DEPARTMENT: Office of Sustainability
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Douglas R. Melnick, AICP, ISSP-SA, CNU-A
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All
SUBJECT: A briefing on the status of the implementation of the SA Climate Ready Climate Action and Adaptation Plan and update on the TXC Texas Creative, Ltd. agreement for the SA Climate Ready Public Engagement & Communications Initiative.
SUMMARY:
The SA Climate Ready Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) was approved by City Council on October 17, 2019 and serves as a pathway to meeting the City’s commitments to climate action as outlined in City Council’s resolution of support for the Paris Climate Agreement on June 22, 2017. The Office of Sustainability and several partners have initiated many elements of the CAAP in 2020. The SA Climate Ready Public Engagement & Communications Initiative is a budgeted public information campaign to educate and empower the residents of San Antonio about climate action and to ensure equitable implementation of the CAAP.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On June 22, 2017, City Council passed Resolution No. 2017-06-22-0031R in support of the Paris Climate Agreement; directing city staff to develop a plan to help San Antonio meet the objectives of this agreement. On October 17, 2019, City Council adopted the CAAP by Ordinance 2019-10-17-0840.
The CAAP identifies twenty-eight (28) community, thirteen (13) municipal climate mitigation strategies and forty-five (45) adaptation strategies and sets the target of net carbon neutrality by 2050.
SA Climate Ready focuses on:
• Reducing emissions and improving air quality and public health outcomes;
• Reducing unnecessary energy consumption, lowering energy bills and saving money for residents, businesses and institutions;
• Promoting equity and environmental and climate justice;
• Increasing economic competitiveness and access to green job opportunities; and
• Building community resilience.
ISSUE:
As implementation is the key to the success of the CAAP, this briefing will provide an update on the status of the following plan elements:
• Governance
• Reporting and Transparency
• Communications and Engagement
• Municipal Initiatives
• Building-related Policies
• Transportation-related Policies
This briefing will also provide an update on the TXC Texas Creative, Ltd. agreement for the SA Climate Ready Public Engagement & Communications Initiative, which will inform the community about the benefits of climate action and adaptation activities with the goals of achieving reduced energy use and utility costs, reducing greenhouse gases and criteria air pollutants, increasing economic competitiveness, and improving overall community resilience and quality-of-life for all residents in San Antonio. To implement effectively and equitably, CAAP commitments require significant changes in operations, behavior, and support from the community.
The initiative was deemed as high profile and completed a review by the City Council Audit & Accountability Committee on April 30, 2020. On June 11, 2020 City Council considered the contract and recommended improvements to ensure deep and wide community engagement with stakeholders and residents throughout San Antonio.
To ensure equitable implementation if the CAAP, the scope of work was revised to include pass-through funding for local grassroots organizations. Sub-contracts totaling $39,000.00 (20%) each year will be awarded to organizations experienced working with communities that have been traditionally underserved, considered “hard to reach”, and that will be most impacted by climate change. Campaign objectives will be aligned to support current City priorities, including emergency response and preparedness, essential worker support, and workforce development.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact of the TXC Texas Creative, Ltd. agreement for the Engagement & Communications Initiative is $195,000.00 with two one-year renewal options at a cost of $195,000.00 per term for a total compensation value not to exceed $585,000.00. The initial contract amount of $195,000.00 is available in the Office of Sustainability FY 2021 budget. If the contract is renewed, additional amounts will be appropriated in the budgets for FY 2022 and FY 2023. It is understood and agreed by the Parties that 80% of the contracted amount will be utilized for the development and implementation of the SA Climate Ready Public Engagement & Communications Initiative. The remaining 20% will be made available by the Contractor through sub-contracts to grassroots organizations experienced working with neighborhoods and communities that have been traditionally underserved, considered “hard to reach”, and that will be most impacted by climate change.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the agreement with TXC Texas Creative, Ltd., and to present it for full City Council consideration on February 11, 2021.