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HomeMy WebLinkAboutord2017-080strikeWHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. 2017 -351 CLEARANCES Initial Date Date Received in Council Office Agenda Date Assigned to: Originator: 11/14/2017 11/21/2017 Natural Res /Introdu Division Head: 12/5/2017 Dept. Head.• t. Proseculor. Purchasing /Budget: Executive: TITLE OF DOCUMENT: Ordinance establishing WCC 2.126, Climate Impact Advisory Committee ATTACHMENTS: SEPA review required? ( ) Yes ( ) NO Should Clerk schedule a hearing ? ( ) Yes ( ) NO SEPA review completed? ( ) Yes ( ) NO Requested Date: SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE: (If this item is an ordinance or requires a public hearing, you must provide the language for use in the required public notice. Be specific and cite RCW or WCC as appropriate. Be clear in explaining the intent of the action.) Ordinance establishing WCC 2.126, Whatcom County Climate Impact Advisory Committee COMMITTEE ACTION: COUNCIL ACTION.• 11/21/2017: Amended and forwarded to Council for 11/21/2107: Substitute Introduced 7 -0 Introduction 12/5/2017• Forwarded to Council for approval 12/5/2017: Amended and adopted 6 -1, Brenner opposed, Ordinance 2017 -080 Related County Contract #: Related File Numbers: Ordinance or Resolution Number: Ord. 2017 -080 Please Note: Once adopted and signed, ordinances and resolutions are available for viewing and printing on the County's website at: www.co.whatcom.wa.us /council. CLIMATE CHANGE - G PROPOSED BY: WEIMER INTRODUCTION DATE:. 11121/2017 ORDINANCE NO. 2017 -as❑ ESTABLISHING WHATCOM COUNTY CODE 2.126, WHATCOM COUNTY CLIMATE IMPACT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHEREAS, a near consensus of the scientific community agrees that human activities are causing detrimental climate change, and historic pollution is already causing climate impacts that ensure some amount of future climate change will continue to occur for the foreseeable future; and WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Council supports the 2015 United Nations Paris Agreement on Climate Change; and WHEREAS, the Paris Agreement recognizes "the need for an effective and progressive response to the urgent threat of climate change on the basis of the best available scientific knowledge "; and WHEREAS, the Paris Agreement recognizes that people "may be affected not only by climate change, but also by the impacts of the measures taken in response to it "; and WHEREAS, the Paris Agreement recognizes "the fundamental priority of safeguarding food security and ending hunger, and the particular vulnerabilities of food production systems to the adverse impacts of climate change "; and WHEREAS, the Paris Agreement recognizes the need to take "into account the imperatives of a just transition of the workforce and the creation of decent work and quality jobs "; and WHEREAS, the Paris Agreement affirmed "the importance of education, training, public awareness, public participation, public access to information and cooperation at all levels" regarding climate change "; and WHEREAS, the Paris Agreement recognized "the importance of the engagement of all levels of government" regarding climate change; and WHEREAS, in 2007 Whatcom County adopted a Climate Action Plan to reduce the emissions that cause climate change in both municipal operations and the community at large; and WHEREAS, one of the proposed future steps of the 2007 Climate Action Plan was the creation of a Climate and Energy Advisory Committee to provide a conduit to educate and receive information from the community, provide oversight for implementation of the plan, and make future recommendations; and WHEREAS, in 2016 the Whatcom County Council added Policy 10D -6 to the Comprehensive Plan calling for the creation of a Climate Impact Advisory Committee to in part review the implementation of the 2007 Climate Action Plan. NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED, by the Whatcom County Council, that Whatcom County Code Chapter 2.126, Whatcom County Climate Impact Advisory Committee, is hereby established as outlined in Exhibit A to this ordinance. BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that the Whatcom County Council establishes the goal of 100% renewable energy use within County Operations and the larger Whatcom County community, and directs the Whatcom County Climate Impact Advisory Committee to work diligently toward that goal. APPROVED this 5tb day of. ATTEST:.5J' / .� . Dana Brow' n Davi9; )Clerk -vf the'Council APPROVED AS TO FORM':. Civil Deputy Prosecutor December , 2017. WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL ATCO N ,WASHINGTON Bari dchanan, Council Chair WHATCOM COUNTY EXECUTIVE WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON Jack Louws, Cahnty ( pprov ied Date Signed: �a - / /" / -7 EXHIBIT A (ESTABLISHING WCC 2.126, CLIMATE IMPACT ADVISORY COMMITTEE) Chapter 2.126 WHATCOM COUNTY CLIMATE IMPACT ADVISORY COMMITTEE Sections: 2.126.010 Established. 2.126.020 Purpose. 2.126.030 Function. 2.126.040 Membership — Term of office. 2.126.010 Established. There is hereby established the Whatcom County Climate Impact Advisory Committee. 2.126.020 Purpose. The Whatcom County Climate Impact Advisory Committee provides review and recommendations to the Whatcom County Council and Executive on issues related to the preparation and adaptation for, and the prevention and mitigation of, impacts of climate change. 2.126.030 Function. To advise the County Council or the Executive on the following functions: A. Evaluating and reporting on Whatcom County's compliance with meeting targets for greenhouse gas reduction set forth in the 2007 Climate Action Plan, and setting targets, evaluating and reporting on the 100% renewable energy goal established in Ordinance 2017- ; and B. Periodically recommending to the County Council new or revised targets that meet or exceed state and federal greenhouse gas reduction and renewable energy goals; and C. Updating the Climate Action Plan, at a minimum every five years, or as needed to meet targets; and D. Make recommendations to the Whatcom County Council about policies and budget priorities that will support a stable and just transition for workers and businesses, wherever possible encouraging and supporting a predictable shift towards clean energy and low carbon alternatives within the same or similar industry; and E. Review available science, and recommend to the County Council the adoption of standardized guidelines for anticipated future sea level rise, risk of flood, fires, drought and other impacts of climate change to be used in community planning and capital facilities development; and F. Recommending updates to the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan in accordance with meeting Whatcom County's goals to mitigate climate change, and prevent, adapt to, and prepare for climate change impacts; and G. Recommend updates to Whatcom County land use policies and development regulations to support Whatcom County's goals to prevent, adapt to, and prepare for climate change impacts. H. Serve as a conduit for public education, information exchange, and engagement in support of Whatcom County's climate change mitigation and impact prevention, adaptation, and preparation goals. I. Make recommendations relevant to Whatcom County's climate change mitigation and impact prevention, adaptation and preparation goals to the Whatcom County Council and Whatcom County Executive regarding state and federal policy priorities. 2.126.040 Membership — Term of office. A. The committee shall consist of 11 voting members. A minimum of seven of the members will have previous work or educational experience in subjects including climate change, renewable energy development, energy conservation, energy sector, waste reduction and recycling, farming, food security, land use planning, municipal government and flood mitigation and planning. Elected officials and staff from the cities within the county are eligible and encouraged to participate as members. A quorum shall consist of at least half of the appointed members. B. The County Council shall appoint the committee members. Member terms will be three years; provided, that the terms of members first appointed will be staggered so that five of the initial committee members shall be appointed for two years. Members of the committee shall serve without compensation. 2.126.050 Organization — Meetings. Meetings of the "committee shall be open and accessible to the public and shall be subject to the Open Public Meetings Act. At every meeting, the committee will schedule an open session to take public comment on issues associated with the committee. Written records of meetings, resolutions, research, findings and recommendations shall be kept and such records shall be public. The committee shall adopt its own rules and procedures for the conduct of business. The committee shall elect a chairperson from among its members who shall preside at its meetings. The committee shall determine its meeting schedule and agenda, but shall meet at least quarterly. The committee may form and appoint ad hoc committees to work on specific issues, so long as at least two committee members are also members of each ad hoc committee. 2.126.060 Committee staffing. The committee is encouraged to operate and hold its meetings as independent of county staffing and resources as possible. Staffing and other resources for the Committee shall be requested through the County Executive's Office. The committee is authorized to request from the executive's office information from administrative departments as necessary.