CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
                  CITY COUNCIL AGENDA



  Agenda Date:          October 3, 2022

  Action Required:      Agreement to move foward with CAP rollout

  Presenter:            Susan Elliott, Climate Program Manager

  Staff Contacts:       Kristel Riddervold, Environmental Sustainability Manager
                        Stacey Smalls, Director of Public Works

  Title:                Charlottesville Climate Action Plan


Background
The City of Charlottesville committed to developing a Climate Action Plan (CAP) aimed to achieve its
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals of 45% by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050.
The CAP presents a strategic framework aimed to meet the 2030 goal, position Charlottesville to
achieve its 2050 goal, and identify key actions to accomplish over the next 3-5 years.

Discussion
In April 2022, staff delivered to City Council a two-part presentation: an overview of the Climate
Program’s current and ongoing activities, and an update on the CAP’s development, including
preliminary plan content. Following that presentation, staff was directed to push forward with the
development of the CAP, aiming for completion prior to commencement of this year’s budget
development process.

Charlottesville’s CAP is the result of a multi-layered approach to inform the plan, including:

        Internal programmatic experience and expertise
        Greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory data and areas of impact
        Progress on GHG emission reduction goals
        City Council direction in the form of two resolutions listing items to ensure were included Past
         planning efforts such as the Local Climate Action Planning Process
        Public input on other City planning efforts, including Cville Plans Together (Affordable Housing
         Plan, Comprehensive Plan, and Zoning Ordinance Update)
        Review of peer communities’ CAPs
        Professional networks / Best practices
        Policy guidance
        Staff input
        Direct community engagement in the form of:
              o Small group stakeholder sessions
              o Community workshops
            o   Community conversation on equity in climate action
            o   Community survey
            o   Listening sessions aimed at bringing new voices into the conversation
            o   Community town hall event
            o   Comments and recommendations submitted directly to staff by individuals and
                community organizations


The CAP document is organized into multiple chapters addressing the following topics:

       Introduction to climate planning and the role of GHG emissions in climate change
       Plan background and policy context
       Plan structure, reporting, and accountability mechanisms
       Charlottesville’s GHG Emissions and opportunities for reductions
       Guides for action – including consideration of equity, co-benefits, and community involvement
       Strategies for Community Emissions and Municipal Emissions Sectors
       Leadership opportunities
       Emissions draw down and action areas beyond Charlottesville’s GHG inventory
       Looking ahead to implementation, project/resource needs, and alignment with the City’s
        concurrent Zoning Update


These sections include equity considerations, sub-goals, identified strategies with associated key
actions for the next 3-5 years, climate action Fact Sheets to break down some of the more technical
aspects, and an Abbreviations and Definitions reference.

CLICK HERE to access the Charlottesville Climate Action Plan.

Alignment with City Council's Vision and Strategic Plan
These efforts are in alignment with City Council’s Green City Vision, the Strategic Plan: Goal 3 – A
Beautiful and Sustainable Natural and Built Environment; and the Comprehensive Plan: Chapter 7
(Environment, Climate, and Food Equity).

Community Engagement
Since the initiation of the Climate Action Plan development process in the fall of 2020, the City has
actively engaged with community members through a variety of means (summarized in Chapter 2 of
the plan).

Budgetary Impact
While there are no immediate budgetary impacts associated with the adoption of this CAP, there are
budgetary impacts associated with several of the Strategies and Key Actions. Some of these are
summarized in Chapter 10 of the CAP. Annual assessments of which projects, programs, and other
resources to pursue will be required.

Recommendation
Staff recommends that City Council support moving forward into implementation of the CAP,
continuing to receive input and provide updates as a living document, and to pursue adoption as part
of the Comprehensive Plan amendment process.

Alternatives
City Council could request additional development of the plan; this would result in further delay both
regarding delivery of a plan document and implementation/action efforts.

Attachments
None