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, February 18, 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 Douglas Kunz
Commissioner Richard Parenteau
Commissioner Kristina Pistone
Present: 5 -
Commissioner Cortney Jansen
Commissioner Bobbykin Makwana
Absent: 2 -
Commissioner Makwana's and Commissioner Jansen's
absence was excused by general consent.
Council Liaison - Councilmember Chang (present)
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
PRESENTATION
25-0341 PRESENTATION - SVCE Program Update
Nupur Hiremath, Manager of Decarbonization Programs and Policy, from Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) provided an overview of SVCE’s policy updates, community programs, incentive and rebate programs, Sunnyvale’s participation in
Attachment 1
February 18, 2025Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes SVCE programs, and pathways for electrification. The Commission asked clarifying questions, and SVCE staff provided answers.
STUDY SESSION
25-0342 Climate Action Playbook Update: 2023 GHG Inventory Christina Raby, Environmental Engineering Coordinator, presented the 2023 Greenhouse Gas Inventory results.
Commissioner Parenteau asked whether delivery vehicle emissions are tracked in the transportation sector. Ms. Raby responded that emissions from delivery vehicles are tracked for the portion of the time they are within the city’s boundaries.
Commissioner Parenteau queried the variation in Pacific Gas & Electric’s (PG&E) emissions factors over years. Madeline Khair, Environmental Programs Manager, explained the State’s methodology change and how utilities like PG&E reported their emissions factors based on supply and demand, which could be the reason for the fluctuation. Commissioner Parenteau inquired about the City’s work to reduce emissions in off-road equipment such as lawn & garden equipment. Ms. Raby noted that Move 3.P in the Climate Action Playbook (CAP) Game Plan 2028 will implement an ordinance to ban the operation of small off-road equipment. Move 3.P is scheduled to begin in the next year.
Commissioner Pistone confirmed with staff that the greenhouse gases tracked in the inventories are carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. Commissioner Pistone commented on current return to work policies from employers and how these policies negatively impact climate goals in the transportation sector and vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Commissioner Pistone suggested more flexibility with work from home policies and for the City to continue working with various public transit organizations in the region.
Commissioner Kunz inquired about the current Transportation Demand Model used for tracking transportation emissions and VMT and asked when a new methodology will be used to track these metrics more precisely. Ms. Khair responded that the City’s Transportation Division is working on a new model, the pandemic delayed work on the model, and staff is looking into other tools like Google Insights to gather more accurate data trends while the new model is being developed.
Vice Chair Nabhan questioned whether neighboring cities are seeing similar percentages in zero emission vehicle (ZEV) numbers and whether vehicles in neighboring cities are being captured in Sunnyvale’s emissions since they often
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February 18, 2025Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes pass through the city. Ms. Raby noted the GHG inventory does not track neighboring cities’ ZEV adoption percentages. Ms. Khair explained that staff does track emissions by fuel type in Santa Clara County, and the emissions trends in the transportation sector show emissions do not increase in proportion to VMT due to the increase in ZEV adoption and fuel-efficient vehicles on the road. Vice Chair Nabhan asked how Sunnyvale is incentivizing less natural gas use to new businesses in the city. Ms. Khair highlighted the City’s Reach Codes, Green Building Program and CAP Game Plan 2028 Moves as ways the City is addressing emissions associated with natural gas use in buildings. Ramana Chinnakotla, Director of Environmental Services, noted staff are working to gather more building electrification permit data. He also noted that the City offers a density increase incentive to developers for building all-electric buildings in Sunnyvale, which is successful in encouraging all-electric buildings.
Commissioner Parenteau inquired whether staff could separate commercial transportation and residential transportation trends. Ms. Khair answered that staff is continuously looking for ways to track data more granularly, but this level of detail is not available at this time.
Chair Veitch asked how the City and SVCE could work together to incentivize more rapid adoption of EVs to meet the City’s CAP Game Plan 2028 EV adoption target by 2030. Ms. Raby replied that investing in charging infrastructure for EVs is crucial toward encouraging car owners to switch to an EV, especially those living in multifamily buildings as nearly 50% of residents in Sunnyvale are renters. Ms.
Hiremath agreed and mentioned affordability of charging, robust educational materials and resources, and SVCE’s rebates will provide additional support to residents looking to buy an EV. Chair Veitch inquired about the frequency of the inventory updates and when the 2024 GHG inventory will be available. Ms. Raby mentioned the inventories are calculated on an annual basis and the 2024 GHG Inventory presentation to the Commission is scheduled for September or October of 2025.
Commissioner Parenteau asked if there is a gas vehicle rental program for residents who may have an EV but need a gas vehicle infrequently for longer trips. Ms.
Hiremath responded she is not aware of a program like this, and mentioned some states have deployed programs to allow residents to test drive an EV for a week, which is something SVCE could explore in the future.
Chair Veitch opened public comment.
Attachment 1
February 18, 2025Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes There were no public comments.
Chair Veitch closed public comment.
CONSENT CALENDAR
25-0332 Approve the Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes of January 21, 2025
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 Kunz
Commissioner Pistone
4 -
No: 0
Absent: Commissioner Jansen
Commissioner Makwana
2 -
Abstain: Commissioner Parenteau1 -
STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES
None.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS
-Commissioner Comments
Commissioner Pistone announced the upcoming Sustainability Speaker Series event happening on March 19 and invited the Commission to attend the event online.
Councilmember Chang shared information about the February 27 Public Safety Information Night event and March 6 Celebrate Sunnyvale event at the Plug N Play Center.
-Staff Comments
Ms. Raby reported on previous and upcoming events.
Attachment 1
February 18, 2025Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes
INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS
25-0343 Updated Annual Work Plan February 2025
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:12 p.m.
Attachment 1