El Cerrito, in Spanish “the little hill,” is truly a city of hills, parks and climate action and advocacy. The city was founded as a community by refugees from the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 on land then owned by Don Victor Ramon Castro, a large landowner in the East Bay area. Today it is a thriving city covering 3.7 square miles, with a diverse population of 26,000, good public transit options and shopping areas.
The hilly areas of the city provide views of San Francisco and the bay. Residents can enjoy many parks within the city as well as the adjacent Wildcat Canyon Regional Park. Part of the Ohlone Greenway, a pedestrian and bicycle path running through parts of the East Bay, lies within the city as well.
With a diverse population over 26,000, and growing at almost 2 percent a year, the El Cerrito community is well-served by public transportation, with two Bay Area Rapid Transit stations, the local AC Transit bus system, and the Interstate 80 freeway running through it.
Between 2018 and 2022, seven new projects added 463 new housing units, increasing the city’s housing stock. Construction of other housing is underway, including climate-friendly, transit-accessible units near both El Cerrito BART stations.
During the two-year development of its climate action and adaptation plan (CAAP), the city worked to formulate El Cerrito’s climate goals. Through two citizens’ committees and an online survey, residents shared their vision of a sustainable and resilient El Cerrito, which helped shape key elements of the El Cerrito Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. Residents said they want the community to be:
During the two-year development of its climate action and adaptation plan (CAAP), the city worked to formulate El Cerrito’s climate goals. Through two citizens’ committees and an online survey, residents shared their vision of a sustainable and resilient El Cerrito, which helped shape key elements of the El Cerrito Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. Residents said they want the community to be:
A cornerstone of the final CAAP’s goals is to move toward cleaner energy by increasing electrification and reducing the use of natural gas. The Plan calls for the city to decrease human-caused emissions by 40 percent by 2030, 75 percent by 2040 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2045.
For further information about the city’s plans to address the effects of climate change on its residents, dig into the General Plan and its Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, and follow the city’s progress on their Climate Action Dashboard.
El Cerrito building electrification and transportation successes include:
We hope that the city council will consider in the future a citywide plan to increase home electrification. Outreach and engagement could encourage and help residents to build electrification by transitioning from gas furnaces and water heaters to electric appliances, which would lead to much cleaner indoor and outdoor air.
Other climate-friendly actions the City of El Cerrito has taken include the following.
Other climate-friendly actions the City of El Cerrito has taken include the following.
With the busy I-80 freeway running through it, El Cerrito residents suffer a constant source of air pollution—over which the city has no control—emphasizing the importance of tree planting, electrification, and other strategies they can control.
The ongoing addition of new residences as well highlights the importance of encouraging electric rather than gas appliances in new and existing homes.
And the city will need to increase its walkability score for areas with less public transit service.
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We’re looking for El Cerrito residents to join our City Liaison team to help us make El Cerrito more eco-friendly by working toward a just transition away from fossil fuels.
City liaisons:
Together, the city liaison team helps to keep the city healthy and thriving.
We’re looking for El Cerrito residents to join our City Liaison team to help us make El Cerrito more eco-friendly by working toward a just transition away from fossil fuels.
City liaisons:
Together, the city liaison team helps to keep the city healthy and thriving.
El Cerrito’s five city council members include 🍃three🍃whom we endorsed and campaigned for in 2024. They have shown leadership and strong advocacy for clean, affordable transit, green housing, and climate resilience.
Meet your El Cerrito City Council Members. Click on a name below to email that council member directly.
Two primary bodies make decisions affecting long-range climate actions throughout the city: the City Council and the Planning Commission.
6 pm, 1st and 3rd Tue of the month
Except from July through September when the Council meets once each month. For exact dates, view the 2026 Regular Meeting Schedule for City Council.
Location:
City Hall
City Council Chambers
10890 San Pablo Avenue
El Cerrito, CA
The city council is composed of five elected members. In December each year, the Council elects the incoming year’s mayor and mayor pro-tempore from among its members. The mayor must have been a sitting council member for at least one year.
Public Meeting Notice as issued by the City of El Cerrito: City Council Chambers will be closed from Wednesday, February 4, 2026, through Tuesday, March 24, 2026, due to audio-visual upgrades. Public meetings during this time have been rescheduled to alternative locations, as indicated in the Notice for Public Meeting Location Change.
See a list of all city meetings, their regularly scheduled dates and times, and links to agendas and past meeting video recordings.
We’re working to elect climate champions throughout Contra Costa in 2026. Support our work with a donation.
