TO: TRANSPORTATION AND
ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
FROM: Lori Mitchell
SUBJECT: See below DATE: July 21, 2025
Approved Date:
7/23/2025
SUBJECT: Climate Advisory Commission Fiscal Year 2024-25 Annual Report and Fiscal Year 2025-26 Work Plan
RECOMMENDATION
Accept the Climate Advisory Commission’s Fiscal Year 2024-25 Annual Report and approve the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Work Plan.
BACKGROUND
The 11-member Climate Advisory Commission (“Commission”) was established in January 2024 to advise the City Council, City Manager, and departments on the implementation of Climate Smart San José, with a focus on the City’s Pathway to Carbon Neutrality by 2030 and climate adaptation. The Commission meets bimonthly and includes representatives with technical, community, and advocacy expertise.
ANALYSIS
Fiscal Year 2024-25 Annual Report
The Commission reviewed and commented on several key initiatives during the 2024- 25 fiscal year, including:
Climate Smart San José Semi-Annual Updates
San José Clean Energy Programs Roadmap and Power Mix Briefing Legislative and Regulatory Outlook for Climate Smart Policies Climate Smart Plan Update Draft
Promotion of the Climate Smart Challenge
COMMITTEE AGENDA: 8/11/25
ITEM: (d)2.
TRANSPORTATION AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
July 21, 2025
Subject: Climate Advisory Commission Fiscal Year 2024-25 Annual Report and Fiscal Year 2025-26 Work Plan
Updates from Department of Transportation and Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement
Framework for the Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan Fiscal Year 2025-26 Work Plan
The proposed work plan for fiscal year 2025-26 includes briefings and actions aligned with the City's climate goals. Key items include:
Legislative/Regulatory Outlook (July 2025)
Climate Smart Plan Update and Semi-Annual Update (September 2025) Transportation updates (November 2024)
Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement Policy Updates (October & November 2024; May 2025)
Introduction to the Building Performance Ordinance
San José Clean Energy Rates and Power Source Mix Recommendation (February 2026)
Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan Update (January 2026) Final Review of Fiscal Year 2025-26 Annual Report and Fiscal Year 2026-27 Work Plan (May 2026)
This work plan reflects a continuation of the Commission’s role in shaping and informing San José’s climate initiatives.
COORDINATION
This memorandum has been coordinated with the City Attorney's Office and the City Manager's Budget Office.
/s/
Lori Mitchell
Director, Energy Department
For questions, please contact Julie Benabente, Deputy Director, Climate Smart Division, Energy Department, at [email protected].
ATTACHMENT
Attachment A: Climate Advisory Commission Fiscal Year 2024-25 Annual Report Attachment B: Climate Advisory Commission Fiscal Year 2025-26 Work Plan Objective of Fiscal Year 2024-25 Timeframe Status & Accomplishments Future Target/Goals Adopt the annual report of Commission
actions on objectives for fiscal year 2023-24
Commissioners approved the final Annual
Report for fiscal year 2023-24. Annual Report
adopted and was approved by Transportation
and Environment Committee for approval on
August 12, 2024.
Prepare and submit the Annual
Report for fiscal year 2024-25.
Receive briefing and give comment on
Climate Smart Semi-Annual Update
Commissioners reviewed the Climate Smart
Semi-Annual update to Transportation and
Environment Committee and City Council and
gave comment. Recommendation language
was approved.
Review upcoming Climate Smart
update and identify key
recommendations to refine outreach
and implementation strategies.
Receive briefing on relevant upcoming
legislation and potential City actions
Commissioners reviewed the Climate Smart
legislation and potential City actions. No
actions were taken.
Track proposed climate-related
legislation and prepare potential
recommendations for City Council
consideration during the 2025
legislative session.
Receive briefing and give comment on
Updated Climate Smart plan
Commissioners reviewed the Climate Smart
plan update strategies and gave comment.
Review final draft of the updated
Climate Smart plan and prepare
formal Commission recommendation
to Council in 2025.
Receive briefing and give comment on public
promotion of Climate Smart activities and
Climate Smart plan update
Commission approved the active public
promotion of Climate Smart activities and the
Climate Smart plan update.
Staff continue to promote Climate
Smart activities and Climate Smart
plan update.
Receive briefing and give comment on
Transportation programs and policies
Commissioners recieved briefing on
Transportation programs and policies and
gave comment.
Review next Transportation update
and provide input on strategies to
reduce emissions and improve
mobility access in fiscal year 2024-25.
Receive briefing and give coment on
Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement
(PBCE) programs and policies
Commissioners received briefing on PBCE
programs and policies and gave comment.
Provide input on proposed PBCE
policy and program updates and
recommend opportunities to align
with Climate Smart goals in fiscal year
2024-25.
Receive briefing and approve final
Commission By-Laws
The Commission modified the Commission ByLaws to include By-Laws to: 1) Commissioner timeline for terms of office are aligned with
the calendar year beginning and end
timelines for yearly commission activity and
2) to specify brown act timing for notice.
These changes were unanimously approved
by the commission.
By-Laws were amended to align with
calendar year for beginning and end
timelines for yearly commission
activity. Staff recommended referring
to various City policies regarding
timing for public information rather
than amending By-Laws with this
information.
Discussion and action on Ad Hoc Committee
report on San José Clean Energy (SJCE)
financial status of implications for reserves
policies
The commission discussed the purpose and
context of SJCE's financial reserves to ensure
public understanding. The commission
approved a request for SJCE to conduct a
session on reserves policies at the November
meeting, specifically addressing the purpose,
calculation, and management of reserves in
SJCE continues discussions and
updates to the Commission as
requested and necesssary regarding reserves. Receive briefing and give comment on SJCE Programs Roadmap
November 21, 2024
Commissioners received briefing on SJCE
Programs Roadmap. Staff discussed with
Commissioners and approval language was
passed.
Review SJCE program implementation
progress and provide
recommendations to enhance equity
and participation in future program
cycles.
Climate Advisory Commission
DRAFT Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2024-25
Attachment A: Climate Advisory Commission Fiscal Year 2024-25 Annual Report July 18, 2024
September 19, 2024
Objective of Fiscal Year 2024-25 Timeframe Status & Accomplishments Future Target/Goals Climate Advisory Commission
DRAFT Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2024-25
Attachment A: Climate Advisory Commission Fiscal Year 2024-25 Annual Report Receive briefing on Zero Waste Element
Commission recieved briefing. Discussion
only, no action taken.
Continue to support development of
the Zero Waste Element and provide
recommendations to align strategies
with Climate Smart goals as
opportunities arise.
Heat Pump Ordinance update
Commissioner Garfunkel gave report and
supporting documents on heat pump
ordinances. Drafted and approved a letter to
PBCE in support of ordinance review.
An update from PBCE on ordinance
updates will be added to the fiscal
year 2025-26 work plan for the
Climate Advisory Commission
Receive briefing on SJCE 2025 power mix and
rates, and potentially vote on power mix and
rates recommendation to City Council
Commission received briefing, discussed, and
provided feedback to staff. Recommendation
language was amended and approved.
Review future SJCE rate proposals
and power mix updates, and prepare
recommendations for Council
consideration as needed.
Receive briefing on Cool roof report created
by the cool roof Ad Hoc Committee
Cool roof report created by the cool roof ad
hoc committee is submitted for commissioner
review and approved for release to the City of
San José staff.
Cool roof report was submitted to
Environmental Services and PBCE for
ongoing consideration.
Receive briefing on Commissioner memo
regarding use of artificial turf on City fields
Commission approved a memo crafted by
Commissioner Mani Bekele that highlights
commission concerns about installing artificial
turf in the City athletic fields
Staff continues to consider concerns
of Commissioners regarding use of
artificial turf on City property
Meeting cancelled. January 16, 2025 Meeting cancelled. Meeting cancelled.
Receive briefing and give comment on
Climate Smart Semi-Annual Update
Commissioners reviewed the Climate Smart
Semi-Annual update to Transportation and
Environment Committee and City Council and
gave comment. Recommendation language
was approved.
Review next Climate Smart update
and offer targeted recommendations
to strengthen Climate Smart
implementation and reporting.
Receive briefing and give comment on
Transportation programs and policies
Commissioners received briefing on
Transportation programs and policies and
gave comment.
Continue providing input on
Transportation updates, with focus
on reducing vehicle miles traveled
and improving access for
underserved communities.
Receive briefing and give comment on
municipal utility update
Staff received briefing and provided feedback
on the cooperation agreement between
PG&E and City of San José. Commissioners
approved a comment letter to be submitted
to Council and voted for commissioner
Merino to provide public comments at the
council Municipal Electric Utility Exploration
special study session on March 21, 2025.
Monitor developments in the
municipal utility transition and
provide additional input or advocacy
as new agreements or updates are
brought forward.
Receive briefing and give comment on Draft
SJCE Power Workforce and Environmental
Stewardship Project Selection Criteria
Commissioners reviewed the Draft SJCE
Power Workforce and Environmental
Stewardship Project Selection Criteria and
gave comment. Recommendation language
was approved.
Support implementation of the
finalized SJCE Project Selection
Criteria and provide feedback on
project proposals as they are brought
forward.
Meeting cancelled. March 20, 2025 Meeting cancelled. Meeting cancelled.
Receive briefing and give comment on
Climate Smart outreach and advocacy
strategies
Commissioners received briefing and
provided comments on the fiscal year 2025-
26 outreach and advocacy strategies.
Collaborate with staff to refine and
support implementation of fiscal year
2025-26 outreach and advocacy
strategies.
Review the Commission Work Plan for fiscal
year 2025-26
Commissioners reviewed the Draft Work Plan
for fiscal year 2025-26 and provided
comments. The work plan was adopted with
edits.
Monitor implementation of the fiscal
year 2025-26 Work Plan and propose
updates or new priorities as needed
throughout the fiscal year.
Special Session: March
13, 2025
May 15, 2025
Special Session:
January 9, 2025
November 21, 2024
(continued)
Objective of Fiscal Year 2024-25 Timeframe Status & Accomplishments Future Target/Goals Climate Advisory Commission
DRAFT Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2024-25
Attachment A: Climate Advisory Commission Fiscal Year 2024-25 Annual Report Review the Commission Annual Report for
fiscal year 2024-25
Commissioners reviewed the Draft Annual
Report for fiscal year 2024-25 and provided
comments. The report was adopted with
edits.
Finalize and submit the fiscal year
2024-25 Annual Report to the
Transportation and Environment
Committee for approval in Summer
2025.
Receive briefing and give comment on
Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Plan
(CARP)
Commissioners received an update on the
development of the CARP and gave comment.
Continue to provide input on final
revisions and implementation
planning throughout fiscal year 2025-
26. Receive briefing on Commissioner memo
regarding Climate Smart 2025-26 budget
Approved memo drafted by Commissioner
Mani Bekele noting concern about reduction
in non-personnel funding to the Climate
Smart program in the shift to the Energy
Department and recommending that this
funding be reinstated or increased to levels
from previous years.
The Commission will continue to
engage on Climate Smart-related
budget matters as appropriate,
including reviewing updates and
offering input to support the
goals.
May 15, 2025
(continued)