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Home My WebLink About2025-08-07; Environmental Sustainability Commission; 03; Discussion of 2026 Environmental Sustainability Commission Work PlanMeeting Date: Aug. 7, 2025 To: Environmental Sustainability Commission From: James Wood, Environmental Sustainability Director Staff Contact: James Wood, Environmental Sustainability Director James.Wood@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2584 Subject: Discussion of 2026 Environmental Sustainability Commission Work Plan District: All Recommended Action Participate in a discussion and provide input into the creation of the Environmental Sustainability Commission Annual Work Plan for 2026. Executive Summary Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 2.15.020(C) requires that each board or commission provide to the City Council for its approval an annual work plan of activities the commission will undertake each year. The purpose of the work plan is to create dialogue between the commission and the City Council, and to ensure that the commission’s work is aligned with City Council priorities. Explanation & Analysis As approved by City Council at a meeting on June 24, 2025, the purpose of the new Environmental Sustainability Commission is to support Carlsbad’s Community Core Values and City Council’s Strategic Plan goal of Sustainability and the natural environment. Areas of focus for this commission include natural resources and open space, beach nourishment and shoreline preservation, and climate adaptation and environmental sustainability. In its 2025 meetings, staff will work with the commission to develop and recommend a work plan for City Council approval in early 2026. During this meeting, commissioners will have an opportunity to discuss goals and opportunities it would like to work on for the next calendar year to support this mission. The purpose of the work plan is to encourage increased dialogue between the City's boards and commissions and the City Council. It also helps to ensure that the boards and commissions are working in line with the priorities of the City Council. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION Aug. 7, 2025 Item #3 Page 1 of 2 Staff Report Next Steps Future agendas for the work plan will be developed according to the Environmental Sustainability Commission direction before presenting to the City Council in 2026 for approval. Fiscal Analysis This action has no fiscal impact. Environmental Evaluation The proposed action is not a “project” as defined by CEQA Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5) and does not require environment review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) and 15061(b)(3), because the proposed action to provide initial input and discussion into the creation of the Environmental Sustainability Commission Annual Work Plan for fiscal year 2025-2026. is an organizational or administrative government activity that does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment. Any subsequent action or direction stemming from the proposed action may require preparation of an environmental document in accordance with CEQA or CEQA Guidelines. Exhibit None. Aug. 7, 2025 Item #3 Page 2 of 2 From:Paige DeCino To:Environmental Subject:City plans/programs Date:Thursday, August 7, 2025 5:28:37 PM Attachments:city plans-programs links.docx Commissioners, Thank you for your service to the city and, in particular, the environment which is important to everyone. At today's meeting a number of plans and programs were mentioned by Kyle Lancaster and since the city's website can be a challenge to navigate, I assembled a list of his suggested plans in the attached document which has the links included. It's quite a lot to digest so happy reading. Know that a number of my colleagues have been working for years if not decades on some of these issues so don't hesitate to reach out to us if you'd like to discuss any of them. We look forward to working together with you. Cheers, Paige DeCino Preserve Calavera Sierra Club CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Original Climate Action Plan (CAP) with amendment adopted 2015, amended 2020 CAP Update adopted November 2024 Habitat Management (HMP) Plan adopted 1999; annual reports for last 6 years can be found here. Very informational to attend annual meetings in the spring. Local Coastal Program adopted 1999 Sustainable Material Management Plan adopted 2019 OUR SUCCESSES Today we still have the chance to enjoy the Calavera open space, but what will we have tomorrow? Some of our recent successes: • Led the successful grassroots effort to preserve the 134-acre Sherman property in the Buena Vista Creek Valley. • Worked with the Carlsbad Watershed Network on guidelines for local agencies to minimize impacts on wetlands and improve wetlands buffers. • Provided extensive input to the Open Space Committee appointed last year by the Carlsbad City Council. After four years of waiting, the residents of Carlsbad are now able to identify those places they want preserved as open space. • Worked with the city of Vista on a successful application for a $500,000 grant to prepare a watershed management plan for the Agua Hedionda watershed. • Negotiated an agreement for improved wetland buffers along Calavera Creek, better protection of the wildlife corridor, more trees, and restrictions on lighting and noise. W8IlTED: One of the last contiguous natural lands in coastal North County. REUJHRD: A legacy for your children. -PRESERVE CALAVERA Coastal North San Diego County WHO WEARE Preserve Calavera is a grassroots organiza- tion of residents and users of this open space --people like you who appreciate the land and care about its preservation. We are a public ben- efit, tax-exempt 501c(3) non-profit group. We can't stop all development from Calavera, but we can shape it so you, your children and their children will still be able to hear a gnat- catcher, smell the sage in the spring, and feel the air cooled by a natural Bowing creek. OUR GOALS The area around Mt. Calavera in northeastern Carlsbad is the largest remaining contiguous natural land left in coastal North County. It is a microcosm of the rich diversity of the natural environment of San Diego County and is home to hundreds of special plants and wildlife. This area's natural features include and extinct vol- cano, lake, the main tributary of Agua Hedionda Creek Bowing to the Pacific Ocean, and over 200-year-old Coast live oak trees. Our goals are to create a regional nature pre- serve to: • preserve and protect the open space • provide healthy outdoor recreation • support education and restoration programs • preserve our quality of life MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE Cultural and Historical Value As the El Salto waterfall stirs our imagina- tion today, it has been a focus for the spiri- tual life of native people for generations. The Native American Heritage Commission recently registered the El Salto Falls as a sacred site-testimony to the long term use of this area by Native Americans. PROGRAMS WE SPONSOR Our all-volunteer organization sponsors the following activities to support our goals: • Hikes for all ages and physical abilities • Clean-up and restoration projects • Invasive plant removal • Off-road vehicle monitoring • Public education events • Wildlife tracking teams HOW YOU CAN HELP • Bring a friend on one of our hikes, weed removal or clean-up projects • Get your HOA, PTA and other community groups involved • Send a letter to the editor about preserving open space • Attend Planning and City Council meetings to protect this area We have significant challenges facing us: • Continued degradation of our creeks, lagoons and coastal waters • Continued loss of open space • Inadequate habitat management HOW WILL YOUR DONATION HELP? Just like the open space we're dedicated to pre- serving, Preserve Calavera is dependent on your ongoing involvement and financial support. Your donation will allow us to: • Support land acquisition • Hire technical experts • Expand outreach activities Yes, I want to help Preserve Calavera meet the challenges of saving our open space during the year ahead. Enclosed is my tax deductible donation. Please make checks payable to: Preserve Calavera 5020 Nighthawk Way Oceanside, CA 92056 [ ] $ 100 Patron [ ] $ 50 Supporter [ ] $ 35 Family [ ] $ 25 Individual [ ] $200 Corporate [ ]Other __ [ ] I would like to make an additional con- tribution of __ to the Rosebrook Land Acquisition Fund. Name PRESERVE CALAVERA Coastal North San Diego County -------------- Address ------------- Phone -------------- Email ____________ _ www .preservecalavera.org 760-724-3887 Growth Management Citizens Committee UALITY F LIFE C NCERNS &REC ENDATIONS APRIL 2023 [Page intentionally left blank] QU,\LITY OF LIFE CONCERNS AND RECOMMENDATIONS April 20, 2023 HOMELESSNESS Homelessness is an important issue that impacts the quality of life for the residents of Carlsbad and should remain a priority for the City Council in the Strategic Plan and Operating Budget. The committee recognized the complex challenges of addressing the impacts of homelessness and supports the continued efforts of the city's Homeless Outreach Team and affordable housing programs, as well as the Homelessness Action Plan. See the committee's minutes for the meeting held on Oct. 12, 2022. OPEN SP CE The committee has made a recommendation to modify the existing Growth Management Open Space Standard (provided in a separate report). Additionally, the committee recommended the City Council elevate the topic of open space by adding it to the purview of the Parks & Recreation Commission to address open space needs throughout the city; including updating the list of candidate properties for proactive open space acquisition and by developing a plan that prioritizes zones with less unconstrained open space or that are subject to loss due to sea level rise. Adopt a policy that discourages exceptions to development standards that would decrease open space. See the committee's minutes for meetings held on Sept. 22, 2022, Jan. 11, 2023, Feb. 23, 2023, and March 23, 2023. Page 6 Discussion of 2026 Environmental Sustainability Commission Work Plan Jamie Wood, Environmental Sustainability Director Aug. 7, 2025 {city of Carlsbad Item 3: ESC Workplan Background •Carlsbad Municipal Code requires all commissions to have annual work plans (CMC 2.15.020 (C)) •Encourage increased dialogue between the commissioners •Ensure that the commission is working in line with the City Council’s priorities 2 Purpose To investigate, research and make recommendations to the City Council on topics, studies and programs, related to: •Natural resources and open space •Beach nourishment and shoreline preservation •Climate adaptation and environmental sustainability Item 3: ESC Workplan 3 City Council direction Item 3: ESC Workplan On Nov. 19, 2024, by minute motion, the City Council directed staff to add the topic of open space to the conversation of developing the new commission and to include adopting a policy that discourages exceptions to the city development standards that would decrease open space. 4 Next steps Item 3: ESC Workplan •Oct. 2, 2025: Staff will return with a draft work plan including the Commission's input for facilitated discussion •Dec. 4, 2025: Approval of final work plan •Early 2026: Submit the work plan to City Council for adoption 5 Open the discussion and provide input for the Environmental Sustainability Commission 2026 Work Plan Item 3: ESC Workplan 6