Sunbury City Council adopts climate action plan after resident petition

The Sunbury City Council voted to carry out a climate action plan on May 14, approving the measure after a brief public comment period and discussion.

The vote followed public comment from Sandy Hahn, who told the council she and other residents support the plan and cited a 50-signature online petition. "I think this is a good program. It is proactive for the city of Sunbury," Hahn said during the meeting’s public-comment portion.

Council members discussed the plan earlier in recent meetings and moved to place it on the record at this session. Mayor Josh Brocious made the motion to carry out the climate action plan; a council member seconded and the motion passed on a voice/roll call vote with all members present voting yes.

The council did not specify in the meeting record any additional allocations, implementation schedule, or deadlines beyond the motion to carry out the plan. The transcript shows the matter had been under consideration for several months and that proponents in the community had organized support online.

Supporters at the meeting framed the document as proactive and fact-finding: "Somebody's gonna dig up the facts, and the city or the committee ... will come up with a plan and then council can approve or disapprove," Hahn said.

Council members did not debate or amend the plan on the record at this meeting. Staff follow-up and the plan’s implementation steps were not detailed during the vote.

Looking ahead, the council will need to publish any implementation timeline, funding commitments, or assigned staff responsibilities if it intends to move from adoption to implementation.