SC 08-15-2019 (Special) CITY OF CUPERTINO SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION I��
Environmental Education Center 22221 McClellan Road
Thursday August 15,2019 4:00 p.m.
MINUTES
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
At 4:01 p.m. Chair Weber called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present:Anna Weber, Vignesh Swaminathan,Angela Chen,Meera Ramanathan (arrived @
4:10 p.m.). Absent: Gary Latshaw
Staff: Cheri Donnelley, Environmental Programs Manager;Alex Wykoff,Environmental Programs Specialist
Guests:Jill Bicknell
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Draft minutes of July 18,2019 meeting were reviewed. Commissioner Chen moved and Commissioner
Swaminathan seconded to approve the minutes.The motion carried unanimously with Commissioners
Ramanathan and Latshaw absent.
POSTPONEMENTS—None.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS—None.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS—None.
Chair Weber moved and Commissioner Swaminathan seconded to reorder the agenda items as follows: Item
#4 then Item#3 then Item#2 then agenda resumption at Item #5. The motion carried unanimously with
Commissioners Ramanathan and Latshaw absent.
NEW BUSINESS
4. Subject:Update from Public Works staff on Household Hazardous Waste Program
Public Works staff Alex Wykoff updated the Commission on the status of household hazardous waste (HHW)
disposal for city residents. Since collection at the door ended on December 31,2018, and there are constraints
with having drop-off sites and temporary events, Cupertino residents can dispose of their HHW through the
county-wide Household Hazardous Waste Program (the City pays for this for its residents). Commissioners
asked if this information was on the City website, and Wykoff said he would check and confirm.
Commissioners also asked for clarification on what HHW is and what Recology picks up at the curb.
3. Subject:Presentation from City staff and consultant on Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) and
the City's Municipal Regional Permit(MRP) requirement to adopt a long term GSI Plan
Jill Bicknell,EOA, Inc. consultant and Assistant Program Manager for Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff
Pollution Prevention Program, gave a presentation on green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) and responded to
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Commissioners's questions. Commissioners asked about pervious materials,how projects are reviewed for GSI
opportunities, the maintenance and outreach needed for GSI, and GSI opportunities in Cupertino.Bicknell will
forward her presentation to staff and Cheri Donnelley will send Gilee Corral (Commission Staff Liaison)the
link to the appendixes in the Cupertino Green Stormwater Infrastructure Draft Plan.
OLD BUSINESS
2. Subject: Sustainability Speaker Series Subcommittee update and planning for Zero Waste event
Sustainability Speaker Series Subcommittee members Vice Chair Latshaw and Commissioner Chen met with
staff to plan the logistics of the upcoming Bea Johnson/Zero Waste event.This event will take place at
Community Hall on Monday,September 23 from 6:30 p.m.to 8 p.m.with doors opening at 6 p.m.There is a
marketing plan which includes a flyer and outreach to the high schools.The activity focused on the zero waste
concept is a table with information and items to give away.Reusable cups,utensils, and napkins will be used.
Foods served will be along the line of finger foods (veggies, fruits).Johnson will be paid electronically and not
with a paper check. Commissioner Swaminathan will introduce Bea Johnson. Donnelley will send Johnson's
bio to the Commission.Commissioners discussed if Johnson could address how a zero waste lifestyle can co-
exist with Marie Kondo's minimalist lifestyle.Donnelley mentioned that questions for Johnson could be sent in
advance.
NEW BUSINESS
5. Subject: Fall Festival tabling planning
Commissioners discussed their availability to table at the 2019 Fall Family Festival. This event will take place
at Memorial Park on Saturday, September 14 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Sustainability and Environmental
Programs are sharing a table together. Chair Weber is available in the morning. Commissioner Chen may be
available in the early to mid-afternoon. Commissioners Swaminathan and Ramanathan are not available. Staff
and/or Chair Weber will follow up with Commissioner Chen and Vice Chair Latshaw in the coming weeks for
their availability.Donnelley will follow up with Environmental Programs to see who from that team will be
available.
6. Subject: Student Green Grants project planning
Commissioners discussed the Green.Grants program for students that will occur this school year.
Commissioners discussed how they would like to have more closure from grant recipients than in the previous
round of grants. Chair Weber shared the final program document from when the program last ran, and
Commissioners provided inputs for this year's document,including: grant deadline is Friday,November 15,
2019 at 12 noon;receipts for expenses must be submitted by March 31,2020;program provides monetary
grants up to$500 (based on budget) to Cupertino-area students. In addition, the following details of the
program are to be added to the application:
- If you are awarded a grant and accept this award, you agree to table at the annual Cupertino Earth Day
and Arbor Day Festival in April;
- If you are awarded a grant and accept this award,you agree to give a presentation at the Sustainability
Speaker Series(date TBA).
Commissioners would also like to give grant recipients an item, such as a t-shirt.
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Commissioner Swaminathan moved and Commissioner Chen seconded to approve the Green Grants program
with the changes as discussed. The motion carried unanimously with Commissioner Latshaw absent.
Commissioner Chen left at 6:06 p.m.
STAFF AND COMMISSION REPORTS
Commission updates:
- Reach Codes Subconunittee members Commissioners Ramanathan and Swaminathan met to learn
about reach codes and the efforts of other local cities. They will also be meeting with local kids to talk
about reach codes.
- Commissioner Swaminathan shared that he is a member of the Santa Clara Valley Transport Authority
(VTA) Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) and the Citizens Watchdog Committee (CWC)for 2000
Measure A.
Staff updates:
- Donnelley shared staff changes: Andre Duurvoort is the new Sustainability Manager;Katy Nomura is
the Assistant to the City Manager.
ADJOURNMENT-6:29 p.m.
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