Attachment A — San Jose City Council, March 3, 2026

CITY OF SAN JOSE
Climate
Adaptation &
Resilience Plan
Adoption Draft
January 2026

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR
Matt Mahan
As the heart of Silicon Valley and the largest
city in Northern California, we have long been
pioneers of innovation and technological
advancement. Today, we must channel that
same spirit of innovation toward one of the
most pressing challenges of our time: building
resilience against the impacts of climate
change. This is why we created the City’s first
Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan.

Our community is already experiencing the
effects of a changing climate. We’ve witnessed
unprecedented wildfires that have threatened
our neighborhoods and filled our skies with
smoke. We’ve endured extreme heat events
that strain our infrastructure and endanger
our most vulnerable residents. We’ve seen
atmospheric rivers bring both life-giving water
and destructive flooding. These are not distant
threats—they are our present reality, and they
demand immediate, comprehensive action.

This Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan
represents our commitment to protecting
every resident, every neighborhood, and every
community that calls San José home. It is built
on the understanding that climate resilience is
not just about preparing for future challenges,
but about creating a more equitable,
sustainable, and prosperous city for all.

This plan charts a course toward a San José
that not only survives the challenges of
climate change but thrives in spite of them.

It envisions green infrastructure that reduces
flood risk while creating beautiful community
spaces. It promotes proactive planning for
climate change in our City departments
and in collaboration with our region. The
Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan also
recognizes that we cannot build a resilient
San José without ensuring that all residents
have access to climate resilience resources and
current information on climate vulnerabilities
and the actions being taken to address them.

The work ahead will not be easy, and it cannot
be accomplished by government alone. It will
require partnerships across all sectors of our
community.

I have tremendous faith in San José’s ability
to meet this challenge. We have the diversity
of perspectives, the technological expertise,
and the community spirit necessary to build
a climate-resilient future. Let us seize this
moment with the urgency it demands and the
hope it deserves.

Together, we will build a more resilient
San José.

Matt Mahan
Mayor, City of San José
Dear Neighbors,
2 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan

MESSAGE FROM THE CITY MANAGER
Jennifer Maguire
The City of San José’s dedication to
environmental stewardship and climate
action spans many years of thorough
planning, policy development, and
program implementation. This Climate
Adaptation and Resilience Plan marks
the next essential phase in San José’s
leadership in tackling the complex
challenges of climate change adaptation.

The Climate Adaptation and Resilience
Plan builds on the foundation set by our
Climate Smart San José plan adopted
in 2018. It is guided by technical analysis
and stakeholder input and provides a
strategic framework to strengthen our
community’s ability to withstand, adapt
to, and recover from climate-related
impacts. City staff led this planning
effort in collaboration with multiple
city departments, regional agencies,
community organizations, and technical
consultants. This cooperative approach
ensures that our resilience strategies
are based on the best available science
while addressing the diverse needs and
priorities of our community.

San José faces exposure to multiple
climate hazards, including extreme heat
events, wildfire and associated air quality
impacts, flooding from both coastal and
inland sources, and prolonged drought
conditions. These hazards pose risks to
critical infrastructure systems, public
facilities, public health and safety, and
economic stability.

Of particular concern are
the impacts that could be
experienced by communities
with socioeconomic
vulnerabilities.

The 19 measures and companion
actions that are outlined in this plan
were developed through a vulnerability
assessment, input from staff, partner
agencies, and community members.

These measures are intended to
maximize near-term risk reduction while
building toward longer-term systemic
change. The implementation framework
outlined in this document incorporates
metrics and key indicators. Regular
progress reporting will inform future
updates to our climate adaptation and
resilience planning efforts.

We look forward to working with our
municipal colleagues, regional partners,
and community stakeholders to
implement the comprehensive suite of
adaptation measures contained within
this plan to enhance our community’s
resilience and advance our broader
sustainability objectives.

Jennifer A. Maguire
City Manager
3 Acknowledgements
City Staff Contributors
Lori Mitchell, Director, ED
Jeff Provenzano,
Director, ESD
Andrea Arjona Amador, DOT*
Sara Davis, DOT*
Ramses Madou, DOT
Rick Scott, DOT
Jennifer Seguin, DOT
Jessica Zenk, DOT
Ngan Doan, ED
Seena Eghtedar-Shenas, ED
Leslie Park, ED
Alexandria Patchett, ED
Sarai Rojas, ED
Zachary Struyk, ED
Kate Ziemba, ED*
Sandra Freitas, ESD*
Darwin Lasat, ESD
Rajani Nair, ESD
Benjamin Pink, ESD
Qianyu Sun, FIN
Sarah Fields, HSG
Emily Hislop, HSG
Banu San, HSG
Kerry Adams-Hapner, OEDCA
Joe Hedges, OEDCA*
Daniele Siembieda, OEDCA*
Blage Zelalich, OEDCA
Alvin Galang, OEM*
Ruth Cueto, PBCE*
David Fong, PBCE
Sanhita Ghosal, PBCE*
Lisa Joiner, PBCE
Laura Maurer, PBCE
Raymond Costantino, PRNS
Liz Sewell, PRNS
Rob Wayman, PRNS
Carol Boland Whattam, PW*
Katherine Brown, PW
Jason Day, PW*
J. Guevara, PW
Walter Lin, PW
Mathew Nguyen, PW
Darrick Nguyen, PW
Manira Sandhir, PW
Natasa Vulovic, PW
External Contributors
Sam Fishman, SPUR
Samantha Greene, Valley Water
Jessica Lovering, Valley Water
Kirsten Struve, Valley Water
Jing Wu, Valley Water
Emily Zedler, Valley Water
Consultant Team
Raimi + Associates
AECOM
Fehr & Peers
KEY
CMO: City Manager’s Office
DOT: Department of Transportation
ED: Energy Department
ESD: Environmental Services Department
FIN: Finance Department
HSG: Housing Department
OEM: Office of Emergency Management
OEDCA: Office of Economic Development and
Cultural Affairs
PBCE: Planning, Building & Code
Enforcement
PRNS: Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood
Services
PW: Public Works Department
Project Leads
Michael Gonzales,
Environmental Program
Manager, ESD
Julie Benabente,
Deputy Director, ED
Erica Garaffo, Assistant
to the City Manager, CMO
* Denotes members of the Climate Ready Working Group
IPCC: Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change
NWL: Natural and working lands
OPC: Ocean Protection Council
PGE: Pacific Gas & Electric
PM:

Particulate matter
RCP: Representative Concentration Pathway
RSAP: Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan
SB: Senate Bill
SC4: Santa Clara County Climate Collaborative
SFEI: San Francisco Estuary Institute
SLR: Sea level rise
SPUR: San Francisco Bay Area Planning and
Urban Research Association
Valley Water: Santa Clara Valley Water District
VTA: Valley Transportation Authority
Vulnerability Assessment: Climate
Vulnerability Assessment
WUI: Wildland-urban interface
4 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan
List of Acronyms
and Abbreviations
BCDC: San Francisco Bay Conservation &
Development District
CAL FIRE: California Department of Forestry
and Fire Protection
CARP: San José Climate Adaptation and
Resilience Plan
City: City of San José
CBO: Community-based organization
CERT: Community Emergency Response Team
CIP: Capital improvement progam
Climate Smart: Climate Smart San José plan
CRWG: Climate Ready Working Group
EV: Electric vehicle
FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Agency
FHSZ: Fire Hazard Severity Zone
GHG: Greenhouse gas
GIS: Geographic information systems
GSI: Green stormwater infrastructure
HVAC: Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
IPCC: Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change
NWL: Natural and working lands
OPC: Ocean Protection Council
PGE: Pacific Gas & Electric
PM: Particulate matter
RCP: Representative Concentration Pathway
RSAP: Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan
SB: Senate Bill
SC4: Santa Clara County Climate Collaborative
SFEI: San Francisco Estuary Institute
SLR: Sea level rise
SPUR: San Francisco Bay Area Planning and
Urban Research Association
Valley Water: Santa Clara Valley Water District
VTA: Valley Transportation Authority
Vulnerability Assessment: Climate
Vulnerability Assessment
WUI: Wildland-urban interface
5 FIGURES
13 Figure 1. CARP Relationship to Other
City Plans
14 Figure 2. Socially Vulnerable
Census Tracts
16 Figure 3. Annual Maximum
Temperature in Mid-Century and
Late-Century under a High Emissions
(RCP 8.5) Scenario
17 Figure 4. FEMA Floodplains in
San José
18 Figure 5. Extent of Projected SLR
for Mid- and Late-Century under
medium and High-Risk Scenarios
20 Figure 6. Fire Hazard Severity Zones
in San José
23 Figure 7. Mobilehome Parks and
Flood Zones
24 Figure 8. Socially Vulnerable
Communities and Climate Hazard
Exposures
Contents
8 Executive Summary
11 Chapter 1: Introduction
11 Climate Adaptation and Resilience
12 CARP Approach
14 Equity Considerations
15 Chapter 2: Climate Hazard and
Vulnerability Assessment
16 Climate Hazards in San José
21 Vulnerability Assessment Key Findings
25 Chapter 3: Framework for Climate
Resilient San José
25 CARP Vision
26 CARP Framework
27 Chapter 4: Measure Development
27 Existing Plan Review
28 Measure Selection and Strategy
Development
29 Measure Development Process
31 Chapter 5: Measures
32 How to Read the Measures
61 Chapter 6: Implementation
62 Glossary
TABLE
16 Table 1. Summary of Climate Hazard
Trend Projections in San José
7 Executive Summary
In 2018, the City of San José adopted its climate
action plan, Climate Smart San José (Climate
Smart). Climate Smart provided strategies to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) in
alignment with the Paris Climate Agreement
goals and to prevent or reduce the occurrence
of climate-related impacts. The City’s
committment was affirmed by the an official
Climate Emergency Declaration in 2019.

However, San José is already experiencing the
effects of a changing climate and anticipates
future increases in intensity due to continued
worldwide GHG emissions. In response, the
City developed this Climate Adaptation and
Resilience Plan (CARP) with a focus on reducing
the impact of climate-related threats, such as
wildfires, flooding, sea level rise, and extreme
heat, on the community, infrastructure, and
natural environment. The CARP identifies
the foundational measures, policies, and
procedures necessary to achieve this goal, while
enhancing equity by addressing the unique
needs of vulnerable communities that can be
disproportionately affected by climate change.

The San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan
(CARP) is the roadmap for City of San José (“City”)
departments and staff to make changes in City policies
and procedures, to increase the adaptive capacity of the built and natural systems of San José, and create a more resilient community.

Climate adaptation refers to strategies
aimed at minimizing risks and
vulnerabilities from climate-related
hazards by adjusting our infrastructure,
the way we live, and how we care for
people in our community.

Climate Smart
San José Plan
Climate
Adaptation &
Resilience Plan
8 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan
The CARP is the product of a detailed analysis
of climate hazards and vulnerabilities,
community engagement, and internal
engagement among the many City
departments and collaborating agencies
whose work touches climate resilience. The
CARP is organized in a way that outlines the
background, approach, and the measures
the City will need to implement to adapt to
climate change. It is important to note that
the CARP provides guidance on the programs
and policies the City should implement, but as
a planning document, it does not undertake
actual program development.

The CARP is organized into six chapters:
• Chapter 1: Introduction explains the
key concepts, the City’s approach
for developing the CARP, and equity
considerations that informed the process
and outcomes of the CARP.
• Chapter 2: Climate Hazard and
Vulnerability Assessment describes how
climate change will impact San José.
• Chapter 3: Framework for Climate Resilient
San José lays out the vision, principles, and
framework that were the basis of developing
the CARP.
• Chapter 4: Measure Development
describes how the CARP measures and
strategies were developed.
• Chapter 5: Measures contains 19 measures
detailing strategies for City departments to
adapt to climate change. The measures are
organized into four categories: Knowledge,
Governance and Policy, Structural, and
Communications.
• Chapter 6: Implementation provides
guidance for tracking and monitoring the
programs and other outcomes called for in
the measures.

The CARP establishes a resilience
planning framework for the City that
serves as a jumping off point for the City
to integrate climate adaptation issues
in its procedures, such as improving
infrastructure and creating programs
and policies to increase resilience. Factors
within the City’s control and those
outside of the City’s control (such as
federal and state policy) may affect CARP
implementation and require flexibility.
9 The concepts of climate adaptation and
resilience are distinct but interrelated,
as defined by the California Adaptation
Planning Guide (2020):
• Adaptation: An adjustment in natural
or human systems to a new or changing
environment that moderates harm or
exploits beneficial opportunities brought
about by the change. Adaptation actions
contribute to resilience.
2 • Resilience: The capacity of any entity–an
individual, a community, an organization, or
a natural system–to prepare for disruptions,
to recover from shocks and stresses,
and to adapt and grow from a disruptive
experience. Resilience is a desired outcome
or state of being.
3 1. IPCC. (2019). Summary for Policymakers. In: IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate [H.-O. Pörtner, D.C. Roberts, V. Masson-Delmotte, P. Zhai, M. Tignor, E. Poloczanska, K. Mintenbeck, A. Alegría, M. Nicolai, A. Okem, J. Petzold, B.

Rama, N.M. Weyer (eds.)]. https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/sites/3/2019/11/03_SROCC_SPM_FINAL.pdf .

2. CalOES. (2020). California Adaptation Planning Guide. https://www.caloes.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/Hazard-Mitigation/Documents/ CA-Adaptation-Planning-Guide-FINAL-June-2020-Accessible.pdf#search=adaptation%20planning%20guide.

3. Ibid.
10 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan Climate Adaptation and Resilience
The San José CARP is part of how the City is
preparing for the impacts of climate change.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change’s (IPCC) Sixth Assessment,1
it is “unequivocal” that human emissions of
carbon dioxide and other GHG emissions are
warming the atmosphere, ocean, and land.

Human-induced climate change is already
generating many weather and climate
extremes in every region across the globe, with
observed changes in the frequency and/or
intensity of extreme heat, heavy precipitation,
droughts, and hurricanes. These changes are
already evident in San José. Dangerous heat
waves, extreme storms that cause flooding of
creeks and rivers and intrusion of smoke from
nearby wildfires have occurred in the city in
recent years.

The concepts of climate adaptation and
resilience are distinct but interrelated,
as defined by the California Adaptation
Planning Guide (2020):
• Adaptation: An adjustment in natural
or human systems to a new or changing
environment that moderates harm or
exploits beneficial opportunities brought
about by the change. Adaptation actions
contribute to resilience.
2 • Resilience: The capacity of any entity–an
individual, a community, an organization, or
a natural system–to prepare for disruptions,
to recover from shocks and stresses,
and to adapt and grow from a disruptive
experience. Resilience is a desired outcome
or state of being.
3 1. IPCC. (2019). Summary for Policymakers. In: IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate [H.-O. Pörtner, D.C. Roberts, V. Masson-Delmotte, P. Zhai, M. Tignor, E. Poloczanska, K. Mintenbeck, A. Alegría, M. Nicolai, A. Okem, J. Petzold, B.

Rama, N.M. Weyer (eds.)]. https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/sites/3/2019/11/03_SROCC_SPM_FINAL.pdf .

3. Ibid.

CHAPTER 1
Introduction
Chapter 1: Introduction | 11
CARP Approach
The CARP addresses how the City can
prepare for and adapt to climate hazards.

It outlines key measures and strategies for
City departments and staff to adopt and
implement to reduce community vulnerability
to climate threats. The CARP is focused on the
procedures and resources that the City has
direct control or influence over, such as the
policies and plans of City departments, the
infrastructural assets owned and/or operated
by the City, and the City’s channels for
communicating with collaborating agencies
and the public.

The CARP complements other City planning
documents, mainly Climate Smart and the
City’s emergency management plans.4 These
plans have distinct purposes, addressing
different aspects of climate change and
hazards. Climate Smart identifies strategies to
reduce GHG emissions from communitywide
sources—referred to as climate action or
GHG mitigation.

Even with these efforts to reduce emissions,
changes in the climate are already in motion.

The CARP helps the City adapt to the impacts
of climate change (such as more extreme heat,
worsened flooding, and more frequent and
intense wildfires) that are already occurring
and projected to worsen through the end
of the century. Emergency response and
hazard mitigation plans outline strategies for
responding to both climate-related and non-
climate related disasters. The CARP bolsters
the City and the community’s resilience in
these situations, but helps the City to prepare
for climate-related impacts rather than an
emergency response.

4. The City has a wide breadth of emergency plans. See all plans on the Emergency Management webpage: https://
www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/
office-of-the-city-manager/emergency-management/
emergency-plans .
12 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan Figure 1. CARP Relationship to Other City Plans
Climate
Adaptation &
Resilience Plan
City Emergency
Management Plans
Climate Smart
San José Plan

GHG MITIGATION
FOCUS

RESILIENCE &

ADAPTATION FOCUS

DISASTER & IMMEDIATE

HAZARD FOCUS
The CARP’s target audience is the City
departments who will be primarily responsible
for implementing the measures and strategies.

Like the City’s Climate Smart plan, the CARP
focuses on the role of City government
combined with collaboration with regional
agencies. While residents and community-
based organizations (CBOs) can use the CARP
to understand the City’s efforts to increase
resilience, the CARP is not intended to be a
roadmap for individual or CBO action.

City staff formed a Climate Ready Working
Group (CRWG) with representatives from
pertinent City departments along with staff
from collaborating agencies (Valley Water),
and SPUR (the City’s community engagement
partner for the CARP). The purpose of the
CRWG is to ensure that CARP measures and
strategies meet the needs of City departments
and align with ongoing efforts across the City
and collaborating agencies.

The CRWG is made up of over 20 individuals
representing numerous City departments and
collaborating agencies including:
• Public Works Department
• Department of Transportation
• Energy Department
• Environmental Services Department
• Office of Economic Development and
Cultural Affairs
• Office of Emergency Management
• Planning, Building & Code Enforcement
• Park, Recreation and Neighborhood Services
• Valley Water
• SPUR
Chapter 1: Introduction | 13
Figure 2. Socially Vulnerable Census Tracts
0 2 4 61
Miles
0 1 2 4 6
While everyone who lives and works in San
José could experience negative impacts from
climate change hazards, there are residents
with various social vulnerabilities and biological
characteristics that increase their sensitivity to
climate hazards. One of the main components
of the CARP’s purpose, vision, and principles is
to set San José on a pathway toward equitable
climate adaptation and resilience.

Based on an analysis of socioeconomic data,
49 census tracts in the city were identified
as places where residents have higher social
vulnerability to climate hazards. As shown in
Figure 2, these are concentrated in Downtown
San José (Council District 3), Central San José
(Council District 7), the northern portion of
South San José (Council District 2), and East
San José in the vicinity of I-680 and Highway
101 (Council District 5). The map can be viewed
at https://arcg.is/1n0jjO
Equity Considerations
Socially vulnerable communities are often
burdened with multiple, overlapping
challenges that cumulatively impact their
ability to adapt or respond to climate change.

Inequitable economic, governmental,
and social systems have resulted in the
disproportionate distribution of climate
burdens and exposures, such as low transit
access in certain areas or affordable housing
located in areas more prone to flooding.

Having a chronic illness (heart conditions, lung
conditions, obesity) can also make people more
likely to experience health effects from extreme
heat, wildfire, and other climate hazards. This
index also reflects the unique affordability
challenges in San José by calibrating the
income level considered “low income.”
The CARP includes measures and strategies
to promote multiple dimensions of equity. The
first dimension of equity is distributional equity,
or allocating resources to those who need them
most. The second is procedural equity, which
involves providing people and communities
with resources to be knowledgeable and
involved in decision making. While residents
citywide benefit from equitable climate
adaptation, many of the CARP measures and
strategies are specifically directed towards
the communities with higher vulnerability to
climate hazards.

City Limits
Interstate/Highway
Socially Vulnerable
Communities
Sources: City of San José, CARI 3.0, California Protected Area Database (CPAD). 14 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan CHAPTER 2
Climate Hazard and
Vulnerability Assessment
Climate is the long-term behavior of the
atmosphere—typically represented as
averages over 30-year periods—for a given
time of year. This includes average annual
temperature, snowpack, or rainfall. Although
the climate fluctuates naturally, human
emissions of carbon dioxide and other
GHG emissions are driving unprecedented
changes in the climate system. Greenhouse
gases trap heat in the atmosphere, resulting
in warming over time. 5 This atmospheric
warming is leading to other changes in the
earth systems, including changing patterns of
rainfall and snow, melting of glaciers and ice,
and warming of oceans.

The City of San José Climate Vulnerability
Assessment (Vulnerability Assessment)
analyzes how climate change will impact
residents and infrastructure in the city of San
José.6 Vulnerability is the degree to which
people and assets are susceptible to harm
from a given climate hazard. Vulnerability is
a combination of exposure—which indicates
if an asset is located in a geographic area
projected to experience climate hazards—
and sensitivity—which is the degree to which
an asset could be damaged if it is exposed
to climate hazards. Findings from the
Vulnerability Assessment, which includes a full
analysis of the climate hazard projection data
and in-depth information on the findings, are
summarized in the following sections.

5. IPCC. (2019). Summary for Policymakers. In: IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate [H.-O. Pörtner, D.C. Roberts, V. Masson-Delmotte, P. Zhai, M. Tignor, E. Poloczanska, K. Mintenbeck, A. Alegría, M. Nicolai, A. Okem, J. Petzold, B.

Rama, N.M. Weyer (eds.)]. https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/sites/3/2019/11/03_SROCC_SPM_FINAL.pdf .

6. Full City of San José Climate Vulnerability Assessment is available on the CARP webpage at https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your- government/departments-offices/energy/climate-smart-san-jose/climate-adaptation-and-resilience-plan.

Chapter 2: Climate Hazard and Vulnerability Assessment | 15 Climate Hazards in San José
This section presents information on projected changes to climate hazards, including extreme heat, flood, sea level rise (SLR), drought, and wildfire. Table 1 provides a summary of climate hazards projections of future trends for San José, and explained in further detail in the following subsections.

Table 1. Summary of Climate Hazard Trend Projections in San José Hazard Projected Trend
Extreme Heat Higher temperatures and more frequent heat waves.

Flood Longer dry periods punctuated by more extreme precipitation events.

Sea Level Rise
Sea levels are expected to rise up to 1.3 feet by mid-century and 6.5 feet by late-century according to the latest projections from the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC).

Drought More severe; longer dry spells and decline in average snowpack.

Wildfire Increase in likelihood of occurrence and intensity.

Note: Earthquakes and other hazards that may affect the city but are not related to climate change are addressed in the Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. Extreme weather includes extreme heat, cold, storms, and winds, and is related to climate change. However, the major impacts in San José are heat and flooding, which are assessed as distinct hazards.

Extreme Heat
In the past few decades, San José has been experiencing higher temperatures and more intense heat waves. During heat waves in July 2017 and September 2022 temperatures reached all- time highs of 108°F and 109°F. The warming trend is projected to continue, with maximum temperatures projected to reach up to 112°F by mid-century. The number of days with extreme heat (days with maximum temperatures over 93.7°F) per year is also projected to increase from four days historically to 14 days by mid-century and 27 days by late-century.

Figure 3. Annual Maximum Temperature in Mid-Century and Late-Century under a High Emissions (RCP 8.5) Scenario
112–116˚ F
Annual
Maximum
Temperature
108–112˚ F
104–108˚ F
100–104˚ F
96–100˚ F
92–96˚ F
Source: Silicon Valley

2.0 Climate Change
Preparedness Tool.

City Limits
16 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan Flood
San José has experienced many instances
of severe flooding along its waterways, often
driven by winter storms. As indicated by the
FEMA flood hazard map for San José, the 1%
annual chance flood hazard area (or 100-year
floodplain) is concentrated in the northern
part of the city near the San Francisco Bay, and
adjacent to creeks or tributaries in the southern
part of the city (Figure 4). Though annual
rainfall is not projected to change, precipitation
is projected to be characterized by extremes
(more extreme storm events, followed by longer
droughts) that increase the likelihood and
severity of flooding.

Figure 4. FEMA Floodplains in San José
Source: Silicon Valley 2.0 Climate Change Preparedness Tool. 100-year Floodplain
FEMA Floodplain
500-year Floodplain
Extreme heat can cause heat illness or even
be fatal. To learn more and get prepared go
to https://heatready.ca.gov/.

Flooding can happen suddenly and cause
dangerous road conditions and disruptions
to other infrastructure and services. To
learn more and get prepared go to: https://
www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/
departments-offices/office-of-the-city-
manager/emergency-management/be-
prepared/storm-preparedness.

City Limits
Chapter 2: Climate Hazard and Vulnerability Assessment | 17 Sea Level Rise
San José has experienced a slow but gradual increase in the sea level, with a rise of nearly eight inches observed in the last century in Santa Clara County. Sea levels could rise up to 1.3 feet by mid-century and 6.5 feet by late-century according to the latest projections from the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC). Storm surge—the abnormal rise in sea level during a storm—is exacerbated by sea level rise (SLR) as higher water levels and strong winds push waves further onshore. The northern part of San José including the Alviso neighborhood is projected to be inundated by storm surge from the 100-year storm in 2050. By 2100, more of the area flooded by the 100-year storm is projected to be permanently inundated by SLR (Figure 5).

Drought
Drought is a prolonged period of below-average precipitation that often leads to water scarcity.

The severity of drought is often dependent on the amount of groundwater and surface water stored in aquifers and reservoirs. In San José, droughts are projected to become more severe as average annual temperatures rise and dry spells between precipitation events become longer. The maximum length of a dry spell, or consecutive days with less than one millimeter of precipitation, is projected to increase from 119 days historically to 129 days in mid-century and 134 days in late-century.

Figure 5. Extent of Projected SLR for Mid- and Late-Century under Medium and High-Risk Scenarios
20502100
Source: Silicon Valley 2.0 Climate Change Preparedness Tool.

Extent of SLR Extent of Storm Surge from the 100-year Storm 18 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan Wildfire
Wildfires are uncontrolled fires that burn in forests, grasslands, and other largely unpopulated areas. Most wildfires in California start from human activities, but their spread is influenced by fuel availability, wind, and weather conditions. Fire danger is affected by human behavior, vegetation, wind, temperature, humidity, and atmospheric stability. Fire seasons are projected to begin earlier and end later due to drier and warmer conditions, and cycles of longer dry periods with more intense precipitation events lead to a buildup of vegetation that fuel wildfires. Small portions along the city’s borders and the southern end of the city are in the High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) per the maps updated by CalFire in 2025 (Figure 6).6 The city is surrounded to the east and south by High and Very High FHSZ lands that are part of unincorporated Santa Clara County.

Although wildfires pose a great direct threat to property and people, the secondary impacts can be just as damaging. Wildfire smoke produces particulate matter that contributes to air pollution and reduced visibility. People, particularly those with underlying health conditions, are strongly advised to stay indoors on days with poor air quality because of wildfire smoke, which can penetrate deep into lungs and cardiovascular systems.

7. Figure 6 has been cropped and is included on the following page. The map can be viewed in its native format at: https://osfm.fire. ca.gov/what-we-do/community-wildfire-preparedness-and-mitigation/fire-hazard-severity-zones.

Wildfire smoke leads to unhealthy air quality.

The main pollutant in wildfire smoke is PM

2.5 which can cause respiratory issues and
cardiovascular problems.

To learn more and get prepared go to: https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments- offices/fire-department/public-education/wildfire-preparedness.

Ways to protect homes from wildfires include
creating defensible space, using flame-
resistant building materials, and installing fire-
resistant landscaping.

Chapter 2: Climate Hazard and Vulnerability Assessment | 19 Figure 6. Fire Hazard Severity Zones in San José
City and County boundaries as of 10/22/24 (CA Board of Equalization) CAL FIRE State Responsibility Areas (SRA25_1)
CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZSRA23_3, FHSZLRA_25_1) Data Sources:

Daniel Berlant, State Fire Marshal, CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Joe Tyler, Director/Fire Chief, CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Wade Crowfoot, Secretary for Natural Resources, CA Natural Resources Agency Gavin Newsom, Governor, State of CaliforniaThe State of California and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy of data or maps. Neither the State nor the Department shall be liable under any circumstances for any direct, special, incidental, or consequential damages with respect to any claim by any user or third party on account of, or arising from, the use of data or maps. and other relevant factors including areas where winds
have been identified by the Office of the State Fire Marshal as a major cause of wildfire spread.
statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas. Moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones shall be based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, Government Code section 51178 requires the State Fire
Marshal to identify areas in the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on consistent Waterbody
Federal Responsibility
Area (FRA)Unzoned LRA
Incorporated City
Projection: NAD 83 California Teale Albers
Scale: 1:176,000 at 11" x 17"
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14Km
0 2 4 6 8Mi
Very High High Moderate
Fire Hazard Severity Zones in State Responsibility Area (SRA), Effective April 1, 2024
Very High High Moderate
Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) in Local Responsibility Area (LRA), as Identified by the State Fire Marshal
San Jose
880
280
680

UNINCORPORATED
ALAMEDA CO.

UNINCORPORATED
SANTA CLARA CO.

UNINCORPORATED
SANTA CRUZ CO.

Monterey
Rd
101
101
17 85
130
87 237
82 CAMPBELL

CUPERTINO

FREMONT

LOS ALTOS

LOS GATOS

MILPITAS
MORGAN
HILL

MOUNTAIN VIEW
NEWARK

SANTA CLARA

SARATOGA

SUNNYVALE
A L A M E D A C O .

S A N T A C L A R A C O .

S A N TA C L ARA CO.

S A NTA C R U Z C O .

February 24, 2025
As Identified by the
State Fire Marshal
Local Responsibility Area
Fire Hazard Severity Zones
CITY OF SAN JOSE – SANTA CLARA COUNTY
City and County boundaries as of 10/22/24 (CA Board of Equalization) CAL FIRE State Responsibility Areas (SRA25_1)
CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZSRA23_3, FHSZLRA_25_1) Data Sources:

UNINCORPORATED
ALAMEDA CO.

UNINCORPORATED
SANTA CLARA CO.

UNINCORPORATED
SANTA CRUZ CO.

Monterey
Rd
101
101
17 85
130
87 237
82 CAMPBELL

CUPERTINO

FREMONT

LOS ALTOS

LOS GATOS

MILPITAS
MORGAN
HILL

MOUNTAIN VIEW
NEWARK

SANTA CLARA

SARATOGA

SUNNYVALE
A L A M E D A C O .

S A N T A C L A R A C O .

S A N TA C L ARA CO.

S A NTA C R U Z C O .

February 24, 2025
As Identified by the
State Fire Marshal
Local Responsibility Area
Fire Hazard Severity Zones
CITY OF SAN JOSE – SANTA CLARA COUNTY
20 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan Vulnerability Assessment Key Findings
The Vulnerability Assessment assessed how vulnerable 12 asset types within the city are to each of the five climate hazards (extreme heat, flood, sea level rise, drought, and wildfire).8 The following sections summarize the greatest vulnerabilities identified in the Vulnerability Assessment for critical facilities and infrastructure, private buildings, transportation, and populations.

Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
Critical facilities are a subset of the City’s total portfolio of municipal buildings and are a critical component in the City’s ability to prevent serious bodily harm, extensive property damage, or disruption of vital socioeconomic activities during emergencies. Examples of critical facilities include hospitals, schools, emergency operations centers, fire stations, and utility infrastructure. If these facilities are destroyed, damaged, or have impaired functionality, these services will be jeopardized.

Critical facilities have high vulnerability to flooding. Facilities can experience some physical damage and damage to building systems (e.g. electrical) due to flooding. Most importantly flooding in and around critical facilities can prevent employees from maintaining operations. In the case of some critical facility types like hospitals and fire stations, this could have major consequences on the health and safety of San José residents.

Water and wastewater infrastructure are highly vulnerable to flooding and SLR. Flood conveyance infrastructure and protection structures can be damaged if their capacity is exceeded during a flood event, and the Regional Wastewater Facility can sustain damage due to its location within the FEMA floodplains and SLR storm surge extent.

Residential, commercial, and industrial buildings have high vulnerability to flooding. Residents, owners, and other users may face reduced access to buildings due to flood waters. Buildings may also sustain severe physical damage that makes them unlivable or nonoperational for a period of time.

8. The full Vulnerability Assessment is available on the CARP webpage at https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments- offices/energy/climate-smart-san-jose/climate-adaptation-and-resilience-plan Private Buildings
Private buildings are the privately-owned residential, commercial, and industrial buildings in the city. They are vulnerable to direct property damage from climate hazards or indirect impacts like higher utility bills or poor indoor air quality.

Chapter 2: Climate Hazard and Vulnerability Assessment | 21 Transportation
Transportation infrastructure is vulnerable to climate change hazards, with likely impacts including physical infrastructure damage and reduced access. This can have negative effects on everyday commute travel, movement of goods and services, and likely severe consequences on evacuation procedures.

Populations
Everyone who lives and works in San José can experience negative impacts from climate change hazards. Many residents have additional social vulnerabilities and biological sensitivities that affect both the degree of exposure to climate hazards and sensitivity to impacts. Residents of socially vulnerable communities, mobilehome parks, rent-burdened households, older homes without air conditioning, and those who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness face elevated vulnerability to hazards- particularly flood, extreme temperatures, and poor air quality. A series of maps overlaying the socially vulnerable tracts (as the composite score, and further broken down by income, housing, language, and age indicators) and mobilehome parks with the hazards layers that have a geospatial footprint are shown in Figure 8 and can be viewed at https://arcg.is/1n0jjO.

Roads and highways are most vulnerable to flooding, extreme precipitation, sea level rise and, storm surge. This could have severe impacts on access to roads and consequently to essential services.

More frequent flooding can also result in damage of roads, highways, and cycling facilities, thus requiring increased maintenance and repair.

Older adults, children, and people with pre-existing health conditions are extremely vulnerable to the potentially deadly impacts of heat, wildfire smoke, and flooding.

Transit is most vulnerable to flooding, extreme precipitation, and wildfire. These hazards could cause transit infrastructure damage and service disruptions. Severe damage to infrastructure may result in longer-term access issues and can limit evacuation access for those without vehicles.

Electric vehicle charging network is most vulnerable to flooding and extreme precipitation as the charging infrastructure could sustain water damage or may become inaccessible (e.g. waterlogged parking areas). If electric vehicle charging networks and stations are inoperable, electric vehicle owners may have difficulty evacuating if their car is not charged. 22 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan Low-income households face higher vulnerability to all hazards because they have fewer financial resources available to prepare for hazard events and to bounce back from impacts. Low-income households may also have other characteristics which exacerbate vulnerability, such as working outdoors, being an older adult on a fixed income, and renting rather than owning their home. Renters already struggle to find affordable housing and could be at risk of homelessness if they lose their rent-stabilized or lower rent unit due to impacts of climate change.

Mobilehome parks, which are regulated
under the California Department of
Housing and Community Development,
often house populations who may
have increased vulnerability due to
socioeconomic characteristics, including
age and income.

Figure 7. Mobilehome Parks and Flood Zones
City Limits
EJ Communities
Mobilehome Parks
FEMA Flood Zones
100-Year Flood Zone
500-Year Flood Zone
California_Highways
Mobilehome Parks and
Flood Hazard Zones
0 2 4 61
Miles
Sources: City of San Jose, CARI 3.0,
California Protected Areas Database (CPAD), FEMA
City Limits
EJ Communities
Mobilehome Parks
FEMA Flood Zones
100-Year Flood Zone
500-Year Flood Zone
California_Highways
Mobilehome Parks and
Flood Hazard Zones
0 2 4 61
Miles
Sources: City of San Jose, CARI 3.0,
California Protected Areas Database (CPAD), FEMA
0 1 2 4 6
Miles
100-year Flood Zones
FEMA Flood Zones
500-year Flood Zones
City Limits
Mobilehome Parks
Socially Vulnerable
Communities
Sources: City of San José, CARI 3.0, California Protected Areas Database (CPAD), FEMA.

Approximately 11 mobilehome parks are
located within a FEMA 100- or 500-year
floodplain, and approximately 8 are directly
adjacent to floodplains. Some are also
projected to experience inundation from sea
level rise, making mobilehomes extremely
vulnerable to flooding impacts.

Mobilehomes themselves are more
vulnerable to impacts of heat, wildfire smoke,
and flooding due to less stringent design
standards than those required for permanent
structures. Some mobilehomes may also be
placed on non-permanent foundations.

Interstate/Highway
Chapter 2: Climate Hazard and Vulnerability Assessment | 23 Very High 2050 Extent of SLR (High SLR/Low Risk Tolerance) High
2100 Extent of SLR (High SLR/Low Risk Tolerance)
100-year Flood Zone
Fire Hazard Severity Zones2
0 2 4 61
Miles
0 1 2 4 6
Miles
Sea Level Rise Zones3
0 2 4 61
Miles
0 1 2 4 6
Miles
Flood Zones1
0 2 4 61
Miles
0 1 2 4 6
Miles
General Legend
Socially Vulnerable Communities
and Flood Zones
Sources: City of San José, CARI 3.0, California Protected Areas Database (CPAD), FEMA.

Socially Vulnerable Communities and Fire
Hazard Severity Zones
Sources: City of San José, CARI 3.0, California Protected Areas Database (CPAD), CalFire.

Socially Vulnerable Communities and Sea
Level Rise Zones*
Sources: City of San José, CARI 3.0, California Protected Areas Database (CPAD), Adapting to Rising Tides.
*Note SLR extent does not include storm surges.
1 2
3 Moderate
500-year Flood Zone
Figure 8. Socially Vulnerable Communities
and Climate Hazard Exposures
City Limits Socially Vulnerable
CommunitiesInterstate/Highway
24 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan CHAPTER 3
Framework for Climate
Resilient San José
The CARP is built on a vision and a set of principles that direct the City to focus on the most impactful ways to reduce the effects of climate change on the people, infrastructure, and natural environment of San José. This vision is reflected in the CARP Framework, which is the organizing structure for the CARP measures and strategies.

CARP Vision
The vision for the City’s CARP is to identify
the foundational measures, policies, and
procedures needed to reduce the vulnerability
of the San José community to climate-related
threats. The CARP will increase equity by
addressing the disproportionate climate
impacts and adaptive capacity needs of
vulnerable communities.

To facilitate this vision, the principles of the City’s CARP are to:
• Focus on measures and strategies within
the direct control of the City.
• Integrate with related City plans and
policies.
• Address inequities and reduce
climate-related impacts to vulnerable
communities.
• Identify the infrastructural, community,
and ecosystem impacts from climate-
related hazards.
• Apply best available research about climate
change impacts and adaptation measures.
• Identify adaptation measures that consider
infrastructure, facilities, and procedures.
• Address both property and personal health
and safety impacts.
• Explore nature-based solutions to increase
adaptive capacity.
• Identify climate resilience priorities and
necessary resources based on dialogue
with community organizations and equity
considerations.
• Collaborate and work in partnership
with relevant external entities, including
regional agencies.

Chapter 3: Framework for Climate Resilient San José | 25 CARP Framework
The CARP Framework is the organizational structure of the measures. It is designed to keep the Plan concise and to fulfill the CARP vision of focusing on “foundational measures” that address the most impactful ways to adapt to climate change and increase resilience. The Framework is composed of four categories, each of which contains between two and eight measures. A total of 19 measures were identified through research, evaluation, and stakeholder engagement.

The Framework categories are:

STRUCTURAL
These measures address physical
vulnerabilities through various physical
interventions or upgrades, e.g., strategies
to raise, shade, defend, harden, fireproof,
waterproof, using both engineered and
nature-based solutions.

COMMUNICATION
These measures address the need for
communication between the City and
residents and visitors of San José and
establishing ongoing collaborations and
network building with CBOs.

KNOWLEDGE
These measures intend to provide a
more detailed understanding of the
extent of existing vulnerabilities and the
measures needed to address them.

GOVERNANCE AND POLICY
These measures aim to clarify responsibility
for the planning, design, budgeting, and
implementation of resilience investments,
developing protocols for operations and
maintenance, and clarifying inconsistent
regulatory processes or overlapping
jurisdictional authorities.
26 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan CHAPTER 4
Measure Development
The CARP measures were developed and selected through an iterative, collaborative process between the consultants, collaborating regional agencies, the Climate Ready Working Group, and the community.

Existing Plan Review
The first step in the CARP development
process was a review of existing City and
regional agency plans to identify how the
CARP measures could align with any or fill
gaps in existing policies and programs related
to climate adaptation and resilience. The
review included over 20 plans, including:
• The Santa Clara County Multi-Jurisdictional
Hazard Mitigation Plan and San José Annex;
• The City Infrastructure Strategy;
• The City’s Climate Smart San José;
• The City’s Natural and Working Lands Element;
• The City’s [Wastewater Treatment] Plant
Master Plan;
• The City’s Community Forest Management Plan;
• The City’s Activate SJ; and
• The City’s Envision San José 2040 General Plan.

The plans reviewed pertain to topics related to
climate adaptation, such as climate mitigation,
infrastructure planning, and nature-based
solutions to climate change.

The CARP measures are meant to complement
the goals and policies contained in the other City
and regional plans but not overlap with them.

One finding of the existing plan review is that
the City and other relevant agencies have
robust policies in place to address flooding
from rivers and extreme precipitation.

Therefore, the CARP did not need to develop
many new measures for flooding.

Another finding is that the local agencies
that provide critical services to San José
(Valley Transportation Authority, Valley Water,
and PGE) already have climate vulnerability
assessments and climate adaptation plans
for their infrastructure and systems. This
analysis informed the principle that the CARP
measures should focus on procedures and
assets that are within the direct control
of the City.

The CARP highlights the opportunities to
collaborate on climate adaptation within the
City and other agencies and organizations,
as well strengthen the integration of climate
adaptation throughout City business.

Chapter 4: Measure Development | 27
Measure Selection
and Strategy Development
Input from City department representatives,
collaborating local agencies, and the
community informed the creation and
selection of the measures.

The measure identification and refinement
process began with an initial list of
approximately 30 draft measures. The list was
informed by climate adaptation planning
best practices, the review of existing plans
from other cities globally, meetings with
local agencies, and small group meetings
of community stakeholders. The list of draft
measures was then reduced to 19 through a
prioritization exercise. Each draft measure was
analyzed against criteria including if it:
1 Addresses climate vulnerability;
2 Increases equity;
3 Increases social cohesion; and
4 The City has direct implementation
authority.

The measures that scored the highest across
these four criteria were reviewed by City
staff and the Climate Ready Working Group
(CRWG). The measures were also presented
to the public at a workshop held in April
2025. This refinement and synthesis process
resulted in the selection of 19 measures to
direct how the City will take action to increase
climate resilience.

Each of the 19 measures includes a list of
strategies to provide clear, actionable direction
to the City departments that are responsible
for their implementation. The CRWG and City
department staff and leadership provided
input on the measures at multiple points
in their development. Each measure also
identifies the potential key collaborators, co-
benefits, and an estimation of a rough order
of magnitude cost.

Key collaborators are City departments,
outside agencies, or non-governmental
organizations identified as potential
collaborators for implementing one or more
strategies of a measure. Their role and level of
involvement will vary on a case-by-case basis.
28 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan Measure Development Process
Climate
Adaptation &
Resilience Plan
Climate Action Plan
Measure
Draft measures prioritized based on alignment with four criteria:

Draft measures reviewed by the Climate Ready Working
Group (CRWG), City, and community.

Draft measures reﬁned and consolidated to 19 ﬁnal measures.

Conducted ﬁnancial analysis and beneﬁt-cost analysis.

Strategies drafted for each measure and and Key
Collaborators assigned. Measures and strategies reviewed by the CRWG and City departments.

A d d r e s s e s c l i m a t e v u l n e r a b i l i t y I n c r e a s e s e q u i t y
I n c r e a s e s s o c i a l c o h e s i o n
T h e C i t y h a s d i r e c t i m p l e m e n t a t i o n a u t h o r i t y 1 2
3 4
CRW G & C ity R eview

MEASURE

IDEATION

MEASURE

PRIORITIZATION

FINAL LIST

OF MEASURES

STRATEGY

DEVELOPMENT

FINAL MEASURES

AND STRATEGIES
Developed list of 30 draft measures informed by technical analysis, best practices, community engagement,
and regional efforts.
1 2
3 4
5 CRW G & C ity R eview
Com m unity Input
Chapter 4: Measure Development | 29
30 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan 5 CHAPTER 5
Measures
Chapter 5: Measures | 31
How to Read the Measures
As established by the CARP Framework, the 19 measures are divided into four categories of Knowledge, Governance and Policy, Structural, and Communication. Each measure contains a description of the measure, a table of strategies to implement it, and a summary table of additional information.

KNOWLEDGE STRUCTURAL

COMMUNICATIONGOVERNANCE AND POLICY
These measures provide a more detailed
understanding of the extent of existing
vulnerabilities and what the City can do to
address them.

1. Site- and System-Specific Vulnerability
Studies (VS)

2. Climate Resilience and Adaptation
Funding (AF)

3. Shoreline Adaptation Plan (SA)

4. Priority Streets and Trails (PS)
These measures address physical
vulnerabilities through various measures,
e.g., raise, shade, defend, harden, fireproof,
waterproof, using both engineered and
nature-based solutions.

13. Community-Serving Facility Upgrades and
Resilience Hubs (RH)

14. Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GS)

15. Private HVAC Upgrades (HVAC)

16. Urban Heat Mitigation (UH)

17. Transit Facilities (TF)
These measures address communication
between the City and residents and visitors of
San José and collaboration with community-
based organizations.

18. Climate Adaptation and Resilience
Information (CI)

19. Community-Based Organizations (CBO)
These measures aim to clarify responsibility
for planning, design, budgeting, and
implementation of resilience investments,
developing protocols for operations and
maintenance, and clarifying inconsistent
regulatory processes or overlapping
jurisdictional authorities.

5. Internal Collaboration (IC)

6. Agency Collaboration (AC)

7. Advisory Groups (AG)

8. CARP Updates (CU)

9. Resilient City Infrastructure Design
Standards (CD)

10. Resilient Design Standards for Private
Development (PD)

11. Considerations for Development in Hazard-
Prone Areas (DC)

12. Transit Service during Extreme Events (TE)
32 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan Chapter 5: Measures | 33
Measure number,
abbreviation, and title.
1 Full measure text and
narrative explaining what
the measure means and
how it applies in San José.
2 Table of the strategies to
implement the measure.
3 Sidebar of details including: Key Collaborators, Implementation Timeframe, Climate Hazard(s) addressed, Related CARP Measures, Cost, Co-Benefits, and Tracking Metrics. 4 Guide to the Measures
Each measure contains a narrative description, a table of the strategies, and a sidebar summarizing important details.9
Measure 3—sa
Measure: Develop a shoreline adaptation plan that complies with requirements in the Regional Shoreline Adaptation Guidelines (RSAP) and continue to implement shoreline protection and restoration projects.

SB 272 requires jurisdictions on the San Francisco Bay shoreline to develop regionally coordinated adaptation plans by January 1, 2034. The Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) created the RSAP, which provides detailed requirements for each shoreline adaptation plan. The City is participating in a multi-jurisdictional application for funding to develop a plan for the Santa Clara County subregion. These efforts will likely include the departments and agencies listed in the Key Collaborators.

The subregional plan must include a vulnerability assessment, adaptation strategies, recommended projects, and an
implementation plan. The RSAP requires that all adaptation strategies in the shoreline adaptation plan prioritize natural and nature-based adaptation solutions like creek to Baylands reconnection and ecotone levees whenever feasible but can also include conventional engineering approaches.

The City can continue to support other ongoing multi-agency shoreline protection projects. This includes the South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Project, which will protect North San José and the community of Alviso from 2.6 feet of sea level rise and the 100-year flood through a combination of levees, salt pond restoration, and public access improvements.

Key Collaborators
BCDC; Caltrans; County of
Santa Clara; ED; other cities;
PBCE; PRNS; PW; Save the
Bay; SFEI; Valley Water; VTA
Implementation Timeframe
Long-Term (>5 years)
Climate Hazard(s) Addressed
Related CARP Measures
AC
Cost
$
Co-Benefits
Tracking Metrics
SB 272-compliant
subregional shoreline plan
adopted
Ecosystem health
Recreation
# STRATEGY DESCRIPTION
SA-1- Participate in the development of the subregional shoreline adaptation plan that complies with the RSAP
guidelines. Prioritize nature-based adaptation in the plan in alignment with the RSAP guidelines and the One Bay
Vision.

SA-2- Continue support for multi-agency shoreline protection projects, including the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration project and the South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Project.

SA-3- Identify priority levee or flood protection projects in coordination with Valley Water to protect the community and infrastructure from sea level rise while restoring
ecosystems, increasing open space and recreation areas, and providing habitat.

Shoreline Adaptation Plan
sTraTeGIes
Chapter 5: Measures | 37

9. Measure 1. Site- and System-Specific Vulnerability Assessments has a unique layout because its strategies call for the completion of four distinct studies that will be completed by different key collaborators. 34 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan Key Collaborators
The City departments, outside agencies, or non-governmental organizations identified as potential collaborators for implementing one or more strategies of a measure. Key Collaborators are those whose actions directly or indirectly guide the implementation of the CARP.

City departments can directly change City policies to implementation. Some City departments may take the lead on various measures and strategies and others may play a supporting role. Outside agencies (regional agencies, other cities and counties, state regulatory bodies, etc.) and non-governmental organizations (think tanks, academic institutions, advocacy groups, etc.) can impact City policies indirectly through regional rulemaking, participation in collaborative projects, and contributions of expertise.

The list of Key Collaborators is ordered alphabetically, not by the size of the collaborator’s role. Abbreviations for City departments, outside agencies and other organizations listed as potential Key Collaborators are as follows:

City Departments:
• BO: City Manager’s Budget Office
• CMO: City Manager’s Office
• DOT: Department of Transportation
• ED: Energy Department
• ESD: Environmental Services
Department
• FIN: Finance Department
• HSG: Housing Department
• LIB: Library
• OEDCA: Office of Economic
Development and Cultural Affairs
• OEM: Office of Emergency
Management
• PBCE: Planning, Building & Code
Enforcement
• PRNS: Parks, Recreation &
Neighborhood Services
• PW: Public Works Department
• SJFD: Fire Department
• SJPD: Police Department
Outside agencies and organizations:
• BayCAN: Bay Area Climate Adaptation
Network
• BCDC: Bay Conservation and
Development Commission
• OSA: Santa Clara County Open Space
Authority
• PGE: Pacific Gas and Electric
• SC4: Santa Clara County Climate
Collaborative
• SFEI: San Francisco Estuary Institute
• SPUR: San Francisco Bay Area
Planning and Urban Research
Association
• Valley Water: Santa Clara Valley Water
District
• VTA: Valley Transportation Authority
Measure Key
Chapter 5: Measures | 35

10. Extreme weather includes extreme heat and additional hazards such as extreme cold, wind, and storms. Impacts of extreme weather are largely addressed by the measures that address extreme heat and flooding.

Implementation Timeframe
Lists one of the following four timeframes.
▷ Ongoing
▷ Short-Term (<2 years)
▷ Mid-Term (2-5 years)
▷ Long-Term (>5 years)
Some measures, say “[timeframe],” then
“ongoing” to indicate that a process should
be created in a certain timeframe, then
implemented continuously going forward.

Climate Hazard(s) Addressed:

Lists hazards addressed by the measure.

Extreme heat
Flood
Wildfire
Sea level rise
Drought
Extreme weather 10
Related CARP Measures
Lists the related CARP measures by their
abbreviation. Clicking on the underlined
abbreviations will navigate to that
measure’s page in the document.

Cost
A rough order of magnitude ($-$$$) of
costs to implement the measure.
• $: Low, <$100,000
• $$: Medium, $100,000-500,000
• $$$: High, >$500,000
Co-Benefits
Lists which of the following co-benefits are
gained from the measure:
11 Ecosystem health
Public health
Emergency preparedness
Grid reliability
Equity
Community cohesion
Recreation
Active transportation
Transit access
Air quality
Water capture/quality
GHG emissions reductions
Cost savings
Economic development
Tracking Metrics
Each measure has unique metrics for
tracking implementation.

11. Co-benefits listed are not applied to measures when they are the primary benefit. For example, “transit access” and “active transportation” are not listed as co-benefits for the Priority Streets and Bike Routes measure because that is its primary purpose/benefit.
36 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan MEASURE 1—VS
Site- and System-Specific Vulnerability Studies
Several issues were identified in the
Vulnerability Assessment that need
more data collection and analysis
before specific recommendations
can be developed. Targeted studies
will fill these knowledge gaps and
provide a better understanding
of site- and system-specific
vulnerabilities and support the
development of interventions that
can reduce exposure or that can
contribute to providing critical
services. The departments carrying
out the studies should report back
to City Council or other City bodies
upon their completion to summarize
their findings and provide
recommendations for further action.

Key Collaborators12
Varies by Strategy:

ED (VS-1); ED (VS-2); ED and
PRNS (VS-3); ESD (VS-4); HSG
(VS-1); PW (VS-3); PW and
PRNS (VS-2);
Implementation Timeframe
Short-Term (<2 years)
Climate Hazard(s) Addressed
Related CARP Measures

CD, PD, DC, RH
Cost
See cost of individual
strategies.

Co-Benefits
Equity
Public health
Grid reliability
Emergency preparedness
Tracking Metrics
Completion of studies
# STRATEGY DESCRIPTION COST
VS-1- Study nature-based and infrastructural strategies to protect mobilehome parks located in frequent riverine flooding, projected sea level rise locations, or areas with storm drain deficiencies/issues which can be exacerbated with sea level rise. $
VS-2- Identify facilities for Resilience Hub upgrades. Prioritize facilities that:
· Serve and/or are located within 3 miles of identified socially vulnerable communities per City of San José Climate Vulnerability Assessment; · Are located near major transportation nodes; and/or
· Align with Measure T projects.
$
VS-3- Conduct engineering-level assessments of City facilities to understand project feasibility at facilities prioritized by previous PW studies of potential microgrid sites. $$
VS-4- Identify systems and technologies that can reduce water demand and/or increase non-potable water sources.
$

12. For this measure only, each strategy has its own cost in the strategy table. VS-1 through VS-4 are distinct studies to be completed by different key collaborators.

KNOWLEDGE
Measure: Conduct studies to better understand site- and system-specific vulnerabilities and potential interventions for mobilehome parks, City facilities, and water system.

STRATEGIES
Chapter 5: Measures | 37
MEASURE 2—AF
Measure: Explore options to fund the CARP climate resilience and adaptation efforts.

Funding sources for resilience can come from multiple sources.

Some resilience measures can leverage or add on to other investments being made to City facilities or infrastructure. As specific funding programs change regularly, the City needs to continuously research options to fund the CARP.

Key Collaborators
BO; CMO; ED; FIN; PRNS; PW;
SC4
Implementation Timeframe
Ongoing
Climate hazard(s) addressed
Related CARP Measures
All
Cost
$$-$$$
Co-Benefits
N/A
Tracking Metrics
CARP measures with funding
secured for implementation;
CARP measures included
in the Capital Improvement
Plan; Amount ($) of grants
secured, amount of funds for
dedicated maintenance
# STRATEGY DESCRIPTION
AF-1- Pursue a sustainable funding source for City adaptation and resilience projects, such as a fund that is self-
replenished through available tax credits and/or a bond.

AF-2- Determine what CARP measures will be accomplished through the existing capital improvement program (CIP).

When measures are already part of the CIP:
· Assess whether additional sources of funding are
necessary to implement the measures related to
additional strategies called for in the CARP.
· Assess opportunities for departments to join projects or collaborate if measures are part of individual
department CIPs.

AF-3- Develop a list of high priority grants to pursue.

AF-4- Develop a list of revenue generating measures to pursue.

AF-5- Provide grant writing support to departments that are less familiar with preparing grant applications. Hire
consultants as needed to support grant applications.

AF-6- Pursue partnerships to share costs or achieve greater impact. May include partnerships with green banks and
other financial institutions that could provide capital for financing building retrofits and other community-focused measures.

Climate Resilience and Adaptation Funding

STRATEGIES
38 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan MEASURE 3—SA
Measure: Develop a shoreline adaptation plan that complies with requirements in the Regional Shoreline Adaptation Guidelines (RSAP) and continue to implement shoreline protection and restoration projects.

SA-2- Continue support for multi-agency shoreline protection projects, including the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration project and the South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Project.

Shoreline Adaptation Plan

STRATEGIES
Chapter 5: Measures | 39
Measure: Identify Tier 1 priority streets, such as the Grand Boulevards, and bike lanes for priority clearing of leaves, branches, and debris after major storms.

Priority streets (including City grand boulevards) and priority pedestrian and bicycle routes and trails (including Class I trails), would provide critical access and egress during disruptive events. City resources would be allocated to these streets first during an event to ensure continued traffic operations, allow emergency access and egress for vehicles, transit, pedestrians and bicyclists, and emergency services. In the case of a power outage, police acting as traffic controllers should be deployed at major intersections along these corridors to ensure operations. City resources would later be allocated to prioritize maintenance and cleaning up of prioritized roadways, sidewalks, bicycle facilities, and trails post-event. Priority transportation facilities can be identified in the updated Circulation Element of the General Plan and/or the Trails Master Planning GIS layer, as applicable.

Key Collaborators
DOT; PBCE; PRNS; PW; SJFD;
SJPD
Implementation Timeframe
Mid-Term (2-5 years)
Climate Hazard(s) Addressed
Related CARP Measures

TE, RH, TF
Cost
$
Co-Benefits
Emergency preparedness
Tracking Metrics
Priority corridors, trails, and
intersections identified
# STRATEGY DESCRIPTION
PS-1- Identify Tier 1 and Tier 2 Priority Corridors, trails, and intersections that align with major transit routes,
evacuation routes, and community input for the
prioritized clearing of leaves, branches and debris after major storms. Incorporate into General Plan and Trails
Master Planning GIS layer, identifying emergency shelters, community centers, and transit hubs.

PS-2- Identify key transportation access routes to/from community facilities as needed (i.e. flood protection, etc.) to allow access during climate hazard events and conduct upgrades as needed.

STRATEGIES
MEASURE 4—PS
Priority Streets and Trails
40 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan Measure: Develop structures to facilitate coordination among City departments for the implementation of the CARP.

Resilience planning and implementation require coordinated input from multiple City agencies, which necessitates the establishment of formal methods to facilitate coordination among departments.

A key outcome of this coordination is ensuring that resilience is integrated throughout City plans, policies, and operations moving forward. City departments also need to work together on investments in physical projects that reduce climate hazard exposure, and methods to communicate to the citizens about what the City is doing and what services are available.

Key Collaborators
CMO; DOT; ED; OEM; PBCE;
PRNS; PW
Implementation Timeframe
Short-Term (<2 years), then
ongoing
Climate Hazard(s) Addressed
Related CARP Measures
All
Cost
N/A (staff time)
Co-Benefits
N/A
Tracking Metrics
Internal group formally
established
# STRATEGY DESCRIPTION
IC-1- Establish the Climate Ready Working Group as a formal entity within the structure of the City.

IC-2- Establish metrics, indicators, and procedures for departmental staff to track and report on the CARP
measures and strategies.

IC-3I Identify opportunities in the CIP to promote climate resilience consistent with the CARP.

STRATEGIES
MEASURE 5—IC
Internal Coordination

GOVERNANCE AND POLICY
Chapter 5: Measures | 41
Measure: Collaborate with regional agencies that operate critical infrastructure in San José.

Climate issues cross jurisdictional boundaries and impact many critical services like electricity delivery, water and wastewater, mobility, and stormwater management. Formalizing a collaborative structure to engage with regional and subregional agencies to reduce exposure and prepare for climate-related events will enable synergies in planning and investment and provide clarity on what resources can be contributed during disruptive or hazardous events. This can take the form of a working group or commission.

Key Collaborators
BayCan; BCDC; Caltrans; CMO;
County of Santa Clara; ED;
ESD; OEM; OSA; other cities;
PGE; PW; SC4; Valley Water;
VTA
Implementation Timeframe
Ongoing
Climate Hazard(s) Addressed
Related CARP Measures

SA, PS, CD, TE, RH, GS, TF
Cost
Staff Time
Co-Benefits
Tracking Metrics
Meeting participation
Emergency preparedness
# STRATEGY DESCRIPTION
AC-1- Participate in regularly scheduled meetings to coordinate with Valley Water, VTA, PGE, and other state and regional entities.

AC-2- Continue engagement and leadership with County and subregional bodies, including but not limited to BCDC,
BayCan, and SC4.

AC-3-
Identify and carry out opportunities to collaborate between the regional and subregional agencies to maximize the
benefits of infrastructure and adaptation investments.

Continue leadership roles on the SC4 Resilience Fund
Advisory Committee and the Public Facility Resilience
Implementation Program (PFRIP) Coalition.

STRATEGIES
MEASURE 6—AC
Agency Collaboration
42 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan Measure: Empower and coordinate with community liaisons to support the City’s climate adaptation and resilience measures.

The City has numerous advisory bodies that relate to climate resilience, including: the Climate Advisory Commission; Planning Commission; Smart City Advisory Board; Youth Commission; Senior Citizens Commission; Library and Education Commission; and Parks and Recreation Commission. While the Climate Advisory Commission is specifically focused on climate change topics, climate resilience impacts many sectors of City business. Climate resilience can be incorporated into City advisory bodies by including climate items in the types of presentations that can be brought before the group by staff, or incorporating a section about how items relate to climate resilience in staff reports.

Key Collaborators
ED; PBCE; PRNS; PW; SC4
Implementation Timeframe
Short-Term (<2 years), then
ongoing
Climate Hazard(s) Addressed
Related CARP Measures
CI
Cost
Staff Time
Co-Benefits
Tracking Metrics
Number of advisory bodies
with climate resilience
integrated; Trainings provided
Equity
Community cohesion
# STRATEGY DESCRIPTION
AG-1- Identify the City commissions and advisory groups that should incorporate climate resilience in their role.

AG-2- Modify the bylaws and responsibilities of the identified commissions and advisory groups to formalize inclusion
of climate resilience in the types of items they review.

AG-3- Develop and implement trainings for commission and advisory group members about climate change impacts in
San José, tailored to the kind of business they discuss.

STRATEGIES
MEASURE 7—AG
Advisory Groups
Chapter 5: Measures | 43
Measure: Update the CARP as climate science and adaptation approaches evolve.

Projections about climate hazards, our knowledge about
climate vulnerabilities and impacts, and the tools that exist to adapt continuously change. From a data perspective, San José should regularly update its adaptation plan to align with the best available climate and sea level rise projections. The State of California updates its Climate Change Assessment every five years, OPC Sea Level Rise Guidance every five years, Climate Adaptation Strategy every three years, and Coastal Commission Sea Level Rise Policy Guidance every five years. Additional sources of locally “ground-truthed” data should also be considered. This may include data from local research organizations, advocacy groups, and community members, such as flood maps that
identify where actual flooding occurs in the Bay Area beyond the FEMA floodplains.

Additionally, new CARP measures will need to be identified and developed since a majority of them are meant to be implemented within five years. The City should consider the implementation and impact of the original 19 CARP measures when developing new measures.

Key Collaborators
ED; ESD; OEDCA; OEM;
PBCE; PRNS; PW
Implementation Timeframe
Long Term (>5 years)
Climate Hazard(s) Addressed
Related CARP Measures
N/A
Cost
$
Co-Benefits
N/A
Tracking Metrics
CARP updated
# STRATEGY DESCRIPTION
CU-1- Update the CARP every five years to align with state guidance, incorporate best available climate projections, and implementation status of CARP measures.

STRATEGIES
MEASURE 8—CU
CARP Updates
44 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan Measure: Incorporate climate change projections and climate hazards into design and siting decisions for City infrastructure.

City investments in infrastructure and buildings should be designed and constructed to be more resilient to the impacts of climate hazards including extreme heat, flooding, SLR, and wildfires. As indicated by the Vulnerability Assessment, climate hazards and events are projected to increase in intensity and frequency in the coming decades. This aligns with the decades-long useful life of City infrastructure and buildings. With this, the City should protect its investments and minimize operational disruptions in the future by siting and designing infrastructure and buildings to be resilient to climate change. Some of the design standards may call for early interdepartmental coordination, increased maintenance, the use of sustainable building materials and/or new ways of operating.

Infrastructure projects (particularly streets), can be designed to include nature-based solutions to flooding and heat like bioswales, landscaped medians, and increased shade through tree planting or incorporating shade structures. Design standards requiring reflective surfaces could be developed to reduce urban heat accumulation. In City buildings and facilities, other potential design considerations could include placing electrical panels away from or elevated in areas subject to flooding, requiring cool roofs, or requiring battery backup systems to reduce disruptions if the grid is impacted by extreme heat or public safety power shutoffs.

Key Collaborators
BayREN; DOT; PRNS;
Prospect SV; PW; SPUR
Implementation Timeframe
Long term (>5 years)
Climate Hazard(s) Addressed
Related CARP Measures

VS, RH, GS, UH, TF
Cost
$$
Co-Benefits
Active transportation
Equity
Air quality
Water capture/quality
Ecosystem health
Recreation
Tracking Metrics
Standards adopted
# STRATEGY DESCRIPTION
CD-1- Adopt and implement design standards to account for current and future extreme heat events, flooding, SLR,
and wildfires/wildfire smoke in design standards for City infrastructure and facilities.

CD-2- Develop EV charging design standards to support
continued operation of fleet vehicles during a climate- related emergency.

CD-3- Review the design standards every 3-5 years to consider advancements in technology and performance data from
City buildings and update as feasible.

STRATEGIES
MEASURE 9—CD
Resilient City Infrastructure Design Standards
Chapter 5: Measures | 45
Measure: Explore local code amendments for new private development that reduce the impacts of climate hazards.

Private development refers to residential, commercial, and other types of privately-owned development where people live, work, and play. As climate change intensifies, San José is expected to experience more frequent and severe floods, heat waves, wildfire and other hazards. The City can enhance the durability of the built environment by incorporating climate resilience into the codes and design standards that guide new development. Over time, these incremental improvements to the City’s building stock can provide neighborhood and community-scale benefits.

To strengthen resilience in the buildings sector, the City can adopt local code amendments that set higher standards than what is required by the State. There is precedence for this type of measure in San José in the context of climate mitigation; the City has already adopted local “reach codes” that mandate a higher percentage of EV-capable parking spaces in multifamily buildings and require nonresidential buildings to be designed to accommodate future solar installations. For climate adaptation and resilience, the City can consider adopting local code amendments to encourage (or even require) measures such as improved HVAC system performance, tightly sealed building envelopes, heat resistant building materials and shading, and water efficiency.

These building code changes primarily affect the building stock and building occupants, but they can result in co-benefits for the environment. For example, Low Impact Development (LID) helps capture and filter stormwater. Or, implementing more passive cooling strategies reduces energy use associated with air conditioning, thus reducing GHG emissions.

Measure continued on the following page.

Key Collaborators
ED; PBCE; SJFD
Implementation Timeframe
Mid-Term (2-5 years)
Climate Hazard(s) Addressed
Related CARP Measures

HVAC, UH
Cost
$$, Consulting Services
+ Staff Time
Co-Benefits
Tracking Metrics
Number of reach codes
enacted; Number of buildings
that meet the requirements
of each reach code
Ecosystem health
Public health
Air quality
Water capture/quality
GHG emissions reductions
MEASURE 10—PD
Resilient Design Standards for Private Development
46 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan # STRATEGY DESCRIPTION
PD-1- Assess opportunities to strengthen City’s codes and design standards to require climate-resilient building and site-planning practices including:
· Fire: Adopting more stringent ignition-resistant
construction, defensible space clearance, and other
wildland fire safety practices than what is required by the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code (Title 24, Part 7). Standards could also be applied to more areas
beyond the High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity
Zones put forth by the state.
· Flood/SLR: Incorporating SLR-related flooding impacts in the Flood Ordinance and implementing Low Impact
Development (LID) requirements.
· Heat/extreme weather: Including the use of higher-
performing building materials and systems such as
efficient HVAC systems, air filtration, thermal-efficient insulation materials, and high-performance windows.

Urban design and built form elements for shading (such
as breezeways, arcades, sun sails, shade structures) and cooling (such as cool roofs, evaporative cooling, and
water features).

PD-2P Develop publicly accessible informational resources explaining changes to City codes and design standards
per PD-1.

PD-3- Include a narrative regarding climate adaptation and resilience considerations to the Climate Smart section of Committee and City Council memorandum templates.

STRATEGIES
Chapter 5: Measures | 47
Measure: Evaluate policies to manage development in climate hazard-prone areas.

Continuing to develop in areas at risk of flooding, wildfire, and SLR increases the risks to people and communities. The City has planning tools that include the General Plan, Municipal Code, Council Policies, and design guidelines that can be used to limit development in at-risk areas or to ensure that any development that does occur in at-risk areas is built to be resilient. In the case of wildfire and flood, the state and/or federal government have requirements that the City must incorporate or choose to exceed.

Natural and working lands (NWL) are also an important
consideration for resilient development patterns. The City’s Natural and Working Lands Element, which is incorporated into the 2025 Climate Smart update, has goals related to NWL preservation and expansion, and restoration and enhancement. The City should also continue collaborating with the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority (OSA) on efforts that restore NWL that buffer developed areas from hazards, such as Laguna Seca wetland restoration in Coyote Valley and fuel management in the Santa Teresa Foothills.

This CARP measure does not make any determinations about what specific geographic areas, degree of hazard vulnerability/risk, or development types any new policies would apply to. The measure only directs the City to identify where policy changes can and should be made. If the City does recommend policy updates, the focus and parameters would be determined through the relevant department’s full policy development process.

Key Collaborators
HSG; OEDCA; OEM; OSA;
PBCE; PRNS; PW; SJFD
Implementation Timeframe
Long term (>5 years)
Climate Hazard(s) Addressed
Related CARP Measures
VS, PD
Cost
$
Co-Benefits
Tracking Metrics
Evaluation of existing policies
completed
Ecosystem health
Public health
Emergency preparedness
# STRATEGY DESCRIPTION
DC-1 Evaluate the City’s General Plan, Municipal Code, Council Policies, and other relevant planning documents and
hazard-related ordinances to identify existing policies related to development in areas vulnerable to climate
hazards. Assess the gaps and opportunities to encourage resilient development patterns, and restore and protect ecosystems.

DC-2 Consider updates to the City’s General Plan, Municipal Code, Council Policies, etc. in alignment with the findings of DC-1.

STRATEGIES
MEASURE 11—DC
Considerations for Development in Hazard-Prone Areas
48 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan Measure: Collaborate with VTA and other transit service providers to provide enhanced transit service between communities with low car ownership and heating/cooling shelters or resilience hubs during extreme weather events and other climate-related emergencies.

During extreme weather events, DOT will collaborate with VTA to ensure transit services remain available, prioritizing direct access to key resources such as heating/cooling centers or resilience hubs for vulnerable communities and transit dependent populations.

DOT will coordinate with VTA and other transit agencies to explore options, such as reduced or no cost transit services, that correspond with the severity of the event and support communities with low car ownership. The City, in partnership with VTA, other transit agencies and community-based organizations, will identify priority transit routes that serve vulnerable populations.

Key Collaborators
DOT13; VTA
Implementation Timeframe
Mid-Term (2-5 years)
Climate Hazard(s) Addressed
Related CARP Measures

AC, PS, TF, CBO
Cost
$$
Co-Benefits
Equity
Public health
Emergency preparedness
Tracking Metrics
Socially vulnerable
communities service area
coverage during events, travel
time to resilience hubs
# STRATEGY DESCRIPTION
TE-1 Define clear criteria for when reduced fare or free transit services should be activated, as well as when service
suspensions may be necessary during climate-related
emergency events.

TE-2 Identify funding opportunities for providing reduced-fare or free transit services during climate-related emergency events.

TE-3- Identify vulnerable areas and key routes that will require continued transit access during climate-related emergency situations.

TE-4- Collaborate with VTA to develop a plan for deploying supplemental transit shuttles along evacuation routes
and to/from resilience hubs. The plan should prioritize service to vulnerable areas, with designated pick-up and drop-off zones.

STRATEGIES
MEASURE 12—TE
Transit Service During Extreme Events

13. DOT is responsible for collaborating with VTA. VTA is primarily responsible for operating transit service in San José.

Chapter 5: Measures | 49

STRUCTURAL
As climate-related emergencies become more frequent and severe, communities need safe, accessible spaces that can provide support during disruptions. These “resilience hubs” will be able to provide shelter, resources, and essential services to residents during emergencies. To meet this need, the City can upgrade community-serving municipal facilities such as recreation centers, libraries, cultural spaces, and community centers so that they remain functional and accessible during climate hazard events.

The City should create a network of resilience hubs across the City to ensure geographic coverage and redundancy. These locations will be identified by Strategy VS-2 in Measure 1 Site- and System- Specific Vulnerability Studies. In the event of an evacuation, resilience hubs can be a destination for transit services to drop- off evacuees from areas of high risk and serve as EV charging hubs. Currently, some community centers in the City serve as cooling centers, offering WiFi, charging stations, and emergency preparedness workshops. There is potential to expand, formalize, and better fund this network to enhance its effectiveness and reach. Some Measure T projects may present strong opportunities to implement resilience upgrades at key Community Center Hubs:

Roosevelt, Mayfair, Seven Trees, Bascom, Camden, Evergreen, Berryessa, and Almaden.

Resilience hubs should be concentrated in socially vulnerable communities, as these neighborhoods are most likely to require services during and after a hazardous event. Once identified, facilities should be retrofitted and/or equipped to provide shelter and emergency services to residents. These upgrades align with strategies outlined in the Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan and build on ongoing countywide efforts, including those led by the County Public Health Department, to strengthen local resilience hub networks and better serve vulnerable populations during climate-driven events.

Measure continued on the following page.

Key Collaborators
DOT (RH-3); ED (RH-1) LIB;
OEM (RH-5); PRNS; PW
Implementation Timeframe
Mid-Term (2-5 years)
Climate Hazard(s) Addressed
Related CARP Measures

VS, AC, CD, TE, UH, TF
Cost
$$$
Co-Benefits
Public health
Emergency preparedness
Community cohesion
Tracking Metrics
Percent of Council Districts
that have a City resilience
hub; Percent of heating/
cooling centers located
within three miles of socially
vulnerable communities
that are resilience hubs;
Percent of City facilities
with installed backup power
systems (by type); Percent
of facilities with HVAC
systems upgraded to meet
resilience standards
MEASURE 13—RH
Community-Serving Facility and Resilience Hubs
Measure: Upgrade community-serving municipal facilities (such as recreation facilities, community centers, cultural facilities, and libraries) to ensure functionality during climate hazard events and establish accessible resilience hubs across San José. 50 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan # STRATEGY DESCRIPTION
RH-1- Update electrical infrastructure to support battery backup systems and island operations at facilities as identified in VS-2. Install battery backup systems or other onsite backup power systems to allow for continuous power
during grid outages.

RH-2- Install and/or upgrade EV chargers and associated electrical service at facilities as identified in VS-2.

RH-3- Upgrade HVAC systems to be able to run on backup
power and handle wildfire smoke and higher
temperatures. This may include upgrading HVAC air filters to MERV ratings of at least 13, installing HEPA air purifiers to capture small particles from wildfire smoke or other forms of air pollution, and reduce air leakage from walls, windows and roofs.

RH-4- Coordinate with City departments that manage and run the facilities to create emergency supply storage and
stock secure area with essentials (water at a minimum).

STRATEGIES
Chapter 5: Measures | 51
Measure: Develop and implement public and private green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) projects to capture stormwater, reduce flooding, and mitigate extreme heat.

Green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) is a nature-based solution to flooding that uses engineered natural systems to capture runoff and promote natural infiltration of rainwater. By increasing vegetation cover and enhancing surface permeability, GSI can mitigate the urban heat island effect, reduce the risk of flooding during heavy rainstorms. It also improves water quality, and enhance resilience during droughts by supporting the replenishment of underground aquifers. Examples of smaller-scale GSI interventions include rain gardens, bioswales, permeable pavements, green roofs, and tree well filters. Landscape-scale interventions like wetland restoration also contribute to water capture and infltration.

The City’s 2019 Green Stormwater Infrastructure Plan outlines a long-term strategy to integrate GSI into new development and capital improvement projects, with future attention given to address the long-term maintenance costs of GSI facilities. The plan encourages GSI on public and private development and properties, though the requirements for each are different. For example, the City implements GSI for public projects and developers or property owners implement GSI for private projects. Design standards for public projects are set by the GSI plan; standards for private projects are set by Provision C.3 of the Municipal Regional Stormwater Permit.

The City’s Complete Streets Design Standards and Guidelines also support the incorporation of green infrastructure in street design, describing the considerations of different green infrastructure elements (e.g., rain gardens, parkstrips, infiltration planters, and stormwater tree wells).
14 This measure builds on regional climate
action planning, including the Valley Water Climate Change Action Plan that has green stormwater infrastructure projects as an actionable strategy for water supply adaptation.
15 It also
aligns with the City’s efforts to integrate green stormwater infrastructure to address stormwater system overflows (2023 City Infrastructure Strategy) and transition away from traditional ‘gray’ infrastructure systems.

Measure continued on the following page.

Key Collaborators
County; DOT; ESD; OED;
PBCE; PRNS; PW; SFEI
Implementation Timeframe
Short-Term (<2 years)
Climate Hazard(s) Addressed
Related CARP Measures

CD, PD, UH
Cost
$$
Co-Benefits
Tracking Metrics
Number of GSI projects
completed; Number of
priority areas identified for
GSI benefits
Air quality
Water capture/quality
Ecosystem health
MEASURE 14—GS
Green Stormwater Infrastructure

14. City of San José. (2018) San José Complete Streets Design Standards & Guidelines. https://www.sanjoseca.gov/home/ showpublisheddocument/33113/636771160514830000

15. Valley Water. (2021). Climate Change Action Plan. https://fta.valleywater.org/dl/WE26jeeXbS 52 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan # STRATEGY DESCRIPTION
GS-1 Work with Santa Clara County and SFEI to identify
priority areas and projects that would benefit most from green stormwater infrastructure based on watershed or
hydrology analyses, equity and community need, and
infrastructure opportunities.
16 GS-2 Follow guidelines on green stormwater infrastructure described in the Complete Streets/Design guidelines.

GS-3- Increase stormwater capture (through green stormwater infrastructure and low impact development) and natural
treatment to improve water quality entering creeks and to enhance the groundwater recharge capacity of the Santa
Clara Subbasin.

STRATEGIES

16. The City can consider local sources of data that “ground-truthed” areas where community members support nature-based solutions to flooding, such as SFEI and Climate Resilient Communities’ Healthy Watersheds and Thriving Cities project.

Chapter 5: Measures | 53
Measure: Improve HVAC and air filtration systems to handle higher temperatures and more frequent days with poor air quality.

As climate change drives more frequent and intense heat waves, there is an urgent need to protect public health and ensure indoor environments remain cool on days with extreme heat. Many buildings in San José do not currently have air conditioning, which can lead to negative health impacts for all residents but particularly vulnerable populations such as older adults and children. To protect public health, buildings can be upgraded to include cooling systems that use energy-efficient heat pump technology.

Modern HVAC systems are more efficient, and when enrolled in a demand response program, the systems use less energy during heat waves when energy demand surges. This also has the co- benefit of reducing the incidence of brownouts and blackouts. New HVAC systems are also equipped with more advanced air filtration systems, which can better protect residents from wildfire smoke and air pollution.

San José Clean Energy currently supports upgrades to efficient HVAC systems through its EcoHome Rebate and Payment Plan programs. Other existing programs that the City can promote include the statewide TECH Clean California program and the State-administered Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEEHRA). The City can also offer incentives for window or portable air conditioners or provide portable units during heat waves. All San José Clean Energy customers can participate in its demand response program Peak Rewards and get paid to support a more resilient grid.

Measure continued on the following page.

Key Collaborators
ED; OEDCA
Implementation Timeframe
Mid-Term (2-5 years)
Climate Hazard(s) Addressed
Related CARP Measures
PD
Cost
$$
Co-Benefits
Tracking Metrics
Number of buildings
upgraded with efficient, heat
pump HVAC systems through
City-supported programs
Air quality
Grid reliability
Public health
Cost savings
Economic development
MEASURE 15—HVAC
Private HVAC Systems
54 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan # STRATEGY DESCRIPTION
HVAC-1 Further develop San José Clean Energy’s EcoHome
incentive and financing programs to increase access to
electric heat pump HVAC systems for residents (especially in socially Vulnerable communities) and potentially
businesses.

HVAC-2 Promote/build on available non-City incentive programs to increase incentives for HVAC upgrades, such as the
Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates program,
Home Efficiency Rebates program, and the Energy
Savings Assistance Program.

HVAC-3- Explore establishing a rebate or check out program for portable air conditioners that can be deployed to low-
income communities and households during more
frequent heat waves. See the Los Angeles Cool LA
Program, which offers free portable air conditioning units to residents over age 60, on fixed incomes, or enrolled in the EZ-SAVE or Lifeline discount rate programs.

STRATEGIES
Chapter 5: Measures | 55
Measure: Support infrastructure improvements to mitigate urban heat.

Areas of San José characterized by dense development, limited green space, and extensive paved surfaces experience higher temperatures due to the urban heat island effect. This phenomenon occurs when dark surfaces trap heat from sunlight and heat emitted from vehicles and industry, increasing local temperatures. As climate change drives more frequent days with high temperatures, the urban heat island effect will exacerbate existing heat vulnerabilities, particularly in socially vulnerable communities. Prolonged exposure to heat poses serious risks to public health, disrupts critical facilities, and undermines economic wellbeing.

To reduce the impacts of extreme heat, the City can implement a range of strategies to improve the ability of buildings, neighborhoods, and infrastructure to mitigate urban heat. This includes nature-based solutions like increasing the tree canopy, as well as other improvements on City-owned streets, facilities, and public spaces at locations identified by the City or locally “ground- truthed” data sources.

Natural and working lands (NWL) in and around San José are crucial for cooling the urban environment. The City’s Natural and Working Lands Element, which is incorporated into the 2025 Climate Smart update, has goals related to NWL preservation and expansion, and restoration and enhancement. The City should also continue collaborating with the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority (OSA) on efforts that restore NWL.

Key Collaborators
DOT; ED; ESD; PBCE; PRNS;
PW
Implementation Timeframe
Long-Term (>5 years)
Climate Hazard(s) Addressed
Related CARP Measures
VS, GS
Cost
$$-$$$
Co-Benefits
Air quality
Water capture/quality
Ecosystem health
Public health
Cost savings
GHG emissions reductions/
Carbon Sequestration
Tracking Metrics
Percent increase in urban
tree canopy or vegetative
cover; number of new trees
planted and maintained
on City-owned streets and
facilities; number of City-led
projects implemented using
greening/cooling strategies
(and % in socially vulnerable
communities)
# STRATEGY DESCRIPTION
UH-1 Expand and maintain the tree canopy on City-owned
streets, facilities, and public spaces in alignment with the Community Forest Management Plan to reduce heat
exposure and protect infrastructure.

UH-2U Implement Natural and Working Land Element policies and actions to preserve, expand, restore, and enhance
natural and working lands.

UH-3 Research, pilot, and implement the most effective
street-level strategies to reduce urban heat, such as
cool pavements, increased tree canopy, and other urban
greening approaches.

STRATEGIES
MEASURE 16—UH
Urban Heat Mitigation
56 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan Measure: Upgrade transit stops to provide shade and avoid flooding.

Public transit riders can be highly exposed to climate hazards when they are waiting at transit stops. This is an equity issue because transit riders are likely to have other characteristics that may increase their vulnerability to climate change impacts. For example, many people who ride public transit may do so because they are children or older adults and cannot drive; these populations are physically vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, particularly extreme heat.

Transit stops should be upgraded by integrating considerations for climate adaptation and resilience into design standards and guidelines. This can include upgrading transit stops to withstand extreme heat and flooding through the addition of shaded structures, heat-reducing roof treatments, and elevated platforms.

The vast majority of the transit stations in San José are owned and operated by VTA, so the City’s DOT typically does not fund or build transit stops directly. However, DOT may support VTA by installing platforms, shelters, or shade structures as part of City projects, and by providing permitting, design coordination, or right-of-way.

Key Collaborators
Caltrain; County of Santa Clara;
DOT; OEM; PRNS; PW; VTA17
Implementation Timeframe
Long-Term (>5 years)
Climate Hazard(s) Addressed
Related CARP Measures

TE, UH, RH
Also Relates to: VTA’s CAAP
Strategy AD-CC-6,
18 AD-F-1.1.19
Cost
$$$
Co-Benefits
Public health
Equity
Emergency preparedness
Tracking Metrics
Number of adaptive
bus stops
# STRATEGY DESCRIPTION
TF-1 Partner with VTA and other transit agencies to support the installation of adequate shading at transit stops,
stations, and park-and-ride lots to protect riders from extreme heat.

TF-2 Assess feasibility to relocate or elevate transit routes and facilities that are vulnerable to flooding. Consider rerouting relevant bus transit lines and elevating bus stop platforms to provide safe, dry waiting areas during flood events.

TF-3- Assess opportunities to upgrade transit infrastructure to become more heat resistant. This can be done by
installing heat-reducing roof treatments such as cool
roofs or using high-albedo roofs, or implementing cool
pavement projects near transit stops.

STRATEGIES
MEASURE 17—TF
Transit Facilities

17. Note: The VTA Better Bus Stops Work Program may lead bus stop upgrades when the projects are not part of a City-led corridor project. DOT is responsible for City projects and coordination with VTA.

18. VTA CAAP’s AD-CC-6: Integrate climate adaptation and resilience considerations into design standards, criteria, and guidelines.

19. VTA CAAP’s AD-CC-6: Add more seating at locations with existing shades.

Chapter 5: Measures | 57

COMMUNICATION
The City can use multiple platforms to increase community members’ knowledge of how climate change will impact their health, homes, and daily life. The City should develop simple and clear climate resilience information that is accessible to all community members, but especially those non-English speakers and residents of socially vulnerable communities. Other avenues include engaging with City leadership, neighborhood groups, CBOs, private employers, and local colleges. This measure does not address community notification or procedures during an acute emergency event, since that is part of the City’s existing plans and efforts led by the Office of Emergency Management. However, building a baseline understanding of the kinds of impacts that climate change causes can help bolster the community’s preparedness when a climate-related emergency does occur.

Key Collaborators
ED (CI-1 through CI-4); LIB;
OEM (CI-5); PRNS; Santa
Clara County Public Health
Implementation Timeframe
Mid-Term (2-5 years)
Climate Hazard(s) Addressed
Related CARP Measures

AG, CBO
Cost
$$
Co-Benefits
Tracking Metrics
Number of City facilities
sharing climate informational
materials; number of CERT
participants receiving climate
resilience information
Public health
Equity
Community cohesion
Emergency preparedness
MEASURE 18—CI
Climate Adaptation and Resilience Information
Measure: Provide information through community-serving City facilities, trusted organizations, the City’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, and the City’s website to build community members’ knowledge of how to mitigate and be prepared for climate hazard events.
# STRATEGY DESCRIPTION
CI-1 Provide information at community-serving City facilities (e.g. libraries, community centers, and other facilities) about how to prepare for and what to do during heat
waves, wildfires, flooding, or other climate hazard events.

CI-2 Provide information and guidance about City resources available during climate hazard events to vulnerable
populations (including unhoused and older adult residents).

CI-3- Incorporate climate adaptation and resilience information on the City website.

CI-4- Conduct outreach to increase participation in existing City emergency notification systems.

CI-5- Continue to administer the CERT program to educate volunteers from the community about disaster
preparedness for hazards. If not already part of the CERT curriculum, consider developing modules specific to
climate hazard impacts experienced in San José, such as medical training related to extreme heat.

STRATEGIES
58 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan Measure: Expand relationships with CBOs, focusing on those that serve socially vulnerable communities, to improve climate hazard resource sharing.

CBOs are trusted sources of information and resources for the communities they serve. They play an essential role engaging and supporting communities with limited English proficiency, less access to City communications systems, and/or less comfort engaging with City government. The City does work with local CBOs already on an as-needed basis, however with projected increases in the intensity and frequency of climate hazards the need for knowledge building and communication on climate hazards should become a more regular, formalized process.

The intent of this measure is for the City to work with CBOs to determine how to best support a formal collaborative relationship.

This may include changes to how the City contracts with CBOs, establishing more formal procedures for working with CBOs to conduct climate-related outreach and engagement activities, and establishing regular contact with City staff through meetings or other communications.

Key Collaborators
DOT; ED; OEM; PRNS
Implementation Timeframe
Short-Term (<2 years)
Ongoing
Climate Hazard(s) Addressed
Related CARP Measures
AC
Cost
$$
Co-Benefits
Tracking Metrics
Evaluation of existing policies
completed
Public health
Equity
Emergency preparedness# STRATEGY DESCRIPTION
CBO-1 Establish formalized collaborative relationships with CBOs in the city.

CBO-2 Work with the CBOs to co-develop an understanding of how climate change may impact their service population
and identify how climate resilience can be incorporated into their programs, long-term planning, workflow, etc.

CBO-3- Identify communication channels that could be used to raise awareness of City resources to address heat,
flooding, and other climate hazard events.

CBO-4- Work with CBOs to provide support for affected
communities during and after a climate hazard event by
helping communities access essential services.

STRATEGIES
MEASURE 19—CBO
Community-Based Organizations
Chapter 5: Measures | 59
60 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan To effectively advance the measures and
strategies outlined in the CARP, it will be
necessary for the City to pursue funding to
support the CARP measures and associated
implementation strategies. This can include a
wide range of options such as: regional, state
and local grants; public-private partnerships;
and, other viable funding and/or financing
mechanisms. As this resourcing is secured, the
City will identify departmental leads for CARP
strategy implementation on a project-by-
project basis.

Tracking the progress and implementation is
essential to the long-term success of the CARP.

The CARP measures and strategies consist of
both procedural efforts, such as continuing
to convene the CRWG or completing studies
to better understand specific vulnerability
and physical investments. This requires an
approach that draws on both qualitative and
quantitative indicators, while allowing for
additional forms of tracking as needed.

The Knowledge, Governance, and
Communication measures are best suited for
a qualitative approach. The Structural category
does include measures that can be quantified
such as the number of critical facilities
that have upgraded electrical systems, are
upgraded with photovoltaic systems and
battery storage, or upgraded to serve as
resilience hubs; number of streets identified
as critical routes; area of green infrastructure,
percent tree canopy. In addition, tracking can
also encompass equity outcomes (such as
proximity of resilience hubs to environmental
justice communities), and community
engagement (such as participation rates in
outreach campaigns or partnerships with
community-based organizations). This flexible
approach ensures that CARP tracking captures
both the tangible, infrastructure-focused
outcomes and the less visible—but equally
critical—dimensions of resilience such as
equity, awareness, and institutional readiness.

For both quantitative and qualitative tracking
and reporting, the City can utilize an online
interactive dashboard, similar to its current
Climate Smart Data Dashboard,20 and annual
CARP updates to City Council to ensure
regularly updated and public transparency on
CARP measures progress. Tracking metrics
should remain flexible and periodically
reassessed to incorporate emerging best
practices, equity-focused indicators, such
as levels of community engagement with
vulnerable populations (e.g. environmental
justice communities) and new data collection
methods (e.g. AI modeling).

20. The City’s Climate Smart Data Dashboard is available at www.climatesmartsj.org.

CHAPTER 6
Implementation
Chapter 6: Implementation | 61
Glossary
Adaptation
Actions for people, communities,
infrastructure, economies, and natural systems
to adjust and continue to function as climate
conditions change.

Carbon sequestration
The process of capturing and storing carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere.

Climate change
Climate change refers to changes in the
average and/or the variability of temperature,
rainfall, and extreme weather that persist for
an extended period.

Climate hazard
Short or long-term climate events that have
the potential to cause damage or harm to
humans and natural systems. These include
meteorological, climatological, hydrological,
geophysical or biological events.

Co-benefit
Additional benefits of resilience and
adaptation measures and strategies.

Measuring co-benefits examines how climate
resilience and adaptation are interrelated
with and delivers outcomes for provision of
basic services, health, prosperity and other
sustainable development agendas.

Community-based organization (CBO)
An organization (public or private nonprofit
or charitable organization) that represents
community needs and provides services or
other assistance to that community.

Ecosystem
An ecological unit comprised of a complex
community of organisms and their environment.

Equity
The absence of avoidable or remediable
differences among groups of people,
whether those groups are defined
socially, economically, demographically or
geographically. As opposed to the concept of
equality where everyone is given equal access,
equity provides proportional access to redress
historical and current disparities and ensure
the same level of opportunity for all.

Fire hazard severity zone
Classification of land by the State Fire
Marshall to evaluate fire hazard. The
classifications are based on many factors
such as fire history, existing and potential fuel
(natural vegetation), predicted flame length,
blowing embers, terrain, and typical fire
weather for the area. There are three levels
of hazard in the State Responsibility Areas:
moderate, high, and very high. See https://
osfm.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/community-
wildfire-preparedness-and-mitigation/fire-
hazard-severity-zones for more information.

Greenhouse gas (GHG)
These are gases within the atmosphere that
accelerate the warming of the Earth and are
released from human activities that burn fossil
fuels or from historic carbon sinks, such as
melting permafrost.

Greenhouse gas mitigation
Actions to reduce GHG emissions to reduce
the severity of climate change.
62 | San José Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan Microgrid
A group of interconnected loads and distributed
energy resources that acts as a single
controllable entity with respect to the grid. It
can connect and disconnect from the grid to
operate in grid-connected or island mode.

Nature-based solutions
Strategies to adapt to and/or mitigate
climate change that mimic and harness the
power of natural systems.

Reach code
Building code requirements that set higher
standards than what is required by the state.

Resilience
Resilience is the ability of an individual, a
community, an organization, or a natural
system to prepare for disruptions, to adapt to
changing conditions, withstand and rapidly
recover from shocks and stresses, and to adapt
and grow from a disruptive experience.

Socially vulnerable communities
Groups of people and places that are more
sensitive to the impacts of climate change due
to socioeconomic, physical, or other factors.

Vulnerability
The exposure of human life and property
to damage from natural and human-made
hazards. Vulnerability is a function of exposure,
sensitivity, and adaptive capacity.

Glossary | 63
Adoption Draft
January 2026

San Jose City CouncilMarch 3, 2026

San Jose City Council
March 3, 2026