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RESOLUTION NO. 2026-XX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA,
CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE CLIMATE ACTION AND ADAPTATION PLAN (PCTY-25-0009)
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA FINDS AND DECLARES AS FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, the California Legislature has established statewide greenhouse gas reduction and climate resilience goals through Assembly Bill 32 (California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006), Senate Bill 375 (Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008), and Assembly Bill 1279 (California Climate Crisis Act of 2022), which collectively support reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, integrated land use and transportation planning, and the State's goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045; WHEREAS, Government Code Section 65302(g)(4), as amended by Senate Bill 379 (2015), requires cities and counties to address climate adaptation and resilience in their General Plan Safety Elements or through incorporation by reference of a climate adaptation plan or document; and
WHEREAS, the Costa Mesa Climate Action and Adaptation Plan includes a greenhouse gas emissions inventory, a climate vulnerability assessment, adaptation goals and strategies, and an implementation program with actions intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen community resilience, and its adaptationrelated findings and strategies support the concurrent update of the City's General Plan Safety Element; and
WHEREAS, in September 2021 the City Council adopted a specific goal to “Advance Environmental Sustainability and Climate Resiliency”; and WHEREAS, in August 2023 the City issued a Request for Proposals from qualified consultants to provide consulting services for the development and approval of the City’s first Climate Action & Adaptation Plan (CAAP); RFP 24-01 was released on August 23, 2023, proposals were due on September 27, 2023, and, on October 15, 2024, the City Council approved a services agreement with Dudek for consulting services to develop the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan; and
ATTACHMENT 1
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WHEREAS, on April 26, 2026, through May 26, 2026, the draft Climate Action and Adaptation Plan policies were made available for public review and comment; and WHEREAS, on April 30, 2026, the city held a public open house, presented information regarding the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, and solicited public comments and feedback; and
WHEREAS, on July 20, 2026, through August 4, 2026, the draft Climate Action and Adaptation Plan was made available for public review and comment; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a study session at their regular meeting of July 27, 2026, where they received a presentation for the introduction of the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan and after public comment the Planning Commission received and filed the report and provided feedback on the document; and WHEREAS, a duly noticed public hearing was held by the Planning Commission on August 10, 2026, with all persons having the opportunity to speak for and against the proposals; and
WHEREAS, a duly noticed public hearing was held by the City Council on September 15, 2026, where the City Council opened the public hearing, and after no persons spoke, closed the public hearing, and continued the item to a date certain, the regularly scheduled City Council meeting of October 20, 2026; and WHEREAS, on October 20, 2026, a public hearing was held by the City Council, with all persons having the opportunity to speak for and against the proposal; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the state CEQA Guidelines, the proposed Climate Action and Adaptation Plan is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption), as it can be seen with certainty that adoption of the policy document will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable significant effect on the environment. The proposed document establishes goals, policies, and implementation strategies related to hazard mitigation, climate adaptation, greenhouse gas reduction, emergency preparedness, and community resilience, but does not authorize or approve any specific development or physical improvements. In addition, the CAAP is also categorically exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15307 (Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of Natural Resources) and Section 15308 (Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Resolution No. 2026-XX Page 3 of 5
Environment) as they are regulatory actions intended to protect and enhance the environment and natural resources through climate action, hazard mitigation, sustainability, and resilience planning. Furthermore, none of the exceptions to the categorical exemptions set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply to the proposed actions, as the adoption of these planning and policy documents will not result in cumulative environmental impacts, impacts to scenic highways, hazardous waste sites, historical resources, or any unusual circumstances that could cause a significant effect on the environment. Any future projects or physical improvements resulting from implementation of these plans will be subject to separate environmental review, as required by CEQA.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Costa Mesa City Council, in its independent judgment and after fully considering all testimony and evidence presented at the public hearing hereby finds and approves as follows:
SECTION 1: The proposed Climate Action and Adaptation Plan is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3), 15307, and 15308.
SECTION 2: The Climate Action and Adaptation Plan included within Exhibit A is approved.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Costa Mesa City Council does hereby find and determine that adoption of this Resolution is expressly predicated upon the activity as described in the staff report, and compliance of all applicable federal, state, and local laws.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if any section, division, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this resolution, or the document in the record in support of this resolution, are for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions.
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PASSED AND ADOPTED this ________ day of October, 2026.
John Stephens, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
________________________ _____________________________
Brenda Green, City Clerk Kimberly Hall Barlow, City Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss
CITY OF COSTA MESA )
I, BRENDA GREEN, City Clerk of the City of Costa Mesa, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the above and foregoing is the original of Resolution No. 2026-xx and was duly passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa at a regular meeting held on the ___day of _____, 2026, by the following roll call vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereby set my hand and affixed the seal of the City of Costa Mesa this ___day of _____, 2026.
___________________________
Brenda Green, City Clerk
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EXHIBIT A