TO: Napa County Climate Action Committee
FROM: Brian D. Bordona, Director of Napa County Planning, Building & Environmental Services
REPORT BY: Jesse Gutiérrez, Principal Planner, Sustainability
SUBJECT: Presentation and discussion on outreach and engagement strategies for the implementation phase of the Napa Regional Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (RCAAP).
RECOMMENDATION
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Receive a presentation, discuss, and provide guidance on future outreach and engagement strategies for the implementation phase of the Napa RCAAP.
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BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The Napa County Regional Action and Adaptation Plan (RCAAP) is a multi-jurisdictional planning and engagement effort that aims to coordinate climate action and adaptation efforts and identify resource-sharing opportunities across the six jurisdictions in the County. While cities primary focus is on reducing emissions in on-road transportation and building energy, and adapting to climate change in urban areas, the County’s primary focus will be on reducing agricultural and off-road transportation emissions, sequestering carbon, and supporting regional initiatives like diverting organics from landfills or enhancing wildfire resilience. Because emission reduction and climate adaptation strategies may differ across jurisdictions, feedback and engagement throughout the region are critical for implementing the RCAAP.
On April 24, 2026, the Climate Action Committee (CAC) adopted the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 (FY 26/27) budget for program administration of the CAC, support for climate action and sustainability related projects, and adoption and implementation of the RCAAP. The adopted FY 26/27 budget includes estimated funding for staff time to shift from plan development to coordinating with all CAC member jurisdictions to prepare implementation approaches after RCAAP adoption. This will include collaboration and coordination amongst municipalities relying on the All Staff Working Group to facilitate the prioritization of RCAAP measures, cost and funding analysis, and community engagement and outreach.
The RCAAP is expected to be completed and brought forward to the six jurisdictional hearing bodies for adoption hearings in late summer/early fall 2026.
Successful implementation of the RCAAP will rely on continued participation from local government leadership and staff, communities, individuals, businesses, community organizations, professional and trade groups, advocacy organizations, and partners to help advance climate action and adaptation solutions across Napa County. Regional coordination with partners will facilitate regular sharing of updates on progress, funding opportunities, resources, and ways to participate. Many RCAAP strategies are also directly connected to communities, programs, and current and future incentives, making clear and accessible communication essential for equitable participation.
Engagement on the RCAAP will build on relationships established during the planning process while continuing to intentionally expand and reach communities that have been historically underrepresented. As implementation unfolds, ongoing community input will continue to shape climate strategies that respond to local needs and reflect the priorities of Napa County's diverse communities.
The adopted CAC budget for FY26/27 includes a placeholder amount of $35,000 for outreach and engagement support to be provided by Napa Resource Conservation District and $1,500 for the continued presence of the Napa County Climate Challenge online platform by BrightAction Communities.
RCAAP engagement to date
Throughout the RCAAP planning process, the project team sought input from community members to support the RCAAP in the following ways:
• Guide the identification of key priorities for climate action and adaptation efforts.
• Tailor strategies to address specific local challenges and opportunities.
• Shape the RCAAP to ensure actions benefit all members of the community.
• Ensure greater community support for implementation.
Community engagement for the RCAAP consisted of a variety of interrelated activities, including:
• Online survey - May to August 2024
• Website: https://climateactionnapa.konveio.com/community-engagement-overview
• Coordinated press releases and social media posts
• Tabling at community events
• Two Community meetings, one in-person and one virtual - July 2024
• Six Stakeholder focus group meetings - July/August 2024
• Four in-person Open House Workshops, one in each of the following cities - Yountville, American Canyon, Napa, and Calistoga - August/September 2025
• Public Draft comment period online - August/September 2025
• Advertising of meetings and public discussions of RCAAP related topics at the Napa County Climate Action Committee
• Public hearings anticipated to be held by local municipalities during the final RCAAP adoption phase -Fall/Winter 2026.
Key Insights from 2024 Survey Results
• Widespread Support: Most respondents feel that climate change will negatively impact them, and that the government should take actions to help communities respond to and prepare for climate change. Many noted that a broad suite of actions will be necessary to respond to the scale of the challenge.
• Urgency is Needed: There is significant pressure from respondents to accelerate climate action, with many concerned about the pace of progress.
• Economic and Development Concerns: Respondents are concerned about the economic impacts of potential regulations on both individuals and small or local businesses. Several mentioned that they favor incentives over bans. Some noted that new development should be approached carefully so as not to strain the region’s sustainability goals related to biodiversity protection, reducing vehicle miles traveled, and meeting electrification targets.
• Energy Grid: Many respondents see the need for electrification to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and want support (incentives, better infrastructure) to transition away from natural gas, as well as assurance that the grid will be stable and reliable.
• Concern about Plastic: Many respondents noted that they are concerned about how much plastic is part of daily life and desire for more efforts to reduce plastic use and improve plastic recycling.
• Desire for Education and Community Participation: Many respondents noted that they see a need for more education in our communities regarding climate change’s impacts and what individuals can do to help the community be resilient. Several noted that they want to take action and are looking for guidance.
• Focus on Ecosystem Health, Water, Fire: Several respondents highlighted water management, forest health, biodiversity protection, and fire resiliency as critical areas that should receive more attention in Napa County.
• More Work Needed to Understand Opinions of Demographic Diversity of our Community: Relative to the make-up of our community, respondents were relatively older, more frequently female and white, and less frequently of Hispanic/Latino/Spanish origin. Additional engagement is needed to better understand the opinions of community members in underrepresented demographic categories.
Focus Group Meetings
In a series of focused community engagement sessions, stakeholders from diverse backgrounds in Napa County shared their experiences and perspectives on climate impacts and resilience. Six focus group meetings took place in July and August 2024. Each session was attended by at least 3 community organizations. The groups were categorized into areas focused on Youth, Families, Public Health, Community Based Organizations, Groups Serving Multi-Language speaking audiences, and Agriculture and Grapegrowers.
The results of the primary community engagement activities to date, specifically the online survey, focus groups, and community meetings, are summarized in detail in the RCAAP Community Engagement Appendix A.
Guiding questions for today’s CAC discussion
1. How do we build on the outreach and engagement that has taken place?
2. How can outreach and engagement be improved?
3. Should outreach and engagement be tailored for sustainability overall or for specific prioritized measures?
4. What type of engagement will be needed during the first 3 years of RCAAP implementation?
5. How do we consider vulnerable populations, equity, and environmental justice in decision making?
6. Should capacity building be a priority?
7. How do we best build trust with stakeholders?
8. Who are our strongest partners?
9. Who do we need to build partnerships with?
10. Are demonstration projects desirable?
11. Which existing programs need more visibility and community engagement?
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California
Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.