The City of Alameda hosted a public workshop and open house at the Main Library on Tuesday evening, June 25, about its Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (CARP), Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP), and Zero Waste Implementation Plan (ZWIP) updates.
Young and old packed the room, softly buzzing about in search of seats prior to the 6:15 presentation. Once everyone was seated, some with notepads in laps and pens in hand, Sustainability and Resilience Manager Danielle Mieler welcomed attendees.
Climate Action and Resiliency Plan updates
Raimi + Associates Principal Eric Yukovich led the CARP portion of the presentation. Alameda’s plan involves reducing emissions to 50% below 2005 levels by 2030 and becoming carbon neutral as soon as possible. The plan also focuses on climate adaptation, seeking to address flooding, sea level, and groundwater rise, drought, extreme heat, hazardous air quality, and earthquakes/liquefaction.
One of the updates discussed was the revision of the plan’s vision. The vision statement previously read: “Alameda will be an innovative leader in achieving net zero carbon emissions and community resilience as soon as possible, and serve as an example that inspires similarly impacted cities to do the same. Our community members will be a vital part of this ongoing process.”
The new CARP vision states: “Alameda is an innovative leader in achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2045 and building community resilience to climate change, in ways that reduce disparities and environmental injustices experienced by socially vulnerable communities. Our residents, businesses, community-based organizations, and regional partners are a vital part of this ongoing effort.”
The CARP team also redrafted their goals to include carbon neutrality, community resilience, community education and activation, and City leadership. New greenhouse gas reduction strategies include the addition of land use and transportation development, parking management, public transit service, micromobility, zero waste goods and services, and, within municipal operations, organization, training, monitoring, and reporting, facilities and buildings, and mobility management.
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan updates
Climate Pathways Institute CEO and founder Kris May spoke about Alameda’s LHMP. She explained that the plan is the City’s strategy for mitigating natural hazards and adapting to climate change. The LHMP has two near-term projects: Bay Farm Island/Veterans Court and the Oakland Alameda Estuary Projects. Currently, the team is at the Climate Science and Analysis portion of the projects, which includes developing the vision, goals, and planning principles, analyzing the existing conditions, and exploring compound flood hazards (coastal, stormwater, groundwater).
The next step, during the summer of 2024, is to Draft Alternatives, which involves gathering input on preliminary alternatives exploring near-term ideas. In the fall of 2024, the projects will move to the Early Project Preferred Adaptation Concept phase, which includes the Oakland Alameda Estuary Project advancement from preliminary alternatives to a preferred scheme. Finally, in the spring of 2025, is the Project Synthesis and Adaptation Pathways step, which includes the Bay Farm Island advancement from preliminary alternatives to a preferred adaptation concept. Additionally, the long-term adaptation will develop long-term adaptation pathways.
Then there is the Oakland-Alameda Adaptation Committee (OAAC), that’s working on long-term adaptation. They are also in the Climate Science and Analysis phase for their projects.
OAAC projects include:
- San Leandro Bay/Oakland-Alameda Estuary Working Group
- Northern Shoreline near Posey/Webster Tubes
- Bay Farm Island/Veterans Court
- Doolittle Drive/State Route 61
Zero Waste Implementation Plan updates
Next in the presentation, Public Works Coordinator Liz Acord went over the City’s ZWIP. The Zero Waste Goal is to divert 89% of materials from landfill through reducing, reusing, recycling, and composing. The first ZWIP was adopted in 2010 and updated in 2018. In 2022, the diversion was at 81%. The 2024 version of the plan now includes a recommendation of new and revised policies and actions to achieve zero waste as well as the formation of a roadmap for the City to reach its zero waste goal.
Another factor of the ZWIP involves community engagement. “We want your input and ideas on how to improve zero waste efforts in Alameda,” read one of the presentation slides. The slide noted four ways to get involved:
- Participating in an upcoming community meeting (four meetings will be held in July).
- Attending a focus group discussion (two focus group discussions will be held in July).
- Taking the ZWIP survey (to be released in July).
- Contacting [email protected] directly with questions to learn more.
Workshop participation
Following the ZWIP portion of the presentation, Raimi + Associates Sustainability Planner Sami Taylor presented the workshop activity stations. The six stations focused on greenhouse gas inventory, revised vision, revised goals, revised greenhouse gas reduction strategies, the LHMP, and the ZWIP. Attendees were welcomed to roam the room and participate in discussions and activities at each of the stations. Perhaps a little shy at first, the crowd warmed to a polite yet engaged murmur, clearly passionate about the future of their city.
Kelsey Goeres is a contributing writer for the Alameda Post. Contact her via [email protected]. Her writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Kelsey-Goeres.
