City of Sunnyvale

Meeting Minutes

Sustainability Commission

Monday, April 15, 2024

7:00 PM

Online and Bay Conference Room,

City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave.,

Sunnyvale, CA 94086

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Kunz called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. in the Bay Conference Room

(Room 145) at City Hall.

SALUTE TO THE FLAG

Chair Kunz led the salute to the flag.

ROLL CALL

Present: 6 - Chair Douglas Kunz

Vice Chair Tonya Veitch

Commissioner Kathryn Besser

Commissioner Bobbykin Makwana

Commissioner Kristina Pistone

Commissioner Kristel Wickham

Absent: 1 - Commissioner Jeffery Nabhan

Commissioner Nabhan's absence was excused by general

consent.

Council Liaison - Councilmember Din (absent)

ORAL COMMUNICATIONS

None.

CONSENT CALENDAR

24-0555

Approve the Sustainability Commission Meeting Minutes of

March 18, 2024

Commissioner Wickham moved, and Commissioner Makwana seconded, a motion

to approve the consent calendar. The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 6 - Chair Kunz

Vice Chair Veitch

Commissioner Besser

Commissioner Makwana

Commissioner Pistone

Commissioner Wickham

No: 0

Absent: 1 - Commissioner Nabhan

PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS

1.A

24-0554

Draft Proposal for FY 2024/25 Sustainability Speaker Series

The Sustainability Speaker Series Subcommittee, composed of Commissioners

Besser, Pistone and Vice Chair Veitch presented the Draft Fiscal Year (FY)

2024/25 Sustainability Speaker Series Proposal. The theme for this series is

“Beyond the Shoreline,” and includes the following seven proposed topics, for up to

four events to be hosted in FY 2024/25: (1) Wetlands and climate resilience; (2)

Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture of the future; (3) Equity in coastal access; (4)

Save the Bay: a history of advocacy and lessons learned; (5) Empowering youth to

become ocean stewards; (6) Keeping pollution out of the Bay; (7) Kelp forest

resiliency. The Subcommittee also presented potential speakers and talk titles for

each topic. The Commission discussed the pros and cons of each topic and

clarified differences between topics.

Chair Kunz opened the Public Hearing.

Richard Parentow thanked the Sustainability Speaker Series Subcommittee for

their work on the draft proposal. Mr. Parentow provided input on the “Kelp forest

resiliency” event topic.

Jissel Alvarez provided input on the “Empowering youth to become ocean

stewards” event topic. Ms. Alvarez also recommended the City look into working

closer with local grocery stores to help them reduce plastic packaging.

Chair Kunz closed the Public Hearing.

Commissioners individually ranked each topic. Staff tabulated the rankings and

provided the following ranked list of topics:

(1) Wetlands and climate resilience; (2) Equity in coastal access; (3) Empowering

youth to become ocean stewards; (4) Keeping pollution out of the Bay; (5) Kelp

forest resiliency; (6) Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture of the future; (7) Save

the Bay: a history of advocacy and lessons learned.

MOTION: Commissioner Besser moved, and Commissioner Pistone seconded, a

motion to approve the FY 2024/25 Sustainability Speaker Series topics as

prioritized.

The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 6 - Chair Kunz

Vice Chair Veitch

Commissioner Besser

Commissioner Makwana

Commissioner Pistone

Commissioner Wickham

No: 0

Absent: 1 - Commissioner Nabhan

1.B

24-0568

Consideration for adding a member to the Sustainability

Speaker Series Subcommittee

Chair Kunz described the intention and responsibility of the Sustainability Speaker

Series Subcommittee. The current members are Commissioners Besser, Pistone

and Vice Chair Veitch. Commissioner Besser has expressed interest in

relinquishing her seat.

Chair Kunz opened the discussion for nominations.

Commissioner Besser nominated Commissioner Makwana.

Commissioner Makwana accepted the nomination.

Chair Kunz confirmed Commissioner Makwana’s nomination and asked if there

were any other nominations. There were none.

Chair Kunz closed the discussion for nominations.

Chair Kunz opened the Public Hearing.

There were no public comments.

Chair Kunz closed the Public Hearing.

MOTION: Commissioner Besser moved, and Vice Chair Veitch seconded, a motion

to approve Commissioner Besser relinquishing her seat and appointing

Commissioner Makwana to the Sustainability Speaker Series Subcommittee.

The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 6 - Chair Kunz

Vice Chair Veitch

Commissioner Besser

Commissioner Makwana

Commissioner Pistone

Commissioner Wickham

No: 0

Absent: 1 - Commissioner Nabhan

STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES

None.

NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS

-Commissioner Comments

Commissioner Pistone promoted Garden to Table Silicon Valley’s newly launched

Teen Ambassador program. The program will teach high school students about

farming, gardening, sustainability, leadership and advocacy. Commissioner Pistone

also informed Commissioners that the farm accepts plastic bags for their harvest to

reduce plastic waste.

Commissioner Wickham encouraged Commissioners to watch the recording of the

March 19 City Council Study Session that discussed the Climate Action Playbook

(Playbook) Amendments and Game Plan 2028 updates. Commissioner Wickham

notified Commissioners that the Playbook amendments and Game Plan 2028 are

tentatively scheduled to be considered for adoption on June 25 by the City Council.

Commissioner Wickham encouraged Commissioners to attend the City of

Sunnyvale’s Earth Day Festival and Civic Center Grand Opening on April 20, 2024,

as well as attend other Earth Day events happening in the County. Commissioner

Wickham reminded Commissioners of the Sustainability Speaker Series event on

April 17, 2024, on the topic of grey water. Commissioner Wickham announced the

Code Red for Humanity: Clean Air, Healthy Bay Area webinar on May 9, 2024

hosted by Acterra.

Vice Chair Veitch echoed Commissioner Wickham’s reminder to attend the

Sunnyvale Earth Day Festival and Civic Center Grand opening as well as others

throughout the County. Vice Chair Veitch invited Commissioners to watch the free

livestream of the County of Santa Clara’s event: Induction Electric Cooking

Experience with Chef Martin Yan on April 23, 2024.

Commissioner Besser echoed Commissioner Wickham’s announcement about the

April 17 Sustainability Speaker Series event and provided more detail on the