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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTC Digest 2014-06-20TOWN COUNCIL WEEKLY DIGEST Week of June 16 - 20, 2014 Tiburon 1. Letter - Alice Fredericks - AB 2145 Electricity - Community Choice Aggregation 2. Letter - Vice Mayor City of Belvedere - Appointment to Bel/Tib Joint Rec /Anne Feinberg 3. Letter - Vice Mayor City of Belvedere - Appointment to Bel/Tib Joint Rec - Cathy Frymier Agendas & Minutes 4. Agenda -Planning Commission -June 25, 2014 Regional a) Golden Gate Gazette - Summer 2014 * b) Rail - Volution - Convention - September 21 -24, 2014 Agendas & Minutes c) None * Council Only DIGEST Town oFTiburon • 1505 Tiburon Boulevard • Tiburon, CA 94920 • F. 415.435.7373 F. 415.435.2438 • w ..d.uburon.ca.us June 18, 2014 The Honorable Alex Padilla, Chair, Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee State Capitol, Room 4038 Sacramento, CA 95814 -4900 Re: AB 2145 (Bradford): Electricity: community choice aggregation OPPOSE Set in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee June 2014 Dear Senator Padilla: Alice Fredericks Mayor Frank Doyle Vice Mayor Jim Fraser Councilmember Emmett O'Donnell Councilmember Erin Tollini As Mayor of Tiburon, I strongly oppose the Monopoly Protection Bill, AB 2145. By changing the default Councilmember Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) "opt -out" model for a new "opt -in" one, the proposed legislation will effectively kill CCAs and in doing so thwart California's critically important environmental goals. It is also bad policy as it negates the local govemment decision- making for a vital public service. Margaret A. Curran Most residential customers in California do not have the opportunity to choose between utility providers. Town Manager Residential customers do not opt -in or vote to join investor -owned utilities. They are often given no choice as to which company provides their energy. In our area, PG &E has never had to overcome such a hurdle. In communities that choose to form orjoin a CCA, local elected representatives empowertheir constituents to choose the best energy option for them, whether that is the option given by an investor - owned utility or that from a CCA. Because investor -owned utilities are highly capitalized (through profit margins guaranteed by the regulatory process), they can readily market their products to customers and purchase energy in quantities that enable low rates. They are well entrenched. CCAs require the "opt - out" model to have a chance of competing in this marketplace. Indeed, the inherent market power of investor -owned utilities wield against CCAs was recognized by the legislature through the passage of SB 790 (2011). AB 2145 is a brazen attempt by investor -owned utilities, and PG &E in particular, to eliminate the competition. The company was unsuccessful achieving this outcome a few years ago with Proposition 16, so it now seeks the legislative route to protect its monopoly position at the expense of true choice for consumers. By forcing an "opt -in" default CCA model, AB 2145 would prioritize the profits of an established investor - owned utility over the interests of communities who have chosen to create a local government, environmentally conscious and not - for -profit alternative. Why change the rules to benefit the established monopoly over the wishes of local communities trying to rally together for the sole purpose of improving the environmental profile of its energy source? Is this really what our Legislature should support? The two existing CCA energy programs in California were established to expand renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions — important goals for the state and nation. Marin Clean Energy provides more than twice the renewable energy of PG &E, and MCE's emissions rate is 19% lower than PG &E. MCE has reduced approximately 59,477 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions since inception in 2010. Sonoma Clean Power offers a 100% local renewable energy source to its customers. In addition, the two CCAs have created hundreds of California jobs. i Page 2 A CCA opt -in program would stymie, if not entirely halt, the dramatic increase in renewable energy purchases and greenhouse gas emission reductions CCAs can achieve. Defaulting customers to a utility provider with a higher emissions rate runs counter to AB 32 goals and would undermine California's climate change prevention initiatives, many of which are spearheaded by local governments. It is important to stress that customers can easily make a choice when a CCA begins offering service in a new community. There is a four -month public noticing process with a state requirement of at least four opt -out notices served upon every customer. Even afterwards, customers can still opt out of CCA service at any time. There is no such ability for the vast majority of customers of the three California for -profit utility companies. As a local government elected official, I urge you to oppose the Monopoly Protection Bill, AB 2145, and support community choice. This bill will kill CCAs plain and simple. The future of the entire power industry — whether there is a real opportunity for local choice or simply monopoly control — rests on this very measure. The stakes on a piece of legislation are rarely higher. Respectfully, Alice Fredericks, Mayor Town of Tiburon cc: Tiburon Town Council Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. Honorable Members, Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee Kellie Smith, Chief Consultant, Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee Kerry Yoshida, Policy Consultant, Senate Republican Caucus The Honorable Steven Bradford Merin County Supervisor Kathrin Sears June 18, 2014 Ms Anne Feinberg 144 Bella Vista Avenue Belvedere, CA 94920 Dear Ms Anne: CITY of BELVEDERE a' 450 San Rafael Ave. • Belvedere, CA 94920 -2336 Tel: 415/435 -3838 • Fax: 415/435 -0430 DIGEST E C E o V E 0 JUIJ 19 ZW4 TOWN CLERK TOWN OF TIBURON I am pleased to tell you that at our meeting on June 9, 2014, the City Council voted unanimously to appoint you to a two -year term on the Belvedere - Tiburon Joint Recreation Committee, through May 31, 2016. Congratulations and thank you for volunteering for this role which is so important to our community. Sincerely, Bob McCaskill Vice Mayor cc: Jerry Riessen, Chair, BTJR Committee Cathleen Andreucci, BTJR Director Diane Crane- Iacopi, Tiburon Town Clerk ✓ June 18, 2014 Ms Cathy Frymier 13 Britton Avenue Belvedere, CA 94920 Dear Cathy: CITY of BELVEDERE 450 San Rafael Ave. • Belvedere, CA 94920 -2336 Tel: 415/435 -3838 • Fax: 415/435 -0430 DIGEST JUN '19 ZU14 TOWN CLERK TOWN OF TIBURON I am pleased to tell you that at our meeting on June 9, 2014, the City Council voted unanimously to appoint you to a two -year term on the Belvedere - Tiburon Joint Recreation Committee, through May 31, 2016. Congratulations and thank you for volunteering for this role which is so important to our community. Sincerely, Bob McCaskill Vice Mayor cc: Jerry Riessen, Chair, BUR Committee Cathleen Andreucci, BUR Director Diane Crane- Iacopi, Tiburon Town Clerk✓ TOWN OF TIBURON Tiburon Town Hall 1505 Tiburon Boulevard Tiburon, CA 94920 DIGEST WOMMIZA, ill Agenda - Regular Meeting Tiburon Planning Commission June 25, 2014 — 7:30 PM TIBURON PLANNING CON IISSION CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chair Weller, Vice Chair Welner, Commissioner Corcoran, Commissioner Kulik, Commissioner Williams ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Persons wishing to address the Planning Commission on any subject not on the agenda may do so under this portion of the agenda. Please note that the Planning Commission is not able to undertake extended discussion, or take action on, items that do not appear on this agenda. Matters requiring action will be referred to Town Staff for consideration and/or placed on a future Planning Commission agenda. Please limit your comments to no more than three (3) minutes. Testimony regarding matters not on the agenda will not be considered part of the administrative record. COMMISSION AND STAFF BRIEFING Commission and Committee Reports Director's Report PUBLIC HEARINGS CONSIDER RECOMMENDATION TO THE TOWN COUNCIL REGARDING AMENDMENTS TO TITLE IV, CHAPTER 16 (ZONING) OF THE TIBURON MUNICIPAL CODE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROHIBITING MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES IN ALL ZONES [DW] (Continued From June 11, 2014) NEW BUSINESS 2. CONTINUING EDUCATION: PLANNING COMMISSIONER OVERVIEW PRESENTATION: The Commission Will Receive a Slide Presentation from Staff Covering Various Aspects of Planning Commissioner Duties and Responsibilities [SA] Tiburon Planning Commission Agenda June 25, 2014 Page 1 MINUTES 3. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES —Regular Meeting of June 11, 2014 / IX6 1: zM;112M Future Azenda Items 110 Solono Street — Review of Seasonal Rental Permit (July 23) Election of Chair and Vice Chair (July 23) Draft Housing Element (July 23) Continuing Education (TBD) a062514 Tiburon Planning Commission Agenda June 25, 2014 Page 2 GENERAL PUBLIC INFORMATION ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Planning Division Secretary at (415) 435 -7390. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the Town to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. AVAMABILITY OF INFORMATION Copies of Design Review Board Agendas, Staff Reports, project files and other supporting data are available for viewing and inspection at Town Hall during business hours. Agendas and Staff Reports are also available at the Belvedere - Tiburon Public Library and on the Town of Tiburon website (www.ci.tiburon.ca.usl after 5:00 PM on the Friday prior to the regularly scheduled meeting. Any documents produced by the Town and distributed to a majority of the Design Review Board regarding any item on this agenda, including agenda - related documents produced by the Town after distribution of the agenda packet at least 72 hours in advance of the Board meeting, will be available for public inspection at Town Hall, 1505 Tiburon Boulevard, Tiburon, CA 94920. Upon request, the Town will provide written agenda materials in appropriate alternative formats, or disability- related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services, to enable individuals with disabilities to participate in public meetings. Please deliver or cause to be delivered a written request (including your name, mailing address, phone number and brief description of the requested materials and preferred alternative format or auxiliary aid or service) at least five (5) days before the meeting to the Planning Division Secretary at the above address. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS AND BUSINESS ITEMS Public Hearing items and Business items provide the general public and interested parties an opportunity to speak regarding items that typically involve an action or decision made by the Board. If you challenge any decision in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the meeting, or in written correspondence delivered to the Board at, or prior to, the meeting. GENERAL PROCEDURE ON ITEMS AND TIME LIMIT GUIDELINES FOR SPEAKERS The Design Review Board's general procedure on items and time limit guidelines for speakers are: Staff Update on Item (if any) Applicant Presentation — 5 to 20 minutes Design Review Board questions of staff and/or applicant r Public Testimony (depending on the number of speakers) — 3 to 5 minutes for each speaker; members of the audience may not allocate their testimony time to other speakers o Applicant may respond to public comments — 3 minutes o Design Review Board closes the public testimony period, deliberates and votes (as warranted) Time limits and procedures may be modified in the reasonable discretion of the Chairman Interested members of the public may address the Design Review Board on any item on the agenda. ORDER AND TIMING OF ITEMS No set times are assigned to items appearing on the Design Review Board agenda. While the Design Review Board attempts to hear all items in order as stated on the agenda, it reserves the right to take items out of order without notice. NOTE. ALL PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS ARE AUDIO RECORDED Tiburon Planning Commission Agenda June 25, 2014 Page 3 TOWN OF TIBURON LATE MAIL POLICY (Adopted and Effective 11/7/2007) The following policy shall be used by the Town Council and its standing boards and commissions, and by staff of the Town of Tiburon, in the identification, distribution and consideration of late mail. "Late Mail" is defined as correspondence or other materials that are received by the Town after completion of the written staff report on an agenda item, in such a manner as to preclude such correspondence or other materials from being addressed in or attached to the staff report as an exhibit. IDENTIFICATION OF LATE MAIL All late mail received by Town Staff in advance of a meeting shall be marked "Late Mail' and shall be date - stamped or marked with the date of receipt by the Town. Late mail received at a meeting shall be marked as "Received at Meeting" with a date -stamp or handwritten note. POLICY For regular meetings of the Town Council and its standing boards and commissions: (1) All late mail that is received on an agenda item prior to distribution of the agenda packet to the reviewing authority shall be stamped or marked as "Late Mail' and shall be distributed to the reviewing authority with the agenda packet. (2) All late mail received on an agenda item before 5:00 PM on the Monday prior to the meeting shall be date - stamped and marked as "Late Mail' and distributed to the reviewing authority as soon as practicable. Such mail shall be read and considered by the reviewing authority whenever possible. If the Monday, or Monday and Tuesday, prior to the meeting are a Town - recognized holiday, the deadline shall be extended to the following day at Noon. (3) Any late mail received on an agenda item after the deadline established in paragraph (2) above shall be date - stamped, marked as `Late Mail' and distributed to the reviewing authority as soon as reasonably possible, but may not be read or considered by the reviewing authority. There should be no expectation of, nor shall the reviewing authority have any obligation to, read or consider any such late mail, and therefore such late mail may not become part of the administrative record for the item before the reviewing authority. These provisions shall also apply to special and adjourned meetings when sufficient lead time exists to implement these provisions. If sufficient lead time does not exist, the Town Manager shall exercise discretion in establishing a reasonable cut -off time for late mail. For controversial items or at any meeting where a high volume of correspondence is anticipated, Town staff shall have the option to require an earlier late mail deadline, provided that the written public notice for any such item clearly communicates the specifics of the early late mail deadline, and the deadline corresponds appropriately to any earlier availability of the agenda packet. Pursuant to state law, copies of all late mail shall be available in a timely fashion for public inspection at Tiburon Town Hall, 1505 Tiburon Boulevard, Tiburon. Tiburon Planning Commission Agenda June 25, 2014 Page 4