HomeMy WebLinkAboutIII(a)_Public Comment on Non-Agenda ItemsFrom: Campbell, Jim
Sent: September 23, 2022 8:43 AM
To: Zdeba, Benjamin
Subject: Fwd: Newport Beach Climate Action Plan
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: Graham Balch <graham@greenyachtsales.com>
Date: September 21, 2022 at 9:59:52 AM PDT
To: "Campbell, Jim" <JCampbell@newportbeachca.gov>, Nate Capra
<natecapra@balboaislandferry.com>
Subject: Newport Beach Climate Action Plan
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Jim,
I was given your name by Jennifer, from the City of Newport Beach. She said you are in
charge of updating the general plan, getting community input and possibly having it
include language about climate change.
I am writing to request that a goal for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction be
included in a section on addressing climate change in the general plan or in a separate
climate action plan for the City of Newport Beach.
Balboa Island Ferry, due to recent amendments to the California Air Resources Board
(CARB) Commercial Harborcraft regulations, is required to be zero-emission by
December 31, 2025. However, getting funding has been challenging. I have included
Nate Capra, the Director of Operations at Balboa Island Ferry, on this email.
There is the possibility of Balboa Island Ferry receiving federal funds through the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for the conversion of one or more of their
ferries. For the IIJA funds to convert passenger ferries to zero-emission, this is one of the
evaluation criteria:
Planning and Local/Regional Prioritization
-How is the proposed project consistent with local and regional planning documents?
-How is the proposed project consistent with local government priorities?
-Are there letters of support from local stakeholders?
General Plan Update Steering Committee - September 28, 2022 Item No. III Public Written Correspondence
What would help Balboa Island Ferry satisfy this part of the evaluation criteria is if the
City of Newport had a stated goal for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets and had
actions/strategies for inventorying and reducing GHG emissions. For example, the Town
of Tiburon, where another ferry is located, in their GHG inventory report lists "marine
vessels operating within the community boundary" as a transportation and mobile
source that needs to be inventoried and reduced.
Here is information from CARB about California's GHG emission reduction targets and
information for local governments addressing climate change in a climate action
plan. https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/local-actions-climate-change/local-
government-actions-climate-change
Anything included in the Newport Beach General Plan or other planning document that
can be used to show that reducing GHG is part of local planning prioritization would be
helpful. Please include GHG targets and goals. It will help the City of Newport and local
businesses such as Balboa Island Ferry potentially be more successful in applying for
funds dedicated to reducing GHG emissions.
Thanks,
Graham
--
Graham Balch
Managing Broker
Green Yachts
License#: B-30486-00001-CM
(415) 755-5858
The future of boating is electric!
General Plan Update Steering Committee - September 28, 2022 Item No. III Public Written Correspondence