Sunnyvale Cool Green Letter, May 2010

SunnyvaleCool Green e-Letter
May 13, 2010
 
The Local Green Scene.

• Tuesday night, Council voted to establish a Sustainability Commission, dedicated to advising Council on policies needed to help our community meet our needs without harming the ability of future generations to meet theirs. This Commission will allow residents additional time to weigh-in on issues impacting sustainability since these issues will be presented to the Commission before they go to Council. It will also  greatly improve the chances that the environment is considered prior to Council action. 
• Revision of the Land Use and Transportation Element (LUTE) of the General Plan is in progress. This Element was last revised in 1997.  Decisions made during this process will have a huge impact whether we create the kind of city we need in the future and we meet our sustainability goals. 

        Council is expected to select and appoint the Horizon 2035 
          Advisory Committee during the next few weeks.
        (Applications closed at the end of April.)  The Committee will
          advise staff on the revision of the LUTE and our first Climate
        Action Plan, which will become a part of the LUTE.  A climate
        action plan is a method of taking responsibility for our
        carbon emissions and  systematically reducing them. 
 
Upcoming Events. 
          Since many communities on the Peninsula are revising there Land Use and Transportation Elements, there are several educational opportunities coming up that concern land use.  Land use has a huge impact on traffic, air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, open space, affordable housing, small business viability, and City resources.  Please consider attending a couple, to become better informed about our future needs and how to address them:

 
Kickstarting Good Land Use Plans
Thursday, May 13, 6:00 pm, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, San Mateo
 
HLC Legislative Breakfast: SB 375 ImplementationFriday, May 14, 7:00 am, Crowne Plaza Hotel,  Burlingame
 
Affordable Housing Tour of Santa Clara County
Saturday, May 15, 8:00 am, Begins at Palm Court Senior Apartments, San Jose
 
Delightful Density with Dan Zack
Monday, May 17, 7:00 pm, Main Downtown Redwood City Library
 
Cities for All Ages: Land Use Planning & Our Aging Population
Tuesday, May 25, 6:30, Sunnyvale Community Center

Great speaker, close to home, FREE 
 
 
For more information about the above events and to RSVP, you can visit lomaprieta.sierraclub.org/bcfc_events.asp

 
Save the date:  A sunnyvale resident has organized a seminar given by herbalist/botanist Tellur Fenner on edible weeds of the Bay Area. If you have weeds and don't want to spray, this is a perfect opportunity to learn how to use them both as food and as an aid to healing.When: June 12, 10am-5pmWhere: Conference Room, Toyota of Sunnyvale, 898 West El Camino Real, Sunnyvale, CA 94087Cost: $40 with pre-registration, $45 at the doorWhat to bring: lunch, water, notebook, camera, hat. Space limited RSVP to fragrantgarden@ yahoo.com.
 
Action Item: Please contact Barbara to volunteer to help with composting/recycling education at the Sunnyvale Art and Wine Festival, Saturday and Sunday, June 5 and 6. 
 
Must See Video (really):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8lt5mHJE68
Alec Loorz on climate action.