CITY COUNCIL SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING
Hayward City Hall - Conference Room 2A
777 B Street, Hayward, CA 94541-5007
March 14, 2016
4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
MEETING MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER: Meeting called to order at 4:30 p.m. by Chair Al Mendall, Council Member.
ROLL CALL:
Members
• Al Mendall, City Council Member /CSC Chair
• Greg Jones, City Council Member/City’s Representative to StopWaste
• Francisco Zermeño, City Council Member
Staff:
• Kelly McAdoo, Assistant City Manager
• Alex Ameri, Utilities & Environmental Services Director
• David Rizk, Development Services Director
• Erik Pearson, Environmental Services Manager
• Elisa Wilfong, WPSC Administrator
• Corinne Ferreyra, Senior Management Analyst
• Mary Thomas, Management Analyst
• Alicia Sargiotto, Senior Utility Service Representative
• Jennifer Yee, Sustainability Technician
• Carol Lee, Administrative Secretary (Recorder)
Others:
• Jillian Buckholz, Director of Sustainability, California State University East Bay
• Jillian Hogan, Hayward Resident, Keep Hayward Clean and Green Task Force
• Sasha Stackhouse, Public Services Sector Manager, Waste Management of Alameda County (WMAC)
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Jillian Buckholz, Director of Sustainability, California State University East Bay (CSUEB), announced that CSUEB faculty is looking into a program called Sustainable City Year, which originated at the University of Oregon (UO). The program allowed the city of Springfield to work with UO students and faculty to complete projects that the city did not have the means to implement, which benefited the city and allowed students the opportunity to experience real-world sustainability efforts. CSUEB Faculty is hosting Nico Larco, Sustainable Cities Initiative Co-Director at UO, and invited staff, the Committee, and their guests to attend an open forum on Wednesday, April 6 to learn more about the UO program and discuss the potential of partnering with CSUEB for a pilot program at CSUEB next year. She closed by directing any interested parties to Erik Pearson, Environmental Services Manager, as he will be kept apprised of the details of this event.
CSC Chair Mendall requested that the Committee be kept apprised of the event and that the program be placed on a future CSC agenda for discussion.
1. Approval of Minutes of Council Sustainability Meeting on December 10, 2015
The Committee unanimously approved the minutes of the Council Sustainability Committee meeting on December 10, 2015.
2. Solid Waste Franchise Agreement Annual Report
Jennifer Yee, Sustainability Technician, presented the report.
Council Member Jones expressed concern regarding the unaccounted waste that is generated in Hayward and is being hauled out of the City. He noted that there are efforts at StopWaste and legislation at the State level aiming to limit this.
The Committee and staff agreed that organics separation is crucial in order to reach the diversion goals set for the City. Staff and WMAC will focus efforts to address this.
CSC Chair Mendall suggested that staff directly contact WMAC when Access Hayward requests are generated for abandoned debris, in order to lessen the load for Maintenance staff.
Staff stated its concerns with WMAC inconsistent service to public receptacles. Mr. Mendall echoed the concern and encouraged staff to continue working with WMAC to improve the service.
Staff indicated that the City has received additional public containers. Member Zermeño suggested that additional containers be placed outside of The Cobblers in response to the amount of garbage generated in the area.
The Committee was in favor of changing Hayward’s Municipal Code (Section 5-1.15) regarding modifications to the setout time, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. the day prior to scheduled Collection.
3. Municipal Regional Stormwater Permit
Elisa Wilfong, WPSC Administrator, presented the report and shared a short video clip that highlighted Green Infrastructure, described how it can be a means to filtrate and treat for pollutants, and how Hayward can possibility encourage it for new development.
Ms. Wilfong noted that there was some controversy over the Stormwater Permit adopted in November 2015. Hayward is among the municipalities that have filed a petition asking the State Water Resources Control Board to review the Permit’s approval process.
The Committee asked staff to be mindful, from a policy perspective, when developing comprehensive standard detail requirements for developers, such as balancing solar and green infrastructure. They further asked staff to encourage contractors to use higher quality products such as permeable concrete for future City projects and suggested that sunken landscaping may be a feasible means to recharge stormwater that can be implemented sooner.
CSC Chair Mendall was in favor of requiring businesses to be responsible for costs directly related to the enhanced stormwater inspection enforcement, especially businesses that contribute to the trash found in routine stormwater inspections, such as fast food restaurants and like establishments.
4. Update on East Bay Community Energy
Erik Pearson, Environmental Services Manager, provided an update on East Bay Community Energy (EBCE) and reported that the Alameda County Steering Committee has met three times since the last update. Mr. Pearson explained that the County announced that they aim to launch this program by spring of 2017, and hopes to have the first JPA Board Meeting in October 2016. He noted that by doing this, the JPA will need to be formed before the findings of the technical study and the details of the program are finalized. He explained that the County has assured the Steering Committee that there will be a provision which would allow a city to join the JPA and withdraw, before the program launches in spring of 2017, if certain criteria are not met.
Chair Mendall mentioned that, at the EBCE Steering Committee meeting, he had supported implementation of a weighted voting structure for the JPA. The Committee was in favor of the JPA having weighted voting based on population or electrical demand.
The Committee discussed finding a balance between market acceptability and environmental impact as it related to the default option available to customers. Staff mentioned that the number one criteria in joining EBCE was lower greenhouse gas emissions, and cautioned that if customers join EBCE at 50% renewable energy as the default, the program may not be competitive with PG&E’s current options as it relates to greenhouse gas emissions.
5. Update on City-Wide Water Conservation and Revised Emergency Regulations for
Statewide Urban Water Conservation
Alicia Sargiotto, Senior Utility Service Representative, presented a brief update on City-wide conservation and addressed the State’s Emergency Regulations for Statewide Urban Water Conservation extension through October 2016.
CSC Chair Mendall commented that Hayward continues to use less water year over year, as shown in Attachment II of the report, despite continued development and growth. He recommended that staff be cognizant of that trend when preparing the long term water plans for the City. He encouraged staff to expand the incentives for water conversation, especially as it relates to outdoor water usage. Staff commented that, in response to the Committee’s prior recommendation, such measures were taken to revise the lawn conversion rebate program in order to encourage additional participation. Staff noted that since the previous program guidelines were removed, such as the healthy lawn requirement and the limit to the maximum rebate, the City has received several large commercial applications for the lawn conversion rebate.
6. 2016 Agenda Topics
Council Member Jones requested staff to provide an update on the PAYS program and address the state legislation related to the issuance of debt.
CSC Chair Mendall asked staff to agendize the topic of Sustainable City Year and Green Infrastructure. He encouraged staff to focus on policy-related issues as future CSC agenda items are developed and place on the agenda.
COMMITTEE MEMBER/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REFERRALS:
None.
ADJOURNMENT: 6:15 p.m.
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MEETINGS |
|
Attendance |
Present 3/14/15 Meeting |
Present to Date This Fiscal Year |
Excused to Date This Fiscal Year |
Absent to Date This Fiscal Year |
|
Greg Jones |
ü |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Al Mendall* |
ü |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Francisco Zermeño |
ü |
3 |
0 |
0 |
ü = Present O = absent X = excused
* Chair