The City Commission of Delray Beach held a significant meeting on September 15, 2025, focusing on the progress of the city's Climate Action Plan. Interim Sustainability and Resiliency Officer Chris Jettister provided an update on the development of this crucial initiative, which aims to address climate change impacts and enhance community resilience.

Jettister explained that the city began with a draft foundation for the Climate Action Plan, which included initial concepts but lacked actionable strategies. Since then, efforts have shifted towards creating a collaborative and implementable roadmap. A key aspect of this process has been engaging various city departments to ensure broad participation and ownership of the plan.

The review of the Always Del Rey comprehensive plan revealed 584 points of alignment between existing city policies and potential climate strategies. This alignment underscores that the Climate Action Plan is not a standalone effort but is integrated with the city’s long-term vision. To facilitate collaboration, the city has conducted nine workshops with staff from multiple departments, fostering discussions on draft strategies and identifying challenges.

A dedicated SharePoint site has been established to provide all stakeholders with access to draft materials and updates, promoting transparency and inclusivity in the planning process. Looking ahead, the city plans to reorganize the Climate Action Plan strategies to align with the comprehensive plan's format, creating a clear baseline for climate action items.

Jettister emphasized the importance of linking the Climate Action Plan with existing policies and the adaptation plan, which addresses local climate-related impacts such as sea level rise and flooding. This integration aims to ensure that Delray Beach is not only reducing emissions but also preparing for future challenges.

In conclusion, the meeting highlighted Delray Beach's commitment to transforming its Climate Action Plan into a cohesive framework for citywide action, positioning the city to effectively tackle climate mitigation and resilience. The ongoing support from the City Commission will be vital as this process continues to evolve.