City consultant outlines Climate Action Plan steps; community asks for EV charging, transit and composting

Eddie Torres of Michael Baker International told the General Plan Advisory Committee on May 14 that the city is preparing a CEQA‑qualified Climate Action Plan that will include community and municipal greenhouse gas inventories, a state‑aligned reduction target, monitoring, and CEQA clearance through the General Plan EIR.

“Without a CEQA‑approved climate action plan, you’re having to rely upon some sort of substantial evidence on your threshold of significance,” Torres said, noting that a qualified CAP can provide defensible thresholds and streamline GHG analysis for future development proposals.

Torres summarized the major local sources of emissions—transportation, energy, wastewater, solid waste, off‑road equipment and agriculture—and described tools used to quantify reductions, including CAPCOA guidance, ICLEI’s ClearPath and EMOD. He told the committee that local measures typically focus on reducing vehicle miles traveled through better transit, walking and bicycling infrastructure; expanding EV charging; increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy; and improving solid‑waste diversion such as organics and composting.

During Q&A a committee member asked whether mitigation investments located outside city limits (for example, methane processing at regional facilities) can count toward Temecula’s reductions. Torres said partial accounting is possible on a per‑capita basis, but cautioned that measures must meet evidentiary standards used in CEQA review. On carbon sequestration, Torres said established tools exist to quantify tree‑based sequestration using inventories of species and tree size. On cost, he said the CAP itself does not include a fiscal‑impact analysis but that staff will prioritize measures by cost‑effectiveness.

After the presentation GPAC broke into tables to generate detailed input. Table 1 (reported by Sherry Monroe) recommended local transfer stations to reduce truck travel to distant facilities, a tree‑inventory program, power‑purchase agreements to encourage commercial solar, trolley/shuttle connections linking Old Town, wine country and Pechanga, expanded organics collection and permeable pavement pilot projects. Table 2 reported support for hotel and Pechanga shuttles, maintaining green medians, a city tree program, e‑bike education, secure bike parking and transit pass incentives for hospitality workers.

Torres said the project team will use breakout feedback to inform CAP policies and the General Plan; staff will return late summer or fall with draft elements and technical studies, and will prepare a Notice of Preparation and scoping meeting for the EIR. The Planning Commission will review GPAC recommendations on May 20, followed by City Council on May 26.