Los Altos environmental commission finalizes priorities, tasks staff to research synthetic turf and electrification goals

The Los Altos Environmental Commission voted to move forward with a draft 2026 work plan and set a timetable to refine priorities ahead of a joint meeting with the City Council in January. Commissioners emphasized three near-term priorities: further study of synthetic turf and permeable-surface policy; sharper metrics to track building electrification progress; and urban-forest planning.

At a public meeting, staff presented a work-plan framework that mirrors last year’s structure and includes community engagement/incentive programs, policy guidance and candidate RFPs for data and planning. Commissioners asked staff to circulate a revised document in mid-December so the commission can present a finalized recommendation to council in January or February.

The commission directed small research efforts on synthetic turf and on broader impermeable-surface policies rather than immediately drafting an ordinance. Several commissioners said the Sunnyvale consultant study — which staff described as forthcoming — should be used to avoid duplicative work, but they still asked for a local summary and an initial recommendation from a working group by January. A resident who spoke during public comment asked the commission to "address this topic as a high priority with specific target dates" and to consider a moratorium on synthetic surfaces on city-owned property until policy is adopted.

Commissioners pressed staff for clearer metrics on electrification progress tied to the city’s climate-action goals (the "cap") and recommended compiling permit and rebate data for council. Staff provided a 2024 snapshot showing roughly 230 mechanical permits (133 heat-pump installations, 38 furnaces and the remainder listed as AC/furnace combinations) and said the commission should compare those figures with 2025 data before the joint presentation. The commission also noted an initial city rebate allocation of about $75,000 for consumer incentives; staff said that sum would be combined with regional rebates administered by Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SBCE) and discussed adding a $1,000 local top-up.

Other agreed work-plan items include continuing an urban-forest and ecosystem master plan application (staff cited a Tree City USA application timeline), preparing outreach events such as an electric/living-green fair, and exploring municipal capital improvements such as EV chargers and solar + battery projects.

Next steps: staff will circulate an edited plan in December for commissioner comment and the commission will aim to present priorities to council at the joint meeting early next year. The commission did not adopt regulatory language or a moratorium at this meeting; it directed research and an interim recommendation to inform council decisions.