CITY OF PACIFICA
COUNCIL AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
7/14/2025
1 SUBJECT:
Resolution to Adopt the Climate Action and Resilience Plan (Continued from May 27, 2025)
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Adopt a Resolution finding adoption of the Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP) categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15306 (“Information Collection”) and 15308 (“Analysis by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment”), and approving the CARP and all Appendices.
STAFF CONTACT
Elizabeth Brooks, Management Analyst II
[email protected]
Brittany Hernandez, Program Manager
[email protected]
Samantha Updegrave, Community Development Director
[email protected]
BACKGROUND/ DISCUSSION
Since 2023, the Task Force has been developing an updated climate plan for Pacifica, conducting extensive community outreach and technical analysis to shape the Draft Plan. This work included a joint study session with the City Council and Task Force on February 24, 2025, where Councilmembers provided detailed feedback to strengthen the Plan’s goals and strategies. Additional guidance was provided during the City Council’s discussion of the 2023- 2030 Strategic Plan on April 14, and again on May 27, 2025, when the Task Force presented the Draft Plan to the City Council for consideration and adoption. At the May 27 meeting, Council emphasized the importance of Council-directed strategic planning, legal and operational feasibility, inclusivity, and practical implementation pathways. They also supported modifying the Plan’s name to the Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP). The Task Force and City staff have incorporated this feedback into the July 2025 revised Draft CARP and its appendices, which are now presented to the City Council for final consideration and adoption.
For a detailed discussion of the background of the Draft CARP, including the work of the Task Force and direction provided by the City Council in 2025, please see the following:
· Joint Study Session of the City Council and Task Force meeting agenda, February 24, 2025
<https://pacificacityca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1702> · City Council meeting minutes, April 14, 2025 (direction provided during discussion of the City of Pacifica 2023 to 2030 Strategic Plan Mission, Vision, Values, Goals and Strategies)
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<https://pacificacityca.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=15&ID=2483&Inline=Tru e>
· City Council meeting agenda, May 27, 2025
<https://pacificacityca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1680> At the May 27, 2025 meeting, City Council considered adoption of the Draft Plan. While Council was broadly supportive of the Plan’s overall framework and proposed actions, concerns were raised regarding implementation expectations and the binding nature of certain Plan language (e.g., use of “shall” versus “will”). Councilmembers discussed the importance of balancing ambitious climate goals with the City’s current financial, staffing, and infrastructure constraints, as well as potential changes in State law. The discussion centered on whether some of the Plan’s language created unrealistic legal or operational obligations and whether clarifying statements should be added to frame the Plan as an advisory policy document that will inform City Council’s annual strategic and budget planning and remain subject to feasibility review. In particular, staff noted that certain proposed actions related to Reach Codes and Zero NOx requirements may not be legally feasible under current State law and regulations, and recommended retaining these actions subject to future legal review or Council direction to remove them.
Following deliberation, the City Council directed staff to revise specific Plan language to clarify its role as a guiding document rather than a legally binding mandate; update text to reflect the current status of the Local Coastal Land Use Plan (LCLUP); adjust measures that overlap with or should be repositioned to support the LCLUP; and modify several other proposed actions throughout the Plan. The item was continued to a future meeting to allow the Task Force and City staff time to revise the Draft Plan consistent with Council’s direction.
Summary of Revisions to the Draft CARP
To support Council review of the revised Draft CARP, Table 1 below shows the changes proposed by staff and the Task Force to incorporate Council’s feedback. The table is followed by a list of general text revisions made throughout the document, also in response to Council feedback, outside of the Action Tables.
During preparation of the revised Draft CARP, City staff and the Task Force identified two proposed actions where their recommendations differ. For Actions R2.10 (cool roof standards for new and reroofing projects) and R2.11 (development limitations in landslide-prone areas), staff recommends revising the language to ‘consider adoption’ to allow for additional feasibility, legal, and policy review, while the Task Force recommends retaining the original ‘adopt regulations’ language. These differences are noted in Table 2 below for Council’s consideration.
The technical analysis for the GHG calculations, as provided in Appendix F, Pacifica Substantial Evidence Report, was completed in May 2025, prior to the Council-directed changes. The calculations are to be revised annually, as feasible, and the next update will reflect the final adopted Plan as well as applicable progress on actions.
Some proposed actions related to Reach Codes and Zero NOx requirements (E1.5-E1.7) may not be legally feasible under current State and Federal law. Council may choose to amend the CARP to remove these actions at this time, or retain them subject to future legal review.
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Table 1: Action Table Revisions
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General Text and Formatting Revisions
In addition to the changes summarized above, several clarifications, formatting adjustments, and narrative improvements were made throughout the Draft CARP:
· Introduction updated to provide context for the Plan’s name change (p. 6) · Disclaimer language added to:
o Summary (p. 8)
o How to Read the “Action Tables” section (p. 26)
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o Implementation introductory paragraph (p. 50)
· Clarified language relating to Resilience, Adaptation, and the Local Coastal Land Use Plan (LCLUP) in:
o Methodology (p. 10)
o Resilience and Adaptation section (p. 39)
· Strengthened Implementation language in:
o Methodology (p. 10)
o Community Engagement (p. 25)
· Provided clearer guidance on timelines in How to Read the “Action Tables” (p. 26) · Updated timelines in Timeline section (p. 57)
· Renamed “Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP)” to “Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP)” throughout document per Council direction · Replaced references to “Environmental Commission” with a generic implementation body name, as the charter and scope for a future task force are to be determined · Clarified Action Leads where needed (e.g., “Economic Development” to “Economic Development Department”)
· Made various grammatical and narrative flow improvements Table 2: Actions with Differing Staff and Task Force Recommendations For R2.10 and R2.11, staff’s recommended changes are similar in nature to the changes recommended for Zero NOx actions (E1.6-E1.7), in that these measures may not be legally feasible under current State law and regulations.
Council Consideration
The July 2025 Draft CARP and its appendices (attached to the proposed resolution as Exhibit A and Exhibit B, respectively) now before Council for adoption represent a completed, Counciland community-informed climate strategy for Pacifica. To aid in the review of the revisions, a redline comparison version showing changes between the May 2025 Draft CARP and the July 2025 Draft CARP is attached as Attachment A. With this information, the item is now before the City Council for discussion and action.
California Environmental Quality Act
The adoption of the CARP is categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as specified in the CEQA Guidelines Sections 15306 (Class 6) - Information Collection, and 15308 (Class 8) - Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment. The CARP is a document that will provide a comprehensive list of recommended programs, policies and actions to implement for a more sustainable and resilient Pacifica, including programs and policies that involve data collection and research but will not result in any major disturbance to an environmental resource. Additionally, the CARP 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 Pacifica City Council 6
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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 the exemption exist pursuant to section 15300.2 of the CEQA guidelines.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Council may modify the Draft CARP, or choose not to adopt the Draft CARP at this time and instead provide direction to staff and the Task Force to revise the Draft Plan and return to Council for further consideration.
RELATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND WORK PLAN
The work of the Task Force to update the City’s CARP supports the City Council’s Strategic Plan 2023-2030, specifically advancing:
· Goal #4: Pursue Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, Action A: Adopt and begin implementation of the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. · Goal #5: Broaden public communications and collaboration, Action A: Creatively harness community expertise, advocates, and volunteers to advance City priorities.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with the adoption of the CARP. Support for CARP implementation will require staffing resources. The Adopted FY2025-26 Budget includes funding for a part-time Program Manager and a CivicSpark Fellow (if awarded), totaling $85,000, and allocates a portion of an existing full-time employee’s time 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 CARP implementation, and will prioritize these sources as the primary strategy for funding specific actions.
ORIGINATED BY:
Community Development Department
ATTACHMENT LIST:
Exhibit A to the Resolution—Revised Draft CARP (PDF)
Exhibit B to the Resolution—Revised Draft CARP Appendices (PDF) Attachment A—Revised Draft CARP with Redlines (PDF)
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RESOLUTION NO. ___
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PACIFICA ADOPTING THE
UPDATED CLIMATE ACTION AND RESILIENCE PLAN, AND FINDING 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 Task Force (Task Force) as a limited-term advisory body to lead the development of an updated climate action plan; and
WHEREAS, the Task Force, in collaboration with City staff and technical consultants, developed a revised draft climate action 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 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 Task Force presented the Draft Climate Action and Adaptation Plan to the City Council for consideration on May 27, 2025, received Council feedback and requested revisions, and the City Council continued the item to a future meeting to allow the Task Force and City staff to refine the Plan in response to that direction; and WHEREAS, at its May 27, 2025 meeting, the City Council directed that the final adopted plan be referred to as the Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP), to more accurately reflect the updated Plan’s scope and intent; 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; 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 adoption of the CARP is categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as specified in the CEQA Guidelines Sections 15306 (Class 6) - Information Collection, and 15308 (Class 8) - Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment. The CARP is a document that will provide a comprehensive list of recommended programs, policies and actions to implement for a more sustainable and resilient Pacifica, including programs and policies that involve data Pacifica City Council 8
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collection and research but will not result in any major disturbance to an environmental resource. Additionally, the CARP 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 the exemption exist pursuant to section 15300.2 of the CEQA guidelines.
3. The City Council hereby adopts the Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP) and its Appendices, as revised and dated July 9, 2025 and attached hereto as Exhibits A and B, respectively, 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 14th day of July, 2025, by the following vote:
AYES, Councilmembers:
NOES, Councilmembers:
ABSENT, Councilmembers:
ABSTAIN, Councilmembers:
_________________________________
Sue Beckmeyer, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________ _________________________________ Sarah Coffey, City Clerk Michelle Kenyon, City Attorney