Hanford reviews draft environmental justice element; consultants identify seven census tracts as focus

Consultants for the city presented a draft environmental justice element to the Hanford City Council on March 3, describing the work the firm and city staff have done to identify areas of environmental concern and draft goals and policies to address them.

Michael Gibbons, project manager with Mintier Harnish, told the council the element is one task in a larger general‑plan update intended “first and foremost, to bring you into compliance with state law.” He said the team used multiple data sources—CalEnviroScreen 4, the EPA’s EJScreen, American Community Survey data and the state’s disadvantaged‑community mapping—to identify areas for closer assessment.

The consultants reported that the analysis and outreach phase identified seven census tracts within the city that meet the state’s definition of areas needing focused attention. “We identified seven census tracts within the jurisdictional limits that would qualify under the state’s definition,” Gibbons said, and added that the team will summarize community feedback and translate findings into goals and policies in the draft document.

Why some largely agricultural parcels appear as “red” or disadvantaged on statewide maps drew pointed questions from council. Consultants explained that CalEnviroScreen and the state’s SB‑3535 disadvantaged‑community data are built on census‑tract aggregates and pollution indicators; small undeveloped parcels can fall inside a larger tract that contains populated areas outside the city limits and therefore receive higher scores. Staff said the city can and has excluded portions of census tracts without residences when defining the city’s formal “communities of focus.”

The draft element pairs a quantitative assessment with outreach: consultants described multiple in‑person pop‑ups, presentations to community groups and a bilingual online survey. The document they provided to council runs roughly 84 pages and, according to consultants, includes five overarching goals and 24 policies aimed at increasing physical activity opportunities, reducing pollution exposure, improving housing conditions and increasing civic participation.

Consultants and staff framed the element as a tool for implementation rather than a shelf document, and noted the element can strengthen applications for state and federal grants tied to disadvantaged areas. Council members also pressed for clarity on specific indicators—what constitutes “lower education” and how pollution and socioeconomic indicators are weighted in cumulative CalEnviroScreen scores. Consultants advised the council that some indicators are percentile‑based and that pollution‑burden and socioeconomic components are combined into a cumulative score.

Next steps outlined to the council include completion of subdivision regulation updates, required environmental review, continued community engagement and targeted adoption hearings slated for the October 2026 timeframe. As a study session, the item produced no vote; consultants said they will return with schedule details and refinements based on council feedback.

The draft environmental justice element and associated outreach materials remain available on the city’s project page for public review as the city staff and consultant team prepare formal adoption hearings later in the year.