California’s climate action plans fall behind on equity, sticking instead to boilerplate solutions, new study says

By Manola Secaira | February 28, 2022 | Capitol Public Radio

Sacramento County’s climate action plan is almost finished. When it’s complete, it will join the dozens of other California cities and counties that have created plans to combat climate change on a local level in the last couple decades.
But despite their growing popularity, these plans aren’t without criticism. Environmental justice groups often find faults in their approach – or lack thereof – when it comes to including equity in their planning, like how they address affordable housing or funding public transportation.

Click here to read the article.

Please take this Survey: Investment Without Displacement

Sacramento Investment Without Displacement (SIWD) is a coalition of social justice organizations and residents who support building healthy communities, affordable housing, preserving cultural traditions, and the stability of neighborhoods.

SIWD is conducting this survey to gather feedback from the community about a proposed City of Sacramento policy.

The proposed policy would require developers to enter into a community benefits agreement (CBA) for new construction if the developer receives money or incentives from the City of Sacramento.

A developer is an individual or company responsible for building homes, offices, retail or commercial centers, arenas, or industrial sites.

A community benefits agreement or CBA is a legally binding document that outlines community benefits (e.g., affordable housing, park improvements, job training programs) a developer must provide to reduce the negative impact of new development on the people who live near the project.

SIWD will use the information collected through this survey when advocating with the City that the proposed CBA policy reflects equity and what the community wants.

At the end of this survey you will have the option to enter into a raffle to win a prize (for example, gift card, t-shirt or hoodie).

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Fish are jumpin’

By Lynne Goldsmith, former Bike Program Director, LA Metro

The ECOS Field Trip to the American River in October 2021 witnessed habitat restoration work, that is, gravel restoration in the lower American River to promote the wild spawning of native steelhead and salmon. The Nimbus and Folsom Dams limit the flow of gravel and sediments necessary for a quality spawning and rearing habitat in the lower American River. This habitat restoration project replenishes this resource. For more information, see the write-up below from Waterforum.org.

We accessed the river by just a short walk from the Effie Yeaw Nature Center, 2850 San Lorenzo Way, Carmichael.

Life-Giving Gravel: For over 10 years, the Water Forum has partnered with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), along with the city and county of Sacramento to implement gravel restoration projects in the lower American River to promote the wild spawning of native steelhead and salmon. This essential project is undertaken yearly because quality spawning and rearing habitat for Chinook salmon and steelhead is limited on the lower American River because of Nimbus and Folsom Dams.
Fall-run Chinook Salmon migrate upstream as adults to spawn from October through December. In the egg-laying process, females create a “nest” in loose gravel in flowing water, depositing their eggs and then covering them up with more gravel. Gravel is carefully placed in the river before fall-run salmon are triggered by cooling temperatures to spawn, and after the high spring and summer flows. Our channel restoration projects are designed to create habitat based on modeling that takes into account factors such as water velocity and depth. The project replenishes a resource that has historically been an important part of the lower American River and its delicate ecosystem.
From https://www.waterforum.org/the-river/habitat-management/

Todd Smith and Roger Dickinson to speak 3/10

Please join ECOS’ Climate Change Committee on Thursday, March 10, 6 PM to hear Todd Smith discuss the Sacramento County Action Plan and Roger Dickinson speak about a potential new transportation ballot measure.

6:00: Welcome and Introductions

6:10: Sacramento County’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) draft was released (revised from September): https://planning.saccounty.net/PlansandProjectsIn-Progress/Documents/Climate%20Action%20Plan/Revised%20Final%20Draft%20CAP_February%202022.pdf
Comments on the CAP are due March 23.
Also March 23 (6 PM start): the Board of Supervisors will hold a CAP WORKSHOP (presentation and CAP discussion), and a presentation on its Climate Emergency Declaration’s Task Force.

Todd Smith, Sacramento County Planner, will provide an overview of changes to the CAP. Help us prepare comments. Get involved!

6:45: Transportation Ballot Measure for November election

Would increase sales tax in Sacramento County to generate almost $9 billion over 40 years for transportation improvements. Signature gatherers are being led by a coalition of developers, construction companies, and construction trade unions. As a “citizens group” (“A Committee for a Better Sacramento”; details: www.movesac.org), it needs 50%+1 for passage, rather than 67% if proposed by a government agency.

Its language is similar to the Measure A that was pulled in 2020 due to Covid … EXCEPT: $300 million to build the Capital Southeast Connector (Folsom-Elk Grove expressway [I-5 – US-50]). AND: it gives the Southeast Connector Authority the ability to determine whether it meets greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction requirements, rather than SACOG. This would lead to sprawl development and increased vehicle miles traveled, and prevent our region from reaching State-mandated GHG reduction.

Roger Dickinson will provide overview. He is Policy Director for Civic Well (formerly Local Government Commission); previously Executive Director of Transportation California, and State Asemblymember.
We will discuss our options.

7:15: Sacramento City
Transportation & Climate Workshop; Update, Climate Implementation Plan
March 15: City Council to consider and budget for transportation priorities: transit and complete streets — with infrastructure for walking, rolling, riding transit and driving.

7:25: Introduction of new ECOS activists, and their interests

Prior to adjournment, we welcome announcements, and other matters you may raise.

Link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6656164155
To phone in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 665 616 4155

ECOS Letter of support for transportation improvements at Sac Valley Station

February 25, 2022

The Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) supports the application by Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) to the 2022 Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) grant program. The transportation investments proposed in the application are key to achieving the interconnectivity goals of the California State Rail Plan, and GHG reductions required by local policies and state legislation.

Click here to read our letter.

Support of SacRT’s 2022 TIRCP application for zero emission buses

February 21, 2022

The Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) supports the Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) application to the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) for the purchase of twenty-seven electric zero emission buses (ZEBs) and related charging infrastructure.

These new ZEBs, along with those already in use by SacRT, will reinforce the region’s commitment to greenhouse gas reduction and be a good example for others. Since the transportation sector is responsible for about half of the region’s greenhouse gas emissions, replacing gas powered buses with electric buses is a necessary and important climate action step. It will help improve the region’s air quality, reduce greenhouse gas and other harmful emissions, improve the health of residents and visitors, and demonstrate the effectiveness of clean transportation to the public.

Click here to read our letter in full.