Climate Action Commission

Climate Action Commission — March 12, 2026

This was a regular meeting of the Climate Action Commission, notable for the swearing-in of two new commissioners and the adoption of a formal set of workplan priority recommendations to send to City Council. The meeting ran from 6:00 PM to 8:55 PM.

Oath of Office for New Commissioners

City Clerk Corley administered the oath of office to two newly appointed commissioners, Perez and O'Donnell, who then participated in the remainder of the meeting.

Presentation: Zero Waste Sonoma – Composting History, Challenges, and Opportunities

Leslie Lukacs from Zero Waste Sonoma presented on waste management history and challenges in Sonoma County, with a focus on composting. The minutes do not detail the specific content of the presentation beyond this description.

General Public Comment

One written public comment was received from a member of the public named Gentile. The content of the comment is not described in the minutes.

Approval of Minutes

Minutes from the January 8, 2026 meeting were approved as presented without discussion.

Climate Action Commission Recommendations to City Council on Workplan Priorities

Staff member Carter introduced this item, explaining that it is an established practice for the Commission to review City Council's annual fiscal year priorities — particularly those tied to goals in Petaluma's Climate Action Blueprint — and offer its own recommendations in response.

After discussion, the Commission settled on nine priority areas to recommend to City Council:

1. Implementing the Active Transportation Plan, including regulations around micromobility and e-bikes.

2. Promoting electric vehicles and expanding EV charging infrastructure citywide.

3. Actively pursuing grant funding to support climate action work.

4. Supporting higher-density land use and zoning provisions currently being drafted in the General Plan update.

5. Maintaining quality public transit options in Petaluma.

6. Establishing systems to track, monitor, and publicly report on climate action progress.

7. Developing climate adaptation strategies, including the beneficial reuse of dredged materials to help address sea level rise.

8. Implementing energy efficiency upgrades at City-owned facilities.

9. Adopting a single-use foodware ordinance.

Chair Atchley moved to recommend all nine priorities to City Council and to authorize the Chair and Vice Chair to work with staff to finalize the language and ensure alignment with the Climate Action Blueprint. Commissioner Shribbs seconded.

Vote: 7-0, with Krishna and Thors absent. Motion passes.

Progress Reports from Ad Hoc Subcommittees

Commissioner Peters updated the Commission on the work of the EV Ad Hoc subcommittee, which has been developing a shared Google document outlining its work and has identified additional projects it plans to take on.

Staff Comments

Staff member Carter provided brief updates on revisions to the City's Tree Preservation Ordinance and shared information about PG&E's Smart Panel Rebate Program, which offers incentives for homeowners to upgrade to smart electrical panels. Staff member Fox reported on recent improvements to the City website's sustainability and climate action resource pages, noted upcoming climate-related community events, and flagged that the following Monday's City Council meeting would include several climate-related agenda items.

Key Takeaways