City of Sunnyvale
Meeting Minutes
Sustainability Commission
7:00 PM Online and Redwood Conference Room,
City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale,
CA 94086
Monday, March 17, 2025
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Veitch called the meeting to order at 7:02 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 Richard Parenteau
Commissioner Kristina Pistone
Present: 6 -
Commissioner Bobbykin MakwanaAbsent: 1 -
Commissioner Makwana's absence was excused by general
consent.
Council Liaison - Councilmember Chang (present)
Chair Veitch announced that Commissioner Makwana resigned from the Sustainability Commission.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
PRESENTATION
25-0437 PRESENTATION - Review Study Issue Process and
Attachment 3
March 17, 2025Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes Timelines
Christina Raby, Environmental Engineering Coordinator, presented an overview of the Study Issue process and timeline to the Commission and answered questions.
CONSENT CALENDAR
25-0436 Approve the Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes of February 18, 2025
Commissioner Parenteau moved, and Commissioner Kunz seconded, a motion to approve the consent calendar. The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes: Chair Veitch
Vice Chair Nabhan
Commissioner Kunz
Commissioner Parenteau
Commissioner Pistone
5 -
No: 0
Absent: Commissioner Makwana1 -
Abstain: Commissioner Jansen1 -
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
25-0438 Consideration for Adding a Member to the Sustainability Speaker Series Subcommittee
Chair Veitch described the intention and responsibility of the Sustainability Speaker Series Subcommittee. The current members are Commissioners Makwana, Pistone and Chair Veitch. Due to Commissioner Makwana’s resignation, his seat on the Sustainability Speaker Series Subcommittee is vacant. Additionally, Chair Veitch expressed interest in relinquishing her seat if a second Commissioner was interested in serving on the Sustainability Speaker Series Subcommittee.
Chair Veitch opened the floor for nominations.
Commissioner Jansen asked about the Sustainability Speaker Series timeline, scheduling of events and responsibilities of each Subcommittee member.
Commissioners Pistone, Kunz and Chair Veitch responded with answers and shared their experiences serving on the Subcommittee.
Commissioner Jansen self-nominated herself.
Attachment 3
March 17, 2025Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes Vice Chair Nabhan self-nominated himself.
Chair Veitch confirmed Commissioner Jansen and Vice Chair Nabhan’s self-nominations and asked if there were any other nominations.
There were none.
Chair Veitch closed the floor for nominations.
Chair Veitch opened the Public Hearing.
There were no public comments.
Chair Veitch closed the Public Hearing.
MOTION: Commissioner Kunz moved, and Commissioner Pistone seconded, a motion to approve vacating Commissioner Makwana’s seat and appointing Commissioner Jansen to the Sustainability Speaker Series Subcommittee.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes: Chair Veitch
Vice Chair Nabhan
Commissioner Jansen
Commissioner Kunz
Commissioner Parenteau
Commissioner Pistone
6 -
No: 0
Absent: Commissioner Makwana1 -
MOTION: Commissioner Jansen moved, and Commissioner Kunz seconded, a motion to approve Chair Veitch relinquishing her seat and appointing Vice Chair Nabhan to the Sustainability Speaker Series Subcommittee.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Attachment 3
March 17, 2025Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes Yes: Chair Veitch
Vice Chair Nabhan
Commissioner Jansen
Commissioner Kunz
Commissioner Parenteau
Commissioner Pistone
6 -
No: 0
Absent: Commissioner Makwana1 -
STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES
None.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS
-Commissioner Comments
Commissioner Parenteau inquired about how federal funding may be impacting city operations as well as progress toward our climate goals.
Madeline Khair, Environmental Programs Manager, responded that a discussion around this topic must be agendized first, and suggested that the Commission attend or listen to the City Council’s Budget Workshop in May where this topic will be discussed.
Councilmember Chang provided a brief description of some of the immediate impacts that the federal funding freezes are having on City projects.
Commissioner Pistone promoted the March 19 Sustainability Speaker Series event, encouraged Commissioners and the public to contact their representatives to support climate action and shared an audiobook, What If We Get It Right?: Visions of Climate Futures by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson.
Chair Veitch encouraged new Commissioners to attend the upcoming Sustainability Speaker Series event.
Commissioner Pistone reminded the Commission that all of the Sustainability Speaker Series events are recorded and can be watched on YouTube.
Commissioner Jansen informed the Commission of SB 341: Instructional School Garden Program, that plans to establish gardens at schools in California.
Commissioner Jansen promoted the April 9 California School Garden Advocacy
Attachment 3
March 17, 2025Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes Day event at the Holiday Inn in Sacramento, CA.
Chair Veitch announced that April is Earth Month and asked staff to let the Commission know if their support is needed at Sunnyvale’s Earth Day Festival.
Councilmember Chang provided highlights from the recent Council Strategic Study Session to the Commission.
-Staff Comments
Ms. Raby reported on previous and upcoming events.
INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS
25-0439 Updated Annual Work Plan March 2025
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:12 p.m.
Attachment 3