CITY COUNCIL SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING
Hybrid Meeting
September 16, 2024
5:00 p.m.
MEETING MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER: Meeting called to order at 5:07 p.m. by Council Member Angela Andrews.
ROLL CALL:
Committee Members:
▪ Julie Roche, City Council Member/CSC Chair (Joined at 5:43 p.m.) ▪ Angela Andrews, City Council Member
▪ Francisco Zermeño, City Council Member
Staff:
▪ Alex Ameri, Director of Public Works
▪ Stephanie Dumont, Sustainability Specialist
▪ Ben Jex, Recycling Outreach Fellow
▪ Linda Ko, Senior Secretary (Meeting Recorder)
▪ Adam Kostrzak, Acting Assistant City Manager
▪ Jeff Krump, Solid Waste Program Manager
▪ Erik Pearson, Environmental Services Manager
▪ Ava Samuels, Sustainability & Climate Action Fellow
▪ Mireille Vargas, Sustainability Specialist
Other:
▪ Cait Cady, Ava Community Energy
▪ JP Ross, Ava Community Energy
▪ Dominic Li Mandri, DHIA
PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments.
1. Approval of Minutes of the Council Sustainability Committee (CSC) Meeting Held on March 11, 2024
The item was moved by Council Member Zermeño, seconded by Council Member Andrews, and approved by the two committee members present.
2. Critical Municipal Facilities: Proposed Solar and Battery Storage Installations – Discussion and Recommendation to Council
Erik Pearson, Environmental Services Manager, presented a report on proposed solar and battery storage installations at four City facilities.
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
Committee Comments
Council Member Zermeño asked about the cost, the expansion, and why the process would take so long.
Council Member Andrews asked if the delay was related to PG&E interconnection.
Action: Council Member Zermeño moved the recommendation to Council to authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Power Purchase Agreement with Ava Community Energy and Council Member Andrews seconded the item.
3. Ava Community Energy Update: Local Programs and Customer Bill Savings – Information and Discussion
Cait Cady and JP Ross, representing Ava Community Energy, presented an update on local programs, partnerships, and customer bill savings.
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
Committee Comments
Council Member Zermeño suggested reaching out to educational partners, Chabot College and Cal State East Bay, and organizations regarding the community resilience hubs. JP Ross stated that Ava Community Energy is currently evaluating proposals and is planning to do community outreach to define eligibility criteria for potential resilience hubs.
Council Member Andrews suggested partnering with bike shops to hold electric bike pop- up events in Hayward. JP Ross acknowledged it is challenging as it is difficult to transport hefty electric bikes and noted that logistical issues may make it difficult to host pop-up events.
Council Member Julie Roche joined the meeting.
4. Expanding Litter Collection Efforts in Hayward – Discussion and Direction to Staff Jeff Krump, Solid Waste Program Manager, presented a report on litter collection efforts in Hayward and asked the CSC to provide direction to determine areas outside of Downtown to conduct litter collection.
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
Committee Comments
Council Member Zermeño stated he would like to see litter collection on Huntwood Avenue, Whitman Street, and the Jackson Triangle as highlighted in the staff presentation.
Council Member Andrews agreed with Council Member Zermeño on the two locations and suggested placing more trash cans near the Starbucks store on Industrial Blvd.
Council Member Roche also agreed with the previously mentioned areas and expressed her concerns for the Raising Cane’s area. Council Member Andrews asked staff to check if the Raising Cane’s on Harder Road had been required to adopt-a-block in their conditions of approvals. [Staff reviewed the final conditions of approval and confirmed that for both Raising Cane’s and In and Out, “employees shall be required daily to inspect and pick up trash or litter upon the site and within 300 feet of the perimeter of the property.” The conditions also require that for the other businesses in the shopping center, “the owner or property manager shall be responsible for litter-free maintenance of the property and shall remove any litter on or within 50 feet of the property daily to ensure that the property and its street frontage remain clear of any abandoned debris or trash per Municipal Code Sec.11-5.22.” Staff will be following up with the businesses to ensure they are in compliance with the conditions.]
The item was moved by Council Member Zermeño, seconded by Council Member Roche, and approved unanimously.
5. Ava Community Energy’s Community Solar Program - Update Mr. Pearson provided an informational report regarding Ava Community Energy’s Community Solar Program.
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
Committee Comments
CSC members thanked staff for the update and appreciated the program.
6. Downtown Hayward Improvement Association Art Project for Big Belly Litter Cans – Discussion and Direction to Staff
Mr. Krump presented on the Downtown Hayward Improvement Association’s (DHIA) proposal to decorate with art the Big Belly litter cans located in Downtown Hayward.
Public Comments
Mr. Dominic Li Mandri from the DHIA, commented that the DHIA Board had met and approved the allocation for the project, between $8,000 to $10,000, and that their hope was to create a sustainable annual program.
Committee Comments
Council Member Zermeño stated that he thought the program was a good idea and asked that the artwork be diverse.
Council Member Roche thanked City staff and DHIA staff and expressed her support for the program.
Council Member Andrews suggested creating interactive features in the program where the public could possibly earn points for taking pictures with the artwork on the Big Belly cans.
ELECTION OF CHAIR
Council Member Andrews was nominated for the position of CSC chair. The motion was seconded by Council Member Roche and approved unanimously.
Council Member Zermeño left the meeting at 6:15 p.m.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
7. 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 Roche requested a future report on fossil fuel use in Hayward and possible ways to discourage its use, as it has been done in the City of Richmond.
Council Member Andrews asked staff what direction they would like to see the CSC continue to go.
COMMITTEE MEMBER/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REFERRALS:
Mr. Pearson and Mr. Krump provided an update on the annual diversion rate and shared that the next Compost Giveaway event would be on Saturday, October 19th.
Mr. Pearson shared information regarding the CPR Initiative’s 4th Public Hearing on Climate Action that took place at Hayward City Hall on August 7, 2024.
ADJOURNMENT: 6:20 p.m.
MEETINGS
Attendance Present
9/16/24
Meeting
Present
to Date This
Year
Excused
to Date This
Year
Absent
to Date This
Year
Julie Roche ✓ 3 0 0
Angela Andrews ✓ 3 0 0
Francisco Zermeño ✓ 3 0 0