Sustainability Commission

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes - Final Sustainability Commission Monday, August 16, 2021 7:00 PM Telepresence Meeting: City Web Stream CALL TO ORDER Pursuant to Section 3 of Executive Order N-29-20 (March 17, 2020) and Section 42 of Executive Order N-08-21 (June 11, 2021), issued by Governor Newsom, the meeting was conducted telephonically. Vice Chair Kunz called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. via teleconference. ROLL CALL Present: 6 - Chair Kristel Wickham Vice Chair Douglas Kunz Commissioner Shana Padgett Commissioner Kristina Pistone Commissioner Murali Srinivasan Commissioner Tonya Veitch Absent: 1 - Commissioner Justin Wang Commissioner Wang – absent (excused) Council Liaison – Councilmember Larsson (present) Commissioner Wang's absence is excused by general consent. Chair Wickham, Vice Chair Kunz, Commissioners, and Council liaison attended via teleconference. PRESENTATION 21-0808 Clean Water Program Update Leonard Espinoza, Maintenance and Facilities Manager and Acting Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) Division Manager, presented information on the WPCP and the Cleanwater Program. He provided an overview on the current and future phases City of Sunnyvale Page 1 Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes - Final August 16, 2021 of the Cleanwater Program. Commissioners asked clarifying questions, and staff provided responses. Chair Wickham resumed Chair duties. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. CONSENT CALENDAR 1 21-0812 Approve the Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes of July 19, 2021 Vice Chair Kunz moved, and Commissioner Veitch seconded, a motion to approve the consent calendar. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - Chair Wickham Vice Chair Kunz Commissioner Padgett Commissioner Pistone Commissioner Srinivasan Commissioner Veitch No: 0 Absent: 1 - Commissioner Wang STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES 2 21-0809 Assessment and Promotion of Sustainable Landscaping Strategies (Potential Study Issue) Staff provided an overview of the process for proposing and sponsoring the Study Issue. Commissioner Pistone provided a summary of the Potential Study Issue and her rationale for submitting it. Commissioner Srinivasan noted that regional collaboration would be important to successfully implementing any strategy to address sustainable landscaping practices. Vice Chair Kunz asked questions about components of the staff response, and staff provided clarification. He noted that to avoid duplicating other City efforts, the Study Issue should focus on the holistic landscaping approach aspects. He also recommended including an incentive program. City of Sunnyvale Page 2 Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes - Final August 16, 2021 Commissioner Pistone agreed that the technological improvements research aspect of the Study Issue could be dropped. Commissioner Veitch suggested that this Study Issue be revised before being voted on. Chair Wickham opened the public hearing. A member of the public asked if there were any actions planned to eliminate the need for leaf blowers, such as allowing leaves to remain on the ground. Staff clarified that this information could be evaluated as a part of the Study Issue. Chair Wickham closed the public hearing. Vice Chair Kunz moved, and Chair Wickham seconded, a motion to propose this Study Issue with the following amendments to the key elements: (1) Add a consideration for the City to collaborate with agencies on a regional scale; (2) De-emphasize the key element of looking at technological improvements of electric leaf blowers; (3) Add consideration of an incentive program for leaf blowers; and (4) Add a consideration of an educational program. FRIENDLY AMENDMENT Commissioner Pistone recommended that the key element of researching technological improvements to electric leaf blowers be removed. Vice Chair Kunz accepted the friendly amendment. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - Chair Wickham Vice Chair Kunz Commissioner Padgett Commissioner Pistone Commissioner Srinivasan Commissioner Veitch No: 0 Absent: 1 - Commissioner Wang City of Sunnyvale Page 3 Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes - Final August 16, 2021 Commissioner Pistone moved, and Chair Wickham seconded, a motion to sponsor this Study Issue. Vice Chair Kunz, Commissioner Veitch, and Commissioner Srinivasan preferred to defer the sponsorship decision until other Study Issue ideas were considered at the next meeting. Commissioner Pistone withdrew her motion. NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS -Commissioner Comments Commissioner Veitch shared that the Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) is offering two upcoming webinars: (1) for property owners to learn about rebates and incentives for electrifying buildings on Tuesday, August 24, 2021, from 6 to 7 p.m. (2) a regional forum on decarbonizing Bay Area homes Wednesday, September 1, 2021, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. -Staff Comments Madeline Willett, Environmental Engineering Coordinator, shared that there are a few items of note going to City Council: (1) the Lawrence Station Area Plan on September 4, 2021; and (2) Single Use Plastic Ordinance and update on statewide organics ordinances on October 12, 2021. She also shared that the Environmental Services Department is currently recruiting for three Environmental Specialist positions and two Fellows. Nupur Hiremath, Environmental Programs Manager, noted that City Council declared a Stage 2 water supply shortage on July 27, 2021. The City is conducting outreach to educate the community about the new water restrictions. INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS 3 21-0807 Update Annual Work Plan August 2021 ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:17 p.m. City of Sunnyvale Page 4