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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 2025 Agenda Packet SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA www.palmspringsca.gov/services/sustainability-and-recycling February 18, 2025 5:30 PM MEETING AGENDA Palm Springs City Hall Large Conference Room Ken Alexander Don Barrett Erin Boyd Roy Clark, Chair Kathy Cohn Max Dirdah Andrew Forster Michael Frick Bernard Rottner, Vice Chair Prema Walker City of Palm Springs Vision Statement: Palm Springs aspires to be a unique world-class desert community where residents and visitors enjoy our high quality of life and a relaxing experience. We desire to balance our cultural and historical re- sources with responsible, sustainable economic growth and enhance our natural desert beauty. We are committed to providing responsive, friendly, and efficient customer service in an environment that fosters unity among all our citizens. To view/listen/participate in the meeting live, please contact Lindsey-Paige McCloy at lindsey-paige.mccloy@palmspringsca.gov or the following telephone number (760-323-8214) to register for the Zoom meeting. There will be an email with Zoom credentials sent after registration is complete to access the meeting and offer public comment. Any person who wishes to provide public testimony for an item on the agenda is requested to file a speaker card before the Public Testimony portion of the meeting. You may submit your public comment to the Subcommittee electronically. Material may be emailed to lindsey-paige.mccloy@palmspringsca.gov. Transmittal prior to the start of the meeting will help ensure that your correspondence is fully considered. Any correspondence received during or after the meeting will be distributed to the Subcommittee and retained for the official record. Office of Sustainability staff representatives: Lindsey-Paige McCloy, Director; Christian Wheeler, Climate and Sustainability Specialist; Benito Villa, Senior Program Coordinator; Juliet Shane Agtang, CivicSpark Fellow Please MUTE OR TURN OFF all audible electronic devices for the duration of this meeting. CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS (5 MINUTES) ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS: This time is for members of the public to address the Commission on agenda items and items of general interest within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Commission. The Commission values your comments but it cannot take action on items not listed on the posted Agenda. Three (3) minutes are allowed for each speaker PRESENTATION (15 MINUTES) Motor Vehicle Idling – Specialist Wheeler MEETING MINUTES (5 MINUTES) Director McCloy CHAIR’S COMMENTS (5 MINUTES) Chair Clark Sustainability Commission Meeting February 18, 2025, 5:30 PM - Page 2 SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS (15 MINUTES) 1. Standing Subcommittee on Waste Reduction – Vice Chair Rottner 2. Standing Subcommittee on Climate Action – Chair Clark 3. Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Bird Strikes – Commissioner Frick 4. Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Leaf Blowers – Chair Clark, Commissioners Cohn and Frick 5. Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Measure J Projects – Commissioners Alexander and Boyd, and Vice Chair Rottner DIRECTOR’S REPORT (10 MINUTES) Director McCloy OLD BUSINESS (30 MINUTES) 1. Food Ware Ordinance -- Director McCloy 2. Energy-Efficient Upgrade Ordinance -- Staff NEW BUSINESS (0 MINUTES) 1. None COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AND MARCH AGENDA ITEMS (10 MINUTES) Commissioners have two (2) minutes to provide requests for future agenda items or input on other Commis- sion-related items of interest. ADJOURNMENT - The meeting of the Sustainability Commission will adjourn to March 18, 2025, at 5:30 pm, unless otherwise noted . It is the intention of the City of Palm Springs to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in all respects. If, as an attendee or a participant at this meeting, you need special assistance beyond what is normally provided, the City will attem pt to accommodate you in every reasonable manner. Please contact the Office of the City Clerk at (760) 323-8204 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting to inform us of your needs and to determine if accommodation is feasible. Pursuant to G.C. Section 54957.5(b)(2) the designated office for inspection of records in connection with the meeting is the Office of Sustainability, City Hall, 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262. Agenda and staff reports are available on the City’s website www.palmspringsca.gov. If you would like additional information on any item appearing on this agenda, please contact the Office of Sustainability at 760 -323-8214. AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING: I, Lindsey-Paige McCloy, Director, Office of Sustainability of the City of Palm Springs, California, certify this Agenda was posted at or before 5:30 PM on Thursday, February 13, 2025 as required by established policies and procedures. Lindsey-Paige McCloy, Director, Office of Sustainability City of Palm Springs Sustainability Commission February 2025 Upcoming Agenda Items for City Council, Commission, and Subcommittees - Targeted Food Ware Ordinance (styrofoam coolers prohibited) City Council – TBD Commission – February (recommendation) Energy-Efficient Upgrade Ordinance City Council February (information only); TBD (first reading) Tree Ordinance City Council – March (first reading) Commission – February (recommendation) Greenhouse Gas Reduction City Council – April Commission – February and March Smoking Ordinance City Council – TBD (first reading) Commission – TBD (recommendation) Commission February • Food Ware Ordinance recommendation • Tree Ordinance recommendation • Motor Vehicle Idling March • CV Link Status • Update on Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Policy • Smoking ordinance edits; feedback from community and Economic Development SSCOWR March • End-to-end recycling process (PSDS) • Waste from new food bank on Alejo • Clarification about composting pails (Commissioner Alexander’s suggestion) • Parks/Recreation and Sustainability – collection of landfill, recycling, organics • Battery recycling TBD • Review of reuse projects and policies across CA/region • CA water regulations Climate Action March • Greenhouse gas reduction • Heat and shade study Upcoming Agenda Items and Guest Presentations - Unscheduled Commission • Tree ordinance (to City Council) • Food ware ordinance (to City Council, before end of 2024) • Turf conversion statistics (from DWA) • Cool roof • Pool heaters • Dark Sky ordinance • Scholarships provided by the City (e.g., leaf blowers) • Solar on/in City buildings; Director McCloy’s report • Shade structures and trees; collaboration with Parks and Recreation Office/Commission • Cannabis/large building ordinance update (staff request) • Air quality • Digital media/education • Ban on use of glue traps and rodenticides—Prescott Reserve request • Dog/waste pickup stations SSCOWR • Waste enforcement Climate Action • Heat and shade study and “Safe Routes for All” study (Sustainability Specialist Wheeler) • Greenhouse gas emissions analysis • Social media – Air Quality Monitoring • Airport expansion, regional connectivity to PSP • City buildings – emissions reduction Additional suggested agenda items from Feb 20 Commission meeting • Collaboration with other cities on sustainability; form committee (Commissioner Walker) • Increased effort with respect to community gardens (Vice Chair Barrett) • Trash container labeling (Commissioner Cohn) • Shade structures and trees; work with Parks and Recreation Office/Commission (Commissioner Dirdah) • Getting away from natural gas; education of companies doing work (+ CivicSpark Fellow Agtang’s work) (Commissioner Rottner) → Climate action subcommittee City of Palm Springs, Office of Sustainability To: Sustainability Commission From: Lindsey-Paige McCloy, Director, Office of Sustainability Re: February Updates to the Sustainability Commission Meeting Date: 18 February 2025 The Office of Sustainability would like to provide this update on activities since the last Commission meeting to help speed discussion at the in -person meeting. The following items can be discussed in more depth at the meeting, if desired by the Commission. Upcoming Meetings and Events • Next Council meeting topics: o For discussion at today’s meeting: foodware ordinance o Next up: tree ordinance, energy efficient renovations (information item) • Next Subcommittee meeting dates: o SSCOWR: March 6 at 1:00pm o Climate Action: March 12 at 1:00pm (note this new time going forward) • Recurring events o Next Farmers’ Market table: tentatively scheduled for April 12, 2025 o Next shredding and e-waste event: April 5, 2025 • Upcoming special events o Community Cleanup – tentatively scheduled for March 29, 2025 o Earth Day and Arbor Day – the weekend of April 26, 2025 • Office note o Road Reconfiguration Meeting 530PM @ Demuth: February 25th (South Palm Canyon) & 26th (Racquet Club) Commission Administrative Matters • We are no longer permitted to email personal email addresses for Commission matters. If you are still having trouble with the email address, please email ithelp@palmspringsca.gov and let them know that you are a Sustainability Commission member. • A reminder from our City Clerk’s office: Commissioners are encouraged to minimize absences. Commissioners with three consecutive absences are subject to removal from the Commission. Updates on Ongoing Work Water, Turf Conversion, Batteries, GHG Inventory, Air Quality Staff are working with Public Works to develop mockups for the San Rafael Turf Conversion project. Staff will work with DWA to evaluate the current public turf conversion rebate program and identify any changes for upcoming years. Waste and Foodware PSDS and Benito will be hosting a shredding event on April 5th at the Convention Center. Several restaurants have been visited this month including Smoke and Burgers, Joyce’s Sushi, and El Patio. Thanks to our Commissioners and community members for directing us to these establishments! Airport We recommend that Commissioners check out the documentation from the latest Open House on the Master Plan website! EV Charging Stations All good so far. Scheming continues! Transportation Final rounds of outreach meetings for the road reconfiguration will be taking place in February 2025. We are working on grant agreements for the Safe Streets for All (SS4A) grant program and waiting to hear back from CalTrans to start the Heat and Shade study this month. Urban Environment Abor Day events are being planned in collaboration with Parks & Recreation. Tree ordinance and supporting programs development continues. Community Garden No updates this month. Buildings and Energy Efficiency We have been working hard on the energy efficient reach code this month and will provide a brief update during the meeting. A quick summary is as follows: • Working on stakeholder outreach, including with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians/Tribal staff and with the Desert Valley Builders’ Association • Identifying paths for implementation with City departments (primarily Building and Safety) • Performing cost and scenario analysis to understand how different projects might be impacted Upcoming work will include: • Creating support documentation to help building owners and professionals navigate the ordinance • Identifying any changes that can be made to the ordinance to simplify implementation. Stakeholder outreach needs and results will delay the Ordinance’s trip to the City Council. We will keep the Commission posted. Fleet Electrification and City Emissions Reductions We are working closely with the Public Works Department to identify the best project paths for reducing emissions across our facilities and to make electrical capacity available for EV charging. Team Updates We will be conducting interviews this month for our waste specialist position. Staff Memo to the Sustainability Commission Date: 18 February 2025 Subject: Proposed Modification to the Foodware Ordinance From: Office of Sustainability Summary The Sustainability Department presents the most recent draft of an ordinance to restrict the sale of unencapsulated polystyrene coolers by adding this provision to the existing Foodware Ordinance. Recommendation Commissioners complete a final review of the draft and approve the concept. Background The Commission and SSCOWR have reviewed this action at previous meetings . Vice Chair Rottner provided recommendations of other cities that have implemented such a provision. The City Council requested that we incorporate this provision in 2024 . Staff Analysis Ordinance Impact The draft expands the definitions of the ordinance to include “polystyrene coolers,” making use of the same definition established in Pasadena. The draft then adds a prohibition on the sale of unenclosed/unencapsulated (i.e., not specifically designed to be durable, since many ice chests are lined with polystyrene!) polystyrene coolers to the existing section that prohibit s the sale of polystyrene foodware. Next Steps Pending comments from the Commission, the draft will receive a final review from the City’s legal team before being presented to the City Council for a vote. Appendix A – Draft Ordinance ORDINANCE NO. ____ AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 5.87 OF THE PALM SPRINGS MUNICIPAL CODE TO PROHIBIT THE SALE OF POLYSTYRENE COOLERS. WHEREAS, Palm Springs prohibited the distribution and sale of food service ware and food service ware accessories made from polystyrene foam in 2021 . WHEREAS, polystyrene foam is a common environmental pollutant as well as a non - biodegradable substance that is commonly used as food service ware and for the conveyance of food. WHEREAS, there continues to be no feasible means to recycle polystyrene foam used as food service ware and for the conveyance of food. WHEREAS, unencapsulated polystyrene coolers are still available for sale. WHEREAS, several cities across the state of California including San Francisco, Berkeley, and Pasadena have banned the sale of polystyrene coolers in addition to banning the sale of polystyrene food service ware. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Incorporation of Recitals. The above recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein by this reference as material findings in support of this Ordinance. SECTION 2. Section 5.87.001, Definitions, is hereby modified to include the definition as follows: “Polystyrene Cooler” means any cooler or ice chest made of polystyrene foam, where such foam is not fully encased in a durable material. SECTION 3. Section 5.87.004, Food Service Ware for Retail Sale, is hereby modified to include the following: b) No Person may sell, offer for sale, or otherwise distribute for compensation within the City any polystyrene cooler which is not wholly encapsulated or enca sed within a more durable material. SECTION 4. CEQA. This Ordinance was assessed in accordance with the authority and criteria contained in the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) (Pub. Resources Code, 21000 et seq.). The City Council hereby finds that under Section 15601(b)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, this Ordinance is exempt from the requirements of CEQA because it can be seen with certainty that the provisions contained herein would not have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. The City Council also finds the Ordinance is exempt from the requirements of CEQA pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15307 and 15308 as an action by a regulatory agency taken to protect the environment and natural resources. SECTION 4. Severability. If any section or provision of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, or contravened by reason of any preemptive legislation, the remaining sections and/or provisions of this ordinance shall remain valid. The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance, and each section or provision thereof, regardless of the fact that any one or more section(s) or provision(s) may be declared inval id or unconstitutional or contravened via legislation. SECTION 5. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall become effective on MONTH DAY, 202X. SECTION 6. Publication. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Ordinance and shall cause a summary of the same to be published in the official newspaper of the City of Palm Springs within fifteen (15) days following its adoption.