OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Mountain View City Council Meeting: Decarbonization, Parks Plan, and ICE Policy Discussion - May 26, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, May 26, 2026
BodyMountain View, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, May 26, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 5:44:41
Transcript — Verbatim
0:05

All right.

0:06

Thank you for joining us for our study session.

0:08

The assistant city clerk will take attendance by roll call.

0:12

Councilmember Hicks.

0:14

Here.

0:15

Councilmember Kamei.

0:16

Councilmember McAllister.

0:18

Yep.

0:19

Councilmember Ramirez?

0:20

Here.

0:21

Council Member Show Walter?

0:22

Here.

0:23

Vice Mayor Clerk is absent.

0:25

Mayor Ramos?

0:26

Here.

0:26

Thank you.

0:26

We have a quorum.

0:28

All right.

0:28

We will now move on to item 3.1.

0:31

City decarbonization goal and five-year plan approach and actions.

0:36

The purpose of the study session is to review and provide feedback on the city decarbonation goal and draft actions and strategy.

0:43

Chief Sustainability and Resiliency Officer Danielle Lee and Assistant City Manager Audrey Seymour will present the item.

0:51

If you would like to speak on this item in person, please submit a blue speaker card to the assistant city clerk now.

0:57

Go ahead.

1:07

Good evening.

1:27

This evening, we are going to be discussing the city's decarbonization goal and proposed five-year action plan approach and actions.

1:50

Okay.

1:52

The purpose of our discussion is really threefold.

1:57

We'd like to confirm the city's 2045 decarbonization goal, confirm the five-year approach to planning for our decarbonization actions, and then to delve more deeply in and refine and confirm the draft priority actions that were included in the report to council.

2:23

A more extensive background on the city's sustainability efforts was provided in the memo, but a few of the main drivers that got us to this evening's discussion include the council's carbon neutrality declaration.

2:45

We've also in the in this interim period been working on significant action related to decarbonization through the actions identified in our city's sustainability action plans.

3:29

Also by way of background, I want to highlight some of the significant efforts that have been undertaken by the city.

3:38

Mountain View has long been a leader in sustainability work, and you'll see that we have not only been planning over the last stretch of time, but also doing the work.

4:15

So as we began to undertake this analysis in the early part of 2025, we were really struck by this shifting policy landscape.

4:29

And you know, of course, I would like to acknowledge that that's a recurring, it's a regular factor for the policy landscape to move, but in the last 18 months, we have observed significant changes at the federal and state, and even regional levels.

4:51

One example that I'd like to highlight is at some point mid-2025, the EPA rescinded a waiver that it had given to California, which would have allowed the state to ban the sale of non-electric vehicles starting in 2035.

5:12

So by 2035, California, one of the largest automotive markets in the country, would have only allowed the sale of new electric vehicles.

5:22

As you can imagine, that would have led to a significant shift in our emissions.

5:27

Revoking that waiver has shifted significant responsibility to the local level to deal with greenhouse gas emissions.

5:36

Our initial analysis of emissions showed 7% of emissions remaining by 2045.

5:46

With the revocation of this one waiver, it pushed our emissions up to 40% of all emissions being responsible.

5:54

You know, the city being responsible for or the local level having to deal with.

5:59

So, you know, I can say the shifting policy landscape.

6:03

We happened to be undertaking analysis right at this moment.

6:06

So we have numbers to put to this to really underscore just how significant the impact has been.

6:18

Obviously, this landscape helped inform our analysis.

6:24

We we had many insights from it.

6:27

I think it was a fascinating time to be to be asking these questions.

6:34

We could see in real time what how significant the impacts are from the state and the federal levels, and how important coordination across all these levels of government is to achieve major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

7:02

But we don't throw in the towel because of this.

7:06

Local actions are insufficient, but they are essential.

7:10

You know, we enable broader policy success and implementation by accelerating policies that are adopted at the state level or the regional level.

7:23

Cities help to fill policy and market gaps.

7:27

You know, if you think about EV charging, for example, we've seen a proliferation of EV chargers.

7:33

You know, we have it at workplaces, we have them at grocery stores.

7:38

The city has been installing them in parking garages, but where we don't see them uh being installed as much, uh, are at places like multifamily dwellings.

7:50

And so, you know, we're using this plan as an opportunity to fill a gap where the market might not solve for it, and that's a one of the critical roles that local governments can play.

8:02

And then finally, at the local level, we can pilot solutions that can be scaled regionally and statewide.

8:11

REACH codes are a great example of this.

8:13

Many of the most successful building code changes were piloted at the local level through REACH codes and then eventually adopted statewide.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Sustainability and Resilience█████████████████████████████29%
Parks and Recreation███████████████████████████27%
Affordable Housing██████████10%
Immigration Enforcement████████8%
Public Safety█████5%
Engineering And Infrastructure████4%
Procedural███3%
Community Engagement███3%
Finance And Investments███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Mountain View City Council Meeting: Decarbonization, Parks Plan, and ICE Policy Discussion - May 26, 2026

The Mountain View City Council met on May 26, 2026, for a study session on the city's decarbonization goal and five-year action plan, followed by a regular meeting that included adoption of the Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan, updates to the Urban Water Management Plan, code amendments for housing streamlining, and discussion of a potential policy restricting immigration enforcement on city property.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved unanimously (all items except 4.3, which was pulled): item 4.1 (ordinance repealing and reenacting Chapter 10 of Chapter 19 for a new transportation demand management program), item 4.2 (resolutions appointing Janaid Quraishi to the Downtown Committee and Mary Yen to the Human Relations Committee), item 4.4 (Stevens Creek Trail Extension), and item 4.5 (Lot Five Parking Structure funding appropriation). Councilmember Showalter requested updates on timing for the trail extension (expected 2.5 years for preliminary design and environmental review) and clarification on the $10.5 million parking structure appropriation (covers design and possibly partial construction).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Study Session – Decarbonization: Bruce Carney (former ESTF chair) recommended adding workplace charging and emphasized that staffing and budget are gating factors; he urged council to consider deleting low-impact actions and noted assumptions about SVCE's carbon-free electricity. Alex Brown requested assistance for mobile home park electrification infrastructure. Anthony (SVCE) expressed support for the five-year approach and offered continued partnership.
  • Public Comments on Presentation Items: Deb Henningson (Rapid Response Network) requested a policy prohibiting immigration enforcement on city property, especially during the World Cup. John Shatter clarified his interest in a later agenda item.
  • Oral Communications: Several speakers requested a policy barring ICE from using city property, citing community fear and the upcoming World Cup. Zoe Chen advocated for single staircase reform to promote affordable housing. John Shatter urged council to save the Shoreline Twilight membership program at the golf course.
  • Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan: Multiple speakers (Ronit Bryant, Jim Zarowski, Dash Leeds, April Webster, Mary Datio) urged removal of the term "near native" and clear prioritization of locally native plants in the plan.
  • AB 130 Streamlined Approval: Peter Katz (Mountain View Chamber) supported the interim administrative process but urged a ministerial process by end of 2026. Kevin Ma (Mountain View YIMBY) raised concerns about appeal costs and timelines.
  • Urban Water Management Plan: Alexander Admaroso emphasized water quality and pollution monitoring.
  • North Bay Shore Area Plan: Multiple speakers requested explicit inclusion of the Burrowing Owl Preservation Plan.

Discussion Items

  • City Decarbonization Goal and Five-Year Plan: Chief Sustainability Officer Danielle Lee and Assistant City Manager Audrey Seymour presented the draft plan, emphasizing a 2045 goal and focusing on buildings and transportation (90% of emissions). Key actions include heat pump water heater rebates, EV charging for multifamily housing, and regional advocacy. The shifting policy landscape (e.g., EPA rescinding California's waiver) increased local responsibility to 40% of emissions. Staff recommended a five-year adaptive approach. Council supported the plan and added direction to explore mobile home park electrification and workplace charging.
  • Economic Vitality Strategy (Item 4.3): Councilmember Ramirez moved to approve staff recommendations with an additional measure of success tracking the percentage of land zoned for industrial uses and a target to preserve the industrial base. Council approved unanimously.
  • Urban Water Management Plan Update: Water Resources Manager Elizabeth Blagel presented the mandatory five-year update. The plan confirms sufficient water supply through 2050, including for growth from the housing element (76% population increase, 32% water use increase). Council held public hearing and approved.
  • City Code Amendments for AB 130 Streamlined Approval: Principal Planner Diana Pancholi presented amendments to allow administrative approval (with optional public hearing) for qualifying housing projects, bypassing public hearing requirements to meet state timelines. Council adopted the ordinances with added allowance for appeals and consideration of public hearing requests.
  • North Bay Shore Area Plan Amendment: Assistant City Manager Arn Andrews presented updates incorporating new public services (schools, affordable housing, homeless services) and referencing existing plans. Council voted to adopt with an explicit addition of the Burrowing Owl Preservation Plan.
  • Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan Adoption: Assistant Community Services Director Christine Crosby presented the final plan, including a goal for biodiversity/inclusive access and revised park level-of-service calculations. The plan identifies a current shortfall of 53.5 acres (excluding North Bay Shore) with an estimated $722 million cost at today's prices. Council debated use of "near native" terminology and ultimately voted to adopt the plan with a reference to native plants as defined in the upcoming Biodiversity and Urban Forest Plan.
  • AB 481 Military Equipment Annual Report: Lieutenant Lorena Holt and Captain Matthew Atkins reported no complaints in 2025; items used (drones, robot, chemical munitions, etc.) primarily in training. Council renewed the military equipment use policy.
  • Council Committee Reports: Councilmember Kamei raised community requests for a policy prohibiting the use of city property for immigration enforcement. After debate, council voted 5-2 to direct staff to return with a draft resolution by June 23, 2026.

Key Outcomes

  • Decarbonization Plan: Council confirmed the 2045 goal and five-year approach; directed staff to include mobile home park electrification and workplace charging in the action list.
  • AB 130 Streamlined Approval: First reading of ordinances passed unanimously; second reading set for June 9.
  • North Bay Shore Area Plan: Adopted with inclusion of Burrowing Owl Preservation Plan.
  • Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan: Adopted with direction to reference native plants as defined in the Biodiversity and Urban Forest Plan.
  • AB 481 Military Equipment Policy: Renewed unanimously.
  • ICE Enforcement Policy: Staff to present a draft resolution at the June 23 council meeting.
  • Consent Calendar: Approved (except 4.3) with items on Stevens Creek Trail and parking structure.
  • Urban Water Management Plan: Approved.
  • Economic Vitality Strategy: Approved with additional industrial land use metric.

Meeting Transcript

All right. Thank you for joining us for our study session. The assistant city clerk will take attendance by roll call. Councilmember Hicks. Here. Councilmember Kamei. Councilmember McAllister. Yep. Councilmember Ramirez? Here. Council Member Show Walter? Here. Vice Mayor Clerk is absent. Mayor Ramos? Here. Thank you. We have a quorum. All right. We will now move on to item 3.1. City decarbonization goal and five-year plan approach and actions. The purpose of the study session is to review and provide feedback on the city decarbonation goal and draft actions and strategy. Chief Sustainability and Resiliency Officer Danielle Lee and Assistant City Manager Audrey Seymour will present the item. If you would like to speak on this item in person, please submit a blue speaker card to the assistant city clerk now. Go ahead. Good evening. This evening, we are going to be discussing the city's decarbonization goal and proposed five-year action plan approach and actions. Okay. The purpose of our discussion is really threefold. We'd like to confirm the city's 2045 decarbonization goal, confirm the five-year approach to planning for our decarbonization actions, and then to delve more deeply in and refine and confirm the draft priority actions that were included in the report to council. A more extensive background on the city's sustainability efforts was provided in the memo, but a few of the main drivers that got us to this evening's discussion include the council's carbon neutrality declaration. We've also in the in this interim period been working on significant action related to decarbonization through the actions identified in our city's sustainability action plans. Also by way of background, I want to highlight some of the significant efforts that have been undertaken by the city. Mountain View has long been a leader in sustainability work, and you'll see that we have not only been planning over the last stretch of time, but also doing the work. So as we began to undertake this analysis in the early part of 2025, we were really struck by this shifting policy landscape. And you know, of course, I would like to acknowledge that that's a recurring, it's a regular factor for the policy landscape to move, but in the last 18 months, we have observed significant changes at the federal and state, and even regional levels. One example that I'd like to highlight is at some point mid-2025, the EPA rescinded a waiver that it had given to California, which would have allowed the state to ban the sale of non-electric vehicles starting in 2035. So by 2035, California, one of the largest automotive markets in the country, would have only allowed the sale of new electric vehicles. As you can imagine, that would have led to a significant shift in our emissions. Revoking that waiver has shifted significant responsibility to the local level to deal with greenhouse gas emissions. Our initial analysis of emissions showed 7% of emissions remaining by 2045. With the revocation of this one waiver, it pushed our emissions up to 40% of all emissions being responsible. You know, the city being responsible for or the local level having to deal with. So, you know, I can say the shifting policy landscape. We happened to be undertaking analysis right at this moment. So we have numbers to put to this to really underscore just how significant the impact has been. Obviously, this landscape helped inform our analysis. We we had many insights from it. I think it was a fascinating time to be to be asking these questions. We could see in real time what how significant the impacts are from the state and the federal levels, and how important coordination across all these levels of government is to achieve major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. But we don't throw in the towel because of this.

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