101-Staff Report.pdf
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
CITY HALL
10 10300 TORRE AVENUE • CUPERTINO, CA 95014-3255
TELEPHONE: (408) 777-3308 www.cupertino.org
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting: October 5, 2010
Subject
Update on the Green Building Ordinance.
Recommended Action
Receive update.
Description
Application: MCA-2010-04
Applicant: City of Cupertino
Location: Citywide
Application Summary: Municipal Code Amendment to adopt a Green Building Ordinance.
BACKGROUND
On January 19, 2010, the City Council authorized staff to proceed with developing a draft Green
Building Ordinance, using the Phase II recommendations of the Santa Clara County Cities
Association’s Board of Directors as a basis. The Council authorized a budget of $25,000 to
complete the process (including one city-wide postcard notice).
The goal of developing a Green Building Ordinance was initiated through the City’s
participation and support of the Santa Clara County Cities Association’s Board of Director’s
“Phase II recommendations” (See Attachment A, Phase II recommendations) adopted by the
Board of Directors in June 2009 in partnership with the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. The
Phase II recommendations are criteria and thresholds for development, including new
construction and renovations/remodeling projects, that aim to support the use of healthy building
materials and construction methods, and promote energy, water and resource efficiency and
conservation by adherence to rating systems called LEED (Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design) and GPR (Green Point Rated) that were developed by the U.S. Green
Building Council (USGBC) and Build It Green (BIG) respectively. USGBC and BIG are non-
for-profit organizations that promote healthy and sustainable building design and construction.
Community Outreach
In May 2010, staff began the Green Building Ordinance process by sending out a City-wide
notice seeking interested parties to participate in Green Building Ordinance Focus Groups to
help the City through the process of developing a draft ordinance. The firm, Global Green, has
been assisting the City through facilitation of the focus group meetings and to develop a draft
ordinance.
On June 7, 2010, the City held its first Green Building Ordinance Focus Group meeting at De
Anza College’s LEED Platinum Kirsch Center. The meeting was attended by over 60
participants, and included a tour of the Kirsch Center, a presentation on the purpose and concepts
of green building and the Phase II recommendations, and small group discussion sessions to
encourage participants to provide input on elements of the green building ordinance.
In order to respond to participants’ comments to better understand the green rating systems under
consideration, the Planning Commission held an educational workshop at its July 13, 2010
meeting. The workshop included a presentation by Shiloh Ballard of Silicon Valley Leadership
Group who provided an overview of the Phase II recommendations. Additionally, David Kaneda,
Cupertino Planning Commissioner, provided an overview of the upcoming Cal Green building
codes, the state’s new green building code requirements for new construction that will become
effective on January 1, 2011.
On July 29, 2010, the City held its second and final Green Building Focus Group meetings, at
which time a draft Green Building Ordinance was presented to participants and the core elements
of the draft ordinance were discussed.
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Staff and Global Green received many comments and suggestions at both the June 7 and July
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29 focus group meetings (See Attachments B and C - focus group comments) from participants
that represented the residential, business and development community in Cupertino.
DISCUSSION
Staff is currently working with our green building consultant, Global Green, to prepare a draft
Green Building Ordinance that incorporates and addresses key comments and suggestions
provided by the participants.
The draft ordinance is scheduled to be presented to the Planning Commission at its October 12,
2010 public hearing meeting. The City Council meeting to review the Planning Commission
recommendations is tentatively scheduled for December 2010.
_____________________________________
Prepared by: Aki Honda Snelling, Senior Planner
Reviewed by: Gary Chao, City Planner and Aarti Shrivastava, Community Development
Director
Approved for Submission by: David W. Knapp, City Manager
Attachments:
A. Phase II Recommendations
B. June 7, 2010 Focus Group Meeting Comments
C. July 29, 2010 Focus Group Meeting Comments