City of Sunnyvale
Meeting Minutes
Sustainability Commission
7:00 PM Online and Redwood Conference Room,
City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave.,
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Veitch called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Redwood Conference Room (Room 140) at City Hall.
SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Chair Veitch led the salute to the flag.
ROLL CALL
Chair Tonya Veitch
Vice Chair Jeffery Nabhan
Commissioner Cortney Jansen
Commissioner Douglas Kunz
Commissioner Kristina Pistone
Present: 5 -
Commissioner Bobbykin Makwana
Commissioner Richard Parenteau
Absent: 2 -
Commissioner Makwana's and Commissioner Parenteau's absence was excused by general consent.
Council Liaison - Councilmember Chang (absent)
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Tim Kirby, City Manager, introduced himself to the Sustainability Commission and provided updates on the Board and Commission meeting room change, the upcoming City Council retreat, the Study Issues and Budget Proposals Workshop, and the Strategic Priorities Workshop. Mr. Kirby also explained to the Sustainability Commission why most of the Study Issues in the 2025 ranking cycle are recommended for deferral or to be dropped by staff.
Charlsie Chang introduced herself and explained why she was unable to attend the
Attachment 3
January 21, 2025Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes Sustainability Commission meeting in person as the Council liaison. She thanked Mr. Kirby for his updates.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1.A 25-0233 Approve the Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes of December 16, 2024
Approve the Sustainability Commission Minutes of December 16, 2024, as submitted.
Commissioner Kunz moved, and Vice Chair Nabhan seconded, a motion to approve the consent calendar.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes: Chair Veitch
Vice Chair Nabhan
Commissioner Jansen
Commissioner Kunz
Commissioner Pistone
5 -
No: 0
Absent: Commissioner Makwana
Commissioner Parenteau
2 -
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
2 25-0234 Rank 2025 Study Issues
Christina Raby, Environmental Engineering Coordinator, provided an overview of the ranking process for Study Issues (SIs) as well as an overview of each of the seven SIs. Commissioners asked clarifying questions, and staff responded.
Commissioner Kunz requested staff to provide the ranking results from other Commissions for the seven Study Issues the Sustainability Commission would be discussing and voting on.
Ms. Raby provided ranking results from the Arts Commission, Planning Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission for the following Study Issues: CDD 24-02, CDD 25-02, DPW 23-07, ESD 22-02, ESD 24-02, ESD 25-01, and LRS 25-02.
Attachment 3
January 21, 2025Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes Commissioner Jansen asked if there was a typo in the staff recommendation portion of the Study Issue Paper for ESD 25-01.
Madeline Khair, Environmental Programs Manager, confirmed there was a typo in the staff recommendation section of ESD 25-01.
Commissioner Pistone asked staff to clarify how the process to move SI ESD 25-01 forward to the City Council should go if the Commission wants the City Council to review ESD 25-01 alongside LRS 25-02.
Ms. Khair and Ms. Raby provided answers on the ranking process.
Commissioner Jansen asked how many SIs the Environmental Services Department (ESD) is working on currently.
Ms. Raby responded that ESD has three SIs they are currently working on, and Ms.
Khair added there may be one more SI that the Water Division is finalizing.
Chair Veitch opened the public hearing.
There was no public comment.
Chair Veitch closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Kunz moved, and Commissioner Pistone seconded, a motion to drop SI DPW 23-07.
Commissioner Kunz recommended dropping this Study Issue as it is a new Move in the Climate Action Playbook Game Plan 2028 and Commissioners generally agreed during the discussion of this SI.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes: Chair Veitch
Vice Chair Nabhan
Commissioner Jansen
Commissioner Kunz
Commissioner Pistone
5 -
Attachment 3
January 21, 2025Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes No: 0
Absent: Commissioner Makwana
Commissioner Parenteau
2 -
Commissioner Kunz moved, and Commissioner Pistone seconded, a motion to drop SI ESD 24-02.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes: Chair Veitch
Vice Chair Nabhan
Commissioner Jansen
Commissioner Kunz
Commissioner Pistone
5 -
No: 0
Absent: Commissioner Makwana
Commissioner Parenteau
2 -
There were no further motions to drop the remaining SIs.
Chair Veitch called for a motion to defer any of the remaining SIs.
Vice Chair Nabhan moved, and Commissioner Pistone seconded, a motion to defer SI ESD 22-02 and LRS 25-02.
Vice Chair Nabhan advocated for deferral of LRS 25-02 to prioritize ranking ESD 25-01.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes: Chair Veitch
Vice Chair Nabhan
Commissioner Jansen
Commissioner Kunz
Commissioner Pistone
5 -
No: 0
Attachment 3
January 21, 2025Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes
Absent: Commissioner Makwana
Commissioner Parenteau
2 -
Commissioner Kunz moved, and Chair Veitch seconded, a motion to defer SI CDD 24-04.
Commissioner Kunz advocated for deferral of CDD 24-04 to allow Community Development Department staff to focus on the many existing Study Issues, Housing Element mandates and myriads of state laws that require General Plan, Specific Plan, Municipal Code and permit process revisions for mixed-use developments.
Chair Veitch agreed and deferred to Commissioner Kunz’s advocacy on CDD 24-04.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes: Chair Veitch
Vice Chair Nabhan
Commissioner Jansen
Commissioner Kunz
Commissioner Pistone
5 -
No: 0
Absent: Commissioner Makwana
Commissioner Parenteau
2 -
The Commission discussed the potential impacts and feasibility of the remaining two Study Issues. Commissioners Jansen, Pistone, and Kunz contemplated which SI would be best to move forward with the least impact on staff time and City resources.
Each Commissioner ranked the Study Issues individually. Staff consolidated the results and provided the final consolidated ranking to the Commission.
Commissioner Jansen moved, and Vice Chair Nabhan seconded, a motion to accept the following consolidated ranking:
Rank 1 – CDD 25-02 Identify Opportunities for Allowing Neighborhood-Serving
Attachment 3
January 21, 2025Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes Commercial Uses in Residential Zoning Districts
Rank 2 – ESD 25-01 Harnessing the Potential of Community Art to Further Community Sustainability Goals
The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes: Chair Veitch
Vice Chair Nabhan
Commissioner Jansen
Commissioner Kunz
Commissioner Pistone
5 -
No: 0
Absent: Commissioner Makwana
Commissioner Parenteau
2 -
STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES
None.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS
-Commissioner Comments
Commissioner Kunz announced the “point-in-time” count of unhoused people in Sunnyvale would be taking place on January 22, 2025, and he will be volunteering to support the count.
Commissioner Jansen reported a “Multigenerational Climate Change Forum” would be taking place at the Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church on January 25, 2025.
Commissioner Jansen noted that the forum will bring together two points of view from members of the Elders Climate Action and Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action groups. Commissioner Jansen also updated the Commission on a recent conversation she had with a member of the Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action group that may result in a Commissioner-led presentation on climate action youth groups in Sunnyvale. Commissioner Jansen announced the County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors meeting on January 28, 2025, where they will be discussing the prohibition of new installation of artificial turf and synthetic grass on County property.
Commissioner Pistone echoed the County meeting noted by Commissioner Jansen on artificial turf and advised Commissioners and the public to attend the meeting to
Attachment 3
January 21, 2025Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes provide public comment. Commissioner Pistone also announced the first Sustainability Speaker Series event of the year happening on January 29, 2025, and encouraged Commissioners to attend.
Chair Veitch noted that she saw the January 29, 2025, Sustainability Speaker Series event advertised in the ESD calendar of events mailer that is sent to all residents in Sunnyvale. Chair Veitch also thanked the Commission for their dedication to make Sunnyvale more sustainable and provided words of encouragement to stay hopeful in times of change. Chair Veitch also reported that the California Climate and Energy Collaborative (CCEC) Forum will take place this year in San Jose from July 9 to 10 and encouraged others to join if they are able. -Staff Comments
Ms. Raby reported on previous and upcoming events.
INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS
25-0235 Updated Annual Work Plan January 2025
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:38 p.m.
Attachment 3