Manteca is required by state law to develop strategies for implementing a climate action plan that will best serve the community through 2050.

In order to do that, a five-member Climate Action Plan Advisory Committee (CAPAC) is being formed by the City Council to assist a consultant in identifying key issues and topics included in the city’s climate action plan update.

They also will assist in developing a range of solutions and approaches to address identified concerns.

The council decided that each member will appoint one citizen to the ad hoc committee. They are not being limited to those that reside within their individual council district although members must reside within the city limits.

The appointments are expected to be made at the May 16 meeting.

A CAPAC member will review draft materials prepared by the consultant team to ensure that the priorities of the community are being addressed in the Climate Action Plan Update.

The CAPAC will not be asked to vote on issues or items. 

Rather, the CAPAC will be asked to consider information, provide input, listen to other CAPAC members, and strive to find consensus and compromise in order to facilitate the preparation of a Climate Action Plan that addresses a wide and diverse range of community priorities and issues. 

If fundamental disagreements exist between CAPAC members on key issues, the City Council will be asked to provide input and direction.

At each meeting, the CAPAC will be presented with either new topics to discuss, or a policy/strategy set to review.  Following two to three meetings of new topic discussions, the consultant team will then prepare a draft policy/strategy set addressing the discussed topics, and bring these policy/strategy sets to the CAPAC for review, refinement, and discussion. This process will be repeated two to three times during the CAPAC process.

The CAPAC’s time together will result in significant input into a Draft Climate Action Plan Update that is prepared and submitted to the Planning Commission and City Council for further review, input, and refinement.  It is expected that the City Council will have the final word regarding the content of the Climate Action Plan Update.

 Key points that appointees will need to be made aware of include:

*The number of meetings will range between 8 and 12 meetings, as needed to cover all topics and discussion items.

*Each meeting may run up to two hours in length.

*Reading materials will be assigned prior to each meeting. It is imperative that all members come to each meeting having read and thought about the materials.

*Reading materials will be provided to CAPAC members 7-10 days prior to each meeting.

*It will be expected that all CAPAC members attend all CAPAC meetings

A CAPAC member serves as an ‘ambassador’ to the community by sharing information about the Climate Action Plan Update and gathering input from residents, neighbors, businesses, community groups, and community organizations.

Raney’s role will include establishing the agenda and range of topics to discuss at each meeting; preparing all meeting materials; and facilitating discussions during each meeting, including answering questions, providing additional information, and explaining possible approaches to addressing key topics in the Climate Action Plan.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com