SC 10-15-20 PacketCITY OF CUPERTINO
SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION
AGENDA
This will be a teleconference meeting without a physical location.
Thursday, October 15, 2020
4:00 PM
Teleconference Meeting
TELECONFERENCE / PUBLIC PARTICIPATION INFORMATION TO HELP STOP THE
SPREAD OF COVID-19
In accordance with Governor Newsom’s Executive Order No-29-20, this will be a
teleconference meeting without a physical location to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
Members of the public wishing comment on an item on the agenda may do so in the
following ways:
1) E-mail comments by 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 15 to the Commission at
sustainabilitycommission@cupertino.org. These e-mail comments will be received by the
commission members before the meeting and posted to the City’s website after the
meeting.
2) E-mail comments during the times for public comment during the meeting to the
Commission at sustainabilitycommission@cupertino.org. The staff liaison will read the
emails into the record, and display any attachments on the screen, for up to 3 minutes
(subject to the Chair’s discretion to shorten time for public comments). Members of the
public that wish to share a document must email sustainabilitycommission@cupertino.org
prior to speaking.
3) Teleconferencing Instructions
Members of the public may observe the teleconference meeting or provide oral public
comments as follows:
Oral public comments will be accepted during the teleconference meeting. Comments may
be made during “oral communications” for matters not on the agenda, and during the
public comment period for each agenda item.
To address the Commission, click on the link below to register in advance and access the
meeting:
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Sustainability Commission Agenda October 15, 2020
Online
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://cityofcupertino.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VeJcN2T8Rmedpg-WMfb5PA
Phone
Dial 888 788 0099 and enter Webinar ID: 977 8664 4653 (Type *9 to raise hand to speak)
Unregistered participants will be called on by the last four digits of their phone number.
Or an H.323/SIP room system:
H.323:
162.255.37.11 (US West)
162.255.36.11 (US East)
Meeting ID: 977 8664 4653
SIP: 97786644653@zoomcrc.com
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about
joining the webinar.
Please read the following instructions carefully:
1. You can directly download the teleconference software or connect to the meeting in your
internet browser. If you are using your browser, make sure you are using a current and
up-to-date browser: Chrome 30+, Firefox 27+, Microsoft Edge 12+, Safari 7+. Certain
functionality may be disabled in older browsers, including Internet Explorer.
2. You will be asked to enter an email address and a name, followed by an email with
instructions on how to connect to the meeting. Your email address will not be disclosed to
the public. If you wish to make an oral public comment but do not wish to provide your
name, you may enter “Cupertino Resident” or similar designation.
3. When the Chair calls for the item on which you wish to speak, click on “raise hand.”
Speakers will be notified shortly before they are called to speak.
4. When called, please limit your remarks to the time allotted and the specific agenda topic.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), anyone who is planning to
attend this teleconference meeting who is visually or hearing impaired or has any disability
that needs special assistance should call the City Clerk's Office at 408-777-3223, at least 48
hours in advance of the meeting to arrange for assistance. In addition, upon request, in
advance, by a person with a disability, meeting agendas and writings distributed for the
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Sustainability Commission Agenda October 15, 2020
meeting that are public records will be made available in the appropriate alternative
format.
ROLL CALL
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1.Subject: Minutes from July 16, 2020 meeting
Recommended Action: Approve minutes from July 16, 2020 meeting
A - Draft Minutes
POSTPONEMENTS
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons wishing to address the Commission on any matter
within the jurisdiction of the Commission and not on the agenda. Speakers are limited to three (3)
minutes. In most cases, State law will prohibit the Commission from making any decisions with respect
to a matter not on the agenda.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
OLD BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
2.Subject: Update from Public Works Environmental Programs Division staff on
progress of negotiating a new franchise agreement with Recology
Recommended Action: Receive update and provide any feedback
3.Subject: Climate Action Plan 2.0 initial draft goals and vision statement
Recommended Action: Make a recommendation to Council on Climate Action Plan 2.0
initial draft goals and vision statement and provide any feedback
Staff Report
A – Carbon Neutrality, Interim Target, and Zero Waste Goals from Comparison Cities
4.Subject: Recommendation for Climate Action Plan Update Subcommittee
Recommended Action: Form a temporary, ad-hoc subcommittee to review and discuss
policy options and receive feedback from stakeholders related to the Climate Action
Plan update project
Staff Report
STAFF AND COMMISSION REPORTS
FUTURE AGENDA SETTING
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ADJOURNMENT
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), anyone who is planning to attend this
teleconference meeting who is visually or hearing impaired or has any disability that needs special
assistance should call the City Clerk's Office at 408-777-3223, at least 48 hours in advance of the
meeting to arrange for assistance. In addition, upon request, in advance, by a person with a disability,
meeting agendas and writings distributed for the meeting that are public records will be made available
in the appropriate alternative format.
Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the members after publication of the agenda will
be made available for public inspection. Please contact the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall located at
10300 Torre Avenue during normal business hours.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please be advised that pursuant to Cupertino Municipal Code 2.08.100
written communications sent to the Cupertino City Council, Commissioners or City staff concerning a
matter on the agenda are included as supplemental material to the agendized item. These written
communications are accessible to the public through the City’s website and kept in packet archives. You
are hereby admonished not to include any personal or private information in written communications to
the City that you do not wish to make public; doing so shall constitute a waiver of any privacy rights
you may have on the information provided to the City.
Members of the public are entitled to address the members concerning any item that is described in the
notice or agenda for this meeting, before or during consideration of that item. If you wish to address the
members on any other item not on the agenda, you may do so during the public comment.
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CITY OF CUPERTINO
Legislation Text
Subject: Minutes from July 16, 2020 meeting
Approve minutes from July 16, 2020 meeting
File #:20-8294,Version:1
CITY OF CUPERTINO Printed on 10/15/2020Page 1 of 1
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CITY OF CUPERTINO SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION
Teleconference meeting without a physical location.
Thursday, July 16, 2020 4:00 p.m.
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
At 4:02 p.m. Vice Chair Swaminathan called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present: Vice Chair Vignesh Swaminathan and Commissioners Ram Mohan, Meera
Ramanathan, Anna Weber. Absent: Chair Gary Latshaw.
Staff: Bill Mitchell, Chief Technology Officer; André Duurvoort, Sustainability Manager; Victoria Morin,
Environmental Outreach Coordinator; Gilee Corral, Climate and Utilities Analyst; Vanessa Shin, CivicSpark
AmeriCorps Fellow.
Guests: Members of the public.
Vice Chair Swaminathan read a statement regarding provisions of the Brown Act and a recent Executive Order
issued by the Governor to facilitate teleconferencing to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission at public
meetings.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1.Subject: Minutes from June 18, 2020 meeting
Draft minutes of June 18, 2020 meeting were reviewed. Commissioner Weber moved and Commissioner
Ramanathan seconded to approve the minutes. The motion carried unanimously with Chair Latshaw absent.
POSTPONEMENTS
None.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Dashiell Leeds on behalf of the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter talked about Menlo Park City Council
adopting a draft Climate Action Plan with a target of zero carbon by 2030 and a measure to electrify 95% of
existing buildings by 2030 via a burnout ordinance.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None.
OLD BUSINESS
2.Subject: Bay Area low carbon concrete codes initiative
Chair Latshaw intended to present this item but was absent.
Vice Chair Swaminathan opened public comment and the following individual spoke:
-Dashiell Leeds on behalf of the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter spoke in support of Cupertino
considering a low carbon concrete code to improve the recently adopted reach code for new buildings.
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The Commission briefly discussed the topic. Questions and issues raised included:
-Embodied carbon could continue as a topic under the Climate Action Plan (CAP) update project
(Weber). Staff will continue to monitor the development of the Bay Area low carbon concrete codes
model ordinance and bring to the Commission updates as relevant to the CAP update process.
-Other Bay Area cities adopting a similar code (Swaminathan). Staff noted that the County of Marin
recently adopted the first low carbon concrete ordinance.
-Support monitoring the codes project and how Marin’s new code will affect development
(Swaminathan).
-When would a low carbon concrete ordinance be considered (Swaminathan)? Staff noted that the
timing of addressing embodied carbon would depend on its relative level of priority in the list of
policies. Sustainability Manager Duurvoort explained that the CAP update would include a technical
analysis of potential greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction measures to inform a public engagement process
to prioritize various policies, including embodied carbon.
Commissioner Ramanathan moved and Commissioner Mohan seconded to close this FY 2020 Work Program
item and move on to the next Work Program item. The motion carried unanimously with Chair Latshaw
absent.
NEW BUSINESS
3.Subject: Sustainability Commission FY 2020-21 Work Program
Duurvoort gave a presentation on the Work Program adoption process by City Council, an overview of the
Commission’s scope and function per the municipal code, and types of ongoing items that staff continue to
support, i.e. events such as the Speaker Series and student programs. He reviewed the two projects on the City
Work Program related to the Sustainability Commission briefly:
-Single Use Plastics Ordinance: special project led by Environmental Programs Division focused on
foodware. City Council expressed reluctance to impose new ordinances on businesses during COVID-
19, and therefore the timeline was pushed to 2022. Commission to work on engagement and providing
feedback throughout the process.
-CAP update project: adjusted budget request due to changes in forecasted city revenue. Breaking the
project up in phases. Phase I is outreach, technical analyses, and use a social justice and equity lens to
create the draft plan. Phase II is consideration of processes outside of the CAP (i.e. General Plan
alignment) and Council adoption of the updated CAP. Duurvoort noted recently adopted carbon
neutral targets from other cities, i.e. Menlo Park and San Luis Obispo.
Staff answered clarifying questions from Commissioners, including:
-Timing of the Single Use Plastics project, concerns around waiting too long to address increase in use of
single use items during the pandemic (Ramanathan).
o Duurvoort: completion date for the item is approximate. Staff are already engaged in model
code development in partnership with multiple cities. Suggested inviting Environmental
Programs staff to give an update at a future meeting to address current messaging around
single use items.
-If the ordinance could also cover non plastic single use items (Swaminathan).
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o Duurvoort: currently the model code is focused on plastic foodware. State is considering a
circular economy bill that would have more impact on manufacturer responsibility.
- Clarification on the process of adopting the Work Program (Swaminathan).
- Typical timeline for a CAP Update development and next adoption cycle (Weber).
o Duurvoort: hoping to have a draft version before the end of the FY to Council. Typically, cities
have a draft completed within one year. Cycles for adopting CAPs vary considerably;
Cupertino’s first CAP was adopted in 2015; some cities take incremental / staged approach, e.g.
updating the General Plan first and then the CAP or updating the municipal portion and
community portions separately. The adoption process will also be considered as part of the
CAP update project.
- How other items not included in the Work Program (i.e. student green grants) would be addressed
(Weber); clarification on agendizing topics for Future Agenda Items as they relate to the Work Program
and Commissions scope (Swaminathan).
o Corral: student outreach and public events are part of ongoing staff activities. The Commission
will close out its 2019 Sustainability Grants for Students program. Essay contest, Speaker Series
events, and other public engagement activities could be considered if aligned with the Work
Program projects, depending on staff and budget capacity.
o Duurvoort: when agendizing a topic for discussion, reference the municipal code to ensure it
aligns with Commission scope and purview. If the item focuses staff time and city funds, it
must relate to City Council priorities as expressed in the Work Program.
- Noted that the state of CA is interested in cities putting a cap on transportation emissions, if there is an
expectation of when cities must address this (Mohan); if CAP update will include goals on mode share
or shifting (Swaminathan).
o Duurvoort: target setting will start with considering Governor Brown’s Executive Order for
economywide carbon neutral by 2050 goal. It’s up to us how this impacts us locally and how we
structure transportation measures to meet this. Part of the CAP update will be reviewing this
and other legislation for alignment, as well as County level guidelines. Transportation goals are
within the scope of the CAP update project.
Vice Chair Swaminathan opened public comment and the following individual spoke:
- Dashiell Leeds on behalf of the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter spoke in support of Cupertino
matching Menlo Park’s approach to electrification of existing buildings and adopt strong targets.
The Commission discussed timing, process, and details of the Work Program, including:
- Commissioner Weber raised the topic of timing of the Commission summer recess and logistics of
working on the CAP update. Duurvoort noted that staff will kick off the planning process and will
bring concrete items for discussion on the CAP update with the Commission at the October meeting.
He noted the intent is for the Commission to be as actively involved as possible at key milestones. The
Commission could form a subcommittee, but this is not required.
- The Commission discussed how COVID-19 pandemic is affecting public outreach, challenges, potential
solutions, consideration of safety in conducting public meetings. The outreach process is likely to be
mostly virtual, and staff are adapting their outreach methods accordingly. Brief side discussion on
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building on public outreach equity work previously completed (raised by Swaminathan), using
platforms such as NextDoor and Zoom vs other tool, i.e. surveys (noted by Ramanathan).
- Duurvoort highlighted a public engagement platform project underway. The platform introduces
competition and gamifies personal actions on climate change and could be leveraged for aggregate,
anonymized data to inform planning. Side discussion on communications and apps: how apps are
changing behavior and how to optimize the value of these platforms (Mohan); example of QR codes on
Cupertino trees as a way to communicate with City infrastructure and interface with government
(Swaminathan); idea to place information in stores to educate consumers on carbon impacts of single
use plastics reduction and how it reduces Cupertino’s carbon footprint (Ramanathan).
- Discussion on forming a subcommittee as a means of maintaining communication with staff (raised by
Weber): Commission discussed pros and cons of forming a subcommittee now versus in the fall,
subject matter and topics, how to be a value-add to staff efforts, etc. Corral noted that Chair Latshaw
expressed interest in serving on a subcommittee on the CAP update if it was formed. Duurvoort noted
that a subcommittee focused on CAP public outreach would be most useful to staff. Staff are already
actively engaged in single use plastics ordinance work. Corral advised that a natural point for
subcommittee formation would be when there is a concrete question, decision, or specific project to
address. Duurvoort offered to bring staff recommendations on a format, focus, and subject area for a
subcommittee for Commission consideration at the October meeting.
- Vice Chair Swaminathan briefly reviewed the Work Program item for action by the Commission. He
noted if any items other than the two identified projects by Council were added to the Commission’s
Work Program, these changes would need approval by Council. Also noted was the reduced staff
capacity for extra activities and projects due to the extenuating circumstances of COVID-19.
Commissioner Weber moved and Commissioner Ramanathan seconded to adopt the Sustainability
Commission FY 2020-21 Work Program as presented by staff. The motion carried unanimously with Chair
Latshaw absent.
4. Subject: Email phishing campaign presentation from Chief Technology Officer Mitchell
Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Bill Mitchell gave an informational presentation on cybersecurity threats and
how the City mitigates threats. He reviewed types of cyber threats including malware and phishing, how to
identify and report phishing attempts, and an overview of the City’s training program. During the COVID-19
period, phishing attempts went up 300%. He asked Commissioners to become a “cyber hero” and report
phishing attempts. Commissioners send any questions to helpdesk@cupertino.org.
CTO Mitchell answered clarifying questions from the Commission, including:
- Send attachments to IT to confirm they are legitimate. Look for the yellow “Caution Banner,” be
cautious if you are not expecting an attachment.
- Check for the banner at the top of the email for verifying it was sent from an internal source. Can send
questionable emails to the Help Desk.
- Hover over all links to see where the URL is sending you.
- The IT team uses software that catches most phishing emails before they get to the recipient.
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5. Subject: Staff update on Sustainability and Environmental Programs volunteer program planning
Victoria Morin, Outreach Coordinator for Environmental Programs and Sustainability, gave a presentation on
plans in progress to create a volunteer program. Staff created an online survey to gauge interest in
sustainability and environmental topics and preferences from potential volunteers. The survey was emailed to
registered Earth Day volunteers, Sustainability newsletter, Cupertino Youth Climate Action group, and was
posted on the City website. The survey received 39 respondents. Most respondents were students and could
contribute 3 to 4 hours per week. There was highest interest in social justice and lowest interest in water as
subjects. After the survey, staff organized an Open House Webinar to inform the community on the plans and
receive feedback, with 31 people in attendance. The recording was posted to the City YouTube channel.
The Commission asked clarifying questions and provided feedback on the plans. Topics / questions raised
included:
- Great to see interest in these topics, curious why not as much interest in water (Swaminathan).
- Questions about the survey: make up of respondents (Weber), how long it’s open (Swaminathan).
o Morin: survey was open to the public, roughly 21 responses were received from posting on the
City website. Survey closes tomorrow.
- Questions re what tasks volunteers could perform, how aligned with staff’s regular work, if education is
part of outreach (Swaminathan).
o Morin: There was interest in all sectors from the survey, so staff intends to create a range of
activities. In normal times, volunteers would go door to door to conduct outreach and can provide
education if accompanied by a staff member. Tasks will need to be refocused on writing articles,
social media posts, letters, etc. Hope to harness the energy to augment Climate Action Plan (CAP)
outreach.
- Consider the goal of the program, what it will accomplish, ensure it is well thought out and
comprehensive plan (Mohan).
o Corral: Environmental Programs has used volunteers in the past. Part of the motivation to create
this program for Sustainability was individuals and groups approaching staff to request more
involvement. Part of the development in this planning stage is getting feedback from the
Commission on the priorities.
- “Fabulous” idea, would like to see something like a Neighborhood Block Leaders, creating ambassadors
that could receive feedback and do outreach (Ramanathan).
- Thinks it’s great that this will bring together a community of people in with different levels of interest in
sustainability, ages, etc. (Weber).
6. Subject: Presentation from CivicSpark AmeriCorps Fellow
Vanessa Shin, CivicSpark Fellow, gave a presentation on her AmeriCorps service year with the Sustainability
Division. She offered reflections and insight on her experiences, including participation in Power Safety
Shutoff Event canvassing for the Emergency Operations Center, Earth Day Festival planning, supporting the
volunteer webinar, creating data dashboards, service projects, etc. She answered questions from the
Commission, gave an overview of the CivicSpark Program, and shared next steps for her career in the Bay
Area.
Vice Chair Swaminathan opened public comment and the following individuals spoke:
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- Tiffany Vu asked about Shin’s favorite experience. Shin said she was inspired by the people she met and
worked with during her fellowship.
- Evan asked about Shin’s experience with green businesses. Shin noted the challenges face by businesses
this year and opportunities to support them in becoming more resilient. She said the green business
framework helps green businesses with resources to be able to act on their willingness to become more
sustainable.
The Commission and staff provided comments on the presentation, including:
- Vice Chair Swaminathan noted his desire to have the resiliency of local businesses as part of the
Commission’s work and interest in how the California Green Business program can support this.
- Corral noted the importance of the CivicSpark program to the Sustainability Division’s work.
STAFF AND COMMISSION REPORTS
Staff updates: Valley Water’s $5,000 mini grant program now open for nonprofits, student groups, etc.
Commission updates: Vice Chair Swaminathan noted Valley Water has a new CEO with a priority to
highlight displacement of minority communities in flood zones. He gave an update from VTA that BART
opened service to Berryessa and Milpitas. VTA is looking into different options to address its financial issues.
FUTURE AGENDA SETTING
The Commission briefly discussed if Future Agenda Setting item can be moved to the beginning of the agenda.
Corral answered technical questions about the process for suggesting items and rearranging the order of
agenda topics. Commissioner Mohan left the meeting at 6:53 p.m. The Commission agreed to add two items to
the Future Agenda Setting list:
- Sustainability Speaker Series
- Sustainability Grants for Students / essay contest
A motion was made by Commissioner Weber and seconded by Commissioner Ramanathan to include the
items above to the Future Agenda Setting list. The motion carried unanimously with Chair Latshaw and
Commissioner Mohan absent.
Vice Chair Swaminathan asked a clarifying question on the process for discussing the quarry at a future
meeting. Corral noted that the process would depend on the topic; it would have to be within the scope and
purview of the Commission, and if this criterion was met, there may be a requirement for a noticing period.
ADJOURNMENT
7. Subject: Adjourn to October 15, 2020 Regular Meeting
A motion to adjourn to the October 15th Regular Meeting was made by Commissioner Ramanathan and
seconded by Commissioner Weber. The motion carried unanimously with Chair Latshaw and Commissioner
Mohan absent. Meeting adjourned at 7:04 p.m.
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CITY OF CUPERTINO
Legislation Text
Subject: Update from Public Works Environmental Programs Division staff on progress of
negotiating a new franchise agreement with Recology
Receive update and provide any feedback
File #:20-8296,Version:1
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CITY OF CUPERTINO
Legislation Text
Subject: Climate Action Plan 2.0 initial draft goals and vision statement
Make a recommendation to Council on Climate Action Plan 2.0 initial draft goals and vision
statement and provide any feedback
File #:20-8303,Version:1
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SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION STAFF REPORT
Meeting: October 15, 2020
Subject
Climate Action Plan 2.0 initial draft goals and vision statement
Recommended Action
Make a recommendation to Council on Climate Action Plan 2.0 initial draft goals and
vision statement and provide any feedback
Background
Cupertino’s current Climate Action Plan (CAP) was adopted by City Council in 2015
and it outlines greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets and goal areas of reducing
energy use, encouraging alternative transportation, conserving potable water, reducing
solid waste, and expanding green infrastructure. Since then, new legislation as well as
new technology has emerged. For example, the California Air Resource Board (ARB)
developed a 2017 Scoping Plan that recommends that local governments use emissions
intensity metrics to develop GHG targets for 2030 and beyond, and that local
governments define both absolute emissions and emissions intensity targets for their
GHG reduction analyses.1 Aligning with these methods is consistent with the Paris
Agreement. This guidance also suggests that local governments that had been using a
2020 target and planning horizon should update to targets that are focused on the 2030
and 2050 state goals. In addition, in September 2018, the City Council adopted a Climate
Emergency Declaration which directs staff to continue with the aggressive
implementation of the CAP goals, policies, and programs, calling for an emergency
mobilization effort to end citywide greenhouse gas emissions as quickly as possible,
educate residents about climate change, and work to advocate for a mass mobilization
effort at the local, state, national, and global level.
As part of the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 City Work Program, the City will be updating the
CAP, to be known as CAP 2.0, and adding an adaptation planning component. To
achieve this, the City will conduct a 5-step update process and are currently at Step 0,
gaining leadership commitment through considering goals and a vision statement to
guide the process.
1 California Air Resources Board. The 2017 Climate Change Scoping Plan, page 99
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Discussion
The goals and vision statement of the CAP 2.0 will guide the technical analysis and
community outreach for the remainder of this fiscal year. Specifically, setting target
dates for carbon emissions goals will show alignment with California state targets, as
discussed further on in this report.
Further analysis of the greenhouse gas inventory and forecast is underway and may
result in revised targets as the process unfolds. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic
might cause changes in the underlying assumptions of population growth and economic
activity which would require another look at targets to stay in alignment with state
guidelines. Another example is if the City would like the CAP to provide a streamlined
way for developers to comply with CEQA for their projects, in which case some legal
review would be needed of the targets. However, while there are many uncertainties
today, getting public and leadership input on these draft targets provides valuable input
on direction, urgency, and approach.
The proposed goals and vision statement are outlined below:
Climate Action Plan 2.0: Draft Goals and Vision
1. Achieve city-wide carbon neutrality no later than the year 2045
2. Achieve negative net carbon emissions after the year 2045
3. Establish a mid-term 2030 carbon emissions target of 50% below a 2010 baseline
4. Establish a Zero Waste Community target date of 2035
5. Adopt the following vision to guide the update process:
a. Equity: Activate and celebrate the diversity of Cupertino. Take every
effort to include traditionally under-represented voices in the planning
and selection of strategies, as well as business, faith groups,
neighborhoods, and schools. Create a plan that ensures the benefits and
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opportunities are available to all, and that climate risks are not borne
disproportionately by people of color.
b. Innovation: Develop measures in the 3-year and long-term action plans
that position Cupertino as a leader in climate innovation and
technological development.
c. Urgency and Flexibility: Establish a cadence of three-year updates to the
near-term action plans, with the aim to both focus community resources
and stay flexible in a fast-moving world. Work with haste commensurate
with the Climate Emergency Declaration that Council adopted in 2018
and the unprecedented opportunity that climate and waste plans present
to our community by taking bold steps in the early planning horizon.
d. Resilience and Adaptation: Establish climate adaptation measures that
keep Cupertino residents and businesses safe, productive, and happy
while climate risks accelerate.
The following sections go into these approaches in greater detail that the Commission
can consider when providing feedback and valuable local context to the guidance
provided by the state.
Carbon Neutrality and Negative Net Emissions
The proposed goals #1 and #2 align with Governor Brown’s Executive Order (EO) B-55-
18, which calls for carbon neutrality by 2045 and for the state to maintain net negative
emissions thereafter. This executive order introduces the concept of balancing carbon
emissions and carbon sequestration within the state. A carbon-neutral city is defined in
the EO as achieving net-zero annual emissions by first reducing emissions as much as
possible, then balancing any remaining emissions with removal of carbon dioxide from
the air.
In January 2020, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) released a study
finding that, not only is carbon neutrality possible, but that California can once again be
a global climate leader by demonstrating how to remove significant amounts of CO₂
from the atmosphere.2
“Our findings give us confidence that this combination of negative
emissions technologies and the state’s existing ambitions put the finish
line in reach for California. The report’s findings also indicate we could
become carbon neutral sooner than anticipated, at a cost less than
expected, while boosting California’s economy … Important co-benefits
to air quality and wildfire prevention also will bring welcome relief to
our state.” - Roger Aines, LLNL’s Energy Program Chief Scientist
2 https://www-gs.llnl.gov/content/assets/docs/energy/Getting_to_Neutral.pdf
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Acknowledging that some sources of GHG emissions will be difficult or impossible to
decarbonize completely, California needs negative emissions, removal of CO₂ from the
atmosphere, to achieve its goal of carbon neutrality by 2045. Existing methods include
natural solutions, like plants to remove and store this CO₂ as biomass or machines to
remove and concentrate CO₂ for underground storage.
During the CAP 2.0 update, the City plans to engage with a technical consultant to
understand which strategies Cupertino could pursue. Example strategies to develop
negative emissions sources include expanding the urban forest and riparian areas and
managing our natural assets as carbon sinks.
As an illustrative example, the Cupertino urban tree canopy study identifies 1,983 acres
of additional plantable space. A rough estimate of the negative emissions from doubling
the urban tree canopy would remove approximately 6,300 tonnes of CO₂e per year from
the air.3
Mountain View and Menlo Park have established carbon-neutrality goals by 2045 and
2030 respectively. Palo Alto also has set a carbon-neutrality strategy which relies in part
on purchasing carbon offsets for their natural gas supply. A table of comparison cities is
included in Attachment A.
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The City’s 2015 Climate Action Plan has goals of reducing GHGs 15% by 2020, 49% by
2035 and 83% by 2050. These goals were set by aligning with the State Air Resources
Board (ARB) guidance from 2008. As of the 2018 GHG inventory, Cupertino has
exceeded the 2020 goal with a 24% reduction, as shown in the following chart. The
proposed CAP 2.0 goal #3 accelerates the existing timeline, by setting a new goal
reducing emissions 50% by 2030, again noting that analysis is currently underway to
align these figures with ARB guidelines and create a per-capita emissions calculation.4
3 Estimated using the Cupertino Tree Grow application. https://pg-cloud.com/Cupertino/
4 Setting a per-capita emissions calculation is recommended by the 2017 ARB guidelines, and a step in
creating a target aligned with both science-based targets and the Paris Agreement.
https://icleiusa.org/localizing-the-paris-agreement/
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Cupertino GHG Emissions
The progress in reducing carbon emissions from 2010-2018 shows a run-rate of
approximately 3% decrease in emissions each year. However, emissions reductions have
not occurred steadily, but rather in large steps, closely correlated with the carbon
content of the electricity grid. Further step changes in current technology and behavior
will likely be necessary to achieve a carbon neutral city.
An interim target date for a 50% emissions reduction by 2030 is achievable in Cupertino
with the existing run-rate of 3% emissions reductions each year. For comparison, the
City of San Jose has targeted a 6.5% reduction in emissions each year until 2050,
however has not set a carbon neutrality target date. In another example, Menlo Park in
June 2020 adopted a carbon neutral goal by 2030, however complications due to COVID-
19 pandemic caused the leadership to scale back the action plan to approximately 40% of
the needed emissions reduction actions.5
Current initiatives in our region and large-scale trends will impact Cupertino’s ability to
achieve the next emissions reduction targets. Below are some examples of the
technology and policy drivers that will impact the next decade of emissions for
Cupertino. There are many uncertainties, however it appears the policy in California
will remain focused on developing solutions to the next set of challenges for reducing
emissions.
• Building Decarbonization Action Plan, from Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE)
• Community-Wide Electrification Streamlining project, from SVCE
• State-wide and regional incentive programs for homeowners and business
• Cupertino’s all-electric code for new construction
• Hydrogen and battery technology and market advances
• The introduction of biofuels into the natural gas pipeline
• The status of PG&E as the investor-owned utility
• New housing developments close to jobs in Cupertino
• Large-scale trends in employee commutes
5 https://www.menlopark.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/11486
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• Uncertainty in the negative carbon emission sources that can be developed in
Cupertino
• Transit services and regional transit connections
• Governor Newsom’s executive orders on zero-emission vehicles and land
conservation (October 2020)
Zero Waste Communities
The proposed goal #4 calls for Cupertino to be a Zero Waste Community by 2035. A
Zero Waste Community is defined by CalRecycle as one that diverts 90% or more of its
waste from landfills and incinerators. The Cupertino City Council adopted a Zero Waste
Policy in 2017 which states that the City will reach 75% waste reduction by 2025. This
goal is reasonable and will give the City 10 years to achieve the remaining 15%
reduction.
The City’s Environmental Services team tracks how much Cupertino waste goes to the
landfill versus recycling and composting. Methane, a potent GHG, is released when food
scraps, paper, and other organic materials rot in a landfill. The City offers organics
collection service to divert food, food soiled paper, and yard waste from the landfill and
reduce emissions. In 2018 and 2019, Environmental Services conducted a city-wide
waste characterization study and found that nearly 80% food waste was not being
diverted. The results indicated organic food waste is consistently the top material that is
misplaced. The City is using the results of this study to adjust its programming and
outreach efforts.
A recent study by Cascadia Consultants indicates that the greatest opportunity for
Cupertino is not for residents to recycle more - they are already recycling nearly as much
as is possible - but to (1) increase the capture rate for compostables, specifically for food
scraps and paper and to a lesser degree (2) keep recyclable material placed in the
recycling cart free from contamination.
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Cupertino’s 2018 CAP progress report shows that the City has achieved a 73% diversion
rate based on CalRecycle pounds per person per day, against a goal of 75%. This places
Cupertino in reach of achieving the targets set out in the 2017 Zero Waste Policy and a
2035 goal for Zero Waste is a conservative target that will serve as a guidepost.
Some of the uncertainties of achieving a Zero Waste Cupertino include:
• In residences, 90% of currently recyclable materials are already recycled,
achieving the last 10% will be difficult.
• Without a feasibility study including statistical evidence, conservative goals are
recommended.
• 17% of materials are not currently recyclable. Additional time is necessary for
new technology to be invented and proven for hard to manage materials before
the City could divert those problem materials.
• Extended producer responsibility policies, which are passed at the state level,
can take time to implement.
Equity and Environmental Justice
It is proposed to include equity in the CAP 2.0 vision statement. Equity is when all
individuals have access to the opportunities necessary to satisfy their essential needs,
advance their well-being and achieve their full potential. We have a shared fate as
individuals within a community and communities within society. All communities need
the ability to shape their own present and future. Equity is both the means to healthy
communities and an end that benefits us all.
Climate equity ensures the just distribution of the benefits of climate protection efforts
and alleviates unequal burdens created by climate change. This requires intentional
policies and projects that simultaneously address the effects of and the systems that
perpetuate both climate change and inequity. Some of the results of structural inequity
include a lack of low-carbon, safe transportation options, inefficient or unaffordable
housing requiring a super-commute, and the inability to afford healthy food.
Some of the principles of climate equity are below for consideration:
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• Create a Community Working Group made up of a diverse group of
stakeholders from grassroots groups, business representatives, faith and spiritual
communities, and neighborhoods.
• Include in the overall Climate Action Plan vision and vision statement
• Evaluate each of the strategies in the CAP on whether they help to uplift climate
equity and reduce disparities.
• Develop Cupertino-specific climate equity metrics to help track the progress
made on these actions and allow Cupertino to report on the targets.
Innovation, Flexibility, and Urgency
It is proposed to include statements of innovation in the CAP 2.0 vision statement.
Innovation is a clear goal of the City. Education, innovation, and collaboration are the
hallmarks nourished by the City government, the community, and businesses.
Innovation implies that the CAP 2.0 process will study leading-edge strategies and
solutions to climate actions that can serve as case studies to advance these methods
outside of the City boundaries.
Statements of flexibility and urgency in the vision statement give direction to seek out
high-impact measures in the short term, understanding that certain policies will have an
impact only over time and can avoid risks and higher costs later. Urgency is meant to
link the CAP 2.0 process to the 2018 Climate Emergency Declaration which establishes a
clear direction from the City Council to act with speed necessary to the challenge.
Flexibility would also give direction to plan for a shorter time between CAP updates to
allow for changes. A three-year action plan is the most reasonable time frame for
budgeting and focusing on high-impact policy and re-evaluating the list of long-term
measures at a regular interval to allow for flexibility to pivot or adapt.
Resilience and Adaptation
It is proposed to include resilience and quality of life in the CAP 2.0 vision statement as
it is a key component in adaptation planning. Climate adaptation planning implies that
Cupertino has recognized that risks to the City are already present from climate hazards,
such as increased hot days and other extreme events such as drought and flood risk.
Adaptation is defined in the field of practice broadly by fostering resilience to extreme
hazards and changing seasonal patterns exacerbated by climate change, reducing long-
term risk of damage/loss from an event, and developing robust emergency management
plans and resources.
During the adaptation planning process, the City proposes to study which climate risks
Cupertino is faced with and identify strategies to respond to these vulnerabilities and
increase resilience. Adaptation planning requires collaboration with the City and
County emergency operations professionals and requires a consideration of community
safety in the context of climate challenges. Reduction of risk is a far more complex
undertaking than reducing emissions as these challenges are interconnected with
systems of economy, healthcare, education, transit, and others, as well as the structural
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inequities present in these systems. Ultimately, no one strategy will undo these
challenges, but the implementation of multi-faceted strategies may set Cupertino on the
right path.
Below are some proposed objectives of climate adaptation planning for consideration:
• Maintain low levels of heat-related illness and death.
• Reduce wildfire and smoke impacts.
• Maintain electricity reliability and affordability through energy conservation,
efficiency, and independence.
• Maintain potable water reliability and affordability through water conservation,
efficiency, and independence.
• Demonstrate sustainable resource leadership.
• Institutionalize climate adaptation as a citywide priority.
• Develop regional, state, national, and private climate adaptation partnerships.
Next Steps
The Sustainability Division proposes the following timeline for the remainder of the
CAP 2.0 and Zero Waste Planning process for consideration and input:
Draft Timeline of Sustainability Plan Updates
Autumn 2020 Winter 2020/21 Winter - Spring 2021 Summer - Autumn
2021
Form planning
committee
Provide feedback
on goals and
vision statement
Hire a consultant
to support public
engagement
Council study
session on CAP
goals and vision
statement
Develop 2019
GHG inventory,
forecast, and per-
capita emissions
rates
Align targets with
CARB guidelines
as needed
Agree on public
outreach plan and
schedule
community
events
Public outreach and
engagement events
Present draft 3-year
action plan to
commission
Develop budget and
resources request for
phase 2 of CAP
update
Present vulnerability
and climate hazard
assessment draft
results
Draft CAP
document for
public review
Council adopt CAP
2.0 and Zero Waste
plan
Begin incorporating
into City long-
range plans, e.g.
updates to General
Plan or Safety
Element
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Sustainability Impact
As described above, setting these targets would set a trajectory for significant carbon
reductions in order to achieve carbon-neutrality by 2045. In addition, the zero waste
goals will improve waste reduction.
Fiscal Impact
The specific fiscal impacts of these goals will be studied throughout the CAP 2.0 update
process and will more fully understood once goals are established and measures to
achieve those goals are outlined.
_____________________________________
Prepared by: Andre Duurvoort, Sustainability Division Manager
Victoria Morin, Environmental Programs Outreach Coordinator
Reviewed by: Katy Nomura, Assistant to the City Manager
Attachments:
A – Carbon Neutrality, Interim Target, and Zero Waste Goals from Comparison Cities
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Attachment A: Carbon Neutrality, Interim Target, and Zero Waste Goals from
Comparison Cities
City or
County
Carbon Neutral
Date Interim Target Date Zero Waste Target
San Jose Not published. Paris-compliant 2 degree C
pathway: 6.5% MT CO₂e
reduction per year to 2050
Not published.
Sunnyvale Not published. 56% below 1990 levels by
2030
80% below 1990 levels by
2050 (EO S-3-05)
Reduce landfilled garbage to
1 lb. per person per day by
2030
Reduce landfilled garbage to
<1 lb. per person per day by
2050
Cupertino
(CAP 1.0)
Not published. 15% below 2010 levels by
2020 (AB 32 equivalent)
49% below 2010 levels by
2035
83% below 2010 levels by
2050
Not published.
Mountain
View
2045 15-20% below 2005 levels by
2020
75% below 2005 levels by
2045
80% below 2005 levels by
2050
(emissions per capita)
90% diversion by 2030 listed
as driving target of the Zero
Waste Policy
Palo Alto Carbon Neutral
Electricity (2013)
& Carbon
Neutral Natural
Gas (2017)
80% below 1990 levels by
2030
90% diversion by 2021 (Zero
Waste goal adopted in 2005)
Menlo Park 2030 90% below 2005 levels by
2030
10% direct carbon removal
below 2005 levels by 2030
Reduce landfilled garbage to
3.1 lbs. per person per day to
achieve 73% waste diversion
by 2035
Saratoga Not published. Not published. Not published.
Los Altos Not published. 17% below 2005 levels by
2020
Not published.
Campbell Not published. Not published. Not published.
Los Gatos Not published. 15 percent below baseline
(2008 or earlier) emissions by
2020.
Not published.
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Milpitas Not published. 15% below 2005 emissions
levels by 2020
Not published.
Morgan Hill Not published. Not published. Not published.
Redwood
City
Not published. 15% below 2005 levels by
2020
Not published.
San Mateo
(City)
Not published. 15% below 2005 by 2020
4.5 MT CO₂e per capita by
2030
1.2 MT CO₂e per capita by
2050
Not published.
Santa Clara
(City)
Not published. 15% below 2008 levels by
2020
Not published.
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CITY OF CUPERTINO
Legislation Text
Subject: Recommendation for Climate Action Plan Update Subcommittee
Form a temporary, ad-hoc subcommittee to review and discuss policy options and receive feedback
from stakeholders related to the Climate Action Plan update project
File #:20-8304,Version:1
CITY OF CUPERTINO Printed on 10/15/2020Page 1 of 1
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SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION STAFF REPORT
Meeting: October 15, 2020
Subject
Recommendation for Climate Action Plan Update Subcommittee
Recommended Action
Form a temporary, ad-hoc subcommittee to review and discuss policy options and
receive feedback from stakeholders related to the Climate Action Plan update project
Discussion
The Sustainability Commission has a very important role in the update to the Climate
Action Plan (CAP 2.0). As the established advisory body, the Commission provide a
series of recommendations to Council, including greenhouse gas goals, guiding
values, timelines, the principles to be used in public outreach and engagement, and the
final CAP 2.0 update itself.
It is recommended that an ad-hoc Climate Action Plan Update Subcommittee be formed
from among the Commissioners. Two members of the Commission can be nominated to
form this Subcommittee. This Committee will be bound only to work on this project and
will be dissolved when its duties are complete.
The Commission may form a temporary subcommittee of two members to gather
information and meet with outside groups, without requiring Brown Act notice. Staff
recommends this structure to allow for the greatest amount of flexibility in engaging
with stakeholders. The regular Sustainability Commission meetings will still serve as the
public advisory meetings where the general public can participate, recommendations
are formed, and advisory positions are taken for the benefit of the City Council.
Proposed Climate Action Plan Update Subcommittee Description
• Purpose: to review draft documents and discuss policy options related to the
creation of the CAP update, for example a plan for community engagement.
• Timeline: The Subcommittee will be formed at the October 15, 2020
Sustainability Commission meeting and dissolved upon adoption of the new
Climate Action Plan, tentatively in the Spring of 2020.
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• Members: The Subcommittee will consist of two Commissioners. The
Subcommittee will accompany staff to engage with stakeholders in the
community to give input and expertise on topic areas related to the CAP update
project. With an emphasis on equity in the CAP update project, a list of diverse
organizations and groups will be developed to engage with the subcommittee. A
diverse representation of the Cupertino community, especially members who
have not historically been involved in city policy making is highly desirable – a
diverse set of viewpoints and backgrounds in these early project stages is critical
to creating a community-based and equitable CAP 2.0. Staff and a consultant will
work with the subcommittee to schedule meetings with the stakeholders and
establish expectations for attendance and time commitment expected.
• Meetings: It is recommended that the Subcommittee to host at least two
meetings with the stakeholder representatives to accomplish its objectives, and
likely four or more meetings throughout the year.
• Reporting to the Commission: The Subcommittee will report progress to
the Sustainability Commission and bring any draft policy items, documents,
research, etc. to the Commission for discussion and action as applicable via the
Commission’s public meetings.
Engaging the enthusiasm of our local community, the innovation of local
technology companies, and the creative, can-do Silicon Valley spirit is integral
to developing a plan that is aspirational, achievable, and adaptable.
Sustainability Impact
The formation of the Subcommittee will allow improved participation and involvement
of the Sustainability Commission to provide for an improved CAP update process.
Fiscal Impact
None anticipated provided that the Subcommittee is formed and participates as
recommended.
_____________________________________
Prepared by: Andre Duurvoort, Sustainability Division Manager
Reviewed by: Katy Nomura, Assistant to the City Manager
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