RESOLUTION NO. 25-30
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA, OPPOSING THE SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (SCAQMD) RULES 1111 AND 1121, AS AMENDED, WITH DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT THE RESOLUTION TO THE SCAQMD WHEREAS, the City Council of San Clemente has been directly elected by its residents to provide representation, a distinction not conferred on the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD); and WHEREAS, Board Members should only attempt to impose such draconian measures as Rule 1111 and Rule 1121 on the communities in which they live and upon the residents they represent, rather than sweeping measures with little or no benefit to the air quality in San Clemente; and WHEREAS, the SCAQMD will consider two proposed amended rules, Rule 1111 and Rule 1121, regulating the emissions from residential and commercial furnaces and emissions from residential water heaters and seek to transition to zero emission space and water heating appliances and ban the use of natural gas-powered furnaces and water heaters in new construction; and WHEREAS, a majority, if not all, of the costs associated with the transition will be the responsibility of business owners and residents in San Clemente amounting to more than $20,000 for a typical residential dwelling; and WHEREAS, the high cost of the transition will likely result in an insignificant improvement in the air quality of San Clemente; and WHEREAS, Rule 1111 and Rule 1121 do not take into consideration the severe lack of capacity in the electrical grid that is being taxed more and more with the increase in electrification of structures, automobiles, bicycles, and other impacts with no reasonable plans for expansion on the horizon.
NOW, THEREFORE, The City Council of the City of San Clemente does hereby resolve as follows:
Section 1.
The above recitals are considered findings by the City Council and incorporated into the body of this resolution.
Section 2.
The City Manager is hereby directed to submit this Resolution to the Board of the SCAQMD.
Section 3.
On behalf of the City of San Clemente’s residents, business owners, churches, schools, and organizations, the City of San Clemente opposes South Coast AQMD’s Proposed Amended Rules 1111 and 1121. This determination was made based on, but not limited to the following concerns:
As proposed, Rule 1111 and Rule 1121 would result in a substantial financial burden on the businesses and residents of San Clemente. Many structures would require significant electrical and plumbing upgrades to accommodate a completely different method of daily cooking and laundry. A simple repair could potentially turn into tens of thousands of dollars and weeks without fundamental appliances. When residents’ appliances break down and need replacement, immediate service is paramount. The rules are a poorly thought-out strategy that need to be completely reconsidered with the residents we serve in mind.
Any action that increases the cost of housing in the Southern California region is in direct conflict with the concerted efforts to provide more affordable housing. Considering this type of increase to housing costs during the current housing crisis will impede almost every effort being made to stabilize housing costs.
Transitioning to all-electric water heaters and furnaces will increase the demand on California's already inconsistent and delicate power grid. Adding millions of new electric water heaters and furnaces would require a substantial amount of power and increase the potential for grid failure. The City strongly opposes any effort to add more load demand until the necessary energy generation and fire safe electrical transmission capacity is constructed and in service.
The actual air quality benefits for San Clemente are unclear and undefined. More information and specific measurable improvements must be part of an effort that will disrupt the lives of more than 17 million residents in the SCAQMD region. There are likely far more effective strategies to improve air quality than gas cooking and laundry facilities in private homes and small businesses.
For these reasons, the City of San Clemente opposes Proposed Amended Rules 1111 and 1121, including their current concept as discussed at the 7th Working Group Meeting on February 13, 2025. We request that the AQMD Governing Board not proceed with these rules, and instead, we urge the Board to initiate a comprehensive fact-finding process that gathers public comments and addresses concerns related to costs, timing, technology, and the availability of potential incentives.
Section 4. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 18th day of March, 2025.
ATTEST:
___________________________ __________________________
City Clerk of the City of Mayor of the City of San
San Clemente, California Clemente, California
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) §
CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE )
I, LAURA CAMPAGNOLO, City Clerk of the City of San Clemente, California, do hereby certify that Resolution No. 25-30 was adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Clemente held on the _______ day of _______________________, _________, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of San Clemente, California, this _____ day of _________________, ________. __________________________
CITY CLERK of the City of
San Clemente, California
Approved as to form:
_________________________
City Attorney
Resolution No. 25-30 Page 3
Attachment 1