ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - The City of Elk Grove’s Strategic Planning and Innovation Program hosted an open house-style event July 8 at the District 56 Community Center to inform residents about the city’s climate action plan update, which is expected to be adopted later this year.

Input is being sought for the draft plan, “Climate Compass: A Plan for Implementing Elk Grove’s Climate, Sustainability and Resilience Goals.” The document is available online for public review and comment. Residents are encouraged to leave feedback to ensure it aligns with the wants and needs of the community.

The Climate Compass outlines how the city will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience to climate impacts. It addresses transportation, energy, buildings, waste, water and weather hazards to meet state climate targets while strengthening the local community in various areas.

Six stations were set up with informational boards explaining the plan’s contents, including statistics, proposed strategies, and feedback gathered from surveys, workshops and local organizations.

The project began in August 2023 and has included educational events, visioning sessions and strategy meetings with residents, businesses, community groups, city staff and stakeholder organizations.

The City of Elk Grove’s Strategic Planning and Innovation Program hosted an open house-style event July 8 at the District 56 Community Center. Photo by Kaylah Ball

Once finalized, the Climate Compass will be presented to the city’s Planning Commission and City Council for approval. Implementation is expected to begin this winter.

While the plan primarily targets emissions reduction, it also promotes equity, improved air quality, economic diversity, community resilience and resource preservation in the community.

It includes 21 citywide strategies across six focus areas: buildings and energy, resource consumption, climate action commitment, resilience and adaptation and the green economy.

Currently, 41% of emissions in Elk Grove come from buildings and facilities, 21% from streetlights and traffic signals, 20% from employee commutes and 14% from the city vehicle fleet.

The city aims to reduce municipal emissions 39% by 2030 and 85% by 2045. Goals include lowering energy use, switching to clean vehicles and equipment, reducing water consumption and improving waste management practices.

Kaylah Ball, who works with the city’s Civic Innovation and Sustainability Program, helps run the E-Bike Lending Program through the Elk Grove Library. A University of California, Davis student and CivicSpark Fellow with AmeriCorps, Ball said the program supports the city’s transportation and mobility goals by offering alternatives to driving.

 

Once finalized, the Climate Compass will be presented to Elk Grove’s Planning Commission and City Council for approval. Implementation is expected to begin this winter. Photo by Idaly Valencia

“The goal is to not only decrease greenhouse gas emissions but also decrease car congestion,” said Ball. “It’s a fun way to get in exercise but at the same time, it’s not going too overboard because it’s electric, so you can get some help with the pedaling.”

More than 600 residents have applied for the free e-bike and e-trike loan program, which has a wait list. Participants can borrow a bike for up to three weeks and each comes with a removable battery, charger, lock and keys, lights, GPS and a helmet. The program allows residents to test the bikes before deciding to commit to purchase one.

Strategic planning and innovation program manager Carrie Whitlock also highlighted the Climate Ambassador Program, a volunteer-based outreach effort aimed to get direct feedback from residents.

“We do meetings with resident volunteers and talk to them about sort of what we’re looking for; they talk to their neighbors, their friends, their associations and sort of filter messages and back up about what’s important to the community,” said Whitlock.

Among other sustainability efforts, the city is studying heat mitigation through ground temperature testing using a tool called the “MaRTy” cart, developed by Arizona State University.

Elk Grove is one of only three cities in the U.S. currently using the technology to develop more climate-resilient infrastructure and design cost-effective roads.

 

Six stations were set up at the District56 Center on July 8 with information explaining Elk Grove’s climate action plan for the community read and to provide feedback. Photo by Idaly Valencia

Claire Moss of Ascent Environmental, a consultant on the project, provided information at the open house. She explained their role in developing the Climate Compass and emphasized the importance of community collaboration.

“It gives people a taste of things that the city is going to do to walk the talk of climate action. It’s a group effort where everyone’s going to be involved in reducing the emissions,” said Moss. “One thing that I always want to tell people is that their individual actions do matter, and they do count … we write action plans, in this case the climate compass, by looking at strategies within this community that are really reliant on individuals making changes.”

This was the first and only in-person workshop for residents to learn about the plan and share questions, comments or concerns. However, the Climate Compass draft is open for public review through Aug. 15. A simplified version is available at elkgrovecity.org/cap. Questions can be directed to [email protected].