Climate Council Meeting Summary - 6-16-21

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policies), and Partnerships (public, private, and non-profit organizations, competitive grants, etc). It was proposed that these working groups identify and develop proposals for specific products for each audience each year. Working groups may change year to year based on need and member interest, but they would always focus on providing useful products to each audience. It was acknowledged that the three existing Committees roughly align with these audiences already, but further definition of Working Groups may be desired. Ideally we would have both professional staff and elected members in each committee. All members would be encouraged to join a Working Group. Working Groups may not provide updates as a regular part of every meeting. These could be emailed to the chair and/or sent out as needed. Once formed, working groups would identify the product(s) they will deliver at each annual Community Update Meeting in September. The overall Council would discuss and approve the planned product(s). Delivering the approved product(s) should help to organize and guide the work of each Working Group throughout the year. Miller made a comment that building the constituency around greater climate action would be an important role for e the Council and to that end the Chambers of Commerce would be important voices on this Council to represent the business community. McCullough clarified that we’ve had several different new members suggested and that the final decision on our membership rests with the 4 elected boards who created the Council. Marcoplos made the point that the Council should move past this continued discussion of limitations and pick some projects to pilot. Monast made the point that the Council could continue generating and vetting and scoping ideas, and it could also operate well if we were taking questions or requests from local elected leaders and providing the information they wanted. There are lots of climate actions that we can come up with to work on, but it may be more focused and effective if those ideas came from the local government leadership. McCullough made the point that the elected officials may not be the ones who know the details on what specific actions or insights might be the best to pursue. It may be that staff has that knowledge. Slade agreed, and articulated the tension that climate action plans have already been adopted, except Orange County. These plans would provide the appropriate direction, and perhaps the Council could help inform a Climate Action Plan for the County as the encompassing entity. This might be the most appropriate way for the Council to encourage and inform greater climate action. Kaufman agreed and noted that the Council could be a forum for projects and partnerships that cut across each of the plans.