RPVCCA_CC_SR_2013_06_04_03_Local_Gov_Beacon_Award_Recognition_ProgramCITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
MEMORANDUM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
FROM: JOEL ROJAS, COMMUNITY
DATE: JUNE 4, 2013
SUBJECT: PARTICIPATION IN THE INSTITUTE FOR LOCAL
GOVERNMENT'S BEACON AWARD RECOGNITION PROGRAM
REVIEWED: CAROLYN LEHR, CITY MANAGERc.9--
Project Manager: Leza Mikhail, Associate Planner~
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution No. 2013-_ supporting the City of Rancho Palos Verdes' participation in
the Beacon Award recognition program.
BACKGROUND
There are new state laws that require General Plan Updates to include Greenhouse Gas
(GHG) emission reduction goals and policies to achieve GHG emission. reduction targets,
policies for adaption to climate change, and a commitment to adopt a climate action plan.
Thus, in conjunction with the City's ongoing efforts to update the City's General Plan, City
Staff has been working with the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) to
develop a Climate Action Plan for the City that will include strategies to reduce GHG
emissions. As part of the Climate Action Plan preparation, the City has partnered with the
SBCCOG to conduct municipal and communitywide GHG inventories for the years 2005
and 2007 for the purpose of establishing the City's baseline.
In January 2013, the SBCCOG approached the City requesting participation in a statewide
program, called the "Beacon Award" which recognizes cities efforts toward reducing GHG
emissions, saving energy and adopting policies and programs that promote sustainability.
Staff is bringing this item forward to the City Council to obtain the Council's concurrence to
participate in this statewide recognition program.
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DISCUSSION
Purpose and Benefits of the Beacon Award
The Beacon Award: Local Leadership toward Solving Climate Change is a newly
established program of the Institute for Local Government (ILG), a non-profit research and
education affiliate of the League of California Cities and the California State Associate of
Counties. ILG has created this program to help cities gain recognition for their efforts toward
reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy use. The program is designed to piggyback
on the City's existing efforts which would translate to little or no fiscal impact or additional
staff time while providing special recognition at League of California Cities and California
State Association of Counties events. Participating in the Beacon Award program will
increase the visibility for the City of Rancho Palos Verdes within our region and statewide,
providing an opportunity for the City to showcase its existing efforts to promote sustainability
and save energy, while working toward one of the three award levels (see attached flyer).
Participation Requirements
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 (currently before the City Council);
• Designate a lead staff person as a point of contact (Associate Plal'.lner, Leza
Mikhail);
• Submit the URL to the city's baseline greenhouse gas emissions inventory for
agency facilities and the community as a whole (Municipal and communitywide
greenhouse gas inventories have been completed for Rancho Palos Verdes for the
years 2005 and 2007).
• Prepare, or commit to prepare, a climate action plan that includes actions in each of
the Best Practice Areas (In progress).
• Demonstrate compliance with AB 939, the California Integrated Waste Management
Act of 1989 (Joined LARA in 2002 for implementing AB 939 and RPV has an annual
reported diversion rate of 70%, exceeding the state-mandated 50% source
reduction); 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 (Completed through the City's
Participation in Southern California Edison's Energy Leadership Partnership
Program, preparation of an Energy Audit of City Municipal Facilities, preparation of
an Energy Action Plan, and the promotion of the City's Voluntary Green Building
Program).
Participating cities and counties will be recognized on the Beacon Award website with
Silver, Gold and Platinum achievement, specifying measureable reductions. The program
will also recognize participants for interim accomplishments, and will provide certificates and
other materials to display in agency facilities. Awards are achieved through the tiered scale
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of criteria that can be found in the attached Beacon Award flyer. There is no deadline or
timeline for meeting award level criterion.
Staff believes that it would be beneficial to participate in the Beacon Award program
because it will facilitate Staff completing the required update to the City's General Plan
related to the reduction of GHG emissions, it will result in further energy savings at City
facilities which translates to City cost savings, participation is encouraged by the SBCCOG
and it would involve little or no additional staff time while providing special recognition to the
City. Thus, Staff is recommending that the City Council adopt the attached Resolution No.
2013-_, supporting the City of Rancho Palos Verdes' participation in the Beacon Award
recognition program.
CONCLUSION
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes is currently undertaking policies, programs and activities
to reduce GHG emissions and saving energy which also meets some of the award levels of
the Beacon Award. In addition, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes is working with the South
Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) to develop a Climate Action Plan that will
include strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In an effort to expand the City's
effort and share its experiences with other communities, and be recognized for its
accomplishments, Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached Resolution
approving participation in the voluntary Institute for Local Government's recognition
program, the Beacon Award: Local Leadership toward Solving Climate Change.
FISCAL IMPACT
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 Edison and Southern California Gas Company, under the auspices of the
California Public Utilities Commission. Program participation is voluntary and may increase
the Rancho Palos Verdes competitiveness for future state or other grant funding. Staff
participation in the program would piggyback on existing energy savings efforts which would
translate to little or no fiscal impact.
ALTERNATIVES
In addition to Staffs recommendation, the following alternative is available for consideration
by the City Council:
1) Determine that participation in the Beacon Award Local Leadership program is not
desirable at this time.
Attachments
• Draft C.C. Resolution No. 2013-_
• Beacon Award Flyer
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Draft C.C. Resolution No. 2013-
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RESOLUTION NO. 2013-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO
PALOS VERDES AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION IN THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT'S BEACON AWARD, PART OF THE STATEWIDE
ENERGY EFFICIENCY COLLABORATIVE, THAT PROMOTES AND
RECOGNIZES LOCAL LEADERSHIP TOWARD SOLVING CLIMATE
CHANGE.
WHEREAS, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes is undertaking policies, programs and
activities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save energy; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes has completed an Energy Action Plan
that outlines community and municipal policies and activities that will help achieve energy
efficiency; 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 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 Rancho Palos Verdes is working with the South Bay Cities
Council of Governments (SBCCOG) to develop a Climate Action Plan that will include
strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Municipal and communitywide
greenhouse gas inventories have been completed for the City of Rancho Palos Verdes for
the years 2005 and 2007. The City of Rancho Palos Verdes has completed an Energy
Action Plan that supports the Energy Leader Partnership program; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes 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
Rancho Palos Verdes to be recognized for its efforts to promote sustainability, reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and save energy; and,
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NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE, AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: That the City of Rancho Palos Verdes agrees to participate in the
Beacon Award: Local Leadership Toward Solving Climate Change; and,
Section 2: That the City of Rancho Palos Verdes will work towards achieving the
Silver, Gold and/or Platinum Beacon Award levels; and,
Section 3: That the completed Energy Action P~an will serve to guide the City of
Rancho Palos Verdes in future energy efficiency actions and initiatives that will be
incorporated in a long term policy document such as the General Plan, climate action plan
or sustainability plan.
Section 4: The time within which judicial review of the decision reflected in this
Resolution must be sought is governed by Section 1094.6 of the California Code of Civil
Procedure and other applicable short periods of limitation.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 4th day of June 2013.
Mayor
Attest:
City Clerk
State of California )
County of Los Angeles ) ss
City or Rancho Palos Verdes )
I, Carla Morreale, the City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, do hereby certify
that the above Resolution No. 2013-_ was duly and regularly passed and adopted by the said
City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on June 4, 2013.
City Clerk
Resolution No. 2011-
Page 2 3-6
Beacon Award Flyer
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Local Leadership
Toward Solving Climate Change
local leadership Toward
Solving Climate Change
The Beacon Award: Local Leadership toward
Solving Climate Change is a statewide
program recognizing cities and counties
that are working to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, save energy and adopt policies
and programs that promote sustainability.
Learn more about the Beacon Award at:
www.ca-ilg.org/BeaconAward.
The Beacon Award program is part of the
Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative
(SEEC), a new alliance to help cities and
counties reduce greenhouse ga~ emissions
and save energy. SEEC is a collaboration
· between three statewide non-profit
organizations, including the Institute for
Local Government, and California's four
Investor Owned Utilities.learn more about
SEEC at: www.califorr\iaseec;.org.
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PROUD PARTICIPANT
local leadership Toward
Solving Climate Change
Becoming a Beacon Award
Participant is Easy
To participate in the Beacon Award program,
interested cities and counties will complete
a simple online application. The application
asks the agency to designate a contact
person and provide the status of greenhouse
gas inventories and climate action plans for
the agency and community (completed or
promised to complete). There is no deadline
to apply; applications will be accepted on
an ongoing basis. Finally, the applicant's
governing body adopts a resolution
committing the agency to participate in
the program. A sample resolution and
staff report are available on line.
Learn more about the Beacon
Award at www.ca-ilg.org/
BeaconAward.
Riverside is proud to participate
ln the Beacon Award program.
-Rori Loveridge, Mayor
Riverside
Being a Partidpant-
Celebrating Your Progress!
Reaching a full Beacon Award level is a journey
that will take time. As a Beacon Award program
participant, ILG will provide support and track
and celebrate your agency's progress toward
achieving a Beacon Award. This includes:
~ A participant profile page on ILG's website
about your agency's sustainability activities.
kl! Use of the "Proud Participant" logo window
clings for your agency facilities and an
electronic version for your website.
~ Sample press release announcing
participation, with distribution assistance
upon request.
m Video interviews with local officials and staff
posted on your participant profile page telling
the story of your agency's Beacon Award
participation and sustainability activities.
ll':l Written stories highlighting your agency's
sustainability activities.
~ Promotion through ILG's online Sustainability
News, social media and communication
outlets.
i:l'l Recognition for interim accomplishments as
. your agency works towards reaching a full
Beacon Award level. This includes recognition
for activities in the 10 Best Practice Areas,
energy efficiency and gre,enhouse gas
reductions in agency facilities.
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Participants receive recognition when
they complete the award level criteria.
Silver Beacon Award
Agency facilities and operations
Greenhouse gas reduction
Electricity and natural gas savings
Community
Greenhouse gas reduction
Energy efficiency
Best Practice Areas
Gold Beacon Award
Agency facilities and operations
Greenhouse gas reduction
Electricity and natural gas savings
Community
Greenhouse gas reduction
Energy efficiency
Best Practice Areas
Platinum Beacon Award
Agency facilities and operations
Greenhouse gas reduction
Electricity and natural gas savings
Community
Greenhouse gas reduction
Energy efficiency
Best Practice Areas
5% in agency facilities and operations
5% in agency facilities and operations from energy efficiency retrofits
5% in the community as a whole
One activity that promotes energy efficiency in the community
One activity in each of the 10 Best Practice Areas
10% in agency facilities and operations
10% in agency facilities and operations from energy
10% in the community as a whole
Two activities that promote energy efficiency in the community
Two activities in each of the 10 Best Practice Areas
20% in agency facilities and operations
20% in agency facilities and operations from energy efficiency retrofits
20% in the community as a whole
Four activities that promote energy efficiency in the community
Three activities in each of the 10 Best Practice Areas
For more about Best Practice Areas, see www.ca-ilg.org/ClimatePractices.
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PROUD PARTICIPANT
Arcata is proud to be part of the
Beacon Award program.
-Mark Wheetley, Council Member
Arcata
local leadership Toward
Solving Climate Change
It is in the interest ofall counties
Simi Valley is pleased to
participate in the Beacon Award
program because it offers us a
chance to show our statewide
leadership in sustainability.
-Glen Becerra, Council Member
. Simi Valley
:~i~i;~~st~;;:~t~~~:~~:r; 1~~!. . . •··.•···•;•·;~,~~~~f J~{fJari,·. couhcHMerhber·
-Greg Cox, Supervisor
San Diego County
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The Beacon Award program is a
tremendous step forward in making
sure good practices and success
stories are shared.
-Michael Sweeney, Mayor
Hayward
Visit www.ca-ilg.org/BeaconAward to learn about
current participants and program resources.
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The Beacon Award program is funded by California utility
ratepayers and administered by Pacific Gas and Electric Company,
San Diego Gas & Electric Company, Southern California Edison
and Southern California Gas Company under the auspices of the
California Public Utilities Commission.
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