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Committee approves study of climate‑resilience district for fire‑impacted area; staff to report in 30 days
Summary
The committee authorized city staff to evaluate a Climate Resilience District (CRD) for the fire-impacted area and to prepare an initial internal feasibility report within 30 days, including consideration of a multijurisdictional district with the county and the City of Malibu.
The committee voted to direct the Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD) and other staff to prepare an internal analysis and, if appropriate, a consultant-run feasibility study of a Climate Resilience District (CRD) for the fire-impacted communities. The motion asked staff to report back within 30 days with internal findings and recommendations about whether to proceed to a full study that could include county and neighboring-jurisdiction participation.
Nut graf: The CRD proposal would use tax-increment financing and (subject to voter approval for special taxes) other public and private sources to finance resilience infrastructure and long-term investments; staff said formation typically takes 18–36 months and can take additional time to generate revenue for capital projects.
EWDD staff described CRDs as financing tools that capture a share of future increases in property tax revenue tied to redevelopment in a district. Presenters said a CRD is not a new tax but a mechanism to capture incremental property-tax growth for a set of projects; staff estimated feasibility studies cost roughly $250,000 and warned formation is not an immediate recovery tool because it takes time to establish the district and begin collecting increment.
EWDD staff also noted pending legislation, SB 782, which would create a disaster‑recovery subcategory for CRDs and could shorten timelines and expand allowable projects to include demolition and restoration of damaged private structures. Staff said if SB 782 becomes law it could align closely with the city’s interests for post‑disaster recovery financing.
Committee members pressed staff about whether the district could be multijurisdictional — encompassing the city, county and the City of Malibu — and staff said there is precedence, citing a Sonoma example where multiple cities and jurisdictions participated under a common board. Staff recommended an initial internal evaluation to test fiscal interest and alignment with city policies before engaging consultants.
The committee approved EWDD’s recommendations and asked staff to evaluate options for joint work with the county and Malibu and to return in 30 days with internal findings and recommendations about whether to commission a formal feasibility study.
Ending: The committee approved the internal evaluation and authorized staff to proceed with next steps, emphasizing the need to move quickly while preserving fiscal safeguards and alignment with city policy.
