Saratoga would take its first formal steps toward a city climate resilience district on Wednesday, Oct. 21, when the City Council considers two resolutions: one creating a temporary task force to shape the district and another declaring the city's intention to form it.
Neither would create the district outright, and city staff say neither would authorize a new tax or assessment.
What a district could do
State law lets cities form these districts under Senate Bill 852, the Climate Resilience Districts Act, to plan and pay for projects that reduce or adapt to the effects of climate change, and to reach funding tools a city could not otherwise use.
Saratoga's proposed district would share the city's boundaries and would finance or assist projects dealing with wildfire, flooding, drought and extreme heat, according to the draft resolution of intent.
The council first looked at the idea at a June 17 study session. At that meeting, members said three things were needed before going further: a list of projects the district would prioritize, a picture of the ways it could pay for them, and community input on both.
The task force
The task force would be the vehicle for that work. It would have five members, each nominated by a council member and then appointed by the full council, and would serve only until June 30, 2027.
By then it is expected to hand the council a report with a recommended project list and ideas for funding it, including a proposed budget for the district's first two years.
Staff are asking council members to submit nominations to the city clerk by Nov. 6 so appointments can be made Nov. 18. The group would meet at least every other month and would follow the Brown Act and Public Records Act like a city commission.
The staff report says the structure copies the approach Saratoga used for its Public Safety Task Force in 2017 and its Wildfire Public Safety Task Force in 2019.