CITY COUNCIL SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING
Hybrid Meeting
November 18, 2024
5:00 p.m.
MEETING MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER: Meeting called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Council Member Angela Andrews.
ROLL CALL:
Committee Members:
Angela Andrews, City Council Member/CSC Chair
Julie Roche, City Council Member
Francisco Zermeño, City Council Member
Staff:
Alex Ameri, Director of Public Works
Fred Clay, Executive Fellow
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
Cheryl Munoz, Water Resources Manager
Erik Pearson, Environmental Services Manager
Ava Samuels, Sustainability & Climate Action Fellow
Mireille Vargas, Sustainability Specialist
Other:
David King, Public Comment Speaker
Mayra Vega, TRC Consultants
PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments.
Approval of Minutes of the Council Sustainability Committee (CSC) Meeting Held on September 16, 2024 The item was moved by Council Member Zermeño, seconded by Council Member Roche, and approved unanimously.
Proposed Reach Code Amendments to EV Charging Requirements Erik Pearson, Environmental Services Manager, and Ava Samuels, Sustainability & Climate Action Fellow, presented a report proposing amendments to the Reach Code ordinance to modify the City’s electric vehicle (EV) charging requirements and asked the CSC to provide a recommendation to Council.
Public Comments
David King provided a public comment recommending the use of EV chargers in shared common areas that billed the individual users of the chargers for multi-unit dwellings instead of connecting individual EV chargers to each dwelling unit’s electric panel as it uses a lot of additional conduit and wiring.
Committee Comments
Council Member Zermeño asked staff about the different types of chargers and inquired if the City of Hayward would be requiring what the State was requiring. Mr. Pearson confirmed the statement.
Council Member Andrews suggested incentivizing EV charging parking spots for new construction projects, possibly by awarding housing density bonuses. Mr. Pearson said staff would discuss the possibility with the Housing Division, particularly for multi-family residents. Council Member Andrews also suggested requiring EV charging in parking areas near big-box retailers, gyms, schools and child-care facilities, where clients often spend a few hours at a time.
Council Member Roche asked how often the EV ready spots were converted to installed chargers. Mr. Pearson stated that staff would look into the statistics.
Council Member Andrews moved the recommendation to Council to adopt an ordinance amending the Reach Code to modify the City’s EV charging requirements, Council Member Roche seconded the item, and the item was approved unanimously.
Request for Proposals (RFP) for Heat Pump Water Heater Direct Installation Program Mireille Vargas, Sustainability Specialist, presented a report on the Heat Pump Water Heater Direct Installation Program and asked the CSC for comments on the Request for Proposals (RFP) to select a consultant to help manage the program.
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
Committee Comments
Council Member Roche asked if the labor standards require Hayward-owned businesses. Ms. Vargas responded that a Hayward-owned business is listed as a preferred labor standard.
Council Member Zermeño inquired about the cost of the heat pump water heater and asked if water heaters would be provided outright or if there would be a cost share with the homeowner. Mr. Pearson stated that staff intends there to be some cost share with the homeowner so that more water heaters could be installed, but details were still to be determined. Council Member Zermeño stated that he liked the fact that local contractors would be a component to the project.
Council Member Roche suggested possibly replacing a certain number of water heaters outright instead of asking homeowners for a copay, which would cost the homeowners more money and also could delay the project. She also expressed her support for seeking a Hayward-based contractor for the program.
Council Member Andrews inquired how many water heaters would be installed. Staff responded that depending on the cost share proportion there might be twenty or so water heaters installed. Council Member Andrews asked if it was possible to give extra points for minority workforces and women-owned businesses during the contractor selection process. Ms. Vargas stated that there were limitations on what they could require, in terms of gender and ethnicity, but that staff could seek contractors who advertised their jobs to certain populations.
Possible Regulation of Artificial Turf
Stephanie Dumont, Sustainability Specialist, presented a report on the possible regulation of artificial turf and asked the CSC to provide policy direction.
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
Committee Comments
Council Member Zermeño commented that he was in favor of banning artificial turf and encouraging residents to go green and plant native plants.
Director Alex Ameri stated that there are regulations banning the use of non-functional turf which would limit the available options. He also stated that the alternative to artificial turf was dirt or drought tolerant landscaping which would be more costly and time consuming to maintain, which is why only two small cities in California had adopted the artificial turf ban. The ban in one of the two was a temporary, one-year pilot program.
Council Member Roche commented that she didn’t think it was practical to ban artificial turf and put the onus on the individual customer. She also stated that it would make more of an impact to have an overall artificial turf ban, including in parks and at schools, instead of just residential properties.
Council Member Andrews stated that she agreed with Council Member Roche. She suggested establishing a policy to ban artificial turf on City facilities and properties and that we publicize the City’s policy and educate the community.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
Proposed 2025 Agenda Planning Calendar: Review and Comment Mr. Pearson shared the proposed 2025 agenda planning calendar with the Committee.
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
Committee Comments
Council Member Roche suggested that when staff presents the report on SB 54 and plastic pollution prevention, similar to artificial turf, the provider should be targeted and the onus should not be on the consumer. Council Member Andrews also asked that the report address the cost of cleaning up the waste.
Council Member Andrews asked about addressing straws. Staff responded that they can be addressed in the report on “Regulation of Disposable Food Service Ware”.
Council Member Andrews and Council Member Roche asked for more big belly trash containers at parks and libraries. Mr. Pearson stated that Jeff Krump, Solid Waste Program Manager, was preparing a report for the next meeting related to trash containers for new developments.
Council Member Andrews asked about the shade requirement for new developments and suggested requiring shade over tot-lots and playgrounds. Director Ameri stated that staff would look into it.
COMMITTEE MEMBER/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REFERRALS:
There were no Committee Member or staff announcements and referrals.
ADJOURNMENT: 6:11 p.m.
MEETINGS
Attendance
Present
11/18/24
Meeting
Present
to Date This Year
Excused
to Date This Year
Absent
to Date This Year
Julie Roche
✓
4 0
0 Angela Andrews
✓
4 0
0 Francisco Zermeño
✓
4 0
0