Meeting_Body
AD HOC SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE
NOVEMBER 16, 2016
Subject/Action
SUBJECT: COUNTYWIDE SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM UPDATE
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE Countywide Sustainability Program update.
Issue
ISSUE
In December 2012, the Metro Board of Directors adopted the Countywide Sustainability Planning Policy (CSPP) which, among other items, directed the preparation of a Sustainability Annual Report. This report provides an update on issues related to the CSPP and prompts discussion of implementation priorities going forward.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
CSPP Background
The Board-adopted CSPP creates an overall framework for sustainability for Metro and directs action to incorporate sustainability in all aspects of Metro’s planning, programming and project delivery. The policy establishes three principles: connecting people and places, creating community value, and conserving resources. In addition, the policy establishes Metro’s interest and role in shaping how people experience living, working and recreating in Los Angeles County including the economy, community, environment, and sense of place.
The CSPP and its accompanying implementation plan reflect the thinking and the political and legislative forces in play at the time of its adoption in 2012. Four years later, the policy background particularly at the state level, Metro’s own priorities and projects and the broader realm of sustainable transportation, especially related to technology, have changed considerably.
New Climate Legislation
The CSPP was explicitly and intentionally responsive to state climate policy including AB 32 (2006) and SB 375 (2008). The California legislature this year passed several new bills related to climate change that have broad implications for the state. State climate policy also impacts Metro in a number of ways including funding and potential direct regulation, as well as providing impetus and support for Metro sustainability policies. The newly-adopted Senate Bill 32 and Assembly Bill 197 extend and update California’s policies on global climate change and set a framework for subsequent regulations and programming. Key legislation can be broadly summarized as follows:
• SB 32 (Pavley) extends AB 32 (2006, Nunez), by extending the horizon date from 2020 to 2030.
• At the same time, SB 32 also significantly deepened the targets for greenhouse gas emission reduction by 2030 and 2050.
• AB 197 (Garcia) impacts climate change programs by creating new legislative oversight, and prioritizing certain types of emission reductions over others.
The state is on track to exceed the original 2020 goal. However, the state must cut emissions nearly in half from the 2009 peak to achieve the new 2030 target from SB 32. A Board box was prepared that reviewed the ramifications of these and other new climate related laws in detail (Attachment A). The scope and scale of the new target and the steep level of change necessary to meet it is best illustrated by the chart here:
Source: California Air Resources Board, 2016
Sustainability Annual Report and Performance Metrics
A key on-going sustainability implementation item, the 2016 Sustainability Annual Report documents progress made toward achieving sustainability goals for the region (Attachment A). Included in the report are case studies from throughout the county that highlight the sustainability principles adopted by Metro in the CSPP. These case studies serve as inspiration for future, multi-benefit projects and include details about how each project was funded and implemented, as well as lessons learned. The report also provides an update on the status of various Metro policies, plans and projects that support the CSPP sustainability goals.
In the 2015 Annual Report, a set of Countywide Performance Metrics accompanied the program metrics section of the report. The Performance Metrics measured various aspects of sustainability countywide, influenced by both Metro activities and activities outside of Metro’s influence. In July 2015, the Ad Hoc Sustainability Committee directed staff to consider new metrics, including equity, job access, technology, vehicle ownership, activity centers, bicycle and pedestrian safety, emerging technologies and shared mobility, environmental justice and income in Los Angeles County. This will allow Metro to obtain a more comprehensive measure of sustainability countywide. Metro anticipates bringing on board a consultant in the first quarter of calendar-year 2017 for the development of the 2017 Annual Report and Performance Metrics.
Potential Update to Implementation Items in CSPP
The 2012 CSPP identified an implementation plan that specified 22 discrete steps to integrate sustainability into Metro actions. As noted above, many of these action items are in progress or have been completed. New and updated implementation steps are needed to continue to enact the goals of the CSPP and respond to the changing landscape of climate laws, new technologies and mobility options that exist today. Following discussion by the committee at this meeting, staff would update the implementation items to align with current needs and priorities and report back at the next committee meeting where committee action on the revised implementation items would be anticipated. An updated implementation program would include recently committed activities such as the Urban Greening Implementation Action Plan/demonstration projects, the Parks Access Plan, and updates/improvements to Sustainability Performance Metrics. Further activities may include additional coordination with regional partners around newly emerging state policies related to SB 375, CEQA transportation impact analysis, and the development of the AB 32 Scoping Plan.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
As discussed above, staff anticipates an item at the next Ad Hoc Sustainability Committee meeting to consider a revised and updated set of CSPP implementation actions.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - 2016 Sustainability Annual Report
Attachment B - Board Box on New State Climate Legislation
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Katie Lemmon, Transportation Planning Manager (213) 922-7441
Jacob Lieb, Sustainability Policy Manager, (213) 922-4132
Diego Cardoso, Executive Officer, (213) 922-3076
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Therese W. McMillan, Chief Planning Officer, (213) 922-7077
