Eagan final climate action plan ready; staff to take it to council next week

City staff told the Sustainable Eagan Advisory Commission on April 8 that the final Eagan Climate Action Plan is complete and recommended the city council adopt it on April 15, and staff outlined a 2025 mobilization period to prepare implementation.

Sustainability coordinator Jillian Catano told commissioners the final plan contains 75 actions across eight sectors and sets the goals of reducing community‑wide greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2035 and achieving net‑zero by 2050. Catano said staff received roughly 90 pieces of public input during the public comment period and that about 60 people served on the planning team.

Catano asked the commission for support to send the final plan to the council. Commissioners offered verbal support during the meeting; Catano said staff would note the commission’s approval in the written memo accompanying the plan when it goes to the council.

Staff described the next steps. May 2025 will be a “mobilization period” during which staff will form an internal implementation team and prepare to integrate climate actions across departments. In June staff plans to present the first two‑year (2026–27) work plan to the council listing lead divisions, partners, and estimated budgets and timelines. Early 2025 projects already planned include a first‑phase fleet study for light‑duty vehicles, finalizing electric vehicle charging installations, and conducting initial facility energy audits.

Catano outlined a five‑phase, 10‑year implementation framework: phase 1 (2026–27) to build internal capacity and early wins; phase 2 (2028–29) to expand community engagement and launch incentive programs; phase 3 (2030–31) to scale infrastructure and policy changes; phase 4 (2032–33) for more capital‑intensive actions; and phase 5 to sustain and evaluate progress toward the 2035 target. Staff committed to updating Eagan’s greenhouse gas inventory every one to two years to track progress and said the plan could be updated earlier than a decadal schedule if circumstances or state/federal policy changed.

Catano said the city has a dedicated sustainability fund to support initial implementation and will seek outside grants. Commissioners asked how the commission can support implementation; speakers suggested using the commission’s academy and outreach channels, prioritizing engagement with specific neighborhoods (a southwest Eagan neighborhood was named), involving youth and partnering with other advisory commissions such as planning, and attending the council meeting if commissioners wish to show symbolic support.

Catano said the plan will be on the City Council consent agenda for adoption on April 15 and staff will note the commission’s support in the staff memo. She also said staff will return in the fall with formal check‑ins on implementation progress.