2020 COUNCIL STUDY ISSUE
NUMBER
DPW 20-XX
TITLE
Create a new city Board and Commission or Staff Advisory Committee focused on mobility issues, especially commutes into and out of the city.
Report
BACKGROUND
Lead Department:
Public Works
Support Departments:
Office of the City Manager
Office of the City Attorney
Environmental Services
Sponsor(s):
Sustainability Commission
History:
1 year ago: N/A
2 years ago: N/A
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
What precipitated this study?
In August 2019, Sunnyvale adopted the Climate Action Playbook to set a vision for the city to reduce carbon emissions by 2050. Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions both in Sunnyvale and in the state of California. In Sunnyvale, transportation is responsible for 54% of the city's GHG emissions. In order to achieve the State of California's target emissions reductions of 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050, Climate Action Playbook proposes a goal to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by 20% by 2030.
Reducing VMT by 20 percent by 2030 will require transformations in lifestyle, infrastructure, and technology. It is, therefore, essential to have a standing board and commission or advisory committee to guide staff or city council in mobility related planning and policy development. Boards and Commissions advise City Council on specific policy issues and provide a forum and opportunity for broad community input. Advisory committees assist staff with legislative decision-making on specific topics. Establishing a new board and commission or advisory committee would facilitate more in-depth education, dialogue, and deliberations on relevant policy issues and will, therefore, provide a more open and transparent public review process. It would also provide a forum for residents, employees, and employers to understand and contribute to city decisions, and city inputs to regional decisions affecting our collective ability to achieve our goals...
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