TITLE: Title
Public Hearing on the draft Community Climate Action Plan
PURPOSE: The purpose of this agenda item is to receive public input on the draft Community Climate Action Plan.
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DEPARTMENT: Planning
CONTACT INFORMATION: Patricia McGuire - 919-918-7327; Randy Dodd - 919-918-7326; Christina Moon - 919-918-7325
INFORMATION: In May 2014, the Board of Aldermen adopted an Energy and Climate Protection Plan to guide town operations, and created an Energy and Climate Action Task Force to prepare a companion plan for the greater Carrboro community. The community document was to include, among other things, recommendations for new Town actions in four areas that would achieve: 1) reduction of nonrenewable energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from residential and commercial buildings, 2) reduction of nonrenewable energy use associated with transportation, 3) promotion of renewable energy, and 4) better management of vegetation, soil, and impervious surfaces to capture carbon, reduce energy use in buildings, mitigate the heat island effect, and reduce stormwater runoff.
The draft Community Climate Action Plan includes a general overview of the topic, a history of the Town’s work to date to measure and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and includes recommendations in five topical areas: community integration, building energy efficiency measures, transportation measures, renewable energy measures and ecosystem protection and enhancement. The plan concludes with more specific information relating to the implementation of the recommendations, per topical area.
During discussion at the November 10th, 2015 meeting, the Board refined the scope of the draft plan and provided staff with instructions to begin a cost/benefits analysis of its recommendations. Staff provided the Board with a preliminary analysis of the fiscal impacts for the April 5th meeting. At the April 12th meeting, the Board discussed the process for considering the draft plan and staff included a strategy for conducting additional analysis to better understand the cost of different recommendations as well as their potential ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) at a significant enough rate for the Town to meet the recommended goal of a 50% reduction in per capita emissions by 2025
(Details for the April 5th meeting are available at
<https://carrboro.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=2685952&GUID=D6897A27-E827-4B5E-9F88-9E0CD2BB3AAF&Options=&Search>= .
Details for the April 12th meeting are available at <https://carrboro.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=2685952&GUID=D6897A27-E827-4B5E-9F88-9E0CD2BB3AAF&Options=&Search>= )
The purpose of this agenda item is to provide Carrboro residents with an opportunity for input on the draft Community Climate Action Plan; the scope of the plan, specific recommendations, what is important to keep and prioritize in the plan as well as providing any new recommendations to add to the plan. It is not anticipated that the Board will take formal action on the plan at this time other than to provide direction to the staff on next steps.
FISCAL & STAFF IMPACT: There are no costs associated with receiving public input; costs may be associated with future plan implementation. There will be a staff impact with pursuing additional outreach and analysis.
RECOMMENDATION:r A resolution has been provided (Attachment A) for the Board to receive public comment and direct staff to pursue additional outreach in May and provide a report to the Board in June.