Proposed 2024 Atherton Earth Day Festival Work Plan and Budget The Environmental Programs Committee proposes an Earth Day Festival as follows:
Atherton Earth Day Festival
Sunday, April 21, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Holbrook Palmer Park The goals of this event include:
1. Educate residents on the importance of taking care of our planet and inspire individual action.
2. Foster community by bringing residents, local service providers, and vendors together to celebrate the environmental work that has been accomplished and share resources.
3. Raise awareness of the impact of climate change, specifically in San Mateo County, and educate residents on the Town’s Climate Action Plan, progress, and next steps.
4. Provide a meaningful opportunity for the town’s youth to participate in climate action, protect biodiversity, and learn about innovations in sustainability.
This plan will be executed by:
● The Environmental Programs Committee’s Earth Day Event Planning Subcommittee ● Town staff
● High school student interns from Design Tech High School in Redwood Shores and Menlo-Atherton High School under staff direction
● Additionally, Woodside Priory High School, Menlo School, and Sacred Heart School have been contacted to identify additional students interested in getting involved.
Partners and Sponsors:
The following sponsors and partners, that specifically serve or provide utility service to Atherton residents, have been invited to contribute to this event:
● Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE)
● CalWater
● GreenWaste Recovery
● Bay Area Air Quality Management
District
● Peninsula Humane Society
● SamTrans
● San Mateo County Office of
Sustainability
● San Mateo County Libraries -
Atherton Library
● Atherton Disaster and
Preparedness Team (ADAPT)
● Atherton Arts Foundation
● Atherton Tree Committee
Exhibitors
Besides the sponsors and partners, we have contacted an additional 180 different exhibitors to host a booth or activity representing schools and activities for all ages, clean energy & building electrification, water conservation and pollution prevention, waste reduction, landscaping, emissions reduction, plant-based food, and transportation. Exhibitors from the 2022 and 2023 Atherton Earth Day events and additional organizations of interest were contacted.
The proposed date and time have been shared with neighboring jurisdictions and community-based organizations to avoid having multiple Earth Day events on the same day. It is likely that Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, 350 Silicon Valley, and other partners will proceed with a Love Our Earth Festival in 2024.
Proposed Schedule and Speakers
● To invite: Rep. Eshoo, Senator Padilla, CA State Senator Becker, CA Assemblymember Berman, and Supervisor Mueller
● Mayor to give remarks and serve as emcee
● There are currently no plans to host a speaker panel due to low participation in 2023, lack of interest from a community survey, and interest in hosting a speaker series outside of the Earth Day Festival
● A speaker series could be planned for raising awareness of sustainability topics throughout the year.
Activities
● Confirmed:
○ Stephanie Dole, Beetle Lady: Pop-Up Bug Museum with displays of real arthropods from around the world, living bugs, banners, and interactive exhibits. ○ ADAPT: Climate resiliency and emergency preparedness demonstrations including emergency gas shut-off, putting out a fire station, and display of emergency information including air quality, evacuation, and emergency alerts. ● Invited/Pending:
○ E-Bike and Bike Test Rides
○ Environmental Art Exhibit and Sewing Repairs with Atherton Arts Foundation ○ Arbor Day Tree Planting and Tree Walk with Tree Committee and Town Arborist ○ Kids’ friendly activities hosted by the Riekes Center, the Atherton Library, and the local elementary schools
○ Interdepartmental/agency leaf blower competition
○ Waste Sorting Game
○ Inter-Agency Competition
○ Fix-it Clinic for repairing broken items and mending clothing Plant-Based Food
Having sufficient food available for attendees and volunteers has been a consistent challenge across Town events. In order to better serve our residents and set expectations, volunteers will not be offered free meals and will be encouraged to bring food or patron one of the local food trucks in attendance.
Staff proposes moving forward with having plant-based food from local food trucks. Food trucks have their own health permits. Serving food in tents requires a separate permit, close access to handwashing, electricity, and a bathroom. To avoid a separate permitting process and fees, Atherton staff proposes to have only permitted food trucks present. The following will be invited to sell plant-based food:
● The Bite (Mediterranean)
● Malibu’s Burgers (Fast Food)
● Taqueria La Veganza (Mexican)
● Senor Sisig (Filipino)
● Casita Vegana (Mexican)
● Daniel’s Kitchen (Gourmet Latinx
Cuisine)
● Zaida’s Kitchen (Mexican)
● Vegan Mob (Barbeque)
● Pop Nation (Popsicles)
Additionally, staff intends to explore plant-based, induction cooking demonstrations or hands-on cooking activities.
Day-of Volunteers
We will rely on a pool of volunteers to assist on the day of the Earth Day Festival - April 21.
Our volunteers play an important role in helping us direct attendees, lead activities, teach attendees how to sort their trash, check in vendors, and promote the event. Volunteers are required to attend an hour-long training prior to the event. It is anticipated that we will have up to 50 day-of volunteers helping to ensure a smooth event. Local high schools have been contacted as well as Tesla for corporate volunteers based on their availability in 2023.
Proposed Budget
Budget (Total Requested: $5,000)
Item Description Proposed Amount
Sponsorships Anticipating:
● CalWater ($500)
● GreenWaste
Recovery ($500)
● Peninsula Clean
Energy ($500)
● CalRecycle Grant
Funds ($500)
-$2,000
Printing Printing marketing materials
including banners for HPP
and Marsh/Middlefield and
day-of-navigation signs
$1,500
Marketing Posting advertisements in the
Almanac
$400
Equipment Rentals Table, chair, and canopy
rentals
$900
Entertainment Beetle Lady $1,200
Bike Valet Bike Parking Valet through
Silicon Valley Bike Coalition
$2,000
Day-of Support Public Works Staffing
Resources
$1,000
Total Budget (NTE) $5,000