REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the 2018 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 (Speaker Series). The Speaker Series is led by the Sustainability Commission, whose specific duties include advising Council on ways to drive community awareness, education, and participation in best practices related to making Sunnyvale a more sustainable city. The approved budget supports two to four events each year. Staff provides logistical support for the events, such as coordinating speakers, identifying venues, and publicity and outreach for events. As specified in the Budget Supplement, City Council approves the series topics.
In March 2017, the Sustainability Commission formed an Ad Hoc Committee (hereafter referred to as the Subcommittee), comprised of Commissioners Kristel Wickham and Steven Zornetzer, to identify topics and plan the Speaker Series.
The inaugural 2017 Sustainability Speaker Series (2017 Series) was approved by the City Council in April 2017 (RTC No. 17-0357) and included three events on the theme of "Practical Sustainability," covering the following topics:
1. Building Electrification (Pierre Delforge, Natural Resources Defense Council)
2. Electrification of Transportation Systems (Rod Diridon, Mineta Transportation Institute)
3. Zero Waste Home (Bea Johnson, author and zero waste lifestyle expert)
These topics were aligned with and timed to coincide with roll-outs of two key City initiatives, namely the launch of Silicon Valley Clean Energy's 100-percent carbon-free electricity supply, and of FoodCycle, the City's residential food scraps collection program.
Events were held on weekday evenings between May and August 2017 in City Council Chambers. Zero waste refreshments were provided for the public. Each event was broadcasted live on K-SUN TV and availab...
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