Board of Supervisors

The County’s need for Outreach to raise awareness of passenger vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals is not being addressed by staff in significant ways. __ AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): The County has undertaken several efforts to inform the public about greenhouse gas reduction goals related to passenger vehicles, including public meetings of the Board of Supervisors and the Commission on the Environment, as well as engagement with community stakeholders. Staff have also pursued grant opportunities to support the expansion of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, which includes public communication components. General messaging about transportation sector-related emissions can be increased through additional collaboration with other public agencies in the transportation sector. Required Response from the County Board of Supervisors Climate Due by September 2, 2025

Responsibility for the County’s Outreach efforts isn’t clearly defined. Even interested citizens have trouble finding updates. __ AGREE X PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): The County established the Office of Response, Recovery and Resilience (OR3) in 2020 to lead countywide efforts related to climate resilience and sustainability, including the implementation of the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP). OR3 serves as the central point of coordination for climate-related initiatives, including public engagement activities. The OR3 website provides access to the CAAP and related resources, and efforts are currently underway to improve the site’s content, organization, and accessibility to enhance public understanding and usability. Climate- related outreach is also effectuated through all departments’ Operational Plan objectives related to the CAAP, as well as through the County Commission on the Environment. Required Response from the County Board of Supervisors Climate Due by September 2, 2025

The County Staff and the Commission on the Environment (COE) charged with reporting to superiors (i.e., Board of Supervisors) don’t stay current in publicly publishing their actions regarding the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP). __ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE X DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): County staff and the Commission on the Environment (COE) regularly collaborate to provide updates on the progress of Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) strategies and objectives during publicly noticed meetings. These meetings are conducted in accordance with the Brown Act, and all related materials—including agendas, staff presentations, and minutes—are posted on the COE website. In addition, departmental updates are periodically communicated through press releases and other public channels to ensure transparency and accessibility. Required Response from the County Board of Supervisors Climate Due by September 2, 2025

Staff charged with instigating/tracking/coordinating efforts required by the CAAP do not consider public Outreach part of their task. __ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE X DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): The Office of Response, Recovery and Resilience (OR3) actively incorporates public outreach into its work, including participation in community events, stakeholder meetings, and direct engagement on the County’s climate initiatives. Public engagement is considered an integral part of advancing the goals of the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP), consistent with available resources. Required Response from the County Board of Supervisors Climate Due by September 2, 2025

Money was spent to create progress trackers on the CAAP Storymap Website, but no one is updating the progress. X AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): OR3 is in the process of developing a new tracking and reporting dashboard and has identified a vendor to implement the system. The updated platform will support more timely updates by County departments and improve accessibility for the public. Required Response from the County Board of Supervisors Climate Due by September 2, 2025

Money has been spent to create another interactive website (Resilient Santa Cruz) for the interested citizen, but that website is not being publicized, and the modest participation goals have not been met. __ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE X DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): The County of Santa Cruz is not a fiscal sponsor of the Resilient Santa Cruz website and does not fund or manage its content. The Resilient Santa Cruz County platform is powered by BrightAction engagement software, which provides technology infrastructure for user engagement. Funding for the platform is provided by participating municipalities. Required Response from the County Board of Supervisors Climate Due by September 2, 2025

County web pages and social media specifically created for reporting to the public have been allowed to languish and are not populated with recent news items on CAAP goal progress. X AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): OR3 is currently updating its website and developing a new CAAP progress dashboard to enhance public engagement and transparency. Required Response from the County Board of Supervisors Climate Due by September 2, 2025