Efficient Emissions Free Buildings Next Move #2 – Develop an energy performance path for new construction to zero carbon building by 2030. Fort Collins and Larimer County will be updating their adopted building codes to conform with the 2021 codes. As in prior processes, a Code Adoption Review Committee will oversee the process and propose updates to local building code amendments. The 2021 International Energy Conservation Code will drive significant improvements in efficiency after Council consideration this year and implementation early in 2022. Accomplishments and Updates The Shift campaign successfully partnered with FC Moves in 2020 on Shift Your Ride. Now, the campaign is partnering with Utilities for a 2021 focus on reducing water consumption via household behavior change. An initial campaign is expected September 2021. Electric Buses: Fort Collins will receive a $3.52 million federal funding boost in support of expanding the electric bus fleet. 2020 Energy Policy Annual Update: The Energy Policy and 2020 annual update are completed showing annual and cumulative results. The infographic and the full report are available at fcgov.com/utilities/what-we-do. Recycling markets have recovered to the point that there are currently no tip fees for haulers to deliver recyclables to the Larimer County Recycling Center! While this is a good news item, future volatility in markets is always possible. Next Steps Formally release the community carbon inventory and municipal inventory for the City organization in the fall. Memo on the impacts of HB21-1162 and Fort Collins’ Disposable Bag Ordinance planned for August. 3 Council Priorities (Resolution 2021-077) and related Our Climate Future (OCF) Initiatives Council Priority OCF Big and/or Next Move Advance transit initiatives that remove barriers Expand local and regional transit (critical path, CTC3) Advance Regionalism Continue and expand durable partners (SLCP1) Accelerate composting Universal composting (critical path, ZWN3) Explore climate emergency messaging and action Big Move 3 – Climate Resilient Community River flows, bird species, restoration Habitat protections (HNS1, 2, and 3) Improved air quality Air quality information accessibility (CRC2) Real progress on road to zero waste Big Move 2 – Zero Waste Neighborhoods Xeriscape Expand water efficiency (CRC3) Enhanced recycling education Expand recycling education (ZWN1) Develop a circular economy plan Big Move 10 – Zero Waste Economy Plan for community recovery Support small business and workforce (HLEJ2,5) Improved tree policies and planting Develop urban forest strategic plan (HNS4) Homelessness initiatives Continue the Housing First model (HAH4) Implementation of 15-minute community concept Complete neighborhoods (LWPN2) Table 1. Council priority alignment with OCF strategies. Note: Acronyms (e.g. LWPN2) indicate specific strategies (Next Moves) outlined in the OCF Plan and 2021/2022 Tactical Plan.