City of Sunnyvale

Meeting Minutes

Sustainability Commission

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

7:00 PM

Online and Redwood Conference Room,

City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale,

CA 94086

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Nabhan called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. in the Redwood Conference

Room (Room 140) at City Hall.

SALUTE TO THE FLAG

Chair Nabhan led the salute to the flag.

ROLL CALL

Present: 7 -

Chair Jeffery Nabhan

Vice Chair Kristina Pistone

Commissioner Madeline Chang

Commissioner Colin Ford

Commissioner Cortney Jansen

Commissioner Douglas Kunz

Commissioner Richard Parenteau

Council Liaison - Councilmember Cisneros arrived online at 7:20 p.m.

ORAL COMMUNICATIONS

None.

STUDY SESSION

26-0216

Solid Waste Program Updates

Bailey Hall, Interim Solid Waste Division Manager, and Deepti Jain, Solid Waste

Environmental Programs Manager, provided an update on Zero Waste Programs

and SMaRT® Station updates in Sunnyvale. Commissioners asked clarifying

questions, and staff provided answers.

Chair Nabhan opened public comment at 7:58 p.m.

AJ asked questions regarding delays to the Smart Station upgrade beyond the

originally anticipated six-month timeline, whether electrical supply issues for

processing units had been resolved, and whether special protective coatings were

specified for HVAC equipment given the facility environment. AJ also inquired about

dust collection systems for shredders included in the upgrade, the methodology

used to calculate the reported $1,600 to $18,000 cost savings from reusable

dishware, and clarification on whether commodity sales are handled by City staff or

contractors and how contracts account for fluctuating market prices. Christina Raby,

Environmental Engineering Coordinator, stated that staff would provide responses

to AJ’s questions via email following the meeting.

Chair Nabhan closed public comment at 8:02 p.m.

PRESENTATION

26-0218

PRESENTATION - Youth Group Updates

Commissioner Chang coordinated a Commissioner presentation on youth group

updates. Youth representatives from the Fremont Unified High School District

(FUSHD) provided updates on the FUSHD Climate Collective, and youth from

Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action (SVYCA) shared updates on initiatives led by

SVYCA. Commissioners asked clarifying questions, which FUSHD and SVCYA

members addressed.

Chair Nabhan opened public comment at 9:04 p.m.

No public comment.

Chair Nabhan closed public comment at 9:04 p.m.

CONSENT CALENDAR

26-0219

Approve the Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes of

November 17, 2025

Chair Nabhan opened public comment at 9:05 p.m.

No public comment.

Chair Nabhan closed public comment at 9:05 p.m.

Commissioner Kunz requested a friendly amendment to correct the recorded

outcome of the first vote under Item 25-1073, Discussion of Potential Council

Priority Project Ideas, from “the motion carried” to “the motion failed,” which staff

accepted. Commissioner Parenteau moved, and Commissioner Kunz seconded, the

motion to approve the consent calendar as amended.

The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 7 -

Chair Nabhan

Vice Chair Pistone

Commissioner Chang

Commissioner Ford

Commissioner Jansen

Commissioner Kunz

Commissioner Parenteau

No: 0

NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS

-Commissioner Comments

Commissioner Parenteau shared information on a website called “No Carbon Fuel”

and highlighted “ProactiveTalk.org” as resources for students and the public to stay

informed on climate and sustainability initiatives and data.

Commissioner Jansen recommended the PBS film Giants Rising, which explores

redwood forests through cultural and scientific perspectives. Commissioner Jansen

referenced a KQED forum featuring Judith Enck of Beyond Plastics, and expressed

interest in Sunnyvale exploring a dark sky ordinance similar to Mountain View’s

efforts.

Councilmember Cisneros provided updates on upcoming City Council items relevant

to the Commission. Councilmember Cisneros thanked Commissioners, staff,

presenters, and members of the public for their participation and contributions in the

meeting.

Vice Chair Pistone highlighted a National Academy of Sciences workshop called

“Accelerating Climate Progress with AI: from Science to Action” on climate progress

and artificial intelligence and recommended listening to the sessions.

-Staff Comments