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Larkspur staff outlines Climate Action Forum work plan, including EV chargers and building electrification
Summary
Assistant City Manager Shannon O'Hare told council the Climate Action Forum has prioritized five near‑term strategies — EV charging, building electrification, equipment electrification, vehicle electrification and outreach — and described planned outreach, pilot installations and education events for the coming year.
Assistant City Manager Shannon O’Hare briefed the council on July 1 with a compact work plan from Larkspur’s Climate Action Forum that focuses on five priorities the forum identified to reduce greenhouse gas emissions toward the city’s goal of 40% below 1990 levels by 2030.
O’Hare said the forum consolidated priorities that include EV charging infrastructure, building electrification (encouraging heat pump water heaters and induction cooking), equipment electrification (electric mowers and leaf‑blower outreach), vehicle electrification for municipal fleet and expanded public outreach and education. "As outlined of our climate action plan, it's Larkspur's goal to reduce greenhouse emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030," O’Hare said.
Near-term actions: staff reported EV charging capacity increases at the new library and planned chargers at future recreation facilities, multifamily and commercial outreach in summer 2026, and pilot equipment procurement (the city has purchased an all‑electric ride‑on mower for park maintenance). The forum plans public events including a climate‑focused special edition of the city manager’s newsletter and a resilient neighborhoods workshop at the library.
Council response: Council members thanked O’Hare and asked cost and subsidy questions for EV charging and whether private operators handle maintenance and warranty responsibilities. Staff noted full cost and maintenance vary by contract model and that grant funding and state incentives remain important to reduce costs to the city and residents.
Why it matters: The report frames practical near‑term steps the city can take without major new legislation: outreach and demonstration projects that may boost local adoption of electric technologies, targeted code discussions to encourage building electrification, and pilot procurement to lower municipal emissions.
Next steps: staff will return with code options for a building electrification workshop, continue multifamily outreach, and pursue grant opportunities to fund charger installations and electrification incentives.
