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Home My WebLink About55D - RESO GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTIONREQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: DECEMBER 4, 2018 TITLE: ADOPT RESOLUTIONS TO SUPPORT THE REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY SUPPORTING THE REDUCTION OF PLASTIC STRAW WASTE AND BY ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO CONCURRE MORE HEALTHY PLANT - BASED FOODS IN THEIR DIET (STRATEGIC PLAN NO.5) 1 CITYVAANAGER RECOMMENDED ACTION CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: APPROVED ❑ As Recommended ❑ As Amended ❑ Ordinance on is' Reading ❑ Ordinance on 2nd Reading ❑ Implementing Resolution ❑ Set Public Hearing For CONTINUED TO FILE NUMBER 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; and 2. 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. DISCUSSION California has adopted a wide variety of regulations aimed at reducing the State's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In addition to the efforts at the State level, local governments have broad influence and, in some cases, exclusive jurisdiction over activities that contribute to significant GHG emissions through their planning and permitting processes, local ordinances, outreach and education efforts, and municipal operations. As a result, many communities throughout the state are taking responsibility for planning to reduce energy use and emissions. Through proactive measures in land use, transportation, energy efficiency, green building, waste diversion, water conservation and more, local governments help residents and businesses save money while improving quality of life and reducing emissions in their communities. In 2007, the City of Santa Ana signed the U.S. Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement, committing to reduce GHG emissions. Santa Ana, in addition to more than 1,000 local governments worldwide, joined International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) — Local Governments for Sustainability, an association for local governments to share knowledge and successful strategies toward increasing local sustainability. ICLEI provides a CAP framework and methodology for local governments to identify and reduce GHG emissions: (1) Conduct an inventory and forecast of local GHG emissions; (2) Establish GHG emissions reduction targets; (3) Develop a CAP for achieving the emissions reduction targets; (4) Implement the CAP; and (5) Monitor and report on progress. 55D-1 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 Adopt Resolutions to Support the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Reduce Plastic Straw Waste December 4, 2018 Page 3 FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact at this time. Exhibits: 1. Resolution Supporting the Reduction of the Use of Plastic Drinking Straws and Encouraging Local Businesses to Provide Alternative Options to Reduce Straw Waste 2. Resolution Encouraging Santa Ana Residents to Include More Healthy Plant -based Foods In Their Diet and Improve Efforts To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions 55D-3 55D-4 EXHIBIT 1 SC 11.05.2018 RESOLUTION NO. 2018-xxx A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA 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 OF SANTA ANA WHEREAS, it is estimated that in the United States that the average person uses 1.6 plastic straws per day, which results in 500 million plastic straws thrown out daily; and WHEREAS, plastic straws are not compostable or biodegradable, but instead photodegrade into smaller pieces which are then ingested by land and sea animals and can eventually make their way into our food chain and clean water supply; and WHEREAS, alternatives to the use of plastic straws include the use of paper straws which decompose within 45-60 days; and WHEREAS, recognizing the negative environmental impact of plastic straws, many restaurants and other establishments in California and around the United States have voluntarily stopped providing plastic straws or implemented a "Straws upon Request" policy; and WHEREAS, the State of California has adopted Assembly.Bill 1884 which shall go into effect on January 1, 2019 and restricts the use of plastic straws in sit-down restaurants; and WHEREAS, neighboring municipalities and businesses throughout the State have sought to reduce the use of plastic straws through resolutions, ordinances or updated business policies; and WHEREAS, the City of Santa Ana's Climate Action Plan 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. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The City of Santa Ana hereby supports the reduction of the use of plastic drinking straws in the City of Santa Ana and encourages local businesses to Resolution No. 2018-xxx Page 1 of 2 55D-5 SC 11.05.2018 provide alternative options to reduce plastic straw waste and promote environmentally friendly and conscientious practices in our community. Section 2. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City Council and the Clerk of the Council shall attest to and certify the vote adopting this Resolution. ADOPTED this day of December, 2018. Miguel A. Pulido Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM: By:3e�✓'%!{ Sonia R. Carvalho City Attorney AYES: Councilmembers: NOES: Councilmembers: ABSTAIN: Councilmembers: NOT PRESENT: Councilmembers: CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTATION AND ORIGINALITY I, MARIA D. HUIZAR, Clerk of the Council, do hereby attest to and certify the attached Resolution No. 2018-xxx to be the original resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of Santa Ana on December 2018. Clerk of the Council City of Santa Ana Resolution No. 2018-xxx Page 2 of 2 5501-6 EXHIBIT 2 SC 11.05.2018 RESOLUTION NO. 2018-xxx A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA ENCOURAGING SANTA ANA RESIDENTS TO INCLUDE MORE HEALTHY PLANT - BASED FOODS IN THEIR DIETAND IMPROVE EFFORTS TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS WHEREAS, the State of California has taken significant steps 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; and WHEREAS, California continues to lead the nation in adopting practices and policies to protect and preserve the environment and natural resources, and as the world's population continues to grow, California should continue to demonstrate how the world's population can reduce its impact on the environment; and WHEREAS, a growing amount of research has demonstrated the health, environmental, and humane benefits of a plant -based diet; and WHEREAS, reports published by the National Institutes of Health, public health organizations, and colleges and universities have extolled the virtues and benefits of a plant -based diet and the benefits it presents medically, societally, and environmentally; and WHEREAS, a plant -based diet is one that emphasizes plant -based foods in a person's diet, making foods such as vegetables, fruits, legumes, beans, seeds, and whole grains the centerpiece of a meal; and WHEREAS, plant -based diets have been proven to help lower cholesterol, increase the consumption of fiber and naturally occurring vitamins and minerals, and lower the risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic health conditions; and WHEREAS, numerous scientific 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; and WHEREAS, increased plant -based food production helps improve the world's ability to meet future food supply demands; and Resolution No. 2018-xxx Page 1 of 3 55D-7 SC 11.05.2018 WHEREAS, the City of Santa Ana is committed to improving the health and well- being of its residents. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The City of Santa Ana hereby recognizes that making plant -based foods the emphasis of one's diet has been proven to have a positive impact on the environment, individual health, and society as a whole, and therefore encourages the citizens of Santa Ana, along with all Californians, to include more plant -based foods in their diet. Section 2. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City Council and the Clerk of the Council shall attest to and certify the vote adopting this Resolution. ADOPTED this APPROVED AS TO FORM: By:.�,t l5 Sonia R. Carvalho City Attorney day of December, 2018. AYES: Councilmembers: NOES: Councilmembers: ABSTAIN: Councilmembers: NOT PRESENT: Councilmembers: 55D-8 Miguel A. Pulido Mayor Resolution No. 2018-xxx Page 2 of 3 SC 11.05.2018 CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTATION AND ORIGINALITY I, MARIA D. HUIZAR, Clerk of the Council, do hereby attest to and certify the attached Resolution No. 2018-xxx to be the original resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of Santa Ana on December_, 2018. Date: Clerk of the Council City of Santa Ana 55D-9 Resolution No. 2018-xxx Page 3 of 3 55D-10