April 15, 2025

An Earth Day Update from the Sausalito Sustainability Commission

The Sustainability Commission advises the Sausalito City Council on critical priorities that advance our town’s sustainability, equity, and resilience.

The global theme for Earth Day 2025 is OUR POWER, OUR PLANET, inviting everyone around the globe to unite behind renewable energy, and to triple the global generation of clean electricity by 2030.

As we celebrate Earth Day, the Commission reflects on successes from the past year and updates our community on what’s planned for 2025 within our key priority areas: Resilience, Energy, Transportation, Waste & Reuse, and Water:

Climate Resilience

• Sausalito’s Office of Resilience and Sustainability received a $1M grant to develop a Shoreline Adaptation Plan with measures designed to protect our community from seal level rise plus storm surge projected to be 1-4 feet by 2050 and nearly 7 feet by 2100.

Energy Efficiency and Electrification

• $1.9M invested by City Council for building efficiency upgrades in City-owned buildings with approximately $400K in reimbursements from the Inflation Reduction Act.
• City Council accepted the Marin Countywide Electrification Roadmap, a holistic plan to transition buildings equitably and rapidly to an all-electric and more energy-efficient future

Clean Air Transportation

• 4 EV Chargers installed at City Hall and more to come in 2025 at Dunphy Park
• The Sausalito Police Department has purchased an EV parking enforcement vehicle

• MCE’s Deep Green revenues are reinvested to install EV chargers to support fossil-free transportation
• Ride & Drive Clean, a Marin-based non-profit is a trusted source for helping people find the right EV or E-bike while saving them money

Waste Minimization, Reuse and Recycling

• A Waste/Composting workshop where restaurant  owners, managers and staff came together with local and county officials, vendors, and services to prepare for compliance with mandatory state recycling and composting requirements.

Regenerative Water and Agriculture

• Friends of Willow Creek is planning restoration of stream and wetland functions with benefits to humans, fish, and wildlife. 
• The MLK Academy School Garden integrates student entrepreneurship and agriculture education.  

Green Tips for 2025

• With 4 public chargers now available at City Hall, consider purchasing an electric vehicle
  this year and charging it overnight at City Hall.
• Interested in home electrification? It can save you money and improve indoor air quality.
  There are rebates through the Marin County Sustainability Program.
• DIY home energy savings: let in natural warmth by opening south-facing curtains during
  the day, unplug unused appliances, switch to energy-efficient LED lights, cover drafty
  windows, seal leaks around doors and windows, lower your thermostat at night or when
  you're away, and set your water heater to 120°F.
• Stop waste from going to the landfill by bringing your own cup, to-go container and straws
  to all Sausalito restaurants.
• Spring is the perfect time of year to plant trees as well as native, drought-tolerant and
  pollinator plants that use less water and support the ecosystem. If you’re looking to save
  money on your water bill, consider replacing your lawn. Marin Water customers could
  qualify for a rebate for replacing lawns up to 1,000 square feet. To learn more, visit
  marinwater.org/Cash4Grass

Engage with us in 2025!

• Provide input at the June final Shoreline Adaptation Plan Community Workshop
• Join us at July 5th fundraiser for MLK Academy’s School Garden
• Attend a future Sustainability Commission meeting dates (6pm at City Hall):
  • June 12, 2025
  • September 11, 2025
  • December 11, 2025

The Sausalito Sustainability Commission thanks you for your stewardship of our shared
environment. We’re all in this together, and together we can make a difference.

Commissioners: Chairperson Mark Palmer; Vice-Chair David Cooper; Secretary Michelle Orr, Lauren Wylie, Nicholas Stevenson, Kimery Wiltshire, Mark Moore, 94965 Liaison: Alex Shoer, Alternate: Samantha Shubert, Staff Liaison: Catie Thow Garcia, City Council Liaison: Melissa Blaustein