SC 12-21-2017CITY OF CUPERTINO SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION
Environmental Education Center 22221 McClellan Road
Thursday December 21, 2017 4:00 p.m.
MINUTES
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present: Angela Chen, Anna Weber, Gary Latshaw, Vignesh
Swaminathan (arrived@ 5:19)
Commissioners Absent: Meera Ramanathan
Staff: Misty Mersich, Sustainability Manager; Cheri Donnelly, Environmental Programs
Manager
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Action Item: Draft minutes of November 16, 2017 meeting with the correction of
a typo and draft minutes. of December 8, 2017 meeting approved. Motion by
Commissioner Latshaw and 2nd by Commissioner Weber. Motion passed 3-0-2,
with Commissioners Ramanathan and Swaminathan absent.
POSTPONEMENTS
None.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
OLD BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
2. Subject: Adding Sustainability Hero category to CREST Awards
Commissioners discussed the proposed new format of the CREST awards and Public
Affairs request to add a Sustainability category. It was determined that the Commission
would like to call the award "Sustainability Champion." The Commissioners
1
brainstormed questions that they would like the applicants to answer. The Commission
will discuss this further at the January meeting.
3. Subject: Student Green Grant Guidelines -Item postponed to January.
4. Subject: Work Plan
Commissioners reviewed items on the work plan for future meetings, revised the
months of January, February, and March, and decided to not hold a meeting in
April. Action: Motion to adopt the revised work plan by Commissioner Weber, 2nd
by Commissioner Latshaw. Motion passed 3-0-2, with Commissioners Ramanathan
and Swaminathan absent.
5. Subject: Budget Review
Staff updated the Commission with the new carryover amount of $5,993; the
Commission budget will be updated to reflect this change. Commissioners discussed
possible conference/education opportunities and possibility of having iPads. There
is interest in getting some Sustainability Commissioner Polo shirts. Commissioner
Swaminathan started a discussion on the possibility of creating other demonstration
areas throughout the city to showcase innovative, sustainability-related ideas,
projects, and possibilities. There is also interest in a rain barrel at City Hall.
6. Supporting climate change legislation
Commissioner Latshaw would like to add to the January meeting a resident's letter
on SBlOO.
STAFF AND COMMISSION REPORTS
Commission Reports:
Commissioners reported that they enjoyed touring the Sunnyvale SMaRT station. One
follow up question they have for SMaRT station staff is regarding rules for wearing
safety equipment and gloves.
Staff Updates:
• There are two new vacancies on the Commission, as terms expire for
Commissioners Latshaw and Chen at the end of January 2018. Applications for
the vacancies are due January 12, 2018.
• SVCE rates will go up in March, more information to follow at future meetings.
• FHA announced that it will no longer insure new mortgages with PACE loans.
ADJOURNMENT-6:07 p.m.
2