City Council
April 28, 2026
2 • Project Overview • Baseline Conditions, Forecast, & Targets • Shared Roles in Climate Action • Structure of Plan Strategies • Healthy & Resilient Buildings • Mobility • Electric Vehicles • Urban Ecosystems • Measures & Actions Overview • Community Engagement Recap • Next Steps Agenda
3 • Kathy Kleinbaum, City of Belmont – Assistant City Manager • Karen Clark, City of Belmont – Project Manager
• Jeremy Ruiz, City of Belmont – Associate Planner
• Ryan Gardner, Rincon – Principal
• Olivia Mendoza, Rincon – Project Manager
Project Team
4 • In 2017, the City of Belmont adopted its first Climate Action Plan • Updating the plan with new data and best practices while incorporating adaptation measures • To reach the State’s 2030 target of 40% below 1990 greenhouse gas emission levels (SB32), we are:
• Setting targets to reduce emissions
• Identifying strategies to reduce emissions while building resilience to climate change • Establishing a policy framework to achieve the State's target of carbon neutrality by 2045 (AB 1279) About This Project
5 Project Milestones
Project kickoff
Background research
March 2025
Greenhouse gas
inventory
Greenhouse gas
forecasts and targets
July 2025
Community survey #1
Community pop-ups
Aug 2025
Project presented to
Planning Commission &
City Council
Community workshop
#1
Sept 2025
Measure drafting
Jan 2026
Draft measures posted
Community survey #2
Community workshop
#2
Feb 2026
Draft measures
presented to
Planning
Commission & City
Council
April 2026
Draft Plan available to
public
June 2026
Final Plan adoption
Sept 2026
2023 Baseline Conditions
On-road
Transportation
52%
Building
Natural Gas
39%
Solid Waste
4%
Off-road
Equipment
3%
Building
Electricity
1%
Wastewater
1%
Stationary
Sources
<1%
Water
<1%
6 Transportation – Emissions from passenger cars and
commercial trucks
Off-Road Equipment – Emissions from sources like
construction and landscaping equipment
Building Energy Use – Emissions from electricity and natural gas used to power and heat buildings and appliances
Solid Waste – Emissions primarily from organic material or food waste decomposing in landfill, which releases methane Water – Emissions from electricity used to extract, treat, and pump the water we use in our homes, businesses, and
gardens/landscaping
Over 90% of Belmont's emissions came from
on-road transportation and building natural gas
7 • Business as Usual (BAU) Forecast
Reflects 2023 practices, if continued
• Adjusted Forecast
Includes adopted State legislation
• SB 32 Mass Emissions Pathway
Illustrates State targets
Forecast & Targets
The Plan’s measures and actions will work to close the gap between the Adjusted Forecast and State targets
8 How Climate Action Happens: Shared Roles
State of California City of Belmont Community Members
Sets the framework and
requirements
• Establishes statewide GHG
emissions reduction targets
• Adopts building codes (Title 24)
• Requires zero-emission vehicle
sales
• Mandates organic waste
diversion (SB 1383)
• Provides funding, rebates, and
incentive programs
Implements, accelerates, and
enables local solutions
• Adopts and enforces building
and development standards
• Installs EV charging and
improves bike, pedestrian, and
transit infrastructure
• Expands composting and waste
education programs
• Launches local incentives,
outreach, and partnerships
Makes the decisions that drive
emissions reductions
• Upgrade homes and buildings
with efficient, electric
technologies
• Choose walking, biking, transit,
and electric vehicles
• Compost and reduce waste
• Plant and care for trees and
climate-resilient landscaping
While the State sets targets and the City creates supportive policies and programs, most emissions reductions depend on actions taken by residents and businesses.
9 • Systems – How measures and actions will be organized:
• Healthy & Resilient Buildings
• Mobility
• Electric Vehicles
• Urban Ecosystems
• These four systems work across buildings, transportation, and natural environments to help Belmont meet climate targets and prepare for future conditions
• Measures – Big-picture goals and strategies
• Actions – Specific steps the City and community can take to support each measure Structure of the Plan's Key Strategies
10 • Emissions reduction: Lowers energy usage and transitions from natural gas to efficient, electric systems
• Resilience: Improves comfort during extreme heat, maintains power during outages, and increases building safety
• Key measures to hit 2030 target
• Reduce natural gas consumption in existing buildings by 18% by 2030
(Impact: 7,429 MT CO2e reduced by 2030)
• Leverage PCE’s carbon-free electricity
(Impact: 2,700 MT CO2e reduced by 2030)
• Promote all-electric construction to achieve 90% all-electric new buildings by 2030
(Impact: 2,264 MT CO2e reduced by 2030)
Healthy & Resilient Buildings
11 • Key City actions
• Implement the 2025 Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards and update local codes so an estimated 90% of all new construction and major renovations in Belmont are all-electric starting in 2026. • Support implementation and enforcement of Bay Area Air District (BAAD) Rules 9-4 and 9-6 to ensure all new and replacement space heating and tanked water heaters meet zero-NOx standards by 2027 and 2029. • Evaluate feasibility of adopting a non-residential AC to Heat Pump ordinance to increase energy efficiency and lower GHG emissions in new construction and all replacement rooftop package units. • Work to identify grants or other funding sources to finance the development and implementation of existing building heat pump space heating rebates.
• Key community actions
• Choose all-electric appliances and systems in new homes or major renovations to reduce indoor air pollution and take advantage of rebates and incentives available through PCE and BayREN. • Replace aging gas furnaces, water heaters, and air conditioners with high-efficiency heat pump systems.
Healthy & Resilient Buildings (Cont.)
12 • Emissions reduction: Reduces vehicle miles traveled by supporting walking, biking, and transit
• Resilience: Making active transportation and transit more comfortable during extreme heat events
• Key measures to hit 2030 target
• Increase public transit mode share from 4.4% to 7% by 2030 (Impact: 3,143 MT CO2e reduced by 2030)
• Increase active transportation mode share from
0.5% to 1.5% by 2030
(Impact: 111 MT CO2e reduced by 2030)
Mobility
13 • Key City actions
• Identify and close network gaps by converting high-stress roadways into low-stress bikeways (e.g., redesigning a high-speed street with minimal bike lanes into a corridor with reduced vehicle speeds and buffered or physically protected bike lanes), install bike repair stations, and provide wayfinding signage and lighting. • Partner with regional transit agencies (e.g., SamTrans or Caltrain) to improve frequency, reliability, and connectivity of transit services serving Belmont.
• Collaborate with regional transit agencies to enhance bus stop infrastructure by integrating shade structures, seating, and cooling materials (aligned with Belmont’s Safety Element Policy 6.11-5). • Key community actions
• Ride your bike to work once a week.
• Families can help reduce traffic and emissions by choosing SamTrans bus routes for school commutes instead of driving.
Mobility (Cont.)
14 • Emissions reduction: Replaces gasoline and diesel
vehicles with zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) alternatives
• Resilience: Enables cleaner air and supports grid flexibility • Key measures to hit 2030 target:
• Achieve 32% passenger ZEV and 25% commercial ZEV by 2030 (increasing from 12% in 2023)
• Install 200 new publicly accessible and shared private EV chargers by 2030 (there are currently 69 public chargers in Belmont) (Impact: 9,027 MT CO2e reduced by 2030)
• Electrify or otherwise decarbonize 30% of
off-road equipment by 2030
(Impact: 896 MT CO2e reduced by 2030)
Electric Vehicles
15 • Key City actions
• Install and/or facilitate the installation of 200 new publicly accessible and shared private EV chargers by 2030. • Evaluate the adoption of CALGreen Tier 1 EV charging or similar EV infrastructure requirements for nonresidential new construction and retrofits by 2027. • Develop a phased ordinance to replace small off-road engines (such as landscaping and construction equipment) with zero-emission or renewable-fueled alternatives beginning in 2027. • Key community actions
• Purchase or lease an electric vehicle, e-bike, or electric scooter and take advantage of available rebates and incentives from PCE, PG&E, and State programs.
• Replace your gas-powered lawn and garden equipment with electric alternatives to reduce noise and air pollution, or work with landscape companies who have made the switch.
Electric Vehicles (Cont.)
16 • Emissions reduction: Reduces organic waste sent to landfills and increases carbon sequestration
• Resilience: Reduces extreme heat, supports soil health, and creates healthier neighborhoods through planting trees
• Key measures to hit 2030 target:
• Reduce organic waste sent to landfills by
75% below 2014 levels by 2030
(Impact: 3,757 MT CO2e reduced by 2030)
• Achieve SB 1383 procurement requirements by 2030
(Impact: 615 MT CO2e reduced by 2030)
• Expand Belmont’s urban tree canopy by planting 125 trees per year (Impact: 44 MT CO2e reduced by 2030)
Urban Ecosystems
17 • Key City actions
• Review and update (as needed) the City’s waste hauler franchise agreement with Recology to promote alignment with SB 1383 and include a dedicated fee to fund staff oversight of organic waste programs and compliance and support public education on proper sorting and composting practices. • Maintain procurement policies that prioritize the purchase and use of recovered organic waste products, including compost, in accordance with SB 1383 standards. • Plant and maintain 125 trees per year through 2030 within Belmont in parks or other City properties. • Key community actions
• Separate food scraps, yard trimmings, and other organic waste from trash and recycling and place them in the green compost bin for collection.
• Avoid contamination of organic waste by keeping non-compostable items out of the green bin. • Use compost to enrich soil, conserve water, and support healthy plant growth. • Plant drought-tolerant and shade-heavy trees on private property and care for existing trees.
Urban Ecosystems (Cont.)
18 Community Outreach
Project Website and Digital Outreach
Bulletin and Take-away Flyers
2 Community Surveys
2 Community Workshops
3 Community Pop-Ups
Community Partner Outreach
19 Outreach Phase I: Community Priorities
When: Fall 2025
What: Raising awareness; soliciting feedback on community priorities Overarching Themes
• Climate hazards topped the list of concerns, with wildfire as top concern (75%), followed by air quality and smoke (51%) and drought (50%).
• Healthy & resilient buildings generated enthusiasm in both the survey and workshop; residents were eager for financial incentives, clearer step-by-step guidance on home electrification, and opportunities to learn from or share information with others.
• Getting around safely was another theme — nearly half of survey respondents (49%) wanted better infrastructure for biking and walking.
• Food Waste rounded out priorities, with 80% of survey respondents willing to compost and cut waste. 20 Outreach Phase II: Initial Feedback on Measures and Actions When: Winter-Spring 2026
Purpose: Soliciting feedback on draft measures and actions for refinement and prioritization Key Takeaways – Healthy & Resilient Buildings
• Survey respondents showed moderately strong willingness to adopt building decarbonization measures, particularly installing solar panels or battery storage (62%), with rebates or financial incentives as the top motivators (73%).
• Respondents were willing to take varied resilience actions, particularly integrating water retention and conservation landscaping (54%) or installing heat pumps for cooling and air filtration (52%), with clear guidance on what improvements were most effective as the top motivator (75%). • Workshop participants reinforced this, saying broader adoption of home electrification hinged on accessible financing, trusted guidance, and clear cost-benefit information, for both homeowners and renters. 21 Outreach Phase II: Initial Feedback on Measures and Actions Feedback Highlights – Transportation & Mobility
• Survey respondents favored transportation behavior changes with minimal cost or inconvenience, particularly combining errands into a single trip (81%) and choosing businesses they could walk or bike to (52%), with safer sidewalks, crossings, and bike lanes cited as the biggest motivator (67%). • Many respondents were interested in purchasing or leasing an EV (56%), with financial incentives identified as a primary motivator (59%).
• Workshop participants emphasized upfront costs of purchasing an EV remain a major barrier.
Feedback Highlights – Urban Ecosystems & Waste Reduction • Most survey respondents were willing to separate organic waste (84%). • Workshop participants indicated a need for clearer guidance on composting/recycling practices. 22 Outreach Phase II: Overarching Themes
• Cost is a primary barrier. Across all sectors, financial constraints were the biggest obstacle — especially for building upgrades and EV adoption.
• People want simple, practical guidance. Participants wanted clear information on costs, benefits, and next steps.
• Infrastructure gaps are preventing transportation behavior changes. There was solid interest in EVs, but safer, continuous walking and biking infrastructure and convenient public transit remain obstacles. • Hands-on help matters. Many respondents wanted support navigating programs, finding qualified contractors, and coordinating projects.
• Some climate-friendly behaviors are already widespread. Waste reduction practices and certain home upgrades were common, suggesting a foundation to build on. • Mixed perceptions and skepticism. A subset of survey respondents had concerns about cost, feasibility, and effectiveness of actions.
23 • Refining measures & actions
April – Present to Planning Commission and City Council • May – Refine/prioritize measures and actions; final measure quantification & compare against targets
• Drafting Climate Action & Adaptation Plan
• June/July – Draft Plan available to the public
• September – Plan recommendation goes to Planning
Commission, followed by City Council adoption
• Questions?
Next Steps
Belmont.gov/ClimateAction
Thank you!