To: Board of Supervisors
From: John Kopchik, Director, Conservation and Development
Report Title: Green Empowerment Zone for the Northern Waterfront Area of Contra Costa County
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. ADOPT a Resolution to approve the County's participation in the Green Empowerment Zone for the Northern Waterfront Area of Contra Costa County.
2. APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Conservation and Development Director, or designee, to execute an agreement with the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000 to compensate the County for providing administrative and other support services for the Green Empowerment Zone for the period July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Execution of the agreement will result in State revenue not to exceed $5,000,000 to the Department of Conservation and Development to be used to provide administrative and other support services for the Green Empowerment Zone consistent with the State legislation AB 179, the Budget Act of 2022. The term of this Agreement is July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2026.
No Local matching funds are required as a condition of the County accepting these funds.
BACKGROUND:
On September 28, 2021, AB 844 (Grayson) was signed by Governor Newsom.
According to the Legislative Counsel’s digest:
“This bill, until January 1, 2028, would authorize establishment of a Green Empowerment Zone for the Northern Waterfront area of the County of Contra Costa. The bill would authorize the Green Empowerment Zone to be composed of specified cities, upon adoption of a resolution by the city or county and would provide for the Green Empowerment Zone to be governed by a board of directors. The bill would task the Green Empowerment Zone with various duties, including, among other things, identification of projects and programs that will best utilize public dollars and improve the economic vitality of the Northern Waterfront area of the County of Contra Costa in a coordinated effort to support the development of the clean energy economy.”
The bill requires the Green Empowerment Zone to create and maintain an internet website that is managed and updated by an entity designated by the board of directors, produce a report each year that includes recommendations for action by the Legislature and the progress of the zone, and post the report on its internet website, as specified.
The Contra Costa Green Empowerment Zone (the GEZ) will serve as an organizational framework to assist the region in a just transition to a lower carbon economy. The idea for a Green Empowerment Zone builds off two previous efforts: The Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative and the San Joaquin Partnership. The Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative has already laid the groundwork for the regional scope and membership of the GEZ. The San Joaquin Partnership provides a framework for legislation and cooperation with federal partners.
When fully implemented, the GEZ will allow stakeholders to leverage additional economic development tools, including:
• Federal Empowerment Zones/Enterprise Communities
• The California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority (CAEATFA)
• The California Energy Commission’s Clean Transportation Program
• The California Workforce Development Board's High Road Training Partnerships Program.
The GEZ will be governed by an executive board of directors with the following duties:
• Identify projects and programs that will best utilize public dollars and most quickly improve the economic vitality of the Northern Waterfront area of the County of Contra Costa, especially those that leverage federal, state, local, and private sector resources in a coordinated effort to support the development of the clean energy economy.
• Work with members of the state’s congressional delegation and federal official, including any relevant federal interagency task force, to gain federal support for projects identified by the zone as critical to the region’s energy economy.
• Partner with the University of California, the California State University, community colleges, and the state’s other research and educational institutions, as well as private foundations, to provide guidance, advice, and encouragement in support of studies of particular interest and importance to the energy industry in the Northern Waterfront area of the County of Contra Costa.
• Review state policies and regulations to ensure they are fair and appropriate for the state’s diverse geographic regions, including the Northern Waterfront area of the County of Contra Costa, and determine whether alternative approaches can accomplish goals in less costly ways.
• Make recommendations to the Governor that would improve the economic well-being of the region and the quality of life of its residents.
• Create and maintain an internet website that is managed and updated by an entity designated by the board of directors.
On February 28, 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved the appointment of Chair John Gioia to the Board of Directors of the Green Empowerment Zone, and designated Supervisor Federal Glover as the alternate member for Contra Costa County. Staff is recommending approval of the Resolution to officially authorize County participation in the GEZ.
Staff also recommends approval of the proposed agreement with the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). Under the proposed agreement, the County would provide administrative and other support services to assist the Green Empowerment Zone in fulfilling its mission to improve the economic vitality of the region that includes the Northern Waterfront area of the County and support the development of the County’s clean energy economy. The County may, at its discretion, make expenditures of the funds in furtherance of the Green Empowerment Zone purposes. It is the County’s intention to seek Green Empowerment Zone Board input on expenditures of these state funds. The County’s Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative and Just Transition Economic Revitalization Plan are complementary efforts to the Green Empowerment Zone, and the County can serve to coordinate these efforts.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Staff would not be authorized to execute the agreement and County would not receive State funds for administrative and other support services for the Green Empowerment Zone. This would result in a lost opportunity to enhance the economic development of the County by coordinating the Green Empowerment Zone with the complementary efforts of the County’s Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative and Just Transition Economic Revitalization Plan.
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I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. |
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ATTESTED: |
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Monica Nino, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors |
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By: |
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
and for Special Districts, Agencies and Authorities Governed by the Board
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IN THE MATTER OF the Green Empowerment Zone for the Northern Waterfront Area of the County of Contra Costa.
WHEREAS, on September 28, 2021, AB 844 (Grayson) was signed by Governor Newsom.
WHEREAS, according to the Legislative Counsel’s digest: “This bill, until January 1, 2028, would authorize establishment of a Green Empowerment Zone for the Northern Waterfront Area of the County of Contra Costa.”
WHEREAS, the bill authorizes the Green Empowerment Zone to be composed of Contra Costa County and specified cities, upon adoption of a resolution by the city or county, and provides for the Green Empowerment Zone to be governed by a board of directors.
WHEREAS, the bill tasks the Green Empowerment Zone with various duties, including, among other things, identification of projects and programs that will best utilize public dollars and improve the economic vitality of the Northern Waterfront area of the County of Contra Costa in a coordinated effort to support the development of the clean energy economy.
WHEREAS, the bill requires the Green Empowerment Zone to create and maintain an internet website that is managed and updated by an entity designated by the board of directors, produce a report each year that includes recommendations for action by the Legislature and the progress of the zone, and post the report on its internet website, as specified.
WHEREAS, the Contra Costa Green Empowerment Zone (the GEZ) will serve as an organizational framework to assist the region in a just transition to a lower carbon economy.
WHEREAS, the idea for a Green Empowerment Zone builds off two previous efforts: The Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative and the San Joaquin Partnership. The Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative has already laid the groundwork for the regional scope and membership of the GEZ. The San Joaquin Partnership provides a framework for legislation and cooperation with federal partners.
WHEREAS, when fully implemented, the GEZ will allow stakeholders to leverage additional economic development tools, including:
• Federal Empowerment Zones/Enterprise Communities
• The California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority (CAEATFA)
• The California Energy Commission’s Clean Transportation Program
• The California Workforce Development Board's High Road Training Partnerships Program.
WHEREAS, the Green Empowerment Zone will be governed by an executive board of directors with the following duties:
• Identify projects and programs that will best utilize public dollars and most quickly improve the economic vitality of the Northern Waterfront area of the County of Contra Costa, especially those that leverage federal, state, local, and private sector resources in a coordinated effort to support the development of the clean energy economy.
• Work with members of the state’s congressional delegation and federal official, including any relevant federal interagency task force, to gain federal support for projects identified by the zone as critical to the region’s energy economy.
• Partner with the University of California, the California State University, community colleges, and the state’s other research and educational institutions, as well as private foundations, to provide guidance, advice, and encouragement in support of studies of particular interest and importance to the energy industry in the Northern Waterfront area of the County of Contra Costa.
• Review state policies and regulations to ensure they are fair and appropriate for the state’s diverse geographic regions, including the Northern Waterfront area of the County of Contra Costa, and determine whether alternative approaches can accomplish goals in less costly ways.
• Make recommendations to the Governor that would improve the economic well-being of the region and the quality of life of its residents.
• Create and maintain an internet website that is managed and updated by an entity designated by the board of directors.
WHEREAS, on February 28, 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved the appointment of Chair John Gioia to the board of directors of the Green Empowerment Zone, and designated Supervisor Federal Glover as the alternate member for Contra Costa County.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors of the County of Contra Costa will participate in the Green Empowerment Zone for the Northern Waterfront Area of Contra Costa County.
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I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. |
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ATTESTED: |
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Monica Nino, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors |
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By: |