SC 10-20-20221
CITY OF CUPERTINO SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION
Teleconference meeting without a physical location.
Thursday, October 20, 2022 4:00 p.m.
APPROVED MINUTES
At 4:02 p.m. Chair Swaminathan called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present: Chair Vignesh Swaminathan, Vice Chair Anna Weber, and Commissioners Sonali
Padgaonkar, Steve Poon, Meera Ramanathan.
Staff: Tina Kapoor, Economic Development Manager; Kimiya Khoshkhou, AmeriCorps Fellow; Gilee Corral,
Staff Liaison.
Guests: Members of the public.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Subject: July 21, 2022 Sustainability Commission minutes
Commissioner Padgaonkar moved and Vice Chair Weber seconded to approve the minutes. The motion
carried unanimously.
2. Subject: Subject: September 8, 2022 Parks and Recreation, Bicycle Pedestrian, and Sustainability
Commissions Joint Special Meeting minutes
Vice Chair Weber moved and Commissioner Ramanathan seconded to approve the minutes. The motion
carried: Ayes: Weber, Padgaonkar, Poon, and Ramanathan. Noes: None. Abstain: Swaminathan. Absent: None.
POSTPONEMENTS
None.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Yuko Shima made comments on a solar energy grant opportunity, e-waste collection and diversion from
landfill, and food waste composting in Cupertino schools.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Corral noted written communications posted to the City website. In response to a question from the Chair, she
noted that the Sustainability Manager keeps informed about local, regional, and federal grant opportunities
that are applicable to the Sustainability Division’s work.
STAFF AND COMMISSION REPORTS
Staff updates:
- Climate Action Plan 2.0 was adopted by the City Council on August 16. The adopted CAP 2.0 and
appendices are posted on the website at: cupertino.org/climateaction.
- Single-Use Food Service Ware Ordinance was passed by City Council on September 6.
- All-electric building and electric vehicle reach codes: 1st reading at this week’s Council meeting, 2nd
reading scheduled for November 1 Council meeting.
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- Commissioners Dinner at Quinlan Community Center on November 14; RSVP by October 28.
- The Division’s new Climate Corps AmeriCorps Fellow, Kimiya Khoshkhou, introduced herself. She
will be working on the municipal climate action plan.
NEW BUSINESS
3. Subject: Staff update on vacancy notice and recruitment process for the Economic Development
Committee
Tina Kapoor, Economic Development Manager, provided an overview of the Economic Development Division
and the background of the Economic Development Committee (EDC), codified in July. She reviewed purpose,
composition, and function of the EDC and member recruitment details, including:
- Composition: nine-member committee including two councilmembers, five industry sector
representatives, one Technology Information Communications Commissioner, and one Sustainability
Commissioner.
- Recruitment for members now open; applications due on November 10, interviews on November 29.
- EDC functions as an advisory body to the Council on economic development topics and acts as a
champion for Cupertino businesses.
- EDC meetings to be held quarterly. EDC members will have opportunities outside of meetings to
support economic development priorities, e.g., the Cupertino Business Outreach Program.
Public Comment:
Yuko Shima made comments regarding issues with parking lots, the local food industry, and increasing
composting of food waste.
The Commission gave comments and asked clarifying questions:
- Chair Swaminathan intends to apply for the EDC as the Sustainability Commission representative.
- Kapoor briefly explained the difference between the previous EDC, an informal body, and this newly
codified committee, which will become an advisory body to the Council. The Sustainability
Commissioner slot was added based on Council direction. She clarified that interested commissioners
would need to apply for the representative slot by November 10 (response to questions from
Ramanathan, Swaminathan).
- How are goals determined, how is success measured for the EDC (Weber); Kapoor: purpose and
function determined through extensive research and Kapoor’s professional experience in economic
development. Generally, EDC will support and champion local businesses and support the City’s
efforts to expand, retain, and attract businesses. When appointed, EDC members will create an annual
work plan for the EDC.
- If all sectors are covered (Weber), if residents / tax benefits from housing covered (Swaminathan);
Kapoor: EDC will cover all sectors that support the local economy, including workforce development,
will also get involved in retail industry and local sales tax discussions.
- If vendors working with school districts would come under the purview of the EDC (Ramanathan).
Kapoor: school district is outside of the City’s purview. However, staff and the EDC can inform local
businesses about opportunities to respond to school district requests for proposals.
- Commission Padgaonkar indicated that she is not interested in applying for the EDC.
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4. Subject: Sustainability Commission suggestions for FY 2023-24 City Work Program
Corral briefly introduced the topic and gave an overview on how Commission proposals are incorporated into
the City’s Work Program adoption process. She noted the Commission’s recently completed FY22 Work
Program projects: Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2.0 and the Single Use Plastics Ordinance, and the current FY23
Work Program project: electrification policy development for electrification of buildings and transportation.
Commissions can give suggestions for the FY24 City Work Program. She answered clarifying questions from
the Commission, including:
- General questions around the process; would like to take more time to consider (Padgaonkar). Corral
explained the process.
o Chair Swaminathan asked if the discussion could be continued to another Commission meeting
or set up a subcommittee. Corral: scheduling a follow up discussion is possible, however,
scheduling may be difficult due to the holidays.
- If electrification study will continue on the Work Program to next fiscal year (Weber). Corral indicated
this is a possibility, clarified the focus will be electrification of existing buildings.
- Questions re scope of a Work Project and examples of potential projects, e.g., recycled water for large
projects (Poon), student essay contest or reconsider waste / paper separation in waste streams
(Padgaonkar).
o Corral clarified the scale of a Work Program project is city-wide versus smaller scale initiatives
that the Commission may take on, e.g., student essay contest.
o Chair Swaminathan gave other examples and clarified how Sustainability Commission has been
involved in the past.
- Corral displayed the list of Commission Work Program proposals from FY22-23 for reference.
Public Comment:
Yuko Shima made comments advocating for backup generators in the community and improvements to the
hazardous and e-waste collection system.
- Commissioner Ramanathan added that residents can sign up for an appointment for e-waste to be
picked up.
The Commission briefly reviewed the suggestion list from FY22-23 and logic behind the proposals. Corral
noted that ideas from this list were used in the development of the CAP 2.0. Chair Swaminathan made a
motion to include the micro mobility proposal and gas station proposal from last year’s Commission Work
Program suggestion list onto the list for FY23-24. The Commission briefly discussed how to structure
agreement on the suggestion list and the motion. The Chair retracted his motion.
Chair Swaminathan asked Commissioners to give their “big picture” themes and ideas. The Commission
discussed potential Work Program proposals, asked clarifying questions, and contributed ideas, including:
- Transportation and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, building electrification (Weber).
- Collaboration with the school system on reducing waste; green business rating system (Padgaonkar).
- Local response to the drought and solutions to decreased water supply (Ramanathan, Poon, Weber,
Swaminathan).
- Incentivize solar and storage for new buildings (Poon).
- Economic development, expansion of bus and light rail, housing affordability (Swaminathan).
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The Commission discussed recurring themes and wording of suggested proposals. Commissioner
Ramanathan left the meeting at 5:57 p.m. Corral created a list of proposals supported by two or more
Commissioners for consideration:
- Establish programs with local teachers and students to create sustainable habits in schools and at home.
- Advocate for increased recycled water access in Cupertino. Consider establishing a local fee for
excessive water usage in collaboration with Valley Water and Cupertino's water retailers.
- Promotion of electrification of existing buildings and expansion of electric vehicle charging for private
and public facilities. Increase access to curbside electrical outlets (e.g., on lampposts) for the purpose of
promoting Level 1 electric vehicle charging.
- Consider working with VTA to study feasibility of establishing light rail or bus rapid transit along the
Stevens Creek Corridor.
- Consider options to establish dense housing around transit stops and high intersection corridors.
Commission Padgaonkar opposed including the housing item in the suggested list. The Commission had a
side discussion on this item and housing issues generally. The Commission discussed various ways to reword
the suggestion list.
Commissioner Padgaonkar moved to approve the proposal list as follows:
- Establish programs with local teachers and students to create sustainable habits in schools and at home.
- Advocate for increased recycled water access in Cupertino. Consider establishing a local fee for
excessive water usage in collaboration with Valley Water and Cupertino's water retailers.
- Promotion of electrification of existing buildings and expansion of electric vehicle charging for private
and public facilities. Increase access to curbside electrical outlets (e.g., on lamp posts) for the purpose of
promoting Level 1 electric vehicle charging.
- Consider working with VTA to study feasibility of establishing light rail or bus rapid transit along the
Stevens Creek Corridor.
- Consider lifting the ordinance the limits micromobility providers from operating in Cupertino.
Consider restrictions that would ensure appropriate fit for Cupertino.
The Commission discussed the motion. The Commission continued the discussion of proposal ideas. Vice
Chair Weber wanted to add the housing proposal back in. Commission Padgaonkar considered housing to be
the purview of Planning or Housing Commission, and sustainability to be more about the environment and
natural resources. Commission Poon supported replacing the micro mobility item with the housing item, as
housing is a bigger issue. The motion was not seconded.
Vice Chair Weber moved and Commissioner Poon seconded to accept the five proposals as reflected below as
the Commission’s suggested list for the FY 2023-24 City Work Program:
- Establish programs with local teachers and students to create sustainable habits in schools and at home.
- Advocate for increased recycled water access in Cupertino. Consider establishing a local fee for
excessive water usage in collaboration with Valley Water and Cupertino's water retailers.
- Promotion of electrification of existing buildings and expansion of electric vehicle charging for private
and public facilities. Increase access to curbside electrical outlets (e.g., on lamp posts) for the purpose of
promoting Level 1 electric vehicle charging.
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- Consider working with VTA to study feasibility of establishing light rail or bus rapid transit along the
Stevens Creek Corridor.
- Consider options for increasing dense housing around transit stops and high intersection corridors,
e.g., priority development areas.
The motion carried: Ayes: Poon, Weber, Swaminathan. Noes: Padgaonkar. Abstain: None. Absent:
Ramanathan.
FUTURE AGENDA SETTING
Commissioner Padgaonkar left the meeting at 6:24 p.m. Corral briefly noted potential items for future
discussion, including Earth and Arbor Day planning and a CEQA greenhouse gas emissions checklist. The
Commission will discuss future agenda setting at the next regular meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned 6:26 p.m.
SUBMITTED BY:
__________________________
Gilee Corral, Staff Liaison
Minutes approved at the 01/19/2023 regular meeting