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, November 18, 2024
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Veitch called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. in the Bay Conference Room (Room 145) 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 Bobbykin Makwana
Commissioner Richard Parenteau
Commissioner Kristina Pistone
Present: 6 -
Commissioner Douglas KunzAbsent: 1 -
Commissioner Kunz's absence was excused by general consent.
Council Liaison – Councilmember Melingher (absent)
Council Liaison – Councilmember Sell (present)
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Joe inquired about Sunnyvale’s Public Library construction project and requested that a green roof be considered in the design plans.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1 24-1163 Approve the Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes of October 28, 2024
Attachment 1
November 18, 2024Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes Commissioner Parenteau moved, and Commissioner Jansen seconded, a motion to approve the consent calendar. The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes: Chair Veitch
Vice Chair Nabhan
Commissioner Jansen
Commissioner Makwana
Commissioner Parenteau
Commissioner Pistone
6 -
No: 0
Absent: Commissioner Kunz1 -
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
2 24-1164 Recommendation to the Council Subcommittee on Board and Commission Effectiveness
The Commission provided comments, questions and recommendations for the Chair and Vice Chair to bring to the Council Subcommittee on November 19, 2024, to improve on Board and Commission Effectiveness.
The following recommendations were drafted for the Chair and Vice Chair:
- Potential for community news channel for more effective communication between members of the public and Commissions. Leverage Neighborhood Association newsletters and/or Horizon newsletter for the City to push out information on what the Commissions do, and what discussion topics are agendized. - Clarification for the public on why Commissioners cannot respond directly.
Response could also include general guidance on the purview of the Sustainability Commission.
- Additional information in meeting minutes. Potential opportunity for staff liaisons to utilize Zoom transcription tool to develop a summary of meeting minutes. - More Joint Study Session meetings for Commissioners to meet on topics that intersect between two or more Commissions.
- Commissioners should attend annual Chair and Vice Chair training. - Add highlights on Commission webpage to announce annual key achievements.
Attachment 1
November 18, 2024Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes - Appreciative of oral communications being first item on agenda and would like it publicized on the City’s website.
- Additional opportunities not on weekday evenings that would happen infrequently for members of the public to provide oral communications. 3 24-1165
Approve 2025 Draft Annual Work Plan
The Commission discussed finalizing the Draft 2025 Annual Work Plan. The Draft Work Plan was prepared by staff in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair and reflects topics prioritized by the Commission.
Chair Veitch opened the public hearing at 8:04 p.m.
No public comments were made.
Chair Veitch closed the public hearing at 8:05 p.m.
Vice Chair Nabhan moved, and Commissioner Parenteau seconded, a motion to approve the 2025 Draft Master Work Plan.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes: Chair Veitch
Vice Chair Nabhan
Commissioner Jansen
Commissioner Makwana
Commissioner Parenteau
Commissioner Pistone
6 -
No: 0
Absent: Commissioner Kunz1 -
STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES
None.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS
-Commissioner Comments
Commissioner Parenteau inquired about additional staff listening in to the meeting.
Attachment 1
November 18, 2024Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes Christina Raby, Interim Environmental Programs Manager, responded that the City Clerk was training staff how to host public meetings in the Bay Conference Room.
Commissioner Jansen shared a KQED episode called ‘Power Metal’ Examines the Cost of Our Battery-Powered Lives, for the Commission to listen to.
Commissioner Parenteau asked when WayMo will be in Sunnyvale.
Councilmember Sell responded that in the City Manager’s Update Sunnyvale newsletter, there is an article on when WayMo will be in Sunnyvale. -Staff Comments
Ms. Raby reported on past and upcoming events.
INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS
24-1166 Annual Work Plan November 2024
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Attachment 1