REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the 2017 Sustainability Speaker Series
Report
BACKGROUND
In June 2016, City Council approved Budget Supplement No. 7 (Attachment 1), which provided $25,000 annually for five years to create and conduct a sustainability speaker series. The speaker series is designed to be led by the Sustainability Commission, whose charge includes advising City Council on ways to drive community awareness, education, and participation in best practices related to making Sunnyvale a more sustainable city. The approved budget will support two to four events each year. The Sustainability Commission will identify topics and speakers, with the topics submitted to the City Council for approval. Staff will provide logistical support for the events, such as coordinating speakers, identifying venues, and publicity for events.
EXISTING POLICY
The speaker series is aligned with the City's Climate Action Plan (CAP), which contains a key goal area to "increase and retain awareness of sustainability issues."
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a "project" within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(a) as it has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
DISCUSSION
In July 2016, the Sustainability Commission began planning for the speaker series. To lead the development of this effort, the Commission formed an Ad Hoc Committee (hereafter referred to as the Subcommittee) comprised of Commissioners Kristel Wickham and Steven Zornetzer. After research and consultation with environmental services staff, the Subcommittee developed and presented a proposal for the speaker series at the February 21, 2017 Commission meeting. At that meeting, the Commission unanimously voted to forward the proposal to City Council for review and consideration. At...
Click here for full text