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La Mesa staff reports six‑month progress on Climate Action Plan; council questions traffic data
Summary
City staff presented a six‑month update on the Climate Action Plan, including partnerships, outreach (24 events, ~2,100 residents), a $400,000 CARB grant for municipal EV/solar work and anticipated updated greenhouse‑gas inventories in 2026. A council member pressed staff for the underlying traffic‑count data behind a cited 39% reduction in vehicle volumes.
City staff presented a six‑month progress report on La Mesa’s Climate Action Plan on Jan. 27, highlighting outreach, partnerships and several funded projects.
"In 2018, the City of La Mesa adopted its first Climate Action Plan," program lead Hillary Eggo told the council, summarizing updates and the 2024 CAP revision that aligned city targets with state goals. Staff described six strategy areas—building energy efficiency, clean and renewable energy, clean and efficient transportation, water efficiency, waste reduction, and urban natural environment—and noted recent work integrating CAP actions into the FY26–27 budget.
Eggo said staff conducted 24 outreach and education events over the past six months, connecting with more than 2,100 La Mesa residents; she cited partnerships with SANDAG, San Diego Community Power, local schools and university fellows. Staff also reported a $400,000 grant from the California Air Resources Board to design solar arrays and EV chargers for the Public Works operations yard and said an updated greenhouse‑gas inventory from regional partners is anticipated in 2026.
Council member Lothian pressed staff on a traffic statistic reported in the CAP: the report states vehicle volumes decreased 39% from 2023 to 2024 while pedestrian and bike trips rose 37%. "There is no way that traffic's down 39%," Lothian said, requesting the consultant’s methodology, count locations, timing, and access to the underlying count reports. Eggo and staff replied that the city relies on consultant data and annual traffic counts at set locations and offered to provide the consultant’s report to the council for review.
The presentation emphasized co‑benefits of CAP actions—reduced congestion, improved health, and increased access to jobs through better transit and active‑transportation options—and noted the city’s ongoing participation in San Diego Community Power. Staff closed by saying they will continue to provide regular progress reports to commissions and council.
The council did not take formal action on the CAP at the meeting; staff invited follow‑up questions and committed to making the traffic‑count data available to council members who asked for it.
