Title
a. Receive a presentation from staff and Ascent Environmental on the status of the Community Climate Action & Adaptation Plan and the online platform that will be used for the 60-day public comment period,
b. Provide direction to staff as needed.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Alternative Energy and Environment Committee:
a. Receive a presentation from staff and Ascent Environmental on the status of the Community Climate Action & Adaptation Plan and the online platform that will be used for the 60-day public comment period,
b. Provide direction to staff as needed.
SUMMARY:
Staff recommends that the Alternative Energy and Environment Committee receive an update on the Community Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CCAAP) and Municipal Climate Action Plan. This update will include a preview of the platform that will be used to gather feedback during the 60-day public comment period. Public comment and participation during the comment period is a key part of the CCAAP’s development and the County’s commitment to public engagement throughout the drafting of the plan.
Since this item last came before this committee and the Board of Supervisors, staff has held 15 outreach events and public presentations on the CCAAP, including a third community workshop attended by 32 people on December 4, 2024, and a fourth Sector Working Group on December 16, 2024, attended by 38 people. Staff have incorporated community feedback received at this stage into the initial draft of the CCAAP and are in the final stages of gathering external feedback and internal review before releasing the plan to the public. Depending on the review timeline, staff hopes to finalize the draft CCAAP by the end of July 2025 to release it to the public for the 60-day public review process during the week of August 4, 2025.
DISCUSSION:
The presentation will include a demonstration of how members of the public can provide public comment on the draft CCAAP during the 60-day public comment period. This will be done via the CCAAP website where community members can directly comment on a PDF version of the document. The URL for the website is: <https://montereyclimateaction.konveio.com/>. To supplement engagement during the comment period, staff will conduct outreach events and meetings with residents and stakeholders on how to provide comment online.
If members of the public do not wish to use the platform for engagement, they may send their comments to climate@countyofmonterey.gov <mailto:climate@countyofmonterey.gov>. Staff asks that the public kindly include “Public Comment CCAAP” in the subject line.
During the last Alternative Energy & Environment Committee meeting covering the CCAAP on December 17, 2024 this committee approved the final Greenhouse Gas Inventory used to calculate emissions and set reductions targets. Since then, Ascent drafted the CCAAP during the winter and spring of 2025 in coordination with the County with an internal goal to return to this committee in May and release the draft CCAAP for public comment in early June. Due to insufficient staff capacity in the Sustainability Program, this process has been delayed by approximately 2 months.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Staff have collaborated the Communications Bureau to reach the public during the CCAAP process and will continue this collaboration during the public comment period.
FINANCING:
This item has no financial or budgetary impact as this project is fully funded in the County’s FY 25/26 budget.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS:
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Plan Goals
_X Economic Development
___ Administration
_X_ Health & Human Services
_X_ Infrastructure
_X_Public Safety
Prepared by: Cora Panturad, Sustainability Program Manager (Interim) x5338
Approved by: Nick Chiulos, Chief Assistant County Administrative Officer x5145
Attachments:
AEEC CCAAP Presentation 6.30.2025