CITY OF PACIFICA
COUNCIL AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
5/27/2025
1 SUBJECT:
Resolution to Adopt the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan
RECOMMENDED ACTION
A. Direct that the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan be renamed the Climate Action and Resilience Plan;
B. Find the adoption of the Climate Action Plan categorically exempt from California Environmental Quality Act; and
C. Adopt a resolution approving the May 21, 2025 Draft Plan under its new title, the Climate Action and Resilience Plan.
STAFF CONTACT
Elizabeth Brooks, Management Analyst II
[email protected]
Brittany Hernandez, Program Manager
[email protected]
Samantha Updegrave, Community Development Director
[email protected]
BACKGROUND
Pacifica adopted its first Climate Action Plan in July 2014, establishing a framework to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across key sectors, including energy, transportation, solid waste, and water. In recognition of evolving climate science, policy developments, and best practices, the City Council committed to updating the 2014 Plan and, in 2023, established the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) Task Force through Resolution No. 50-2023. The Task Force was created as a limited-term advisory body charged with developing and drafting an updated climate plan, now titled the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. Members of the CAAP Task Force were appointed on July 10, 2023, and began convening in September 2023.
In accordance with its charter, the Task Force was responsible for defining the scope of the updated Plan; analyzing the City’s GHG inventory and developing a forecast of future emissions; establishing measurable targets and actionable goals for emissions reduction and climate adaptation; formulating strategies and implementation pathways to meet those goals; and preparing a complete draft Plan with recommended reporting requirements for City Council consideration and adoption.
To advance its work, the CAAP Task Force established focused subcommittees that met regularly to address specific aspects of the Plan, developing implementation strategies informed Pacifica City Council 2
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by best practices, state regulations, scientific research, and Pacifica’s unique environmental and geographic context. Since September 2023, the full Task Force has met monthly as a public body, with subcommittees working in parallel to draft a CAAP that reflects regional standards, aligns with current state policies, and integrates community input. To remain informed by the latest developments in climate policy and implementation, the Task Force also appointed liaisons to participate in key regional and statewide climate networks, including the San Mateo County Regionally Integrated Climate Action Planning Suite (RICAPS), the California Climate and Energy Collaborative’s Local Energy Resources Network (LERN), and ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability USA. These liaisons shared regular updates with the Task Force, providing access to forecasting tools, legislative and regulatory updates, funding opportunities, and implementation strategies. This approach ensured that the Plan is grounded in the most up-to-date climate science and aligned with current policy frameworks at all levels of government.
Through a combination of public meetings, surveys, and targeted engagement efforts, the CAAP Task Force has worked to ensure that the Plan is both ambitious in its climate goals and grounded in practical implementation strategies. Committed to reflecting the diverse perspectives and environmental concerns of Pacifica residents, the Task Force conducted broad community engagement efforts, including a citywide survey, targeted focus groups, and interactive outreach at local events. These efforts enabled the Task Force to gather meaningful input from a wide range of voices, helping shape a Plan that reflects the community’s priorities and values. Throughout the process, the Task Force received logistical and technical support from City staff and consultants that helped ensure the Task Force had the structure, data, and capacity to develop a technically sound and community-informed CAAP ready for Council consideration.
The public review draft of the CAAP was released on February 19, 2025. The public comment period remained open through March 16, 2025. During this time, the community was invited to review the draft plan and submit feedback. Comments were collected via an online form and email, and the City promoted the public review period through multiple communication channels including social media, e-newsletters, the City website, and outreach through community partners.
In addition to the public review period, the City Council held a joint study session with the CAAP Task Force on February 24, 2025. During this session, Councilmembers provided detailed feedback to strengthen the Plan’s responsiveness to Pacifica’s unique environmental conditions, infrastructure needs, and community values. Council input focused on refining climate adaptation goals, clarifying measurable outcomes, strengthening support for communities with fewer resources to prepare for climate impacts, and ensuring the Plan reflects a balanced mix of mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Following the close of the public comment period, the CAAP Task Force reviewed and evaluated all feedback received-both from the public and from Councilmembers. Incorporating this feedback, the Task Force prepared revisions to the draft, working collaboratively with City staff and consultants to make necessary updates, clarify implementation pathways, and ensure alignment with the City’s goals and adopted policy documents.
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The revised and final draft of the CAAP (Attachment A - Draft CAAP), dated May 21, 2025, incorporates these revisions and is now presented to the City Council for consideration of adoption. The final draft represents the culmination of nearly two years of intensive research, collaboration, and community dialogue. If adopted, the CAAP will serve as Pacifica’s roadmap for reducing GHG emissions and increasing climate resilience through 2030 and beyond.
Next Steps
With Council now considering adoption of the CAAP, the City is positioned to transition from plan development to implementation. At the April 14, 2025 City Council meeting, Council directed that the CAAP Task Force continue in a reconstituted form as a working group, with a focus on playing an active, hands-on role in supporting implementation as the Plan moves forward.
Following adoption of the CAAP, the next step will be for staff and the Task Force to return to Council with a proposed scope, revised charter, and initial work plan for this next phase of its work. This report is anticipated to be brought to Council no later than August 2025. The revised scope is expected to reflect a shift in focus from plan development to implementation of CAAP actions, while maintaining the Task Force’s collaborative and action-oriented structure.
Pending Council direction, staff anticipates opening recruitment for new Task Force members in early fall, with appointments to follow shortly thereafter. The first meeting of the reconstituted Task Force would occur soon after appointments are finalized, allowing the group to begin implementation support activities before the end of the calendar year.
DISCUSSION
At the February 24, 2025 Joint Study Session, the City Council provided detailed feedback on the Draft CAAP. Concurrently, the City opened a public comment period from February 19 through March 16, 2025, inviting residents and stakeholders to review the draft and share input.
After the comment period closed, the CAAP Task Force-working in collaboration with City staff and consultants-reviewed all Council and public input and prepared a revised draft reflecting updates to implementation strategies, action-level detail, and supporting guidance-clarifying the Plan’s scope while integrating a range of equity, resilience, and feasibility considerations raised through the engagement process.
The Final Draft reflects substantial updates based on Council and public feedback, resulting in a clearer, more locally grounded, and implementation-focused plan. Key refinements include strengthened emphasis on urban forestry, green infrastructure, emergency preparedness, and sustainable transportation. The Plan incorporates expanded actions related to resilience hubs, repair and reuse programs, coastal protection, and stormwater management, while elevating equity and affordability considerations across all sectors.
Updates to the Implementation Chapter improve clarity around reporting, timelines, and accountability, with new equity metrics and engagement pathways for youth and community partners.
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To support Council review, the matrix below summarizes how Council and public feedback is addressed in the Final Draft.
FEEDBACK
THEME
FEEDBACK SUMMARY WHERE & HOW FEEDBACK WAS
ADDRESSED
Urban Forestry
and Hillside
Resilience
Expand tree canopy and
replace hillside tree planting
language with 'native
stabilizing vegetation.'
Action R1.3
and R2.8
Tree canopy targets clarified;
hillside vegetation language
revised to emphasize slopestabilizing native plants.
Green
Infrastructure and
Greywater Reuse
Support permeable
surfaces, cool roofs, and
greywater reuse.
Action T2.2
and E3.1
Promotes cool roofs, permeable
surfaces; greywater education and
training expanded in residential
actions.
Emergency
Preparedness and
CERT Support
Highlight emergency
partnerships and training
resources.
Action R4.1 Expanded language to reference
Thrive RISE, CERT, and disaster
resilience programs.
Resilience Hubs Include plans for resilience
hubs and backup power.
Action R1.2 Establishes resilience hub
planning criteria and integration
with emergency services.
EV Charging
Infrastructure
Set measurable EV charger
targets and improve
equitable access.
Action T3.3
and T4.2
508 charger target added; equity
and access strategies included.
Bidirectional
Charging
Explore vehicle-to-grid and
bidirectional infrastructure.
Action T3.5 New action added to study
bidirectional charging as resilience
feature.
Transportation
Demand
Management
Plan for school shuttles,
BART connections, and
TDM strategies.
Action T1.1 New comprehensive TDM action
added; supports school transit,
BART shuttle, active transport.
E-Bike and Bicycle
Charging
Include e-bike charging in
EV planning.
Action T1.2
(referenced in
T3.3)
Updated to include bike and ebike charging in planning considerations.
Repair and Reuse
Economy
Support reuse centers,
deconstruction, and
community programs.
Actions F2.3
and F2.5
New actions supporting
reuse/repair hubs and community
partnerships like Shop Pacifica.
Youth Participation Uplift student voices and
create space for youth
involvement.
Implementation
Chapter
Youth-authored content included;
future engagement pathways
identified.
Plan Alignment
with Existing
Policy
Cross-reference all City
documents and plans.
Action tables
throughout
Every action table now crossreferences the General Plan, Housing Element, Local Coastal
Plan, Sharp Park Specific Plan,
and/or Bicycle and Pedestrian
Plan.
Stormwater and
Ocean Pollution
Include beach and runoff
pollution concerns.
Action E4.3 New action added on stormwater
management and ocean health.
Coastal Resilience Include Coastal Resilience
Opportunity Study and
erosion planning.
Action R2.17 New action added to reflect
Coastal Resilience Study and
planning.
Transit Coordinate with SamTrans Action T1.1 Explicit language added regarding Pacifica City Council 5
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Coordination and adjust service. SamTrans coordination.
Electrification
Affordability
Ensure home upgrades are
accessible and equitable.
Actions E1.6,
E1.7,
Implementation
Chapter
Affordability emphasized,
financing and equity strategies
expanded.
Implementation
and Monitoring
Clarify metrics, timelines,
and transparency tools.
Implementation
Chapter
Annual reporting, equity metrics,
and mid-cycle updates
incorporated.
Table 1. Summary of Feedback Incorporated into the Final Draft For Council Consideration
The Draft CAAP and its appendices, now before Council for adoption (Attachment A - Draft CAAP and Attachment B - Appendices of the Draft CAAP), reflects significant progress in incorporating Council and public feedback into a unified, actionable climate strategy for Pacifica.
In addition, there is one outstanding recommendation requiring Council direction.
After reviewing the document, the consultant included in their recommendations that the document be renamed to more accurately reflect the scope of the plan, which supports resilience and mitigation but does not provide a full hazard or vulnerability assessment. Based on this recommendation, the CAAP Task Force voted at its May 20, 2025 meeting to recommend renaming the document from the “Climate Action and Adaptation Plan” to the “Climate Action and Resilience Plan”. While the current plan includes a range of actions that support climate adaptation-such as nature-based solutions, resilience hubs, and wildfire mitigation-it does not meet the full scope of what is typically included in a standalone climate adaptation plan. Comprehensive adaptation planning generally involves a more in-depth assessment of local climate hazards, community-specific vulnerability analyses, and detailed strategies for long-term adaptive capacity building.
Renaming the plan to the Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP) more accurately reflects its current scope, which is focused on mitigation, community-level resilience strategies, and implementation-ready actions. The revised title also leaves appropriate space for a future, more targeted planning effort focused specifically on in-depth climate adaptation, if the City chooses to pursue one.
This recommendation is intended to clarify the plan’s purpose for both internal use and external audiences, including funding partners, regional agencies, and the public. Should the Council support the Task Force’s recommendation, staff will update the title and references throughout the final version of the plan and reflect the updated title in all future references and materials.
California Environmental Quality Act
The adoption of the CAAP is categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as specified in the CEQA Guidelines Section 15308 (Class 8) - Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment. CAAP adoption is an action taken by a regulatory agency, as authorized by state or local ordinance, to ensure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment, and does not include construction activities and relaxation of standards allowing for environmental degradation. No exceptions to Pacifica City Council 6
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the exemption exist pursuant to section 15300.2 of the CEQA guidelines.
Recommended Actions for Council Consideration
Staff recommends that Council take action on the following three items related to finalizing the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan:
A. Approve the CAAP Task Force’s recommendation to rename the plan to the Climate Action and Resilience Plan; and
B. Find the adoption of the Climate Action Plan categorically exempt from California Environmental Quality Act; and
C. Adopt the May 21, 2025 version of the plan under its new name, the Climate Action and Resilience Plan.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Council may choose to adopt the Draft Climate Action and Adaptation Plan as revised without approving the proposed name change, or approve the name change but request additional revisions to the draft plan prior to adoption. If additional revisions are requested, staff and the Task Force would incorporate the changes and return with an updated draft for future Council consideration.
RELATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND WORK PLAN
The work of the CAAP Task Force to draft an update to the City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan is a strategy for:
• Goal #4: Pursue Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation. • Goal #5: Broaden public communications and collaboration. These goals align with the City Council’s Strategic Plan 2023 to 2030.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with adoption of the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP). However, continued support for CAAP implementation will require staffing resources. The City anticipates requesting budget to fund a part-time Program Manager position at approximately $50,000 for the fiscal year, host a CivicSpark Fellow (if awarded) at an estimated cost of $35,000, and allocate a portion of an existing full-time employee to oversee implementation efforts and coordinate Task Force activities.
While no specific implementation actions require immediate funding at this time, some may carry future costs. Staff will continue to pursue grants and other external funding opportunities to support CAAP implementation and will prioritize these sources as the primary strategy for funding specific actions.
ORIGINATED BY:
Community Development Department
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ATTACHMENT LIST:
Draft CAAP (PDF)
Appendices of the Draft CAAP (PDF)
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RESOLUTION NO. _______
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PACIFICA ADOPTING THE
UPDATED CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, NOW TITLED CLIMATE ACTION AND RESILIENCE
PLAN, AND FINIDNG ADOPTION OF THE PLAN EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA)
WHEREAS, the City of Pacifica adopted its first Climate Action Plan in 2014, establishing a framework to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and promote sustainable community development; and
WHEREAS, in May 2023, the City Council established the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) Task Force as a limited-term advisory body to lead the development of an updated climate action plan; and
WHEREAS, the CAAP Task Force, in collaboration with City staff and technical consultants, developed a revised draft climate plan informed by current best practices, evolving state and regional policies, and Pacifica’s unique environmental conditions; and WHEREAS, the Task Force conducted public engagement activities and presented a draft plan to the City Council at a Joint Study Session on February 24, 2025; and WHEREAS, the CAAP Task Force reviewed all Council and public comments and incorporated revisions to the plan to improve clarity, strengthen alignment with adopted City policies, and better reflect community priorities; and
WHEREAS, the final version of the plan reflects the outcome of this collaborative process and outlines a strategic path forward for reducing GHG emissions, increasing resilience, and supporting sustainable community development; and WHEREAS, the City Council has directed that the final adopted plan be referred to as the Climate Action and Resilience Plan, to more accurately reflect the scope and intent of the document.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Pacifica as follows:
1. The above recitals are true and correct and material to this Resolution.
2. The City Council hereby adopts the Climate Action and Resilience Plan, as revised and dated May 21, 2025, as the City’s official climate action plan. The City Council further authorizes staff to make any necessary formatting, typographical, or non-substantive edits to the final document prior to publication.
• • • • •
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Pacifica, California, held on the 27th day of May 2025, by the following vote:
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AYES, Councilmembers:
NOES, Councilmembers:
ABSENT, Councilmembers:
ABSTAIN, Councilmembers:
_________________________
Sue Beckmeyer, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________ _________________________
Sarah Coffey, City Clerk Michelle Kenyon, City Attorney