FAIRFAX TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM #3.h
MEETING DATE September 3, 2025
PREPARED FOR Mayor and Town Council
PREPARED BY Bridget Wipfler, Climate Action Coordinator SUBJECT Climate Action Committee 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan
RECOMMENDATION
Receive the Climate Action Committee’s 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan.
BACKGROUND
The Climate Action Committee (CAC) is a volunteer advisory group created by the Town Council to advise and help Fairfax carry out its Climate Action Plan (CAP). The CAP was officially adopted by the Council on February 5, 2014, and outlines Fairfax’s goals and strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for the impacts of climate change.
The role of the CAC is to advise the Town, support Town staff, and recommend actions to ensure that Fairfax makes steady progress on the goals in the Climate Action Plan. Every year, the CAC creates a new Annual Action Plan that identifies priority projects for the upcoming fiscal year. These projects are developed to align with the CAP’s strategies and are based on what is achievable with current resources, volunteer capacity, and funding.
DISCUSSION
This staff report presents the CAC’s fiscal year 2025–2026 Annual Action Plan. The plan focuses on practical, high-impact actions the Town can take over the next year to reduce emissions, improve environmental sustainability, and strengthen community resilience. The plan is outlined below with corresponding CAP action items (i.e. O-1, O-2). The CAC is planning to focus on the following portions of the CAP. The CAC seeks the Council’s concurrence on its priorities on which to focus.
Community Outreach & Engagement:
1. Utilize tabling, public events, newsletters, social media, town and County websites to publicize CAC activities and strategies (O-1, O-2)
2. Design a community survey to assess CAP strategies and consider holding a local focus group of climate advocates for input (O-2)
3. Advocate to Town Council for policies, actions and funding that support the rapid transition to a GHG-free community (O-4, O-5)
Transportation:
1. Support the implementation of the EV Acceleration Strategy Plan, once adopted by Town Council (T-1)
a. Increase public and private EV chargers and infrastructure at: multi-family sites, parking lots/businesses, Town properties, streetlights/curbside, etc.
2. Host an EV and E-Bike Show in Spring 2026 (T-1)
3. Encourage transit and bicycling and promote the CA EBike Rebate (T-2) Built Environment (combines Renewable Energy & Electrification with Energy Efficiency):
1. Support the implementation of the Marin Building Electrification Roadmap (R-1, E-1) a. Support adoption of new Green Building reach codes in November 2025, if applicable b. Work with staff to eliminate barriers in the building permit process to encourage electrification of water and space heating (E-2)
c. Encourage home energy audits/assessments and energy disclosures (E-3)
2. Support the Pavilion Project electrification and micro grid (R-2, R-7)
3. Support low-income homeowners/renters to electrify via induction cooktops, single room heat pumps, and home efficiency; explore a pilot for a Heat Pump Water Heater Rebate Program for low/very low residents administered by the Climate Action Coordinator (R-1) Waste Reduction:
1. Work with Zero Waste Marin and Marin Sanitary Service to encourage minimizing food waste in general and composting excess food waste (W-1)
2. Support collaborative campaigns and actions to promote refuse, recycle, reuse and repair; supporting organizations like Reuse Alliance and Urban Ore (W-2) Water Conservation:
1. Work with Marin Water to promote water conservation programs and incentives (C-2)
2. Encourage installation of rainwater catchment barrel on Town property as a model (C-3) Sequestration:
1. Support the development of a Fairfax Community Garden and work to enhance biodiversity projects (S-1)
2. Support updating the Fairfax Tree Ordinance and work with San Anselmo on a collaborative Tree and Urban Forest Plan (S-1)
3. Encourage climate-friendly materials: low-carbon concrete, permeable surfaces, high albedo (S-4, E-5)
Implementation & Monitoring:
1. Monitor and report on the Town’s progress; create an annual action plan for implementation (I-1)
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
This report is consistent with the following measures of the adopted General Plan:
1. Objective CON-1.1.1.1: Establish a town committee responsible for implementing a CAP.
CEQA AND CLIMATE ACTION PLAN CONSISTENCY
The Council’s acceptance of the CAC’s Annual Plan is not a “project” under the California Environmental Quality Act, because it does not involve an activity which has the potential to cause a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment (Cal. Pub. Res. Code § 21065). This report is consistent with the following measures of the adopted CAP:
1. I-1: Annual Monitoring. Create an annual action plan for implementation
FISCAL IMPACT
The CAC is a resident volunteer group. Climate Action Coordinator, Bridget Wipfler devotes approximately five (5) staff hours monthly to supporting CAC meetings.