City of Sunnyvale
Meeting Minutes
Sustainability Commission
7:00 PM Online and Bay Conference Room,
City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave.,
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Monday, April 15, 2024
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Kunz called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. in the Bay Conference Room (Room 145) at City Hall.
SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Chair Kunz led the salute to the flag.
ROLL CALL
Chair Douglas Kunz
Vice Chair Tonya Veitch
Commissioner Kathryn Besser
Commissioner Bobbykin Makwana
Commissioner Kristina Pistone
Commissioner Kristel Wickham
Present: 6 -
Commissioner Jeffery NabhanAbsent: 1 -
Commissioner Nabhan's absence was excused by general
consent.
Council Liaison - Councilmember Din (absent)
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT CALENDAR
24-0555 Approve the Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes of March 18, 2024
Commissioner Wickham moved, and Commissioner Makwana seconded, a motion to approve the consent calendar. The motion carried by the following vote:
Attachment 1
April 15, 2024Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes Yes: Chair Kunz
Vice Chair Veitch
Commissioner Besser
Commissioner Makwana
Commissioner Pistone
Commissioner Wickham
6 -
No: 0
Absent: Commissioner Nabhan1 -
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
1.A 24-0554 Draft Proposal for FY 2024/25 Sustainability Speaker Series The Sustainability Speaker Series Subcommittee, composed of Commissioners Besser, Pistone and Vice Chair Veitch presented the Draft Fiscal Year (FY) 2024/25 Sustainability Speaker Series Proposal. The theme for this series is “Beyond the Shoreline,” and includes the following seven proposed topics, for up to four events to be hosted in FY 2024/25: (1) Wetlands and climate resilience; (2) Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture of the future; (3) Equity in coastal access; (4) Save the Bay: a history of advocacy and lessons learned; (5) Empowering youth to become ocean stewards; (6) Keeping pollution out of the Bay; (7) Kelp forest resiliency. The Subcommittee also presented potential speakers and talk titles for each topic. The Commission discussed the pros and cons of each topic and clarified differences between topics.
Chair Kunz opened the Public Hearing.
Richard Parentow thanked the Sustainability Speaker Series Subcommittee for their work on the draft proposal. Mr. Parentow provided input on the “Kelp forest resiliency” event topic.
Jissel Alvarez provided input on the “Empowering youth to become ocean stewards” event topic. Ms. Alvarez also recommended the City look into working closer with local grocery stores to help them reduce plastic packaging.
Chair Kunz closed the Public Hearing.
Commissioners individually ranked each topic. Staff tabulated the rankings and provided the following ranked list of topics:
(1) Wetlands and climate resilience; (2) Equity in coastal access; (3) Empowering youth to become ocean stewards; (4) Keeping pollution out of the Bay; (5) Kelp
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April 15, 2024Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes forest resiliency; (6) Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture of the future; (7) Save the Bay: a history of advocacy and lessons learned.
MOTION: Commissioner Besser moved, and Commissioner Pistone seconded, a motion to approve the FY 2024/25 Sustainability Speaker Series topics as prioritized.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes: Chair Kunz
Vice Chair Veitch
Commissioner Besser
Commissioner Makwana
Commissioner Pistone
Commissioner Wickham
6 -
No: 0
Absent: Commissioner Nabhan1 -
1.B 24-0568
Consideration for adding a member to the Sustainability Speaker Series Subcommittee
Chair Kunz described the intention and responsibility of the Sustainability Speaker Series Subcommittee. The current members are Commissioners Besser, Pistone and Vice Chair Veitch. Commissioner Besser has expressed interest in relinquishing her seat.
Chair Kunz opened the discussion for nominations.
Commissioner Besser nominated Commissioner Makwana.
Commissioner Makwana accepted the nomination.
Chair Kunz confirmed Commissioner Makwana’s nomination and asked if there were any other nominations. There were none.
Chair Kunz closed the discussion for nominations.
Chair Kunz opened the Public Hearing.
There were no public comments.
Chair Kunz closed the Public Hearing.
Attachment 1
April 15, 2024Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes MOTION: Commissioner Besser moved, and Vice Chair Veitch seconded, a motion to approve Commissioner Besser relinquishing her seat and appointing Commissioner Makwana to the Sustainability Speaker Series Subcommittee.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes: Chair Kunz
Vice Chair Veitch
Commissioner Besser
Commissioner Makwana
Commissioner Pistone
Commissioner Wickham
6 -
No: 0
Absent: Commissioner Nabhan1 -
STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES
None.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS
-Commissioner Comments
Commissioner Pistone promoted Garden to Table Silicon Valley’s newly launched Teen Ambassador program. The program will teach high school students about farming, gardening, sustainability, leadership and advocacy. Commissioner Pistone also informed Commissioners that the farm accepts plastic bags for their harvest to reduce plastic waste.
Commissioner Wickham encouraged Commissioners to watch the recording of the March 19 City Council Study Session that discussed the Climate Action Playbook (Playbook) Amendments and Game Plan 2028 updates. Commissioner Wickham notified Commissioners that the Playbook amendments and Game Plan 2028 are tentatively scheduled to be considered for adoption on June 25 by the City Council.
Commissioner Wickham encouraged Commissioners to attend the City of Sunnyvale’s Earth Day Festival and Civic Center Grand Opening on April 20, 2024, as well as attend other Earth Day events happening in the County. Commissioner Wickham reminded Commissioners of the Sustainability Speaker Series event on April 17, 2024, on the topic of grey water. Commissioner Wickham announced the Code Red for Humanity: Clean Air, Healthy Bay Area webinar on May 9, 2024 hosted by Acterra.
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April 15, 2024Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes Vice Chair Veitch echoed Commissioner Wickham’s reminder to attend the Sunnyvale Earth Day Festival and Civic Center Grand opening as well as others throughout the County. Vice Chair Veitch invited Commissioners to watch the free livestream of the County of Santa Clara’s event: Induction Electric Cooking Experience with Chef Martin Yan on April 23, 2024.
Commissioner Besser echoed Commissioner Wickham’s announcement about the April 17 Sustainability Speaker Series event and provided more detail on the speaker and why the event transitioned from in-person to online. -Staff Comments
Christina Raby, Environmental Engineering Coordinator, reported on upcoming events.
INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS
24-0556 Updated Annual Work Plan April 2024
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:29 p.m.
Attachment 1