Climate Action Plan (CAP): the basics

The City of Winters is seeking applicants to form the Climate Action Plan (CAP) Development Board this February. But what is a CAP, why are we doing it, and what will the Development Board do? Why the Climate Action Plan (CAP)? In California, local governments agencies like the City of Winters and Yolo County are beholden to broader policy strategies through legislation at the state level. The formation of local government bodies like the City of Winters and Yolo County is provided for in the California Government Code and Article XI of the California Constitution, and counties, cities, special districts and regional bodies may face lawsuits and other consequences if they do not comply with state law. The City of Winters will draft, adopt and implement its Climate Action Plan in order to meet the requirements of three climate-change-related laws.  –AB32 (2006): Set goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 (a 15-percent reduction) –SB32 (2016): Extends AB32; set goal to reduce GHG emissions 40-percent below 1990 levels by 2030, and 80-percent below 1990 levels by 2050. –SB 379 (2015): requires a safety element be incorporated into general plans “for the protection of the community from unreasonable risks associated with the effects of various geologic hazards, flooding, and wildland and urban fires.” This includes climate adaptation and resiliency strategies by 2022.   What’s the Climate Action Plan (CAP) Development Board and what will it do? The CAP Development Board to serve as an advisory body to the City Council on the development of climate action policies in order to satisfy the requirements of California law and combat the negative impacts of climate change.  It will be comprised of an undetermined number of community members recommended by staff, but ultimately selected by the Council. The Board will hold meetings, forums, conduct surveys and research in the interest of creating a Draft Climate Action Plan for recommendation to the Council.  In order to develop the CAP, the Board will work to integrate three existing documents (Climate Action Plan Strategy Report, Draft 2025 Climate Action Plan, Yolo Resiliency Collaborative (YRC) Resiliency Toolbox) into policies specific to Winters, working collaboratively with Yolo County and the Cities of Davis, Woodland and West Sacramento. An additional role of the Board will be to create roles, task, duties and a workplan to establish an ongoing Climate Action Committee. Civic Spark Fellow Christopher Flores will work with the Board in a clerical position until the end of his 11-month service term in July 2020. Civic Spark, a national service program affiliated with AmeriCorps, matches its fellows with public agencies to complete projects related to issues like climate adaptation, water resource management, affordable housing and public transit. Applicants must reside in Winters (or on unincorporated land at a reasonable distance) and be willing to commit to a six-month term.   Applications can be submitted in the following ways: -Email christopher.flores@cityofwinters.org -In person at City Hall -Mailed to: City of Winters, Attn: Christopher Flores, 318 First Street, Winters, CA 95694   Additional resources: Winters Climate Action Plan Development Board “Applicants Sought for Winters Climate Action Plan Development Board”,City of Winters Press Release Nov. 5 City Council CAP presentation (see pages 84-92 of Packet), Flores The application is available for download here.   This information was compiled from information posted on the City’s website and from City Council meetings (see links above).]]>