CCMIN 12212021 - Laserfiche WebLink

In response to Councilmember Narum, Ms. Campbell advised Action P5 is about the zero-emissions vehicle infrastructure that includes expanding publicly available Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers and modifying the code to require new housing units such as apartments, condos, mixed-use, and single-family residences to have that infrastructure available. Councilmember Narum inquired about converting the Wheels busses to either electric or hydrogen and would like to capture the benefit of that in the CAP. Ms. Campbell advised staff can track the transition of the buses and add it to the progress report. Councilmember Narum expressed appreciation for the amount of community outreach and understands the need to require solar panels on new construction to lessen the need for solar farms that take up much of the state's open space. She advised the City Council has heard concern regarding the resilience of the electrical system. She encouraged staff to keep the protection of California's open spaces in mind. In response to Councilmember Balch, Ms. Campbell explained covered projects are subject to a specific set of green building requirements in the City's Municipal Code Section 17.5 and would include new homes or additions over 2,000 square feet. CAP 2.0 would change the code to cover all new homes and all new commercial buildings. CAP 2.0 is capturing anything that is not a low-rise residential. In response to Councilmember Balch, Ms. Campbell advised that requiring solar is largely for new construction but does kick in with additions. The City Council can determine the nuance of older buildings when the code is brought back to the City Council. In response to Councilmember Balch, Assistant to the City Manager Becky Hopkins reported she checked in with East Bay Community Energy (EBCE) staff and advised they have never had a non-profit change their default. She reported Pleasanton's current opt-out rate for residential is 4.4% and noted between the four cities transitioning the lowest is 2.5% and the highest is 5.39%. She further reported Pleasanton maintains a slightly higher residential participation rate at 95.5% compared to the rest of the territory which is at 95%. Part of the CAP 2.0 tracking process will allow for an adjustment if the number has changed. Ms. Campbell explained when the GHG inventory and projections were calculated staff account for how much savings they believed each action would have. She advised staff did not assume that 100% of people would stay in the program and account for a 5% opt-out rate. She explained if the numbers are found to not be accurate the tool can track them in real-time and adjustments to the assumption and forecasts can be made. In response to Councilmember Balch, Ms. Campbell explained three full-time equivalents (FTE) is the overall number. She advised 1.6 FTE would be for the primary actions and 1.4 FTE would be for the secondary actions. Councilmember Balch advised the community does support transitioning from fossil fuels but are worried about rolling blackout challenges with the grid and other issues. He hopes the City will be able to foresee how to address identified implementation challenges. He expressed appreciation for Pleasanton Unified School District(PUSD) partnering for electrification and water conservation in the Draft CAP 2.0. Councilmember Arkin advised the City is heading into the right place to get to a clean energy future. She expressed support for having an additional staff member. She suggested EV charger rebates for residential installations as an incentive. She would like to see native vegetation be added to Urban Forest Master Plan, giving higher priority to development projects that result in zero net emissions, and data on residents who both live and work in Pleasanton. She would like staff to investigate permeable asphalt to allow rainwater to percolate into the ground and take into consideration applying a thin layer of compost on open lands. In response to Councilmember Testa, Ms. Campbell advised there are State regulations and goals to get to carbon neutral by 2045. The City set an interim 2030 goal based on a linear reduction from that. She noted City Council Minutes Page 9 of 18 December 21, 2021