HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2508-5056 and 2507-4920CITY OF PALO ALTO
Climate Action and Sustainability Committee
Friday, August 22, 2025
Agenda Item
1.Sustainability Priorities for the 2026-2027 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan
(S/CAP) Work Plan; CEQA Status - Not a Project Late Packet Report, Presentation
Climate Action and Sustainability Committee
Staff Report
Report Type: ACTION ITEMS
Lead Department: City Clerk
Meeting Date: August 22, 2025
Report #:2508-5056
TITLE
Sustainability Priorities for the 2026-2027 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) Work
Plan; CEQA Status - Not a Project
This report will be a late packet publication distributed on August 14, 2025.
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Climate Action and Sustainability Committee
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: ACTION ITEMS
Lead Department: Public Works
Meeting Date: August 22, 2025
Report #:2507-4920
TITLE
Sustainability Priorities for the 2026-2027 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) Work
Plan; CEQA Status - Not a Project
RECOMMENDATION
This is a discussion item and no Committee action is requested. Staff is seeking feedback on the
Sustainability priorities for the 2026-2027 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan Work Plan.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City has made significant strides in implementing the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan
(S/CAP) to meet its sustainability goals, including its goals of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2030 (the “80 x 30” goal) and achieving carbon neutrality
by 2030. It has executed a significant portion of the 2023-2025 S/CAP Work Plan and is on track
to complete most of the remaining items by the end of 2025. This puts the City in a position to
take continued steps in the 2026-2027 time frame. This staff report presents the recommended
Sustainability priorities for the 2026-2027 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan Work Plan.
The key areas of focus for the Sustainability priorities are water, sea level rise, wildfire
protection, natural environment, green stormwater infrastructure, and zero waste.
BACKGROUND
In June 2023, City Council adopted the 2022 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan,1 certified
the Comprehensive Plan Environmental Impact Report Addendum: Update to the Sustainability
1 2022 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan;
https://www.paloalto.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/sustainability/reports/2022-scap-report_final.pdf
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and Climate Action Plan,2 and accepted the 2023-2025 S/CAP Workplan.3 Council has also
included Climate Action, Adaptation, and Sustainability in its priorities for 2023, 2024, and
2025. Most of the priorities outlined in the 2023-2025 S/CAP Work Plan are either completed or
on track to be completed. Detailed status updates on the 2023-2025 S/CAP Work Plan items
and 2024 Council Priorities are included in the March 10, 2025 S/CAP Quarterly Informational
Report4 and the upcoming September 8, 2025 S/CAP Implementation Informational Report. As
the City reaches the end of its 2023-2025 work planning period, staff is developing a 2026-2027
S/CAP Work Plan to continue progress towards achieving the S/CAP goals. Development of the
2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan aligns with one of the four Council Priorities for CY 2025: Climate
Action and Adaptation, and Natural Environment Protection, and will fulfill Council Priority
Objective CA 23 - Develop and obtain Council approval for strategies and a 2026/2027 work
plan for the next phase of S/CAP implementation of climate and sustainability goals. The
Climate Action and Sustainability Committee provided feedback on the priorities for the Climate
Action section of the 2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan at the May 2, 2025 Committee meeting.5
ANALYSIS
The Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) outlines Goals and Key Actions in eight areas:
Climate Action, Energy, Electric Vehicles, Mobility, Water, Climate Adaptation and Sea Level
Rise, Natural Environment, and Zero Waste. The Climate Action areas of Climate Action, Energy,
Electric Vehicles, and Mobility primarily focus on the overarching 80 x 30 and carbon neutrality
by 2030 goals. The Sustainability areas of Water, Climate Adaptation and Sea Level Rise, Natural
Environment, and Zero Waste do not necessarily have a direct impact on greenhouse gas
reductions, but have critically important sustainability, public health and safety, regional,
resource conservation, and equity benefits that contribute to overall climate action.
The proposed Sustainability strategies for the 2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan contribute towards
achieving the goals of the S/CAP and are directly tied to the Sustainability Key Actions.
Proposed 2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan Sustainability Strategies
Water
2 Comprehensive Plan Environmental Impact Report Addendum: Update to the Sustainability and Climate Action
Plan, 2023; https://www.paloalto.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/agendas-minutes-reports/agendas-minutes/city-
council-agendas-minutes/2023/2023comprehensive-plan-environmental-impact-report-addendum-update-to-the-
scap.pdf
3 2023-2025 S/CAP Workplan, 2023; https://www.paloalto.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/sustainability/reports/2023-
2025-scap-work-plan_final.pdf
4 City Council, March 10, 2025; Agenda Item #9; SR #2412-
3930, https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/viewer?id=0&type=7&uid=a804f69e-dfd8-4e91-a043-
590f63ef71ce
5 Climate Action and Sustainability Committee, May 2, 2025; Agenda Item #1; SR #2504-4534,
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/viewer?id=0&type=7&uid=0d301e7e-f06c-433e-a0d6-bfc9f1878ae0
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1.Water Efficiency: Deploy water efficiency and conservation measures that achieve
water savings above and beyond what is required by state regulations. Target
Completion Date: 2030.
2.Recycled Water Salt Removal: Improve the quality of recycled water produced at the
Regional Water Quality Control Plant. Target Completion Date: 2028.
3.Water Distribution System Adaptation: Identify risks from climate change to the water
distribution system and implement solutions. Target Completion Date: 2026.
Sea Level Rise
4.Finalize partnership agreement with Santa Clara County on SB272 Regional Shoreline
Adaptation Plan requirements to develop a regional vulnerability assessment and
adaptation plan: If grant funding is received, this project is anticipated to identify and
align county-wide sea level rise adaptation planning projects. Target Completion Date:
2027.
5.Update the City's Sea Level Rise Adaptation Policy to also include sea level rise
planning decision-making points in the City: Update the City's Sea Level Rise Adaptation
Policy to include newest technical information, best practices, and decision-making
points in the City where sea level rise and shallow groundwater changes should be
considered for new projects and operations/maintenance. Target Completion Date:
2027.
6.Construct and begin monitoring the Palo Alto Horizontal Levee Pilot Project (PAHLPP):
The PAHLPP will the first Bay Area horizontal levee to be hydrologically connected to the
Bay. The project will inform future potential levee improvements that expand habitat
benefits. Target Completion Date: 2026.
7.Continue Partnership with Valley Water on Sea Level Rise / Shoreline Levee
Improvement Efforts: Track developments with Valley Water and Army Corps of
Engineers. Target Completion Date: 2027.
Wildfire Protection
8.Implement the Foothills Fire Management Plan: Implement the Foothills Fire
Management Plan to balance conservation of natural resources with reduction of fire
hazards especially in open space areas. Priority implementation areas include:
Mitigating fire risk from electrical equipment through projects such as moving the
overhead electric lines underground in areas generally within the City limits west of
Highway 280, known as the Foothills area, and mitigating fire risk from vegetation,
including through the removal of targeted Eucalyptus groves in specific project areas.
Target Completion Date: On-going.
Natural Environment
9.Increase Palo Alto’s Tree Canopy in South Palo Alto: Develop programs to plant trees in
South Palo Alto to increase tree canopy – that will be integrated with traditional tree
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planting programs and Green Stormwater Infrastructure programs – and provide carbon
sequestration, improve water quality, capture stormwater when feasible, and reduce
the urban heat island effect. Target Completion Date: On-going.
10.Reduce Pesticide Use in Parks and Open Space Preserves: Continue to review the use of
pesticides in all parks and open space preserves to identify opportunities to further
reduce and eliminate the use of pesticides. Target Completion Date: On-Going.
Green Stormwater Infrastructure
11.Green Stormwater Infrastructure Project at a City of Palo Alto Park: A green
stormwater infrastructure (GSI) project will be designed and constructed at a proposed
location, Juana Briones Park. The GSI project will treat an estimated drainage area of
14.8 acres, 6.6 acres of which are impervious. Proposed design will include community
features for park users during dry periods throughout the year. Target Completion Date:
December 2027.
12.Increase Green Stormwater Infrastructure on City of Palo Alto Property and/or Right-
of-Way: Evaluate planned Capital Improvement Program projects for integration of
green stormwater infrastructure to treat additional impervious surfaces. Target
Completion Date: Ongoing.
13.Quantify Land Area that Uses Green Stormwater Infrastructure to Treat Urban Water
Runoff: Quantify the amount of land area in the City of Palo Alto that uses green
stormwater infrastructure to treat urban water runoff. This includes quantifying the
amount of impervious surfaces, and will be used as a baseline for future S/CAP work.
Target Completion Date: December 2026.
Zero Waste
14.Champion Waste Prevention, Reduction, Reusables, and the Sharing Economy: Create
new collaborations with city departments (such as libraries) and community
organizations to advance reuse and repair initiatives. Target Completion Date: 2027.
15.Eliminate Single-Use Disposable Containers: Assess compliance with existing foodware
ordinance requirements, identify key challenges and barriers to reducing additional
single-use disposables and to requiring reusable alternatives. Develop new
comprehensive foodware policies plan to effectively expand and strengthen the
ordinance. Target Completion Date: 2027.
16.Promote Food Waste Reduction: Maintain and enhance ongoing public education and
outreach initiatives aimed at promoting food waste reduction throughout the
community. These efforts will also support and ensure continued compliance with the
requirements of Senate Bill 1383 (2016). Messaging strategies will be aligned with
sustainability goals and tailored to foster greater community engagement and
behavioral change. Target Completion Date: On-going.
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FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
The fiscal impact of the proposed Sustainability strategies of the 2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan
will depend on what is approved and the strategies pursued. Most of the proposed work to be
completed in FY 2026 will draw from funding approved as part of the Adopted FY 2026 Budgets.
Additional funding appropriations may be necessary for FY 2027, with amounts to be identified
as the Work Plan is finalized. Funding for FY 2027 will be subject to Council appropriation as
part of the annual budget process. There are also several grant opportunities that staff will
pursue in order to mitigate costs to the City.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
The City will continue stakeholder engagement through the Climate Action and Sustainability
Committee and the Climate Action Working Group, but will also engage in other outreach
depending on the program or strategy in question. The City is working on broad outreach
around the need for sustainability and climate action. More specific outreach and engagement
is in progress or in development for specific projects. As the 2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan is
developed, additional outreach may be needed to the community at large. The City is also
coordinating regionally with other municipalities on programs and regulations.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Climate Action and Sustainability Committee’s discussion of potential work plan items for a
2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan is not a project as defined by CEQA because it does not involve any
commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact
on the environment. CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(4).
APPROVED BY:
Brad Eggleston, Director Public Works/City Engineer
Agenda Item 1:
2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan
Sustainability Priorities
Climate Action and
Sustainability Committee
August 22, 2025 www.paloalto.gov
2 2Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction
S/CAP Key Issue Areas
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3 3Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction
2026-2027 Proposed Sustainability Priorities
Water
1.Water Efficiency
2.Recycled Water Salt Removal
3.Water Distribution System Adaptation
Sea Level Rise
4.Finalize partnership agreement with Santa Clara County on SB272 Regional Shoreline Adaptation
Plan requirements to develop a regional vulnerability assessment and adaptation plan
5.Update City’s SLR Adaptation Policy to also include SLR planning decision making points in the City
6.Construct and begin monitoring the Palo Alto Horizontal Levee Pilot Project (PAHLPP)
7.Continue Partnership with Valley Water on Sea Level Rise / Shoreline Levee Improvement Efforts
Wildfire Protection 8.Implement the Foothills Fire Management Plan
Natural
Environment
9.Increase Palo Alto’s Tree Canopy in South Palo Alto
10.Reduce Pesticide Use in Parks and Open Space Preserves
Green Stormwater
Infrastructure
11.Green Stormwater Infrastructure Project at a City of Palo Alto Park
12.Increase Green Stormwater Infrastructure on City of Palo Alto Property and/or Right-of-Way
13.Quantify Land Area that Uses Green Stormwater Infrastructure to Treat Urban Water Runoff
Zero Waste
14.Champion Waste Prevention, Reduction, Reusables, and the Sharing Economy
15.Eliminate Single-Use Disposable Containers
16.Promote Food Waste Reduction
4 4Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction
Proposed Strategies: Water
1.Water Efficiency: Deploy water efficiency and conservation
measures that achieve water savings above and beyond what is
required by state regulations. Target Completion Date: 2030.
2.Recycled Water Salt Removal: Improve the quality of recycled
water produced at the Regional Water Quality Control Plant.
Target Completion Date: 2028.
3.Water Distribution System Adaptation: Identify risks from climate
change to the water distribution system and implement solutions.
Target Completion Date: 2026.
5 5Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction
Proposed Strategies: Sea Level Rise
4.Finalize partnership agreement with Santa Clara County on SB272
Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan requirements to develop a regional
vulnerability assessment and adaptation plan: If grant funding is
received, this project is anticipated to identify and align county-wide sea
level rise adaptation planning projects. Target Completion Date: 2027.
5.Update the City's Sea Level Rise Adaptation Policy to also include sea
level rise planning decision making points in the City: Update the City's
Sea Level Rise Adaptation Policy to include newest technical information,
best practices, and decision-making points in the City where sea level rise
and shallow groundwater changes should be considered for new projects
and operations/maintenance. Target Completion Date: 2027
6 6Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction
Proposed Strategies: Sea Level Rise
6.Construct and begin monitoring the Palo Alto Horizontal Levee
Pilot Project (PAHLPP): The PAHLPP will the first Bay Area horizontal
levee to be hydrologically connected to the Bay. The project will
inform future potential levee improvements that expand habitat
benefits. Target Completion Date: 2026.
7.Continue Partnership with Valley Water on Sea Level Rise /
Shoreline Levee Improvement Efforts: Track developments with
Valley Water and Army Corps of Engineers.
Target Completion Date: 2027.
7 7Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction
Proposed Strategies: Wildfire Protection
8.Implement the Foothills Fire Management Plan:Implement the
Foothills Fire Management Plan to balance conservation of natural
resources with reduction of fire hazards especially in open space
areas. Priority implementation areas include: Mitigating fire risk
from electrical equipment through projects such as moving the
overhead electric lines underground in areas generally within the
City limits west of Highway 280, known as the Foothills area, and
mitigating fire risk from vegetation, including through the removal
of targeted Eucalyptus groves in specific project areas.
Target Completion Date: On-going.
8 8Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction
Proposed Strategies: Natural Environment
9.Increase Palo Alto’s Tree Canopy in South Palo Alto: Develop
programs to plant trees in South Palo Alto to increase tree canopy –
that will be integrated with traditional tree planting programs and
Green Stormwater Infrastructure programs – and provide carbon
sequestration, improve water quality, capture stormwater when
feasible, and reduce the urban heat island effect.
Target Completion Date: On-going.
10.Reduce Pesticide Use in Parks and Open Space Preserves: Continue
to review the use of pesticides in all parks and open space preserves
to identify opportunities to further reduce and eliminate the use of
pesticides. Target Completion Date: On-Going.
9 9Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction
Proposed Strategies: Green Stormwater Infrastructure
11.Green Stormwater Infrastructure Project at a City of Palo Alto Park: A
green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) project will be designed and
constructed at a proposed location, Juana Briones Park. The GSI project
will treat an estimated drainage area of 14.8 acres - 6.6 acres of which
are impervious. Proposed design will include community features for
park users during dry periods throughout the year.
Target Completion Date: December 2027.
12.Increase Green Stormwater Infrastructure on City of Palo Alto Property
and/or Right-of-Way: Evaluate planned Capital Improvement Program
projects for integration of green stormwater infrastructure to treat
additional impervious surfaces.
Target Completion Date: Ongoing.
10 10Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction
Proposed Strategies: Green Stormwater Infrastructure
13.Quantify Land Area that Uses Green Stormwater Infrastructure to
Treat Urban Water Runoff: Quantify the amount of land area in the
City of Palo Alto that uses green stormwater infrastructure to treat
urban water runoff. This includes quantifying the amount of
impervious surfaces and will be used as a baseline for future S/CAP
work. Target Completion Date: December 2026.
11 11Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction
Proposed Strategies: Zero Waste
14.Champion Waste Prevention, Reduction, Reusables, and the
Sharing Economy: Create new collaborations with city departments
(such as libraries) and community organizations to advance reuse
and repair initiatives. Target Completion Date: 2027.
15.Eliminate Single-Use Disposable Containers: Assess compliance
with existing foodware ordinance requirements, identify key
challenges and barriers to reducing additional single-use
disposables and to requiring reusable alternatives. Develop new
comprehensive foodware policies plan to effectively expand and
strengthen the ordinance.Target Completion Date: 2027.
12 12Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction
Proposed Strategies: Zero Waste
16.Promote Food Waste Reduction: Maintain and enhance ongoing
public education and outreach initiatives aimed at promoting food
waste reduction throughout the community. These efforts will also
support and ensure continued compliance with the requirements of
Senate Bill 1383. Messaging strategies will be aligned with
sustainability goals and tailored to foster greater community
engagement and behavioral change.
Target Completion Date: On-going.
13 13Acting Now for A Resilient Future paloalto.gov/ClimateAction
Next Steps for 2025
•Climate Action and Sustainability Committee review of 2026-2027
S/CAP Work Plan Final Draft
•City Council review and approval of the 2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan
Thank You!
Please submit questions or comments to
Sustainability@paloalto.gov