CITY COUNCIL SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING
Hybrid Meeting
September 8, 2025
5:00 p.m.
MEETING MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER: Meeting called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Council Member Francisco Zermeño.
ROLL CALL:
Committee Members:
▪ Dan Goldstein, City Council Member
▪ Julie Roche, City Council Member (Absent)
▪ Francisco Zermeño, City Council Member/CSC Chair
Staff:
▪ Alex Ameri, Director of Public Works
▪ Linda Ko, Senior Secretary (Meeting Recorder)
▪ Steve Osborne, Supervising Plan Checker & Expeditor
▪ Erik Pearson, Environmental Services Manager
▪ Mireille Vargas, Sustainability Specialist
Other:
▪ Cait Cady, Ava Community Energy
▪ Aaron Gianni, Larratt Bros Plumbing
▪ Jeffrey Haman, Public Comment Speaker
▪ Feliz Ventura, Ava Community Energy
▪ Vasko Yorgov, Public Comment Speaker
PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments.
1. Approval of Minutes of the Council Sustainability Committee Meeting held on May 12, 2025
The item was moved by Council Member Goldstein, seconded by Council Member Zermeño, and approved with two votes.
2. Potential Reach Code Amendments for the 2025 Building Code Erik Pearson, Environmental Services Manager, presented a report on potential Reach Code amendments for the 2025 California Building Standards Code.
Public Comments
Public speaker Vasko Yorgov from Eden Housing expressed his support for not recommending the adoption of any reach codes for new multi-family construction.
Committee Comments
5
Council Member Goldstein expressed his concerns with recommending the enforcement of the new Reach Code changes. One concern was that it would create a perception of higher cost, which could derail housing production for multi-family developers. He recommended further discussion on the issues.
Council Member Zermeño supported the educational outreach component and also expressed his support for the Flex Path approach.
3. Ava Community Energy Update: Local Programs and Customer Bill Savings – Information and Discussion
Cait Cady and Feliz Ventura from Ava Community Energy presented an update report on local programs, partnerships, and customer bill savings.
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
Committee Comments
Council Member Goldstein expressed his support for the E-bike program and suggested considering electric motorcycles also.
Council Member Zermeño asked if Ava’s goal of developing an electric supply portfolio that is carbon free by 2030 was feasible. Ms. Cady responded that Ava was on track to achieve the goal.
4. Heat Pump Water Heater Direct Installation Program Informational Update Mireille Vargas, Sustainability Specialist, provided an update on the Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) Direct Installation Program.
Public Comments
Jeff Haman inquired about the turnaround time to obtain permits for HPWH installations.
Aaron Gianni, from Larratt Bros Plumbing, answered that permits were able to be obtained the same day and online permits were instantaneous given that the heater was going to be installed in the same location and the panel had capacity for it – any other installation outside of these parameters would require a design review.
Committee Comments
Council Member Goldstein expressed his enthusiasm for the program and asked that local hires were recognized and brought into the conversation for the program.
Council Member Zermeño thanked staff for the presentation and expressed his support for the program as well.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
5. Proposed 2025 Agenda Planning Calendar: Review and Comment 6
Erik Pearson, Environmental Services Manager, shared the proposed 2025 agenda planning calendar with the Committee.
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
Committee Comments
There were no Committee comments.
COMMITTEE MEMBER/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REFERRALS:
Mr. Pearson announced that staff had completed the annual report to CalRecycle and that the landfill diversion rate had increased to 74%. He also shared that the City was moving forward with the streetlight retrofit half of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program. Lastly, he shared that the Compost Giveaway event was scheduled for Saturday, October 25th, at the former Skywest Golf Course.
ADJOURNMENT: 6:21 p.m.
MEETINGS
Attendance Present Present Excused Absent
9/8/25 to Date This to Date This to Date This
Meeting Year Year Year
Julie Roche X 3 0 1
Dan Goldstein ✓ 3 0 0
Francisco Zermeño ✓ 4 0 0
7