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SC 11-19-20 PacketCITY OF CUPERTINO SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION AGENDA This will be a teleconference meeting without a physical location Thursday, November 19, 2020 4:00 PM Special 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, November 19 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: Page 1 11/19/20 1 of 30 Sustainability Commission Agenda November 19, 2020 Online Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://cityofcupertino.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_m0bnKoO-S26zv9fjh1SM4g Phone Dial 888 788 0099 and enter Webinar ID: 944 9193 0717 (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: 944 9193 0717 SIP: 94491930717@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 6 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 Page 2 11/19/20 2 of 30 Sustainability Commission Agenda November 19, 2020 meeting that are public records will be made available in the appropriate alternative format. NOTICE AND CALL FOR A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CUPERTINO SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special meeting of the Sustainability Commission is hereby called for Thursday, November 19, 2020 commencing at 4:00 p.m. In accordance with Governor Newsom’s Executive Order No-29-20, this will be a teleconference meeting without a physical location. Said special meeting shall be for the purpose of conducting business on the subject matters listed below under the heading, “Special Meeting." SPECIAL MEETING ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1.Subject: Minutes from October 15, 2020 meeting Recommended Action: Approve minutes from October 15, 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 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 A - October 2020 Sustainability Commission Staff Report B - Goal Setting and Vision Statements Draft Language Page 3 11/19/20 3 of 30 Sustainability Commission Agenda November 19, 2020 NEW BUSINESS 4.Subject: Update on Cupertino Climate Challenge Launch and Why Join Letter Recommended Action: Receive update on launch of Cupertino Climate Challenge (CCC) program and support Why Join Letter for CCC website Staff Report A – Why Join Letter STAFF AND COMMISSION REPORTS FUTURE AGENDA SETTING 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 6 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. Page 4 11/19/20 4 of 30 CITY OF CUPERTINO Legislation Text Subject: Minutes from October 15, 2020 meeting Approve minutes from October 15, 2020 meeting File #:20-8421,Version:1 CITY OF CUPERTINO Printed on 11/13/2020Page 1 of 1 powered by Legistar™ 11/19/20 5 of 30 1 CITY OF CUPERTINO SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION Teleconference meeting without a physical location. Thursday, October 15, 2020 4:00 p.m. MINUTES At 4:0 6 p.m. Chair Latshaw called the meeting to order. ROLL CALL Commissioners Present: Chair Latshaw, Vice Chair Vignesh Swaminathan (arrived @ 4:28 p.m.), and Commissioners Ram Mohan, Meera Ramanathan, Anna Weber. Staff: Roger Lee, Director of Public Works; André Duurvoort, Sustainability Manager; Ursula Syrova, Environmental Program Manager; Gilee Corral, Climate and Utilities Analyst. Guests: Members of the public. Chair Latshaw 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 July 16, 2020 meeting Minutes of the July 16, 2020 meeting were approved as written. Commissioner Ramanathan moved and Commissioner Mohan seconded. Ayes: Mohan, Ramanathan, Weber. Noes: None. Abstain: Latshaw. Absent: Swaminathan. POSTPONEMENTS None. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Connie Cunningham on behalf of the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society talked about Dark Sky / Lights Out policy and consideration of birds and biodiversity in sustainability planning. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS Corral noted Written Communications received for Item #3 and posted to the Sustainability Commission meeting online site prior to the meeting. OLD BUSINESS None. NEW BUSINESS 2.Subject: Update from Public Works Environmental Programs Division staff on progress of negotiating a new franchise agreement with Recology Ursula Syrova, Environmental Programs Manager presented service updates on the Recology agreement process, including: 11/19/20 6 of 30 2 -New services proposed: adopt a smaller garbage cart, improving access to services online, adding mulch to the compost service, etc. -Customer survey received 700 responses. Feedback from the survey and stakeholder outreach is being incorporated into the negotiations process. -Brief overview of SB 1383: Short-Lived Climate Pollutants, which goes into effect 1/1/22. -Factors that will affect rates include which services are negotiated, costs related to 1383 compliance, and market factors. -Agreement timeline: Council to review staff recommendations in November, approval likely in January, with an anticipated start date of February 1st. -Cupertino.org/newFA – FAQs and still accepting comments for the survey. Public Works Director Roger Lee added that his team is cognizant of the sensitivity to a potential increase in rates. Currently, the plan over the 10-year agreement is to soften the rate increases . He noted an opportunity to consider new ways of increasing diversion when the Newby Island landfill agreement sunsets in 2023. Staff answered clarifying questions from Commissioners, including: -If considering converting garbage to energy, gave Unified Sanitary District example (Ramanathan). o Director Lee: cost currently outweighs the diversion benefits. Focusing now on organics composting and current programs. Syrova: SB 1383 will create a more closed loop with food waste. -Global trends around the business / industry (Mohan). o Director Lee: noted challenges from China’s National Sword Policy and benefit to having a co- mingled recycling system that can adapt to changes in the market vs split cart. -Heavy item pick up service (Latshaw). Syrova: this service is popular and will continue. (Vice Chair Swaminathan arrived at 4:28 p.m.) Chair Latshaw opened public comment and the following individual spoke: Erik Lindskog, Cupertino resident and Bicycle Pedestrian Commissioner, talked about his desire for the hazardous waste drop off communications to be more simple and transparent and asked about bin placement in the driveway to avoid blocking a bike lane. -Staff responded to his questions and directed him to hhw.org to access the County’s Household Hazardous Waste program. 3.Subject: Climate Action Plan 2.0 initial draft goals and vision statement André Duurvoort, Sustainability Manager presented the item for discussion. He gave an overview of the City’s progress in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction to date, updated statewide goals for Climate Action Plans (CAP), the Governor’s Executive Order on carbon neutrality, and programs Cupertino can build on for target setting, i.e. recently adopted all-electric reach code for new construction. He noted examples of approaches and targets in recently adopted CAPs, including Menlo Park and Oakland. He noted the approach staff are taking in this CAP update: fewer measures with bigger impact; robust budget analysis; higher level, long-term framework with 3-year tactical action plans; incorporate climate adaptation, equity considerations, and zero waste elements. Duurvoort reviewed draft vision statements, goal setting, and timeline for the Commission’s consideration. 11/19/20 7 of 30 3 Vision statements covered Equity, Innovation, Urgency and Flexibility, and Resilience and Adaptation. Draft goals: -Achieve city-wide carbon neutrality no later than 2045 -Achieve negative net carbon emissions after 2045 -Establish a mid-term 2030 carbon emissions target of 50% below 2010 baseline -Establish a Zero Waste Community target date of 2035 Staff will bring this item to Council for a study session on or around Dec. 1. Duurvoort answered clarifying questions from the Commission: -Commission’s role and responsibility in addressing environmental and social justice issues (Swaminathan) o Duurvoort: staff are centering equity in the CAP 2.0 planning process, considering voices not traditionally heard in the process, using an equity lens in hazards assessments. Noted recent statements from Council indicating this is an important topic. Noted recent staff trainings on equity. -Timing of updating the CAP now, consideration of benchmarks and metrics on climate improvement, carbon capture, alternate transportation, behavior change; desire for more public / private partnerships; thinks it’s a “fantastic plan” (Mohan). o Duurvoort: noted timing related to Council declaration of a Climate Emergency and need to update measures and goals to reflect significant changes in CAP planning practice and science. -Clarifying questions on the graphs / charts in the presentation (Ramanathan, Latshaw). -Framework and tactical plan timing – when the tactical plans would be revised (Weber). o Duurvoort: CAP 2.0 is the vision and long-term document, similar to the General Plan; tactical plans would be updated similar to the Elements of the General Plan, as needed. Gave example from Mountain View. Noted City’s desire to institutionalize more frequent reviews of the budget, resources, partnerships, and tactics. -CAP’s relationship to the General Plan (Swaminathan). o Duurvoort: general explanation of the General Plan and process to update Elements, deferred to Planning Department for more specifics. Noted possibility of making the CAP a CEQA- qualified CAP would enable developers to use the CAP to streamline under CEQA. Chair Latshaw reviewed his Written Communications submission for this agenda item. Chair Latshaw opened public comment and the following individuals spoke: -Connie Cunningham (Cupertino resident) spoke in favor of staff’s report and of her desire to include wildlife, plants, and biodiversity into the vision. -Dashiell Leeds on behalf of the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter thanked staff and Commission for commitment to equity and community engagement. He spoke in favor of a 3-year update approach to respond to rapid changes and inclusion of resilience and adaptation. He noted that biodiversity could be incorporated in the vision for resilience. He suggested matching Menlo Park’s carbon neutrality targets and considering the burnout ordinance. 11/19/20 8 of 30 4 -Shani Kleinhaus on behalf of the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society spoke in favor of aggressive carbon reduction, zero waste, and consideration of plastics. She talked about her desire for biodiversity, urban tree canopy, and green streets to be considered. -Jennifer Zhao spoke in support of considering a burnout ordinance similar to Menlo Park’s and her desire for more outreach and education for residents on the benefits of a burnout policy and mandatory organics collection. -Gwyn Azar on behalf of the Cupertino Youth Action Team spoke in favor of a goal of carbon neutrality by 2030, a burnout ordinance, and for Cupertino to take a leadership position similar to Menlo Park to go further than the state goals. She spoke in support of the formation of the CAP update subcommittee. Chair Latshaw opened the item for Commission discussion. The Commission raised topics and comments, including: -Discussion raised by Vice Chair Swaminathan on the role of the Commission with regards to equity considerations; how to define equity, social justice, and environmental justice; groups to involve in the process; development and land use patterns, etc. He expressed concerns that sustainability goals may become politicized and a desire to work within a framework or overarching plan. The Commission discussed these points and other concerns. Duurvoort affirmed staff’s commitment to centering equity. He noted that involvement of a wide variety of people and underrepresented voices will produce a more comprehensive CAP, and that conflict is a natural part of the public process. Any outcome of the CAP that may become part of the General Plan would go through those public processes, i.e. Planning Commission and Council. -Chair Latshaw reviewed projects for consideration, i.e. white roofs and adding carbon to soil. He emphasized the importance of reduction of methane and natural gas usage. He raised some concerns about the Livermore report and the efficacy of some of the carbon capture solutions described. -(Commissioner Mohan left at 6:30 p.m.) - Commissioner Ramanathan raised a suggestion to connect to the Paris Accord and describe how GHG reductions will prevent future hazards such as drought, wildfires etc. Expressed interest in Commissioner Mohan’s comments about adding a rewards element to the measures. Duurvoort noted that the City is working with the County and Silicon Valley Clean Energy on hazards and risk assessment. He clarified that the statewide targets were created to represent California’s share of the Paris Agreement reduction targets and MOU Under 2. -Commissioners briefly revisited the subject of equity and topical considerations related to schools and housing. Duurvoort noted that the draft equity statement is limited to the CAP process and does not cover all City functions and processes. He noted updated requirements of state policy, i.e. SB 1000 to consider social justice in policymaking. He will bring language from City policy, planning documents, and Council resolutions on equity and statements related to environmental justice to the next Commission meeting. 4.Subject: Recommendation for Climate Action Plan Update Subcommittee Duurvoort reviewed the staff report and staff recommendation to form an ad-hoc Subcommittee to work with staff and the consultant to receive feedback from a diverse group of stakeholders, host training and presentations, and work on draft measures. The consultant will guide the Subcommittee through this process 11/19/20 9 of 30 5 of community visioning and distilling the input received. The Subcommittee will bring draft documents and reports to the Commission for final recommendations or action. Staff answered clarifying questions from Commissioners. - Possibility of breaking the Subcommittee into two groups, i.e. outreach and technical subjects (Ramanathan, Latshaw). Staff responded that there is limited capacity to support more than one Subcommittee, and the Subcommittee could transition from one subject or topical area to the next over the project timeline. Duurvoort gave an example from Sunnyvale’s process. -If other Commissioners could also attend public workshops hosted by the Subcommittee (Weber). Staff noted that a workshop open to the public would be noticed as a public meeting and multiple Commissioners could attend in that case. -Staff clarified the differences in Subcommittee structure and activities and a Brown-Acted Commission meeting. Chair Latshaw opened public comment and the following individual spoke: Dashiell Leeds on behalf of the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter spoke in support of the formation of the Subcommittee, gave an example from Menlo Park’s community engagement, and about his view that it will lead to a stronger CAP through more citizen engagement. Chair Latshaw closed public comment and asked for volunteers. Chair Latshaw, Vice Chair Swaminathan, and Commissioner Ramanathan volunteered for the Subcommittee. After a brief discussion, Commissioner Ramanathan moved and Commissioner Weber seconded to form a Climate Action Plan Update Subcommittee as presented by staff and to nominate Chair Latshaw and Vice Chair Swaminathan to serve on the Subcommittee. The motion passed unanimously with Commissioner Mohan absent. A motion to adjourn was made by Vice Chair Swaminathan but was not seconded. STAFF AND COMMISSION REPORTS Commission updates: Vice Chair Swaminathan gave an update from VTA on proposed cuts to their transit plan: 70%, 80%, and 90% cuts under consideration. Depending on the severity of the cuts, planned transit- oriented developments and traffic in the Bay Area may be affected. ADJOURNMENT A motion to adjourn was made by Vice Chair Swaminathan and seconded by Commissioner Weber. After a brief unrelated discussion, the motion carried unanimously with Commissioner Mohan absent. Meeting adjourned at 7:16 p.m. 11/19/20 10 of 30 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 #:20-8415,Version:1 CITY OF CUPERTINO Printed on 11/13/2020Page 1 of 1 powered by Legistar™ 11/19/20 11 of 30 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 #:20-8416,Version:1 CITY OF CUPERTINO Printed on 11/13/2020Page 1 of 1 powered by Legistar™ 11/19/20 12 of 30 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 11/19/20 13 of 30 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 11/19/20 14 of 30 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 11/19/20 15 of 30 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/ 11/19/20 16 of 30 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 11/19/20 17 of 30 • 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. 11/19/20 18 of 30 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: 11/19/20 19 of 30 •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 11/19/20 20 of 30 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 11/19/20 21 of 30 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 11/19/20 22 of 30 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. 11/19/20 23 of 30 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. 11/19/20 24 of 30 Goal setting: starting place Achieve city-wide carbon neutrality no later than the year 2045 Achieve negative net carbon emissions after the year 2045 Establish a mid-term 2030 carbon emissions target of 50% below a 2010 baseline Establish a Zero Waste Community target date of 2035 11/19/20 25 of 30 Draft Vision for CAP 2.0 process Adopt the following vision to guide the update process: a. Equity: Activate and celebrate the multiracial character 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 reflects the diversity of the city and sets us on a path toward equity and inclusion in Cupertino. 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. Excerpts from A RESOLUTION OF THE CUPERTINO CITY COUNCIL AFFIRMING THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE BLACK COMMUNITY (June 5, 2020) Cupertino is blessed to be a multiracial community, and we decided long ago that mutual understanding and respect develops a much healthier, safer, and caring community; and The City of Cupertino will promote safety, a sense of security, and equal protection of constitutional and human rights, leading by example through equitable treatment of all by City officials and departments; and The City of Cupertino encourages the community to stand together through peaceful exchange and discourse to enact change and move forward towards a future with more equity and inclusion in Cupertino, California, and our country. 11/19/20 26 of 30 CITY OF CUPERTINO Legislation Text Subject: Update on Cupertino Climate Challenge Launch and Why Join Letter Receive update on launch of Cupertino Climate Challenge (CCC) program and support Why Join Letter for CCC website File #:20-8424,Version:1 CITY OF CUPERTINO Printed on 11/13/2020Page 1 of 1 powered by Legistar™ 11/19/20 27 of 30 SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION STAFF REPORT Meeting: November 19, 2020 Subject Update on Cupertino Climate Challenge Launch and Why Join Letter Recommended Action Receive update on launch of Cupertino Climate Challenge (CCC) program and support Why Join Letter for CCC website. Discussion The CCC is a tool to help residents create their own climate action plan and walk them through, step by step, how to complete those actions. CupertinoClimateChallenge.org is going to be the landing page for this tool. A written explanation has been created to provide reasons why someone should join CCC, the Why Join Letter (Attachment A). The commissioners represent a trusted community voice thus, support from its members will strengthen the message and encourage residents to enroll. This letter will live on the CupertinoClimateChallenge.org homepage. The website is expected to launch in December 2020 and a marketing campaign will be launched shortly thereafter. After the page is launched, users create a household profile and enter some information on current activities to create a baseline. Then, individuals can browse a list of actions that will help reduce environmental impacts and add them to a dashboard. Each action has a list of steps, costs, and a space to ask questions. This website has over 80 actions to ensure that there are possibilities for every individual. Each user is encouraged to join a team to collaborate and discuss actions that the whole community can take while competing for points. Sustainability Impact CCC supports several goals in Cupertino’s Climate Action Plan including reducing energy use, encouraging alternative transportation, conserve water, and reduce solid waste, and educating the community about positive steps they can take. _____________________________________ 11/19/20 28 of 30 Prepared by: Victoria Morin, Outreach Coordinator for Environmental Programs and Sustainability Reviewed by: Andre Duurvoort, Sustainability Manager Attachments: A – Why Join Letter 11/19/20 29 of 30 Attachment A: Cupertino Climate Challenge – Why Should I Join? Dear Neighbor, Severe weather, rising temperatures, fires, floods, and droughts are affecting the way we live and the quality of life of future generations. We all need to be part of the solution if we’re going to reduce emissions enough to protect our future. The good news: there are actions everyone can take that will make a meaningful difference. The better news: most of these actions are easy and will also save money, improve our health, and protect the quality of life in our city. The Cupertino Climate Challenge makes it easy and fun to learn what actions you can take while providing advice and local resources. The Challenge is a digital concierge that helps you create your own personal climate action plan. It provides a set of strategies intended to guide greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts, typically through a combination of personal and community action. It also allows you to join into teams, track your progress, share ideas with your neighbors, and engage in a friendly competition that brings us closer together as a community. We as your neighbors are looking forward to seeing every household, school, church, and neighborhood take part in the challenge. Together we are making a difference! /S the City of Cupertino Sustainability Commission 11/19/20 30 of 30