Agenda Item Name:
Title
Adopt resolution creating a citizen climate advisory committee
End
Presenter:
Stephen Hofstetter, EPD
Description:
Adopt resolution creating a 9-member citizen climate advisory committee. The committee members would be selected by the Joint Water and Climate Policy Board
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approve Resolution 20-xx creating a citizen Climate Change Advisory Committee
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Prior Board Motions:
February 4, 2020, the BOCC approved a 5-point Motion: (1) Staff prepare with the City of Gainesville the necessary Resolutions, Interlocal Agreements, and organizing documents to create the Joint City County Water and Climate Policy Committee. (2) Direct staff to develop a nine-member citizen at large advisory committee with experience in climate change, resiliency, climate adaption or mitigation with three year appointments with 2 year and 1 year appointments initially to allow for annual appointments and authorize the Joint Committee to appoint these members that will then be ratified by both the City and County Commissions. If the City does not approve this then this item is to be brought back to the next Joint Meeting with nominations. (3) Direct County Staff to staff to the Climate Change Plan and the Climate Change Advisory Committee. The lead departments are resiliency, EPD, and Growth Management Departments. (4) Authorize staff to initiate and develop the Climate Change Plan. (5) Direct staff to bring back the Joint City County Water and Climate Policy Committee resolutions to update the County Green Purchasing Policy. (4-0)
At the November 5, 2019 Special Board meeting, the BOCC approved a 5-point motion: (1) direct staff to develop for the Board's consideration a Local Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Plan to include with it a 2-phase presentation from staff a tentative frame work that will be introduced along with the proposed budget by the beginning of the summer (June) with the goal of final adoption by the end of 2020. (2) Direct staff to strengthen and update Climate Change Policies in the Alachua County Comprehensive Plan but not to allow that to interfere with the priority of the Land Development Regulation Implementation. (3) Collaborate with other public initiatives and agencies. (4) Create a Climate Advisory Committee of 9 members that would make recommendations with the focus on changes or better practices for Alachua County Government. Not only bringing their expertise to staff but being a conduit for all groups and individuals that want to get recommendations to staff as to what to include in the plan. (5) Direct County Communications staff to make sure that the different groups and organizations working in the community on this issue are aware of the Charter Review Commission and its ongoing activities.
At the June 25, 2019 regular Board meeting, the BOCC approved a motion to direct staff to return to the Board at a future Policy Meeting with best business practices by reaching out to both Florida Association of Counties and the National Association of Counties on policies related to climate change and renewable energy. The motion carried 5-0.
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
N/A
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Background:
At their November 4, 2019 BOCC meeting and at the June 22, 2020 Joint Water Policy Committee, the Commission supported the establishment of a citizen climate advisory committee that would provide input and recommendations to the County, City of Gainesville and surrounding municipalities.
Based on the proposed resolution, the responsibilities of this committee will be to assist and advise the County, Gainesville, and other municipalities within Alachua County on a Climate Action Plan; to assist and advise the County, Gainesville, and other municipalities within Alachua County on bold and innovative climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, policies, and target goals; to engage with relevant stakeholders, agencies, non-profits and the community to ensure that neighborhoods and communities that are most impacted or disadvantaged by climate change are taken into account in the development of policy recommendations and the Climate Action Plan; and to assist the County, Gainesville, and other municipalities within Alachua County in the promotion of greater community awareness of climate-related issues and involvement in government climate resiliency initiatives.
If the resolution is adopted, the County will put out a press release with information on how to apply for vacancies on this new Citizen Climate Advisory Committee. The Joint Water Policy Committee will select members at their next meeting on August 24, 2020.