CITY COUNCIL SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING
Hayward City Hall - Conference Room 2A
777 B Street, Hayward, CA 94541-5007
December 10, 2015
4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
MEETING MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER: Meeting called to order at 4:33 p.m. by Chair Al Mendall, Council Member.
ROLL CALL:
Members
• Al Mendall, City Council Member /CSC Chair
• Greg Jones, City Council Member
• Francisco Zermeño, City Council Member
Staff:
• Kelly McAdoo, Assistant City Manager
• Alex Ameri, Utilities & Environmental Services Director
• Erik Pearson, Environmental Services Manager
• Elisa Wilfong, WPSC Administrator
• Jennifer Yee, Sustainability Technician
• Gillian Corral, Civic Spark Fellow
• Carol Lee, Administrative Secretary (Recorder)
Others:
• Ben Nash, Revolutionaries Advocating for Greener Ecosystems (R.A.G.E.), Student group, Chabot College
• Ernest Pacheco, Hayward Resident
• Kelly Fergusson, Business Development Manager, Public Sector, OpTerra Energy Services
• Sasha Stackhouse, Public Services Sector Manager, Waste Management of Alameda County
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None.
1. Approval of Minutes of Council Sustainability Meeting on September 10, 2015
The Committee unanimously approved the minutes of the Council Sustainability Committee meeting on September 10, 2015.
CSC Chair Mendall suggested discussing a portion of item# 12, 2016 Agenda Topics, at this time due to Council Member Zermeño needing to leave at 5:50 pm. CSC Chair Mendall suggested the Committee meet the second Monday of every other month after reviewing the calendar that staff had created.
Director Ameri suggested scheduling meetings in odd months to avoid scheduling a meeting in August and having to find an alternate date.
Erik Pearson, Environmental Services Manager, noted that in 2016 there would be five meetings, as the Committee would not meet in January. The Committee would meet six times per year starting in 2017.
The Committee unanimously agreed to meet between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on every second Monday of odd months starting in March 2016.
2. Addressing Sustainability Impacts in Staff Reports
Erik Pearson, Environmental Services Manager, presented the report and staff’s recommendation that sustainability be addressed in a separate section in most staff reports. He explained the six areas that the proposed Sustainability Impact section should address.
Council Member Zermeño was in favor of staff’s recommendation, but recommended that staff use a different word in place of “Procurement.” Director Ameri suggested, “Purchasing.” Council Member Zermeño also expressed concern over the added work load that this may cause Utilities & Environmental Services staff. Director Ameri explained that the work load would increase primarily right after implementation, and that staff’s guidance might be most needed during the first year.
CSC Chair Mendall requested that both positive and negative impacts be addressed in the proposed section. He further requested that staff use approximations instead of presenting exact numbers in this section to increase readability.
Council Member Zermeño made a motion recommending the policy, CSC Chair Mendall seconded the motion suggesting that staff provide an update in twelve months, and it was passed unanimously.
3. Photo Contest: #HaywardFresh & Upcoming Outreach Campaigns
Alex Ameri, Director of Utilities & Environmental Services, introduced Jennifer Yee, Sustainability Technician, who presented on behalf of Mary Thomas.
Erik Pearson noted that this report addresses the implementation of the Sustainability Outreach Plan presented to the Committee in September. Additionally, he introduced Gillian Corral, CivicSpark Fellow, who along with three interns from Cal State East Bay’s (CSEB) Pioneers for Change Program, are working with staff in this outreach campaign.
Ms. Yee presented the report, highlighting the #HaywardFresh photo contest, and invited the Committee to be judges at the conclusion of the event in early February, which may require up to two hours of the Committee’s time.
Council Members Zermeño expressed interest in judging the contest. He recommended that staff consider expanding the photo contest to include other platforms such as Flickr, Snapchat, and Twitter. He further requested that staff expand the involvement to more educational institutions.
Council Member Jones noted that over time using bill inserts may not be an effective means of advertising since more customers are switching to paperless billing and encouraged staff to also inform those who utilize electronic billing. He further suggested involving Hayward Arts Council and Sun Gallery in the photo contest.
CSC Chair Mendall suggested involving Hayward Area Recreation & Park District (H.A.R.D.) so they can feature some of their parks and expressed interest in judging.
In response to the Committee’s question, Ms. Yee explained that Committee Members are welcome to participate in the contest, but their entries will be excluded from judging.
4. Bicycle Sharing
Director Ameri introduced the item. He noted that the item was in response to the Committee’s request earlier this year and expressed that the City needs to implement programs that encourage bike usage, including making biking within the City safer before we can establish a bike sharing program. Erik Pearson, Environmental Services Manager, presented the report.
Council Member Zermeño expressed support for a bike share program but agreed with staff that Hayward lacks the bike ridership necessary for the program to be successful. He suggested improving the infrastructure needed for a more bike friendly city.
Council Member Jones concurred and emphasized that for the program to be successful, it needs to provide an enjoyable experience for those who utilize it, which is not currently the case in parts of the City.
CSC Chair Mendall commented that program is not cost effective at this point and reiterated that the next step requires making changes to increase Hayward’s bike ridership, such as the new bike lines on Mission Blvd. which are separated from traffic lanes with landscaping. He closed by stating that as the City moves toward a more inviting and safer place for bicyclists, a bike share program will become more feasible.
5. Update on Car Sharing Grant
Erik Pearson provided a brief update on the car sharing grant and sought the Committee’s input on the development of the request for proposals, which is expected to be released in February. He indicated that Zipcar and City Carshare have expressed interest in working with the City.
Council Member Jones commented favorably on staff’s suggestion to eliminate electric cars, and supported the consideration of a hybrid vehicle. He further suggested that staff challenge the car sharing service to include more diverse station locations in addition to those presumed at both BART stations and the downtown location.
Council Member Zermeño suggested including Chabot College, CSEB, and Southland Mall, as they have charging stations on site. He noted that there are not yet charging stations at Amtrak, and that there would be potential in including that as a location as well.
CSC Chair Mendall mentioned that at some point when self-driving care are available for mass market, car sharing programs will really take off, however he was still in favor of the City implementing the program.
6. Update on East Bay Community Energy
Erik Pearson presented the report. He mentioned that Alameda County’s Board of Supervisors authorized the contract with MRW to complete a technical study which will be the basis for the County to decide whether or not to pursue forming a community choice energy program. He also spoke about Pacific Gas & Electric’s (PG&E) request to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to increase the monthly charge for customers leaving PG&E and opting for services by a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA), as known as a Power Charge Indifference Adjustment Fee (PCIA).
Under Public Comment, Mr. Ernie Pacheco spoke about PG&E’s effort to increase the PCIA from the current $6.70 per month to $13 per month. He requested that the Committee send a letter in opposition to the CPUC.
Council Member Jones motioned to have the Mayor prepare a letter in opposition of increasing the PCIA, Council Member Zermeño seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously.
7. Annual Update: Administrative Rule 3.9 - Environmentally Preferred Purchasing
Policy
Jennifer Yee presented a short update summarizing current efforts by City Departments in purchasing to minimize adverse environmental impacts.
Council Member Jones expressed his support with the process, noting that it can serve as a reminder for departments to review and remain consistent with the City policy.
CSC Chair Mendall mentioned that he found the larger projects with policy components, such as the co-generation, more impactful and requested that staff highlight these projects in the future are they are of more interest to Council Members.
8. Update on EPA Trash Reduction Grant
Elisa Wilfong, WPSC Administrator, provided a short presentation describing the project’s first quarter accomplishments and outlined activities planned for early next year.
Council Member Zermeño commended staff for the level of involvement of students in the project.
CSC Chair Mendall requested that staff sort a portion of the trash collected in order to make an inventory of the different kinds of trash, so that staff can isolate common sources that generate trash. Ms. Wilfong responded that part of the students’ participation will address this request.
9. Briefing on the 2015 California Youth Energy Services (CYES) Program
Jennifer Yee made a presentation highlighting the energy and water savings achievements as a result of the CYES program. She noted that Hayward was confirmed to host CYES again in 2016.
The Committee expressed their support for the program.
10. Reusable Bag Ordinance - Potential Expansion
Erik Pearson, Environmental Services Manager, presented a report indicating that StopWaste was assessing the implications of a possible expansion of the current reusable bag ordinance.
Council Member Jones stated that StopWaste is currently reviewing the matter, noting that a large component limiting the expansion of the program will be enforcement.
CSC Chair Mendall expressed his support for the expansion.
11. Update on PAYS Implementation
Erik Pearson presented a report indicating a lack of sufficient progress in implementing the PAYS program.
CSC Chair Mendall stated that when the program was being launched the Council was told that property owners were ready to implement the energy and water efficiency programs; however that has not come to fruition. He commented that if staff did not see sufficient progress, he would in favor of not pursuing the program. Council Member Jones also expressed some disappointment with the lack of progress.
Staff suggested that the lack of progress could be related to the time of year, around various holidays, and projected that the program could pick up after the New Year.
12. 2016 Agenda Topics
CSC Chair Mendall appreciated staff dividing the items between Action Items and Informational Items, and requested staff to continue to do so. He further asked staff to consider scheduling an item related to renewable energy use and provide a timeline for achieving Zero Net Energy for City facilities.
Council Member Jones urged staff to schedule an item to provide an update on the City’s Climate Action Plan noting that the City was not adhering to scheduled goals.
COMMITTEE MEMBER/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REFERRALS:
ADJOURNMENT: 6:03 p.m.
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MEETINGS |
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Attendance |
Present 12/10/15 Meeting |
Present to Date This Fiscal Year |
Excused to Date This Fiscal Year |
Absent to Date This Fiscal Year |
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Greg Jones |
ü |
2 |
0 |
0 |
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Al Mendall* |
ü |
2 |
0 |
0 |
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Francisco Zermeño |
ü |
2 |
0 |
0 |
ü = Present O = absent X = excused
* Chair