TO: COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
FROM: JEREMY SWAN, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
DATE: NOVEMBER 5, 2025
SUBJECT:
Title
2024 SUSTAINABILITY ANNUAL REPORT
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SUMMARY
In April 2021, the Claremont City Council approved the updated Sustainable City Plan. The revised Plan includes updated, quantifiable indicators to track progress. As part of the Implementation Plan, the Sustainability Committee and City staff collaborate to prepare an Annual Report each year. The Annual Report provides an update on all indicators to track progress toward achieving the Plan’s goals. The Annual Report also provides a brief summary of notable accomplishments and highlights any challenges that occurred during the year. The 2024 Annual Report is now available for review and is included as an attachment to this report.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the Community and Human Services Commission receive and file this report.
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ALTERNATIVE TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the recommendation, there is the following alternative:
• Request additional information from staff.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The staff cost to research, collect data, and prepare this report is estimated at $8,390 and is included in the operating budget of the Community Services Department.
ANALYSIS
Report Development Process
The Sustainability Committee appointed a subcommittee to assist City staff with reviewing the Annual Report. In addition, City staff and Committee members collaborated to gather data from community stakeholders involved in carrying out aspects of the Plan. The subcommittee received a draft report in April and provided feedback. At its April 21 2025 meeting, the Sustainability Committee then reviewed the draft report. Final data was received in October 2025, allowing staff to finalize the report for City Council review.
Report Summary Findings
The Annual Report summarizes progress towards achieving key targets and notable accomplishments for each Goal Area. The Annual Report also includes an appendix with updated indicator tables for each Goal Area. The indicator tables feature the baseline data (typically from Calendar Year 2018 unless otherwise noted), metrics from Calendar Years 2022 and 2023, and updated data from Calendar Year 2024. Overall, considerable progress was made in 2024. Some notable accomplishments include:
• The City installed a solar photovoltaic system at the Claremont Police Department.
• The City of Claremont’s natural gas usage reached its lowest point since tracking began in 2003.
• The City began tracking Edible Food Recovery and Donations from Claremont grocery stores and large dining establishments.
• The City purchased three fully electric work trucks and ordered its first hybrid police patrol fleet, which will be received in 2025.
• Sustainable Claremont received grants from Energy Upgrade California and Southern California Edison to provide outreach and education related to FLEX Alerts, Power Saver Rewards Programs, and the SCE Access Functional Needs Program.
• The City substantially completed the Towne Avenue Complete Streets Project, adding approximately 1.9 miles of new Class III and Class IV bike lanes.
• The City completed the College Avenue and Green Street Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project.
• Transit ridership on Claremont Dial-a-Ride, Get About, and Foothill Transit increased significantly versus 2023.
• Pomona Valley Transportation Authority tested a fully electric Dial-a-Ride bus.
• The City continued preparing updates to the City Tree Policies and Guidelines Manual, which was completed in early 2025.
• The City installed new three-compartment, bear-resistant trash receptacles in the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park.
• The Bernard Field Station continued its bio-monitoring programs and published manuscripts examining: (1) light pollution effects on kangaroo rats; and (2) safe brush recovery dynamics following fire disturbances.
• The Bernard Field Station continued developing demonstration gardens along Foothill Boulevard.
• The City of Claremont adopted its Housing Element Update and rezoning, allowing new housing units at all income levels.
• The City completed its Historical Preservation Ordinance.
• The City awarded 17 Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Grants.
Some targets were not met in 2024. Although the City of Claremont has reduced its municipal natural gas usage significantly as noted above, community-wide business and residential natural gas use has remained relatively flat. The Sustainability Committee has expressed interest in exploring options to reduce natural gas usage further throughout the community via increased education and outreach in partnership with Sustainable Claremont. The Sustainability Committee will be discussing potential action items at upcoming meetings. In addition, the number of educational events and articles related to organic, locally-grown foods and the environmental aspects of public health decreased when compared to baseline data and prior years. Finally, changes were noted to two of the City’s partner agencies, the Garden Club and CHERP.
Changes to Outside Partners
As noted above, two agents responsible for various actions/indicators have experienced significant changes to their organizations. These organizations include the Garden Club and CHERP. The Sustainability Committee discussed the changes to these organizations and reviewed their assigned Indicators and Action Items at the February 24, 2025, Sustainability Committee meeting. The Committee directed staff to work with the Annual Report Ad Hoc Committee to review the Indicators and Action Items assigned to these organizations further and to formulate recommendations for any necessary changes.
Staff met with the Annual Report Ad Hoc Committee in April 2025 and developed recommendations for the full Committee to review. At the April 21, 2025 meeting, the Sustainability Committee approved the following updates to the Sustainable City Plan:
• Delete Indicator 5.5.2, “Number of groups giving awards to citizens related to open space issues.”
• Add a Resource-Limited Action Item 5.5.7, “Identify agency to develop program giving awards to citizens related to open space issues.”
• Delete Indicator 7.3.4, “Number of award programs for citizens/businesses/other groups incorporating sustainability actions.”
• Add a Resource-Limited Action Item 7.3.5, “Identify agency to develop awards program for citizens/businesses/other groups incorporating sustainability actions.”
• Reassign Indicator 7.2.6, “Number of local newspaper articles/op eds related to sustainability” from the Garden Club to Sustainable Claremont.
• Update Action Item 1.1.8, “Promote the Community Home Energy Retrofit Project (CHERP)” to read “Promote CHERP Solar Works Project.”
• Delete Action Item 1.1.12, “Identify and promote best available sola water heating technology and consider a renewed City ordinance requiring use for homes with pools and spas.”
• Update Action Item 2.3.3, “Work towards Claremont being recognized as a Dark Skies Community” to read “Implement best practices for responsible outdoor lighting,” and assign the City as the responsible agent.
• Delete Action Item 4.4.1, “Promote Home Energy Retrofits and Green Label Home Energy Scores.”
• Update Action Item 4.4.2, “Expand Local Grown Power Project through Claremont and Pomona” to read “Expand CHERP Solar Works throughout Los Angeles County and beyond.”
• Update Action Item 7.1.6, “Advertise CHERP’s Local Grown Power Program” to read “Advertise and support CHERP Solar Works Program.”
• Delete Action Item 7.6.1 “Support CHERP Local Grown Power Program.”
RELATIONSHIP TO CITY PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Staff has evaluated the agenda item in relationship to the City’s strategic and visioning documents and finds that it applies to the following City Planning Documents: Council Priorities, Sustainable City Plan, Economic Sustainability Plan, General Plan, 2024-26 Budget, and the Youth and Family Master Plan.
CEQA REVIEW
This item is not subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
COMMITTEE REVIEW
The Sustainability Committee received and filed the draft 2024 Sustainability Annual Report at its April 21, 2025 meeting.
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
The agenda and staff report for this item have been posted on the City website and distributed to interested parties. If you desire a copy, please contact the City Clerk’s Office.
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Jeremy Swan Kristin Mikula
Community Services Director Community Services Manager
Attachment:
2024 Sustainability Annual Report