Dear City Council Members,
As a former Environmental Quality Commissioner and long-time Menlo Park resident (31 years and counting), I am grateful for your continued support of our community’s aspirational climate leadership. You and your predecessors have supported green building requirements in Menlo Park’s industrial zone, strongly advocated for Peninsula Clean Energy’s successful stretch goal of 100% carbon-free energy sourcing within five years of inception, and passed new construction Reach codes that were adopted by nearly 50 cities throughout California.
Due to a short-sighted judicial decision in Berkeley and now dramatic federal actions to support climate denial and rollback many of the incentives for greenhouse gas mitigation we are facing a far more challenging time. Local, regional, and statewide action are even more imperative.
Please support the staff combined recommendation (Option 3) to create increased prewriting requirements for future electrification, A/C-to-Heat Pump when air conditional is proposed, and increased energy efficiency requirements when major renovations are proposed.
While some may be concerned that this is being adopted hurriedly, you unfortunately due not have time to delay this decision due to provisions in CA AB 130 that prevent further building code modifications over the next 6 years. It was wise of staff to recommend hardship carve-outs to address public concerns expressed about the costs that could be faced by modifying older buildings with constraints that could be more expensive than the typical residences in our community.
Please proceed with this swift action in adopting Option 3 and continuing the climate leadership legacy from our community’s City Council.
Mitch Slomiak
Willows resident and former EQC commissioner
