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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Comment - June 2025 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: 24 June 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 Ready to ship: foodware ordinance o Next up: tree ordinance, energy efficient renovations, information updates on waste and on greenhouse gas emissions • Next Subcommittee meeting dates: o SSCOWR: July 1st , 2025 o Climate Action: July 9th , 2025 • Recurring events o Next Farmers’ Market table: TBD • Upcoming special events o Fix-it Clinic: TBD but potentially August 2025 o Shredding Event: October 18, 2025 • Office note o The team has some OOO time coming up! Please have at least 2 staff members on each email to make sure we’ve got someone available to help ☺ Commission Administrative Matters • None at this time. Updates on Ongoing Work Water, Turf Conversion As part of the City Council’s recent budget process, funding has been preliminarily allocated as part of our $1m total allocation. We will be working with DWA staff to determine the match amount for the ongoing program. The City will also be advancing the first stage of the City Hall turf conversion program in the next fiscal year. Waste and Foodware The third Community Cleanup will happen in October 2025. Staff will begin work on the Annual Electronic Report for CalRecycle which covers 2024’s disposal. We will share results of the EAR in the fall. Accounts with delinquent waste bills were instructed to settle payments before June 6. Accounts will be transferred to the tax roll at the end of the month. Transportation The Heat and Shade Study Grant Agreement has been executed! Staff has started preparing RFP for consultants and working on organizing an advisory committee. We are making progress on executing the Safe Streets for All grant from the USDOT FHWA and are undergoing legal review. Businesses are welcome to apply for a bike rack from the department. Urban Environment Brainstorming habitat development and wildlife relocation + a poison free Palm Springs - we will be working over the summer with wildlife and nature advocates and our Public Works and Parks departments to explore some innovative habitat solutions and identify ways to reduce our use of pesticides. The final draft of the tree ordinance has been received and will be forwarded to the commission pending internal staff sign -off. Supporting documents for the tree program are being drafted. More tree planting events are being planned for the Fall. Community Garden Library milkweed will be planted at the community garden. Buildings and Energy Efficiency We’ve received reach code updates and are evaluating how to move forward with internal discussions. We will keep the Commission posted on the Ordinance’s trip to the City Council. 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. Otherwise, everything is working pretty well!