San Mateo County charter committee forms study group on climate resilience after tie on preamble language

The Charter Review Committee for San Mateo County voted April 2 to authorize a subcommittee to study adding a resilience report requirement to the county charter, but a separate proposal to place climate-resilience language directly into the charter preamble ended in a tie.

Proponents Tom Adams and Karen Chapman urged the committee to elevate county action on extreme weather and other climate threats. "We have missed key deadlines and it's now impossible for us to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050," Tom Adams said, arguing local governments must step up planning and coordination for fire, flood and other public-safety impacts.

One alternative the committee considered would add a subsection to Section 206A requiring a regular report to the Board of Supervisors on climate impacts, emergency preparedness, the effectiveness of resiliency measures and the state of coordination among county departments, cities and joint-powers authorities. "The idea is to require a report which would focus on these issues," said Mark Heloop, who presented draft language calling for an annual status report and recommendations for improvements.

County counsel Brian addressed legal feasibility during the discussion, telling the committee that adding preamble language or an additional subsection to Section 206A raised no obvious legal barrier. "Yes, that's correct," Brian said when asked whether the charter could accommodate the proposed changes.

Members pressed presenters on who would compile such a report and how it would be resourced. Julie Lind asked, "Who is giving this report? Whom do you envision compiling this information and how?" Presenters and staff responded that the board would determine implementation — the county executive or departments could prepare the report, or the board could assign staff or hire consultants depending on budget decisions.

Supporters said the measure would surface coordination gaps and push agencies to cooperate. "Drawing public attention to whether or not there's coordination occurring or not should benefit the efforts to achieve coordination," a proponent said, noting standing entities such as the Emergency Services Council and One Shoreline already work on related issues.

On the motions, the committee voted by roll call to authorize a subcommittee to study adding the Section 206A report language; the chair announced the vote tally as 14 in favor. A separate roll call on studying the proposed preamble language resulted in a tie; the chair then noted that the existing subcommittee formed around the topic (members Karen Chapman and Tom Adams) will study both options and invited additional members to join.

Next steps: the subcommittee will receive backup material and return with a report and recommendation to the Charter Review Committee for final consideration.