Public comment open for county climate plan highlighted during county briefing

This week's county briefing highlighted a new public comment period for the county's Community Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, the Monterey County Free Libraries' Summer Reading Program and ongoing art exhibits at county facilities.

On Wednesday, County Sustainability Manager Cora Panturad announced the start of a 60-day public comment period for the Community Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, which has been under development since 2021. The plan outlines strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions while preparing for the effects of climate change already being experienced throughout the county.

According to Panturad, the county's 2019 greenhouse gas report found that on-road transportation, agriculture and buildings as the largest sources of emissions. The report says without additional local action, Monterey County will not meet the climate goals set by the state of California.

Panturad said transportation efforts include working with regional agencies to improve transit options, encourage walking and biking and prioritize street safety.

"What we've been doing with this is talking to our transportation providers within the county and thinking about how we can reduce our vehicle miles traveled, so really getting people out of cars and either onto public transportation or onto shared and personal bikes," Panturad said.

In agriculture, she said farmers and ranchers are already taking steps to reduce fertilizer use and are exploring carbon sequestration opportunities. Building-related emissions are being addressed through incentive programs and efforts aimed at making the transition affordable for residents.

Members of the public may submit comments on the draft plan through Aug. 9. Materials are available in English and Spanish, and comments may also be submitted by email.

Monterey County Free Libraries librarian Alison Day provided an overview of the annual Summer Reading Program, which runs through July 31. The theme for this year's program is "Plant a Seed Read."

Participants of all ages can sign up at any of the 16 library branches, or through its two bookmobiles. Day said participants receive a free book upon registration and can earn prizes after completing reading logs or activity cards.

"This is geared toward kids, so we want to emphasize that listening to a book counts as reading, too. You can have somebody read to you or listen to an audio book. Graphic novels also count, as do magazines. Any type of reading during the summer, we encourage," Day said.

Day said the first week of the program has already seen record participation, with some branches exceeding last year's totals. She also noted that partnerships with schools helped increase registrations by more than 1,000 students.

Arts Council for Monterey County Executive Director Jacquie Atchison discussed two public art exhibits currently displayed at county facilities.

The exhibit at the Monterey County Government Center features 59 pieces by 32 artists and will remain on display through the end of the year. A public reception is scheduled for June 16.

Another exhibit at the Monterey County Health Department building at 1270 Natividad Road includes works by 15 adult artists and 17 youth artists. A reception is scheduled for June 23.

Atchison said the exhibits are the result of calls for artists conducted in partnership with county staff.

"These are free," Atchison said. "The public can come in any time when the office building is open, and it just creates opportunities for engagement across all ages, backgrounds and cultures."

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This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 3:03 PM.