FAIRFAX TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE Aug 5, 2026
PREPARED FOR Mayor and Town Council
PREPARED BY Bridget Wipfler, Climate Action Coordinator SUBJECT Climate Action Committee 25-26 Annual Report and 26-27 Annual Plan
RECOMMENDATION
Receive the Climate Action Committee 25-26 Annual Report and 26-27 Annual Plan.
BACKGROUND
The Climate Action Committee (“CAC”) was established to implement the Climate Action Plan (CAP), adopted by the Town Council on February 5, 2014. Its mission is to mitigate the production of greenhouse gas and compile existing and potential strategies to address climate change.
Each year, the CAC develops an annual action plan for the coming fiscal year and summary report of the past fiscal year in alignment with the CAP to address town goals. The CAC works closely with staff and the Town Council to monitor and mitigate the production of greenhouse gas emissions by implementing the strategies outlined in the CAP.
DISCUSSION
FY 25-26 Annual Report
The 25-26 CAC Annual Plan was adopted March 18, 2025 to officially get underway on July 1, 2025.
The information below documents progress made toward the implementation of the Annual Action Plan throughout the fiscal year, ending June 30, 2026.
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)
a. Updated flyers-Electrify My Home, CAP at a Glance, Induction Cooking, Heat Pumps-Water Heating & Space Heating/Cooling & Single-Room and Transportation b. Tabled at Good Earth, Town Picnic, Farmers Market and Eco-Fest, engaging with the pubic and encouraging action and support for a multitude of initiatives in the Fairfax Climate Action Plan 2030
c. Organized and/or attended educational events: Sep 6th Ember Stomp; Dec 14th Crafts Faire (with BPAC); March 15th “Fairfax and San Anselmo Electrification Fair;” April 9th Marin Water event. Also promoted and tabled at the Ride & Drive Clean EV & E-Bike Show at Redhill Shopping Center on May 3rd.
d. Supported the promotion of Marin Green Home Tours, RN, RADC, etc. via suggested posts to the Town’s newsletter
e. Recruitment- Bruce Ackerman joined the committee, Chair and Climate Coordinator met with two teachers at AWHS regarding possible climate related projects.
f. Participated in Fairfax Parade 2026 with 2 EVs, bikes and many members of several environmental/climate groups: the Fairfax Climate Action Committee, the San Anselmo Climate Action Commission, 350Marin, Resilient Neighborhoods, Sustainable Marin, etc.
g. Worked with college interns (funded by the non-profit 350Marin), in support of the Fairfax Climate Action Committee and its Annual Action Plan initiatives.
2. Design a community survey to assess CAP strategies and consider holding a local focus group of climate advocates for input (O-2)
a. No action taken
3. Advocate to Town Council for policies, actions and funding that support the rapid transition to a GHG-free community (O-4, O-5)
a. Worked with staff on supporting funding options for Climate & Environment in the next fiscal year, attending Town Council Strategy Retreat, Council meetings and budget hearings.
Transportation:
1. Support the implementation 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. i. Met with Phil Simon, a Corte Madera CAC member about their efforts to engage MFH property owners to install EV charging.
ii. Followed closely the MTC grant-funded reports to further the Fairfax Fleet Electrification Plan, encouraging implementation as soon as possible
2. Host an EV and E-Bike Show in Spring 2026 (T-1)
a. Worked closely with the team at Ride & Drive Clean and with the San Anselmo Climate Action Commission in the planning of the Redhill EV & E-Bike Show
3. Encourage transit and bicycling and promote the CA EBike Rebate (T-2) a. Supported the promotion of active mobility- transit and EBikes, informing the community about the CA E bike rebate program.
b. Supported the creation and work of the BPAC (one of our members also served on this committee) and attended some of their meetings.
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
i. Supported/gave public comment in Oct-Nov for Tier 1, which was eventually passed.
ii. Created a poster informing the public that the Women’s Club is an allelectric building, list all our Town HPWHs; provided it to staff for posting. b. Work with staff to eliminate barriers in the building permit process in an effort to encourage electrification of water and space heating (E-2) i. Encouraged the adoption of Solar App+ to streamline electronic approval of solar systems.
ii. Requested data of a number of various permits (HPWH, HVAC systems, etc.) the Town has processed in this fiscal year; staff unable to provide given time constraints.
c. Encourage home energy audits/assessments and energy disclosures (E-3) i. No progress made.
2. Support the Pavilion Project electrification and micro grid (R-2, R-7) a. Supported the pursuit of grant(s) to repair the roof of the Pavilion and the eventual electrification of the kitchen.
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) a. Limited progress made, new Electrify Your Home flyer aimed at low-income residents.
b. Postponed a pilot for a Heat Pump Water Heater Rebate Program due to financial constraints
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) a. In collaboration with Marin Sanitary Service, Marin Academy students focused on this area at the annual electrification fair.
2. Support collaborative campaigns and actions to promote refuse, recycle, reuse and repair; supporting organizations like Reuse Alliance and Urban Ore (W-2) a. Supported the Repair Fair and the Take Back Day events.
Water Conservation:
1. Work with Marin Water to promote water conservation programs and incentives (C-2) a. Promoted the Youth Video contest of Marin Water, and produced a special educational event at the Fairfax Library.
2. Encourage installation of rainwater catchment barrel on Town property as a model (C-3) a. No progress made.
Sequestration:
1. Support development of a Fairfax Community Garden and work to enhance biodiversity projects (S-1)
a. No progress made
2. Support updating the Fairfax Tree Ordinance and work with San Anselmo on a collaborative Tree and Urban Forest Plan (S-1)
a. Supported the actions of the Climate Coordinator to work closely with the Tree Committee and to move make progress on the updating of the Fairfax Tree ordinance; also encouraged a posting of the minutes of the Tree Committee for public viewing.
3. Encourage climate-friendly materials: low-carbon concrete, permeable surfaces, high albedo (S-4, E-5)
a. Sought information on the Town’s use of low-carbon concrete on municipal projects and if products are available at hardware stores for the general public.
Implementation & Monitoring:
1. Monitor and report on the Town’s progress; create an annual action plan for implementation (I-1)
2. Submitted the 2024-2025 Annual Action Report for presentation to the Town Council in August of 2025
3. Created an annual action plan at the Winter retreat for 2026-2027, finalized April 30, 2026.
4. Began to design a document, “Key Performance Indicators,” and collect data as possible.
FY 26-27 Annual Plan:
Community Outreach & Engagement:
1. Utilize tabling, public events, newsletters, social media, and town website to publicize Fairfax’s Climate Action Plan 2030 initiatives and strategies and the activities of the Climate Action Committee (O-1, O-2)
2. Work to recruit a youth member or volunteer and two additional regular Climate Action Committee members
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. Advocate for more public and private EV chargers and infrastructure at multi-family sites, parking lots/businesses, Town properties, streetlights/curbside, etc. (T-1) a. Launch a Fairfax EV Charging resource webpage by Fall 2026
2. Monitor EV Fleet electrification and encourage EV/bi-directional purchases as soon as possible (T-1)
a. Advocate for 1 bi-directional EV pillar or grant application by 2027 or evaluate feasibility of 1 bi-directional pilot.
3. Promote “alternative commuting,” i.e. transit, bicycling, carpool and bikeshare programs, and all forms of e-mobility to decrease vehicle miles traveled, including annual promotion of CA e-bike rebates, transit discounts, etc. (T-2)
a. Participate in at least 1 community commuting awareness campaign, increase Redwood Bikeshare awareness via EV bike Show and incorporate no idling messaging in community events like Electrification Fair, EV & E-Bike Show and tabling.
4. Support the implementation of the Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee’s 2026 Plan (T-2)
a. Collaborate on community outreach and e-bike safety education.
Built Environment (combines Renewable Energy &Electrification with Energy Efficiency):
1. Educate the community about Zero Nox regulations that begin October 2027/January 2029; encourage a transition to heat pump water heaters (HPWH), including newer models such as 120-volt hybrid options (R-1, E-1).
2. Educate and support low-income homeowners/renters to electrify via induction cooktops, single room heat pumps, plug-in/balcony solar and batteries, and home efficiency measures (R-1).
3. Encourage an increase in residential and commercial solar and battery storage to decrease reliance on the grid; work with MCE to find ways for these battery systems to participate in the VPP and inform citizens of this opportunity.
4. Encourage community climate resilience measures to further prepare for extreme weather events (R-7).
5. Support the Pavilion Electrification and Resilience Hub and a Fairfax microgrid via grant or other funding, and inform the community of this project’s vision and progress (R-2, R-7).
Waste Reduction:
1. Continue to support the implementation of SB 1383, in alignment with biomass data (W-1).
2. Support collaborative campaigns and actions (Race to Zero Waste, MSS) to promote refuse, recycle, reuse, and repair as well as composting excess food waste and minimizing food waste whenever possible (W-1).
Water Conservation:
1. Work with Marin Water to promote incentives and water conservation programs (C-2)
2. Collaborate with any and all Marin municipalities regarding sea level rise initiatives whenever feasible.
Sequestration:
1. Support and create more garden areas/biodiversity on publicly owned properties with community groups such as the People’s Watershed Collective (S-1) Implementation & Monitoring:
2. Create a Key Performance Indicators document for multi-year annual tracking (I-1)
3. Create and present to Council an annual action plan for implementation and an annual action plan report, both in collaboration with the Climate Action Coordinator to monitor the Town’s progress (I-1)
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The CAC hosted a public meeting where community members were invited through the Town newsletter to listen in and give public comment on the CAC’s annual plan.
ATTACHMENTS
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