Sustainability Commission

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes - Final Sustainability Commission Monday, November 18, 2019 7:00 PM West Conference Room, City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086 CALL TO ORDER Chair Paton called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. in the West Conference Room. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Chair Paton led the salute to the flag. ROLL CALL Present: 6 - Chair Bruce Paton Vice Chair Kristel Wickham Commissioner Stephen Joesten Commissioner Douglas Kunz Commissioner Murali Srinivasan Commissioner Steven Zornetzer Absent: 1 - Commissioner Shana Padgett Commissioners Padgett – Absent (excused). Council Liaison – Nancy Smith (Present). Commissioner Padgett's absence is excused by general consent. PRESENTATION 19-1212 PRESENTATION - Climate Resilience and Adaptation Plans for Bay Area Cities Chair Paton presented an update on adaptation and resilience plans from Bay Area cities, noting that there were varying definitions of resilience across cities that helped inform the resultant strategies. The Commission asked questions regarding the City of Sunnyvale's resiliency plans, varying roles within the City, as well as the need and opportunity for collaboration with other agencies. City of Sunnyvale Page 1 Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes - Final November 18, 2019 Nupur Hiremath, Environmental Programs Manager, shared that the Climate Action Playbook’s Strategy 6 focused on Adapting to Climate Change, and highlighted some of the Next Moves focused on resilience. Councilmember Nancy Smith, Council liaison, mentioned that Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) is working on its Virtual Power Plant initiative, which includes a plan to provide a regional microgrid for vulnerable communities in its service territory in response to the PG&E power shutoffs. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. CONSENT CALENDAR 1.A 19-1213 Approve the Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes of October 21, 2019 Commissioner Joesten moved, and Commissioner Kunz seconded, a motion to approve the consent calendar. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5 - Chair Paton Vice Chair Wickham Commissioner Joesten Commissioner Kunz Commissioner Zornetzer No: 0 Absent: 1 - Commissioner Padgett Abstain: 1 - Commissioner Srinivasan Commissioner Srinivasan abstained as he was not present at the October 21, 2019 meeting. PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS 2 18-0796 Eco-district Feasibility and Incentives (Study Issue ESD 13-05C) Melody Tovar, Regulatory Programs Division Manager, presented the findings of the Eco-District Feasibility and Incentives report. She shared a summary of the EcoDistricts™ program and its objectives and case studies of EcoDistricts in U.S. City of Sunnyvale Page 2 Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes - Final November 18, 2019 cities. She noted that most EcoDistricts were community-led with public agency support and were used to integrate sustainability into existing neighborhoods focused on urban revitalization. Ms. Tovar noted that there is a significant overlap between the EcoDistricts approach and the City's long-range/specific area planning. The Moffett Park Specific Plan Update is next opportunity to consider implementing an EcoDistrict approach. Chair Paton asked how the City would approach a community-led initiative for EcoDistricts. Ms. Tovar clarified that such requests would be evaluated by the City on a case-by-case basis; however, staff concludes that a city-led EcoDistricts program is not recommended given the alignment of the City’s current planning approaches with the EcoDistricts approach. The Commission discussed the strengths and limitations of the EcoDistricts model and noted the importance of the City developing specific targets and performance indicators to track, monitor and report on the efficacy of the approach. Commissioner Zornetzer recommended that the Moffett Park Specific Plan area could serve as a pilot project for the future expansion of the EcoDistricts approach. Ms. Tovar noted that while Moffett Park would serve as an opportunity to test the approach, it is not clear when the next opportunity for applying the EcoDistricts approach would arise, given that most Specific Area Plans in the City were already developed. Chair Paton opened the public hearing. No public comments. Chair Paton closed the public hearing. Commissioner Joesten moved, and Commissioner Srinivasan seconded, a motion to recommend Alternative 1 to the City Council: Accept this staff report on eco-district feasibility and incentive and staff findings that a broad EcoDistrict program is not required and evaluate the feasibility of identifying and potentially certifying the Moffett Park Specific Plan as an EcoDistrict, with a specific emphasis on developing targets and monitoring performance indicators for the Moffett Park area, regardless of whether the final decision is to certify it as an EcoDistrict. The motion carried by the following vote: City of Sunnyvale Page 3 Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes - Final November 18, 2019 Yes: 6 - Chair Paton Vice Chair Wickham Commissioner Joesten Commissioner Kunz Commissioner Srinivasan Commissioner Zornetzer No: 0 Absent: 1 - Commissioner Padgett Vice Chair Wickham moved, and Commissioner Joesten seconded, a motion to recommend that the City use the experience of the Moffett Park EcoDistricts approach to consider how it may strengthen or develop targets and indicators, as well as processes for monitoring performance for future planning initiatives. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - Chair Paton Vice Chair Wickham Commissioner Joesten Commissioner Kunz Commissioner Srinivasan Commissioner Zornetzer No: 0 Absent: 1 - Commissioner Padgett 3 19-1216 Approve Proposal for FY 2020-2021 Sustainability Speaker Series Vice Chair Wickham presented the FY 2020-2021 Sustainability Speaker Series Proposal with the topics prioritized by the Commission at the October meeting. Commissioner Kunz recommended removing the topic on Climate Action Playbook from the proposal, as discussed and agreed upon by staff and the Commission at the October meeting. Staff will apply the recommended edit. Chair Paton opened the public hearing. No public comments. City of Sunnyvale Page 4 Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes - Final November 18, 2019 Chair Paton closed the public hearing. Commissioner Zornetzer moved, and Commissioner Joesten seconded, a motion to approve the Proposal for the FY 2020-2021 Sustainability Speaker Series. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - Chair Paton Vice Chair Wickham Commissioner Joesten Commissioner Kunz Commissioner Srinivasan Commissioner Zornetzer No: 0 Absent: 1 - Commissioner Padgett 4 19-1238 Formation of Ad Hoc Subcommittee for Review of Community Condition Indicators Staff noted that this item had been added to the agenda in response to the suggestion made at the October 2019 meeting regarding the formation of an Ad Hoc Subcommittee to review Community Condition Indicators. Chair Paton opened the public hearing. No public comments. Chair Paton closed the public hearing. Vice Chair Wickham moved, and Commissioner Zornetzer seconded, a motion to approve the formation of an Ad Hoc Subcommittee for evaluating Community Condition Indicators. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - Chair Paton Vice Chair Wickham Commissioner Joesten Commissioner Kunz Commissioner Srinivasan Commissioner Zornetzer No: 0 City of Sunnyvale Page 5 Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes - Final November 18, 2019 Absent: 1 - Commissioner Padgett Chair Paton, Vice Chair Wickham, and Commissioner Joesten expressed their interest in serving on the Ad Hoc Subcommittee. Commissioner Srinivasan moved, and Commissioner Kunz seconded, a motion to nominate Chair Paton, Vice Chair Wickham, and Commissioner Joesten to the Subcommittee. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - Chair Paton Vice Chair Wickham Commissioner Joesten Commissioner Kunz Commissioner Srinivasan Commissioner Zornetzer No: 0 Absent: 1 - Commissioner Padgett 5 19-1217 Approve 2020 Annual Master Work Plan The Commission reviewed and discussed finalizing the Draft 2020 Annual Master Work Plan prepared by staff in consultation with the Commission. The Draft Work Plan reflected topics prioritized by the Commission during its October meeting. The Commission discussed additional items for the Work Plan, including staff updates, on ongoing City initiatives and potential topics for Commissioner led presentations. Chair Paton opened the public hearing. No public comments. Chair Paton closed the public hearing. Commissioner Kunz moved, and Commissioner Joesten seconded, a motion to approve the 2020 Annual Master Work Plan as amended. The motion carried by the following vote: City of Sunnyvale Page 6 Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes - Final November 18, 2019 Yes: 6 - Chair Paton Vice Chair Wickham Commissioner Joesten Commissioner Kunz Commissioner Srinivasan Commissioner Zornetzer No: 0 Absent: 1 - Commissioner Padgett STANDING ITEM: CLIMATE ACTION PLAN (CAP 2.0) UPDATE No updates. STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES No updates. NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS -Commissioner Comments Commissioner Kunz shared that the most recent Sustainability Speaker Series event entitled “Electric Cars Demystified” held on November 9, 2019 was attended by roughly 100 people. Staff added that the event included fifteen electric vehicles for the expo, with rides offered for five of the vehicles. Commissioner Joesten shared that the waste-to-energy topic was discussed at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group meeting as a possible future solution to the mixed waste that is currently going to U.S. landfills. He expressed interest in the Commission returning to this topic for further review next year. Chair Paton attended the Council Study Session on Reach Codes on November 12, 2019. He observed that the Council seemed to be supportive and eager to adopt Reach Codes. He shared that SVCE would present information on Reach Code adoption in the Bay Area at the December Commission meeting. Vice Chair Wickham mentioned that BayREN would be holding a homeowner workshop on Tuesday, November 19, at 6:30 p.m. at the Sunnyvale Community Center for residents to learn about energy efficiency improvements. -Staff Comments City of Sunnyvale Page 7 Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes - Final November 18, 2019 Ms. Hiremath previewed the December agenda items, which will include a presentation of Reach Codes by Silicon Valley Clean Energy; a Commissioner Presentation by Chair Paton and Commissioner Kunz on Best Practices from Leading City Climate Action Plans; and the Annual Review of Code of Ethics and Conduct for Elected and Appointed Officials. Ms. Tovar announced that the City of Sunnyvale's Water Pollution Control Plant’s five-year National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit was being renewed and that staff would share information on it in the future. INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS 19-1215 Updated Annual Work Plan November 2019 ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:04 p.m. City of Sunnyvale Page 8