Candidate Questionnaire: Climate change mitigation measures could have a large impact on Pacifica homeowners and businesses. What are your thoughts on this topic?

The Pacifica Chamber of Commerce submitted 12 questions to each of the candidates for Pacifica City Council. Every week we will be posting two questions, and the answers from each of the candidates.


Question 10: Climate change mitigation measures could have a large impact on Pacifica homeowners and businesses. What are your thoughts on this topic?


Karen Ervin - 4 Year Seat

I appreciate that the proposed Climate Action Plan provides an opportunity to engage the community regarding the effects of global warming and addresses how we can work together to reduce green house gas emissions. I am not supportive of the point of sale ordinances in the plan; the residential/commercial energy conservation ordinance (RECO/CECO), which requires installation of energy efficient measures to be completed when your house is sold based on the sale price of your home. Many people selling their homes today have little equity and will have a difficult time absorbing the costs of this ordinance. In addition, some sellers will have to also purchase sewer lateral replacements as mandated by the city of Pacifica at the same time. There is also a proposed general plan change that would mandate that homeowners in areas of Linda Mar and Sharp Park prove that their homes can handle sea level rise before carrying out renovations to their property. I believe the best way forward is to make a recommendation and to encourage improvements to property rather than add another mandated cost, and that we should continue to engage the public regarding ways to reduce green house gas emissions.

Mary Ann Nihart - 4 Year Seat

AB32 is state law and places on the cities the burden of developing their own Climate Action Plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020. The volunteers who worked on the Climate Action Plan did a commendable job of pulling together a significant set of recommendations to address those requirements. Most of the plan is made of good suggestions, especially those that involve public education. There are some areas that will need adjustment. Choice of ordinances will need to be balanced with consideration for economic hardship and maximum gain. One major issue, that I have already shared publicly, concerns “point of sale.” Recently we had to enact a “point of sale” for scoping, repairing or replacing sewer laterals which was required by a consent decree with the Regional Water quality Board. This “point of sale” is in its infancy and there have been some problems. Until these are resolved I cannot support another “point of sale” requirement.


Susan Vellone - 4 Year Seat 

A thoughtful and long term plan should be analyzed and implemented for homeowners and businesses. Our coastal community needs to protect itself from the possibility of sea levels rising and creating harmful erosion that will damage valuable properties. Managed retreat, conditional occupancy land rights, and compensation need to be evaluated. As a Councilwoman, I will actively engage and educate myself for the benefit of our City.

Mike O'Neill - 2 Year Seat

Climate change is real and we need to do what we can locally however I think we need to be realistic and thoughtful to what is economically feasible. Green building ordinances are good but we need to be careful that we do not stifle the growth we need. Theodore Roosevelt said, “ Conservation means development as much as it means development”.


Rich Campbell - 2 Year Seat

Many of the proposals make sense, but I would not propose a green building upgrade at point of sale in light of current economy.


Victor Spano - 2 Year Seat

I am running as an Economic Development Candidate. By having more variety of retail outlets in Pacifica, commuter trips to other jurisdictions will be reduced. By virtue of the fact that there are 45-50 empty stores, the market demonstrates that new retail development over and above existing supply is not that feasible at this time. Fill those stores with new enterprises and there would be a beneficial effect in many senses. I have reviewed the Draft Climate Change Plan and think that it is an outstanding document except where it may inhibit Economic Development, in this sense, I don’t agree with all points, but many are beneficial without a doubt. The science behind so called Climate Change is evolving. We should look at mitigation measure carefully, so that the impacts do not wind up killing off projects or proposals for new businesses. I am for an evolving and finalized Climate Change Plan that responds to the Pacifica business community and does not create obstacles for it.


Gary Mondfrans - 2 Year Seat

Climate change will have an impact upon all coastal area not only on a national but worldwide scale and may be part and parcel of a natural trend or the irreversible end product of the burning of coal first documented by the early blackouts of London. In either case Pacifica must have special planning concerns in low-lying areas; areas subject to tidal erosion aggravated by the El Niño and La Niña weather cycles; areas subject to salt-water intrusion which may erode or leach toxic chemicals into our water supply and/or otherwise undermine the entire underground piping structure. Communities like Pacifica should establish a close collaboration with Federal agencies and other research institutions in order to better assist with pre-planning and be in the forefront of disaster planning and assistance.

Climate change is not the only significant environment issue which Pacifica must address. Pacifica lies in the Pacific Creep Zone and is very seismically active; the San Andreas Fault roughly parallels Skyline, known sinkhole, some of which have been allowed to become developed lie within that fault zone; major water tanks and pipelines may be impacted by a seismic incident; and there are many variously known and hypothesized faults lying just miles off-shore any one of which has the potential to create a tsunami. Preparation for this is just as urgent, and I fear,at present is far from adequate.