With its vibrant history in both environmental activism and fossil fuel production in two refineries, Martinez climate action and advocacy is in the city’s DNA.
This city of 36,600, stretching along the Carquinez Strait, is rich in history and recreational and economic opportunity. A boomtown in the California gold rush, Martinez became the home of naturalist and explorer John Muir. His historic house remains a beautiful, peaceful place to visit. The city has a proud Italian heritage and is the hometown of baseball legend Joe DiMaggio.
The Martinez Waterfront Park and marina are an endless source of recreation for fishing, bird watching, hiking and picnicking. The city has contracted with a developer to update the aging marine facilities and mitigate silting and sea level rise.
From a mixed environmental standpoint, Martinez is home to the eco-friendly waterfront park and also the Martinez Refining Company refinery, which has periodic explosions and hazardous emissions.
The area is also home to the Marathon refinery, which has transitioned from traditional refining to producing biofuels, which also can emit harmful gasses.
People living in Martinez and the adjacent areas of Pacheco and Vine Hill bear the brunt of the fires and emissions from the Martinez Refining Company refinery. The multiple shelter-in-place orders disrupt their lives, and ongoing health threats are real. However, neither the Martinez Refining facility nor Marathon are within the city limits.
People living in Martinez and the adjacent areas of Pacheco and Vine Hill bear the brunt of the fires and emissions from the Martinez Refining Company refinery. The multiple shelter-in-place orders disrupt their lives, and ongoing health threats are real. However, neither the Martinez Refining facility nor Marathon are within the city limits.
The Martinez Refining Company is a carved-out area nearly surrounded by city land, and Marathon is just outside the city limits. Thus neither facility is regulated by the city. They are regulated by Contra Costa County, which has an Industrial Safety Ordinance.
Industrial Safety Ordinances expand on state requirements for investigation of pollution releases by requiring the company to provide detailed reports of what substances were released and the root cause of the release.
Martinez city council members, residents and the members of the Healthy Martinez organization have called for Contra Costa County officials to require the Martinez Refining Company to adhere more strictly to safety and environmental best practices.
The group formed after the November, 2022, spent-catalyst release and since then has demanded that the County Board of Supervisors do more to stop the refinery’s periodic fires and gas and particulate emissions that endanger the health of the community.
Martinez city council members, residents and the members of the Healthy Martinez organization have called for Contra Costa County officials to require the Martinez Refining Company to adhere more strictly to safety and environmental best practices.
The group formed after the November, 2022, spent-catalyst release and since then has demanded that the County Board of Supervisors do more to stop the refinery’s periodic fires and gas and particulate emissions that endanger the health of the community.
The city has an Amtrak station, and County Connection buses run along the major arteries. Service is not comprehensive, however. The system does not serve areas such as Hidden Lakes Park (truly a hidden gem) and some schools.
The city’s Climate Action Plan (CAP), adopted in 2009 and updated in 2016, addresses transportation, energy, water use and climate adaptation.
The following are some of the 2024 Martinez environmental successes:
Watch this space for 2025 updates about successful Martinez climate action!
Martinez residents face shelter-in-place orders with unnerving frequency. Four ways you can act:
Stay up to date about current refinery monitoring measures, at the city’s Martinez Refining Company Oversight Webpage.
Learn about the local, grassroots refinery accountability group, Healthy Martinez.
Join 350 Contra Costa Action (350 CCA) in pursuing clean air and soil in Martinez. Volunteer with us as a Martinez City Liaison.
We’re looking for Martinez residents to join our City Liaison team to help us make Martinez more eco-friendly by working toward a just transition away from fossil fuels. We are looking at finding resources and incentives to help homeowners and renters move from gas to electric appliances.
Keeping up with local environmental issues and city leaders’ response to them, and helping to inform others, are ways to help keep the city healthy and thriving and interact with like-minded people.
Get to know your city council members and planning commissioners as they plan the Martinez Marina area revitalization and new development for the city. Attend a meeting and make your voice heard for climate action now.
Bios and roles of the mayor and city council members can be found here. Click on their names to email them directly.
7 pm, 1st & 3rd Wednesday of the month
Council Chambers
525 Henrietta St.
Martinez, CA 94553
The Martinez City Council is composed of five elected officials—the mayor and four council members. The city council is the final decision-making body for city issues and programs, and acts as the governing board for other city agencies.
7 pm, 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the month
Council Chambers
525 Henrietta St.
Martinez, CA 94553
The Planning Commission is composed of city residents appointed by the City Council, and makes recommendations to the council about housing, the general plan, city growth and other issues.
For agendas, meeting notices, and video participation, see City of Martinez Meetings and Agendas.
Want to help steward Martinez toward ever more responsible climate accountability?
We’re working to elect climate champions throughout Contra Costa in 2026. Support our work with a donation.
