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Home My WebLink About2025-12-04; Environmental Sustainability Commission; 02; Finalize the 2026 Environmental Sustainability Commission Work PlanMeeting Date: Dec. 4, 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: Finalize the 2026 Environmental Sustainability Commission Work Plan Districts: All Recommended Action Participate in a facilitated discussion, provide input and finalize 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 the 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. Staff will work with the commission to develop and recommend a work plan for City Council approval, to be presented in early 2026. During the Aug. 7, 2025, Environmental Sustainability Commission meeting, the public and commissioners were provided with the opportunity to give input and discuss goals and opportunities it would like to work on for the next calendar year to support the commission’s mission. Attached is a draft of the work plan (Exhibit 1), which incorporates the themes and concepts discussed at that meeting. The purpose of the work plan is to encourage increased dialogue between the city's Boards & Commissions and the City Council. It also helps to ensure that the Boards & Commissions are working in line with the priorities of the City Council. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION Dec. 4, 2025 Item #2 Page 1 of 4 Next Steps If a consensus is reached around the mission, areas of focus, goals and tasks of the work plan, Commissioners will vote to direct staff to present the final work plan to the City Council in early 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 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. Exhibits 1.Draft 2026 Environmental Sustainability Commission Work Plan Dec. 4, 2025 Item #2 Page 2 of 4 Exhibit 1 City of Carlsbad Environmental Sustainability Commission Draft 2026 Work Plan I.Mission Statement The City of Carlsbad’s Environmental Sustainability Commission mission is to advise the City Council on environmental matters, including but not limited to, natural resources and open space, beach nourishment and shoreline preservation, climate adaptation and sustainability. II.Composition Consistent with Chapter 2.34 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code, the Environmental Sustainability Commission shall consist of seven members: three nominated by the Mayor and one nominated by each district Council Member, with terms coinciding with the term of the Mayor or Council Member making the nomination. III.2026 Goals & Tasks The Environmental Sustainability Commission has selected the following areas as Goals and Tasks for 2026: A.Natural Resources, Open Space and Preserves •Receive presentations on related topics, such as Buena Vista Lagoon restoration, habitat management, and natural open space land acquisition •Adopt a policy that discourages exceptions to the city development standards that would decrease open space, per a Minute Motion at a meeting of the City Council on Nov. 19, 2024 B.Beach Nourishment and Shoreline Preservation •Receive presentations on related topics, such as regional sand replenishment projects, local lagoons and harbor maintenance dredging projects, and Oceanside’s Beach Sand Nourishment and Retention Project •Receive updates from various stakeholders and partner organizations such as California Department of Parks & Recreation and each of the lagoon foundations C.Climate Adaptation and Environmental Sustainability •Receive presentations on related topics, such as South Carlsbad Coastline Project, Climate Action Plan, and other city environmental sustainability related programs and projects Dec. 4, 2025 Item #2 Page 3 of 4 D.Education and Advocacy •Advocate for and support environmental issues and programs •Educate the business community, general public, and elected officials on topics related to the Commission’s mission statement •Participate in outreach education events, such as Earth Month, beach and creek cleanups, and other city-sponsored events Dec. 4, 2025 Item #2 Page 4 of 4 Discussion of 2026 Environmental Sustainability Commission Work Plan Jamie Wood, Environmental Sustainability Director Dec. 4, 2025 Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Commission Work Plan 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 3 Areas of Responsibility Natural Resources, Open Space and Preserves Beach nourishment and Shoreline Preservation Climate Adaptation and Environmental Sustainability Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Commission Work Plan 2026 Draft Work Plan Discussion •Aug. 7 meeting:Commission input •Today's meeting:Public process, work plan development, achieve consensus 4 Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Commission Work Plan Mission Statement 5 The City of Carlsbad’s Environmental Sustainability Commission mission is to advise the City Council on environmental matters, including but not limited to, natural resources and open space, beach nourishment and shoreline preservation, climate adaptation and sustainability. Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Commission Work Plan Composition 6 Consistent with Chapter 2.34 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code, the Environmental Sustainability Commission shall consist of seven members: three nominated by the Mayor and one nominated by each district Council Member, with terms coinciding with the term of the Mayor or Council Member making the nomination. Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Commission Work Plan A.Natural Resources, Open Space and Preserves 7 •Receive presentations on related topics, such as Buena Vista Lagoon restoration, habitat management, and natural open space land acquisition •Adopt a policy that discourages exceptions to the city development standards that would decrease open space, per a Minute Motion at a meeting of the City Council on Nov. 19, 2024 Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Commission Work Plan B. Beach Nourishment and Shoreline Preservation 8 •Receive presentations on related topics, such as regional sand replenishment projects, local lagoons and harbor maintenance dredging projects, and Oceanside’s Beach Sand Nourishment and Retention Project •Receive updates from various stakeholders and partner organizations such as California Department of Parks & Recreation and each of the lagoon foundations Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Commission Work Plan C. Climate Adaptation and Environmental Sustainability 9 •Receive presentations on related topics, such as South Carlsbad Coastline Project, Climate Action Plan, and other city environmental sustainability related programs and projects Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Commission Work Plan D. Education and Advocacy 10 •Advocate for and support environmental issues and programs •Educate the business community, general public, and elected officials on topics related to the Commission’s mission statement •Participate in outreach education events, such as Earth Month, beach and creek cleanups, and other city-sponsored events Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Commission Work Plan Next Steps •Early 2026: Submit the work plan to the City Council for adoption •2026: Implement the work plan 11 Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Commission Work Plan Open the discussion and provide input for the 2026 Environmental Sustainability Commission Work Plan 12 Item 2: Environmental Sustainability Commission Work Plan