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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 08-2010RESOLUTION NO. 08-2010 CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESOLUTION BY THE CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO AUTHORIZING THE ASSOCIATION OF BAY AREA GOVERNMENTS TO APPLY FOR FUNDS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO. WHEREAS, the City of South San Francisco recognizes that it is in the interest of the regional, state, and national economy to stimulate the economy; create and retain jobs; reduce fossil fuel emissions; and reduce total energy usage and improve energy efficiency within our jurisdiction; and WHEREAS, Energy Efficiency and State Energy Program (SEP) funds are available through the California Energy Commission's SEP Program for grants to eligible local governments for cost-effective energy efficiency projects; and WHEREAS, the SEP Program allows for public agencies or non-profit entities to apply for SEP funds on behalf of eligible local governments; and WHEREAS, the City of South San Francisco is eligible for SEP funding under the California Energy Commission's SEP Program; and WHEREAS, the City of South San Francisco is proposing to collaborate with the Association of Bay Area Governments to implement the energy efficiency project/s described in Exhibit A for the purpose of qualifying for SEP funds from the California Energy Commission; and WHEREAS, the City of South San Francisco has considered the application of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to the approval of the energy efficiency project/s described in Exhibit A; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that in compliance with the CEQA, the City of South San Francisco finds that the approval of the energy efficiency project/s described in Exhibit A is not a "project" under CEQA, because the Resolution does not involve any commitment to a specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment, as contemplated by Title 14, California Code of Regulations, Section 15378(b)(4)). In accordance with Section 15378(b), Subsections (4) and (5), of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines, the proposed action does not constitute a project and, therefore, is not subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act. These exceptions provide for the authorization to accept grant funding for a fiscal program to promote energy efficiency and conservation which does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant impact on the environment. Be it also resolved, that the City of South San Francisco authorizes the Association of Bay Area Governments to submit a collaborative application on its behalf to the California Energy Commission for up to $10.75 million in SEP funds for the energy efficiency project/s described in Exhibit A. Be it also resolved, if recommended for funding by the California Energy Commission, the City of South San Francisco authorizes the Association of Bay Area Governments to accept a grant award on its behalf and to enter into all necessary contracts and agreements, and amendments thereto, on its behalf to implement and carry out the project/s described in Exhibit A. I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was regularly introduced and adopted by the City Council of the City of South San Francisco at a special meeting held on the 13th day of January, 2010 by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Pedro Gonzalez, Richard A. Garbarino, and Karyl Matsumoto, Vice Mayor Kevin Mullin and Mayor Mark Addie~o NOES: N ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Nine ATTEST:, ~'~ ,~~ ,~ ~ °"..~ ~-- City f~-Perk EXHIBIT A SEP Proposal San Mateo Countywide Residential Energy Assistance Program Program Description and Budget Narrative Draft as of 11 /24/09 Program Goal Jump start the market for energy saving residential retrofit work throughout San Mateo County by achieving at least a 20% energy reduction in 1,500 homes between March 1, 2010 and February 28, 2012. Objectives • Create a countywide program through acity/county partnership to develop, implement and assess the REAP program • Educate the public about the benefits of energy efficient residences by partnering with community based organizations, civic groups, cities, neighboring counties and interested members of the public • Establish standards for building performance contractors and support required training classes • Educate local building inspectors about retrofit procedures and benefits • Provide a financing mechanism for residential energy retrofits tied to property taxes which minimizes up-front costs and keeps the loan with the property until paid off Funding Sources • San Mateo County EECBG - $500,000 • ABAG Regional State Energy Program Grant (to be submitted) - $10,750,000 total, San Mateo County share about $785,595 • CaliforniaFIRST State Energy Program Grant (to be submitted) - $16.5 million total, San Mateo County share to be determined Budget Narrative The San Mateo County REAP program has six components. Each component is described below along with the associated staffing and funding source. 1. Residential Program Design and Operation The residential energy efficiency program design, including performance standards, consumer protection policies, data collection systems and reporting along with quality assurance work, will be done through the regional component of the ABAG SEP grant. Attachment F F-1 Bidder's Authorizing Resolution If the CaliforniaFIRST SEP grant award includes county specific funds, San Mateo County will use the money (estimated to be about $300,000) for an incentive program. The city/county workgroup and the community advisory committee will develop the program with input from our marketing consultants and suggestions from the other CaliforniaFIRST pilot counties. If the ABAG grant is not awarded, then $60,000 of the County EECBG funds will be used to contract with a qualified firm to provide this service. Sonoma County and other counties have contracted for this type of support. • Staffing o There are no County staff costs associated with program design. The work will be contracted out and funded either through the ABAG grant or the County EECBG award. • Funding o County EECBG - $60,000 o CaliforniaFIRST SEP I County funds - $300,000 2. Residential Program Marketing The ABAG proposal will fund some initial marketing research with statewide data and generate some general approaches. A single regional website and a call center for all 9 Bay Area counties will also be included in the ABAG SEP grant proposal. The county and cities are responsible for developing and implementing the local outreach and education program. The key components of the San Mateo County marketing plan include: • Identify community partners -public, private, non-profit, interested citizens • Develop a Community Advisory Committee • Working jointly with San Clara County, build on the regional work undertaken by ABAG by contracting with a market research firm to develop specific target audiences and messages for residents of San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties • Develop amini-grant program for community partners to assist with outreach to specific target communities. Process will include developing an RFP, awarding grants and tracking progress and accomplishments. Potential grantees include non-profit organizations doing environmental/sustainability work, homeowner associations, professional associations, libraries and civic organizations. • Develop roles and responsibilities for other community partners and conduct training, progress reviews and provide support and follow-up as needed. • Develop and schedule promotional events/activities supported by County staff including meetings with city and county elected officials, community groups, homeowners associations and others. The County will explore using Green Jobs Attachment F F-2 Bidder's Authorizing Resolution and/or Americorp interns to support local outreach efforts sponsored by the County • Send staff to regional call center training and develop protocols and scripts to support County hotline. This activity may be done jointly with Santa Clara County. As the program develops, progress toward the 1,500 house goal will be monitored and the outreach and education program will be modified as needed based on lessons learned from the initial roll-out. • Staffing o Hire 1.0 FTE for 24 months to Coordinate marketing program, oversee mini-grants, manage outreach interns, oversee County hotline and provide outreach liaison with the cities and coordinate outreach activities with the regional program • Funding o County EECBG grant - $241,000 o ABAG SEP II Grant County funds - $460,000 3. Contractor Training and Certification The contractor training and certification component of the program will include establishing certification criteria and requirements, launch and promotion among the contractor community, initial certification and ongoing monitoring and updates to the certification list. Most of this work is included in the regional component of the ABAG proposal. To reach out to contractors in San Mateo County, staff will work with the building trades associations to promote a program launch meeting early in 2010. At this meeting, contractors will be told about the REAP program, the anticipated certification requirements and the fact that the County will issue a request for qualifications in anticipation of preparing a list of certified contractors in mid-2010. To facilitate certification of local contractors, the County will host at least one series~of the building performance certification classes in the County prior to the issuance of the request for qualifications. Some or all of this process could be done jointly with Santa Clara County as many contractors work in both counties. If the ABAG SEP II grant is not funded, the County will contract with a building certification organization to set standards and conduct training for local contractors. • Staffing o Staff support will be needed for the outreach work, but the marketing coordinator will provide that support. • Funding o County EECBG - $25,000 to host and support training classes Attachment F F-3 Bidder's Authorizing Resolution o County EECBG - $50,000 if ABAG SEP II not funded 4. Building Official Education San Mateo County will meet with local Building Official organizations such as CaIBIG to discuss how local officials could assist the REAP program. The discussion will generate options, which will be organized into a plan to be presented to the city/county oversight committee. Based on the decisions of that group, a REAP training program for local building officials will be offered and updates provided as necessary. Training and/or working group topics could include fee standardizing the permitting process for the REAP program countywide and training on reviewing reports. • Staffing o Program staff will provide support as needed for this component • Funding o County EECBG - $20,000 5. Program Administration Local program administration responsibilities include coordination with all the cities within the County, liaison with the ABAG program partners and the CaliforniaFIRST program. In addition, outreach and training for contractors and building officials will need to be coordinated and elected officials will need to be updated. And oversight of the community outreach program and the customer interfaces are needed. It is proposed that afull-time REAP program manager be hired for two years to oversee all the activities associated with the San County REAP program including participation in the ABAG and CaliforniaFIRST grants. • Staffing o I full time FTE for two years • Funding o ABAG SEP Grant County funds - $220,000 6. PACE Financing Program San Mateo County is one of 14 counties in the state participating in the CaliforniaFIRST pilot PACE (Property Assessed Conservation and Energy District) program sponsored by the California State Community District Association (CSCDA). CSCDA is a joint venture of the California League of Cities and the California State Association of Counties. The PACE program will offer all residents in participating cities and counties the opportunity to finance energy conservation and renewal projects through an assessment on their property taxes. The Program is based on the BerkeleyFIRST Attachment F F-4 Bidder's Authorizing Resolution model and is being managed under contract by Renewable Funding, LLC, which was founded by the staff that developed the Berkeley program. Thirteen of the 14 participating Counties are jointly submitting a State Energy Program (SEP) grant to cover the costs of participating in the pilot project. If awarded, the grant will cover legal validation of the pilot district in each county, marketing activities including branding, a web portal, an 800 number and training and templates for local outreach staff and also abuy-down of the interest rate for the first $25 million in loans. • Staffing o All staff time for the PACE component of the program is included in project administration. • Funding o CaliforniaFIRST SEP Grant -fully funds participation in PACE pilot at about $150,000 plus additional funds to buy down the interest rate on the first 2,000 loans ~2%. o ABAG SEP Grant -could be used for $150,000 city and county buy-in costs. o County EECBG award - If neither SEP grants are awarded, EECBG funds could cover some or all of the County and city cost of participation in the pilot program. Cities could also contribute some or all of their share of the costs based on population. Attachment F F-5 Bidder's Authorizing Resolution