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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2021.02.09 @600 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO GENERAL PLAN UPDATE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Meeting held at: Teleconference meeting Tuesday, February 9, 2021 6:00 p.m. Call to Order Meeting called to order at 6:04 p.m. Roll Call COMMITTEE PRESENT: Rehman Baig (6:37pm), Roderick Bovee, Kristy Camacho, Robert Cavalieri, Nick Maiden, Sophie Martin, Julie Ann Murphy, Sam Shihadeh, John Skerry, Bill Zemke, Steven Yee (7:05pm) ALTERNATE PRESENT: Patricia Murray, Alan Wong Public Comment None. Consent Calendar 1. Approval of the Meeting Minutes of December 8, 2020 Committee Member Bill Zemke moved and Committee Member Sam Shihadeh seconded a motion to approve the meeting minutes of January 12, 2021 as submitted. The motion passed. New Business 2. Review the Sea Level Rise Forum Diana Benitez, Raimi + Associates, discussed the Sea Level Rise Forum with the Committee. Committee comments:  Sophie Martin thought it was a good event and passed along positive feedback and appreciated that the topic is being addressed by the City.  Kristy Camacho felt the presentation was informative. She noted a lack of diversity by speakers and attendees and suggested further messaging to the community.  Ms. Benitez noted the team will be working on the Climate Action Plan and will be preparing additional outreach materials to educate and inform the community.  Julie Ann Murphy appreciated the range of information/solutions provided and looks forward to seeing better access to the creek and the bay. 3. Discuss Sustainability and Climate Change and Review the Sustainability Policy Framework Sami Taylor, Raimi + Associates, provided an overview of sustainability. She described Green House Gases (GHG) and why it is changing the climate. Climate impacts in South San Francisco include: sea level rise; excessive heat days; poor air quality and periods of drought and flood. California passed SB 32 which requires reduction of emissions by 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. GHG sources include: transportation, natural gas, electricity, solid waste, water and waste water treatment. She reviewed the emission profile for SSF, with transportation and nonresidential being the largest contributors. Off road emissions include construction equipment and landscape maintenance. SSF experienced an 18% increase in GHG emissions from 2005, but only by 3% per service population. She noted that the 2020 GHG reduction target has been met and we are now working towards the 2030 target of 40% below 1990 levels and the 2050 goal of 80% below 1990 levels. Ms. Taylor reviewed the 2040 GHG emission forecast which projects growth in population and jobs and a 2% increase in emissions. Committee discussion: what GHG reduction target should the City select? Most Committee members responded with support for carbon neutrality goal by 2045. Committee comments:  Are the calculations the same from 2005 and 2017? Ms. Taylor will confirm.  Roderick Bovee asked about the breakdown of the projected increase with General Plan growth. Sami noted that energy is projected to go down, with transportation projected to go up.  Public comment – does the emission include airport emissions. Ms. Taylor responded that it does not include SFO emissions, the numbers include operations that occur within the SSF community. For commercial, it is just what is produced within city-limits? Ms. Taylor responded yes, just what is produced within city boundaries. Billy Gross, City of SSF Planning, noted that the SFO runway is not within city limits, but some commercial/maintenance buildings are and those would be counted.  Public comment that the City should consider going carbon negative.  Sophie Martin agreed that the City should consider an aggressive approach to reducing emissions. Ms. Taylor reviewed the city’s exiting plans and policies relating to sustainability. She noted that joining Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE) was a big step to address GHG. She reviewed community comments received relating to sustainability through the General Plan update process. Sustainability will be incorporated into all of the General Plan elements. Ms. Taylor reviewed options to reduce emissions including new building green building standards, all electric home requirements, and onsite non-potable water systems. She also provided examples of options to improve the performance of existing buildings. Ms. Taylor reviewed options to achieve zero emissions in all buildings by 2050 with tenant protection requirements. She discussed options for a resilient and fossil fuel free energy system with an emerging practice of microgrids, options to make the waste water treatment plan more efficient and options to recycle wastewater. Committee comments:  Rehman Baig asked about the cost of going to all electric and does it need to be partnered with solar to reduce overall costs.  Public comment that South San Francisco Scavenger does not have an industrial composting operation and one should be included in the plan.  Steven Yee asked about rain capture opportunities.  Billy Gross noted that staff is having these conversations with City staff as well.  Roderick Bovee asked about goals of preserving and planting new native habitat. Ms. Benitez noted this is included in the Conservation policy framework.  Public comment that many non-native plants are planted on private properties and would like to see removal of invasive species and establishment of native species.  Roderick Bovee asked if the City can ban the sale of non-native plants in the City limits.  Julie Ann Murphy asked how SSF can be measured and defined as an environmental leader. Asked about tackling transportation aggressively to achieve leadership goal.  Rehman Baig agrees with aggressive goals in one target and addressing the others as well.  Ms. Taylor noted that the plan needs to address areas the City has direct control (building code), but not over the choices people make (electric cars, public transportation). The City can work to move behavior (more EV chargers, connection to transportation, etc.).  Sophie Martin noted that dealing with existing buildings is the most difficult to address. She noted concern that more people/businesses are buying diesel generators due to power shutdowns.  Public comment asked if the team has reached out to Berkley’s Cool Climate Network.  John Skerry agreed that we want to be an environmental leader, but wasn’t sure how to get there and what would make an impact.  Ms. Taylor noted that to reach carbon neutral goal, we need to address all sectors while allowing for a growing economy. This is just the beginning of the process with more information to come to see how different measures address emissions.  Billy Gross noted that we will have more data to help inform the outcomes and impacts and at this point we want to make sure we are on the right path.  Nick Maiden would like to see cost effective information on the options. He also asked about wind power generation.  Bob Cavalieri noted additional education showing the public the benefits of these measures is important.  Roderick Bovee asked if Genetech has carbon neutral goals in its master plan. Sophie Martin responded that Genetech has aggressive carbon reduction emission goals, which apply to the entire global company network (company based in Switzerland). She noted that Genetech is also manufacturing medicine in addition to research and development which uses a lot of energy.  Julie Ann Murphy agreed there should be special considerations for biotech and noted desire to retain manufacturing and industrial uses and they should also have special considerations. She asked if construction recycling is required with demolition projects. Billy Gross noted that City has had a construction recycling ordinance for many years.  Billy Gross noted that the biotech builders are expecting these new requirements, just want to know what they are early in the process.  Public comment suggested using caution to give special consideration to biotech, but to consider on a case by case basis.  Sophie Martin suggested having standards based on land use types. 4. Next Steps Ms. Benitez reviewed next steps in the General Plan update process. The notice of preparation for the EIR has been posted and a scoping meeting is scheduled for February 17, 2021. Community meetings will be conducted in March to discuss the policy frameworks. The meetings will be targeted to specific topics and three sub-area meetings will be held. The policy framework documents will also be posted on the project website for comments. Also started the Zoning Update process. Staff Comments Lisa Costa Sanders noted the City Clerk is recruiting for a resident to represent District 5 on the CAC. Staff will inform the Committee of upcoming community meetings. CAC Member Comments None. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:01 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for March 9, 2021 at 6:00 pm.