HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2BFrom:Roy Clark
To:City Clerk
Cc:Lindsey-Paige McCloy
Subject:Public Testimony for Agenda Item 2B, December 14
Date:Friday, December 8, 2023 3:57:30 PM
Attachments:Climate Action Roadmap.pdf
To the City Clerk:
Please include this email message in the agenda package for the December 14 City Council meeting.
I plan speak on this subject during public testimony for agenda item 2B.
At the Sustainability Commission meeting on November 21, the members present voted
unanimously to oppose the proposed drive-through coffee shop at 2466 North Palm Canyon
Drive.
As documented in the Palm Springs Climate Action Roadmap (attached), which was first
presented to the Council in October 2021, California Senate Bill 32 requires a 40% reduction in
the level of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the City by 2030, compared to the level in
1990. Currently motor vehicle transportation accounts for about 50% of the GHG emissions in
Palm Springs and State-wide. This is a very big challenge.
To meet the required reduction in GHG emissions, the City must discourage and reduce motor
vehicle transportation, and not encourage it. Plans to encourage and enable non-motorized
transportation must be made.
Therefore, the Sustainability Commission recommends that the Councilmembers vote “No” on
agenda item 2B.
Thank you.
Roy Clark
Member of the Sustainability Commission
12/14/2023
Public Comment
Item 2B
Draft for October 28, 2021, City Council Meeting
City of Palm Springs, California
OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY
Climate Action
Roadmap
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Item 2B
City of Palm Springs Climate Action Roadmap – October 28, 2021
2
Climate Action Roadmap
1 INTRODUCTION
On October 15, 2019, the Palm Springs Sustainability Commission met to discuss how to move forward with
discussions and potential further actions to address the climate change. At that meeting, the group agreed that
the City should develop a roadmap to acknowledge the seriousness of our current climate crisis, describe what
the City has already done and plans to do to address climate change, and identify potential additional actions.
This document responds to that request and is intended to serve as a focus for further discussions among the
Commission and the City Council. It also serves as an initial step in developing more detailed climate goals and
strategies to include in a future iteration of the City’s Sustainability Plan.
2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE CURRENT CLIMATE CRISIS
The City of Palm Springs recognizes that climate change is
real and is having a dramatic impact on our environment,
our economy, and our way of life. Globally, we know that
sea levels are rising, polar ice is retreating, permafrost is
melting, and fires are increasing. In August, the United
Nations released a major report indicating that many of
these devastating impacts can no longer be avoided.1 Here
in the Coachella Valley, the summer of 2021 saw new heat
records, and a wildfire at Snow Creek in 2020 came close to
the City limits.
Climate change is and will continue to manifest in Palm
Springs in obvious ways: longer periods of drought; more
frequent, above-average storm events; longer summers;
more frequent and intense wildfires; and higher
temperatures. It is also affecting life in the Valley in less
visible ways. For example, changes in climate are having a
significant impact on our local habitat. Staff at the Coachella
Valley Association of Governments has indicated that
populations of mammals and arthropods nearly crashed
during recent droughts and dry spells. Although we
experience some rebounds during wetter weather, we know that further change is inevitable and could be
irreversible.2 National scientists have also noted that the nearby iconic Joshua trees are threatened and may not
1 United in Science 2021: A multi-organizational high-level compilation of the latest climate science information, World
Meteorological Organization, August 9, 2021. https://public.wmo.int/en/resources/united_in_science
2 Email from Kathleen Brundige at Coachella Valley Association of Governments. September 25, 2019.
Figure 1 Key Findings from UN Report
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last through this century.3 In 2020, the California Fish and Game Commission unanimously voted to grant
western Joshua trees candidate status under the California Endangered Species Act making it the first plant
species to be protected in the state due to the threats posed by climate change.4
Our weather and environment are a key factor in why people come to Palm Springs and other Desert Cities to
live, work, and play. Changes in our environment will have a significant impact on our economy and quality of
life. Based on a study by University of California Riverside, claims that “climate change will decimate Palm
Springs, Coachella Valley Tourism.”5 The City recognizes that we need to redouble our efforts to strategically
address our contribution to climate change and mitigate the impacts we are already seeing and expect to see in
the future.
3 EXISTING GOALS AND PLANS
The City’s current Climate Change & Resilience goal as stated in the 2016 Sustainability Plan is to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, 80% below 1990 by 2050, and achieve carbon neutrality for
municipal emissions by 2030. This is consistent with the target identified by the state in AB 32 – California
Global Warming Solutions Act.
In addition to the above Sustainability Plan goals, SB 32 signed by Governor Brown in 2016 requires the
California Air Resources Board to ensure that statewide greenhouse gas emissions are reduced at least 40
percent below 1990 levels by December 31, 2030.
The Plan also references a commitment made by the City as part of its participation in the U.S. Conference of
Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement to go achieve a 7% reduction below 1990 levels by 2012. This goal aligns
with the Kyoto Protocol.
In addition to establishing high-level goals, the 2016 Sustainability Plan also outlined some high-level actions
such as monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions; developing strategies based on the Climate Action
Plan to reach the 1990 levels by 2020; and improving community resiliency to the potential impacts of climate
change, including determining what these impacts will be.
The Climate Action Plan (issued in 2013) does not include any additional goals, but rather outlines specific
actions that the City could take to reduce its emissions. These actions are organized into broad sectors (e.g.,
residential, business, municipal, etc.) and served as a menu for potential actions the City could take to reduce
emissions. Many of the actions are now out of date, although some of the concepts are still applicable and will
be reflected in future actions.
3 Iconic Joshua trees may disappear—but scientists are fighting back. National Geographic. October 15, 2018.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/10/joshua-trees-moths-threatened-climate-change-scientists-seek-
solutions/
4 https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2020/09/22/california-joshua-trees-advance-endangered-species-
listing/5854896002/
5 https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2020/09/07/climate-change-will-decimate-palm-springs-coachella-valley-tourism
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City Staff and Sustainability Commission members are currently reviewing goals and actions in the Sustainability
Plan to determine the most appropriate opportunities for greenhouse gas reduction and will update the
Sustainability Plan to reflect these new actions. The following key goals continue to be top of mind:
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% compared to 1990 levels by the end of 2030
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% compared to 1990 levels by the end of 2050
• Achieve carbon neutrality for municipal emissions by 2030
4 ACTIVITIES AND PROGRESS TO DATE
A CTIVITIES
The City of Palm Springs has always taken climate change seriously. As early as 2008, the City endorsed the U.S.
Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and issued its own Path to Sustainability. Some of the
efforts that have already helped the City achieve reductions in greenhouse gas emissions – the primary
contributor to climate change – are listed below.
• Launched the Co-generation Facility in 2015 to help offset energy use at City facilities.
• Installed solar arrays at its Wastewater Treatment Plant and at the Convention Center. The Convention
Center is able to offset over 60% of its energy use from its solar output.
• Administered commuter incentive programs for rideshare and electric vehicles (EV) to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions from employee commuting.
• Implemented LED and energy efficient lighting retrofit projects at City facilities and at street lights.
• Implemented ban on gas-powered leaf blowers and replaced over 400 gas-powered units with electric.
• Implemented a mobile home energy retrofit program that resulted in a reduction of nearly 92,000
pounds (46 tons) of CO2e. Although emissions reductions were small, changes resulted in cost savings.
• Developed a solar policy and solar zoning ordinance to facilitate the installation of solar on residential
and commercial properties.
• Installed a network of 36 EV charging stations and updated parking standards to reflect new state
requirements and best practices on EV charging stations on private property to help support EV
adoption.
• Implemented changes in the California Energy Code and Green Building Standards Code effective in
January 2020.
• Required installation of EV charging stations for certain commercial developments.
• Implemented new Home Energy Assessment Rebate program.
Most recently and most significantly, the City moved to Desert Community Energy in March 2020. The City took
the bold step to default all customers to the 100% carbon-free option to maximize the potential for greenhouse
gas reductions. In an announcement at the September DCE Board Meeting, DCE staff indicated that, because of
excess power purchases, residents that chose the Desert Saver Program were also able to take advantage of
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100% carbon free energy – further enhancing the impact of the City’s move to DCE. Specifically, this additional
carbon-free power would result in an additional 4,400 Metric Tons of CO2 Equivalent (MTCO2e). This reduction
is not included in the numbers reported elsewhere in this report.
UPDATED BASELINE
As noted in the goals, 1990 is the official baseline from which to measure progress. When the City conducted a
baseline greenhouse gas inventory for 2010 (published in 2013), the results indicated that the City had already
achieved its initial goal – to reach 1990 levels by 2020. However, a variety of changes have occurred in emissions
calculations methodologies since 1990 and 2010.
In 2020, the City contracted with a consulting firm, PlaceWorks, to update the 2010 community-wide inventory
based on current greenhouse gas emissions inventory methodologies. This update would help determine if the
City was still meeting its 1990 target as originally calculated. Updating the 2010 inventory would also help
ensure a more consistent comparison point for any future inventories.
The 2010 update revealed a 35% increase in 2010 emissions levels over what was initially reported. Specifically,
the City calculated 2010 emissions to be 431,594 Metric Tons of CO2 Equivalent (MTCO2e) in the 2013 emissions
inventory. The updated equivalent is 538,200 MTCO2e. This increase was largely due to more current
methodologies used to assess transportation impacts and increases in the global warming potential for some
greenhouse gases such as methane that are released from water and wastewater operations and from waste
sent to landfill.
Given the changes that resulted from the 2010 update, it was clear that the 1990 emissions baseline would need
to be adjusted. Rather than attempting to redo those calculations, the State recommends using a simple
calculation of 15% lower than 2010 recalculated emissions levels to arrive at a 1990 equivalent baseline. This
means the City’s 1990 new equivalent baseline is 495,720 (MTCO2e) (compared to the original 432,136
MTCO2e). Below is a summary of goals based on this new 1990 baseline number.
Reporting Year Target Palm Springs Emissions
Levels (MTCO2e)
2020 1990 Levels (15% below 2010) 495,720
2030 40% Below 1990 Levels 297,430
2050 80% Below 1990 Levels 99,140
2018 ASSESSMENT AND 2020 ESTIMATE
The City asked PlaceWorks to conduct a new community emissions inventory for 2018 and an estimate for 2020.
These assessments helped determine the City’s progress towards the goals above and provide a snapshot of key
emissions to identify opportunities for additional reductions. Because 2020 was not a typical year, PlaceWorks
focused the 2020 estimate on concrete and lasting changes that occurred between 2018 and 2020 such as the
move to DCE and the continued improvements in vehicle emissions.
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The data from the updated community-wide inventories are summarized in Table 1 along with the future
emissions targets for 2030 and 2050.
Table 1 Community-wide GHG Emissions
Table 2 includes a breakdown of the 2018 and 2020 estimates that provides important information about major
emissions categories. Among the observations that help shape future actions are the following:
• There was a significant reduction in emissions because of residential and commercial participation in
Desert Community Energy.
• Transportation is the biggest contributor to overall emissions, accounting for over half of the total.
NOTES:
• Due to differences in calculation methods in 1990, the State has indicated that a reduction of 15% of 2010 levels
is the equivalent of the 1990 baseline.
• 2030 Goal is based on a 40% reduction of the revised 1990 data.
• 2050 Goal is based on an 80% reduction of the revised 1990 data.
• In 2018, this number rose to 591,370 MTCO2e. However, with the reductions achieved as a result of the City’s
participation in Desert Community Energy and reductions from other statewide initiatives, Palm Springs’
projected 2020 GHG emissions are estimated to be 493,920 MTCO2e – below the adjusted goal. Without Desert
Community Energy, the City would be about 609,000 MTCO2e, or approximately 4.4% above 2010 levels. The
Community’s commitment DCE’s Carbon Free program reduced its emissions by over 115,000 MTCO2e.
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• Residential energy is still a significant contributor, despite participation in Desert community energy.
This is partly due to the inclusion of natural gas.
• Commercial sector emissions were reduced but could easily rise pending additional growth.
• Emissions from solid waste disposal speak to the continued need to divert materials from landfill.
Table 2 Breakdown of Community GHG Inventories for 2018 and 2020
SECTOR 2018 MTCO2E 2020 MTCO2E
PERCENTAGE CHANGE
2018 TO 2020
Residential energy 148,930 (25%) 111,000* (23%) -25%
Commercial and industrial energy 119,370 (20%) 72,200 (15%) -40%
Transportation 265,160 (43%) 259,630 (53%) -2%
Off-road equipment 490 (<1%) 540 (<1%) 10%
Solid waste 23,090 (4%) 24,030 (5%) 4%
Landfill 1,150 (<1%) 1,110 (<1%) -3%
Water and wastewater 34,500 (6%) 22,990 (5%) -33%
Fertilizer 20 (<1%) 20 (<1%) 0%
Land use -1,340 (<1%) -1,340 (<1%) 0%
Total 591,370 490,180 -17%
Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sum of individual rows or compare exactly to values in other tables.
PlaceWorks provided a detailed breakdown of emissions that helps to further identify opportunities for reductions.
Table 3 includes this breakdown, and it reveals the following additional insights:
• Although residential emissions from electricity use is declining and declined significantly in 2020 due to DCE,
emissions from residential natural gas increased. Natural gas uses include not only home heating, hot water
heating, and cooking uses but also pool heating.
• Despite improvements in the efficiency of vehicles, the emissions from on-road vehicles increased in the 8-year
period and continues to be the most significant single source of emissions.
• Emissions from waste sent to landfill increased by over 30% despite a strong focus on increasing recycling rates.
• Off-road equipment includes things like lawn equipment as well as equipment used in construction. These make
up a relatively low contribution to overall emissions. These emissions may increase as post-pandemic
construction ramps up.
• Wastewater treatment-related process emissions are primarily a result of fugitive emissions from lagoons.
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Table 3 Detailed Breakdown of Community GHG Inventories for 2010 and 2018
SECTOR SUBSECTOR 2010 GHG
EMISSIONS (MTCO2E)
2018 GHG
EMISSIONS
(MTCO2E)
2020 GHG EMISSIONS
ESTIMATES (MTCO2E)
Residential
buildings
Residential electricity 75,270 70,620 26,580
Residential natural gas 73,420 78,000 84,110
Residential propane 430 310 310
Subtotal 149,120 148,930 111,000
Commercial
buildings*
Commercial electricity 82,110 79,260 29,660
Commercial natural gas 46,560 40,110 42,540
Subtotal 128,670 119,370 72,200
Transportation On-road vehicles 254,860 265,160 259,630
Subtotal 254,860 265,160 259,630
Off-road
equipment
Off-road vehicles and equipment 240 470 540
Subtotal 240 470 540
Solid waste
Community-generated waste 16,840 23,090 24,030
Former Palm Springs landfill 1,350 1,150 1,110
Subtotal 18,190 24,240 25,140
Water and
wastewater
Water supply electricity** 8,190 15,290 3,160
Wastewater treatment electricity 1,140 650 40
Wastewater treatment process emissions 24,110 19,010 19,790
Subtotal 33,440 34,950 22,990
Land use and
sequestration
Fertilizer application 20 20 20
Natural land sequestration -840 -840 -840
Street tree sequestration -500 -500 -500
Subtotal -1,320 -1,320 -1,320
Total 583,200 591,800 490,180
* This sector includes GHG emissions from municipal buildings and facilities, except for those concerned with water and
wastewater activities. Those GHG emissions are included in the “water and wastewater” sector.
** The 2018 and 2010 inventories differ in their methods of calculating emissions from water supply electricity, due to
differences in data availability between the two years. The 2018 data include additional electricity use, primarily related to
the pumping of groundwater supplies, that were not available for the 2010 inventory.
Note: All values are rounded to the nearest 10. Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sums of individual rows.
5 ROADMAP OF FUTURE ACTIONS TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
Based on the data provided by PlaceWorks, the City can begin to identify potential projects to assist us in meeting our
future GHG reduction goals. The information below is meant to be a starting point for this process and provides a
framework for potential future actions. City staff will continue working with PlaceWorks to quantify impacts of potential
actions in more concrete ways and to identify potential additional actions to help us meet our goals. This document will
evolve and be integrated into other planning documents as more information is available. The sections below highlight
the major areas of focus in the development process.
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ESTABLISH FUTURE BASELINE
Emissions of greenhouse gasses are not constant. They tend to increase with population growth, economic
development, and increased tourism activities. The City is currently working to identify future growth targets and trends
through the General Plan Update. This information should be completed and available soon to inform the development
of a new 2030 baseline against which we can model potential emissions reduction strategies so that the City can make
informed decisions about potential actions.
Even without the 2030 projections, we know that there are things that the City can do to have an impact. Those items
are described below.
TRANSPORTATION ACTIONS
Transportation-related emissions are the largest source (53%) of greenhouse gas emissions in the community-wide
inventory (259,640 MTCO2e in 2020). Unless we reduce these emissions significantly, we will never reach our future
reduction goals. Although we can expect some reductions from improved vehicle efficiency (approximately 38,000
MTCO2e based on a 15% improvement 6), City staff will be working with PlaceWorks to identify opportunities for further
reductions, especially in vehicle miles traveled and mix of vehicle types to understand where we can have the most
significant impacts. Assuming sufficient granularity in the model, more detailed scenarios for meeting targets can be
developed. Then policies, programs, and plans for infrastructure changes needed (requesting funding in city budget) can
be proposed and must be started now.
At a minimum, we know that improvements must be made to increase the number of alternative fueled vehicles,
enhance non-motorized or electric transportation options, reducing idling, and enhancing public transit options. Some
specific actions are listed below:
• Expand the network of EV charging stations to encourage broader EV adoption. The market for electric
vehicles increased significantly over the past several years. New State goals for 100% zero emissions
vehicles by 2035 in California and commitments from car manufacturers to go all electric in a similar
time frame may help make this a reality. The City must continue to provide a robust EV charging
infrastructure to support these vehicle purchases and do what it can to direct people to less-polluting
vehicles. The Office of Sustainability and the Engineering Division have been working over the past
several months to add 21 new stations downtown and at City Hall as part of a Phase 1 expansion. Future
phases will add chargers at community centers and other locations around the City. Networked chargers
will also help us understand who users are and their charging habits. The Sustainability Commission is
also working to develop a potential ordinance to expand installation of EV chargers at multi-family
complexes. This additional infrastructure helps reduce “range anxiety” among EV buyers and promotes
the City as a destination for EV owners thereby resulting in more EV adoption. (Fall 2021/Winter 2022
and beyond)
o Potential Impact: The City currently has a higher than average rate of EV ownership (2.75%
versus .85% statewide). If we can achieve 30% electric vehicles by 2030, it would result in an
6 This 15% reduction estimate is based on a 15% reduction in the emissions factor between 2010 and 2018. The 15% reduction was
applied to the 2018 on-road transportation emissions estimate to arrive at the 38,000 MTCO2e.)
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annual reduction of about 56,000 MTCO2e, a 22% reduction from the 2020 transportation
estimates.
• Improve walkability. The City is currently finalizing a Walkability and Safe Routes to School Master Plan.
The Master Plan will help promote pedestrian safety and increase pedestrian traffic to reduce
transportation-related emissions for short trips. These projects will require funding. Having a plan in
place will make it more likely for the City to secure external funds. (2020-2022)
o Potential Impact: The City is working with PlaceWorks to assess potential impacts of increased
pedestrian activity to determine how these improvements will reduce car trips.
• Implement airport shuttle program, encourage/require low-emitting mass transit options for events,
and revisit Buzz Trolley concept. Many residents to Palm Springs fly into the airport and rent a car
during their stay. The City should work to better understand the driving habits of visitors, the emissions
reductions that could be achieved by reducing car rentals and car use within the city, and what options
may be most viable for making these reductions. This could include a City Airport shuttle and a
reinvigoration of an electric Buzz Trolley concept within the City. The City could also work with event
organizers to ensure that they incorporate low or zero-emission mass transit options for event-related
activities. Splash House could be a good event to start with given they already use buses frequently.
(2023/2024)
o Potential Impact: The City is working with PlaceWorks to assess potential impacts of reductions
in localized car trips that may result from these changes.
• Update and Implement Active Transportation Plan. A key to promoting more alternative transportation
methods is to enhance related infrastructure. This has been focused traditionally on bike lanes, but the
City should think more broadly about a wide range of potential alternative transportation options. Plans
should consider the emergence of electric bikes and other alternative transportation modes (e.g., trikes,
e-scooters, “golf” carts, etc.) and how that may impact infrastructure needs and should be reflected in
an updated Bike Plan and General Plan. CVAG plans for CVLink could play a prominent role as a catalyst
for future changes, and the City could consider focusing active transportation routes to align with CVLink
locations. (Winter/Spring 2022)
o Potential Impact: Improved alternative transportation infrastructure has a direct impact on car
travel. According to State Guidance, cities that increase their bike lanes by 1% can see a .25%
increase in bike commuting. If Palm Springs doubles its current bike lane miles from the current
62 miles to 124 miles, this could result in a 50% increase in commuting by bike.7
• Promote mass transit to and from Palm Springs. The Vehicle Miles Traveled in the City includes trips to
and from the City based on Regional transportation data. Getting more people out of their cars and onto
mass transit (e.g., Flix Bus and Amtrak) will help further reduce our transportation-related emissions.
The City could work with companies such as Flix Bus to promote shared ride options that also promote
the Palm Springs brand. (2023/2024)
7 The City does not have sufficient data on bike commuting to determine a GHG reduction impact, but this would be done as a part
of an updated city-wide emissions analysis.
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o Potential Impact: The City is working with PlaceWorks to determine impacts from various
scenarios associated with mass transit options.
RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
AB 3232 enacted in 2018 requires the California Energy Commission (CEC) to assess the potential for the state to
reduce GHG emissions from the state’s residential and commercial building stock by at least 40 percent below
1990 levels by January 1, 2030. The bill states that decarbonizing California’s buildings is essential to achieve the
state’s GHG reduction goals at the lowest possible cost. The bill establishes that it is the intent of the Legislature
to achieve significant reductions in GHG emissions by the state’s residential and commercial building stock by
January 1, 2030. In addition, SB 350 establishes an objective to double the energy efficiency savings in electricity
and natural gas final end uses of retail customers through energy efficiency and conservation.
2020 estimated emissions from residential and commercial buildings combined is our second highest source of
emissions (about 183,000 MTCO2e). Although the best way that residents and businesses can contribute to the
City’s GHG reduction efforts is to sign up for 100% carbon free energy plans, natural gas use remains an
important contributor and will be hard to curb. The City will continue to focus efforts to reduce emissions from
buildings in the following ways:
• Continue to support the move to the 100% carbon free option for Palm Springs residents under Desert
Community Energy (DCE). The launch of DCE occurred in April 2020 and continues to be a focus of DCE,
City staff, and a dedicated Palm Springs Working Group of DCE’s Community Advisory Committee. The
City’s decision to shift to carbon-free energy as the default for all residents and businesses has had a
significant impact on the City’s greenhouse gas emissions. However, rising energy prices and confusing
energy bills could potentially reverse progress if more residents move away from the 100% carbon-free
plan. The City will continue to work with DCE staff to educate community members and discuss the
benefits of carbon-free energy. (Ongoing)
o Potential Impact: Assuming the participation in DCE continues at relatively consistent levels as in
2020, we would expect that reductions due to DCE would increase from the estimated 115,070
MTCO2e to 153,427 MTCO2e for a full year of implementation (the 115,070 MTCO2e estimate
was based on the initial 9 months). This is a net increase in carbon reduction of about 38,000
MTCO2e. Although the State has mandated that 60% of regular household electricity must come
from renewable sources by 2030, it is unclear what the carbon intensity of these renewable may
be. City staff will work with PlaceWorks to develop estimates for emissions from future energy
use, considering the GHG emissions intensity that DCE and Southern California Edison are
required to report in their respective annual Power Content Labels.
• Develop ordinance to require homes built before 2011 undergoing renovations to make certain
targeted energy efficiency upgrades. The Sustainability Commission is developing a proposal for an
ordinance that would require residents to implement energy efficiency improvements depending on the
size of their renovation projects. The proposal was reviewed and approved by the Sustainability
Commission and is being presented to Council with the accompanying staff report. The current iteration
of this proposal includes a menu of options for residents with short pay-back periods that will both
reduce their energy use and lower their energy bills. (Winter 2022)
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o Potential Impact: The water heating package included among the measures in the proposal
would reduce residential GHG emissions about 6,000 MTCO2e over the 30-year lifecycle. The
other energy efficiency measures in the proposal would not lead to large GHG reductions due to
the high participation in the DCE 100% carbon free option. However, the measures that
homeowners would take will reduce their energy use/costs and will provide more resiliency to
higher temperatures.
• Promote more sustainable cannabis grow facilities and other large commercial buildings. Cannabis
grow facilities have the potential to use a significant amount of energy and water resources. By
promoting more sustainable practices, including energy efficient systems and use of renewable energy,
the City can avert the potential significant additional greenhouse gas emissions that may result from the
growth in this new industry. The City is planning to put forward a new ordinance that would require
cannabis grow facilities to use 100% carbon free energy. The ordinance may also cover other large
commercial facilities to help flatten the City’s GHG growth potential. This ordinance was started by the
Sustainability Commission and recently was requested by the Planning Commission. The Sustainability
Commission plans to conduct outreach on the potential ordinance in late 2021 and propose something
to Council in early 2022. (Fall 2021/Winter 2022)
o Potential Impact: The City will need to retain a consultant to better understand potential
emissions impacts. However, a recent application by one large grow facility has the potential to
increase GHG emissions by close to 15% of all commercial emissions (more than 10,000 MTCO2e
annually) if that facility does not use 100% carbon free energy.
• Implement incentive program for Home Energy Assessments. The Sustainability Commission approved
a program to provide rebates to residents that conduct a home energy assessment as part of an
approved home energy labeling program. This program began in Spring 2021. It is hoped that providing
homeowners with information about how they can reduce their home energy costs will help boost the
energy efficiency of existing housing stock. City staff will continue to coordinate with DCE staff to
explore opportunities to continue this as one of their energy efficiency programs for homeowners.
(Ongoing)
o Potential Impact: Like the other home energy efficiency upgrades, it is difficult to estimate
potential GHG reductions from these efforts. Assuming residents take action, those actions will
likely reduce their energy use/costs and will make homes more resilient to higher temperatures.
• Building electrification. Some cities, mainly in the Bay Area but some in Southern and Central California,
are moving towards requiring buildings to go all electric to reduce GHG emissions. The goal is to
eventually eliminate or minimize natural gas use, because natural gas can be made from renewable
sources such as biogas but not carbon-free sources. The 2022 California Energy Code moves in this
direction and will require electric heat pump water heaters in new single-family homes in Palm Springs
beginning January 1, 2023. The all-electric ordinances adopted by other cities are not without
controversy, and more information will be developed to assess this option more fully. (Ongoing)
o Potential Impact: The move to electrification would primarily affect only new construction and
potentially major renovations. Natural gas use contributed about 127,000 MTCO2e in the 2020
estimates. We should expect this number to rise given the number of new construction projects
underway or in development. A move to electrification may help reduce the increase from future
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residential and commercial projects. The City can work with PlaceWorks to determine the
potential impact.
OTHER COMMUNITY EMISSIONS
• Waste diversion. One of the challenges that the state continues to have in managing greenhouse gas
emissions broadly is managing emissions from landfills. The State has a new law – SB 1383 – that is
designed to reduce the amount of organics going to landfills, because these are often responsible for
generating a key greenhouse gas, methane. The City is currently working with PSDS to anticipate and
respond to this new law. This will help the city reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the
amount of methane emissions from landfills. The City will also continue to work to encourage recycling
of other materials to achieve our overall goal of diverting 90% of waste from landfills. The current
diversion rate is about 50%. (Ongoing)
o Potential Impact: In 2020, the City sent 68,696.57 tons of trash to landfill, but these data are not
considered typical due to the impacts of COVID. Using disposal date from 2018 and 2019, it
appears that Palm Springs will likely send about 80,000 tons of trash to landfill. This results in
about 23,000 MTCO2e emissions. If the current diversion rate is about 50%, and the City diverts
an additional 40% of waste to meet the 90% diversion goal by 2030, this would reduce our
landfill waste to 16,000 tons resulting in only 4,600 MTCO2e of emissions as a result of landfilled
material. This would be a reduction of almost 18,400 MTCO2e.
• Electric Lawn Equipment. The City banned gasoline-powered leaf blowers in 2019. Gasoline powered
leaf blowers can emit in 1 hour the equivalent air emissions (nitrous oxide and reactive organic gasses)
of 1100 miles in a new passenger car. A gasoline lawn mower produces the equivalent of 300 miles in 1
hour. The State just recently banned the sale of gasoline lawn equipment (as well as generators and
other items) starting in 2024. Lawn equipment is particularly polluting, because units do not fully
combust the gasoline used to run them. In addition to air pollution, this equipment also contributes
significantly to noise pollution. The City will re-evaluate its leaf blower efforts next year to determine
how to move forward with a complete transformation of this important initiative. (Ongoing)
o Potential Impact: Lawn equipment is accounted for in the community inventory under Off-road
Equipment (540 MTCO2e). Of these emissions, only about 40 MTCO2e, is attributed to lawn
equipment. If we assume that 80% of lawn equipment is converted to electric by 2030, this may
mean a reduction of 32 MTCO2e. While not a significant amount from a GHG perspective, the
other co-benefits – reduced ground-level particulates and noise pollution reduction – warrant
further focus on this issue.
6 POTENTIAL ACTIONS TO ADDRESS CLIMATE IMPACTS
One of the areas that the City has not focused attention on in the past is resiliency and climate adaptation. With
the immediate nature of many climate impacts, this must be moved to the forefront of thinking along with
continued efforts to reduce greenhouse gasses that are the source of these impacts. The City is currently
working to update its General Plan to incorporate elements of climate adaptation. Particular attention will be
paid to the impact of climate changes on vulnerable communities and the equity of impacts across various
communities. While PlaceWorks has not completed their vulnerabilities assessment for the General Plan update,
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City of Palm Springs Climate Action Roadmap – October 28, 2021
14
we know that we will see impacts from higher temperatures for longer durations, ongoing drought, stronger
storms and wind events, and habitat loss. Below are some examples of potential strategies to address some of
these issues. These actions will be expanded when the vulnerability analysis is complete.
• Allow outdoor workers to start earlier in summer months. In August, the Union of Concerned Scientists
published a report documenting the increased threat of heat exposure to outdoor workers as global
temperatures continue to rise.8 When developing the gasoline leaf blower ordinance, one of the
requests that gardeners put forward was to allow them to start earlier to reduce battery depletion.
Given year-after-year of record temperatures, outdoor workers are increasingly vulnerable to the effects
of heat. Allowing work to start earlier will help reduce these impacts. City staff will work to develop the
ordinance in the new year. (Spring 2022)
• Develop Improved Response Plans for Climate Events. Sustainability staff will work with Emergency
Management staff to identify opportunities to improve response efforts related to climate-related
events such as wind storms, power outages, severe heat events, and flooding. (Fall 2021/Winter 2022)
• Add shade structures. City staff recognize that shade will play a critical role in the ability to enjoy
outdoor spaces and to encourage pedestrian activity, especially in warmer months. The Sustainability
Commission has begun to discuss how best to address this in the context of what appears to be long-
term drought. Tree planting may become a less appealing option than the installation of shade
structures. Sustainability staff plans to work with Planning staff to discuss shading and how more varied
ideas for shade structures can be integrated into the General Plan and into specific project planning
efforts. (Winter 2022)
• Insulate homes. As noted above, Staff is working with the Sustainability Commission to develop an
ordinance to promote energy efficiency measures for homes. Among these are opportunities to improve
insulation. This will be a critical element to increasing resiliency of homes against rising temperatures.
(Winter 2022)
7 CITY-WIDE EMISSIONS
City emissions are a subset of overall community emissions. Although there was a detailed City Inventory
created in 2010, the City did not do a city emissions inventory for 2018 or 2020 as part of these initial
assessments. A detailed City Inventory will be done as part of a more in-depth assessment to determine how the
City might achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. For reference, the detailed City assessment from 2010 is included
in Table 4. It shows that the City’s largest sources of emissions are the following:
• Wastewater treatment plant emissions – primarily from fugitive emissions from lagoons
• Buildings and facilities – especially the co-generation facility that is operated on natural gas
8 Too Hot to Work: Assessing the Threats Climate Change Poses to Outdoor Workers. August 17, 2021. Union of Concerned Scientists
https://ucsusa.org/resources/too-hot-to-work
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Item 2B
City of Palm Springs Climate Action Roadmap – October 28, 2021
15
Table 4: City-wide Emissions Summary 2010
Sector Subsector GHG emissions (MTCO2e)
Buildings & facilities
Building electricity use 2,910
Building natural gas use 980
Cogeneration 4,170
Lighting
Traffic signals 110
Street lights 240
Outdoor lighting 60
Fleet
Gasoline vehicles 770
Diesel vehicles 260
CNG vehicles 10
Commute Gasoline vehicles 700
Diesel vehicles 80
Solid waste Government-generated solid
waste 380
Landfill Waste in place 1,350
Off-road equipment
Gasoline equipment 30
Diesel equipment 140
CNG equipment 0
Refrigerants Building refrigerants 220
Vehicle refrigerants 90
Fertilizer Golf courses 10
Park land 0
Wastewater Embedded energy 930
Wastewater treatment 24,090
Informational items Waste hauling 690
Total 37,530
Although the numbers have likely changed in 2020, these are still the most significant opportunities for
reductions. The City will be working with PlaceWorks to do an updated city-wide inventory and to explore
reduction opportunities. Among the ideas we will explore are the following:
• Investigate capture technologies for greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater treatment plant.
Wastewater treatment plant emissions were the single largest municipal emissions source in the 2010
greenhouse gas Inventory. The City may be able to further reduce its direct greenhouse gas emissions by
incorporating emissions control technologies that capture emissions from the wastewater treatment
process for use as fuel. The Sustainability Commission is working with the water treatment plant
operators to investigate whether this idea is feasible. Although the City had pursued similar options in
the past, there were legal, technological, and fiscal barriers that prevented implementation. (Winter
2021)
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Item 2B
City of Palm Springs Climate Action Roadmap – October 28, 2021
16
• Fleet electrification. The City will work to identify infrastructure needs and feasibility of electrifying the
City fleet. This would include Police Department vehicles as well as maintenance, Code Enforcement,
Engineering, and Planning. Incentives and grant programs are anticipated to assist in this transition.
(2022)
• Building energy assessments. It has been nearly 10 years since the City did assessments of its energy
uses. Although some accounts have moved to Desert Community Energy, some accounts cannot be
converted, and energy efficiency is a critical first step in achieving carbon neutrality. These assessments
should also include assessments of additional renewable energy potential (e.g., solarized parking shade
structures). (2023)
8 NEXT STEPS
The Sustainability Commission and City staff continues to work with PlaceWorks to identify opportunities to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate impacts and looks forward to additional discussions with
Council. Staff will continue to work with Planning Staff to integrate concepts, as appropriate, into the General
Plan. Specific actions will be incorporated into the upcoming Sustainability Plan update. Sustainability staff will
plan to provide report-outs to Council regarding progress in this area annually and assess GHG emissions
reductions at least bi-annually.
12/14/2023
Public Comment
Item 2B
From:Christy Holstege
To:City Clerk
Subject:Fwd: Important Considerations: Starbucks Proposal at Racquet Club and Palm Canyon
Date:Wednesday, December 13, 2023 1:07:44 PM
Christy Gilbert Holstege, Esq.
Councilmember
District 4
City of Palm Springs
Begin forwarded message:
From: robert farran <bobfarran@yahoo.com>
Date: December 13, 2023 at 12:49:14 PM PST
To: Grace Garner <Grace.Garner@palmspringsca.gov>, Jeffrey Bernstein
<Jeffrey.Bernstein@palmspringsca.gov>, Lisa Middleton
<Lisa.Middleton@palmspringsca.gov>, Christy Holstege
<Christy.Holstege@palmspringsca.gov>, Ron deHarte
<Ron.deHarte@palmspringsca.gov>
Cc: Denise Goolsby <Denise.Goolsby@palmspringsca.gov>, Scott Stiles
<Scott.Stiles@palmspringsca.gov>
Subject: Important Considerations: Starbucks Proposal at Racquet Club
and Palm Canyon
NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or
open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.
Mayor Garner, Mayor Pro Temp Bernstein, and Council-members
Middleton, Holstege and DeHarte;
On Behalf of the Racquet Club West Board, we would like you to consider
these important points prior to your decision on the proposed drive-thru
Starbucks at Racquet Club Road and Palm Canyon Drive, a location
within our neighborhood boundaries.
1. While we are not opposed to Starbucks, we do want to assure a
reasonable level playing field for our local businesses. 4 Paws Coffee
Shop is across the street in the Racquet Club Center. Given the current
City Sign Ordinance, 4 Paws cannot use their logo or have a larger sign
on the street and are limited to the same small wording on the monument
sign for the Center. We know this as we had supported appropriate
signage for the Center in the past. The parking lot for the Center is lower
than the street and few people driving into town can see the businesses in
the Center. Starbucks would be allowed to have their own monument sign
and logo on their building. This gives Starbucks the advertising advantage
12/14/2023
Public Comment
Item 2B
that is limited for 4 Paws, a locally owned small business, due to the City
Ordinance. It may appear that the city favors one business over the other.
2. Traffic at this intersection is of concern as the angle of the
intersection makes it hard for cars and pedestrians at this corner. Adding
more cars is of concern if the potential for long lines may extend into the
street as we have seen at some Starbucks. Please address the layout and
traffic/pedestrian issues. A "drive-thru" only business does not seem to be
consistent with the City's Sustainability Goals as referenced in the current
Transportation survey seeking less traffic and more walking/cycling
options.
3. In balancing these concerns, our interest in Starbucks stems from our
desire to see more businesses and services in the north end of the city.
We have waited for a long time to see consistent development and if this
business is approved we hope it is part of a plan to add other business to
this neglected lot and needed development across the north end area.
Thank you for your consideration of these concerns.
Bob Farran, Chair
Racquet Club West Neighborhood Organization
505 W Yorba Road
Palm Springs, CA 92262
Cell: 323-356-0960
BobFarran@yahoo.com
12/14/2023
Public Comment
Item 2B