Support Climate Action in Charlottesville’s FY2021 Budget

WE NEED YOUR VOICE!

At C3 we are distressed by the current health and economic hardships inflicted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This crisis reminds us all of how vulnerable we are to threats beyond our control. We hope that this distressing context might serve to help us deepen our sense of community and seal our determination to build a more sustainable and prosperous world for all.

Even so, we would like to continue with our climate budget-advocacy during the next few weeks as the City of Charlottesville will not suspend the process of reviewing and approving the proposed Government Budget for fiscal year 2021. Last year, our community spoke, and the City Council unanimously approved ambitious climate goals. This year, however, the proposed budget has not identified climate action as a “budget priority” and has reduced climate-related investments.

Add your voice to ensure that our City’s leadership on climate is more than an aspirational statement!

Community Climate Letter to City Council - Budget FY2021

Dear City Councilors,

As citizens of the Charlottesville area, we share a common goal to protect the health and vitality of our community against effects of climate change impacting our built, social, and natural systems. The future of our community, our children, and our legacy is dependent on our commitment to reduce our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

So, we thank you for setting a leadership target to reduce community-wide GHG emissions by 45% by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2050. However, we are concerned that the current version of the City’s FY2021 Budget does not reflect the commitment required to reach our climate targets.

Therefore, we urge City Council to adopt the following recommendations for this year’s budget:

1. Strengthen the City’s Environmental Sustainability Division

Provide the division with sufficient resources (such as additional staff and budget for contracting third-party assistance for research and studies) to:

  • Conduct a greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory every two years and create an annual publication of data for community-wide and City government electricity consumption, natural gas consumption, and estimated vehicle-fuel consumption.

  • Assess, develop and effectively implement climate policies to advance more climate action in our community in a timely manner;

  • Assess the direct and indirect net climate impacts of major projects and policies considered by the City Council.

2. Incentivize Cleaner, More Efficient, and More Equitable Energy Consumption Patterns

Establish a Climate Action Fund to match County of Albemarle’s Climate Action Pool of $ 500,000, which was created to support strategies to address climate change and is currently considering an additional appropriation of $250,000 to the Climate Action Reserve for projects to increase energy efficiency of lower-income households. We recommends that:

  • The Fund shall allocate significant resources to enabling energy efficiencies and renewable energy investments of either Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned Business (SWaM) or lower-income or energy burdened households;

  • The Fund would not be an operational expense and could be initially funded through a one-time lump sum transfer from the Council Strategic Initiatives Fund;

  • The Fund would allow the City to engage with new projects before July 2021 (FY 2022), especially those that are not authorized, but might become viable after the end of VA General Assembly 2020 session. 

    • For instance, the Fund would allow the City to secure resources for studying the feasibility and advancing negotiations for Solar Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) on rooftops of city-owned buildings, especially schools.

3. Incentivize Cleaner, More Efficient, and More Equitable Transportation System

One third of the City of Charlottesville’s emissions come from community transportation. Furthermore, while community-wide emissions declined from 2012 - 2016, total vehicle miles traveled increased. This is a significant challenge for our City with increased driving placing a strain on our infrastructure and negatively impacting pedestrians and bicycle commuters. We recommend that the City:

Strengthens Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT) by:

  • Providing resources for better route and bus-fleet management; 

  • Increasing the share of permanent employees/drivers; 

  • Committing to increase CAT's ridership by 100% by 2025.

Improve Bicycle and Walking Access by:

  • Increase funding to repair and create new sidewalks and bike lanes.

Provide More Clean Transportation Infrastructure: 

4. Ensure That Climate is a Priority Criteria for Key Decision Making in the City

Require key strategic boards and committees to include a community member with demonstrated experience in climate action and policy and/or create the “Charlottesville Climate Advisory Committee” with the goal of: 

  • Providing the City Council with recommendations regarding Climate Policy, and 

  • Providing the City Council with recommendations regarding Climate Funding Priorities.

Require the City’s “Budget Priorities” to include Climate Leadership:

  • Ensure that the City’s Comprehensive Plan is developed with an important focus on promoting climate change mitigation (GHG emissions reductions) and adaptation/resilience in an effective and equitable manner.

Thank you, again, for recognizing the need to address this important issue. We believe that together we can ensure the health and vitality of our residents, protect our natural resources, and strengthen the resilience of this dynamic community we call home.

Sincerely,