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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 6-a - Potential Addition of an Environmental Impact Section to Agenda Abstracts 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: April 16, 2019 Action Agenda Item No. 6-a SUBJECT: Potential Addition of an Environmental Impact Section to Agenda Abstracts DEPARTMENT: Asset Management Services; Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: 1) CFE Recommended Draft Abstract Brennan Bouma, (919) 245-2626 Template David Stancil, (919) 245-2522 2) CFE Recommended Prompts for Environmental Impact 3) CFE Memo: Recommendation on including Environmental Impacts in County Agenda Abstracts 4) Recommended Agenda Abstract Form Incorporating Environmental Impacts 5) Recommended Environmental Impact Prompts Based on County's Environmental Responsibility Goal PURPOSE: To: 1.) Receive a recommendation from Commission for the Environment regarding the addition of an Environmental Impact section to agenda abstracts; and 2.) Consider approval of the updated abstract and prompts based on the County's Environmental Responsibility Goal. BACKGROUND: At its November 8, 2018 work session, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) reviewed staff-generated options on how environmental impacts could be holistically addressed in the framework of an agenda abstract. The Board provided feedback and proposed that the Commission for the Environment (CFE), which looked at the subject several years ago, review and advise on the topic. The CFE began discussing this topic in December 2018. Over the course of two subsequent meetings in January and February, staff presented the two draft agenda abstract templates that had been discussed by the BOCC, as well as several examples of the way an agenda item would be presented using each of the templates under discussion. The CFE endorses this initiative and recommends the attached Draft Abstract Template (Attachment 1) and the environmental impact prompts provided in Attachment 2 which are based on the County's Environmental Responsibility Goal and summarize relevant County 2 goals. The memorandum provided at Attachment 3 provides more details regarding the CFE's rationale. The Manager has evaluated the prior discussion by the BOCC, as well as the feedback from the CFE. In light of all the input received, the Manager recommends that the Board consider moving forward with the abstract template provided at Attachment 4 and the environmental impact prompts provided in Attachment 5 which are based on the County's Environmental Responsibility Goal. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The addition of a consideration of environmental impact will add staff time to the development of agenda abstracts. To the extent that a consideration of environmental impact could lead to efficiencies in the use of County facilities and vehicles, the lifecycle benefits of those efficiencies may lead to avoided costs. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goals are applicable to this item: • GOAL: ESTABLISH SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE LAND-USE AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people of all races, cultures, incomes and educational levels with respect to the development and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, policies, and decisions. Fair treatment means that no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, governmental and commercial operations or policies. Including a section in every BOCC abstract that communicates expected environmental impacts will further institutionalize the consideration of the health of the environment in all County actions. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board consider approval of the abstract template provided at Attachment 4 incorporating an Environmental Impact section into agenda abstracts, and approval of the environmental impact prompts provided in Attachment 5 which are based on the County's Environmental Responsibility Goal. 3 Attachment 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: Action Agenda Item No. SUBJECT: DEPARTMENT: ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: PURPOSE: BACKGROUND: EXPECTED IMPACTS RELATED TO COUNTY GOALS: • FINANCIAL: ❑ More information needed • SOCIAL JUSTICE: ❑ More information needed • ENVIRONMENTAL: ❑ More information needed RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board 4 Attachment 2 Environmental Responsibility ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND WASTE REDUCTION Initiate policies and programs that: 1.)conserve energy;2.)reduce resource consumption; 3.)increase the use of recycled and renewable resources;and 4.)minimize waste stream impacts on the environment. • Suggested Metrics: energy used/avoided(kWh of electricity, therms of natural gas), cost of energy or resource use, pounds or volume of waste diverted from landfills, relative toxicity of waste removed from environment, etc. CLEAN OR AVOIDED TRANSPORTATION Implement programs that monitor and improve local and regional air quality by: 1.)promoting public transportation options; 2.)decreasing dependence on single-occupancy vehicles,and;3.)otherwise minimizing the need for travel. • Suggested Metrics:Number of avoided trips or vehicle miles,gallons of fuel used, hours of travel time avoided, etc. ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PURCHASING Promote the use of chemicals,materials,equipment,and systems which are officially recognized as to minimize environmental impacts. • Suggested Metrics:Number of items purchased with sustainable certifications(Energy Star, Water Sense, Certified Compostable, etc),percent of recycled content in purchased items, etc. RESULTANT IMPACT ON NATURAL RESOURCES Assess and where possible mitigate adverse impacts created to the natural resources of the site and adjoining area. • Suggested Metrics:Estimated impact on water quality(e.g.-water temperature, suspended sediment, nutrients, dissolved oxygen,pH, etc)or quantity(e.g.-gallons per day), Estimated impact on air quality(smell, dust, ozone, particulates such as PM2.S from combustion emissions, etc), loss of natural habitat for plants and animals, etc. 5 Attachment 3 ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT MEMORANDUM To: Orange County Board of County Commissioners From: Bradley Saul, Chair Orange County Commission for the Environment Date: February 11, 2019 Re: Recommendations pertaining to the inclusion of Environmental Impacts on County Agenda Abstracts At their regular meeting on April 26th 2018, Commissioners Jacobs petitioned staff to determine options for the inclusion of an environmental impacts statement on all County agenda abstracts. On November 8th, staff brought several options to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC)with the recommendation that the Commission for the Environment (CFE) consider these options under BOCC guidance and make a recommendation. Per request by the BOCC, the CFE reviewed options for including environmental impacts on agenda abstracts. At our November and January meetings, the CFE learned from County staff how the agenda abstract process works and the BOCC's motivation for considering environmental impacts of agenda items. The CFE endorses this initiative. Attached to this memo is a draft agenda abstract template which includes our recommended approach. Below we discuss our rationale and potential shortcomings for your consideration. Our inquiry revealed a few main difficulties to including environmental impacts on agenda abstracts. Brennan Bouma walked the CFE through several example agenda abstracts that made the following clear. One, the potential environmental impact of an agenda abstract's contents range from none to considerable. Two, the degree of that impact can be clear for some topics and much more subtle for others. Three, the ability to identify and succinctly explain environmental impacts will vary depending on the expertise and knowledge of the abstract writer. With these three complications in mind, the CFE chose a template that allows for a free response in the impacts section. The template includes a summary of the County's Environmental Responsibility Goal and Objectives adopted December 5, 2005. This summary serves as a prompt for the abstract writer to consider an item's impact. The template also encourages abstract writers to include a"more information needed"response if the writer is unsure about an item's impact. It is our hope this will flag abstracts for additional consideration when needed, either during the agenda review process or elsewhere in the decision making process. Attachment cc: David Stancil Contntissioas far the Fk,,virovtncev�t 010 Or6 pLge coi. into DFAp- Po gow 8181, NC 2�2�8�1�-2¢S-2S20 6 Attachment 4 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: Action Agenda Item No. SUBJECT: DEPARTMENT: ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: PURPOSE: BACKGROUND: FINANCIAL IMPACT: SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board 7 Attachment 5 Environmental Impact Prompts Based on County's Environmental Responsibility Goal ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND WASTE REDUCTION Initiate policies and programs that: 1) conserve energy; 2) reduce resource consumption; 3) increase the use of recycled and renewable resources; and 4) minimize waste stream impacts on the environment. CLEAN OR AVOIDED TRANSPORTATION Implement programs that monitor and improve local and regional air quality by: 1) promoting public transportation options; 2) decreasing dependence on single-occupancy vehicles, and 3) otherwise minimizing the need for travel. ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PURCHASING Promote the use of chemicals, materials, equipment, and systems which are officially recognized as to minimize environmental impacts. RESULTANT IMPACT ON NATURAL RESOURCES Assess and where possible mitigate adverse impacts created to the natural resources of the site and adjoining area.