Oceanside agrees to create new position — climate action plan coordinator - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Oceanside agrees to create new position - climate action plan coordinator - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Oceanside agrees to create new position — climate action plan coordinator

Full-time administrator sought to oversee grant applications, advance city’s new climate action plan

Oceanside City Council members voted unanimously Wednesday to set in motion the hiring of a full-time climate action plan coordinator, but nobody will get the position until after a budget discussion in April.

The new administrator would be responsible for grant applications and oversight of the city’s climate action plan, which the City Council adopted in 2019. The plan is an effort to align the city with state mandates to reduce greenhouse gases, encourage sustainability and adapt to climate change, though little progress has been made so far.

“I would not say it’s being completely ignored,” City Manager Jonathan Borrego told the City Council at its meeting Wednesday, but staffers have had little time to devote to the plan. He said he’s considered creating the climate plan position and had planned to present it at a council budget meeting in April.

Councilmember Eric Joyce suggested the council authorize the position immediately, saying that without it the city stands to lose millions of dollars in grant money available through the president’s Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

Historic investments are being made in things such as airports, public transit, and the power grid as a result of the act, he said.

“All of this money has a shelf life,” Joyce said. “It will go to the cities who apply, and if we don’t apply, we don’t have a chance. There is no time to waste.”

Other council members balked at the proposal to hire someone as soon as possible. Instead they voted unanimously to proceed with initial work, such as writing a job description, so that the hire can be made more quickly if approved as part of the next budget.

Another proposal by Joyce, the creation of a city Commission on Sustainability and Climate Action, failed with Councilmembers Ryan Keim, Peter Weiss and Rick Robinson opposed. Joyce said the commission would work with the community on programs to advance the climate action plan, and would set an example for other coastal cities.

About a dozen community members spoke on the issue. Most of them, including representatives of the Sierra Club and the Surfrider Foundation, supported forming the commission.

“It’s very important to have a group of people who monitor progress on the (climate action plan) and report back to the council,” said resident Jolene Smith.

“Many neighboring cities already have their commissions,” said resident Diane Nygaard. “Vista is setting up theirs now. Every day greenhouse gas emissions are increasing and the devastating effects of climate change become more real.”

Resident and frequent City Council speaker Richard Newton was one of two people who opposed it.

“Climate change is an excuse for the left to push their agenda,” Newton said, adding that the city’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions is minimal, and so it should not spend a lot of money to reduce those emissions.

Michael Richardson, recently appointed to the city’s Citizen Investment Oversight Committee, said climate change has been under way for millions of years. “Nobody can change that except God, certainly not man.”

“To do anything is absurd,” Richardson said. “You are endorsing a lie.”

Councilmember Robinson said another commission would require a lot of staff time from employees who already are busy.

“I’m not interested in another commission, but I do see some value in the coordinator,” Robinson said.

“My concern is if it’s really going to help our goals,” said Councilmember Keim, adding that the management of a new commission along with other responsibilities could make a new administrator less effective.

“It sounds like we are putting the cart before the horse with a new commission,” Keim said.

Get North County news in your inbox

Top stories from the San Diego North County every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the San Diego Union-Tribune.