Healdsburg’s Climate Mobilization Strategy was unanimously adopted by the city council at their Oct. 16 meeting, following several revisions to the plan that were proposed by the city staff after a year-long development calendar. The revisions were, at least in part, due to the late circulation of an online petition that questioned the value of the city’s CMS initiative.
The purpose in developing the strategy was in support of state and regional greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals. “The Strategy identifies key measures and actions that will be most impactful in reducing GHG emissions, are equitable, feasible, and community driven,” according to the document presented at the meeting.
As noted in its overview, “The City of Healdsburg is unique for a small city, operating its own electric, water, and wastewater systems… These unique community characteristics provide climate action opportunities that may not be possible in other communities.”
Andrew Sturmfels, the assistant city manager who oversaw the study, emphasized that maintaining community “smalltown values” through the actions outlined in the CMS was an overriding goal in developing the strategy. Yet the CMS plan, as presented, remained complex and multilayered, with 93 action items in 18 different measures, covering a panoply of climate-related topics.
Sturmfels and Terra Sampson, the city’s utility conservation analyst who handled much of the CMS project, outlined the complex structure and efficiency of the proposed CMS, giving particular attention to the opportunities for community input throughout the 10-month-long study. A number of public events were hosted in person, virtually and throughout the year to provide multiple opportunities for community engagement, and a partnership with Corazon Healdsburg helped incorporate the diverse voices of the community.
Other city partnerships included the Healdsburg Chamber, Rotary Club and Senior Center, as well as the Climate Action Healdsburg group and others.
Sign Here
But from the outset, questions posed from a recent petition distributed on Nextdoor colored the discussion of the proposed plan. The petition, posted by Monique Verrier on change.org, questioned why the city was going to “rubber stamp tens of millions of dollars for programs that exceed the climate goals set by the State – which are some of the most far reaching in the country.”
The petition also questioned not only the purpose, but the popularity, of the CMS program, accurately pointing out that community feedback from the city’s own survey “indicates a majority of residents do not support the cost and social engineering proposed by the CMS.” The survey shows 57% are not willing to pay additional personal costs to meet climate goals, for example.
The petition has gained over 500 signatures, and its popularity prompted Sturmfels to refute most of its claims, point by point, in an email in advance of the meeting. He emphasized the complex governmental requirements behind most of the recommendations, attempting to diffuse the suggestion the city was being needlessly proactive. Many of the 93 action items in the CMS are already mandated by the state or other supervisory agencies, and were in line with rates or policies already in progress.
For instance, in response to concerns about freedom of movement resulting from bike, pathway and transit options, he wrote, “Nothing in this plan stops anyone from moving around the way they prefer—however it does incentiv[iz]e and take steps to encourage mode shift. One could argue that increasing multi-modal options is increasing freedom.”
During the council meeting itself, Sturmfels called the proposed CMS an “action plan, a living document to guide future direction toward a meaningful reduction of greenhouse gasses in our community.” He added, “This document is a path, it is not a single policy decision.”
Give and Take
Public comment ran against the CMS itself, not unanimously, but strongly. Karen Neuberger expressed an undercurrent opinion, saying, “I agree there is a climate crisis, what I disagree with is Healdsburg trying to lead the parade.” Others questioned diesel school buses, the unattainability of EV charging stations, a perceived lack of involvement with the business community, the need to focus instead on housing and crime, and the freedom to use gas stoves in homes.
For those who felt they had not had a chance to weigh in on the 10-month-old project, despite the city’s outreach efforts, Vice Mayor David Hagele had a response.
“Some of the comments that I hear from time to time are, you know, this should be put on the ballot, the citizens should vote on it. They did, when they elected us,” he said. “Outreach is good, but we’re also elected to make decisions on this as well as lots and lots of boring topics that we deal with at every meeting. So I look at this like anything else, trying to make the best decision that I can for the city of Healdsburg.”
Most objectionable to many were the so-called “reach code” recommendations, local building energy codes that went beyond state minimum requirements. The actions that would adopt reach codes in new and existing large residential and commercial projects—including EV implementation—and to support paid parking downtown, were all excised, and the amended plan was finally passed unanimously.
The complete CMS process documents, surveys, draft and final plans can all be found at Healdsburg.gov/CMS.
Andrew Sturmfels is full of gas IMO. He can take his “action plan, living document…blah, blah, blah” and… well, this is a family newspaper.
As for councilman Dave Hagele saying, ” Some of the comments that I hear from time to time are, you know, this should be put on the ballot, the citizens should vote on it. They did, when they elected us.”
Hogwash! How many people voted for the five people sitting on the City Council out of all the citizens in our town?
The City Council’s job is to keep the lights on, the water running, the sewers working, and the budget balanced. The police and fire departments provide safety. The Hospital provides medical care.
That’s it!
If the City Council is bored with these simple duties, play Bridge.
One interesting item was to force Healdsburg residences to switch to EV cars. I find this interesting that, one the one hand, they want 40% of cars to be EVs, and at the same time can’t wait for the diesel powered Smart train to roll through Healdsburg four or five times a day. Doesn’t sound very smart to me.
Michael: The California power grid isn’t strong enough to handle the electrical demand for all those EV cars. It’s a crazy policy to demand that 40% of Healdsburgians switch to EV cars. The Geysers tried to install a new Geothermal plant years ago and had to abandon it. Too many earthquakes were the result.
Where is this electricity for these EV cars going to come from?