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Charter review committee declines to move climate-resilience language to study
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Summary
The San Mateo County Charter Review Committee debated adding explicit climate-resilience language to the county charter but a motion to send the proposal to subcommittee failed 7–(required 8), after members questioned whether policy belongs in the charter or in existing regional bodies.
The Charter Review Committee considered a proposal to add language to the San Mateo County charter affirming climate resilience as a county priority, but a motion to send the proposal to a study subcommittee failed on a roll-call vote.
Tom Adams moved the item and Karen Chapman seconded. Adams framed the proposal as recognition of a long-term, county-level need to prepare for more frequent extreme weather and other climate impacts, citing local wind and tree-fall events and national disaster trends. "Climate change is the transcendent issue of our time," Adams said, noting FEMA data showing an increase in billion-dollar disasters and recounting a 2023 wind event that damaged trees and disrupted power in his neighborhood.
Supporters said a charter statement would give local agencies political cover to take difficult steps. Chapman urged a subcommittee review so language could be drafted that emphasizes collaboration with cities and special districts. "As much as possible, these policies and programs should be developed with cities, districts, and other public entities in the county," she said.
Opponents questioned whether a charter is the right place for a policy directive. County staff noted that the San Mateo County charter historically defines government structure and operations and does not include broad policy statements. Committee members pointed to existing regional bodies — including the county’s shoreline and resilience efforts and the City-County Association of Governments (C/CAG) — that already work on sea-level rise and resilience planning.
On roll call the motion failed to reach the required threshold to forward to the Board of Supervisors: seven members voted in favor (Tom Adams; Karen Chapman; Roseanne Faust; Mark Haysloop; Nathan Healy; George Smith; Kimberly Wu) and the item did not advance to study.
The chair said the substantive debate would be captured in the minutes and encouraged continued discussion in other forums and through existing commissions and regional agencies.
