Atherton EPC narrows role to two annual public events, agrees to staff-led May speaker program

The Town of Atherton’s Environmental Programs Committee (EPC) agreed at a regularly scheduled meeting to narrow its public-facing role to two focal events or projects each year — a spring workshop or speaker event and a separate fall workshop or project — and directed staff to organize a spring presentation in May by local resident Rhett Butler of Mongabay.

The decision followed a staff proposal that the EPC “consider establishing 2 focal events or projects per year, 1 in the spring and 1 in the fall,” and an extended committee discussion about linking outreach to the town’s Climate Action Plan and dashboard. Committee members and staff also finalized plans for the EPC’s table and materials at the town’s Earth Day event on April 27 at Holbrook-Palmer Park.

Why it matters: Committee members said focused, recurring events could produce measurable public engagement while freeing meeting time for policy review. Several members urged the EPC to combine outreach with concrete policy work — including selecting near-term Climate Action Plan recommendations the committee can review and, where appropriate, forward to the council.

Staff outlined the scope and logistics. Anthony (City Manager’s Office staff) told the committee that “we do have a funding allowance approved by council for a variety of different programs related to committee” and that those funds live in a budget category “in a bucket called other contract services.” Anthony said the exact amount available was “not specified” in the meeting transcript and that staff would check budget availability if a specific proposal was made.

Committee members suggested topics and formats. Ideas included a spring speaker series to draw general-interest attendance (the committee identified Rhett Butler, a town resident and founder of Mongabay, as a potential spring presenter), and a fall hands-on workshop or “trade-show” style event focused on water conservation, graywater systems, building envelope improvements and builders’ practices. Some members urged the EPC to aim for outcomes beyond outreach, recommending either council-facing resolutions or specific, achievable policy suggestions rather than only informational programs.

On the spring event and immediate next steps: Committee members moved and seconded a motion to pursue a May presentation by Rhett Butler; no formal roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript. The minutes show staff interpreted the motion and the committee’s discussion as direction to plan the event. Staff said they would coordinate logistics, produce promotional materials (flyers, library distribution, social media assets), prepare handouts linking the presentation to the Climate Action Plan and dashboard (including QR codes), and, if committee members wished, invite a small subcommittee to support planning.

On policy work and the Climate Action Plan: Multiple members urged the EPC to begin a focused review of the Climate Action Plan (CAP). Staff offered to pull together a concise one-page summary of the top five CAP recommendations that could reasonably reduce emissions and to flag which items are under town authority versus those that rely on resident or county action. Committee members agreed to read the CAP before the next regular meeting (May 22 was mentioned as the next scheduled meeting date) and to consider a special meeting or agenda item devoted to a CAP review.

Other logistics and outreach items: Staff confirmed plans to staff an EPC table at Earth Day (April 27, 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Holbrook-Palmer Park), to attempt to include promotional material for the May presentation, and to pursue outreach partners and vendors (e.g., a falconry exhibit, a reptile presentation, composting/vermiculture demonstrations). Staff said they would coordinate with other town teams for marketing and event production and could offer limited incentives (for example, popsicles last year) subject to budget checks.

Topics the committee raised but did not adopt as formal EPC actions included wildfire mitigation guidance and building-code level fire hardening measures. Several members pressed for more coordination with the Menlo Park Fire District and noted that the fire district is reviewing its fire code; committee members agreed wildfire education could be folded into future outreach but were careful not to claim EPC authority over fire-code changes.

Ending: Staff will proceed with planning the May presentation and Earth Day materials, return with dates and confirmed logistics, and prepare a short CAP recommendations summary for the committee to review ahead of follow-up meetings.