California Climate Action Planning Conference

2017

California Polytechnic State UniversitySan Luis Obispo

August 24 - 25, 2017

College of Architecture and Environmental DesignCity and Regional Planning DepartmentResilient Communities Research Institute

Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR)

CONFERENCE PARTNERS

CONFERENCE SPONSORS

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Premier Sponsors

Supporting Sponsors

AICP CM Credit Sponsor

On behalf of Cal Poly and the Governor’s Office of Planning & Research, we welcome you to the Cal Poly campus for the third California Climate Action Planning Conference. California is a national and international leader in developing solutions for the climate change crisis. Consistent with Cal Poly’s Learn-by-Doing approach, you have been doing the hard work of inventorying greenhouse gas emissions, conducting climate vulnerability assessments, collaborating with citizens and public officials, and developing and implementing climate action plans. Now is a moment for you to share your collective knowledge and wisdom, and learn from each other. Governor Brown recently said: “In the face of irre-versible climate change, the world’s cities, states and countries must decarbonize and get on a sustainable path.” With that declaration driving our work, we look forward to interacting with you in San Luis Obispo.

--The CCAPC Steering Committee and Cal Poly Conference Team

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Special thanks to:Jeffrey D. Armstrong, Ph.D. President, Cal Poly

Kathleen Enz Finken, Ph.D., Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Cal Poly

Ken Alex, Director, Governor's Office of Planning & Research

Fatma Spanton, Director, Conference & Event Planning Kimberly Klimczyk, Office Coordinator, Conference &

Event PlanningBilly Riggs, Ph.D., University of San Francisco

Melanni Wiedrich, Administrative Support Coordinator, CRP

Janet Murrieta, Administrative Support Assistant, CRP Christine Theodoropoulos, AIA, PE, Dean, CAED Josef

Kasperovich, Photographer/Media, CAEDStaff, faculty, and students of the CAED

Cal Poly Vision: Cal Poly will be the nation’s premier comprehensive polytechnic university, an innovative insti-tution that develops and inspires whole-system thinkers to serve California and to help solve global challenges.

College of Architecture and Environmental Design With more than 1,700 students, Cal Poly’s acclaimed College of Architecture & Environmental Design (CAED) is the only program of its type in the nation with nine degree programs in five closely related departments: Architectural En-gineering, Architecture, City & Regional Planning, Construction Management, and Landscape Architecture. For more than half a century, the CAED programs and our 16,000 alumni have been a positive influence on the forces that shape the planning, design and construction worlds.

City and Regional Planning DepartmentCal Poly CRP is a nationally-recognized program for solving the most pressing planning problems thorough scholarship, service, and professional education. We exemplify excellence in educating professional planners through the learn-by-doing tradition. We offer accredited degree programs that meet the needs and constraints of all talented and principled students seeking a premier education in city and regional planning. We are the principal department within the CAED and Cal Poly for coordinating faculty, students, and programs to address interdisciplin-ary sustainability and resiliency challenges. Our graduates lead the field with their commitment to planning resilient, equitable, and livable communities.

Governor’s Office of Planning and ResearchThe Office of Planning and Research (OPR), created by stat-ute in 1970, is part of the Office of the Governor. OPR serves the Governor and his Cabinet as staff for long-range planning and research, and constitutes the comprehensive state planning agency.

CONFERENCE ORGANIZERS

Resilient Communities Research InstituteResilient Communities Research Institute (RCRI) in the College of Architecture & Environmental Design (CAED) is an applied research unit devoted to the application of knowledge and prac-tice to improve the quality and safety of the built environment. RCRI utilizes professional and academic teams who focus on resiliency in the built environment and the development of ac-tions/processes necessary to achieve safe communities utilizing comprehensive environmental planning approaches. RCRI has assisted state, local and international organizations on small and large scale projects including mitigation, recovery, and climate plans; critical infrastructure analysis; and fire resilient exurban road design.

CCAPC Steering CommitteeMatt Burris, Raimi & Associates

Chris Gray, Western Riverside COGDiana Madson, Sierra CAMP and Sierra Business Council

Michael McCormick, OPRChris Read, San Luis Obispo County

Kif Scheuer, Local Government CommissionTammy L. Seale, PlaceWorks

Honey Walters, Ascent Environmental

Cal Poly Conference TeamMichael R. Boswell, Ph.D., AICP, Conference Director

Adrienne I. Greve, Ph.D., Assistant Conference DirectorMadeline Hunstein, BSCRP ‘18, Student Coordinator

Kristi Hogue, Conference Coordinator, Conference & Event Planning

WELCOME

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Protecting and improving air quality, public health and the global climate in the Bay Area since 1955

is a proud sponsor of theCalifornia Climate Action Planning Conference 2017

www.BAAQMD.gov

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Climate  Action  Planning  in  California  since  2006  

• 130  Greenhouse  Gas  Inventories• 45  Climate  Action  Plans  including  award-­‐‑winning

CAPs  for  San  Bernardino  and  Los  Angeles  counties• Numerous  CEQA  and  NEPA  reviews• Adaptation  planning  for  municipalities,  investor-­‐‑

owned  utilities  and  transportation  agencies

Talk  to  us  at  the  conference:  Rich  Walter   GHG  Inventories  and  Mitigation  

Rich.Walter@icf.com  Robert  Kay   Climate  Impacts  and  Adaptation

Robert.Kay@icf.com  

www.raimiassociates.com

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Community Planning + Design

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SoCalGas® is proud to sponsor the CA Climate Action Planning Conference for taking the lead in taking care of our environment. Through its efforts, we are inspired to continue working toward a cleaner and greener future.

TOGETHER IN OUR

ENVIRONMENT

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TIME SESSION LOCATION8:00 - 9:00am Registration Opens

Coffee & Tea SocialPAC Lobby

9:00 - 10:15 Opening PlenaryCalifornia Local and State Leadership in Addressing Climate Change

PAC Pavilion

10:15 - 10:30 BREAK (15 minutes)

10:30 - 12:00pm Plenary Session: California Context for Local Climate Action Planning

PAC Pavilion

12:00 - 1:30 LUNCH (Networking) The Avenue1:30 - 3:00 Emerging Issues in Climate Action PAC Pavilion

We’re All in This Together! How Local Governments Can Support Communi-ty Groups in Achieving Climate Action Goals

Phillips Hall

3:00 - 3:15 BREAK (15 minutes)3:15 - 4:45 We Did It! Transferable Lessons from

Successfully Implemented GHG Reduc-tion Programs, Policies, and Projects

PAC Pavilion

Mainstreaming Adaptation: LHMP, Safety Element Integration, LCPs & General Plans

Phillips Hall

4:45 - 6:00 Conference Reception PAC Lobby

6:00 - 9:00pm SLO Farmers’ Market (on-your-own) Downtown San Luis Obispo

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THURSDAY, AUG.24

TIME SESSION LOCATION8:30 - 9:00am Coffee & Tea Social and Registration Spanos Patio

9:00 - 10:30 Climate Action by Design Spanos Theater

Funding Local Action Phillips Hall

10:30 - 10:45 BREAK (15 minutes)10:45 - 12:15 The Path to 2050 and Deep Decarboniza-

tionSpanos Theater

Whose Climate Plan is This? Planning for an Equitable Climate Future through Authentic Community Partnerships

Phillips Hall

12:15 - 1:30 LUNCH (Networking) The Avenue1:30 - 3:00 Measuring Success - Is the Needle Mov-

ing?Spanos Theater

Harnessing the Climate Mitigation Poten-tials of Natural & Working Lands

Phillips Hall

3:00 - 3:15 BREAK (15 minutes) 3:15 - 4:00 Closing Plenary

What do We Need to Succeed in Local Climate Action?

Phillips Hall

FRIDAY, AUG. 25

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Enjoy the Conference!

When it’s over, be sure to take a look at theimportant new report from the Climate Justice

Working Group:

Advancing Climate Justice in California:Guiding Principles and Recommendations for

Policy and Funding Decisions

Find it at our new multi-language website:

HealthyWorldForAll.org/ClimateChange

7Program Design: Madeline Hunstein, BSCRP 2018, Nichole Garner, BSCRP 2016, & Jean Long, MCRP 2013

Orange County | Northern California | Central CoastLos Angeles | Inland Empire | San Diego

PLACEWORKS.COM

Creating great places for over 40 years

{00370752.DOCX.}

Enjoy the Conference!

When it’s over, be sure to take a look at the important new report from the Climate Justice

Working Group:

Advancing Climate Justice in California: Guiding Principles and Recommendations for

Policy and Funding Decisions

Find it at our new multi-language website:

HealthyWorldForAll.org/ClimateChange

8

Session Speakers

DAY 1: Thursday, August 24Opening PlenaryCalifornia Local and State Leadership in Addressing Climate ChangeCalifornia is committed to addressing the climate crisis at the state, regional, and local level. This leadership is increasingly recognized nationally and globally, especially as U.S. federal leadership has faltered. In this session, we will hear about the role of leadership for California to continue its progress towards a low-carbon, resilient future.

9:00 - 10:15am PAC Pavilion

Introductory Remarks• Michael R. Boswell, Professor, California Polytechnic State University• Christine Theodoropoulos, Dean, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, California Polytechnic State University• Ken Alex, Director, Governor’s Office of Planning and Research [via video]

Speakers• Heidi Harmon, Mayor, City of San LuisObispo• Aaron Klemm, Chief, Energy and Sustain-ability, California State University, Chancel-lor’s Office

Plenary SessionThe California Context for Local Climate Action PlanningThe State of California has numerous laws, policies, and tools that create a framework for action and regulate, incentivize, fund, and inform city, county, and regional governments. Local governments must be a part of meeting the state’s mitigation and adaptation goals. In this session, we will gain insights on the state’s view of the local role in climate action.

10:30 - 12:00pm PAC Pavilion

• Michael McCormick, Senior Planner, OPR• Curtis Alling, Principal, Ascent Environmen-tal• Taylor Helgestad, Air Pollution Specialist, Air Resources Board

Moderator: Michael Boswell, Professor, California Polytechnic State University

Emerging Issues in Climate ActionWe know important changes are occurring that have serious implications for our work to accelerate climate action. While we are responsive to many, there are changes, opportunities and challenges, that we’re not addressing for various reasons. We know they have a role in building low carbon cities but they pose many questions, possibly more questions than answers. During this session, we’ll present key emerging issues in policy, methods, and technologies. We’ll explore alternative approaches to inventorying GHG emissions, disruptive trends in the transportation sector (from AV to TNC and more), and emerging issues in the energy and waste sectors.

1:30 - 3:00 PAC Pavilion

• Rich Walter, Senior Fellow, ICF International• Ronald T. Milam, Director of Evolving the Status Quo, Fehr & Peers• Sarah Moe, Senior Consultant, Sustainable Buildings and Communities, DNV GL• Miya Kitahara, Program Manager, Stop-Waste

Moderator: Tammy L. Seale, Associate Princi-pal, PlaceWorks

SESSIONS

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SESSIONS Session Speakers

We’re All in This Together! How Local Governments Can Support Community Groups in Achieving Climate Action GoalsCAPs focus on local government policies, programs, and projects to achieve most GHG reductions. In California, there is a strong community of non-gov-ernmental actors working on climate change issues. This session examines how local governments can support these organizations to achieve overlapping cli-mate goals and objectives. Each panelist will talk about their program, how they interact with local governments, and how they can be better supported moving forward. Session attendees will be encouraged to share their own examples and recommendations as part of an open discussion.

1:30 - 3:00pm Phillips Hall

• Dan Berry, Director, Path to Positive Com-munities• Chris Granger, Executive Director, CoolDavis Foundation• Victoria Carranza, Education Director, OneCool Earth• Pelayo Alvarez, Director of Partnerships &Outreach, Carbon Cycle Institute

Moderator: Chris Read, EnergyWise Program Coordinator, County of San Luis Obispo

We Did It! Transferable Lessons from Successfully Implemented GHG Reduction Programs, Policies, and ProjectsThis session provides an overview of a project (energy efficiency investments at a government facility), a program (California Green Business), and a policy (EV and solar ordinances) that have been implemented and are currently achieving real GHG reductions. Each panelist will explain in detail how they implemented a GHG reducing measure, including a discussion about political support, staff and capital costs, ongoing costs, and transferable lessons learned. Learn what they did, how they did it, and what you need to know to get started in your community.

3:15 - 4:45 PAC Pavilion

• Kim Springer, Interim Deputy Director, Office of Sustainability, County of San Mateo• Jon Griesser, Supervisor of Energy and Cli-mate Programs, County of San Luis Obispo• Rachel DiFranco, Sustainability Manager, City of Fremont• Demetra McBride, Environment InitiativesDivision Manager, County of Los Angeles

Moderator: Chris Read, EnergyWise Program Coordinator, County of San Luis Obispo

Mainstreaming Adaptation: LHMP, Safety Element Integration, LCPs & General PlansWhat are the state goals regarding long term implementation of climate ad-aptation and how are they being implemented locally? This session summariz-es recent state legislation and examines the development and integration of climate change adaptation strategies on the local level. It includes vulnerability assessment, including social vulnerability, and integration into local plans such as Local Hazard Mitigation Plans, Local Coastal Plans, and General Plans.

3:15 - 4:45 Phillips Hall

• John Wentworth, Mayor, City of MammothLakes• Leeanne Singleton, Environmental Analyst, City of Hermosa Beach• Aaron Pfannenstiel, Senior Associate, Place-Works• Michael McCormick, Senior Planner, OPR

Moderator: Adrienne Greve, Associate Professor, California Polytechnic State University

Welcome to Cal Poly!

SESSIONS

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DAY 2: Friday, August 25Session Speakers

Climate Action by DesignAt every climate conference, someone speaks of a future where climate action plans have become obsolete. In this future, we discuss how the cumbersome CAP went extinct and was replaced by climate-oriented long-range planning documents, policies, and regulations. But what if this future is now? What if cli-mate action plans really are unnecessary? This session will feature practitioners working at the building, district, city, and region scale to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through better design and planning.

9:00 - 10:30 Spanos Theater

• Alexa Washburn, Vice President of Policy &Planning, National Community Renaissance• Ryan Stendell, Community DevelopmentDirector, City of Palm Desert• Josh Lee, Chief of Planning, San BernardinoCounty Transportation Authority.

Moderator: Matt Burris, Associate Principal, Raimi & Associates

Funding Local ActionLocal governments in California are eager to take action to build low-carbon, resilient communities. However, as previous studies and day-to-day interactions with local leaders make clear, determining how to fund climate action planning and implementation is frequently a significant barrier to progress. Local govern-ments often take the lead in identifying needs and options, and are then required to find external funds or devise locally acceptable financing mechanisms to im-plement them. This session aims to address (1) assessing the financial needs, (2) identifying economically and politically feasible financing options to fill this need, and (3) discussing the challenges and how can they be overcome.

9:00 - 10:30 Phillips Hall

• Robert Kay, Principal Consultant, ICFInternational• Mark Northcross, Principal, NHA Advisors• Mary Rottman, Founder, Rottman Associ-ates

Moderator: Nuin-Tara Key, Resilience Program Manager, OPR

The Path to 2050 and Deep DecarbonizationAs we make further progress on the path to the 2050 goal, the type and effec-tiveness of local actions will need to evolve. What will communities need to do differently to achieve much more substantial emissions reductions than have oc-curred to date? What actions are within local control, and what important local actions are needed to complement future actions taken by the State or others? This session will examine potential strategies on the path to “deep decarbon-ization”, including net-zero carbon development, fuel-switching, sequestration in natural and working lands and blue carbon (including new accounting methods for net gain/loss of sequestration and storage), and the role of carbon offsets. We will explore existing barriers and opportunities to achieving deep decarbon-ization, including local and State laws and regulations, emerging technologies, and recent trends that may provide some insights on the Path to 2050

10:45 - 12:15 Spanos Theater

• Erik de Kok, Senior Planner, Ascent Environ-mental• Eric Lu, Principal, Ramboll Environ• Dave Vintze, Air Quality Planning Manager, BAAQMD• Geoffrey Danker, Franchise, Fees & PlanningManager, SoCalGas

Moderator: Honey Walters, Principal, Ascent Environmental

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Session SpeakersWhose Climate Plan is This? Planning for an Equitable Climate Future through Authentic Community PartnershipsIt is commonly accepted that climate change will have greater impacts on traditionally underserved communities. At the same time, those charged with developing the long-term plans for addressing climate change, often struggle to engage and coordinate with equity and social justice groups. The recently passed SB1000 - which requires integration of environmental justice in general planning - seeks to address this disconnect, and will certainly pose challenges to someclimate practitioners who are unprepared to engage with environmental justicestakeholders. Although some of this disconnect stems from differences in prac-tices and collaborative norms, some also stem from long-standing political, racial, socio-economic, and cultural barriers. This session will offer a direct and honestconversation among practitioners in climate planning and social justice/equitypractitioners about what meaningful engagement is, how to craft an authenticvision for community-based climate planning and most importantly what we cando to go beyond addressing injustice to building a just future for everyone.

10:45 - 12:15 Phillips Hall

• James Rojas, Principal, Place It• Nikita Daryanani, Policy Coordinator, Lead-ership Counsel for Justice and Accountability• Nahal Ghoghaie, Bay Area Program Coor-dinator, Environmental Justice Coalition forWater

Moderator: Eric Yurkovich, Senior Associate, Raimi + Associates

Measuring Success - Is the Needle Moving?For many environmental issues, measuring success can be determined in a quantifiable way in terms of items such as improved air quality, reduction in water pollution, or acquisition of sensitive habitat. However; GHG can only be measured indirectly. Therefore, a key challenge with climate action plans is how to measure success. Besides the technical issues, there are also significant policy issues. One example is the geographic scale: whether success should be evaluated at a local or regional level. A second challenge is whether agencies should track changes in policies or tangible outcomes. Another challenge is how to communicate these successes to key decision makers who are critical to any continued success. The session will present different perspectives on how to measure success at a variety of scales and discuss challenges and solutions.

1:30 - 3:00 Spanos Theater

• Andrea Howard, Senior Analyst, WesternRiverside Council of Governments (WR-COG)• Selena Evilsizor, Planner, County of SantaBarbara• Frank Chen, Energy and Sustainability Pro-gram Specialist, County of Santa Barbara• Justin LeVeque, Environmental Planner, BayArea Air Quality Management District

Moderator: Chris Gray, Transportation Director, Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG)

Harnessing the Climate Mitigation Potentials of Natural & Working LandsCalifornia is a land rich in natural resources and amenities. Its rural landscapes are not only diverse and beautiful but they also provide the foundation of one of the strongest economies in the world. Rural California comprises 95% of the state’s total land area; these areas provide for the livelihoods of millions and are essential for supplying critical ecosystem services to all Californians. Rural Cali-fornia’s natural and working lands provide critical opportunities for reducing the state’s greenhouse gas emissions through carbon sequestration - the state’s only asset that actually removes greenhouse gases from the atmosphere - and avoid-ed emissions, while supporting millions of jobs. This panel will explore current and potential climate mitigation opportunities within California’s forests, water-sheds, agricultural land, rangeland and oceans and their co-benefits of climate adaptation and job creation.

1:30 - 3:00 Phillips Hall

• Tim Frank, Director, Center for Sustain-able Neighborhoods• Jenn Phillips, Ocean Protection Council• Pelayo Alvarez, Director of Partnerships &Outreach, Carbon Cycle Institute• Bruce Springsteen, Compliance andEnforcement Manager, Placer County AirPollution Control District

Moderator: Diana Madson, Government Affairs Director, Sierra CAMP and Sierra Business Council

SESSIONS

VENUE: All conference sessions will be held in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) complex including the PAC Pavilion room, Phillips Hall, and Spanos Theater.

REGISTRATION and CHECK-IN: The Registration/Check-in desk is located in the PAC lobby on Thursday and the Spanos Theater lobby on Friday.

LUNCH: Lunch will be held at The Avenue in the University Union (UU) complex on campus. It is cafeteria style with numer-ous options including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and a salad bar.

LOUNGE and WORKSPACE: The University Union (UU) 2nd floor has comfortable seating and wi-fi access if you need time to work or meet with colleagues. There is a Starbucks Coffee on the 1st floor of the UU.

WI-FI: Free guest Wi-Fi access is available throughout the Cal Poly campus. See: https://servicedesk.calpoly.edu/guestwifi

TWITTER: Tweet about the conference! #CCAPC

AICP CM credits for the conference are PENDING.

CAMPUS MAP

INFORMATION