SR 01-26-2016 3D
City Council
Report
City Council Regular and Special Joint Meeting: January 26, 2016
Agenda Item: 3.D
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Dean Kubani, Sustainability Manager, Office of Sustainability and the
Environment
Subject: Approve selection of DNV-GL and authorize the City Manager to execute a
contract not to exceed $226,578 (including contingency).
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Award RFP #60 to DNV-GL, a Norwegian-based company with offices in
California, for the development of the Santa Monica Climate Action and Adaptation
Plan;
2. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a professional service
agreement with DNV-GL, in an amount not to exceed $226,578 (including a $20,598
contingency).
Executive Summary
The activities developed through the 15x15 Climate Action Plan concluded at the end of
the 2015 calendar year. Staff is proposing developing a new Climate Action and
Adaptation Plan to guide continued reductions and mitigation efforts to meet the City’s
long-term emission reduction goals. In October 2015, the City published a request for
proposals inviting consulting firms to propose an approach, solicit stakeholder input, and
draft potential targets for the Council's consideration, and then develop the plan. After
reviewing the five bids received, staff recommends selecting DNV-GL in an amount not
to exceed $226,578.
Background
On February 26, 2013, Council adopted the 15x15 Climate Action Plan (CAP). The
short-term, action-based plan identified 15 measures to be completed by the year 2015,
in order to reduce the community’s carbon emissions by 15% below 1990 baseline
levels). Additional reduction targets were also established at that time - a target of 30%
reduction by 2030 and a target of 80% by 2050 (80x50). As the implementation of
measures is concluded, staff will evaluate the impact of the 15x15 CAP on reducing
emissions and present a final report by July 2016.
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Discussion
Goal Setting
In order to continue mitigating emissions and address the unavoidable impacts of
climate change, a new plan with mid-term actions and long-term objectives must be
developed. The recently adopted Paris Agreement that resulted from of the United
Nations-organized Conference of Parties (COP21) recognizes that in order to limit
global average temperature increase, Parties (national governments) should seek to
achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.The Agreement also recognizes that deep reductions
in global emissions will be required with an emphasis “that enhanced pre‐2020 ambition
can lay a solid foundation for enhanced post ‐2020 ambition.
Cities that adopted 80x50 targets have, in recent years, adopted carbon neutrality goals
or other more aggressive goals. These cities include Copenhagen, Melbourne, Seattle,
Fort Collins, Stockholm and Vancouver. Being carbon neutral or achieving zero net
emissions means that the net greenhouse gas emissions associated with a city is zero.
On December 21, 2015, staff presented an update on climate action planning activities
to the Task Force on the Environment. Following discussion, the Task Force adopted
the following motion:
“In light of the recent COP21, which explicitly includes a carbon neutrality goal, the Task
Force on the Environment strongly recommends City Council adopt a carbon neutrality
target for Santa Monica and direct staff to develop a plan for meeting that target by
2050 or sooner.”
Plan Development
The next Climate Action and Adaptation Plan would be based on information gathered
from a steering committee, a technical advisory group, community workshops and
events as well as data and strategies related to the City's disaster preparedness,
coastal planning, water resource management, mobility, social services, clean energy,
clean transportation efforts and more. It would include the following elements:
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Re-inventory of 1990 and 2011 emissions
Forecast of emissions for the years 2020, 2030 and 2050
Comprehensive analysis of measures that can be implemented to achieve the City’s
2030 and 2050 goals
Comparative analysis of an 80x50 target with carbon neutrality
Climate change hazard and vulnerability assessment
Comprehensive analysis of measures that can be implemented to prepare for the
impacts of climate change
Community Action Toolkit
Visual identity of the plan and supplemental documents for communication and
outreach
CEQA analysis for the plan
Draft and final plan
The comparative analysis of an 80x50 target and carbon neutrality would take place
early in the plan development process. Based on the analysis, staff would return to
Council with a recommendation regarding the long range emissions reduction target for
the City, likely within the update of the Sustainable City Plan scheduled for March 2016.
The final Climate Action and Adaptation Plan would be presented for adoption by June
2017.
Consultant Selection
On October 21, 2015, the City published a Request for Proposals to provide consulting
services to develop a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan as required by the Office of
Sustainability and the Environment, which is responsible for the policy, programs and
reporting of carbon emissions and planning for climate change. The Request for
Proposals was posted on the City's on-line bidding site. A total of 14 vendors were
notified and 31 prospective vendors downloaded the request for proposals documents.
Five proposals were received and publicly open ed on November 18, 2015.
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A selection committee consisting representatives from the Office of Sustainability and
the Environment, the Public Works Department, and the Planning and Community
Development Department reviewed the applications and interviewed all five applicant
teams on December 4, 2015. The final scores were averaged and then used to select
the best qualified firm.
Staff recommends DNV-GL as the most qualified firm to undertake this project. DNV-GL
is recommended based on the team’s demonstrated technical expertise, thought
leadership in climate action planning and familiarity with Santa Monica’s local context.
The lead members of the DNV-GL team were involved in the City of New York’s climate
action projects and pilots, and more recently, the City of Palo Alto’s Climate Action Plan
which investigates three aggressive targets including an aggressive goal of carbon
neutral by 2025. DNV-GL leads a team comprised of Raimi & Associates, Fehr & Peers
and Global Green USA. All of the subconsultants have experience developing plans and
working with communities in Santa Monica and elsewhere.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
The contract agreement to be awarded to DNV-GL is for an amount not to exceed
$226,578. Funds in the amount of $110,000 are available in the FY 2015-16 budget in
the City Manager’s Department. The agreement will be charged to account
01226.555060.99544. Future year funding is contingent on Council budget approval.
Prepared By: Garrett Wong, Sustainability Analyst
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Approved
Forwarded to Council
Reference:
Agreement No. 10240
(CCS)