Council directs planning commission to convene task forces on climate, urban forestry and heat mitigation under HB 1181

Staff briefed the Planning Commission on March 18 that the City Council has directed the commission to lead a Natural Environment and Climate Change program that consolidates House Bill 1181 compliance work and the city's own urban-forestry and greenhouse-gas goals.

Miss Spear described a schedule of council-directed task forces that will produce a 10-year implementation plan and a shorter 3'5-year work plan, conduct vulnerability assessments, address heat-island mitigation and update the climate element of the comprehensive plan. Council asked staff to recommend task-force membership and suggested a structure with broader membership (city council recommended seven members per task force, two of whom would be planning commissioners); staff will propose rule changes at the commission's next meeting to accommodate the larger panels.

Commissioners discussed workload and representation: some urged at least one council liaison per task force to ease communication and budgeting; others warned against displacing technical experts with additional commissioners. Miss Spear said consultants already begun work last fall will provide drafts and technical material, and staff will bring recommended nominees and a refined schedule to the April 1 meeting.

Council member Talbot, present at the meeting, praised the commission's role and reiterated council's interest in balancing resources and technical expertise. Commissioners agreed to consider participation preferences and return April 1 prepared to discuss task-force assignments.