SC 10-21-21CITY OF CUPERTINO SUST AINABILITY COMMISSION
Teleconference meeting without a physical location.
Thursday, October 21, 2021 4:00 p.m.
MINUTES
At 4:02 p.m. Chair Swarninathan called the meeting to ordet.
ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present: Chair Vignesh Swarninathan, Vice Chair Ram Mohan, and Commissioners Gary
Latshaw, Meera Ramanathan, and Anna Weber.
S. Ursula Syrova, Environmental Programs Manager; Victoria Morin, Outreach Coordinator; Karen Chen,
AmeriCorps Fellow; Gilee Corral, Climate and Utilities Analyst.
Guests: Members of the public; Rincon Consultants, Inc., Climate Action Plan (CAP) Update project consultant
team: Kelsey Bennett, Erik Feldman, and Alissa Jared.
APPROV AL OF MINUTES
1. Subject: Minutes from July 15, 2021 meeting
Vice Chair Mohan moved and Commissioner Latshaw seconded to approve the minutes. The motion carried
unanimously.
POSTPONEMENTS
None.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Staff Liaison Gilee Corral noted written communications received on Item #2.
ST AFF AND COMMISSION REPORTS
Staff updates: Senior Strategy Survey now open, visit cupertino.otg/senior to access the survey or visit the
Senior Center, Library, or Quinlan Cornrnunity Center for hard copies. Closed out the Sustainability Grants for
Students Program, received one report from a grant recipient. Cupertino signed on to the United Nations Race
to Zero campaign to commit to carbon neutrality by 2050. The Sustainability Division's new AtneriCorps
CivicSpark Fellow, Karen Chen, introduced herself.
Commission updates: Chair Swarninathan noted that VTA is still in need of members for the Measure A
watchdog committee; they have six open spots and do not have a quorum. He encouraged everyone to spread
the word.
OLD BUSINESS
None.
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NEW BUSINESS
2. Subject:ClimateActionPlanUpdatedraftmeasures
Corral gave a brief overview of the CAP Update project progress to date. Victotia Morin, Outreach
Coordinator, provided an update of the outreach process with a focus on equity and transparency, including
public workshops, pop up events, surveys, and an interactive portal. Kelsey Bennett with Rincon Consultants,
Inc. gave a presentation on the technical process to date, inauding results from the updated greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions forecast, GHG teductions needed in each sector to meet Cupertino's targets, and a draft list
of high impact climate mitigation measures towards a net zero carbon goal. The high impact measures were
determined based on best practices and scenario planning and modeling incorporating Cupertino data.
Because the largest GHG emissions contributions are projected to be from transportation and building energy,
Cupertino will need to focus most of its GHG mitigation actions on these sectors. Corral acknowledged the
CAP Update Subcommittee's role in the process. Staff requested the Commission to recommend the list of high
impact actions to the City Council ahead of its November 16 Study Session on the CAP Update project.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions, including:
If on-road measures referenced City-owned fleet (Ramanathan). Corral: all measures are comrnunity-
wide and would include municipal fleet vehicles.
Appreciation for the clarity of the presentation; what incentives and disincentives ate being consideted
to change behavior, if innovative actions incorporated (Mohan). Staff and consultant team noted the
actions list is still being refined, will be informed by best practice, and build on previous CAP progress.
The team is using framework incotporating structural change, incentives, equity, funding, and
partnerships.
Urgency of clitnate emergency, like to see natural gas in commercial sector prioritized, consider
personal rapid transit (Latshaw)
Appreciate clarity of the structure of the measure qd actions; how the Commission can assist and
what stands out in importance (Swaminathan). Erik Feldman with Rincon Consultants, Inc.:
discontinuing natural gas in new development is critical and investing in electric vehicle (EV) charging
network.
Lessons learned from more aggressive cities (Swaminathan). Feldman: Cupertino and other
communities being ambitious. Mentioned examples from San Luis Obispo, West Hollywood, Boston,
Berkeley.
Chair Swaminathan opened public comment and the fonowing individuals spoke:
Dashiell Leeds on behalf of the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter spoke in support of a more aggressive
carbon neutrality target, a streamlined CAP, seeing the impact of fuel cells on emissions from natural
gas, ensure electrification happens soon, end of flow date for nahiral gas (i.e. Half Moon Bay's target of
2045). Expressed support for draft measures BE-1, BE-2, and M-I and for existing building
electrification otdinances to be top priority and mandated rather than incentivized, with extensive
community outteach. Supports commitment to equity and electrifying Below Market Rate housing
stock as a priority. Would like City to partner with County of Santa Clata Office of Sustainability and
its new Sustainability Commission.
Giulianna Pendleton on behalf of the Santa Clata Vaney Audubon Society spoke in support of including
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loss of biodiversity and climate resiliency iri addition to climate change mitigation to the CAP. Supports
goal to increase tree canopy and asked for a focus on locally native trees and oaks. Supports protecting
grasslands, integration of nature-based solutions, and rewilding areas in cities.
Neil Park-McClintick (Cupertino resident) on behalf of Cupertino for All expressed general support for
plans to address climate change. He talked about the suburban perspective and culture that demands
driving long distances (i.e. De Anza students and commuters) and need to contextualize the discussion
in a regional transportation network. Spoke in support of Dashiell Leed's comments and getting rid of
natural gas. Supports densifying Cupertino to ensure people can live close to work and school. He
talked about subject of equity, the displacement of low-income people, and low supply of affordable
units in Cupertino.
Gwyn Azar on behalf of Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action's Cupertino Team thanked the team for
their continued work. She spoke in support of an ambitious CAP, a more aggressive tatget than 2040,
prioritizing the electrification of existing buildings, to consider a burnout ordinance to replace gas
appliances, and to set an end of flow date for natutal gas.
Housing Commissioner Connie Cunningham (representing self) on behalf of the Santa Clara Valley
Audubon Society spoke about the connection between climate and biodiversity, quoting from the
Intergoverru'nental Panel on Climate Change. Supports adding "protect biodiversity" to CAP goals and
when referencing resiliency and adaptation, noting that biodivetsity was mentioned in a previous
December 2020 report. Supports adding the words "for protecting biodiversity" in measures CS-I and
CS-2 in Table 1 in the staff report. She asked clarifying questions about the location of the 2,400 trees,
where the available space was located, if public access to existing tree data, etc.
The Commission discussed the topic. Staff and the consultant team responded to clatifying questions.
Commissioners raised ideas and issues, including:
Do not rely on carbon offsets to achieve carbon goals (Latshaw)
Ideas for additional measures or actions:
o Inclusion of personal rapid transit, more homes adding air conditioning and insulation
(Latshaw)
o Consider free electric vehicle (EV) charging stations (Ramanathan)
o De-incentivize new gas stations (Ramanathan, Latshaw, Swaminathan)
Actions that conserve water and mitigate heat impacts alongside building electrification (Ramanathan)
Goals and targets are excellent. Consider out-of-the-box solutions and global best practices (Mohan)
Consider complexity of actions and unintended itnpacts, concerns of cost and burden on City staff
(Swaminathan)
Ensure City facilities adhere to electrification goals (Latshaw)
Support for including biodiversity language in the CAP measures (Weber, Swaminathan,
Ramanathan). The consultant confirmed that biodiversity and resiliency can be addressed in the
adaptation and resiliency actions that support the measures.
Increase percentage of public and shared transit mode share (Swarninathan) and increase percentage of
electrifying the existing commercial buildings (Latshaw)
The Commission expressed appreciation for the clarity and coverage of the high-impact measutes as
presented.
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Staff and the consultant team tesponded to concerns and questions, acknowledging that the high impact
measures list under discussion reflects GHG emissions reduction measures specifically. However, other types
of measures (i.e. water conservation, biodiversity, resiliency and adaptation) will also be part of the CAP. The
actions list will continue to be developed as a patt of the public process. Alongside the public process, the draft
measures and actions are being reviewed through an internal stakeholder process with other City
departments
Commissioner Ramanathan made a motion to recommend the draft CAP update measures and furthet
modifications as needed for apptoval. She withdrew the motion. The Commission discussed potential changes
to the high impact measures list wotding, including mentioning biodiversity ('Latshaw, Rarnanathan) and
including a statement that the City of Cupettino would conform to the electification of buildings (Latshaw).
Vice Chair Mohan expressed suppott for moving forward with the draft CAP measures list as is. Bennett
explained that biodiversity and resiliency strategies are tracked differently than GHG emissions reduction
measures and can be part of a climate adaptation section.
Commissioner Rarnanathan moved to approve the draft CAP Update measutes list as is to measure the goals
that were set with further implementation modifications as needed. The Commission discussed the motion
further. The consultant team answeted technical questions. Feldman noted that changing percentages would
require substantial evidence to support the increase in order to preserve the validity of the policy document.
Commissioner Rarnanathan restated the motion: to recommend to the City Council the draft CAP Update
measures as presented by staff towards the draft goals as stated by the Council and Cornrnission,
understanding that further implementation modifications may be made as needed. Vice Chair Mohan
seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Latshaw requested to see the calculations behind the 24% commercial efficiency metric; Corral
noted that a more detailed explanation of the analysis will be included in the technical appendix of the public
review draft of the CAP.
3. Subject: Recommendation for Single-Use Plastics Ordinance Subcommittee
Environmental Programs Manager Ursula Sytova gave a brief status update on the otdinance project.
Outreach to businesses and customers is complete. Staff are working on incotporating responses into the draft
ordinance language and plans. Staff aims to bring the ordinance to Council in February, and the timing is tight
to have a full Commission discussion prior to this date. Sytova requests a subcornrnittee be formed to meet
once in December to review the outreach results, phasing plans, and draft policy options and bring their
feedback to the January Commission meeting for discussion. Cortal clarified the role of the subcommittee.
Chair Swarninathan opened public comment. Corral read a statement aloud submitted via email by Gwyn
Azar on behalf of Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action's Cupertino Team in support of the Single-Use Plastics
Ordinance and reduction of plastics, in conaboration with local businesses.
Commissioners Weber and Rarnanathan volunteered to serve on the subcommittee.
Commissioner Latshaw moved and Vice Chair Mohan seconded to form a Single-Use Plastics Ordinance
Subcommittee and to nominate Commissioners Ramanathan and Weber to serve on the Subcommittee. The
motion carried unanimously
4. Subject: Sustainability Commission suggestions for FY 2022-23 City Work Program
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Corral briefly introduced the topic and reminded the Con'unission of the work program process. She noted
that there were no specific items to present from the department, but these are in discussion. She answered
technical questions.
Chair Swaminathan opened public comment and the following individual spoke:
Dashiell Leeds on behalf of the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter suggested prioritizing draft CAP
measures BE-I, BE-2, and M-I - electrification of existing residential, commercial, and municipal
buildings - for the Work Program. Supports creating the Urban Forestry Master Plan, developing a
biodiversity metric to support native and drought tolerant plants, and divestment as work progtarn
items. In response to a clarifying question from Chair Swarninathan, he clatified that by "divestment,"
he means a policy to analyze assets tied up to major banks that fund fossil fuels and develop a plan to
transfet funds to sources without connections to fossil fuels.
Corral clarified operational programs and services and what would constitute a work program project. The
Commission discussed ideas for work program suggestions, including:
Ordinance to prevent utility company from re-trenching and digging up the road for impact, entertain
more mixed-use zoning (Swarninathan)
Analyze transportation emissions sources, look into active transportation, micromobility, paratransit
options, Via Shuttle (Swaminathan, with Latshaw supporting)
Limiting new gas stations (Swaminathan, with Ramanathan supporting)
Encourage rapid electrification of buildings (Latshaw, with Swaminathan supporting)
Access to Apple's employee EV charging stations when not in use (Swaminathan, with Latshaw
supporting)
Water conservation via drought tolerant landscaping, Climate Victory Gardens pilot (Weber, with
Swaminathan supporting)
Corral pulled up the Future Agenda Setting List for reference:
FUTURE AGENDA SETTING LIST
o Sustainability Grants for Students / essay contest
o Discuss hosting a public workshop on carbon reduction ideas
o Discuss 2021 Earth & Arbor Day event ideas
o Zero Emission Vehicles discussion
o Building electrification discussion
o Discussion on raising awareness of sustainabihty among youth
o Discussion on raising awareness of climate change among adults
The Commission created the following list of suggestions for the work program:
Consider lifting the ordinance the limits rnicromobihty providers from operating in Cupertino.
Consider resttictions that would ensure appropriate fit for Cupertino.
Consider policy and legal implications for limiting new gas stations and tanks from being built in
Cupertino.
Explore options for private businesses to open up privately-owned electric vehicle chargers to the
public when not in use by employees.
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Examine options to encourage rapid electrification of buildings, i.e. via the update of the building
electrification reach codes.
Consider expanding and investing in the Climate Victory Gardens Pilot and creating a permanent
program for supporting drought tolerant landscaping.
Commissioner Ramanathan moved and Commissioner Latshaw seconded to recommend the list as worded
above as suggestions for FY 2022-23 City Work Program. The motion passed unanimously
FUTURE AGENDA SETTING
Not discussed.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion to adjourn was made by Chair Swaminathan and seconded by Vice Chair Mohan. The motion
carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 6:38 p.m.
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