Environmental Commission Work Plan:
Outcomes for FYs 2024-2026 and
Proposed Update for FY 2026/2027
Encinitas City Council Meeting - August 26, 2026
Environmental Commissioners JP Bruner, Katie Cramer, Mark O’Connor Environmental Commission Duties
• Make recommendations to Council on matters regarding environmental protection, natural resource management, sustainability, and public health • Purview includes:
○ policies & plans for conservation, enhancement, and long-term stewardship of City’s natural resources, native habitat, shoreline, and open space ○ policies & plans related to climate action, decarbonization, renewable energy, waste reduction, pollution prevention, and sustainable materials management ○ policies & plans affecting environmental aspects of mobility and circulation ○ collaborative environmental initiatives with other public agencies, community organizations, and institutions
○ other related matters referred to Commission by City Council Key Outcomes of Work Plan for FYs 2024-2026
• Provided public education and outreach on environmental issues at various events: EcoFest, Cyclovia, Arbor Day, Ocean Knoll Zero Waste Festival. Liaison to Chamber Sustainability Committee.
• Assisted in development of Native Plant Ordinance
• Provided recommendations for draft updated Climate Action Plan and Cost Analysis
• Provided recommendations for increasing the reach of the City’s Zero Waste Program
• Proposed amendments to City’s municipal code to reduce single-use plastics at restaurants (AB 1201)
• Administered annual Environmental Awards Program & collaborated with Arts Commission to have a local artist create awards trophies for 2026 awardees Proposed FY 2026/2027 Work Plan
• Continuation of many of goals and projects included in FY 2024-2026 Work Plan ● New goals/projects:
# Commission Goal/Project
3 Support the protection and enhancement of the City’s native habitat and tree canopy. 5 Support communitywide building decarbonization.
6 Support the implementation of municipal solar and battery projects. 8 Make recommendations to improve organics waste reduction and outreach/education. 14 Support the implementation of the City’s adopted Electric Vehicle Charging Station Master Plan. 16 Expand plastic bag regulations (EMC Chapter 11.26) to include additional business types and bag types.
# Commission Goal/Project EC Members Timeline Fiscal Deliverables Council Focus Area/General Plan Notes TIER 1*
1 Provide environmental education
at public events (Cyclovia,
EcoFest, Arbor Day, etc.)
All Ongoing None Attend and table at public events
CCFA: Leadership/ Stewardship of
Environment
GP: Resource Element
Staff Time: Low
2 Implement the annual
Environmental Awards Program.
Parker,
Switzler, Wick
Dec 2026: Announce
Mar 2027: Judge
May 2027: Award
Low Facilitate the selection of annual awardees
CCFA: Leadership/ Stewardship of
Environment
GP: Resource Mgmt Element
Staff Time: Low
3 Support the protection and
enhancement of the City’s native
habitat and tree canopy.
Cramer, Parker,
O’Connor Ongoing None
1)Explore pathways for developing a Multiple
Species Habitat Conservation Plan
2)Inform the development of a city-wide tree
canopy goal for the City.
CCFA: Leadership/ Stewardship of
Environment
GP: Resource Mgmt Element
Staff Time: Medium
Relates to City’s
Climate Action Plan
(CAP)
4 Review and provide
recommendations for the update
of the City’s Circulation Element.
Switzler,
O'Connor,
Wick
TBD based on
Council direction None Provide recommendations
CCFA: Safe and Efficient Mobility
and Circulation Strengthening and
Adhering to the General Plan
GP: Circulation Element
Staff Time: Low
Relates to CAP
5 Support communitywide building
decarbonization.
Switzler,
Bruner,
Kalamaras
Ongoing None
Provide recommendations on future reach
codes and/or incentive programs for the
community.
CCFA: Leadership/ Stewardship of
Environment, Public Health/ Safety
GP: Resource Mgmt Element
Staff Time: Medium
Relates to CAP
6 Support the implementation of
municipal solar and battery
projects.
Switzler,
Kalamaras,
Bruner
Ongoing None Provide recommendations
CCFA: Effective/Reliable City
Services/Infrastructure, Leadership/
Stewardship of Environment
GP: Resource Mgmt Element
Staff Time: Medium
Relates to CAP
7 Evaluate and recommend
improvements to Sand
Compatibility and Opportunistic
Use Program (SCOUP).
O'Connor,
Bruner,
Kalamaras
Ongoing None Provide recommendations
CCFA: Leadership/ Stewardship of
Environment, Shoreline, and Open
Space; Public Health and Safety
GP: Resource Mgmt Element
Staff Time: Low
Relates to CAP
8 Make recommendations to
improve organics waste reduction
and outreach/education.
Parker,
O'Connor,
Cramer
Ongoing None Evaluate the possibility of a public organic waste bin pilot program
CCFA: Leadership/ Stewardship of
Environment
GP: Resource Mgmt Element
Staff Time: Low
Relates to CAP, state
mandate (SB 1383)
9 Expand smoking regulations (EMC
Chapter 11.08) to include multifamily housing.
O'Connor,
Cramer,
Kalamaras
Ongoing None
1)Conduct research to justify regulation
2)Prepare draft code amendments
3)Make recommendation to Council
CCFA: Public Health and Safety
GP: Resource Mgmt Element Staff Time: High
# Commission Goal/Project EC Members Timeline Fiscal Deliverables Council Focus Area/General Plan Notes 10 Continue to oppose offshore oil
drilling.
Parker,
Bruner,
Cramer
Dependent on
State and federal
legislative action
None Recommend that City Council actively oppose
offshore oil drilling.
CCFA: Leadership/ Stewardship of
Environment, Public Health/ Safety
GP: Resource Mgmt Element
Staff Time: Low
11 Evaluate and recommend
amendments to food service
ware regulations (EMC Chapter
11.27) to reduce plastic pollution.
Cramer,
O'Connor,
Kalamaras
Ongoing None
1)Conduct research to justify regulation
2)Prepare draft recommended code
amendments
3)Make recommendation to Council
CCFA: Leadership/ Stewardship of
Environment
GP: Resource Mgmt Element
Staff Time: High
12 Maintain the City’s annual Bee
City USA Affiliate status and
continue commitments to protect
pollinator species.
Parker,
Switzler,
Kalamaras
Biannual
Committee
Meetings, Spring
public events
Low
1)Serve as the City’s Bee City Committee
2)Provide pollinator education to residents at
public events
CCFA: Leadership/ Stewardship of
Environment
GP: Resource Mgmt Element
Staff Time: Medium
Council directed affiliation
13 Evaluate and recommend
amendments to the City’s
Environmentally Preferrable
Purchasing and Contracting Policy
(PC02).
Wick, Bruner,
Switzler Ongoing None Provide recommendations for preferred products and/or policy changes CCFA: Leadership/ Stewardship of
Environment
GP: Resource Mgmt Element
Staff Time: High
PC02 City Manager
approved, 2010
14 Support the implementation of
the City’s adopted Electric Vehicle
Charging Station Master Plan.
Wick, Bruner,
Kalamaras Ongoing None
1)Seek and solicit private vendors to install
public EV charging at commercial and multifamily developments 2)Make recommendations for the installation
of public EV charging at City facilities and
right-of-way
CCFA: Safe/Efficient Mobility/
Circulation, Leadership/
Stewardship of Environment
GP: Resource Mgmt Element,
Circulation Element
Staff Time: Low
Relates to CAP
TIER 2*
15 Monitor the safe
decommissioning of San Onofre
Nuclear Generating Station.
O'Connor,
Wick,
Kalamaras
Ongoing None Recommend that City Council author letters of support/opposition, as needed.
CCFA: Leadership/ Stewardship of
Environment, Public Health/ Safety
GP: Resource Mgmt Element
Staff Time: Low
16 Expand plastic bag regulations
(EMC Chapter 11.26) to include
add’l business types, bag types.
Cramer,
O'Connor Ongoing None
1)Conduct research to justify regulation
2)Prepare draft code amendments
3)Make recommendation to Council
CCFA: Leadership/ Stewardship of
Environment
GP: Resource Mgmt Element
Staff Time: High
17 Support the adoption,
implementation, and
enforcement of a ban on gaspowered landscape equipment.
Cramer,
Parker,
Kalamaras
Ongoing None
1) Conduct research to justify regulation
2) Prepare draft code amendments
3) Make recommendation to Council
CCFA: Leadership/ Stewardship of
Environment, Public Health/ Safety
GP: Resource Mgmt Element
Staff Time: High
Relates to CAP
* To balance staff time, projects in Tier 2 may commence after projects requiring a high level of staff time in Tier 1 are complete.