About the Petaluma Equitable Climate Action Coalition (PECAC)

The Petaluma Equitable Climate Action Coalition (PECAC) was a six month pilot program designed and facilitated by Daily Acts and Equity First Consulting from September 2021 through March 2023. It was formed in response to the City of Petaluma’s goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2030, and aimed to amplify the voices of underrepresented communities in shaping local transportation and climate policies.

During PECAC 1.0, a team of six dedicated Petaluma residents led community input sessions and presented recommendations to city leaders. These recommendations included installing physical barriers between bike and car lanes, increasing access to bike repair shops with Spanish language services, adding bus stops, making public transit more youth-friendly, and securing grants to promote electric bicycle use.

Building on that momentum, PECAC 2.0 launched with a team of four dedicated Petaluma residents as a city-supported program. Their recommendations included ensuring safe walking experiences, making biking safe and convenient, lowering barriers for new public transportation riders, streamlining accessibility to public transportation information, and community engagement best practices.

PECAC’s efforts played a key role in informing major city planning efforts, including updates to Petaluma’s General Plan, Active Transportation Plan, and Climate Action Plan—helping the City of Petaluma prioritize policies, programs and resources to address transportation equitably.

Our Co-Designer

Equity First Consulting is a global Diversity, Equity and Belonging Strategy Firm co-designed by women of color and their allies. This firm is led by its Founder, Ana Lugo, and is supported by a wide network of cross sector leaders who embrace our diversity and elevate our power. Equity First works to support organizations, institutions, and companies to develop internal cultures that foster and celebrate equity and meaningfully engage their leaders at all levels to create a community culture that reflects these values and practices.

Our Two Incredible Cohorts

Petaluma Equitable Climate Action Coalition 1.0

PECAC 1.0 launched in Spring 2021 with six Petaluma community members: Celeste Chavez Hernandez, Luis Chavarin, Ri Bussey, Lisa Lim, David M. Ortega Jimenez, and Kymberly Bailey. Over six months, the cohort analyzed the Petaluma Climate Emergency Framework, conducted three listening sessions, and developed policy recommendations, which they presented to the City Council, staff, and Sonoma County leaders.

Petaluma Equitable Climate Action Coalition 2.0

The vision for PECAC 2.0 was to advance the transportation equity related recommendations from PECAC 1.0 and continue to grow the impact of this unique and needed form of civic engagement. In PECAC 2.0, four community members including Lynn Gen, Julio Rodriguez, Kaylia Brown and Evan Cantwell dedicated over six months to learning, leading focus groups, and presenting policy recommendations to the City, as well as to the Climate Action Commission, Transit Advisory Committee, and Pedestrian Bicycle Advisory Committee.

Gratitude

We hold enormous gratitude to: Our PECAC 1.0 participants, Lisa Lim, Kymberly Bailey, Celeste ChavezHernandez, David Ortega, Luis Chavarin and Ri Bussey; our PECAC 2.0 participants Lynn Gen, Julio Rodriguez, Kaylia Brown, and Evan Cantwell; Program Staff Ri Bussey and Kerry Fugett; Our anti-racism consultant, Ana Lugo from Equity First Consulting. As well as our City staff, Rhianna Frank, Peggy Flynn,Bjorn Griepenberg, and Jared Hall. We are very grateful to the United Way of the Wine Country and Daily Acts for funding PECAC 1.0 as well as the City of Petaluma for funding PECAC 2.0.