Agenda Item Report
City Commission - Feb 09 2021
Department Staff Contact Sustainability Jasmin Moore, Sustainability Coordinator
Recommendations Consider adopting five principles related to sustainability recommended by the Sustainability Advisory Board.
Executive Summary The Sustainability Advisory Board voted unanimously on November 11, 2020 to recommend the City Commission endorse and incorporate the following principles into city plans and functions.
1. to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions through a fair and just transition for all communities and workers; 2. to create jobs with livable wages to ensure prosperity and economic security for all people; 3. to invest in the infrastructure and industry to sustainably meet the challenges of the 21st century; 4. to secure for all people for generations to come: clean air and water; climate and community resiliency; healthy food; access to nature; and a sustainable environment; and 5. to promote justice and equity by stopping current, preventing future, and repairing historic oppression of Indigenous peoples, communities of color, migrant communities, de-industrialized communities, depopulated rural communities, the working poor, women, the elderly, the unhoused, people with disabilities, and youth. These principles are similar to those included in legislation proposed at the federal level, sometimes referred to as the Green New Deal. The city has already incorporated similar elements into some plans and policies. Some are very closely aligned, like the 100% renewable energy goal, and others are not as explicit and include broad goals, like the new Lawrence Strategic Plan, which will develop action strategies later this year. The attached staff report includes a table that highlights Lawrence plans and policies, adopted and in development, with ties to the principles recommended by the Board.
Alignment to Strategic Plan Commitments in support of the outcome areas
Fiscal Impact
Page 1 of 16 The fiscal impact to the City is unknown.
Action Requested Direct staff to integrate the five principles outlined in the staff report into other city plans, wherever possible.
Attachments SAB letter recommendation Staff Memo Communications - Added 02/09/21
Page 2 of 16
To: Mayor Ananda, Commissioners Larsen, Finkeldei, Shipley, and Boley; and Craig Owens, Lawrence City Manager From: Sustainability Advisory Board of the City of Lawrence (SAB) Date: December 7, 2020 Re: The Economic Development Strategic Plan and The Green New Deal
On November 11, 2020, SAB discussed The Green New Deal (GND) and subsequently voted to recommend to the City Commission that the City of Lawrence officially endorse the House of Representatives resolution. The full policy language can be found online at congress.gov and its main goals follow:
1. to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions through a fair and just transition for all communities and workers; 2. to create green jobs with livable wages to ensure prosperity and economic security for all people of the United States; 3. to invest in the infrastructure and industry of the United States to sustainably meet the challenges of the climate catastrophe; 4. to secure for all people of the United States for generations to come: ○ clean air and water; ○ climate and community resiliency; ○ healthy food; ○ access to nature; and ○ a sustainable environment; and 5. to promote justice and equity by stopping current, preventing future, and repairing historic oppression of indigenous peoples, communities of color, migrant communities, de-industrialized communities, depopulated rural communities, the working poor, women, the elderly, the unhoused, people with disabilities, and the youth who will face the worst effects of our climate crisis.
Work by SAB members and city staff is underway on both the Climate Protection and Adaptation Plan and the 100% Renewable Energy Plan, but progress has been unavoidably slow this year. Because the Economic Development Strategic Plan for Lawrence is also in progress, this a timely recommendation for the City. The GND is an economic recovery plan and SAB recommends these principles are used as a guiding rubric for Lawrence's economic planning in the absence of an up-to-date climate plan.
Page 3 of 16 The GND perfectly aligns with the foundational principles of the economic prosperity framework that Ernst & Young presented to you on November 10. These are inclusion, innovation, and sustainability. Also mentioned in that presentation was Lawrence's truly unique opportunity to work with the Indigenous community to assist in the growth of Native-owned businesses; this is also aligned with the GND.
This recommendation will doubly serve the people of Lawrence on a larger scale as the GND is pushed across the country with renewed vigor in anticipation of economic restoration. When the City shines a light on the GND, it is aiding in this momentum to achieve the critical mass needed for national leaders to adopt it. The GND is flexible in scope and application; it can be tailored to better address the needs of Lawrence. It’s scalable on micro and macro levels for federal, state, county, and municipal governments.
Experts are calling the pandemic a small trial run for the challenges we all face in addressing the multiple, catastrophic, escalating, and compounding problems and disasters of the climate crisis. SAB recommends continuing the swift adoption of climate conscious policy in our ever- narrowing window of opportunity.
Sincerely,
City of Lawrence Sustainability Advisory Board
Jackie Carroll, Chair
Page 4 of 16 Memorandum City of Lawrence
TO: Craig Owens, City Manager FROM: Jasmin Moore, Sustainability Director CC: Casey Toomay, Assistant City Manager DATE: January 29, 2021 RE: Green New Deal
The Sustainability Advisory Board voted unanimously on November 11, 2020 to recommend the City Commission endorse and incorporate the principles of the Green New Deal into city plans and functions.
What is the Green New Deal? The Green New Deal was first introduced in the US House of Representatives as House Resolution 109 in February 2019. It calls for the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal, a nationwide mobilization (similar to the New Deal of 1933 under the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration) designed to boost the economy and factor climate change into every policy. There are five basic elements, outlined below. The resolution also includes examples of actions and policies designed to make progress on these goals.
1. to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions through a fair and just transition for all communities and workers; 2. to create jobs with livable wages to ensure prosperity and economic security for all people; 3. to invest in the infrastructure and industry to sustainably meet the challenges of the 21st century; 4. to secure for all people for generations to come: clean air and water; climate and community resiliency; healthy food; access to nature; and a sustainable environment; and
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Page 5 of 16 5. to promote justice and equity by stopping current, preventing future, and repairing historic oppression of Indigenous peoples, communities of color, migrant communities, de-industrialized communities, depopulated rural communities, the working poor, women, the elderly, the unhoused, people with disabilities, and youth.
U.S. representatives have not had the opportunity to vote on Resolution 109, but the Green New Deal framework has gained traction in communities across the country and even all over the world. Communities are using these five elements as the basis for climate action and policy.
Connections to City of Lawrence Lawrence is a leader in the state and region when it comes to climate action. The city has incorporated elements similar to those in the Green New Deal into some plans and policies already. Some are very closely aligned, like the 100% renewable energy goal, and others are not as explicit and include broad goals, like the new Lawrence Strategic Plan that will be developing action strategies later this year. The table below represents some of the plans and policies that have a tie to the principles of the Green New Deal. The plans currently in development are in italics and shaded. If the City Commission directs staff to integrate the principles of the Green New Deal into plans and policies, it is likely that the plans in development would be the first place to start.
Green New Deal Alignment with Selected City Plans and Policies 1 2 3 4 5 Net-zero GHG Job Invest in Clean air/water; Promote emissions creation infrastructure climate/community justice and through a fair w/ livable responsive to resiliency; healthy equity and just wages needs of 21st food; access to transition century nature; and a sustainable environment
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Page 6 of 16 Ordinance 9744, Lawrence Lawrence Lawrence Strategic Lawrence 100% renewable Strategic Strategic Plan, Plan, Strategic energy goals Plan, Outcome: Commitment: Plan, The City of Outcome: Infrastructure, Environmental Commitment: Lawrence will Prosperity Asset Sustainability Equity and strive to achieve and Management Inclusion the use of 100% Economic and Connectivity clean, renewable Security energy according Plan 2040, Plan 2040, Plan 2040, Douglas to the following Chapter 6, Chapter 3, Chapter 2, County timeline: Economic Growth & Environmental & Community By 2025 for Development Development Natural Resources Health Plan, electricity in Chapter 4, Chapter 7, Community Anti-poverty municipal Neighborhoods Resources Goal Area operations. & Housing By 2035 for all Chapter 5, energy sectors Transportation in municipal Economic Capital Climate Protection Plan operations. Development Improvements (2009) By 2030 for Strategy Plan, with electricity city- scoring criteria Climate Action Plan wide. for By 2035 for all environmental energy sectors sustainability city wide. Douglas Safe Routes to Douglas County Food County School Plan System Plan Community Lawrence Bikes Parks and Recreation Health Plan, Plan Master Plan Anti-poverty Goal Area Transit Route Redesign and Transfer Facility Plan *Text in italics and shaded indicates plans currently in development
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Page 7 of 16 Cities have adopted their own version of the Green New Deal
Local governments across the country have chosen to customize and localize elements of the Green New Deal to their communities. The level of commitment, actions, and financial implications vary widely. A few sample cities are summarized below.
Ithaca, NY, 2019 Population 30,500 Ithaca Green New Deal Goal is to reach carbon neutrality by 2030 while ensuring benefits are shared among all local communities to reduce historical social and economic inequities. Resolution specifies carbon neutral targets, initiates climate plan, targets green building policies for new and existing buildings, assigns additional staff as needed to implement
Seattle, WA, 2019 Population 725,000 Green New Deal for Seattle, Resolution 31895 Calls for the passage of a federal Green New Deal Establishes goals to eliminate climate pollutants by 2030 Prioritizes investment in communities historically harmed by economic, racial, and environmental injustice Lays out plan to create a fund and dedicated revenue to advance the Green New Deal Limits construction of new fossil fuel infrastructure, and continued investment in energy efficiency and weatherization Continued commitment to equitable food systems Moves toward fare free transit Commits to investments in career pathways and training for renewable energy
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Page 8 of 16 Denver, CO, 2020 Population: 2.8 million Denver did not adopt a formal Green New Deal, but the 2020 successful ballot initiative, Sales Tax to Fund Environmental and Climate-Related Programs, includes many components of the Green New Deal.
The sales tax collected will be used for: Workforce development for new careers in renewable and clean energy technology Neighborhood-based environmental and climate justice programs Climate adaptation programs Home weatherization Investments in communities of color, under resources communities, and communities most vulnerable to climate change.
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Page 9 of 16 Harrison Hall
From: Larry Carter
External Email. Be careful with links and attachments. - City of Lawrence IT Helpdesk
Greetings,
Thank you for exploring ways Lawrence can better attain sustainability goals. I support whatever practical movement we can make toward the goals as identified through the Green New Deal.
Larry Carter 2060 E 1400 Rd, Lawrence
1 Page 10 of 16 Harrison Hall
From: Kelly Barth
External Email. Be careful with links and attachments. - City of Lawrence IT Helpdesk Dear Commissioners,
I am in hearty support of the Sunrise Project's request that you incorporate the core legislative principles (see link) of the Green New Deal proposed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez here at the local level. Regardless of what can be accomplished at the Federal Level, instituting such changes at the state and local level will ensure that humanity is prepared to confront the very real and dangerous crisis posed by climate disruption. https://greennewdealgroup.org/principles/#:~:text=%20Our%20Core%20Principles%20%201%20Good%20wo rk.,decarbonise%20the%20economy%20at%20the%20scale...%20More%20
Sincerely,
Kelly Barth
1 Page 11 of 16 Dear Mayor Finkeldei and City Commission Members,
My name is Marc Veloz, and I am writing to submit my testimony supporting the five principles related to sustainability recommended to you by the Sustainability Advisory Board. Climate change is not just a global problem, the impacts will be felt locally through disruptions to our infrastructure, community, eco-systems, in addition to our agriculture and food systems just to name a few. Climate change cannot be adequately addressed at any one scale! It will require GHG emissions reductions, and adaption to climate change impacts here at the local level as well as our state, federal, and international levels. By adopting these principles brought forth to you by the Sustainability Advisory Board you can help create a low-carbon, resilient, and sustainable community here in Lawrence, Kansas. By adopting these principles you are not only shining light on the Green New Deal, but you are sending a message that the City of Lawrence is invested in making bold commitments and actions that can reduce GHG emissions and move us towards a clean energy future. And the beauty of these principles and legislation like the Green New Deal is that it does not stop at climate change. It goes on to address issues such as food security, access to jobs, as well as economic and social justice to create a resilient community in the most comprehensive sense.
As previous SAB members have stated, the pandemic was just a tiny glimpse into the challenges this community, our nation, and the larger world are going to face when addressing and reaping the catastrophic disasters of climate change. You can act swiftly by adopting these Green New Deal principles (not watered down, toothless versions) so that our city may become a model for the necessity of action at the local level to reduce GHG emissions. After all, the problem of global warming cannot be solved without the participation of communities, local governments, and individuals. You have the power here today to change the way this city builds and operates, so that we can reduce GHG emissions and become more resilient against the impacts of climate change. I implore you to do the right thing and adopt the Green New Deal brought forth to you by the Sustainability Advisory Board.
We deserve a habitable future. We deserve to be put before profits and fossil fuel companies. We need you to fight for bold change. So, Mayor Finkeldei and Commission members, will you fight for us to become a low-carbon, resilient and sustainable community?
Sincerely,
Marc Veloz
1404 Apple Ln, Lawrence KS, 66049
Page 12 of 16 [email protected]
214-394-2461
Page 13 of 16 Harrison Hall
From: WellThen ThereNow
External Email. Be careful with links and attachments. - City of Lawrence IT Helpdesk My name is Kira McPherson.
I'm writing as a private citizen, not as the vice-chair of the Sustainability Board or the founder of the local hub of the politically and aggressively brilliant Sunrise Movement (the youth-led movement responsible for primarying and canvassing and electing more progressive and climate-savvy leaders across America, from the most local levels to Senate races). I'm writing to urge the city councilors and the mayor to endorse the Green New Deal so that we can begin to adapt and prepare for the climate crisis. This unavoidable emergency management and disaster mitigation work will require many workers, but happily, many people are looking for jobs and job training and livable wages. We have to shore up foundations that will become unstable from saturated groundwaters, we have to retrofit and insulate homes and buildings against extreme weather events as well as extreme temperatures. We have to put in literally city-wide bike lanes that are reinforced from traffic by solid barriers, lanes so ubiquitous and safe that a ten year old could ride them at midnight on a Saturday night after a big Jayhawks game. We have to convert our bus fleet to one hundred percent electric, and we have to offer them one hundred percent free of charge and we have to upgrade the routes, the schedule, and the bus shelters.
We have to protect and preserve our wetlands and any undeveloped areas of Lawrence, period. If any development or road widening happens AT ALL, that construction proposal MUST prove and defend its necessity through strict carbon budgeting. Not the kind of carbon credit budgeting that allows climate criminals indefensible leeway, but actual it-is-worth-it-to-build-this-thing-even-though-we-have-NO-CHOICE-about- limiting-our-carbon-emissions-in-order-to-survive-the-Anthropocene type budgeting. The ONLY road widening that should happen is bike-lane development. Bigger and more roads DON'T lead to less traffic; the very opposite! It's counter-intuitive but it's true and backed up by endless data, endless hard, verifiable proof. One hundred percent clean, renewable, green energy by 2030 is only a third of our problem. We have to draw down to ZERO emissions in the next few years, and we have to prepare and adapt for some unavoidable and unavoidably big and bad weather events. Recall, climate change is an effect amplifier.
We should very seriously consider what our city plan is regarding tornadoes and other flash wind storms. The more greenhouse gasses are in the atmosphere, the more the atmosphere retains water. The more water, the more chance for big weather, big storms. Not only will there be more flash floods and flash droughts; there will also be more and more severe weather events like blizzards and extended cold temps, as well as severe hail, rain, lightning, and extreme and extended high temperature events. We are ABSOLUTELY at risk for more frequent and more extreme tornadoes. I lived in hurricane country for a long while, and it is inconceivable to me that there aren't city-wide tornado shelters, that this town lets businesses take the burden of sheltering its citizens from catastrophic events.
But that's kind of Lawrence in a nutshell, isn't it? We love our civil war history, we love to make money off our reputation as creative, artistic, progressive, forward thinking people who have always been on the front edge of history, leading the way... but the reality is, our city councillors and mayors have mostly been white men who haven't been any of those things. The reality is, other, much less progressive towns have better climate crisis
1 Page 14 of 16 plans and have embraced the benefits of greener, more sustainable living years ago. The reality is, this town talks big but mostly only takes care of rich, white businessmen with ugly, carbon-heavy developments and the athletes that make the money for them (not the athletes themselves, mind you. Just the money they bring in).
For instance: apparently some people in the city have antagonistic feelings about the words 'climate crisis' and 'Green New Deal.' Some of you want a watered-down GND, one that will have trendy words like "sustainable" "net-zero" in it. You want a deal that will make you sound like a climate leader, something you can bandy about in your next political move, but you want one where you won't have to do any actual hard work, any sacrifice, any uncomfortable and new ways of analyzing the world. You want a deal where you can fully fund and equip and staff the municipal waterworks, without taking monies from, for instance, the overfunded police department and other unsustainable budgets. You want the shallow and hollow PR of a few unsafe bike lanes without any road closures or diverted city funding or taxes. And you want the idea of a Green New Deal without any of the words or meanings that will hold the city leaders and employees to the kind of standard that is LITERALLY NECESSARY for the survival of our town. This isn't about sustainability any more. That was fifty years ago, before petrochemical corps and politicians and bankers decided to LITERALLY HIDE scientific evidence because it was inconvenient for their financial interests. If Lawrence doesn't actually do the REAL and BRAVE thing here, you need to plan for a mass youth exodus to more progressive and prepared states and a mass brain- exodus. Simply put, thinkers, scholars, artists, small business owners, and youth will choose to live elsewhere. This man-made, existentially-threatening climate emergency is something that a majority of people across all political spectrums are deeply concerned about in every possible type of poll by every possible type of pollster. Banks in all locations of all sizes are warning and adapting to the climate crisis. The US military is preparing and adapting; it's one of their highest concerns right now. Insurance companies are adapting and indeed have adapted; they're refusing to insure homes and buildings and other developments that are in climate-intensive zoning. There are massive amounts of condo owners in new Florida developments who cannot get storm and flood insurance, massive amounts of homes in other states that can't get fire insurance and can't afford to move to a safer place. They can't sell, they can't insure, a dreadful Catch 22. There are both new and old developments along rivers and other flood zones that are collapsing in multiple cities across the world and yes, across America. Multiple cities and states have recently required FEMA's help to relocate and reimburse owners and clean up the disaster sites. How long do you think our current FEMA budget will hold up in the years to come? There are going to be endless emergencies of endlessly varying sizes but there will NOT be endless funds.
Some politicians have been climate deniers for years, have mocked activists and scientists (indeed we have the proof in the form of screenshots and various internet archives), only to jump on board the climate train as long as it gets them votes and the ability to make money off of green technologies. It is time to be LEADERS, not politicians. You have no choice, and what's more, even the most truculent, most scientifically illiterate of our state and local leaders have realized it's political madness to do anything but act with brave, progressive, quantifiable accountability, the kind of accountability that comes from a genuine Green New Deal for our beloved city. Remember, you work for us, the citizens of Lawrence. We deserve a deal that protects us, protects our children, a deal supported by leaders brave enough to do the hard work of legacy building. We deserve it.
It's very good luck then that we have a mayor with an impressive college education, one that gives him a certain amount of educated insight and expertise regarding the climate crisis. Can you imagine how dangerously terrible it would be to have a mayor that didn't understand the basic chemical and legal reality of climate change? There have been successful lawsuits brought to bear against not just countries, not just states, but increasingly, against cities that failed to prepare adequately for this dire reality. I'm so grateful we are currently being led by a mayor with chemistry and law degrees, because that can only mean that he understands the gravity of his role at this specific and historically fraught time. Imagine if we were being led by someone who only cared about saying things that sounded good but that were essentially meaningless, leaning on the word "sustainability" like a pitiful crutch, instead of the real, legally binding and scientifically undeniable reality of the horrors of the climate catastrophe. What a scary thought, my goodness! Luckily I've been writing about our city efforts towards a sustainable Lawrence and our own version of a Green New Deal, so my children will be
2 Page 15 of 16 able to read about true Lawrence and Kansas leaders, as well as politicians and other climate-carpet-baggers, during our transition into the Anthropocene. I have a few historian friends and they are always talking about how important first-hand accounts and personal diaries are in their scholarly work of parsing and analyzing and writing and teaching these critical moments in time. I know I've found many journals by early Lawrence citizens absolutely riveting; there are so many good ones to choose from in our amazing city and college libraries. I've spent many happy hours in front of many different lectures and booktalks about our proud Free State history, about the visionary, heroic actions of the men and women and children who founded this wonderful and unique town. I wonder what they'll write about this moment in time, about the brilliant way we saved ourselves, or the heartbreaking, infuriating lack of preparation in spite of countless warnings from the best scientists and thinkers in the world. I wonder what they'll write about you?
This is very serious. If any of you aren't up to the job of protecting and saving our city, be honorable and step down. If you think you can greenwash an actual Green New Deal, step down. If you don't know or aren't very familiar with the term greenwashing, it's past time to start educating yourself. You shouldn't be getting your health or climate alerts from tv or reporters, you should be listening to the actual scientists and experts. You can chirp about sustainability all you want, but a city without an extremely robust climate crisis plan is literally unsustainable. You will be the ones applauded and rewarded for your actions or you'll be the ones literally and legally liable.
But I'm sure y'all can't wait to start the economic revitalization of Lawrence through a socially just, equitable, green jobs program with livable wages. It's a no-brainer, our Lawrence GND, or whatever you choose to call it. But keep in mind that this HAS to work, which means it HAS to be catchy and accessible, which means it won't work without a better acronym or name. I don't care WHAT you call it or WHO gets credit for it; I just want this city to be safe. And so should you. And in case you forget who you're really working for, I'm sending everyone the Apology To The Children Of Lawrence that I wrote two years ago. You're welcome to print it out and frame it on your desks, to keep your focus steady and your resolve strong. Our founders expect this of you, future city workers and leaders expect this of you, and our children deserve this from you. Stop your political posturing and nonsense and do your jobs.
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