City Council 2024 Priorities Community Update Series:
Climate Change & Natural Environment - Protection & Adaptation
At the start of each year, the City Council selects priorities to focus on, and as of 2023, also approve objectives that advance the priorities. The 2024 City Council Priorities are:
- Climate Change and Natural Environment: Protection & Adaptation
- Housing for Social and Economic Balance
- Economic Development & Transition
- Community Health, Safety, Wellness, and Belonging
In March, the Council approved 78 objectives, related Council committee workplans, and community and stakeholder engagement necessary to advance the objectives. The community can expect to track progress through quarterly progress reports that will be released sharing updates on each objective.
In honor of Earth Month, this first blog in the series focuses on the Climate Change & Natural Environment priorityobjectives. The City Council approved 23 objectives that are timebound, measurable, and specific to support the priority.
Palo Alto has long been a leader in sustainability and climate action and is committed to reducing emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. The Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) lays out the City’s strategy for achieving these ambitious carbon reduction targets, while improving our natural environment, adapting to climate impacts, and increasing liveability for Palo Alto residents.
The following update shares a summary of some of the adopted objectives that seek to have a big impact furthering climate action with a goal towards a greener community. These include the following:
- Heat Pump Water Heater Program
- Whole Home Electrification
- Commercial Building Electrification
- Grid Modernization for Electrification
- Bicycle & Pedestrian Transportation Plan
- Safe Streets for All Safety Action Plan
- Rail Grade Separation
- Palo Alto Link
For the full list, go here. For more on the City Council Priorities go to www.cityofpaloalto.org/councilpriorities.
Protect Our Climate by Going Electric
Last year, the City launched its heat pump water heater pilot program to provide easily accessible home upgrades for everyone in Palo Alto. Since its inception, the program has evolved and become more streamlined. It’s easier than ever to switch and upgrade by letting the City handle it all: permits, rebates, and installation. All you need to do is make one phone call — (650)-713–3411– The City Council approved this objective to continue improving the heat pump water heater program to enable everyone to take steps towards a cleaner, electric home.
The heat pump water heater program also serves as a launchpad for whole home electrification. A new objective this year, to adopt a single-family whole home electrification pilot program would expand efforts for the City’s residential program to include space heating, cooking, and other appliances. Now is a great time to go electric in Palo Alto, new incentives, streamlined processes, and more are here to support efforts of creating a greener community. Learn more about how to Go Electric in your home. Considering going electric, but not sure how to finance the projects? The City partnered with the state to provide GoGreen Home Energy Financing for homeowners and renters.
The City is also tasked with refining its existing HVAC Electrification program to advance commercial kitchen and air conditioning, in addition to current commercial rooftop HVAC, to prove a scalable, high participation business model. To reach the City’s sustainability and climate action goals, most buildings — residential and commercial — must be upgraded to electric.
To prepare for Citywide electrification in support of the S/CAP goal of an 80 percent carbon reduction by 2030, the City will complete an initial pilot area of electric grid modernization, approximately 1,200 homes in 2024. The Grid Modernization for Electrification project was developed to enhance grid resiliency and reliability of the electric distribution system and continue to accelerate the City’s clean energy and decarbonization goals. In 2025, staff plans to complete upgrades to 50% of an expanded “Phase 1” area of 6,200 homes.
Live Sustainably & Take Alternate Transportation
Last year, the City began the process to update its 2012 Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan. Community engagement efforts continue in 2024 to inform the update and receive Council feedback in preparation for next steps including environmental review and adoption in 2025. The new Plan Update effort will reflect community needs and desires, consider recent trends in cycling and bicycle technology, and address changes in bicycle and pedestrian planning and design.
Another objective supporting expanded and enhanced mobility is conducting community engagement, data collection, and analysis to develop a Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Safety Action Plan. This effort kicked off in August 2023 and is anticipated to conclude by May 30, 2025. This plan will help the City achieve its Comprehensive Plan goal to eliminate traffic deaths and life-changing injuries on local streets.
Encompassing all modes of transportation, the City Council is scheduled to have a study session on April 29 about the proposed alternatives from the Rail Committee and the Council is tentatively set to consider selecting preferred alternatives for City Rail/Grade Separation project on June 3. Join the conversation on this community topic through the City’s effort, called ‘Connecting Palo Alto.” The community-based process addresses Palo Alto’s rail crossings due to the increased traffic congestion expected when Caltrain electrifies the tracks and runs more trains through the corridor.
In addition, after one year of service, the City’s rideshare service Palo Alto Link provided over 50,000 rides to an average of 840 users per month with a customer service rating of 4.8 out of 5. In March 2024, the service began offering free rides for teens to specific Palo Alto destinations supporting teen mental health and wellbeing. This year, the City will evaluate and report out the pilot services’ performance for consideration to continue and/or expand future Palo Alto Link services.
Follow along in this series of updates! Next week the series will also focus on Climate Change & Natural Environment- Protection & Adaptation and include updates on flood protection and natural environment, airport long-range planning, and parking policies and improvements to enhance mobility.
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