[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6587566,"mediaKeyId","5579961-1977ad1030f91976f8ca1a5660b8bad4","parentId",5579961,"title","Commission ad hoc advances outreach, web updates and a cash‑for‑turf public page; schedules special Sept/Oct session","audioSeconds",1852,"startMs",9348000,"endMs",11200000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5579961-1977ad1030f91976f8ca1a5660b8bad4&start=9348&end=11200","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5579961-1977ad1030f91976f8ca1a5660b8bad4/thumbnail_9348000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6587566/Sonoma-City/Sonoma-County/California/Commission-ad-hoc-advances-outreach-web-updates-and-a-cashforturf-public-page-schedules-special-SeptOct-session","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587566-8e4d8f9098c2b7b9bd609987e6a7239b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213540&Signature=YWIw1afTxuyd6UlAkjkOS4ys2bFPaoHcx5nX4TiG6lsIKsJkb3p4dF4dWit8wjbHwrrP1H8IPuio5NNI8z9h0P9YvhwaSUOHwrbWuTouQs5iTAfmNTvGDwf3x~0uSQO5tFtTIhHYU6ItqFFXmt8eNnWyjLy-7fbggcxs92Ug57UJlVpkLht835KwvbC1nj5OCllo8NvN0A2o2wNuQE2BmoL-~fotb407nW6NSqMRAhr~HnQhvu9KZ4zGXCMlUbNHyYshFjs1W69M4Ah6A043oMHEKdHv23DLVIxsQmMdm4zHIyS6BZfG439z6KDdI1jhQCuPnZIm7h7MgxBDUk7rWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Sonoma, CA","date","2025-08-14T16:56:45Z","article","The Climate Action Commission’s education and outreach ad hoc reported progress on Aug. 13 toward a redesigned public web presence and a partner contact list that staff and commissioners will use to distribute climate‑action outreach. Commissioners asked staff to create a single, user‑facing “cash for turf” page that consolidates rebate information and step‑by‑step guidance for residential and commercial property owners.

Norma (commissioner and ad hoc member) said the group has begun line‑by‑line edits to the web content and will post a shared Google document for commissioners and staff to review and update. “We’ve begun just digging through based on the site map, each page and just initial edits and things we wanna work on and sending those over to Sarah,” she said. The ad hoc is organizing partner outreach via a contact list of local organizations and stakeholders so the city’s outreach can be distributed through community channels.

Commissioners and staff reviewed a Napa County example of a cash‑for‑grass page and agreed Sonoma’s water conservation section should include a similarly accessible, single‑page resource for rebates, eligibility, technical guidance and links to contractors and installers. Leo (commissioner) and other ad hoc members volunteered to draft a prototype web page for staff review and indicated the page could live under the city’s water conservation resources.

The ad hoc also reported that staff will keep a version history and a change log for suggested edits; commissioners were reminded that edits to a shared document could trigger Brown Act considerations if multiple commissioners collaborate outside a noticed meeting.

On meeting scheduling and next priorities, the commission agreed to hold a special meeting to continue general plan and outreach work. The commission chair proposed — and commissioners accepted by consensus — a special session on Oct. 8, 6 p.m., to focus on web content (cash‑for‑turf), climate‑action strategy prioritization, and EV‑charging follow‑up. Staff said the web updates, a prioritized action list and ad hoc reports would be agendized for that meeting.

Ending note: The education and outreach ad hoc will circulate the partner contact list and an editable draft of web content; staff will prepare a clear public page for cash‑for‑turf materials and follow up with timelines before the October special session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Climate Action Commission - 13 Aug 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Commission staff and the education and outreach ad hoc said they are revising the Climate Action Commission’s public web content, will produce a single cash‑for‑turf information page for residents and businesses, and scheduled a special meeting for Oct. 8 to advance web content and priority climate actions.","taxTitle","Sonoma City, Sonoma County, California","taxId",72202,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6587570,"City staff seeks 'Charging Smart' EV‑readiness designation, aims for bronze now and higher later",365,7992000,8357000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5579961-1977ad1030f91976f8ca1a5660b8bad4&start=7992&end=8357","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5579961-1977ad1030f91976f8ca1a5660b8bad4/thumbnail_7992000.jpg","/articles/6587570/Sonoma-City/Sonoma-County/California/City-staff-seeks-Charging-Smart-EVreadiness-designation-aims-for-bronze-now-and-higher-later","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587570-50436e24dc5325c71a0dcbea28fdaeff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213540&Signature=WKAaC04zWa5hvM5prUK5VtOg00KFtxf9usguOCvAm4V5qSkCF0B3tUWsolN8RBC6Zh6lixovkBK35ThHjU5kJSv~SMhzYM7WS2bD~KYTvDL9sPDPJgOPvUxJAUingao8TOpAWtry-6RZ5n1B3e42wGZuiiaYH2~peeGObYWPj2WWCYDVRPU0vw-E4pIsE0YUSwMOsNpvcmoo-RBibSZqv4Q1y4j1HDEUk7MJsEQkyQUic51DJ11ANGyOLK6b5TZNbZrybvJ9-glEbXUOiXIqXY6P5aKN~GmtRA-vq2c3BJQXUrjwJLzUwgQOE~j~adZquIaW42GTKx5wuZ9AHOf89g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff told the Climate Action Commission Aug. 13 they are pursuing a “Charging Smart” EV‑readiness designation that evaluates local permitting, utility engagement, education and municipal fleet actions and awards bronze, silver or gold levels based on completed program actions.

Jacob (city staff) described work with the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and PG&E, and listed actions the city has completed and actions still required to reach silver or gold. Staff said they expect to qualify for the bronze designation in November and that continued progress could move the city to silver or gold at later review windows.

Jacob summarized the program and the city’s progress: “The smart program is an EV readiness program… The designation criteria is organized into [categories] — planning, regulations, utility engagement, education and incentives, government operations and shared mobility,” he said. He noted the city has already earned points for an existing climate action framework, online permitting and a municipal permitting code section that treats EV chargers as an accessory use in all zoning districts.

Staff identified next steps that would add points toward a higher designation: drafting a municipal fleet electrification policy and a fleet analysis, staff training for permitting and inspection best practices, and a clearer, user‑facing web page that explains permitting steps and incentives for homeowners and businesses. Jacob said PG&E engagement identified the power‑upgrade and service constraints that often determine the cost and feasibility of installations — a commonly cited barrier for site owners.

Commissioners asked how the designations relate to funding and incentives. Jacob and staff said the designation itself is recognition and best‑practice validation rather than a direct funding source, but the designation and completed program actions can make the city more competitive for grants and partnerships. Commissioners emphasized that streamlining permitting, clarifying fees and providing public education would have immediate local impact even before any grant funding was available.

Staff said the silver designation requires specific documentary steps (for example, an existing fleet analysis) that the city does not yet have, but that the city can continue to accrue program actions after a first designation and apply for upgrades at future review windows.

Ending note: Staff will continue to pursue the program and return with clearer permitting fee information and proposed web resources; commissioners asked staff to follow up with a concise description of the resident permitting process and typical permitting costs for residential charging installations.","City staff told the Climate Action Commission they expect to qualify for the Charger Smart program's bronze EV‑readiness designation in November and outlined near‑term actions — permitting improvements, a municipal fleet analysis and staff training — needed to reach higher designations.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6587575,"Sonoma Climate Action Commission reviews draft general plan chapters, presses for clearer climate targets and implementation steps",6702,532000,7234000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5579961-1977ad1030f91976f8ca1a5660b8bad4&start=532&end=7234","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5579961-1977ad1030f91976f8ca1a5660b8bad4/thumbnail_532000.jpg","/articles/6587575/Sonoma-City/Sonoma-County/California/Sonoma-Climate-Action-Commission-reviews-draft-general-plan-chapters-presses-for-clearer-climate-targets-and-implementation-steps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587575-7503632b8dbc1368f7bf27c3fd335387/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213540&Signature=nelPJZgy3COTIO0bxZg26sZjzCdJx-KwNaSBus3~bZh~bh2oQfQbn9S9OHY3mTk~7umtNTpD89lUOVhNGnMmONoG756bmWhm5piXE6oFxeXTtRpZ-4g12ujQEbrOdFGzzaHU9iEGTrBBBzeXX4igILAGWeAEZX5tDKL1mzMlCl4Bm2KR58v0vMti85QSKFwNBZRGU2psELW7lEW3NY9HSQfhKCwbikQTxmlUwjJkLeM-JhbCJYM2E7O00cgE0ByqME6PL4-2r3fV2nJ2JLCxf15ucnTHGjnEBGpe1WgNQYmcJUn4l8MSaR6L1pXhdj2tYvwBVDBG~vEH79ja7KtyvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Sonoma Climate Action Commission on Aug. 13 reviewed draft chapters of the city’s general plan, focusing on the local economy, conservation and open‑space, circulation and noise elements and urging clearer definitions and stronger implementation steps across the 20‑year plan.

Commissioners and staff told the meeting that the draft includes useful material but lacks specific definitions and action steps needed to meet the city’s stated climate goals. Commissioners pressed for a definition of “climate smart” for tourism and economic policies, clearer mapping and timelines for green link and circulation projects, and firm language on managed retreat, energy‑scoring of buildings and equity in access to parks and open space.

Jennifer Gates, community development director, opened the agenda item by describing the mechanics of the review: the commission’s ad hoc general plan committee had gone through the draft elements and would return consolidated comments to the city’s consultant. “So tonight, this first agenda item is to present to you what the ad hoc general plan ad hoc committee has been reviewing in those elements and their proposed comments and edits,” Gates said. She explained staff would combine commission, task force, planning commission and public comments before returning a consolidated package to the consultant.

Commissioners raised several recurring concerns. One commissioner noted climate science and recent disasters mean the plan must include contingency and resilience measures rather than relying on assumptions of stable population or tourism trends. He cited atmospheric concentrations the commission discussed during the meeting — 428 parts per million CO2 and elevated methane and nitrous oxide readings — to argue the plan should assume a higher frequency of climate impacts over the 20‑year horizon and build resilience accordingly.

On the local economy draft, public commenters and commissioners urged the plan to define “climate‑smart” tourism and to reconsider language that merely “encourages” rather than requires or directs shifts away from nonrenewable‑dependent businesses. One commissioner asked that the plan include specific actions tied to policies (for example, programs that connect developers and residents with renewable‑energy resources) rather than rely on aspirational language.

Commissioners debated the proper scope of the Climate Action Commission’s recommendations. Commissioner Philip Heiderman said the commission should “stay in our lane” and focus recommendations where it can most persuasively affect climate outcomes, while recognizing other city bodies may be better placed to make policy on non‑climate matters.

On conservation and open space, commissioners asked for clearer tie‑ins to parks and trails, a definition and map for proposed “green links” and language tying green‑infrastructure ideas to measurable outcomes such as tree canopy targets, urban forestry master planning and stormwater capture and recharge. A commissioner recommended adding “managed retreat” and specific home‑ and business‑hardening measures (including the transcript reference to an executive order noted as “executive order n 1825”) to the adaptation actions list to reflect fire and flood risks.

The circulation discussion emphasized safety and multimodal metrics. Commissioners recommended the circulation element adopt metrics beyond vehicle level‑of‑service — including pedestrian level of service and low‑traffic‑stress measures for bicyclists — and better link to the existing Active Transportation Plan (ATP) and its high‑injury network. Panelists suggested the plan consider traffic calming, Woonerf or “super‑block” concepts and align planned Caltrans projects with safety, not just traffic throughput.

On energy and buildings, commissioners debated language on CalGreen/California Title 24 energy tiers (tier 1 for new buildings, tier 2 as a potential future step) and whether the general plan should call for the city to implement energy‑scoring or disclosure programs for resale. Some commissioners favored a proactive approach (education and incentives, then mandatory phases tied to implementation studies); others urged caution because mandatory measures can trigger legal or political pushback and require detailed implementation planning with the real‑estate community.

Noise and park‑use policies drew questions about enforcement and equity. Commissioners and public speakers noted recurring vehicle noise on residential streets and asked the plan and related policies to address how events and commercial park uses could limit public access for underserved communities. The need to consider “dark sky” / light‑pollution standards and to refine the city’s stormwater capture language to emphasize recharge rather than simply conveyance were also raised.

Public comment during the general plan segment included remarks from resident Armando Zimmerman, who urged greater intercommission collaboration on traffic safety and circulation and said: “Everything I’ve been reading says we can’t expect too much from the federal government whether it comes to any type of climate mitigations… and I think it’s all gonna trickle down to the state level and for us.”

Commissioners and staff agreed to finalize and submit consolidated comments to the consultant on a September timetable, with staff setting a likely four‑week window for commission and public edits before the consultant’s next revision. The commission also signaled it will continue to press for clearer definitions (for example, “climate smart”), mapping (green links, ATP cross‑references) and specific implementation actions tied to policies in the draft plan.

Ending note: The general plan review continued to the next set of elements; commissioners said they would return with additional written suggestions and that staff would aim to fold those into the consultant package before the next round of public review.","The City of Sonoma Climate Action Commission spent its Aug. 13 meeting reviewing four draft general plan elements — local economy, conservation/open space, circulation and noise — and urged clearer definitions, stronger implementation steps and cross‑element mapping, while flagging managed retreat, energy scoring and equity concerns.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission ad hoc advances outreach, web updates and a cash‑for‑turf public page; schedules special Sept/Oct session

City staff seeks 'Charging Smart' EV‑readiness designation, aims for bronze now and higher later

Sonoma Climate Action Commission reviews draft general plan chapters, presses for clearer climate targets and implementation steps