SC 10-19-2017CITY OF CUPERTINO SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION
Environmental Education Center 22221 McClellan Road
Thursday October 19, 2017 4:00 p.rn.
MINUTES
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
The meeting convened at 4:01 p.m.
Commissioners Present: Angela Chen, Anna Weber, Gary Latshaw, Meera Ramanathan
(arrived at 4:20 p.m.)
Commissioners Absent: Vignesh Swaminathan
Staff: Gilee Corral, Sustainability Program Coordinator; Cheri Donnelly, Environmental
Programs Manager
Guests: None.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Action Item: Draft minutes of September 21, 2017 meeting approved. Motion by
Commissioner Chen, 2nd by Commissioner Latshaw. Motion passes 3-0-2 with
Commissioners Ramanathan and Swaminathan absent.
POSTPONEMENTS
None.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
OLD BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
2. Subject: Revisit FY2017/18 Work Plan
The Commission reviewed the Work Plan, added new items, and discussed several
items, including:
• Recology Amendment & Zero Waste Policy, scheduled for Nov. 16th meeting
discussion. Cheri Donnelly provided background on this upcoming work plan
item and the Commission discussed the economics of the China ban on
recyclables and how this could affect the waste market locally.
• Sunnyvale SMaRT Station Tour, to be scheduled. Gilee Corral will confirm with
Commissioner Swaminathan his availability and schedule a date with the
SMaRT Station for this tour. The tour will be noticed as an additional Special
Meeting of the Sustainability Commission, open to the public.
• Commissioner Chen will be travelling and unable to attend the Nov. 16th
meeting; Commissioner Ramanathan will act as Chair for this meeting.
Adjustments made to the Work Plan:
• November 16 : Add: Update on Recology Amendment & Zero Waste Discussion
with Environmental Services.
• December 21: Add: Discussion on Student Green Grant Guidelines and Discuss
and Adjust Commission Budget.
• January 18: Add: Commissioners report back on findings on opportunities for
collaborations with other Commissions (moved from Dec. 21 meeting);
Presentation on Commtmity Based Social Marketing Project progress with
Sustainability Staff; Discuss and decide on Cherry Blossom Festival tabling
opportunity (vendor registration opens Jan. 19). Remove : Environmental
Jeopardy Subcommittee to bring back ideas.
• February 15: Add: Review and approve revised questions for Environmental
Jeopardy Game.
Action Item: A motion was made by Commissioner Weber to approve the revised
Sustainability Commission FY2017-18 Work Plan. The motion was seconded by
Commissioner Latshaw and passed 4-0-1 with Commissioner Swaminathan absent.
3. Subject: Subcommittee reports
Sustainable Schools Subcommittee report:
Commissioner Ramanathan reported on an issue with one of the vendors that was
approached by the Subcommittee for a quote for waste audit services. This vendor has
approached other City staff independently of the Subcommittee and expressed interest
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in reaching out directly to the School District. The Subcommittee presented the waste
audit quotes to the School District as options, and not recommendations of one vendor
over another. Commissioner Ramanathan brought this up as a concern and requested
guidance or language to use in situations like this with vendors; Gilee will look into
this. Commissioner Chen reported that the Subcommittee is drafting guidelines for a
green grants program and will bring ideas back to the Commission in the spring.
Building Reach Codes Subcommittee report: No update at present.
Sustainability Speakers Series Subcommittee report:
Commissioners Chen and Latshaw provided an update on efforts to secure speakers,
and the Commission discussed possible topics, including electric cars, the Cradle to
Cradle book, Bea Johnson on Zero Waste Homes, and electrification and heat pump
water heaters. Commissioner Latshaw will reach out to a contact at the NASA Ames
Center for the Cradle to Cradle idea and connect with his contacts in the Sunnyvale
Sustainability Commission on their lessons learned from their successful speaker series.
The Subcommittee is working with the School District to flesh out the student essay
contest guidelines. The Commission briefly discussed the possibility of converting the
essay contest to a poster contest.
STAFF AND COMMISSION REPORTS
Commission Reports : None.
Staff Updates: Staff gave Commissioners Silicon Valley Clean Energy window clings.
Staff reported on several initiatives, meetings, and events, including:
Cupertino employee events: Wellness Fair and Electric Vehicles Brown Bag
Awards and recognitions: Beacon Awards accepted by the Mayor and City
Manager at the League of California Cities Conference in September; SolSmart
Award recognition scheduled for October 23rct at the ICMA Conference
Staff are applying for the Bloomberg Mayor's Challenge for a project related to a
sustainable community currency and alternative commuting
Earth Day Festival s cheduled for April 21, 2018
ADJOURNMENT-6:01 p.m.
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