Feature City:
San Mateo, California Interview with San Mateo Mayor Brandt Grotte

The City of San Mateo has worked with PMC to create a model community outreach program in order to lower local greenhouse gas emissions. San Mateo Mayor, Brandt Grotte, took some time to talk about the campaign and discuss the city's overall plans for sustainability.

Q)  When did the City of San Mateo make a decision to promote green practices and what prompted it?

A)    For a formal approach, the decision was presented and made at the annual City Council planning session in early 2007. Going back further, City staff had already implemented many measures in years prior. Actions included paper and other recycling, purchasing hybrid vehicles and the use of biodiesel, green purchasing, local purchasing (when practical and affordable), and a pesticide management and alternatives program.

Q)  What are the long-term and short-term goals of pursuing greener practices?

A)  First and foremost, many if not all green practices can save money, particularly for operating costs. While in some cases the up-front capital cost may be slightly higher (1-5%), the continuing savings pay for the initial investment and reduce operating costs in the future.

Long term the goal is to leave a planet and our city in a more sustainable state so that we have not used up all the land and resources that we might if we continue older practices. Short-term the most important goal is probably to educate our residents and to help to identify improvements that we can make immediately to improve our sustainability. These measures include everything from reducing water use, diverting waste to the recycling stream, and purchasing products with recycled content to using compact fluorescent lamps, installing set-back thermostats and the more expensive options of heating system upgrades, insulation and solar panels.

Honored for Outstanding Public Involvement and Education Program by the Association of Environmental Professionals in 2009; Received Outstanding Education Project Award from Northern California American Planning Association in 2009

Q)  How do the SMART campaign and other aspects of the City's community outreach fit into the overall picture?

A)  Oftentimes, one of the more useful things the city can do is to educate our residents and businesses on new or developing alternatives and to encourage their adoption, both of which are key to facilitating change in all of our habits. Community outreach also acts to forewarn people about upcoming expectations and can reduce the resistance to change that is a part of all of us.

Q)  From a policy standpoint, how is SMART and community outreach helping the City achieve the goals of AB 32 and SB 375?

A)  Our City's SMART efforts, community outreach and the Sustainability Plan all work in concert to support AB 32, which sets goals for reducing our carbon footprint and making all of our lives more sustainable. AB 32 calls for reductions in transportation CO2 emissions, reductions in energy emissions (electricity and natural gas), and forestry conservation. All of these goals are mirrored in our efforts within the city. Similarly, our efforts on transit-oriented development (TOD) and infill development will work to support SB 375, which aims to design communities that rely less on automobiles. Our TOD efforts will reduce suburban sprawl and will be eligible for State incentives that should help control housing cost increases. SB 375 will also mandate more efficient automobiles and light trucks to reduce CO2 emissions.

Q)  What are the biggest obstacles that San Mateo has encountered in promoting green practices and pursuing sustainability?

A)  The largest obstacles are likely those in the future and the methods by which we can make it easy for our residents and businesses to learn about, adopt and implement sustainable practices. How we help them make changes to their existing homes, businesses and the general built environment to reduce their impacts, particularly with respect to decreasing carbon dioxide generation.

Q)  What would be your recommendation to other cities that are looking to San Mateo as a role model for sustainability?

A)  As we did, getting the buy-in of the policy-making body is critical. After that, involve both residents and businesses in the process.

Q)  What future sustainability goals would the City like to pursue?

A)  Right now, we need to focus on what is in the Sustainability Plan and get it implemented in a sound and responsible manner while balancing that need with fiscal and resource constraints. Future sustainability goals are yet to be determined and may be considered as they surface.

The facts and the answers about EECBG funding
Deadline June 25

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released direct funding allocations to Native American tribes, large cities (populations greater than 35,000) and counties (populations greater than 200,000) under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG). Eligible cities, counties and tribes must apply for their allocated funding by June 25, 2009.

The EECBG application requires development of an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy (EECS), which requires a community-wide greenhouse gas inventory and extensive analysis. PMC can assist with the EECS and, if desired, simultaneously develop it into a Climate Action Plan (CAP) consistent with state laws such as California's AB32. PMC can also assist with many projects eligible for EECBG funding, such as bicycle plans, pedestrian plans, municipal codes, general plans, energy efficiency and renewable energy financing programs, CEQA/NEPA compliance and comprehensive public outreach.

Small cities (populations less than 35,000) and counties (populations less than 200,000) will be eligible for competitive grants through the California Energy Commission in mid- to late 2009. PMC can provide preliminary information on the competitive grant process and ways for local governments to prepare. PMC can also develop grant applications once the program is announced.

(EECS) can either be submitted with the application on June 25 or it can be submitted 120 days after the effective date of the award. If a local government elects to submit the application without an EECS, DOE will release up to $250,000 for the local government to develop and submit an EECS within 120 days. Upon approval of the EECS, the local government would receive their total funding allocation.

EECBG funds cannot be applied to any activity performed before the award date. Therefore, if a local government elects to submit their EECS with the application, the cost to prepare the EECS will have to come out of the local government's general fund. The 120-day EECS also gives more time for planning, prioritizing and forming the EECS into a full-scale CAP. However, the drawback is that the recipient will not receive the total allocation (in addition to $250,000) until fall 2009.

If you received an EECBG allocation from the DOE, we recommend that you begin doing the following as soon as possible:

	Register on www.FedConnect.net
	Meet with department heads to prioritize eligible projects.
	Coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions on their use of EECBG funds (required by the application).
	Begin a baseline greenhouse gas emissions inventory for community-wide sources.

(For a list of available tools and methodologies, please contact PMC.)

How to apply

Local governments that wish to apply for block grant funding must register with www.FedConnect.net. Registration takes up to 21 days, so it is best to begin registration as soon as possible.

California's big three – AB 32, SB 97 and SB 375 – are pushing local California governments to evaluate traditional approaches to community planning. With California producing roughly 1.4 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions and 6.2 percent of total U.S. emissions, forward-thinking strategies are being developed that address climate change in order to help local governments with the challenges they face.

Achieving the goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions will require significant collaboration and support from all public entities and private stakeholders representing all sectors of California's diverse economy. Cities and counties are looking for a means of constructively engaging all levels of government, business, community groups and citizens. This calls for innovative strategies that address greenhouse gas emissions reduction while creatively seeking ways to fund plans in order to put them into action.

For additional information on climate change, strategies for meeting greenhouse gas emissions reduction and funding opportunities, please visit www.carbonconscious.us or call us at
1-866-828-6PMC.

ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE ONE CARBON FOOTPRINT AT A TIME.