TO: ADAM PIRRIE, CITY MANAGER
FROM: JEREMY SWAN, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
DATE: OCTOBER 22, 2024
Reviewed by:
City Manager: AP
SUBJECT:
Title
2023 SUSTAINABILITY ANNUAL REPORT (FUNDING SOURCES: VARIOUS)
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SUMMARY
In April 2021, the Claremont City Council approved the updated Sustainable City Plan. The revised Plan includes updated, quantifiable indicators to track progress. As part of the Implementation Plan, the Sustainability Committee and City staff collaborate to prepare an Annual Report each year. The Annual Report provides an update on all indicators to track progress toward achieving the Plan’s goals. The Annual Report also provides a brief summary of notable accomplishments and highlights any challenges that occurred during the year. The 2023 Annual Report is now available for review and is included as an attachment to this report.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the City Council receive and file the 2023 Sustainability Annual Report.
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ALTERNATIVE TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the recommendation, there is the following alternative:
• Request additional information from staff.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The staff cost to research, collect data, and prepare this report is estimated at $8,080 and is included in the operating budget of the Community Services Department.
ANALYSIS
Report Development Process
The Sustainability Committee appointed a subcommittee to assist City staff with preparing the Annual Report. In addition, City staff and Committee members collaborated to gather data from community stakeholders involved in carrying out aspects of the Plan. The subcommittee received a draft report in April and provided feedback. The draft report was then reviewed by the Sustainability Committee at its April 29, 2024 and June 17, 2024 meetings. Final data was received in September 2024, allowing staff to finalize the report for City Council review.
Report Summary Findings
The Annual Report summarizes progress towards achieving key targets and notable accomplishments for each Goal Area. The Annual Report also includes an appendix with updated indicator tables for each Goal Area. The indicator tables feature the baseline data (typically from Calendar Year 2018 unless otherwise noted), metrics from Calendar Years 2021 and 2022, and updated data from Calendar Year 2023.
Overall, considerable progress was made in 2023. Some notable accomplishments include:
• Shifted City of Claremont municipal use of renewable electricity from 61 percent in 2022 to 94 percent in 2023.
• Shifted Claremont community use of renewable electricity from 54 percent in 2022 to 73 percent in 2023.
• The City began installing a solar photovoltaic system at the Claremont Police Department.
• The City tracked edible food recovery and donations from Claremont grocery stores.
• Transit ridership for Claremont Dial-a-Ride, Get About, and Foothill Transit increased for the second straight year.
• The City began construction of the Towne Avenue Complete Streets Project, including bicycle and pedestrian features.
• The City issued 324 solar permits, producing a total of 2,894 kW. This represents a 245 percent increase in permits issued versus 2022, generating double the kW.
• The City began the process of updating its Tree Policy and Guidelines Manual, which has continued into 2024.
• The Bernard Field Station continued its bio-monitoring program and published five manuscripts examining local ecology.
• The Bernard Field Station worked to actively restore areas along Foothill Boulevard with the goal of creating an interpretive walk. This project is partially funded by a Metropolitan Water District grant and is anticipated to take multiple years.
• The City Council adopted the Housing Element Update.
• The City initiated the Historical Preservation Ordinance, which was finalized in 2024.
• The City awarded 20 Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) grants to Claremont residents, totaling $400,000.
• The City began developing ADU pre-approved plans, which will be completed in 2024.
• The California Botanic Garden, Pomona College, and Claremont McKenna College reported conducting more public talks, major festivals, and tours related to sustainability than in prior years.
Some targets were not met in 2023. City water use was up versus the prior year when drought restrictions were in place. The City is no longer able to effectively track electronic waste collected within the City limits due to the transition away from having one contractual electronic waste recycler. The City continues to offer curbside electronic waste pickups; however, residents and businesses may contract with outside companies, and accurate data is not available. In addition, the number of volunteer hours managing invasive species is down from the 2018 baseline.
Proposed Changes to Tracked Indicators
The Sustainable City Plan is a living document that is continually reviewed and updated. The Sustainability Committee approved implementing the following changes to tracked indicators to be implemented starting with the 2024 Annual Report:
• Delete Indicator 2.1.3, “Amount of electronic waste collected by City,” as comprehensive data is no longer available.
• Add Indicator 2.2.5 “Amount of edible food recovered/donated by Claremont institutions.”
• Delete Indicator 5.2.4, “Number of inquiries that include requests for information about using native plants in private landscaping,” as this data is not uniformly tracked by stakeholders and only estimates are available.
• Delete Indicator 5.4.5, “Number of inquiries about proper care/pruning of private trees,” as this data is not uniformly tracked by stakeholders and only estimates are available.
RELATIONSHIP TO CITY PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Staff has evaluated the agenda item in relationship to the City’s strategic and visioning documents and finds that it applies to the following City Planning Documents: Council Priorities, Sustainable City Plan, Economic Sustainability Plan, General Plan, and the 2024-26 Budget.
CEQA REVIEW
This item is not subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
COUNCIL COMMITTEE/COMMISSION REVIEW
The Sustainability Committee received and filed the draft 2023 Sustainability Annual Report at its April 29, 2024 and June 17, 2024 meetings.
The Community and Human Services Commission received and filed the 2023 Sustainability Annual Report at its October 2, 2024 meeting.
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
The agenda and staff report for this item have been posted on the City website and distributed to interested parties. If you desire a copy, please contact the City Clerk’s Office.
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Jeremy Swan Kristin Mikula
Community Services Director Community Services Manager
Attachment:
2023 Sustainability Annual Report