Lake Natoma overhead view

Sacramento Environmental Commission

The SEC mission is to provide leadership, assistance, analysis, and advice on environmental matters to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and the City Councils of Elk Grove, Folsom, Galt, Isleton, and Sacramento. In this role, the SEC works with these sponsoring city and county agencies and strives to advance its vision of environmental quality, conservation, public health, environmental management, environmental justice, and sustainability. The SEC serves as an advisory body for the Sacramento County Environmental Management Department (EMD).

The Sacramento Environmental Commission (SEC) envisions a county and cities where local government and citizen actions result in improved environmental conditions and enhance sustainability, such that:

  • Water pollution is minimized.
  • Air pollutant emissions are minimized.The 
  • Land is productive and managed for multiple uses.
  • Natural resources are managed in a sustainable manner.
  • Renewable energy is readily available.
  • People, plants, and animals thrive in a healthy and sustainable ecosystem.
  • Neighborhoods are clean and healthy.
  • Food is safe.
  • Residents can walk, bicycle, carpool, or ride public transit as their first choice of transportation.

Sustainability is acting in a way that provides for the needs of people and the environment, while at the same time, maintaining the natural systems that will support life into the future, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. 

The SEC was established in 1988 by the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and the City Councils of Folsom, Galt, Isleton, and Sacramento. The City of Elk Grove joined the SEC in 2014. The ordinance establishing the SEC defines a broad charter that covers a range of environmental topics. The SEC undertakes activities ranging from commenting on specific projects to reviewing larger more comprehensive environmental policies and proposals.

The SEC has presented awards that acknowledge contributions toward environmental quality and health. The SEC established its annual Environmental Recognition Awards in 1999 to recognize the accomplishments and leadership of individuals, organizations and industries that have promoted a healthy and quality environment within the Sacramento Region.

SEC members come from within the member jurisdictions and have diverse backgrounds, frequently representing the areas of environmental law, community advocacy, environmental regulation, industry, environmental justice, transportation, energy, water, solid waste, environmental health, and land use planning. 

The environmental sectors presented below are general topics of interest to the SEC. The SEC comments on these topics if/when they impact the vision and mission of the SEC. 

 

TOPIC

GOALS

Agriculture/Land Use

 Support efforts by local agencies to implement land use policies sensitive to environmental concerns for the Sacramento region.
  • Support development of facilities for accessible parks.
  • Support conservation of open spaces.
  • Preserve prime farmland and support urban farming.
  • Preserve critical habitat resources.
  • Protect and restore urban and rural creek systems. 
  • Preserve critical habitat resources.

Air Quality/

GHG Emission 

 Support efforts to improve air quality within the Sacramento region, including efforts by local agencies to reduce GHG emissions.
  • Support local air monitoring such as PurpleAir monitors.

Climate Change

 Encourage the adoption of measures to comply with the local sponsoring agencies Climate Action Plans and other programs to reduce GHG and the effects of climate change in the County.

Community

Planning

Support efforts by SEC member cities and the County planning departments to incorporate open space and conservation areas.

  • Support the retention of open space in new developments. 
  • Support planning for conservation areas. 
  • Establish relationships with the planning commissions.
  • Support Superfund and Brownfield redevelopment efforts.
  • Support infill and transit-oriented development.

Energy

Increase SEC interaction with SMUD, PG&E, and the California Energy Commission in support of efforts to increase energy efficiency, decarbonization, the use of clean renewable sources of energy and reduce GHG emissions.  

Environmental Hazards

Support the assessment and evaluation of newly identified substances which may pose a hazard to public health or flora and fauna, including but not limited to releases of microplastics, nanoplastics, endocrine disruptors, pesticides, hormones, phthalates and Bisphenol A (widely known as BPA), pharmaceuticals, and other foreign substances to waterways and air.  

  • Support the restricted use of products and materials that contain environmentally hazardous substances which can be limited without undue hardship on the public. 

Environmental Health

Support efforts by EMD to protect public health and the environment.

  • Support the Green Yellow Red Placard Program.
  • Support EMD’s efforts to develop measurable program goals.

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Contact Information

Jill Koehn, Secretary

11080 White Rock Road, Suite 200, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670

Phone 916-875-8584

Email: KoehnJill@saccounty.gov