agenda-report Consideration of a Resolution establishing the Climate Action and Resilience Committee and approving its Fiscal Year 2025–2026 Work Plan

CITY OF PACIFICA

COUNCIL AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
9/8/2025
1 SUBJECT:

Consideration of a Resolution establishing the Climate Action and Resilience Committee and approving its Fiscal Year 2025–2026 Work Plan

RECOMMENDED ACTION

1. Adopt a Resolution of the City Council establishing the Climate Action and Resilience Committee.

2. Approve the Climate Action and Resilience Committee Work Plan for Fiscal Year 2025- 2026.

STAFF CONTACT
Elizabeth Brooks, Management Analyst II
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Brittany Hernandez, Program Manager
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> Brianne Harkousha, Community Development Deputy Director [email protected] <mailto: [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. 50-20231. The Task Force was created as a limited-term advisory body charged with developing and drafting an updated climate plan (“Draft Plan”), initially titled the CAAP. Members of the CAAP Task Force were appointed on July 10, 2023, and began convening in September 2023. 1 <https://www.cityofpacifica.org/home/showpublisheddocument/14914/638204333996670000> Pacifica City Council 2
September 08, 2025
In accordance with its charter, the Task Force was responsible for defining the scope of the updated Draft 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.

Since 2023, the Task Force has been conducting extensive technical analysis and community engagement to shape the Draft Plan. To advance its work, the Task Force met monthly as a public body and formed focused subcommittees to address specific elements of the Draft Plan.

These subcommittees developed implementation strategies informed by best practices, state regulations, scientific research, and Pacifica’s unique environmental and geographic context.

Community engagement included a citywide survey, targeted focus groups, and interactive outreach at local events. These efforts ensured the Draft Plan reflected the diverse perspectives and environmental concerns of Pacifica residents. Throughout the process, the Task Force received logistical and technical support from City staff and consultants, which fortified the Draft Plan’s structure, data, and validity as a technically sound and community-informed plan. The resulting Draft Plan was both ambitious and practicable, reflecting regional standards, aligning with current state policies, and incorporating community input.

With the Draft Plan completed, the City Council began its formal review and provided direction to refine and finalize the document for adoption. The Task Force held a joint study session with the City Council on February 24, 2025, during which Councilmembers provided detailed feedback to strengthen the Draft Plan’s goals and strategies. At its April 14, 2025, meeting, during discussion of the City Council 2023-2030 Strategic Plan, the City Council directed that a standing committee be established to support implementation of the climate plan and requested that staff return to Council with recommendations regarding the committee’s scope, charter, and work plan. Additional direction was provided at the May 27, 2025, Council meeting, when the Task Force presented the Draft Plan for consideration and adoption. At that meeting, Council supported a Task Force recommendation to modify the Draft Plan’s name to the Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP). On July 14, 2025, when the Task Force brought back a modified draft, the City Council adopted the CARP through Resolution No. 64-20252. The adopted CARP represents the culmination of nearly two years of intensive research, collaboration, and community dialogue.
2 <https://www.cityofpacifica.org/home/showpublisheddocument/20713/638881947002270000> Pacifica City Council 3
September 08, 2025
For a detailed discussion of the background and work of the Task Force, see the following:
• Joint Study Session of 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)
<https://pacificacityca.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=15&ID=2483&Inline=True >
• City Council meeting agenda, May 27, 2025
<https://pacificacityca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1680> • City Council meeting agenda, July 14, 2025
<https://pacificacityca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1683>

DISCUSSION
As noted above, the City Council directed that the CAAP Task Force transition to a standing committee focused on implementation of the CARP. In collaboration with the Task Force, staff developed a proposed charter and initial work plan for this new body, referred to throughout as the Climate Action and Resilience Committee (CARC).

The Committee will be supported by the Community Development Department to provide continuity with the CARP’s development, but its advisory role will address CARP implementation across City departments and functions, accounting for the interdepartmental and programmatic breadth of CARP implementation. Its guidance will inform City Council decisions across the full range of related departmental activities.

SCOPE AND GENERAL PROVISIONS
The City Manager recommends the following provisions for the CARC. These provisions are included in the proposed committee charter, attached as Exhibit A of the Resolution. Except as modified by these provisions, the Committee shall be governed by the general requirements for committees and commissions in Chapter 2 of the Pacifica Municipal Code3 and the City of Pacifica Commission and Committee Handbook.

These materials are presented below for the Council’s consideration.

1. Purpose
Under the direction of the Pacifica City Council and as administered by City staff, the CARC shall serve as an advisory body to the City Council. Its purpose is to provide guidance and recommendations on the implementation of the CARP for consideration in the City Council’s annual Strategic Goal Setting process. 3 <https://library.municode.com/ca/pacifica/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT2AD_CH2COCO> Pacifica City Council 4
September 08, 2025

2. Duties
The Committee’s duties are designed to guide its advisory role to the City Council, helping inform CARP implementation decisions through consultation with the community and other stakeholders to guide its recommendations. During its annual goal-setting process, City Council may determine which CARP action items to pursue in the upcoming year, along with any ongoing actions.

In carrying out its responsibilities below, the Committee shall engage the Pacifica community by fostering inclusive participation, promoting transparency, and incorporating community perspectives into its recommendations to the City Council. • Advise the City Council on issues pertaining to GHG emissions reduction, environmental sustainability and resilience, and related areas identified in the CARP.
• Provide recommendations to support City efforts to implement the goals and actions of the CARP, including identifying potential funding sources. • Prepare and present to the City Council each May4, an annual work plan for the CARC for Council consideration, aligning priorities with the General Plan, Local Coastal Land Use Plan, and other guiding policy documents, along with a report on work plan progress, including greenhouse gas emissions reduction data, if available.
• If directed by Council as part of the annual work plan, prepare and submit to the City Council each February recommendations on CARP implementation actions for consideration during the Council’s annual Strategic Goal Setting in March. • Prepare a full update of the CARP beginning in year four of the five-year plan, ensuring continuity of climate action in Pacifica.

3. Staff Support and Responsibilities
Staff liaison(s) shall provide administrative and technical support to the Committee, including preparing agendas, maintaining records, and providing subject matter expertise necessary for the Committee’s deliberations. Staff shall collaborate with the Committee to facilitate its advisory role to the City Council.

The Committee’s role is advisory only and does not include directing the work of staff.

Day-to-day operations and allocation of staff resources remain under the authority of the City Manager. Requests for significant staff time or new initiatives must be coordinated through the City Manager and limited to Council-approved activities.

4. Size and Representation
The Committee shall be appointed by Council and be comprised of seven (7) voting members, including up to two (2) youth members between the ages of 14-25. 4 The months identified in the “Duties” section may change as identified by the Council agenda.

Pacifica City Council 5
September 08, 2025
The Membership Eligibility shall be as described in Pacifica Municipal Code 2-2.103 and Members may be selected to represent a broad cross-section of the community.

Members should bring knowledge, experience, or lived perspective related to GHG emissions reduction, environmental sustainability and resilience, or related areas, or demonstrated commitment to these areas.

The City Manager or a designee shall serve as staff liaison to the Committee. One Councilmember shall be appointed by the City Council as Committee Liaison, and one Councilmember may be designated as the Alternate Liaison.

5. Length of Service
Terms for Committee members shall be four years. In the event Council were interested in having shortened terms for some members, such as youth members, the Council would need to amend the municipal code as currently the code requires that all terms be four years. (See Pacifica Municipal Code section 2-2.105)

6. Meetings
The Committee shall determine the date/time that the Committee will convene for its regular meeting as a body which shall not be less than monthly and all meetings of the Committee shall be open to the public, subject to the Brown Act.

7. Governance
The Committee shall abide by the rules set out in the Commission and Committee Handbook and the City of Pacifica Municipal Code as amended by the City Council from time to time.

The Committee shall select one of its members to act as Chair and another to act as Vice Chair on an annual cycle in January. The Committee shall exist until disbanded by action of the City Council.

All other provisions regarding member removal, quorum, and other governance matters shall follow Chapter 2 of Title 2 of the Pacifica Municipal Code.

WORK PLAN
The formation of the CARC is a critical first step toward successful implementation of the CARP.

To provide structure for the Committee’s early work, staff collaborated with the Task Force to develop a proposed work plan for Council consideration.

During the first six months, the Committee will focus on a targeted set of priority actions drawn primarily from the CARP, supplemented by foundational items needed to establish the Committee and fulfill duties required by its charter. These actions were selected based on feasibility, their potential to drive meaningful progress, and alignment with other City initiatives (e.g., the General Plan, Sharp Park Specific Plan, Local Coastal Land Use Plan). The priority actions are summarized below, with each entry providing a description of the action and any associated subtasks. Full details are available in the adopted Plan.

Following this initial six-month period, the Committee’s subsequent actions will be guided by City Council direction during goal setting and will be detailed in the annual work plan the Committee brings forward each May for Council consideration and adoption.

PRIORITY ACTIONS
Pacifica City Council 6
September 08, 2025

1. Receive training and determine skill sets and interest areas of new members.

Description: The Committee will receive an orientation on the CARP, the Committee’s charter, the Commission and Committee Handbook and other similar training.

2. Set up tools for tracking progress.

Description: To support annual reporting to City Council and ensure continuity in CARP implementation, the Committee will create a structure to track completed actions and monitor ongoing initiatives.

3. Develop a calendar for ongoing and regular check-ins with City departments, and city committees / commissions as appropriate, to facilitate CARP-related idea and resource sharing with City staff, foster connection, and support alignment with Council goals. (CARP C1.3)
Description: The Committee will assign members to serve as liaisons with City departments and committees/commissions, as appropriate. These liaisons will share climate action information and resources gathered through regional networks (e.g., RICAPS, LERN) as well as bring relevant updates from their check-ins with departments/committees back to the Committee.

Subtasks:
• Assign Committee members to serve as liaisons for specific departments/committees • Hold in-person introductory meetings with each department head, staff, and present to applicable committee/commission members, as appropriate; gather info on how the Committee can support staff
• Establish a schedule of regular check-ins with City departments and committees/commissions
• Ensure information exchanged is consistent with Council direction and the adopted CARC work plan

4. Attend monthly LERN and RICAPS meetings, and ICLEI meetings as feasible; receive training on ICLEI’s ClearPath 2.0 platform5.

Description: The Committee will elect members to serve as its liaisons to LERN, RICAPS, and, as feasible, ICLEI. Each liaison will be responsible for attending that group’s virtual or local meetings and reporting back to the Committee. In addition, at least two members will complete ICLEI’s ClearPath 2.0 training to support evaluation of the City’s climate actions.

All activities are virtual or local and do not require travel.

Subtasks:
• Elect a Committee liaison for each group, responsible for sharing updates with the Committee and staff
• Committee members will attend LERN and RICAPS meetings and keep track of resources and funding opportunities
• Two Committee members will receive training on ClearPath 2.0, a tool to evaluate efficacy of current and planned climate actions
5 LERN - Local Energy Resource Network, administered by the San Mateo County Office of Sustainability, providing training and support on local energy initiatives; RICAPS - Regional Integrated Climate and Planning Support Program, led by San Mateo County Office of Sustainability, offering guidance for regional climate planning; ICLEI - International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives, run by ICLEI USA as part of a global network of local governments on sustainability;
ClearPath 2.0 - ICLEI’s platform for tracking local climate and sustainability actions.

Pacifica City Council 7
September 08, 2025

5. Create and maintain a web page that provides resources for home energy efficiency and electrification, especially programs offered by Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE), by December 2025. (CARP C3.1)
Description: With the input of Committee members, City staff will maintain a webpage of resources for residents, following regional best practices.

Subtasks:
• Committee members will research regional resource webpages • Committee members will work with Staff to design and populate a dedicated webpage for Pacifica residents
• Staff will maintain webpage and update as needed

6. Prepare recommendations for the February report to City Council in advance of Strategic Goal Setting.

Description: The Committee will gather information, insights, and input from staff, stakeholders, and relevant CARP resources to develop recommendations for CARP implementation priorities to be considered by the City Council during its annual Strategic Goal Setting process in March.

Subtasks:
• Review the current CARP work plan, recent progress reports, and ongoing initiatives • Consult relevant City policy documents, including the General Plan, Local Coastal Land Use Plan (LCLUP), Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and other guiding policies, to ensure recommendations align with City objectives
• Consult with staff liaison(s) and relevant City departments to understand departmental priorities, opportunities, and constraints • Gather input from stakeholders and community partners, using the stakeholder list as a reference, to inform recommendations
• Draft recommendations outlining prioritized implementation actions, lead department or entity, potential funding opportunities, and other actionable items • Submit recommendations to the City Council in February for consideration during the March Strategic Goal Setting

ALTERNATIVE ACTION
The City Council could opt not to establish the Climate Action and Resilience Committee or establish a standing committee with reduced scope or a different membership structure. This path forward would mean that responsibility for CARP-related actions would remain with individual City departments, and guidance to the Council would come from existing committees, commissions, or ad hoc task forces as directed. This approach could limit coordinated planning, stakeholder engagement, and the ability to track progress and provide consistent recommendations to the Council.

RELATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND WORK PLAN
The formation and work of the Committee advances the following goals:
• 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.

Pacifica City Council 8
September 08, 2025

FISCAL IMPACT
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with forming the Climate Action and Resilience Committee or approving its fiscal year 2025-2026 work plan. However, implementation of the CARP will require staffing support. The adopted fiscal year 2025-2026 budget includes $50,000 for a part-time Program Manager and $35,000 for a full-time CivicSpark Fellow to support CARP implementation efforts. The Community Development Department will also continue allocating a portion of an existing full-time employee to oversee implementation and coordinate Committee activities.

While no specific implementation actions require immediate funding, some may carry costs in the future, including continuing the $1,000 annual membership with ICLEI. 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:

Pacifica City Council 9
September 08, 2025
RESOLUTION NO. XX-2025

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PACIFICA

ESTABLISHING THE CLIMATE ACTION AND RESILIENCE COMMITTEE ________________________________________________________________________ WHEREAS, the City of Pacifica recognizes that climate change poses significant environmental, economic, and public health risks to the community; and WHEREAS, the City Council adopted the City’s first Climate Action Plan in 2014; and WHEREAS, in 2023 the City Council formed the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan Task Force to update the City’s climate action plan; and WHEREAS, informed by the work of the Task Force and its extensive community engagement, the City Council adopted the Climate Action and Resilience Plan (“CARP”) via Resolution No. 64-2025 on July 14, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to establish a standing Climate Action and Resilience Committee (CARC) to serve as an advisory body to the City Council on CARP implementation and to provide guidance on CARP-related matters across City departments and functions; and
WHEREAS, the Climate Action and Resilience Committee shall serve under the direction of the City Council, be supported by City staff, and its membership, purpose, duties, and other provisions shall be as described in Exhibit A.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Pacifica does hereby authorize the creation of the Climate Action and Resilience Committee and shall appoint its members in accordance with the membership provisions set forth in Exhibit A. • • • • •
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Pacifica, California, held on the 8th day of September 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 Pacifica City Council 10 September 08, 2025
Exhibit A
Climate Action and Resilience Committee Charter

Pacifica City Council 11 September 08, 2025
The Committee’s role is advisory only and does not include directing the work of staff.

4. Size and Representation
The Committee shall be appointed by Council and be comprised of seven (7) voting members, including up to two (2) youth members between the ages of 14-25.

The Membership Eligibility shall be as described in Pacifica Municipal Code 2-2.103 and Members may be selected to represent a broad cross-section of the community.

7. Governance
The Committee shall abide by the rules set out in the Commission and Committee Handbook and the City of Pacifica Municipal Code as amended by the City Council from time to time.

The Committee shall select one of its members to act as Chair and another to act as Vice Chair on an annual cycle in January. The Committee shall exist until disbanded by action of the City Council.

All other provisions regarding member removal, quorum, and other governance matters shall follow Chapter 2 of the Municipal Code.

Pacifica City CouncilSeptember 8, 2025

Pacifica City Council
September 8, 2025