Form Name:
Unique ID:
Boards and Commissions Applicat ion
144 1574608
Applicant Information
Name
Are you a Sunnyvale resident?
How long have you lived in
Sunnyvale?
Madhavi MChodankar
Yes
7 years
Madhavi Chodankar
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3/14/26
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Description Area Residence Notice:Unless otherwise noted , your principal place of residence must be in Sunnyvale . You must live in Sunnyvale at the time of appo intment and at all times during serv ice on a board or comm ission.
Current Main Residence
Email
Phone
Description Area Employment NoticeCity of Sunnyvale emp loyees may not serve on a board or comm ission.
I am a current City of Sunnyvale No
employee.
Have you ever served on a City of No
Sunnyvale board or commission?
Have you attended a meeting of Yes
the City Council, or a board or
commission?
Briefly describe what you learned
by watching or attending a
meeting of the City Council,
board or commission. What
improvements would you
suggest?
I recently partly attended and thereafter watched the youtube version of the Sustainability commission meeting in January 2026.
There was a discussion on the discussing the CalRecycle Beverage Container Quality Infrastructure Grant awarded to the city. The discussion focused on improving local recycling infrastructure to increase the recovery and purity of beverage container materials such as aluminum, PET and HDPE plastics, glass, cartons, and ferrous metals.
I learned that improving the quality of recovered materials is critical to building a circular economy. When recyclables are properly sorted and processed, they can be reused as raw materials for new products rather than being sent to landfill.
Investments funded through this grant such as improved sorting technologies, recovery equipment, and facility upgrades can significantly increase the amount of recyclable material that is successfully captured and reused and fetch more money based on the level of purity.
One improvement I would suggest is expanding community
education and engagement to reduce contamination in recycling streams. Even with improved infrastructure, recycling outcomes depend heavily on resident participation and proper sorting. I would also recommend establishing clear metrics and reporting so the commission and community can track how the grant improves recovery rates, material purity, and overall waste reduction over time.
Have you attended meetings of
the board(s) or commission(s) for
which you are applying?
Yes
How many meetings have you
attended?
2 Board or Commission Selection
First Choice Sustainability Commission
Applicant Qualifications
Madhavi Chodankar
What motivated you to apply for
this board or commission?
I applied for the Sustainability Commission because I care about sustainability and the role cities can play in improving environmental outcomes for the community. I am particularly interested in areas such as recycling, waste reduction, packaging sustainability, and reducing our overall carbon footprint through better systems and infrastructure.
I recently watched a commission meeting discussing the
CalRecycle Beverage Container Quality Infrastructure Grant and found it very interesting to see how the city is working to improve recycling infrastructure and material recovery. It helped me understand how programs like this can improve the quality of recyclable materials and support a more circular use of resources.
I am also interested in learning more about how sustainability initiatives are supported through grants and how cities design and implement these programs. I enjoy understanding how different parts of a system infrastructure, policy, and community participation work together to create meaningful environmental impact. I would value the opportunity to contribute ideas and support the city's sustainability efforts. I am also interested in improving transparency around material lifecycles; understanding how products and packaging move from production to use, recovery, and reuse which can help cities design more effective sustainability programs.
Madhavi Chodankar
What skills or attributes can you
bring to this board or
commission?
I bring an analytical and systems-thinking approach to
understanding complex problems. In my professional work I often look at how systems, data, and processes come together to improve outcomes, which I think is helpful when evaluating sustainability programs and policies. I am comfortable reviewing reports, analyzing information, and asking questions that help clarify the impact of programs and initiatives.
I am particularly interested in areas such as recycling, packaging sustainability, waste reduction, and reducing carbon footprint. I also have knowledge of sustainability frameworks related to traceability and digital product passports, which focus on tracking the lifecycle of materials and improving transparency around how products are produced, used, and eventually recovered or recycled. These approaches help support more circular and responsible use of resources.
I would bring curiosity, a willingness to learn, and a collaborative mindset to the commission while contributing thoughtful questions and ideas that support the city's sustainability goals. I am particularly interested in approaches that support a circular economy, where materials are reused and recovered rather than becoming waste.
Madhavi Chodankar
The primary role of a board or
commission member is to provide
advice to City Council on policy
issues that are within the scope
of the board or commission. What
steps would you take to
effectively exercise this specific
board or commission role?
To effectively serve in this role, I would first take time to understand the city's sustainability goals, existing policies, and the issues that come before the commission. I would review meeting materials, staff reports, and community input so I can participate in discussions in an informed and thoughtful way.
I would listen to different perspectives, ask questions, and work collaboratively with other commission members to evaluate initiatives and identify opportunities that could strengthen the city's sustainability efforts. I would also focus on ensuring that recommendations made to the City Council are practical, well-informed, and consider both environmental impact and community needs.
Given my interest in areas such as recycling, packaging sustainability, waste reduction, and reducing carbon footprint, I would also bring a systems-thinking perspective, including knowledge of sustainability approaches such as traceability and lifecycle transparency. I believe this perspective can help identify opportunities to improve resource efficiency and support more circular use of materials as the city develops future sustainability policies.
Education – List college degrees,
majors and any relevant training
or experience that demonstrates
your ability to effectively serve
on this board or commission.
• Professional Certification, AI/ML, Gen AI, LLM - UC Santa Cruz, CA • Executive MBA - Santa Clara University, CA
• BS Finance - Bombay University, India
• BS equivalent in Information Systems Management - NIIT, India • PMP Certification - PMI, USA
• Lean Certified Professional - ASQ, USA
• Sustainable Cities and Communities Specialization - Lund University, Sweden (ongoing, nearing completion)
• Sustainable and Resilient Operations and Supply Chains Specialization - University of Colorado, Boulder & Siemens (ongoing, nearing completion)
Madhavi Chodankar
Describe your involvement in
community activities, volunteer
and civic organizations.
Community, Volunteer and Civic Involvement
City of Mountain View - Visual Arts Committee (3 years) • Served on a city advisory committee supporting public art and cultural initiatives.
• Collaborated with city staff and community stakeholders to review proposals and support implementation of arts programs.
American Society for Quality (ASQ) - Vice President (5 years) • Held a volunteer leadership role supporting professional training and certification programs.
• Helped develop governance frameworks and partnerships supporting education and professional development initiatives.
Association of Business Process Management Professionals (ABPMP) - Vice President & Board Member (3 years)
• Supported global training and certification programs focused on process improvement.
• Participated in board discussions on strategy, governance, and program development.
Description Area The City has a Code of Ethics and Conduct for Elected and Appointed Officials and an Attendance Policy (7.2.19), 2 G (II) that appointed members are required to follow.
Do you have any concerns related
to the above code and policy?
No
Are you willing to accept a
temporary appointment for the
remainder of an unexpired term?
Yes
Board or Commission-Specific Questions
Sustainability Commission
Category One: I’m a Sunnyvale
resident.
Yes
Madhavi Chodankar
Sustainability is a new and
emerging concern in many
communities. What do you think
are the primary sustainability
policy issues this commission will
be addressing over the next few
years?
I think the commission will be addressing several important sustainability issues in the coming years. One major area will likely be reducing waste and improving recycling so that more materials are recovered and reused instead of ending up in landfills. This may include reviewing policies that support improved recycling infrastructure, addressing packaging waste, and encouraging more circular use of materials.
Another important focus will be reducing the city's carbon footprint through efforts such as energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, and responsible use of resources. The commission can play an important role in reviewing initiatives and advising City Council on policies and programs that help move these goals forward.
I also think there will be increasing attention on understanding the lifecycle of materials and improving transparency around how products and packaging are produced, used, and eventually recycled or recovered. Approaches such as traceability and better visibility into material flows can help cities design more effective sustainability policies and programs.
Overall, I believe the commission will help evaluate these issues and provide thoughtful recommendations to City Council that support long-term environmental sustainability for the
community.
Description Area View the Climate Action Playbook
Have you read the above version
of the Climate Action Playbook?
Yes
Madhavi Chodankar
What are your thoughts on the
Playbook? How might the actions
("Plays") be improved?
I appreciate the effort that has gone into developing the Playbook and outlining the different sustainability actions/plays. I made a sincere effort to read through it carefully. While the Plays appear thoughtful and comprehensive, I found the document somewhat dense and a bit difficult to quickly understand.
One improvement might be to structure the Plays in a clearer roadmap format that highlights priorities, timelines, and how the different actions connect to each other. Including key milestones, dependencies, and measurable outcomes could make it easier for both the commission and the community to understand how progress will be made over time.
Presenting the Plays in a way that makes the path from strategy to implementation more visible could also help make the document more accessible and easier to track as initiatives move forward.
It may also be helpful to include a simple view of the current state and the desired future state of the processes or systems involved.
Showing the "as-is" and "to-be" state could help highlight the gaps that need to be addressed and clarify what actions are needed to move toward the intended outcomes. A more visual representation could also make the Playbook easier to follow and understand.
Your Agreement
Description Area IMPORTANT NOTICE – READ BEFORE SIGNING:By selecting both “Yes” and “Submit Form” below I am adding my digital signature to this application. I am also agreeing with the following statements:All statements I have made on this application are true and correct.I authorize the City of Sunnyvale (City) to investigate the accuracy of this information.I release the City from all claims and liabilities arising from such investigation.I acknowledge that any false statement on this application will be grounds for the City to deny my appointment. A false statement discovered later, will be grounds to dismiss me from my appointment at any time.I acknowledge that any false statement on this application could lead to criminal charges. Charges could fall under California Penal Code, Section 115 or other applicable law.
I agree Yes
Your full name Madhavi Chodankar
Madhavi Chodankar
Date Mar 13, 2026
Madhavi Chodankar