Sustainability and Climate Change

Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Land Use Protocol Working Group

California Energy Commission Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) as a subconsultant to CTG Energetics

Raimi + Associates is part of a working group of consultants and non-profits retained by CTG Energetics to help develop a protocol to model greenhouse gas emissions from land use. The project is sponsored by the California Energy Commission Public Interest Energy Research (PIER). R+A brings particular insight into the group regarding the connection between land use and transportation, and draws upon its expertise in urban design and sustainability indicators. The finalized land use protocol will guide projects at various scales in quantifying the anticipated greenhouse gas emissions from land use.

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Murrieta General Plan Sustainability and Health Consultant

Murrieta, CA

As a subconsultant to RBF Consulting, Raimi + Associates completed an assessment of health and sustainability in the City of Murrieta, addressing such issues as opportunities for physical activity, access to nutritious food, access to health care, transportation safety, land use, and the pedestrian environment. This analysis suggested policies which Raimi + Associates is integrating into multiple elements of the General Plan, in coordination with the General Plan team. Raimi + Associates will also complete a technical review of all General Plan once they are completed, suggesting any necessary revisions or additions to address health and sustainability.

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Redwood City General Plan Sustainability Consultant

City of Redwood City, CA

Raimi + Associates was the sustainability and public health consultant for Redwood City’s General Plan update. Redwood City’s guiding general plan principles emphasize the sustainable use of natural resources and healthy communities. The city has a strong history of initiatives promoting healthy communities and environmental and social sustainability, and sought to parlay existing efforts into an integrated approach within the General Plan. Raimi + Associates created a technical report assessing opportunities and constraints for sustainability and health in the city, and developed relevant policies to be integrated throughout the various elements of the General Plan.

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Valuing Reductions in Vehicle Miles Traveled from the Hercules New Town Center*

UC Berkeley Professional Report for City of Hercules

This project was completed by Joanna Malaczynski while at UC Berkeley. Joanna’s work models greenhouse gas emissions from land use and vehicle miles traveled in Hercules, California, a community with high vehicle miles traveled per household. Joanna models vehicle miles traveled in 2035 from three alternative land use scenarios, including a proposed Hercules New Town Center, a traditional market driven development pattern, and a dispersed infill development pattern. The proposed New Town Center would significantly reduce vehicle miles traveled compared to its alternatives by creating a regional destination, facilitating an intermodal transit hub, and providing density, diversity and design features to encourage walking, biking, and transit use. The New Town Center would provide regional benefits, which Joanna quantified in terms of greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Joanna's research will assist the City of Hercules in applying for state and regional funding based on the greenhouse gas benefits of the project. In addition, Joanna's work offers a simple planning tool to help communities such as Hercules visualize the climate change impacts of their land use decisions.

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Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Vehicle Miles Traveled: Integrating CEQA with AB 32*

Ecological Law Quarterly (co-authored with Timothy Duane)

Ms. Malaczynski co-authored a legal article published in Ecological Law Quarterly on opportunities for funding land use/transportation climate actions at the local level through a state-sanctioned carbon offset market. The analysis and mechanisms rely on the mechanisms found in the California Environmental Quality Act and AB32. The article includes an extensive analysis of recent policy developments related to local governments, climate change, and vehicle miles traveled. This includes SB375, legal action from the Attorney General’s Office, as well as greenhouse gas emissions protocols and targets at the state level.

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Climate Policy at the Local Level: A Survey of California's Cities and Counties*

Public Policy Institute of California (co-authored with Ellen Hanak, Louise Bedsworth, and Sarah Swanbeck)

Ms. Malaczynski co-authored with Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) a report in 2008 on what local governments are doing to address climate change. The report focuses on mitigation strategies and represents survey responses from over 50% of California’s local jurisdictions, and over 80% of California’s population. Challenges, successes, progress to-date, as well as obstacles and concerns are described in this report. The report also includes survey responses regarding mitigation strategies and concerns. Ms. Malaczynski conducted nearly two dozen follow-up interviews with local governments representing a diverse cross-section of the state for this report, and conducted significant research on the cost-benefits and policy drivers of climate related activities at the local level. Detailed findings will also be published in a forthcoming article in the Journal of the American Planning Association.

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South Gate Greenhouse Gas Inventory

City of South Gate, CA

In coordination with the effort to update the South Gate General Plan, R+A completed a Greenhouse Gas Inventory for the City. R+A also drafted the resolution that committed the City to pursuing ICLEI’s five milestones of climate planning, including setting targets and creating a climate action plan. The greenhouse gas inventory includes both municipal and community emissions and was developing using ICLEI’s CACP software, and following ICLEI’s and CARB’s most recent protocols for local government and community emissions inventories. Findings from the Greenhouse Gas Inventory are informing policies included in the General Plan, and include recommendations for municipal and community-wide actions to reduce emissions in support of AB 32. These will be the basis for a future Climate Action Plan.

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Hercules Greenhouse Gas Inventory

City of Hercules, CA

Raimi + Associates completed a Greenhouse Gas inventory for the City of Hercules, including potential policy responses to be included in the City's anticipated Climate Action Plan. The inventory serves as the 2005 baseline year inventory that several cities have developed in response to direction from the State Attorney General and other state agencies. Hercules has pursued a land-use strategy of mixed-use, compact development and was the first city in California to adopt a form-based building code. The list of potential policy directions in the Hercules Greenhouse Gas Inventory recommends continuing this approach, and recommends additional land use, transportation, and design strategies for reducing community-wide emissions. The inventory also includes a list of strategies for reducing emissions from municipal operations.

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