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Home My WebLink About2025-08-07; Environmental Sustainability Commission; 02; Environmental Sustainability Department PresentationMeeting 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: Environmental Sustainability Department Presentation District: All Recommended Action Receive a presentation from the City of Carlsbad Environmental Sustainability Department. Executive Summary Environmental sustainability is a key priority for City Council. Although sustainable practices, in some ways, are the responsibility of all departments, the Environmental Sustainability Department, under the Public Works branch, ensures compliance with statewide environmental regulations, and incorporates additional city laws, or ordinances, to increase sustainable habits and habitats across the city. The Environmental Sustainability Department of the City of Carlsbad is comprised of four divisions: Climate Action Plan, Habitat Management Plan, Sustainable Materials Management, and Watershed Protection. The department has 17 full-time staff and three part-time staff. Explanation & Analysis Climate Action Plan In 2015, the City of Carlsbad became one of the first cities in the county to adopt a qualified Climate Action Plan, or CAP, outlining strategies and policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, or GHGs. Since then, communitywide GHG inventories and statewide targets have been updated, presenting the opportunity for the city to update its Climate Action Plan and further pursue the community’s goal of promoting a sustainable environment. The plan includes 23 actions organized into six focus areas: energy; water; waste diversion; transportation; off-road equipment; and carbon sequestration. These actions help Carlsbad meet state goals and address local priorities. Some of these strategies include: •Renewable energy sources •Energy efficient buildings •Electric vehicle infrastructure, like charging stations •Improved bike and pedestrian access ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION Aug. 7, 2025 Item #2 Page 1 of 3 Staff Report •Tree canopy cover •Organics and recycling The city tracks progress by collecting data on each action and reports the results every year, along with updates to the greenhouse gas emissions inventory. Staff will provide the City Council with a presentation in 2026 that will cover progress in implementing the Climate Action Plan during the calendar year, resuming the traditional annual Climate Action Plan reporting. Habitat Management The Habitat Management Plan, or HMP, was approved in 2004, the first of its kind in north San Diego County. The overall goal of the HMP is to contribute to the regional biodiversity and the viability of rare, unique, or sensitive biological resources throughout the City of Carlsbad while allowing compatible development and economic growth. The specific biological and conservation objectives of the HMP are to: •Comply with state and federal endangered species acts; •Conserve the full range of native species and vegetation types remaining in the city; •Protect rare species and habitats into the future; •Maintain large core habitat areas and ecological processes; and •Maintain functional wildlife movement corridors and habitat linkages within the city and across the region. Sustainable Materials Management The Sustainable Materials Management Division leads citywide efforts in waste reduction, recycling, composting, and the safe disposal of hazardous materials. The division is also responsible for implementing solid waste regulations to ensure compliance with the city’s Solid Waste Management Plan, as required by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, known as CalRecycle. The division monitors and provides oversight on implementation of state-mandated programs, including the state’s solid waste and recycling mandates that were authorized by Assembly Bills 939, 341, 1826, 827, 1276 and Senate Bill 1383. In 2019, the city adopted the Sustainable Materials Management Plan to rethink how materials are used and reused across the community. The Sustainable Materials Management Implementation Plan was approved in 2021, which included the following adopted initiatives: •Single-use plastic foodware ban, to be phased in over time •Plastic bottle ban for city facilities and city-affiliated events •Plastic bag ban •Balloon release restriction at city facilities or city‑affiliated events Watershed Protection For over 20 years, the City of Carlsbad has implemented the requirements of the Clean Water Act through its municipal Watershed Protection Division. The San Diego Water Board issues a municipal storm water permit to the city, with the components required for compliance: Aug. 7, 2025 Item #2 Page 2 of 3 - •Industrial and commercial stormwater inspections •Water quality monitoring and assessment •Complaint response and enforcement •Outreach and education •Coordination of activities at jurisdictional, regional and watershed level •Annual reporting to the State of California 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 environmental review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) because appointing an individual to act as a city representative on a board, commission or committee is an organizational or administrative government activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. The activities or projects undertaken by or that may be considered by a board, commission or committee may require preparation of an environmental document in accordance with CEQA and CEQA Guidelines. Exhibits None Aug. 7, 2025 Item #2 Page 3 of 3 Environmental Sustainability Department Presentation Environmental Sustainability Department Public Works Branch Aug. 7, 2025 { City of Carlsbad Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Department •Sustainability Guiding Principles •Environmental Guiding Principles •City Council 5-Year Strategic Plan -Sustainability and the Natural Environment Environmental Sustainability 2 Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Department Environmental Sustainability Department Climate Action Plan Habitat Management Sustainable Materials Management Watershed Protection 17 full-time staff / 3 part-time staff 3 Department Staff Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Department 4 Habitat Management Program Senior P1rogram Manager Rosanne Humphrey Management Analyst Rosario Aranda Climate Action Plan Senior Program Manager Katie Hentrich Senior Office S1pecialiist Serena Schlosser Watershed Protection Program Senior Program Manager Tim Murphy Sustainable Materials Management Senior Program Manager A vecita Jones $1,704,367 $3,702,143 Total Funding General Fund Enterprise Funds Department Budget General Fund All Divisions Enterprise Funds Sustainable Materials Management Watershed Protection Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Department 5 ■ ■ Climate Action Plan Division Katie Hentrich Senior Program Manager { City of Carlsbad Climate Action Plan •Implementation •Monitoring and reporting •Outreach and education Carlsbad Green Business Program •Council recognition •Supports Climate Action Plan goals •56 total businesses certified (including 5 city facilities) Division Highlights Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Department 7 Division Statistics Personnel •One Senior Program Manager •One part-time staff Funding Source •General Fund •Grant funding when available Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Department 8 Regulatory Requirements Climate Action Plan is mitigation measure for city plans •2015 General Plan Update •2024 Housing Element Implementation and Safety Element Update •CEQA-qualified Plan with development checklist Climate Action Plan reduction targets follow state legislation •50% below 2016 GHG emissions by 2035 (per SB 32) •85% below 2016 GHG emissions by 2045 (per AB 1279) Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Department 9 Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Department Recent Accomplishments November 2024 - Comprehensive Climate Action Plan update adopted April 2025 - 15 green businesses recognized at City Council July 2025 - Climate Action Plan dashboard launched All city facilities now on Clean Energy Alliance’s “Green Impact” option, powered by 100% renewable energy 10 Sustainable Materials Management Division Avecita Jones Senior Program Manager { City of Carlsbad Division Highlights Oversees city-wide programs in: • Waste reduction • Recycling & composting • Household hazardous waste • Sustainability Initiatives Manages contracts with: • City waste hauler • Palomar Transfer Station • Various consultants Supports residents, schools, and businesses with: • Educational resources and customer service • Compliance assistance Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Department 12 2)( s IN(jt/M/~f(!; Carlsbad Division Statistics Personnel •Seven full-time employees •One part-time employee Funding Source •General Fund •Enterprise Fund •CalRecycle Grants Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Department 13 Regulatory Requirements Sustainable Materials Management Plan (2019) •Ensure compliance with existing solid waste laws •Implement organics recycling per SB 1383 •Build long-term sustainable systems citywide SMM Implementation Plan (2021) Adopted policies to reduce single-use plastics and waste: •Ban on single-use plastic foodware •Ban on plastic bottled beverages at city sites and events •Carryout bag ban •Balloon release prohibition Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Department 14 {city of Carlsbad Ca I If or n I a •Fully implemented SB 1383 organics programs •Reduced landfill waste by 6,000 lbs per year for past two years •Hosted 15+ community events •Conducted 445 business inspections for compliance and education •Supported 107 businesses via the Bin for Businesses Program •Recognized top performing businesses with the Sustainable Champion award •Updated Annual Sustainability Action Plans for internal city practices •Expanded public education at Earth Month and Fix It Clinics events Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Department Recent Accomplishments or Awards 15 Watershed Protection Division Tim Murphy Senior Program Manager { City of Carlsbad Division Highlights •Citywide coordination of municipal permit •Industrial and commercial inspections •Water quality monitoring and assessment •Complaint response •Outreach and education •Enforcement of Carlsbad Municipal Code •Coordination at regional and watershed level •Annual reporting to the State of California Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Department 17 Division Statistics Personnel •Six full-time staff •One part-time staff Funding Source •General Fund •Enterprise Fund Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Department 18 Regulatory Requirements Federal Clean Water Act California Water Code City Plans and Requirements •Jurisdictional Runoff Management Plan •Water Quality Improvement Plan •Trash Reduction Implementation Plan Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Department 19 Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Department Recent Accomplishments •Responded to 100% of high priority calls for service within 45 minutes •Investigated and eliminated 54 illicit discharges •Participated in 15 outreach events, including beach cleanups, street fairs and other events •Reached 1,260 Carlsbad students through outreach program 20 Habitat Management Division Rosanne Humphrey Senior Program Manager { City of Carlsbad Division Highlights Purpose To implement the Habitat Management Plan (HMP) Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Department Duration •A 50-year agreement, approved in 2004 •20th anniversary in 2024 22 What is the HMP? Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Department 1.Regulatory document •State and federal Endangered Species Acts •California Natural Communities Conservation Planning Act (NCCP) 2.Citywide conservation plan •Citywide preserve system (required acreage) •Goal: preserve species and habitats into the future at buildout 23 Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Department HMP Preserve System •Required: 6,478 acres •Current: 6,224 acres = 96% towards target •City-owned: 11% Conserved Future Preserve 24 ■ □ City Responsibilities Ensure consistency with the HMP •Private development, CIP projects, etc. Oversight of entire preserve system •HMP required monitoring and management Management of city-owned preserves (Parks & Rec) •Annual contract with land manager Annual Reporting to Wildlife Agencies Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Department 25 Division Statistics Personnel •One Senior Program Manager •“Preserve Steward” contract Funding Source •General Fund Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Department 26 Questions? Thank you 27