AGENDA #7g

 

BUDGET WORKING PAPER

 

TO:                W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

FROM:          Roger S. Waldon, Planning Director

 

SUBJECT:     Emissions Study Budget Proposal

 

DATE:           April 2, 2003

 

 

In the Council’s work sessions on the budget, the Council has asked for a proposal to provide a budget for an emissions study.

 

BACKGROUND

 

On August 23, 1999, the Council adopted resolution pledging the Town to join in the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign, sponsored by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The resolution stated that if the Town were successful in securing a grant, then the Town would retain the services of a consultant and develop and implement a local greenhouse gas reduction action plan. The process of developing a plan would do the following:

 

·        Obtain an analysis of greenhouse gas emissions coming from municipal operations and the community as a whole (“the inventory”).

·        Develop a forecast of emissions growth for a future (forecast) year.

·        Adopt a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target.

·        Develop a local action plan specifying the actions to be taken to achieve the emissions reduction target.

·        Implement and monitor the plan and report the results.

 

On October 22, 2001, the Council adopted a resolution inviting the joint participation of Carrboro and Orange County on an emissions reduction action plan in the event a grant were found to pay for the development of the plan.

 

On February 24, 2003, the Council Committee on Sustainability, Energy and Environment provided a report to the Council and proposed discussing at the April 29 Assembly of Governments meeting a jointly-sponsored project among jurisdictions in Orange County to conduct an emissions study.

 

Recently, there have also been discussions within the Durham-Chapel Hill Metropolitan Planning Organization concerning the possibility of an Orange-Durham study, and the potential use of transportation planning funding from the Durham-Chapel Hill Transportation Advisory Committee for a portion of the costs. 

OPTIONS FOR PROCEEDING

 

Developing a County-wide inventory and action plan would be an efficient approach for the jurisdictions in Orange County by avoiding duplication of efforts.  Comments from the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives suggest that the cost of a Town-wide or County-wide emissions inventory and action plan would not be substantially different.  The Town’s share of funding could be made contingent on participation by other Orange County jurisdictions on a County-wide inventory and action plan, as suggested by the Council Committee on Sustainability, Energy and Environment.  Based on conversations with staff from other jurisdictions and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives, we believe such a study could cost in the range of $25,000 to $50,000.  Costs would vary depending on whether intern help is used for a portion of the project, or whether a consultant is used for the project.

 

A second option would be a joint Orange-Durham County emissions survey, funded, in part from regional transportation funds.  Many of the elements of the emissions survey include transportation related data and regional transportation planning staff has suggested that a broader inventory, including Durham County, could be funded, in part, from regional transportation planning funds. Regional staff will be meeting next week with representatives from Orange County, Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Durham to review the possible scope of work for a Orange-Durham County emissions survey, anticipated cost, possible funding allocation between jurisdictions and what portions of the survey would include transportation elements and could be funded from transportation planning funds.  Under this option it is anticipated that local funds would be required to provide the 20% match for transportation planning funds and for those portions of the emissions survey that are not transportation related.  At this time, estimated costs are under development.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A County-wide emissions inventory and greenhouse gas reduction action plan could cost in the range of $25,000 to $50,000, based on the experience of other cities and our contacts with the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives. 

 

A joint Durham-Orange county study is under discussion at the Durham-Chapel Hill Metropolitan Planning Organization.  Better information should become available in April as staff and the Transportation Advisory Committee considers the idea. 

 

The Orange County governments will likely be discussing the potential funding of this matter at the upcoming Assembly of Governments meeting, on April 29.  We hope by that meeting to have better estimates for the options.