On October 15, City Council held a study session and provided feedback on the City’s draft updates to the Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (CARP) and Zero Waste Implementation Plan (ZWIP). Council learned about plans to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, such as expanding electric vehicle (EV) charging and building decarbonization. Council also learned about plans to further reduce waste, such as by enhancing bulky item collection, improving management of illegal dumping, and supporting low-income and unhoused communities with waste management.
CARP background
Alameda’s CARP was adopted in 2019, aiming to equitably reduce the City’s GHG emissions by 50% below 2005 levels by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2045. A 2022 emissions inventory shows the City is on track to meet its climate goals. However, additional efforts will be needed over the next five years to achieve CARP’s 2030 goals.
The 2022 GHG Emission Inventory revealed that compared to the baseline year 2005:
- 2022 GHG emissions decreased by 29% despite population and job increases.
- Energy emissions decreased by 40% thanks mainly to electricity emissions decreasing by 100% when Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) began providing 100% carbon-free electricity in 2020.
- Transportation emissions decreased 25%. The main drivers were cleaner vehicles on the road, more efficient off-road equipment, and a 6% reduction in vehicle miles traveled.
- The primary sources of emissions were transportation and building energy use (natural gas) at 62% and 31%, respectively. Solid waste and water accounted for 4% and 2%, respectively.
- Emissions will continue to decrease due to State policies but not enough to meet CARP targets without local measures.
The City has sought community engagement and anticipates another community workshop in December. Those interested in staying current on plan progress can subscribe to the “Environment, Sustainability and Climate Action” mailing list at www.alamedaca.gov/subscribe.
Sustainability and Resilience Manager Danielle Mieler and her student intern, Isla Vessali, reported that a focus has been on youth engagement, with the City engaging middle and high school students through a Youth Climate Ambassador Program and exploring ways youth can use their required community service hours to support the climate.
Revised CARP goals and strategies
Revised CARP goals in the draft update include:
- Carbon Neutrality: Fairly reduce emissions from transportation, buildings, solid waste, and water.
- Community Resilience: Safeguard the community, especially vulnerable members, from the impacts of climate change and natural hazards.
- Community Education and Activation: Inspire community participation in climate action and resilience efforts.
- City Leadership: Lead by example.
The City proposes expanding electric vehicle (EV) charging and building decarbonization plans. Combined with other plans, such as the ZWIP and the Active Transportation Plan, this will help achieve the carbon neutrality goal.
The City is prioritizing EV charging in public parking lots and the public right-of-way in a two-phase process. First, the City entered a no-cost agreement with It’s Electric to deploy curbside chargers in the public right-of-way, in multifamily and mixed-use neighborhoods, and adjacent to Alameda Housing Authority and Alameda Unified School District properties. The City has also entered a no-cost agreement with Blink Charging to deploy chargers at public parking lots, including Harbor Bay Park and Ride, Bohol Circle Immigrant Park, Civic Center Garage, Central Avenue Lot C, and Mastick Senior Center.
In phase two, the City is requesting $5.2 million in federal funding to deploy additional chargers curbside and at public parking lots, including Estuary Park, City Hall West, Harbor Bay Park and Ride, Bay Farm Island Library, Washington Park, West End Lot W, and Jean Sweeney Park.
The City is working on decarbonizing the building stock according to its Strategic Plan, focusing on building carbon-neutral municipal facilities like the Aquatic Center. The City held its first electrification fair this year. AMP provides rebates, and the City partners with AMP to educate residents on additional state and federal incentives. Residents can obtain many electrification permits through an express process, and the City has reduced electrification permit fees.
Alameda high school students explain why climate action is important to them.
ZWIP background
The City adopted its first ZWIP in 2010, aiming to divert 89% of waste from landfills through recycling or reuse by 2020. As of 2022, the City had not met its target but had achieved an 81% diversion. A primary objective of the 2024 ZWIP update is to better incorporate zero waste culture into the community and City plans and policies, creating a more integrated approach.
The draft 2024 ZWIP Update focuses on four areas:
- Change behavior. Increase capacity to participate in zero waste actions.
- Reduce waste. Reduce waste generation and materials sent to landfills by increasing community education, improving the management of materials challenging to recycle or dispose of, and implementing internal practices to ensure the City leads by example.
- Improve reuse. Develop reuse infrastructure and remove barriers to using reusable items.
- Improve construction/demolition materials management. Sample recommendations include providing education and technical assistance to construction projects on waste diversion and supporting and incentivizing deconstruction, the dismantling of buildings for the reuse, recycling, and repurposing of building components.
ZWIP priority programs
Of the programs being considered in the four priority areas, staff consider the following as essential. Each targets materials difficult to recycle or dispose of and supports ZWIP’s equity goals by engaging groups with the least access to zero waste services.
- Bulky Item Program Enhancement: Alameda’s residential bulky item collection (AKA on-call cleanup) is an annual collection of materials performed by Alameda County Industries (ACI) outside a customer’s typical weekly service. The program allows residential customers to place up to three cubic yards of materials, including large items and items for reuse, at the curb for collection at no cost. However, the service has only a 40% utilization rate. Staff have learned that many people are unaware of the program, and the City proposes to target outreach to tenants of multifamily buildings and may expand the program to include commercial customers.
- Illegal Dumping Management: Illegal dumping is an ongoing challenge. While the City has a program to pick up illegal dumping on public property, there is no effective deterrent. Public Works Coordinator Liz Acord acknowledged that comprehensive enforcement is needed along with programs to increase access to bulky item recycling. Proposed program details are forthcoming.
- Low Income and Unhoused Community Support: Many who are low-income or unhoused are unable to manage their waste properly. Options under consideration to support this community include a “cash for trash” program like the one in San Jose, which would pay participants (e.g., with gift cards) to pick up trash, increased access to reuse programs such as through vouchers, education, and transportation resources, and providing resources to conduct self-cleanups.
Council feedback
Councilmember Malia Vella praised the City for its “substantial progress” in climate action. She wanted to see more support for schools to become green ribbon schools. She wanted more cargo bike parking around town and to consider allowing households doing permitted construction projects to qualify for additional free bulky waste pickup. Finally, she wanted to consider strengthening the City’s urban forestry goals.
Councilmember Trish Herrera Spencer also felt the City could improve its urban forestry goals. She doubted the City’s ability to deter illegal dumping through enforcement. Still, she commended efforts to make recycling more accessible, such as the Thrifty Kitty store that benefits the Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter by selling second-hand items. She wanted better public transit to the ferry and Oakland Airport. She supported an Oyster Project at Alameda Point to help reduce shoreline erosion and filter bay waters.
Councilmember Tracy Jensen highlighted vehicle emissions as the primary contributor to Alameda’s GHG burden, advocated for expanding EV and E-Bike rebates, encouraged more EV charger installations, especially in public parks, and supported recycling programs for multifamily buildings. She supported the “cash for trash” concept and a foodware ordinance to reduce disposable takeout foodware.
Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft acknowledged the role of organizations like Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda (CASA) and individual activists in pushing for climate action. She highlighted, as an example, recent Youthpower Climate Action work in encouraging local grocers to switch from Chlorofluorocarbon to natural cooling systems. She advocated for the City to lead by example, such as electrifying the Aquatic Center and using recycled paper products.
Following a second community workshop in December, staff expects to finalize the CARP update for final Council approval in March 2025. Staff continue to welcome feedback on the draft ZWIP Update.
Contributing writer Karin K. Jensen covers boards and commissions for the Alameda Post. Contact her via [email protected]. Her writing is collected at https://linktr.ee/karinkjensen and https://alamedapost.com/Karin-K-Jensen.
