1 2
5 9
Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 2.C
Meeting Date: January 28, 2026
From: John A. Corella, Director of Public Works
Title: Regional Climate Action Plan Update and Cathedral City Next Steps RECOMMENDATION:
For the City Council to receive a presentation providing an overview of the Regional Comprehensive Climate Action Plan document and provide direction to staff to begin the process of updating Cathedral City’s Climate Action Plan utilizing applicable regional data and strategies.
BACKGROUND:
In 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $1 million planning grant to develop a regional climate action plan for the San Bernardino–Riverside–Ontario metropolitan area. The grant was administered and submitted by the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) as the regional lead agency, and the project was led by regional agencies, including CVAG, in coordination with participating cities across the region, including Cathedral City.
The grant funded two key planning documents:
1.Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) – focused on near-term, ready-to-implement actions. The PCAP was prepared and submitted by CVAG on behalf of the region to satisfy federal grant requirements and identify priority actions eligible for near-term implementation.
2.Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP) – a longer-term planning document that includes:
• Greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories.
• Emissions forecasts.
• Reduction targets aligned with state law.
• A menu of potential reduction strategies.
1 2
5 9
The CCAP was developed collaboratively with cities across the region, including Cathedral City, and incorporates local data, growth projections, and community input. Cathedral City provided data and participated in the regional planning process but retains full discretion over whether and how the information is used locally.
Important clarification: Participation in the regional planning effort does not require Cathedral City to adopt CCAP, implement any specific measures, or commit funding. Any local actions would require separate City Council consideration and approval.
DISCUSSION:
WHAT THE REGIONAL PLAN TELLS US ABOUT CATHEDRAL CITY
The Regional Comprehensive Climate Action Plan includes a detailed greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory and emissions forecast specific to Cathedral City, based on local population, housing, employment, and land use data.
Current Emissions Profile (2023 Baseline)
The analysis shows that Cathedral City’s greenhouse gas emissions are primarily driven by:
•On-road transportation, which accounts for nearly half of total community-wide emissions. This includes both light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles. •Building energy use, including residential and commercial electricity and natural gas consumption.
•Off-road equipment, such as construction and landscaping equipment, which represents a smaller but notable share of emissions.
Together, these sectors represent the majority of the City’s emissions and indicate where future reduction strategies are most likely to have the greatest impact.
Growth and Future Emissions
The regional plan also accounts for expected growth in Cathedral City:
• Population is projected to increase modestly by 2030 and more significantly by 2045. • Household and employment growth are expected to outpace population growth, which has implications for energy use, transportation demand, and infrastructure needs.
Without action, greenhouse gas emissions are projected to increase over time as the city grows.
Reduction Targets and Performance
Consistent with State law, Cathedral City has a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030, measured on a service population basis (population plus employment). The regional analysis indicates that:
• With the combination of existing state programs and locally selected measures, Cathedral City is on track to meet its 2030 reduction target. 1 2
5 9
• Transportation, building energy, and solid waste strategies provide the greatest reduction potential.
• Continued progress beyond 2030 will require additional state, regional, and local efforts to align with California’s long-term goal of carbon neutrality by 2045.
How This Information Helps the City
This analysis provides Cathedral City with:
• A clear baseline for measuring progress.
• An understanding of which sectors matter most.
• Data that can inform future policy, infrastructure, and funding decisions.
Using this information to update the City’s Climate Action Plan allows Cathedral City to plan for growth while managing emissions in a way that supports air quality, public health, and long-term cost efficiency.
WHY THIS MATTERS TO CATHEDRAL CITY
Updating the City’s Climate Action Plan is important for several reasons:
1.Regulatory Alignment: California law requires cities to plan for greenhouse gas reductions. An updated CAP helps demonstrate compliance with state climate goals and supports land use and environmental review decisions.
2.Grant Eligibility: Many state and utility funding programs require an adopted or updated CAP to qualify for:
a. Infrastructure funding.
b. Energy efficiency programs.
c. Fleet electrification and EV charging.
d. Sustainability and resilience projects.
3.Local Control: Updating the City’s CAP allows Cathedral City to:
a. Choose strategies that make sense locally.
b. Align climate goals with existing priorities such as public health, air quality, and cost savings.
c. Avoid a one-size-fits-all approach.
4.Use of Existing Work: The regional CCAP provides technical analysis at no cost to the city, reducing the time and expense of starting from scratch.
Collectively, the regional analysis offers Cathedral City a set of no-cost, data-driven tools 1 2
5 9
that can support a future update to the City’s Climate Action Plan.
CATHEDRAL CITY’S RECOMMENDED NEXT STEP
Staff recommends that Cathedral City:
• Use the regional CCAP data as a technical foundation. • Update the City’s local Climate Action Plan.
• Tailor reduction measures to reflect City priorities, feasibility, and funding opportunities.
This approach allows the City to benefit from the regional effort while maintaining full local decision-making authority.
WHAT THIS ITEM DOES NOT DO
For clarity, this Study Session:
• Does not commit the city to specific projects.
• Does not require adoption of the regional plan.
• Does not require immediate funding decisions.
Those discussions would occur later, as part of a separate CAP update process brought to Council for consideration.
NEXT STEPS
If Council is supportive of this direction, staff would return at a later date with:
• A proposed scope and timeline for updating Cathedral City’s CAP. • Cost estimates and potential funding sources.
• Opportunities for community input.
• An outline of how the Climate Action Plan update could advance Strategic Plan Action Item B-1 by incorporating an Electric Vehicle Transition Plan that aligns with upcoming state mandates, considers publicly accessible charging infrastructure, and reflects coordination with CVAG and other Coachella Valley cities.
Any proposed updates would be brought back to City Council for review and approval.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with receiving this information. The regional planning work was funded through a federal EPA grant.
1 2
5 9
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
GOAL B - COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
Action Item: B-1
Develop an Electric Vehicle transition plan to comply with upcoming state mandates and include consideration of providing publicly accessible charging stations.
Work with CVAG and other Coachella Valley Cities to develop a Climate Action Plan that includes an Electric Vehicle Transition Plan as a key component.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. CVAG Staff Report (November 13, 2025) and Regional CAP