2025

The transportation sector is the largest contributor of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and threatens healthy air quality in communities. What is working and not working in California? Join us for an update of strategies to improve it, and examples of local transportation decarbonization efforts.

Environmental Council of Sacramento Climate Change Committee Meeting: July 17, 2025
Decarbonizing California’s Transportation – Is It Working?
Hybrid meeting: On Zoom and at Mogavero Architects, 1322 T St., Sacramento
Link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6656164155 | To phone in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 665 616 4155

6:30 PM: Social period (for those in-person)

7:00 PM: Welcome and Introductions

7:10 PM: California’s Climate Goals Are in Jeopardy! Neil Matouka, Net-Zero California

California’s ambitious decarbonization goals rely on several federal, state, and local implementation policies. This makes our goals vulnerable, given the change in federal administration, and the unpopularity of certain necessary actions at the regional and local levels. Neil Matouka will show us an indicators dashboard for statewide tracking of our climate goals (ZEVs, Renewable Portfolio Standard, land conservation, etc.), and show climate impact resources available to support decision makers and community members.

At Net-Zero California, Neil manages its Clean Power program, developing and implementing data-driven policies to address climate change challenges. Neil launched California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment at the Office of Planning and Research, and served as the Air Resources Board’s Local Government Climate Action Planning Liaison, working with communities to develop climate solutions and transition to an equitable, low-carbon future.

7:30 PM: Communities Matter! – Environmental imperative, safety imperative, socioeconomic imperative. Larry Rillera, California Air Resources Board

Larry Rillera will present key clean transportation regulations and incentives, and give examples – such as Sacramento’s Green Technical Education and Employment. Larry will also discuss outreach and engagement, and how we can get ready for an upturn.

At the Air Resources Board, Larry serves on interagency teams and public-private-partnership ventures, engaging with communities, tribes, and businesses to decarbonize the transportation sector, including heavy-duty vehicles. At the California Energy Commission, Larry developed financing solutions for solar panel manufacturers, electric vehicle charging stations, and ZEV manufacturing. He has also developed career pathway programs at schools and with community-based organizations.

7:50 PM: Join the discussion!
Questions will include:

What are opportunities and barriers to decarbonize the transportation sector?
What is the state of environmental justice in this work?
How can we at ECOS (and others) get involved?

After Q&A, we’ll have updates and announcements (open to all).

Click here to view the agenda (in PDF).

Update on Natomas Projects

July 1, 2025

Oh my, what a week!

Thanks to all who joined us to show our opposition at the two hearings last week. Your participation, attending, speaking at a meeting, or writing a comment, were very helpful.

Status of the projects and meeting outcomes:

The Upper Westside Project – On June 23, 2025 the County Planning Commission recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve the project. The Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) has been released and is available on the County website here.

About 80 people spoke at the hearing. Many spoke of their feelings about the project and others questioned its technical aspects, such as the lack of a source of water. In spite of such clear opposition, the Commission voted unanimously to support the project. The Commission had few questions or comments. You can watch the recording here. An Opinion piece was published in the Bee on June 30, 2025 focusing on Count/City tension over the project.

There is no date yet for the Board of Supervisors’ vote on the project. You can let them know of your concerns with letters, or on our petition. Please sign it here.

Airport South Industrial Project – On June 26, the City Planning and Design Commission recommended that the City Council annex the land and accept the project. They also recommended several changes to the project, including widening the buffer between Paso Verde Elementary School and warehouses; that loading dock placements be away from residences and the school; and recommended increased noise mitigation.

At the meeting there were 50 – 60 proponents of the project and about 30 opponents. There were a lot of orange vests in the room. About 20 people spoke in opposition and many more spoke in support, mainly for the jobs. The Commission spent well over an hour asking additional questions and commenting on what they heard. There was 1 “no” vote. You can watch the hearing here.

The date for the City Council to make the final decision is tentatively set for August 12, 2025. We will need a strong showing from the Westlake, Northlake and Four Seasons communities. Sierra Club, ECOS and Friends of the Swainsons’ Hawk have initiated a law suit and you will be the beneficiaries of it. Your support (by showing up and by donating) are important to its success. Letters and calls to the Mayor and Council expressing your opposition matter.

GrandPark Southwest and Grand Park Brookfield – 1,871 and 3,485 acres respectively, north of Elkhorn Blvd. These proposed developments would be a mix of residential and commercial. We believe both projects are actively working with the County to create their Environmental Impact Reports. The Notice of Preparation for Grandpark Southwest has been issued. Concerned or impacted organizations will submit comments to the County.

Take Action – Start Planning NOW

In the next month, make plans for how to reach people in your communities and organizations to inform them of the project and of the stakes for Natomas and other city residents. Start planning and organizing how you will get people to turn out for the go/no go meetings. For your community or organization:

How will you reach out to your members to let them know about the meetings, what the stakes are, and encourage them to attend? Do you have an email list?
In the next month, can you organize house parties? Or organize a team of people willing to pass out flyers door to door?
Design a flyer for your community now, you can add the date once it is announced. We may only have 10 days notice for the meetings.
Identify who is willing to post on social media about the meetings.

ECOS will assist by providing information. We will also create a flyer but one specific to your community may be better.

If each of us does something, it adds up to something big.

ECOS Orientation 7/15/2025

Learn what ECOS is all about! Attend our monthly orientation session on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 from 6:00 – 6:30 pm via Zoom to get a broad overview of what ECOS does, why it matters, and what you can do to help! This orientation can also benefit anyone interested in learning more about environmental issues in the Sacramento region. We will cover our current goals that involve climate change prevention, promoting infill over sprawl development, transit, habitat protection, and the wise use of water resources, among others.

Please Attend Hearing on Natomas Developments on June 26, 2025

Please join ECOS at two important meetings to oppose rampant development in the Natomas Basin: June 23 and June 26, 2025.

Join us to hold signs and/or testify:

June 23 – 5:30 County Supervisors Chambers at 700 H. The Upper Westside Project will be heard at the County Planning Commission. It is Item 3 on the Agenda and is available here. The Commission will make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors for their meeting later this summer. The Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) has been released and is available on the County website here.

June 26 – 5:30 City Council Chambers at New City Hall 915 I St. The Airport South Industrial Project will be heard at the City Planning Commission. They will make a recommendation to the City Council on whether or not to annex the land and whether to accept or deny the project. The FEIR has already been certified by LAFCo. This meeting is a continuation of the meeting on May 22, 2025. The agenda for June 26th is here.

Possibly as soon as mid-August the City Council will vote on the Airport South Industrial Project. The Board of Supervisors may meet on Upper Westside in late summer as well. Both of these meetings will be go or no go for the projects.

What You Can Do

Post on social media your concerns about the project. Do it today, and tomorrow and for the next week until June 26.
Encourage people to sign our petitions – they are here.
Donate to the ECOS Natomas Fund here. We have initiated a lawsuit against LAFCo over Airport South Industrial. We need your help to pay for it.
Come to the meetings on June 23 and 26. Please do speak. Tell the Commissioners what concerns you about the projects. Be sure to tell them if you live in Natomas.

Links to Learn More

ECOS media release about Upper Westside Project

Letter from the City to the County expressing their concerns about the Upper Westside project – very detailed

Article in N Magazine by Heather Fargo on rampant development proposed in the Natomas Basin.

ECOS press release for lawsuit brought by Sierra Club, ECOS and Friends of the Swainson’s Hawk against LAFCo over ASIP

Learn more about developer-initiated projects in the Natomas Basin at the ECOS website.

Regards,

Heather Fargo
President of the ECOS Board of Directors

Be Part of the Conversation with SacRT on June 25th!

Why do you ride transit? What would make you more likely to ride transit? How can transit improve our communities?

If you have thoughts about these questions, and live in South Sacramento, SacRT wants to hear from you!

You’re invited to the next in SacRT’s series of Transit Idea Exchange Workshops to hear directly from the community:

Wednesday, June 25, 2025
6 p.m. – 7 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.)
Pannell Center
2450 Meadowview Rd, Sacramento

ECOS letter to Sacramento City Planning Commissioners re Airport South Industrial Annexation

On June 25, 2025, ECOS submitted a letter regarding AGENDA ITEM 2, June 26, 2025, Airport South Industrial Annexation (P21-017) [Published 05/02/2025] File ID: 2025-01031 to the Sacramento City Planning and Design Commission.

Below is an excerpt.

As you prepare for this meeting, we are again sharing with you materials relevant to the proposed Airport South Industrial project. We ask that you consider them and ask that you oppose the project.

Click here to read our letter to the Commissioners.