1 CITY OF SEBASTOPOL
RESOLUTION NO. 6709-2025
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL SUPPORTING THE CALIFORNIA POLLUTERS PAY CLIMATE SUPERFUND ACT.
WHEREAS, the climate crisis, resulting primarily from the combustion of fossil fuels, is an immediate, grave threat to the people, communities, biodiversity, environment, and economy of the state and to local communities; and
WHEREAS, California communities, including The City of Sebastopol are under siege by escalating fires, floods, droughts, and other disasters. From 1980–2024, 46 extreme weather and climate disaster events impacted California, with losses exceeding $1 billion each; and WHEREAS, in January 2025, the nation watched in horror as fatal firestorms raged across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, killing 30 beloved community members, destroying entire communities and forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate. Over 12,000 homes, businesses and institutions burned in the apocalyptic fires. The devastation is estimated to cost Californians a staggering $250 to $275 billion; and
WHEREAS, across the state, local governments and taxpayers are bearing the immense, mounting costs of rebuilding from climate damages, increased insurance premiums, property taxes, and utility bills. State and local budgets are stretched to the brink as climate risks rise, jeopardizing public services, and forcing communities to carry the burden to address climate-related emergencies; and
WHEREAS, currently pending before the California state Assembly and Senate are two tandem bills, Assembly Bill 1243 (Addis, coauthored by Damon Connolly and Chris Rogers) and Senate Bill 684 (Menjivar), that seek to create the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act (Superfund Act); and
WHEREAS, the Superfund Act will require the multinational fossil fuel companies that are responsible for and profiting in the billions from the climate emergency help pay for their damages; and
WHEREAS, the Superfund Act will direct CalEPA to complete a first-of-its-kind comprehensive study of the true cost of climate damage to ensure polluters pay their fair share.
The Act will hold the largest polluters accountable for the costs to California from climate damage caused by their products with compensatory fee amounts proportional to companies’ self-reported past emissions from 1990-2024; and
WHEREAS, the policy advances California’s commitment to equity and environmental justice. At least 40% of funds from the Polluters Pay Climate Fund will go to disadvantaged communities to remedy past climate damages and build a more resilient and equitable California. The funds will support urgently-needed projects such as implementing wildfire prevention measures like home hardening, upgrading stormwater management systems to prevent flooding, and installing solar panels and energy storage systems to reduce energy costs and increase resilience during power outages. Additionally, these funds could help develop urban green spaces to mitigate heat islands and improve air quality. Importantly, it could fund programs to support first responders and additional workers who provide essential services during climate disasters; and
Docusign Envelope ID: A7E0F942-E902-430D-8DAA-47BDF5AA1606 2 WHEREAS, the states of New York and Vermont have enacted their versions of a climate superfund similar to this one; and
WHEREAS, The City of Sebastopol should support the Superfund Act because it is aligned with existing City of Sebastopol climate policies as enumerated in the City General Plan and the Climate Action Framework, and because it proposes to shift the burden of paying for the high costs of recovery from climate calamities from California taxpayers to the international oil and gas corporations that have been recording year-over-year profits in the many billions of dollars for the past few years,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Sebastopol strongly supports the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act, and encourages State representatives to enact it.
A copy of this resolution will be sent to our State Assembly and Senate representatives, the Attorney General, and the Governor.
The above and foregoing Resolution was duly passed, approved, and adopted at a meeting by the City Council on the 21st day of October, 2025.
I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the City of Sebastopol City Council by the following vote:
VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmember Carter, Hinton, Maurer, Vice Mayor McLewis, and Mayor Zollman Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
APPROVED: ____________________________
Mayor Stephen Zollman
ATTEST: __________________________________________________ Mary Gourley, Interim City Manager/City Clerk, MMC
Approved as to Form: _________________________________________ Alex Mog, City Attorney
Docusign Envelope ID: A7E0F942-E902-430D-8DAA-47BDF5AA1606