CITY COUNCIL SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING
Hybrid Meeting
March 11, 2024
5:00 p.m.
MEETING MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER: Meeting called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Council Member Julie Roche.
ROLL CALL:
Members:
Present
▪ Julie Roche, City Council Member/CSC Chair
▪ Angela Andrews, City Council Member
▪ Francisco Zermeño, City Council Member
Staff:
▪ Alex Ameri, Director of Public Works
▪ Makenna Colucci, Sustainability & Climate Action Fellow ▪ Linda Ko, Senior Secretary (Meeting Recorder)
▪ Jeff Krump, Solid Waste Program Manager
▪ Steve Osborne, Supervising Plan Checker & Expeditor
▪ Erik Pearson, Environmental Services Manager
▪ Elise Pierce, Recycling Outreach Fellow
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Lance Storm expressed his concern for the preservation of monarch butterflies and birds at the Skywest Golf Course.
1. Approval of Minutes of the Council Sustainability Committee (CSC) Meeting Held on January 8, 2024
The item was moved by Council Member Andrews, seconded by Council Member Zermeño, and approved unanimously.
2. Solid Waste and Recycling Franchise Agreement: Update on Implementation – Review and Comment
Jeff Krump, Solid Waste Program Manager, presented an update on the implementation of the new Solid Waste and Recycling Franchise Agreement between the City and Waste Management of Alameda County (WMAC).
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
Committee Comments
Council Member Andrews expressed concerns about growing trash on Mission Blvd. and asked staff to strategize putting more trash and recycling bins along Mission Blvd., especially near fast food restaurants.
Council Member Zermeño stated that he would like to see big belly trash can installations paired with existing and future fast food restaurants. Director Alex Ameri responded that private properties have conditions of approval for this type of measure and that staff would look into it.
Director Ameri stated that residents have been paying for new Tri-CED trucks but have not received them yet and that this issue would be addressed during the next rate adjustment conversation. In addition, he stated that the topic of the reduced frequency of servicing big belly cans would also be included in the next rate adjustment conversation with WMAC.
3. Reach Code – Current Status and Future Revisions – Discussion and Direction to Staff
Erik Pearson, Environmental Services Manager, presented a report on the current Reach Code.
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
Committee Comments
Council Member Roche inquired if requiring electric ready would be a double expense for builders. Steve Osbourne, Supervising Plan Checker & Expeditor, explained that electric ready choices were easier to make when building from the ground-up and that it could be as easy as providing sufficient capacity in the electric panel and that it would cost builders more and include more work to make a building electric ready retroactively.
4. 2022 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
Makenna Colucci, Sustainability & Climate Action Fellow, presented the 2022 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory and provided a comparison to the previous eight inventories.
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
Committee Comments
Council Member Andrews inquired if there were any rebates or funding for xeriscaping and electrification efforts. Erik Pearson, Environmental Services Manager, responded that the City promotes bay-friendly landscaping practices and that the state no longer allows the
sale of gasoline-powered leaf blowers and small engines. Director Ameri added that rebates for heat-pump water heaters were available that staff would publicize.
Council Member Zermeño and Council Member Roche inquired about GHG emission contributions from the Airport. Ms. Colucci stated that the Air District had just released a priority climate action plan for most of the nine bay area counties and the aircraft emissions was approximately 2.27%, which was a very small portion of total emissions.
Director Ameri also stated that looking at other jurisdictions, staff could safely predict that airport emissions would not be a large contributor of GHG emissions but that staff would work with a consultant to provide a more detailed report.
5. Potential Grant Funding for Development of Performance Standards for Existing Buildings – Discussion and Direction to Staff
Mr. Pearson provided a report regarding Hayward’s participation in a grant application that would fund a regional effort to develop performance standards for existing buildings and asked that the CSC would provide direction to staff.
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
Committee Comments
All Council Sustainability Committee members recommended that staff apply for and participate in the grant.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
6. Proposed 2024 Agenda Planning Calendar: Review and Comment Mr. Pearson shared the proposed 2024 agenda planning calendar with the Committee.
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
Committee Comments
Council Member Andrews requested a future report on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).
Council Member Roche stated that she would like more information on artificial turf.
Director Ameri responded that staff could prepare a report elaborating on the pros and cons of artificial turf.
Council Member Zermeño requested a report on the tree canopy coverage assessment.
Director Ameri responded that staff would work with the Maintenance Services Department to prepare a report on this topic.
COMMITTEE MEMBER/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REFERRALS:
Mr. Pearson announced that the Earth Day Poster & Writing Contest award presentation would take place during the April 16th City Council meeting. He also announced that the Earth Day Litter Clean-up & Fair would take place on Saturday, April 20th.
ADJOURNMENT: 6:50 p.m.
MEETINGS
Attendance Present
3/11/24
Meeting
Present
to Date This
Year
Excused
to Date This
Year
Absent
to Date This
Year
Julie Roche ✓ 2 0 0
Angela Andrews ✓ 2 0 0
Francisco Zermeño ✓ 2 0 0