Case Study: “Marin Countywide Plan” Alex Hinds

Incorporating Climate Change Adaptation Into Climate Action Plans & General Plan Updates September 13, 2010 Background & Motivation “Planning is best done in advance ”

(Marin staff updates general plan every10+ years) CountywideCountywide PlanPlan PublicPublic OutreachOutreach && CommunityCommunity Participation:Participation:

• Extensive public outreach and education • Guiding Principles & 4 Working Groups (2001- 2002) • 115 public meetings • Adopted Nov 6, 2007 In 2001 “Planning Sustainable Communities” was selected as the theme of Marin’s General Plan Update

CWP Definition of Sustainability : Aligning our built environment and socioeconomic activities w/ the natural systems that support life

Adapting human activities to the constraints and opportunities of nature

Meeting the needs of both the present and the future Countywide Goals include:

A Reduced Ecological Footprint Marin will increasingly use resources at a level similar to Western Europe

A Community Safe from Climate Change Marin will be a leader in averting and adapting to all aspects of climate change

Ecological Footprint Comparison (Global Footprint Network)

30.0 27.4 24.0 25.0 21.8 20.0

15.0 13.0 9.5 10.0 Acresper Person 5.0 3.1 2.5

0.0 Marin United Canada France Italy Chile Mexico County States How Does Marin’s Footprint Compare to Other San Francisco Bay Area Counties?

(Global Footprint Network/Redefining Progress)

Number of earths that would be required to serve the footprint of each S.F. Bay Area County: Climate Change:

Promoting Climate Protection

Joined ICLEI’s five step program in 2002: 1. Assessed Marin’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 2. Set target to reduce emissions 3. Developed implementation plan to meet the target 4. Implement GHG reduction plan 5. Reassess GHG emissions Marin Countywide Plan

• Each element addresses: • What are the desired outcomes? • Why it is important? • How will results be achieved? • How will success be measured? Climate Change – How will success be measured?

Set Target to Reduce Emissions Indicator Benchmark Targets

Amount of GHG 2,634,000 tons Reduce 15-20% by Emissions CO2 in 1990 2020. Countywide Environmental Corridors – the Bones of the Marin Plan

MAP 3-1 ENVIRONMENTAL CORRIDORS Legend County Boundary • In 1973 there were erican m o S de A City Boundary ro O e t N s

E O M A

Highways and Major Roads C O U N T Y Streams Environmental Corridors

C le reek p Perennial Ste m Dillon Beach Baylands Corridor Intermittent Tomales three environmental City Centered Corridor Ephemeral Water Bodies Inland Rural Corridor

Walker C h il T C eno Cr Coastal Corridor eek Lakes r

O e

M k t A a t L e E S H ig h B w A a Y y

Sa n corridors:

Anton io

Creek

l S a mon Cr Marshall e ek

P e ta l um a

R iv er ▫ The City-Centered

N o v a d to lv B e k C ek i r e ra h D ic s v i A c yo n rro a Inverness A r F Corridor k r e i Halle e S ck r Novato

Pt. Reyes Station Nicasio C

L a

g u n San Jose ita yo s o rr A

SAN PABLO BAY C re ek Olema

M ill er S 1 t Cr Marinwood a e 0 t ek e 1 ▫ The Inland Rural Corridor

H y ig a h ron w reek w e i m h C San G o nas a Fran g all i Cr eek Sir ci i y s G D k H a e DRAKES BAY 1 San Geronimo Village r B l S O v S U d e l l e em p y a F

air H

fa o x l

l C o r

e w e

e C k re Fairfax ek Sa n ek San Rafael e An r sel C m o ▫ San Anselmo The Coastal Corridor San SAN RAFAEL BAY Rafae l C k k e re C L s a Rosss gu o n it R as C Kentfield r e

e Cor k te

Ma P d e

i r n a

e Ck I

- 58 0 reek G C u l c Larkspurr r P h La ks p u

A A r r C C oyo r I e C e o F k r I Bolinas te SAN FRANCISCO BAY Corte Madera

C M

a d oot e O Esk C r a r e C

d e

k e E l Stinson Beach Mill ValleyPre A s R id N e i dw o o o

BOLINAS BAY Cr ee k Tiburon e ot C y r ee o k C Tamalpais RICHARDSON BAY Muir Beach Belvedere Sausalito • A 4th, Baylands

Miles 01 2 4 6 8 Corridor was added THIS MAP WAS DEVELOPED FOR GENERAL PLAN PURPOSES. THE COUNTY OF MARIN IS NOT RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR USE OF THIS MAP BEYOND ITS INTENDED PURPOSE. ± SOURCE: County of Marin Date: December 20, 2004 File: EnvCorr with Bayland 3-1.mxd in 2007. Natural Systems & Agriculture

Topics in the Natural Systems & Agriculture Element:

• Biological resources • Water resources • Environmental Hazards • Atmosphere and climate • Open space • Trails • Agriculture and food Protecting the Baylands Corridor

• Limit development in historic bay lands & leave tidelands in natural state

• Protect freshwater habitat & restore marshlands

• Conduct additional mapping and analysis

• Prioritize acquisition of essential bay lands

• Enact larger setbacks and consider TDR Response Strategies

• Limit development such that coastal wetlands are able to migrate inland in response to sea level rise

• Promote the restoration of wetlands and riparian areas to provide capacity for high water and flood flows Adapting to Climate Change – How will results be achieved?

• Consider future threat of sea level rise • Establish a climate change planning process • Revise floodplain/construction ordinances • Seek levee assistance Marin Agriculture & Food – How will the results be achieved?

•Preserve Agricultural Lands and Uses

•Promote Local & Organic Food Products

•Support Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security

Encourage Community Gardens & Healthy Food in Schools Built Environment Topics in the Built Environment:

• Community Development • Design • Energy and Green Building • Mineral Resources • Housing • Transportation • Noise • Public Facilities and Services • Planning Areas Greening our Built Environment

• Prevent sprawl and restrict development in environmentally sensitive areas such as floodplains and historic bay lands

• Housing Overlay Designation – Focus affordable & workforce housing at infill sites near jobs, transit, & services Grow up not out!

Before: After:

L I

A N

S 0

N 8

R A N 5 -

S A

O S

Miles

B H Tiburon

MAP 3-1 MAP

C I

Belvedere R

k C

k e e a

f e

a r

C k

s C

n a r a

a 3-1.mxd with Bayland EnvCorr ile:

e n S i r iv e Sausalito R l d

l a a

City City CenteredCorridor Inland Rural Corridor CoastalCorridor

Baylands Corridor

G M k

a e

m e

u e C

l e

0 a 1

y t e

s a San Rafael

e w r

P h e u

g t o J i r i

H C

U o d p i s s C e r n

r P t

a l

e y

k d

o L e Tamalpais a C r

e de o a

r M y o Madera tCorte e C r o

r C

Larkspur

A o

Environmental Corridors Environmental o

k r

o e r

t e

Kentfield

va r A

C o i

o Marinwood s

N R

c Hol

i k y e v e p lo re k

e w C k e

A Novato e e

r e

l Mill Valley r Ross C

o S od

y o o r

e w r l d

r il e

A M R ek

r e

k Beach Muir

C e

r C

x a

i a o F m l e

s San Anselmo vd n

l Fairfax

A 1 B

n e a

k S

a k r e e D r C s

i 0 2 4 6 8

F 2004 20, Date: December c PURPOSES. PLAN FORGENERAL DEVELOPED MAP WAS THIS LIABLE OR FO RESPONSIBLE NOT MARIN IS OF COUNTY THE PURPOSE. INTENDED ITS MAP BEYOND THIS OF USE o n reek i C t

n a

o o r

n F

A r

ek i

e E Cr

S s Lakes a

Ephemeral n Perennial Intermittent

Highways and Major Roads k it

County County Boundary City Boundary a e e n

S r u Y C g

a A L k k

c e B e e

l r

o A

m i

n N I

L e

Stinson Beach Stinson

Water Bodies Water G

Streams

Legend

B n

S San Geronimo Village Geronimo San k r ee Nicasio C ENVIRONMENTAL CORRIDORS ENVIRONMENTAL h ulc G

in P e Bolinas

k e re

C k e re C

n N ek o e r a m A

l C a m

e E S l 1 O

s y C a a it w n h O ag u ig L e H at St C I F I C A

Olema P

k e e

n e l i h C

Y Station Reyes Pt. T N U O C

Creek A

M r e Inverness O k l

N a k W O e

e S r C

l p m

Marshall e

1 y Y wa Tomales h A g i B H e Stat

AY S

B E

S K LE A

A R M

TO D

v l

s i c

n n

a a

c r

i F

e r i

S m

e Dillon Beach Dillon

E r e s t SOURCE: County of Marin

Built Environment : Adaptation - Areas threatened by Sea Level Rise

• Prepare a response plan considering planned retreat for the relocation of existing facilities in low-lying areas, & flood control projects

• Revise construction standards in light of increased flooding and fires Water Supply How results will be achieved:

• Minimize water demand – require new construction in districts lacking lacking a sustainable long term water supply to offset demand so there is no net increase

• Encourage on-site rainwater capture and re-use

• Evaluate the potential of graywater converter systems, waterless urinals, composting toilets, and other water-saving technologies

• Encourage all Marin water agencies to adopt the California Urban Water Conservation Council’s Best Management Practice of tiered billing rates & the Awahnee Water Princples Socioeconomic Topics in the Socioeconomic Element:

• Economy • Childcare • Public Safety • Community Participation • Diversity • Education • Environmental Justice • Public Health • Arts and Culture • Historical and Archaeological Resources • Parks and Recreation Socioeconomic Adaptation Strategies

• Integrate the economic impacts of climate change into disaster preparedness and response planning

• Analyze impacts to the economy from climate change

• Analyze the implications of increased sea level rise, violent storm events, and fire danger on neighborhood safety

• Encourage school districts to develop climate change curricula

• Plan for the public health implications of climate change including disease and temperature effects

• Analyze risks to park resources for from violent weather, plant & aquatic changes, increased fire danger, & sea level rise Some Lessons Learned

• Understand the role of science

• Easier to adopt CAP outside a General Plan process

• Better integration if adopted in General Plan/Ordinances

• Educate as well as regulate

• Don’t let the process drag on too long

PublicPublic ProcessProcess TookTook TimeTime ……

Then:

Now: Yeah! We finally did it – November 6, 2007! New See-it Viewer: allows the public to follow progress of key indicators New See-it Viewer: allows the public to follow progress of key indicators Marin Annual Indicators Report Measuring Results Indicator Trends

Moderate Clear Progress Performance Improvement Area 1. Agriculture 1. Education 1. Housing 2. Arts & Culture 2. Transportation 2. Child Care 3. Biological Resources 3. Climate Change 4. Energy & Green Building 4. Economy 5. Food 6. Open Space

7. Public Facilities & Services 8. Public Health 9. Public Safety What is Marin Clean Energy?

Local governments purchase power for their communities

Purpose – increase renewables, energy efficiency, and price stability Reduce GHG emissions Light green & dark green options Or customers may “opt-out” JPA created – moving forward

PG&E continues to deliver electricity & serve customers

2010 2019

00 00

350,

000

Energy 70,

Marin Clean

190 190

190 Efficient Lighting Retrofits

Perform Energy Perform

1,100 1,100

1,100 1,100 Facilities

Panels on Municipal

Install Solar

10,000 10,000

or or Regional Bus Service

Expand Local

800 800

Encourage Community Car Sharing -

400,000 300,000 200,000 100,000

MCE GHG Reduction Potential Reduction GHG MCE CO2 Reduction (tons per year) per (tons Reduction CO2 County Operations Report: Measuring Progress Toward Sustainability

First - highlighted successful initiatives from County departments Then - identified potential areas for further progress Next - included indicators & targets to track progress Water Efficiency Practices

County Civic Center Water Projects Completed ▫ Low Flow Toilets ▫ Motion Sensor /faucets ▫ Waterless Urinals - save a total of 3,024,000 gallons of fresh water per year

▫ This amount is the equivalent of a three year supply of drinking water for 4,320 persons. What Next?

• Integrate adaptation into all disciplines, eg health, emergency response, agriculture, economic vitality, capitol improvements

• ID where public investments are appropriate

• Learn from the Netherlands – think like water Check Out:

• California Natural Resources Agency, Climate Action Strategy, December 2009

• 2010 California State Hazard Mitigation Plan, Public Review Draft, Center for Sustainable Communities

• Employs recently “recycled” professionals, faculty/students • Manages SSU’s Green Building, and Sustainable Development & Climate Change Certification Programs • Provides speakers, training, and tech assistance • Prepares cost effective plans & energy ordinances • Links land use planning and public health • Collaborates with public and private sectors

Contact: [email protected] or [email protected]