Title
Consider Adoption of Resolution Supporting the Polluters Pay Climate Action Superfund Act of 2025. (Councilmember Jensen)
Body
COUNCIL REFERRAL FORM
The Council can take any of the following actions:
1) Take no action.
2) Refer the matter to staff to schedule as a future City Council agenda item.
3) Take dispositive action if sufficiently noticed such that the public and Council have been provided sufficient information by the published agenda, and no formal published notice of a public hearing is required.
Name of Councilmember requesting referral: Councilmember Jensen
Date of submission to City Clerk (must be submitted before 5:00 p.m. on the Monday two weeks before the Council meeting requested): 9/22/2025
Council Meeting date: 10/7/2025
Brief description of the subject to be printed on the agenda, sufficient to inform the City Council and public of the nature of the referral:
Adopt a City Council Resolution of support for AB 1243 (Addis) and SB 684 (Menjivar), the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025, which would establish a framework for fossil fuel polluters to pay their fair share of the costs of climate damages, adaptation, and mitigation, and transmit the Council’s support to Governor Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire, Senator Jesse Arreguín, Speaker Robert Rivas, and Assemblymember Mia Bonta.
The City Council approved a Strategic Plan on November 21, 2023, which established the following 5 priorities:
A. Enhance Community Safety & Services
B. Build Resilience to Climate Change & Water Level Rise
C. Invest in Transportation, Infrastructure, Economic Opportunities & Historic Resources
D. House All Alamedans & End Homelessness
E. Practice Fiscal Responsible, Equitable & Inclusive Governance
If applicable, briefly describe which Council priority the subject falls under and how it relates:
ENHANCE COMMUNITY SAFETY AND SERVICES: Holding polluters accountable and obtaining reimbursement for the costs of fossil fuel pollution will allow Alameda to have more resources to invest in fire infrastructure and disaster preparedness, and to expand and maintain City services that support community wellbeing and quality of life, including libraries, parks, and mental health services.
BUILD RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE & WATER LEVEL RISE: Holding fossil fuel polluters accountable by making them pay their fair share of the costs of mitigating the damage that fossil fuels have caused will provide resources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and become more resilient and adaptive to climate change through equitable efforts in building decarbonization, solar power and electrification, urban greening, flood protections, and composting.
INVEST IN TRANSPORTATION, INFRASTRUCTURE, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND HISTORIC RESOURCES: Making fossil fuel polluters pay the costs of the damage done to the environment will provide resources to upgrade … bicycle, pedestrian, transit, and car infrastructure to increase safety, reliability, sustainability and accessibility (and to) beautify public places, restore historic buildings, rehabilitate utilities and expand broadband.