Ukiah council reviews strategic plan updates; members seek climate and equity language as residents raise concerns about incoming retailer

The Ukiah City Council on April 21 reviewed proposed updates to the city strategic plan and directed staff to incorporate council edits into a revised draft for further consideration during the budget process. Council members emphasized inclusion of the city’s climate action plan and equity action goals in the strategic plan language.

Tracy Boyle, senior management analyst, presented a red-line draft of the strategic plan and flagged changes made since last year, including the addition of equity action goals and items related to water projects. Boyle said staff assumed the city would have a climate action plan in place before budget adoption and that the strategic plan is updated annually during the budget process.

Vice Mayor Schurr said she would like the strategic plan to retain a mention that the City of Ukiah had endorsed a declaration of a climate emergency and asked that the plan also include a brief definition of what a climate action plan is (for example, a roadmap to identify climate vulnerabilities, set emissions goals, and build resilience). Several council members agreed they would prefer to continue discussion until all five members were present; council agreed to capture Schurr’s remarks in the next draft and to continue the item for additional review before final adoption with the budget.

During the same meeting, public comment included strong opposition to the opening of a Hobby Lobby store in Ukiah. Julie Beardsley, introduced herself as a long-term Mendocino County resident, and urged the council to oppose the retailer on grounds she described as inconsistent with community values, citing national legal and corporate controversies. Council members acknowledged receiving constituent messages on the topic and said the city lacks authority to prohibit the business from opening; they nevertheless framed the moment as an opportunity to reaffirm the city’s equity and inclusion commitments in the strategic plan.

Why it matters: The strategic plan guides city priorities and is incorporated into the budget each year; language about climate and equity shapes policy emphasis, funding priorities, and public expectations. Public opposition to an incoming retailer prompted council discussion about the plan’s equity language, though no zoning or permitting actions were taken at the meeting.

What’s next: Staff will incorporate council edits into a revised draft, including the suggested language about the climate action plan and climate emergency wording, and return the item for further council consideration prior to final inclusion with the budget adoption (final budget approval is scheduled for the second meeting in June).