January, 2009 Progress Report

Since our January 8 meeting...
At Ursula's suggestion, (thanks Ursula!) Ursula, Dan, Jim and Barb met on January 11 to discuss the study issues that were related to sustainability.  We settled on 16 that had an impact on greenhouse gas emissions.  Jim suggested we do an on-line poll and quickly worked up an on-line polling tool, complete with summaries of the issues, and posted it to the yahoo group.  Amit, Barb, Cathy, Dan, Jim, Kim, Margaret, Milina, and Ursula  studied the issues and weighed-in.  Jim tabulated and analyzed the results.  Barb wrote up a summary of the responses, adding brief arguments in favor, and sent our consensus to Council by e-mail Tuesday evening.  Thank you to all who participated in this advocacy, especially to Jim who made it possible for the whole group to inform themselves and rank the issues.  We'll see what the Council does on Friday.
 
Ursula conducted her first real Green @ Home audit.
 
Gary, Linda, and Barb attended the Sustainovation meeting in Palo Alto. Tony, from the Green Ribbon Committee, also attended. We heard from city employees working on sustainability in Palo Alto, Mountain View and Menlo Park.
 
Jim and Barb had a preliminary meeting with Coryn and Dustin.  They asked that we work on a list of speakers for a possible speakers' series.  And they asked that we help them find grants. Dustin is willing to meet with Sunnyvale Cool in the near future. (more below)
 
Barb attended a green building ordinance outreach meeting. (more below)
 
Amit and Milina made known potential grant opportunities, which were forwarded to the sustainability coordinator and followed-up by Mark. 
 
 
So where is the City?
Last year our city government took some significant steps: 

• Staff hired a our first full-time sustainability coordinator, who works in the Office of the City Manager. Dustin is currently updating the City operations and facilities (Corporate City) carbon footprint to enable us to report to Sustainable Silicon Valley, as per our voluntary commitment in '07.  (Since our first "Corporate City" footprint was completed by an outside consultant in early 07, this update also allows Dustin to learn the carbon audit process.)  He has also made an initial presentation to staff, presented during working hours, to explain what actions our city government is taking to become more sustainable. (It was well-received.) The City Government formed green teams whose members champion sustainable actions in their various departments. Staff expects to complete a community carbon audit by June 30.
• Council adopted new pay-as-you-throw-garbage rates, intended to reduce waste.
• Council adopted an individual water metering policy for apartments and manufactured-home parks, intended to reduce water usage.
• Council adopted a policy limiting the use of bottled water for city events.
• Council adopted a comprehensive green building policy, including new construction, remodels, and additions of municipal, commercial and residential buildings. The green building ordinance is currently being drawn up, now expected to go to Council in March and into effect in July.  Planning staff has held a number of outreach meetings attended by the designers, architects, contractors, the US Green Building Council representatives, and interested citizens.  Staff is developing this ordinance in consultation with the Green Building Council, other city governments, and the trade.

On the City agenda:

• revising the land use and transportation element of the general plan (underway).  As you know our land use decisions have a huge impact on vehicle miles traveled (VMT), which in  turn have a huge impact on greenhouse gas emissions.
• revising the housing element of the general plan (underway). One issue of importance in this regard according to the Planning and Conservation League is that housing be provided for all income levels to minimize VMT.
• pursing the zero waste study issue (in progress)
• organizing an Earth Day Celebration (underway)
• adopting the Green Building Ordinance (March?)
• conducting the community carbon audit (completion by June 30)
• continuing oversight of downtown construction 
• working through the use of the Onizuka land
• working on trees?
• working on those issues ranked highly in the study issue ranking process

And where is Sunnyvale Cool?

• Still following the city sustainability agenda, studying the issues, and weighing in.
• Still learning more about the planetary emergency we face and how to address it.
• Taking direct action by shrinking our own footprints and helping with the publicity and person-power for Green @ Home, a home energy efficiency program. http://www.acterra.org/programs/greenathome/index.html
• Looking for ways to engage the community, perhaps by helping community groups find ways to work on the challenge of our generation?

 
Hope to see you tomorrow, Thursday, January 22, 7:15 PM, at Toyota Sunnyvale (second floor classroom) as we decide on next steps, organize for future action, and decide whether we wish to participate in ACTerraGreen. http://www.acterra.org/programs/acterragreen/index.html   Agenda to follow.
 
Take care,
Barbara
 
What  we will do in the next two, three years will determine our future...This is the defining moment.
                                                                                    Rajendra Pachauri, Chairman
                                                                                    United Nations Intergovernmental Panel  on
                                                                                     Climate Change, Nobel Prize Recipient
                                                                                     (November, 2007)