SC 10-15-2020 ,1
li°�ev b� CITY OF CUPERTINO SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION
Teleconference meeting without a physical location.
Thursday, October 15,2020 4:00 p.m.
MINUTES
At 4:06 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;Andre 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 anew franchise agreement with Recology
Ursula Syrova,Environmental Programs Manager presented service updates on the Recology agreement
process,including:
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- 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 151
- 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
Andre 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.
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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;
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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 staffs 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.
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- 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
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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
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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 connnunity 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.
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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.
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