SC 09-21-2017CITY OF CUPERTINO SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION
Environmental Education Center 22221 McClellan Road
Thursday September 21, 2017 4:00 p.m.
MINUTES
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order at 4:07 p.m. by Commissioner Ramanathan. (Commissioner Chen
took over Chair duties when she arrived shortly after the meeting began.)
Commissioners Present: Angela Chen (arrived at 4:09 p.m.), Meera Ramanathan, Anna Weber, Gary
Latshaw, and Vignesh Swaminathan
Commissioners Absent: None
Staff: Gilee Corral, Sustainability Program Coordinator; Cheri Donnelly, Environmental Programs
Manager
Guests: Joan Chin; Shivani Sahni, Cupertino Teen Commission Vice Chair
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Draft minutes of August 17, 2017 meeting approved. Motion by Commissioner Ramanathan,
2nd by Commissioner Weber. Motion passes 3-0-2 with Commissioners Swaminathan and
Latshaw abstaining.
POSTPONEMENTS
None.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
OLD BUSINESS
2 . Subject: Festival Tabling Planning
Diwali Festival: staff was unable to secure a table at this event; the Commission will consider it
for next year.
Wildlife & Harvest Festival, October 21 s1 at Blackberry Farm: Commissioners will email Gilee
Corral with their availability and Gilee will secure a table at this festival if two Commissioners
are available to cover each shift.
Other events: Commissioner Chen noted the Chamber of Commerce holds monthly seminars
and the Commission could look into tabling at these.
Giveaways: the supply of LED night lights has been exhausted. The Commission will consider
reordering as they plan future events.
NEW BUSINESS
3. Subject: Sustainable Schools Subcommittee Report on Waste Audits
Commissioners Weber and Ramanathan reported on activities of the Subcommittee. Together with
staff member Lauren Dickinson, the Subcommittee met with representatives of both school districts,
and the representatives are interested in performing waste audits as a first step in improving waste
diversion at the schools. Commissioners Weber and Ramanathan obtained quotes from two
companies and these are being reviewed by the schools. The Commission discussed ways to
encourage schools to take the next step. Commissioners Ramanathan and Weber will contact Kevin
Jenkins with CUSD to gauge his interest in meeting with Karen Gissibl with the City of Sunnyvale to
hear about Sunnyvale's advanced school waste program.
4. Subject: Student Green Grant Guidelines -Tabled for next meeting.
5. Subject: Essay Contest
Commissioner Latshaw reported on the progress of the Sustainability Speakers Series Subcommittee
on developing a sustainability-themed essay contest for Cupertino sh1dents. He passed out a handout
with a draft outline of themes to address. The contest will be open to FUHS District and any private
school located in Cupertino. The Commissioners asked Shivani Sahni, Cupertino Teen Commission
Vice Chair, for her thoughts on the subject. Teen Commissioner Sahni gave feedback and ideas,
noting that high school would be a good level to target. The Subcommittee will connect with the
Assistant Superintendent of FUHS on how to tier the contest and which age groups to target.
6 . Subject: Air Quality Monitoring Demonstration
Commissioner Latshaw reported on a visit to an air quality monitoring station that he attended in his
capacity as a Sierra Club representative; Councilrnember Rod Sinks also attended. Commissioner
Latshaw distributed a photo of the air quality monitoring product. The Commission discussed if air
quality monitoring is something the Commission wishes to take on and agreed that it is outside the
scope of the current Work Plan. Commissioner Latshaw will note this to Councilmember Sinks.
However, if City Council requests the Commission to take on the subject of air quality monitoring,
the Commission will adjust the Work Plan accordingly.
STAFF AND COMMISSION REPORTS
Commission Reports:
Commissioner Chen reported on the September 5th Mayors Meeting, including:
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Bike and Pedestrian Commission are organizing a Bike to Ice Cream promotion and Bike to
Shop Day, and would like to discuss these events with Commissioner Swaminathan.
Hackathon 2018 -discussed having the City review the top three winners for possible next
steps.
Sherri££' s office holds an Enforcement Day, in which staff focus on enforcing laws and issuing
tickets for violations as a public education tool.
Planning Commission is touching up the General Plan.
Staff Updates:
Gilee gave the following updates:
Employee educational event, "All about Electric Vehicles" scheduled for October 10 1h, to
include information on the SunShares program.
Fall Festival tabling: Commissioners and staff were very busy at this event, with over 100
visitors to the Sustainability table.
Silicon Valley Clean Energy program guides were distributed to Commissioners.
Staff are proposing the creation of a Sustainability Reserve to fund sustainability projects and
plans to go to Council for approval in the first quarter.
Cheri Donnelly gave the following updates:
The storm water annual report was completed.
Recology Amendment is now scheduled to go before City Council at the December 19 1h
meeting. Environmental Services will provide an update to the Commission at the November
meeting.
China has placed a ban on the imports of recyclables; this will impact the U.S. waste market if
the ban continues.
ADJOURNMENT-5:54 p.m.
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