CC SR 20191106 05 - Balanced Energy SolutionsRANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 11/06/2018
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA DESCRIPTION:
Consideration and possible action to adopt a resolution supporting balance and local
control of energy solutions
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Adopt Resolution No. 2019___; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES SUPPORTING BALANCED ENERGY
SOLUTIONS AND THE MAINTAINING OF LOCAL CONTROL OF ENERGY
SOLUTIONS.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Octavio Silva, Senior Planner
REVIEWED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, Director of Community Development
APPROVED BY: Doug Willmore, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Resolution No. 2019-__ (page A-1)
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
In an effort to reduce the state’s carbon footprint, the state Legislature and energy and
utility agencies have been pursuing ambitious goals for statewide carbon neutrality. Last
year, then-Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 100, which mandates relying
entirely on zero-emission energy sources for the provision of the state’s electricity by
2045. As a leader in climate policy, California has made great strides to combat climate
change, but many of these policies are formulated at the state level without considering
their effects on local jurisdictions and their residents, including the freedom and
flexibility to achieve the state’s goals in ways that respect and take into account the
unique needs of each community.
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes has adopted a number of existing policies, plans and
programs that demonstrate its ongoing commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions, and to promote sustainable and energy efficient practices. In 2017, the City
adopted its Emissions Reduction Action Plan (ERAP), outlining specific measures to
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reduce GHG emissions, including, but not limited to, stimulating the market for electric
vehicles, encouraging transit use, and developing land use strategies that encourage
projects that mix land uses, such as commercial and residential. The preparation of the
ERAP was a collaborative effort with the South Bay Cities Council of Governments
(SBCCOG) that included regional measures to reduce GHG emissions and promote
energy reduction, but which were also considerate of the City’s character and
community needs.
By mandating the method by which GHG emissions and energy reduction goals are to
be met, the state’s efforts undermine the City’s adopted plans and policies, and also
erode local control over such matters. As such, Staff recommends that the City Council
adopt the draft resolution (Attachment A) supporting a balanced approach to energy
solutions within the state.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative is available for the City
Council’s consideration:
1. Do not adopt Resolution No. 2019__, and provide Staff with additional
direction.
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RESOLUTION NO. 2019-__
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
RANCHO PALOS VERDES SUPPORTING BALANCED ENERGY
SOLUTIONS AND MAINTAINING LOCAL CONTROL OVER
ENERGY SOLUTIONS
WHEREAS, California’s energy policies are critical to reducing greenhouse gas
emissions and reducing the impact of climate change on our citizens; and ,
WHEREAS, the state legislature and state and county agencies are increasingly
proposing new legislation and regulations eliminating choice of energy by mandating
technologies to power commercial and residential buildings and public and private fleets,
including transit and long-haul trucking, as a strategy to achieve the state’s climate goals;
and,
WHEREAS, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes has adopted a number of existing
policies, plans and programs that demonstrate its ongoing commitment to reduce
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and to promote sustainable and energy-efficient
practices; and,
WHEREAS, the need for clean, affordable and reliable energy to attract and retain
local businesses, create jobs and spur economic development is vital to our City’s success
in a highly competitive and increasingly regional and global marketplace; and.
WHEREAS, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, its residents and businesses value
local control and the right to choose the policies and investments that most affordably and
efficiently enable them to comply with state requirements; and,
WHEREAS, building and vehicle technology mandates undermine the City’s
adopted plans and policies, eliminate local control and customer choice, suppress
innovation, reduce reliability and unneces sarily increase costs for Rancho Palos Verdes
residents and businesses; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes understands that relying on a single
energy delivery system unnecessarily increases vulnerabilities to natural and man-made
disasters, and that a diversity of energy delivery systems and resources contribute to
greater reliability and community resilience; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes understands the need to mitigate the
impacts of climate change and is committed to doing its part to help the state achieve its
climate goals, but requires the flexibility to do so in a manner that is consistent with
adopted plans and policies and which best serves the needs of its residents and
businesses.
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Resolution No. 2019-__
Page 2 of 2
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE, AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: The facts set forth in the recitals of this Resolution are true and correct
and are incorporated herein by references as though set forth in full.
Section 2: The City of Rancho Palos Verdes supports efforts that retain local
control by allowing all technologies and energy resources that can power buildings and fuel
vehicles, and also meet or exceed emissions-reductions regulations.
Section 3: The City Clerk shall certify to the passage, approval, and adoption of
this Resolution, and shall cause this Resolution and her certification to be entered in the
Book of Resolutions of the City Council.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 6th day of November 2019.
_________________________________
Jerry Duhovic, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
Emily Colborn, City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES )
I, EMILY COLBORN, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, do hereby certify th at
the above Resolution No. 2019-__, was duly and regularly passed and adopted by the said
City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on November 6, 2019.
__________________________________
City Clerk
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