Submitted by: Councilmember Schaible
Submitting Department: Legislative
Agenda Section: Action
Item Title:
title
FY25 Council Budget Amendment: Develop a Hyattsville Climate Action Plan
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Suggested Action:
recommendation
I move that the Mayor and Council include $100,000 in the FY25 budget for the procurement of a Climate Action Plan (CAP), to establish a comprehensive decarbonization strategy for the City of Hyattsville.
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Summary Background:
Climate change is happening and the impacts on our community are worsening annually. Adjacent jurisdictions such as Takoma Park, Rockville, and University Park have created or are creating Climate Action Plans that, as applicable, align with Maryland and Prince George’s County Climate Action Plans.
Hyattsville can and must take action to address greenhouse gases (GHG) from its own operations and assets, and support its residents and businesses to do the same. Hyattsville has climate impacts across departments and assets, making it essential to develop an integrated, strategic plan.
Creating a CAP will help Hyattsville prioritize climate efforts to achieve the maximum impact with its limited resources. It will keep our town aligned with neighboring communities, our county, and state’s efforts on climate action. Most importantly it will help protect our residents and natural environment from the worst effects of climate change.
This motion was originally conceived and developed by the Hyattsville Environment Committee. On January 9, the Hyattsville Environment Committee passed a motion to recommend that the City of Hyattsville develop a Climate Action Plan.
Climate change is happening and the impacts on our community are worsening annually. Adjacent jurisdictions such as Takoma Park, Rockville, and University Park have created or are creating Climate Action Plans that, as applicable, align with Maryland and Prince George’s County Climate Action Plans.
Hyattsville can and must take action to address greenhouse gases (GHG) from its own operations and assets, and support its residents and businesses to do the same. Hyattsville has climate impacts across departments and assets, making it essential to develop an integrated, strategic plan.
Creating a CAP will help Hyattsville prioritize climate efforts to achieve the maximum impact with its limited resources. It will keep our town aligned with neighboring communities, our county, and state’s efforts on climate action. Most importantly it will help protect our residents and natural environment from the worst effects of climate change.
This motion was originally conceived and developed by the Hyattsville Environment Committee. On January 9, the Hyattsville Environment Committee passed a motion to recommend that the City of Hyattsville develop a Climate Action Plan.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The CAP should state a specific GHG reduction target in terms of percentage and year with milestones that should be incorporated into all city decisions. The scope of consideration for the CAP should include climate mitigation, adaptation, resilience, and equity. Ensure actionable steps are included in the CAP.
The CAP should be coordinated and align with other relevant climate action plans, including:
• Metropolitan Washington Coalition of Government’s (COG) regional work
• Prince George’s County’s CAP
• Maryland’s CAP
• Hyattsville Sustainability Plan
Allocate staff resources to hire a consultant to support the development of the CAP. The CAP should be developed with community involvement throughout the process, including the Hyattsville Environment Committee (HEC). Ensure regular reporting back to the public on progress with developing and implementing the CAP.
The CAP should touch on all significant GHG sources in the City, establish near-term and long-term GHG emission reduction goals, and provide strategies and identify measures to achieve those goals. The Hyattsville CCAP should follow the outline of the Comprehensive Climate Action Plan from the EPA CPRG Planning Grant Program <https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-02/EPA%20CPRG%20Planning%20Grants%20Program%20Guidance%20for%20States-Municipalities-Air%20Agencies%2003-01-2023.pdf>:
• A GHG inventory;
• GHG emissions projections;
• GHG reduction targets;
• Quantified GHG reduction measures;
• A benefits analysis for the full geographic scope and population covered by the plan;
• A low-income and disadvantaged communities benefits analysis;
• A review of authority to implement;
• A plan to leverage other federal funding; and,
• A workforce planning analysis.
Once the Hyattsville CAP is completed, over $4.6-billion dollars in Federal grant funding can be leveraged through the ’US EPAs Climate Pollution Reduction Grants <https://www.epa.gov/inflation-reduction-act/climate-pollution-reduction-grants> which can help cover implementation costs. COG is also pursuing these funds, creating a great partnership opportunity to work with them to support implementation of Hyattsville’s CAP goals.
ANTICIPATED STAFF RESOURCES REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT:
Help will be needed with contract administration and reviewing and providing feedback on drafts of the CAP. Hyattsville DPW staff will need to work with the consultant on creation of the CAP, which may include community outreach, data collection, and reporting over a three to six month period.
Next Steps:
Fiscal Impact:
$100,000
City Administrator Comments:
This is an important issue that should be addressed.
A comprehensive County level Climate Action Plan was drafted by the Prince George’s County Department of Environment (committee) in July 2022. The Prince George’s County Climate Action Implementation Task Force recently drafted the Climate Action Implementation Strategy Plan which presents strategies for the County. The County plan should serve as a resource for the development of a City or regional municipal plan.
1. Recommend City consider working with the Environmental Committee to identify strategies and best practices from the County Plan for implementation at the City level.
2. If a City plan is determined in the best interest of the City, recommend exploring a partnership with neighboring municipalities and pursuing grant funding to support the development of a municipal /localized climate action plan with surrounding communities.
3. There may be federal grant funding for communities who prepare or implement climate action plans. The staff can explore this option to mitigate funding and help with implementation.
Community Engagement:
N/A
Strategic Goals:
Goal 3 - Promote a Safe and Vibrant Community
Legal Review Required?
N/A