Sustainability Commission

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes - Final Sustainability Commission Monday, November 16, 2015 7:00 PM West Conference Room, City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086 CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Srivastava called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the West Conference Room. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Vice Chair Srivastava led the salute to the flag. ROLL CALL Present: 6 - Chair Bruce Paton Vice Chair Amit Srivastava Commissioner Gerald Glaser Commissioner Brian Glazebrook Commissioner Dan Hafeman Commissioner Petya Kisyova Council Liaison – Tara Martin Milius (absent) Chair Paton arrived at 7:22 p.m.. Vice-Chair Srivastava informed the Commission that Commissioner Fukumoto has resigned from the Commission. PRESENTATION 1 15-1027 COMMISSIONER PRESENTATION - EcoDistrict Protocols Commissioner Glazebrook provided an update on the EcoDistricts Protocols (Protocols), an urban development standard developed by EcoDistricts (a non-profit organization based in Portland) that broadly encompasses sustainability. Commissioner Glazebrook has been leading a workgroup on one of the Protocols’ elements on environmental metrics. The Protocols consider all stages and stakeholders in a neighborhood-scale project, with particular focus on three imperatives: equity, climate, and resilience. Imperatives are tracked in these three areas using metrics to measure: livability, prosperity, health and wellness, mobility, and environment and climate protection. The Protocols avoid the use of a City of Sunnyvale Page 1 Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes - Final November 16, 2015 prescriptive point system, such as that used by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, and instead take a more holistic industrial ecology approach to urban development. They combine elements of the LEED standards, Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs), and community engagement. The Protocols are scheduled to be released in December 2015. Commissioner Glazebrook has requested further presentation materials from EcoDistricts and will present more details at a subsequent meeting. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Stan Hendryx, Sunnyvale resident, shared information about Energize Sunnyvale and encouraged the Commission to support Sunnyvale’s participation in the Georgetown University Energy Prize and to promote awareness on energy efficiency through the City's neighborhood associations. Mr. Hendryx noted that it is challenging to find information on the Energize Sunnyvale program on the City’s website and that the website does not provide a defined goal listed for the City or metrics that will be used to measure the City’s progress. Mr. Hendryx recommended reading a report on energy efficiency initiatives that have been successfully implemented in Cape Town, South Africa. Mr. Hendryx requested that information related to Sunnyvale’s participation in the competition and the City's progress be more prominently promoted. CONSENT CALENDAR 2 15-1026 Draft Minutes of the Sustainability Commission Meeting of September 21, 2015 Vice Chair Srivastava moved and Commissioner Glazebrook seconded a motion to approve the September 21, 2015 meeting minutes. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5 - Chair Paton Vice Chair Srivastava Commissioner Glazebrook Commissioner Hafeman Commissioner Kisyova No: 0 Abstain: 1 - Commissioner Glaser Commissioner Glaser abstained as he was not present at the September meeting. PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS City of Sunnyvale Page 2 Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes - Final November 16, 2015 3 15-1041 Discussion and Possible Action Regarding the Silicon Valley Community Choice Energy Partnership Melody Tovar, Regulatory Programs Division Manager, presented an update on the progress made by the Silicon Valley Community Choice Energy Partnership (SVCCEP), of which Sunnyvale is a sponsoring agency. The presentation included an overview of the preliminary results of the Technical Study conducted to examine the electricity load needed to support SVCCEP participating communities, potential pricing, and projected greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Technical Study was conducted by Pacific Energy Advisors and, based on their expert knowledge of current market conditions, it examined electricity supply over a 10-year time frame for three programmatic scenarios. The goals of these scenarios ranged from maximizing rate savings to maximizing GHG emissions reductions. The Technical Study provided a range of results, including estimated rate competitiveness relative to Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), estimated customer rate savings, and projected in GHG emissions at Year 1 and Year 10. Ms. Tovar noted that Scenario 1, which was designed to maximize rate savings, and Scenario 3, which was designed to maximize GHG reductions, represent the bookends of the technical analysis, and that the resultant CCE program would likely reflect elements within those bookend conditions. The CCE program will be a collaboration among multiple communities and the resultant Joint Powers Authority (JPA) would need to reflect the interests and consider the needs of all participating communities. The CCE Technical Study will be finalized and communities will determine whether they will participate and join the JPA during winter 2015. Ms. Tovar also shared the projected timeframe for CCE formation and start-up. Ms. Tovar shared that draft staff recommendations for City Council consideration could include: adopting a CCE ordinance, adopting a resolution to approve the JPA agreement, agreeing to contribute funding for Phases 2 and 3 of the program, appointing a regular Director and alternate Director to the JPA board, and directing staff to provide project/staffing support to the JPA. The Commission discussed the information presented. Commissioners Glaser and Kisyova noted that Scenario 1 of the technical study is projected to result in little to no incremental increase in the GHG emissions reductions, which conflicts with the City’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) and the adopted goal to reduce emissions. Ms. Tovar pointed out that the estimates of GHG reductions in the CAP needed to be revised due to some changing assumptions and that overall GHG reductions are lower than the original estimates but CCE is likely still the single most effective way to reduce GHGs. Commissioner Glazebrook noted that it would be useful to tell Council exactly what percent of GHG reductions a CCE program would contribute towards CAP goals. Commissioners Glaser and Kisyova expressed concern about recommending that the Council adopt the JPA agreement, which the Commission City of Sunnyvale Page 3 Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes - Final November 16, 2015 has not had the opportunity to review. The Commissioners discussed and agreed that the CCE program should move forward to maximize greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Vice Chair Srivastava recommended that the goal of reducing GHG emissions be noted explicitly in the JPA. Vice Chair Srivastava moved, and Commissioner Hafeman seconded a motion that the Commission enthusiastically recommend that Council adopt a CCE ordinance, and that the City Council evaluate the terms of the JPA agreement to ensure that the JPA is constrained to meet the GHG reduction goals of the Sunnyvale CAP. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - Chair Paton Vice Chair Srivastava Commissioner Glaser Commissioner Glazebrook Commissioner Hafeman Commissioner Kisyova No: 0 STANDING ITEM: RANKING OF STUDY ISSUES 4 15-1028 Study Issues for Ranking The Commission was presented with seven Study Issues to rank. For Study Issue CDD 16-10, Commissioners discussed and agreed with the staff explanation that Transportation Demand Management (TDM) issues are already being addressed under area-specific TDM plans in the City. Commissioner Glazebrook moved and Chair Paton seconded a motion to drop this Study Issue. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - Chair Paton Vice Chair Srivastava Commissioner Glaser Commissioner Glazebrook Commissioner Hafeman Commissioner Kisyova No: 0 The Commission did not defer or drop any of the remaining Study Issues. The City of Sunnyvale Page 4 Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes - Final November 16, 2015 Commission discussed these remaining Study Issues. For Study Issue CDD 16-13, Commissioner Glaser asked a clarifying question on whether there is a California State law that addresses the issue of solar access requirements, or whether this issue can be dealt with solely at the city-level. City staff will follow-up on this issue to provide clarification to the Commission. For Study Issue DPW 16-05, Chair Paton noted that the staff explanation misconstrued the intention of the study issue. He pointed out that the word “partnerships” as used in the study issue was intended to focus on public-private partnerships (e.g., between the City and private industry) rather than on partnerships between the City and public entities, such as the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA). Commissioner Glazebrook noted that the current proposal with VTA does not provide opportunities for businesses to engage in a partnership with the City for providing a shuttle service. For Study Issue CDD 16-02, Commissioner Hafeman agreed with staff’s concern and recommendation to defer this study issue as there was a lack of clarity in the Study Issue as to how exactly the concierge service might work for separating food waste from other trash and meeting the City’s Zero Waste goals. The Commission proceeded to individually rank the remaining six Study Issues. Due to a two-way tie between ESD 16-01 and DPW 16-05, the Commission proceeded with a tie-breaking vote. Commissioner Glazebrook moved and Vice Chair Srivastava seconded a motion to accept the following ranking: Rank 1 – CDD 16-09: Green Building and Zero Net Energy Requirements Rank 2 – DPW 16-05: Central Sunnyvale Shuttle Rank 3 – ESD 16-01: Considering the Environment in All City Council Actions Rank 4 – ESD 13-05C: Eco-District Feasibility and Incentives Rank 5 – CDD 16-13: Solar Access Requirements Rank 6 – CDD 16-02: Concierge Trash Service The motion carried by the following vote: City of Sunnyvale Page 5 Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes - Final November 16, 2015 Yes: 6 - Chair Paton Vice Chair Srivastava Commissioner Glaser Commissioner Glazebrook Commissioner Hafeman Commissioner Kisyova No: 0 NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS -Commissioner Comments Commissioner Kisyova provided an update on the El Camino Real (ECR) Plan Advisory Committee’s first public meeting, which was held in October. The next meeting will be held in January 2016. She also attended the Grand Boulevard Initiative (GBI) meeting in September, and announced that the next GBI meeting will be held in the upcoming two weeks. Commissioner Glaser noted that he would be interested in seeing further information on EcoDistrict Protocols, in an effort to better understand the scale at which these can be effectively implemented. He also announced that he had supported the implementation of zero-emission vehicles around California including a heavy truck in Vernon, CA, a work truck for the City of Santa Ana, CA, two more school buses in Reedley, CA, and two more shuttles in Mountain View. He also requested that City staff provide updates at an upcoming Commission meeting on the progress made on the ongoing construction upgrades at the Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP). Commissioner Glazebrook offered to provide further clarification of EcoDistrict Protocols at a subsequent meeting, as more information becomes available. He also announced that he will be in Paris, France for the Conference of the Parties climate conference (COP21). Commissioner Hafeman noted that the Sunnyvale General Plan’s Land Use and Transportation Element (LUTE) still includes the Mary Avenue extension project. This project proposed to extend Mary Ave over Interstate 237 to allow traffic to access the area in proximity to Lockheed Martin. Commissioner Hafeman noted that this proposal encourages more vehicular traffic rather than encouraging the use of public transport. He asked City staff for clarification as to whether the Commission will review the LUTE before it is submitted to City Council. Elaine Marshall, Environmental Programs Manager, clarified that there would be a presentation of the LUTE to the Commission prior to it being submitted to Council. City of Sunnyvale Page 6 Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes - Final November 16, 2015 Vice Chair Srivastava stated that he attended a meeting with Councilmember Whittum regarding VTA’s efforts to provide shuttles and noted that there is limited potential for the City to influence VTA’s plans. He also attended a CCE public meeting and noted that the results of the poll conducted before and after the meeting showed that the public showed fairly strong support of reducing GHG emissions by adopting a CCE program. He announced that there is an upcoming meeting on November 17, 2015 at which further details will be presented, and another community meeting on December 9, 2015 at which the results of the technical feasibility study will be presented. -Staff Comments Elaine Marshall announced that the City is moving forward to solicit pricing for solar installation at City facilities. There have been changes to the site requirements since the original assessments of solar potential at City facilities was completed. For example, the solar installation at the Sunnyvale Materials Recovery and Transfer (SMaRT) station was undersized due to a calculation error made by a consultant. The solar installation at the Corp Yard can now be larger due to the identification of an additional meter on the site. The solar installation at Ortega Park and Ortega Well will be downsized because of the drought and the reduced demand for pumping water from this well. A community meeting was recently held about the potential Ortega Park solar project. Ms. Marshall noted that staff will provide an update on the Energize Sunnyvale efforts and progress at the next Commission meeting. Ms. Marshall provided a reminder that the next meeting agenda would include a discussion of the Commission's 2016 work plan and a review of the code of ethics. INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS None. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:13 p.m. City of Sunnyvale Page 7