CITY OF SAN MATEO
CITY OF SAN MATEO
Agenda Report
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www.cityofsanmateo.org
Agenda Number: 3 Section Name: NEW BUSINESS Account Number: 10-1311 File ID: 26-11224 TO: City Council
FROM: Alex Khojikian, City Manager
PREPARED BY: City Manager's Office
MEETING DATE: June 01, 2026
SUBJECT:
Climate Action Plan — Annual Progress Report
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive a progress report on the implementation of the City's Climate Action Plan.
BACKGROUND:
The Climate Action Plan (CAP) includes strategies and measures to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The CAP contains implementation measures in the following categories: building electrification, renewable energy, energy efficiency, municipal energy efficiency, clean transportation fuels, sustainable transportation, solid waste, water and wastewater, and off-road equipment. In 2023, the Climate Action Plan technical update was completed to align with the General Plan. The updated CAP was adopted in March 2024 in conjunction with the General Plan.
Annual Progress Report Key Highlights
To track CAP implementation, staff provides annual progress reports to the Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission and City Council on the status of the different strategies. Attachment 1 to this report provides both qualitative and quantitative data to show how progress has been made on each of the CAP measures over the 2025 calendar year.
Some key highlights of implementation are as follows:
Electrify San Mateo: On July 28, 2025, the City Council adopted the "Electrify San Mateo: Sustainable Building Strategy," a strategy to upgrade existing buildings from methane gas to carbon-free electricity. Upgrading the buildings where residents live, work, and play to be all-electric is a crucial step in the City’s work to reach its climate goals, comply with future regional air quality regulations, and provide healthy air and living spaces for all San Mateans. The Sustainable Building Strategy directs the City to continue outreach and engagement to connect property owners with rebates and resources and development of new construction reach codes; develop an electric-first policy for municipal facilities; conduct additional outreach and data analysis for reach codes in existing buildings; and conduct additional outreach and data analysis for building performance standards for commercial buildings.
Reach Codes: In Summer and Fall 2025, staff conducted additional data analysis and community engagement outreach for existing building reach codes. Data and community feedback was presented to City Council in November 2025. The City Council provided direction on reach codes for the 2025 code cycle (January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2028). On March 16, 2026, City Council adopted a reach codes ordinance, and these reach codes need to be approved by the California Building Commission and California Energy Commission prior to enforcement. The reach codes impacting cooling upgrades and planned home renovations are as follows:
oCooling upgrades in single family homes, townhomes and duplexes and nonresidential buildings: requires
CITY OF SAN MATEO
installation of heat pump or AC system with energy efficiency measures that exceed State Code oFlexPath Reach Code, renovations of 1,000 square feet or more in single family homes, townhomes, duplexes: project applicants choose from a menu of energy efficiency, electrification and electric- readiness measures to meet a target score of 12 points
oElectric-readiness during specific additions and alternations in single family homes: focused on pre-wiring for gas cooking, water heating, clothes drying and outdoor appliances Electric-First at City Facilities: Through the adoption of the Sustainable Building Strategy in July 2025, City Council directed staff to develop an electric first policy for municipal facilities with exceptions for public safety and life cycle costs. Staff plan to update an existing policy to incorporate this direction. In 2025, the City completed the Citywide Facilities Condition Assessment that includes a comprehensive evaluation of building systems, energy performance, deferred maintenance needs, and opportunities for electrification, resilience upgrades, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction across all municipal facilities. This analysis helps staff plan and identify funding sources for electric equipment upgrades.
Solar Carport at Beresford Park Rec Center: The solar carports installed at the parking lot adjacent to the Community Garden Beresford Park were installed in partnership with Peninsula Clean Energy by their contractor McMillan Electric. The City entered a Power Purchase Agreement (also known as a PPA) with PCE. Through this PPA, the City did not pay anything for the installation of the solar carports and PCE and McMillan are responsible for long-term system maintenance. The system is 79.2 kWdc and anticipated to produce ~120,000 kWh in the first year. The system will offset 100% of the Rec Center's historical annual energy usage. The savings to the City over the term of the PPA is estimated to be ~$450k with savings beginning in year 1. These savings occur because the PPA rate is less than the current cost of grid energy and is a fixed rate (i.e. it never increases), which locks the City into a cost-saving electricity rate.
Green City Fleet:
oThe City is working on installing 12 Level 2 charging ports at the City Corporation Yard to support the City’s green fleet transition. Through the PG&E EV Fleet Program, PG&E installs to-the-meter infrastructure at a nominal cost and provides the City with incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles for the City fleet.
The City is responsible for the behind-the-meter infrastructure including the design, installation and permitting of the EV Chargers. Staff estimates for the bidding and construction phases of the project to occur in Summer and Fall 2026.
oIn 2025, the City procured one electric Ford Lightning and one electric motorcycle. In 2026, the City procured an electric irrigation truck and an electric street sweeper is scheduled for delivery. Leaf Blowers: In 2025, the City transitioned operations to electric leaf blower use. The purchase of electric leaf blowers was funded by the PCE Member Agency Grant. At the October 6, 2025, City Council Study Session on leaf blowers, City Council directed staff to develop an ordinance to prohibit gas leaf blowers. On March 16, 2026, the City Council adopted an ordinance prohibiting the use of gas leaf blowers beginning January 1, 2027. Staff are currently focused on educating the community and landscaping businesses about this upcoming regulation.
BUDGET IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
This informational report is not a project subject to CEQA, because it can be seen with certainty that it will not cause a physical change in the environment. (Public Resources Code Section 21065.)
CITY OF SAN MATEO
NOTICE PROVIDED
All meeting noticing requirements were met.
ATTACHMENTS
Att 1 – Climate Action Plan Progress Report
STAFF CONTACT
Andrea Chow, Sustainability Analyst
[email protected]
(650) 522-7007