55D - RESO GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION

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Adopt Resolutions to Support the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Reduce Plastic Straw Waste December 4, 2018 Page 2 On December 15, 2015, the Santa Ana City Council approved a Climate Action Plan (CAP) to demonstrate its leadership in sustainability efforts. By completing the CAP, the City developed a roadmap to save energy and resources, improve quality of life, and quantify achievement of Council -approved greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals. With a 2008 baseline of 5.5 metric tons of CO2 emissions per capital, Council approved reduction targets at 15 percent of 2008 levels by 2020, and 30 percent of 2008 levels by 2035. Following direction received on the August 15, 2018 Legislative Affairs, Ethics, Transparency and Communications (LAETC) Council Committee meeting, the City Manager is recommending that the City Council adopt two supporting resolutions to further the goals of the CAP and place the City on a path to reduce annual community -wide GHG emissions by 15% below 2008 baseline emission levels by 2020 and 30% by 2035. This recommendation reaffirms Mayor Pro Tem Martinez's discussion of a resolution to support green plant foods to reduce greenhouse gas emissions during comments on the October 17, 2018 LAETC meeting. At that same meeting, Councilmember Sarmiento concurred and recommended a resolution to reduce straw waste in the City. The recommendation is to adopt a resolution supporting the reduction of the use of plastic drinking straws and encouraging local businesses to provide alternative options to reduce straw waste in the City. The State of California recently adopted Assembly Bill 1884, which goes into effect on January 1, 2019 and restricts the use of plastic straws at sit-down restaurants. Neighboring municipalities and businesses throughout the State have since sought to reduce the use of plastic straws through resolutions, ordinances or updated businesses policies. The next recommendation is to adopt a resolution encouraging Santa Ana residents to include more healthy plant -based foods in their diet and improve efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This resolution would be an extension of the recent efforts that the State of California has taken to establish policies and programs to preserve and protect its environment, combat climate change, provide for the health and well-being of all people, and show compassion to and support the humane treatment of animals. Specifically, numerous studies have shown that increasing the consumption of plant -based foods and reducing consumption of meat and dairy serve to protect and preserve the environment by reducing the impact on greenhouse gas emissions, improving water conservation, and reducing habitat degradation and deforestation. The resolutions will also further the efforts outlined in the CAP, which seeks, through proactive measures, ways for the City to take responsibility to address waste diversion and to help residents and businesses to save money while improving the quality of life in the community. STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT Approval of this item supports the City's efforts to meet Goal #5 — Community Health, Livability, Engagement & Sustainability. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT There are no environmental impacts associated with this action 55D-2