Letters from Public — San Jose City Council, April 26, 2022

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From: Agendadesk
To: Espejo, Gina
Subject: Fw: T&E 4/4/22 Public Comment - Climate Smart Item Date: Wednesday, March 30, 2022 8:37:47 AM
Attachments: image.png
From: Robert Gonzalez >
Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2022 8:32 AM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>; Girish.Balachandran@ org>; Romanow, Kerrie <[email protected]>;
Ristow, John <[email protected]>; Peralez, Raul <[email protected]>; Davis, Dev <[email protected]>; Cohen, David <[email protected]>; Foley, Pam <[email protected]>; Esparza, Maya <[email protected]> Subject: T&E 4/4/22 Public Comment - Climate Smart Item

Hello,
It'd be great if the data on the Climate Smart Dashboard could be updated. Some actuals go back to 2015, while most are from 2019.

Also, there's a large emphasis on EV charging. I think it would be great if this could include charging for electric bicycles. The sale of electric bicycles outpace the sale of electric vehicles by a large margin due to their low cost, yet cities still haven't planned for their charging needs.

Most just need an electrical outlet since charging cables aren't all the same. Many users do charge at home, but charging infrastructure can help ease battery anxiety.

Also, it would be great if the City can make plans for ebike parking. The bikelink lockers are great for normal sized e-bikes, but many popular ebikes called Cargo bikes, which families compare to minivans due to their carrying
capacity, won't fit in the smaller lockers. These
bikes are often wider and longer than traditional sized bikes. Parking can be incorporated with charging.

Lastly, electric bike rebates should be flowing through SVCE. Peninsula Clean Energy and the City of Santa Clara currently offer their users and residents rebates for electric bicycles. SVCE currently only offers rebates for electric vehicles.

The City has a great Better Bike Plan, so I think it's important to understand where the bicycle and mobility industry is heading in terms of technology. E-bikes can take advantage of the many protected lanes that are popping up or the super highway that VTA is working on.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/08/business/e-bikes-urban-transit.html

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4. There should be quiet places to sit and enjoy nature (birds, bees, butterflies, plant diversity) everywhere in San Jose. Nature resting places should not be more than six blocks apart in our densest urban areas. There should be benches everywhere with s hade trees over them and foundation
plants which soften buildings. Plant plants for the birds, bees, butterflies and not just for man. Window boxes and hanging baskets should be everywhere in the dense urban San Jose areas. San Jose should encourage “Certified Wildlife Habitats” in private and public gardens.

5. The walks along our rivers and creeks should be designed for pedestrians to enjoy nature. There should be benches along our creeks to rest and enjoy nature. Bikers should not be allowed to use pedestrian creek trails. P
aths for bike commuters should be built and pedestrians should not be encouraged to use them. People need more peaceful places to walk and bring balance to our urban technology world.

6. There should be moving water sounds (waterfalls and ponds) in all our urban parks and plazas. Even small spaces with high rises around them could have a wall fountain with shade trees and comfortable seating.

7. Our soils should have healthy soil biology to break up the clay pan soil that currently dominates our valley. In one handful of healthy soil there should be more alive organisms than people in the world. With this healthy soil plants will need 40% less water, will need less maintenance, and the
soil biology will sequester carbon thus helping to reduce global warming. In one handful of healthy soil there should be more organisms than people in the world. These organisms are the soil’s worker bees.

8. If there are lawns the grass should be low water maintenance native fescue grass which dominated our valley before white men arrived. Fescue grass does not need to be mowed regularly and needs little watering. If possible create meadows like our vall ey was before white man arrived. Mowed
and unmown grass can be grown next to each other.

9. Trees which canopy over concrete streets will reduce heat and glare and gasoline smells, clean the air, and thus reduce global warming. Currently in ma ny parts of San Jose the wrong tree shape
has been planted on our streets or there are no street trees.

10. Let’s try to return San Jose to its original Garden City with the theme “Valley of Hearts Delight”.

11. Whenever possible use permeable concrete for our curbs and parking strips so water goes directly into the groundwater, stays on site, is cleaned on site, does not move far from where it landed, and long-term is a less expensive way to get water to our water table.

12. Make buildings as sustainable as possible by using solar panels, recycled water, and rainwater collected from roofs. This is especially important for high rises and commercial complexes.

12. 13. San Jose needs to stop planting palms, redwoods, and eucalyptus trees which all maintenance problems. Palm roots are dense thus not allowing other plants to grow arou nd them. They
also do not provide food and homes for our native animals. Also, they are expensive to maintain because they do not grow well in cold weather and thus create dead fronds each winter needing expensive annual pruning. Redwoods are native to creeks in our coastal mountains, have shallow roots and need a lot of water to look ealthy. They should never be planted in lines as we see them on our roads and freeways but only as specimen trees. Eucalyptus trees are not native and have a tannin in their leaves which kill our soils so native plants will not grow under or around them. It would be wise to request our state freeways and county expressways to stop planting these species in San Jose.

12. 14. San Jose needs to plant canopy trees which give shade to all the concrete on its streets and sidewalks and trees which are stronger and need less maintenance. It needs to plant new street trees in a more sustainable way with healthy soil biolog ychicken manure and deep water bubbler
systems so their roots will grow and mature more quickly. Priority for street trees should be along public

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15. The edges of San Jose which are adjacent to natural areas need to be protected from fire both on public and private land. Some ideas to reduce fire are: plant plants along property lines which do not burn, build buildings made out of hemp materials (hemp does not burn and hemp roofs would be a great beginning), keep plants healthy and select plants which need less water, collect water from roofs into 5000 gallon rain water barrels. (Note: The average roof in our area collects 25,000 gallons of water a year.) Hemp building materials are not grown or manufactured in the western U.S. The rural parts of San Jose and Santa Clara County could easily grow hemp as it is a plant which needs little water and grows in all kinds of soil. San Jose could begin encouraging the growing and manufacturing of hemp building materials as hemp is greatly needed to reduce our western fires which are a major source of our global warming problems.

16. San Jose needs a botanical garden where citizens and professionals can be educated about nature and how to reduce our global warming problems. It could have the only horticultural and environmental library in Silicon Valley and be a place to bring international speakers and thinkers. Currently the top 30 U.S. cities in population all have a botanical garden except number 10 which is unfortunately San Jose_ Kathryn Mathewson’s experiences and background (partial list):
1, Master’s Degree from UC Berkeley in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning and undergraduate degree in Biology.

2. K-12 graduate of San Jose Unified Schools. Family has lived in same Shasta Hanchett one quarter acre San Jose home since 1951. Kathryn currently resides in this home which is one of San Jose’s few “Certified Wildlife Habitats”. Kathryn often gives tours of her “Certified Wildlife Habitat Garden” since San Jose has no place to educate its citizens about nature. 3, Some of Kathryn’s professional experiences which address global warming issues include:
university professor in landscape architecture, helped Singapore develop their Garden City of Asia by working one department at a time inside their governmental structure, construction coordinator for Pier 39 which has a waterfront park and marina and the best display of spring bulbs in the Bay Area and is visited by over 5 million people a year, first woman president of the oldest U.S. green industry organization, owner of her 43 year old Bay business (Secret Gardens) which has received many national and local awards for its garden design work.

4. Visit Secret Gardens website for more details:
www.secretgardens.com
<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?
url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.secretgardens.com%2F&data=04%7C01%7Ccity.clerk%40sanjoseca.gov%7C6 4277ee507d742dd4e5308da1c21f1f6%7C0fe33be061424f969b8d7817d5c26139%7C1%7C0%7C6378532 29370500271%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haW wiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=eTrf7ygmJl%2BALflu9eVGHzzhNAgSkS3sFbQo2Ily5mI%3D&reserv ed=0> . It has the best before and after pictures on the internet. Kathryn can also be found on LinkedIn.

5. In 1979 Kathryn named her now 44 year old company Secret Gardens after the theme of the book “The Secret Gardens”. This book’s theme is that nature heals. Everyone in the book’s story was healed of their mental or physical problems by being and/or working in the garden. In these Pandemic times and especially living in the heart of technology the San Jose community needs to know about the many articles written and research done on the “Nature Healing” theme.

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4/22/22, 12:01 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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As mothers, we ask you to take these steps for the sake of our children. As adults, we are responsible for ensuring a livable climate for them.

Sincerely,
Susan Butler-Graham, Jenny Green, Linda Hutchins-Knowles, Stephanie Morris, and Hoai-An Truong Mothers Out Front Silicon Valley leadership team volunteers

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Climate Smart San Jose Natural & Working Lands Element (Item 6.1, 4/26/22 Council Agenda) Alice Kaufman < >
Mon 4/25/2022 1:20 PM
To: The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo <[email protected]>;District1 <[email protected]>;District2 <[email protected]>;District3 <[email protected]>;District4 <[email protected]>;District5 <[email protected]>;District 6 <[email protected]>;District7 <[email protected]>;District8 <[email protected]>;District9 <[email protected]>;District 10 <[email protected]>;Agendadesk <[email protected]>;City Clerk <[email protected]>
Cc: Zoe Siegel < >;shani kleinhaus ;
< >;ldrruff psychology < >;Allison Chan < >;Sangeeta Sarkar < >;Juan Estrada < >

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Dear Mayor Liccardo and Councilmembers,
Attached please find a joint letter from Green Foothills, Greenbelt Alliance, Save the Bay, Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, California Native Plant Society Santa Clara Valley Chapter, and Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful. This letter is submitted in reference to agenda item 6.1 on the April 26, 2022 Council agenda (Climate Smart San Jose - Natural and Working Lands Element).

Thank you for your attention to these comments.

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Alice Kaufman (She/Her)
Legislative Advocacy Director
| greenfoothills.org
Celebrating 60 Years of Protecting Local Nature. Learn more.

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April 25, 2022

San Jose City Council
200 E. Santa Clara St.

San Jose, CA 95113

Re: Climate Smart San Jose Natural & Working Lands Element Item 6.1, 4/26/22 Council Agenda

Dear Mayor Liccardo and Councilmembers:

This constitutes the comments of the undersigned organizations on the draft Natural and Working Lands (NWL) Element of Climate Smart San Jose. The NWL Element is a long-awaited addition to the City’s Climate Smart plan. This report highlights the climate resilience capacity of the thousands of acres of open space, farmland, parks and other NWLs in the City’s sphere of influence. Through preservation and enhancement of NWLs, encouraging regenerative agriculture, and smart land use planning, the City can not only sequester millions of metric tons of CO2 equivalents over the next decades, but can also provide important co-benefits including wildlife habitat, flood risk reduction, and farmland preservation.

We are also glad to see Urban Greening included in the NWL Element. As we all know, protecting open space outside the urban footprint is only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to climate resilience and biodiversity. Just as important is protecting, increasing and equitably distributing trees and green space within our urbanized areas. Doing this is necessary to counter the urban heat island effect and prevent inequitable outcomes for low-income communities as a result of climate change.

However, we are concerned that the definition of “urban greening” in the NWL Element is limited to city-owned parks and street trees. While important, parks and street trees alone are insufficient to achieve San Jose’s climate resiliency goals within the urban footprint. It will be necessary to use every opportunity in the decades ahead in order to not just reduce greenhouse gas emissions but successfully adapt to a changing climate and loss of biodiversity.

Options for additional actions by the City include:

 nature-based green stormwater infrastructure (rain gardens, bioswales, etc.)

 partnering with agency landowners such as school districts, Valley Water, and the County of Santa Clara to enhance urban greening within the City  protecting and maintaining existing trees
 planting native trees and vegetation to increase biodiversity

We hope that these additional actions can be included in the NWL Element, in order to make San Jose truly climate resilient in the decades to come.

Thank you for your attention to these comments.

Sincerely,

Alice Kaufman, Legislative Advocacy Director
Green Foothills

Zoe Siegel, Director of Climate Resilience
Greenbelt Alliance

Shani Kleinhaus, Environmental Advocate
Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society

Allison Chan, Political Director
Save The Bay

Linda Ruthruff, Conservation Chair
California Native Plant Society, Santa Clara Valley Chapter

Deb Kramer, Executive Director
Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful

4/26/22, 12:01 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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City Clerk <
Tue 4/26/2022 10:32 AM
To Agendade k <
Oﬃce of the City Clerk | City of San José
200 E Santa Clara St , Tower 14th Floor
San Jose, CA 95113
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From: Deborah Garvey <
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2022 10:31 AM
To: City Clerk < District 6 < The Oﬃce of Mayor Sam Liccardo <TheOﬃ
Cc: District8 < District 10 < District4
< District5 < District9 < District3
< District2 < District1 < District7
<
Subject: Climate Smart San JoseGas Conversion Mandate Language Before the City Council today, 4/26

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Dear Mayor Liccardo, Councilmember Davis and Council colleagues, As a San Jose resident increasingly terrified about the climate crisis our world is already experiencing, and which promises only to worsen in the coming decades, I call your attention to item 6.1 on today’s (4/26) City Council agenda. The Transportation and Environment Committee recommended acceptance of the Climate Smart San Jose proposals, a good first step in addressing the impacts of climate change.

Unlike my councilmemeber, I AGREE with the language in the Mayor’s memo that implies a future mandate on gas-to-electric conversions: “While we are not advocating for mandates at this time …” Indeed, I argue we must take bolder steps: I advocate for an active gas-to-electric conversion mandate to be imposed and implemented as quickly as possible. Indeed, I am trying to my part: I am taking measures this summer to start converting my GFCH to an electric system. I am taking action to preserve a livable planet for future generations.

4/26/22, 12:01 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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City Clerk <
Tue 4/26/2022 10:36 AM
To: Agendadesk <
Oﬃce of the City Clerk | City of San José
200 E. Santa Clara St., Tower 14th Floor
San Jose, CA 95113
Main 408 535 1260
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From: Joyce Summers <
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2022 10:35 AM
To: City Clerk <
Subject: Climate

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I like my gas heater and clothes drier. Would prefer a gas stove. PGE has gas costing us a small fortune .

The cost has us seniors almost priced out. If we had to replace our heater and drier it would cost us a lot of our savings. We just rented solar from Sunrun as 80 year olds can’t afford to buy nor can we afford $468 a month PGE bill!

We have a house built 1933, we’ve bought the “fixer upper” 1967. We can’t compete with our neighbors who bought newly built homes for 3K.

Best regards,
Joyce Summers

San Jose 95125
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Fw: Gas to electric conversion
City Clerk <
Tue 4/26/2022 10:48 AM
To: Agendadesk <
Office of the City Clerk | City of San José
200 E Santa Clara St , Tower 14th Floor
San Jose, CA 95113
Main 408 535 1260
Fax: 408-292-6207
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From: Min Yi <
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2022 10:46 AM
To: City Clerk < District 6 <
Subject: Gas to electric conversion

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I do not support a mandate by the government to have us convert to electric from gas. I am all for mitigating climate change but I do not believe CA i ready for mandatory ga to electric conver ion a long a we will have intermittent power outage due to surge in usage or to reduce fire risk. If we don't have a hardened and reliable source of electric power, how does it make any sense to convert to electric? Thi critici m applie to Gov New om a well a hi office ha been talking a lot about ga to electric conver ion Let's use common sense.

Min Yi

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Fw: Climate Smart San Jose
City Clerk <
Tue 4/26/2022 11:03 AM
To: Agendadesk <
Office of the City Clerk | City of San José
200 E Santa Clara St , Tower 14th Floor
San Jose, CA 95113
Main 408 535 1260
Fax: 408-292-6207
How is our service? Please take our short survey.

From: Ken Weber <
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2022 11:00 AM
To: City Clerk <
Subject: Climate Smart San Jose

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Mayor Liccardo and City Council,
I am strongly against a mandated residential gas to electric conversion. I cannot afford to convert my gas appliances and water heater from gas to electric. Furthermore gas to electric conversions should be the decision of the homeowner and not by government mandate.

Ken Weber
San Jose, CA 95126

Fw: Gas to Electric Mandate
City Clerk <
Tue 4/26/2022 11:08 AM
To: Agendadesk <
Office of the City Clerk | City of San José
200 E Santa Clara St , Tower 14th Floor
San Jose, CA 95113
Main 408 535 1260
Fax: 408-292-6207
How is our service? Please take our short survey.

From: Virginia Nielsen <
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2022 11:07 AM
To: City Clerk <
Subject: Gas to Electric Mandate

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We are not in support of this mandate. We are rered and have two homes that we rent out that support us along with social security income. I would however be in support of incenves or rebates to do this in the future.

Thank you, Virginia Nielsen

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4/26/22, 12:00 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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City Clerk <
Tue 4/26/2022 11:14 AM
To: Agendadesk <
Oﬃce of the City Clerk | City of San José
200 E. Santa Clara St., Tower 14th Floor
San Jose, CA 95113
Main 408 535 1260
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From: Janice LaVelle <
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2022 11:13 AM
To: City Clerk <
Cc: Dev Davis <
Subject: Against Electric conversion

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David and Janice LaVelle
95120
We go on record opposing ALL electric conversion for businesses and homes (all types). Choices in gas, electric, solar must be maintained and upheld for our civil liberties and infrastructure now and going forward. Cost is prohibitive.

Impractical and concerns of grid not built to supply 35+ million inhabitants and it businesses.

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Fw: gas to electric mandates
City Clerk <
Tue 4/26/2022 11:35 AM
To: Agendadesk <
Office of the City Clerk | City of San José
200 E Santa Clara St , Tower 14th Floor
San Jose, CA 95113
Main 408 535 1260
Fax: 408-292-6207
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From: L A Kurth <
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2022 11:34 AM
To: City Clerk <
Subject: gas to electric mandates

Dear Councilors,
I'm okay with gas-to-electric mandates (because it generally involves fewer fossil fuels) if there is a fund for those who can't afford the conversion. Older houses might be more likely to have gas hookups and some poor people are just barely hanging on in houses they bought in the 1960s or inherited but can't afford to improve.

Lita Kurth
Willow Glen

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Fw: Mandated Gas to Electric Conversion
City Clerk <
Tue 4/26/2022 12:12 PM
To: Agendadesk <
Office of the City Clerk | City of San José
200 E. Santa Clara St., Tower 14th Floor
San Jose, CA 95113
Main: 408-535-1260
Fax: 408-292-6207
How is our service? Please take our short survey.

From: Maryben Stover <
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2022 12:02 PM
To: City Clerk <
Subject: Mandated Gas to Electric Conversion

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I cannot attend the meeting today however I am strongly opposed to this mandated conversion. I have lived at my present address in San Jose for 73 of my 80 years. My house was built in 1947 and would require extensive work to convert to electricity. I have a gas water heater, stove, furnace, etc. I am sure my entire house would have to be upgraded to accommodate all electricity. While I do not oppose the idea of a conversion per se, I feel that it should be up to the individual homeowner when and if they would convert to electricity or at the least, the older homes should be grandfathered in.

Maryben Stover

Fw: Gas to Electric 😠
City Clerk <
Tue 4/26/2022 12:18 PM
To: Agendadesk <
Office of the City Clerk | City of San José
200 E. Santa Clara St., Tower 14th Floor
San Jose, CA 95113
Main: 408-535-1260
Fax: 408-292-6207
How is our service? Please take our short survey.

From: GY <
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2022 12:16 PM
To: City Clerk <
Subject: Gas to Electric 😠

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Dear City Clerk
Please express to the city council my strong objection to mandate conversion from gas to electric.

This is a highly restrictive burden to fixed income retirees. Even if the city were to help cover the cost of conversion, the ongoing cost would be higher. Furthermore, this will not impact the environment significantly compared to automobile conversion - which is rightly market driven.

Regards
Gregory Yurkoski
District 6

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Climate Smart San Jose
Ben Mull
Tue 4/26/2022 12:26 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
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Hi,
With regards to the Climate Smart San Jose activities. Gas conversions should be driven by homeowners, not by government mandate. It should be up to the homeowner to decide when they can afford the conversion. Doing otherwise puts undue burden on lower income households.

Thank you,
Benjamin Mull
San Jose Resident

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Forcing electrification on MH Parks CC 4 26 22 6.1
martha O'Connell
Tue 4/26/2022 1:41 PM
To: Agendadesk <[email protected]>;martha O'Connell ;Davis, Dev <[email protected]>;Foley, Pam <[email protected]>;Mahan, Matt <[email protected]>

City Council
4-26-22
Item 6.1
Martha O’Connell, GSMOL regional manager, representing Mobile Park residents.

San Jose has the most number of mobilehome Parks of any City in Califrnia.

Our over 10,000 MH spaces provide affordable housing to low and moderate income folks, seniors, disabled and underrepresented communities.

The unintended consequences of the “Existing Building Electrification Plan” threaten the homes of those residents
On 3-29-22 representatives of Park owners, and I, met with Environmental Services. We explained in clear language that forcing Electrification of the Parks will result in Park closures The millions and millions of dollars it would take to electrify the Parks will result in the owners selling the land, closing the Parks and displacing thousands and thousands of residents. An example of a Park in another city that closed was provided

During our meetings, it was painfully clear that ES does not understand the dynamics of MH Parks, including the low amperage of electrical panels at the individual homes and the non allowance of solar panels.

My mind is not put at rest by the wording “we are not advocating for mandates at this time.”
Gas conversion needs to be driven by Park owners and the captive residents, not mandated by government.

Save the Parks.

Reject mandatory gas conversion.

If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality. – Desmond Tutu

4/26/22, 2:10 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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[E ternal Email]
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Climate Smart Agenda
Kim Mattos <
Tue 4/26/2022 2:09 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>

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Dear City Counsel,

I am OPPOSED to the Climate Smart Agenda. Hastening of any changes to the public regarding electric cars is TOO BURDENSOME on the public Forced conversion to electric anything by the government is GOVERNMENT OVERREACH. This is not thoughul legislaon, this is not progressive but it is OPPRESSIVE.

This is too fast... too soon.

Mind your vong.

Regards,

Kimberly M. Mattos, J.D.

4/26/22, 3:13 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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Tue 4/26/2022 2:16 PM
To: Agendadesk <
-----Original Message-----
From: Norman Ravizza <
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2022 12:51 PM
To: City Clerk <
Subject: Council Meeting regarding gas to electric conversions [You don't often get email from Learn why this is important at http://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification.]
[External Email]
To the City Council of San Jose,
I do not agree with the language in the Mayor’s memo regarding a potential future mandate for residential gas to electric conversions.

This would impose a severe hardship on many residents. Trying to convert from gas to electric for a water heater or stove or dryer when it fails would be horrendous. Time is of the essence under such circumstances.

Imaging trying to get an electrician to install a new circuit quickly.

Before the installation of the circuit the electrical service would need to be checked to determine if it can handle the increased load. In addition the panel would need to be checked to determine if there is room for additional breakers. This could entail a lot of time and thousands of dollars in electrical work.

I am opposed to any such proposal.

Norman Ravizza
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4/26/22, 3:12 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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City Clerk <
Tue 4/26/2022 2:16 PM
To: Agendadesk <
-----Original Message-----
From: David Crowder <
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2022 1:08 PM
To: City Clerk <
Subject: Mandated gas conversion
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I strongly of this proposal
Sent from my iPhone
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4/26/22, 3:12 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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This message is from outside the City email system Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources You don't often get email from . Learn why this is important FW: No on electrical conversion
City Clerk <
Tue 4/26/2022 2:16 PM
To: Agendadesk <

From: Karen Fahrner <
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2022 1:12 PM
To: City Clerk <
Subject: No on electrical conversion

Upgrading my electrical service to my home is a ﬁnancial hardship, as is purchasing a new furnace, range, and replacing brand new water heater.

Please vote no on the mandate to switch to electrical.

Thank you,

Karen Fahrner

4/26/22, 3:12 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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City Clerk <
Tue 4/26/2022 2:16 PM
To: Agendadesk <

From: Pat White <
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2022 1:17 PM
To: City Clerk <
Subject: Gas mandate

I agree with Dev re gas mandate. I would like to know who would beneﬁt ﬁnancially from such an abrupt mandate.

Patricia White
Willow Glen

4/26/22, 3:12 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/ inbox/id/AAQkADUxOWI4ZjE3LTRkNDEtNGUzMS04MjAwLTIzNzdiYTdkMjc5NAAQA… 1/1 FW: Gas to Electric conversion
City Clerk <
Tue 4/26/2022 2:16 PM
To: Agendadesk <
-----Original Message-----
From: Patty Liebscher <
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2022 1:36 PM
To: City Clerk <
Subject: Gas to Electric conversion
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Dear City Council,
I am writing regarding the mandate to change my gas cooktop to an electric one. I think the homeowner should make the decision about when we can afford to convert and not have the city or mayor mandate the change.

Would the City subsidize the conversion?
Thank you consideration of my opinion.

Patty Liebscher
Sent from my iPhone
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4/26/22, 3:11 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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FW: Mandated residential gas to electric conversion
City Clerk <
Tue 4/26/2022 2:17 PM
To: Agendadesk <

From: Gerald Giles <
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2022 1:48 PM
To: City Clerk < The Oﬃce of Mayor Sam Liccardo
<TheOﬃ Charles Jones <
Subject: Mandated residenal gas to electric conversion

Dear CityClerk, Mayor Liccardo, and Vice-Mayor Jones,

I am strongly against mandated residenal gas to electric conversions. Such discussion serves only to sasfy "woke" policians and irritate, annoy, and threaten residents! A residenal conversion from gas to electric could cost up to $25k. Who is going to pay for it? I doubt that the City has the funds, and federal spending is already out of control!

So, let's be praccal and realisc. We all want a cleaner atmosphere, but it cannot be done overnight. How about requiring all new construcon to be electrically powered starng in 2030? San Jose is not going to save the planet on its own. However, you might try convincing the Chinese to stop building coal-ﬁred power plants. China creates over 50% of the world's coal-burning polluon! You might also ask President Biden to stop imporng oil and start encouraging domesc producon again. All of those tankers carrying oil to the U.S. burn diesel!

Sincerely,

Jerry Giles

4/26/22, 4:11 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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4/27/22, 8:42 AM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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You don't often get email from Learn why this is important FW: Climate Smart San Jose activities.

City Clerk <
Tue 4/26/2022 6:08 PM
To: Agendadesk <

From: rﬁ <rﬁ
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2022 3:51 PM
To: City Clerk <
Subject: Climate Smart San Jose acvies.

i support a non-mandated/homeowner-driven approach to phasing out the use of natural gas in favor of electricity.

Robert Finstead
95125

Bob Finstead
"Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be."

4/27/22, 8:41 AM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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Simone Munro <
Tue 4/26/2022 8:25 PM
To: City Clerk <
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I am opposing the San Jose governments position to enforce all electric energy. Let homeowners decide for themselves!
Regards,
Holly Munro
Sent from my iPhone
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4/27/22, 8:40 AM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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Gary Smith <
Tue 4/26/2022 8:34 PM
To: City Clerk <
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[External Email]
My wife and I would like to voice our strong opposition to the the potential mandate of converting from gas to electricity in our home.

Gary and Dawn Smith
Gary
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4/27/22, 8:40 AM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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Letter to the public record re. residential gas to electric conversion Patricia Patterson <
Wed 4/27/2022 6:58 AM
To: City Clerk <
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To Whom It May Concern:

My husband and I are long-me Willow Glen homeowners and are proud to live in a city that is leading the way in solar and electric iniaves for a sustainable future. We support most of the recommendaons in the Climate Smart San Jose road map, but feel strongly against a mandated residenal gas to electric conversion for homeowners at any me in the future The cost to convert could place a huge burden on low-income residents. Besides the appliance replacement expenses, there could be necessary wiring and electric panel upgrades that would make conversion costs prohibive.

Owners of exisng homes should be able to decide for themselves if they can aﬀord the conversion.

Regards,

Patricia Paerson
Sco Willis

4/27/22, 5:40 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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SJ climate smart
Albert Ross
Wed 4/27/2022 9:02 AM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>;District 6 <[email protected]>;Al Ross < Some people who received this message don't often get email from . Learn why this is important

I am a lifetime resident of San Jose and remember when we could live in peace without government intervention Now we have constant regulation and costs added to our daily lives..

I was on the call with Dev early on this process and felt, at that time, that no descending opinions were going to be listened to She actually allowed some activist from Oakland to speak Why??? This "voluntary" transition from gas to electric is not a good idea and cannot be enforced. It will put billions of dollars of costs on every homeowner, not to mention PG&E CAN NOT support such a mandate. (yes, I use the word mandate, because in the end on any given Tuesday the council can make it so ) If you want data, look at how many homes in SJ have 60 or 100 amp panels, some knob and tube wiring, most built before 1980. How will these homes convert? Show us a plan that supports our elderly who live on fixed incomes? Show how these homes will be fully upgraded for electric heat cooking hot water etc It cannot be done Why can't our city council stop adding costs and complexity to our lives and just protect and serve our city as required by law..

Stop this nonsense and get back to business

Thanks,
Al Ross

4/27/22, 5:39 PM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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City Clerk <[email protected]>
Wed 4/27/2022 2:07 PM
To: Agendadesk <[email protected]>

From: Ian Munro
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2022 2:07 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Gas vs Electric

Housing costs are off the charts and going electric for home heating is a burden our community cannot afford

Pls let this choice be the homeowners.

Diversified solutions are better overtime and bring an insurance policy vs all your eggs in one basket

Pls vote for homeowners’ choice

Regards

Ian Munro
Willow Glen

4/28/22, 8:33 AM Mail - Agendadesk - Outlook
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This message is from outside the City email system Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources Comments on the Mayor's memo on Gas to Electric conversion stefankavb <
Wed 4/27/2022 9:38 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
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I would like to submit my comments for today's City Council meeting and agenda item 6.1: Climate Smart San Jose.

The memo from the mayor makes a reference to a possible mandate for conversion of Gas appliances to Electric.

In the memo (https://sanjose.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=10835044&GUID=07A3C1A4-364E- 4D67-A721-41C3954EB0A8) the Mayor says " While we are not advocating for mandates at this time"... With regards to this, as a San Jose homeowner, I would like to add my comments that any mandate to convert gas appliances to electric appliances is unreasonable for multiple reasons: cost of electricity has gone through the roof while cost of gas is more reasonable, cost of adding new solar to a house (to help us with that PG&E bill) is still quite high and unattainable, costs of upgrading the electric panel and fees and rules imposed by the city are high, cost of living in San Jose is already too high and any mandates would further increase this cost. Unless PG&E starts giving us some free power, or there are MAJOR rebates and subsidies for installing solar panels, a mandate to convert gas appliances to electric would be a huge burden on homeowners.

--
____________________
Stefanka von Brzeski

San Jose City CouncilApril 26, 2022

San Jose City Council
April 26, 2022