Title
Resolution to Approve Amendment No. 2 to the Contract with the Clean Energy Coalition Supporting Community Facing Climate Programs and to Appropriate Funds ($85,000.00) (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
Attached for your review and consideration is Amendment No. 2 to the City’s contract with Clean Energy Coalition to support the City’s efforts to advance Ann Arbor’s Climate Action Plan. Amendment No. 2 will allow for continued programs for “a2energy” financing, increased solar development in the community, and related resources for residents and businesses to achieve efficient and renewable energy services.
Under the continued scope of work, CEC is organizing a “solar aggregation” program available to all residents in Ann Arbor and modeled after successful national examples, which have achieved 20% or better reduced costs for solar. This will aid City Council’s approved support to make Ann Arbor a “Solar Ready” community (Resolution R-16-259). Building off CEC/City non-profit solar programs to date (e.g., existing Michigan Theater rooftop solar-pv array), additional solar installations will be underway. A third-party model for financing PACE energy efficiency funding is to be developed with local/area banks, to improve capacity and project processing. The Ann Arbor Climate Partnership, the community’s stakeholder working group monitoring CAP implementation will launch a new website for a 2016-17 campaign and will establish clear metrics for community engagement including residential sign-up and City Ward-level meetings for residents to become better aware of Climate and Energy programs in Ann Arbor.
Sustainability Framework
This Contract Amendment No. 2 furthers several of the City’s Sustainability Framework goals adopted by City Council in February 2013 as an element of the City Master Plan. The Sustainability Framework builds on goals developed from over 30 plans and 20 years of planning on the part of city residents, staff, boards and commissions, and City Council. The work performed under contract Amendment No. 2 specifically furthers the following Sustainability Framework goals: Energy Conservation, Sustainable Buildings, Diverse Housing, Economic Vitality, Sustainable Energy, and Engaged Community.
Budget/Fiscal Impact
Funds for this work are included in the approved FY17 Systems Planning General Fund Operations and Maintenance budget, which was an amendment proposed and approved by City Council during final adoption of the FY17 annual budget.
Staff
Prepared by: Nathan Geisler, Systems Planning Unit
Matthew Naud, Systems Planning Unit
Reviewed by: Craig Hupy, Public Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Howard Lazarus, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, City Council adopted a Climate Action Plan (CAP) on December 17, 2012 (R-12-572) that sets mid- and long-range targets for reducing community greenhouse gas emissions and outlines strategies to adapt to current and expected climate changes for the City and community-wide, and that over 98 percent of estimated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are non-municipal and within the residential, business-industrial, and transportation sectors;
Whereas, Since adoption of the CAP, the Paris (Climate) Agreement (COP21) set new and stronger commitments for nations to reduce global GHG emissions, and a goal of limiting to 2 degrees Celsius anthropogenic global warming compared to pre-industrial levels;
Whereas, Average global temperatures in the first half of 2016 exceeded the highest ever recorded for each month, according to NASA, NOAA, and other scientific agency data;
Whereas, The City's Sustainability Framework is an approved element of the City of Ann Arbor Master Plan and contains multiple Climate and Energy goals to advance energy conservation, energy efficiency, and clean energy sources;
Whereas, The Sustainability Framework’s Climate & Energy goals direct efforts and priority towards actions that reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gases community-wide, and has related goals for Economic Vitality, an Engaged Community and Diverse Housing that can be achieved through community climate and energy initiatives;
Whereas, City Council Resolution R-14-348 awarded a contract to the Clean Energy Coalition for consultant services to help achieve the goals described in the CAP and community energy related activities;
Whereas, In a presentation to City Council in January 2016, a progress report indicated continued resources and commitment are needed to meet GHG goals in the Climate Action Plan;
Whereas, A queue of large-scale energy efficiency projects planning to utilize PACE or related “a2energy” programs worth more than $2 million are in process or under consideration, and represent a large opportunity to reduce building sector GHGs,which account for over three-quarters of Ann Arbor emissions;
Whereas, As part of the FY 17 budget process City Council approved the allocation of $85,000.00 to the System Planning General Fund Operations and Maintenance budget for continued community energy efficiency and climate work in furtherance of the Climate Action Plan;
Whereas, The City seeks to continue this work with the local non-profit organizations engaged now in advancing current and future projects with Amendment No. 2 to the existing contract; and
Whereas, The Clean Energy Coalition has Living Wage approval through April 30, 2017, and Conflict of Interest and Non-Discrimination approval through May 2, 2017;
RESOLVED, That City Council authorize Amendment No. 2 to the contract with the Clean Energy Coalition for an amount not-to-exceed $85,000.00 for community climate and energy program work;
RESOLVED, That the $85,000.00 included in the System Planning General Fund Operations and Maintenance budget be appropriated and transferred to fund 00CP, General Capital Fund, to amend the establish a project budget for Community Facing Climate Programs;
RESOLVED, That the revenue and expense budgets of fund 00CP by increased by $85,000.00;
RESOLVED, That these appropriated funds be made available without regard to fiscal year;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized and directed to sign the contract after approvals as to substance by the City Administrator and approval as to form by the City Attorney; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator be authorized to take the necessary administrative actions to implement this resolution.