HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust 6ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES COMMITTEE
Regular Meeting Minutes
Date: August 6, 2020 at 6:30pm
Location: TELECONFERENCE SPECIAL NOTICE
Pursuant to Executive Order N-29-20:
1.Call to Order (roll call)
Attended: Srini Srinivasan (SrS), Jolie Wu (JW), Pat Lang (PL), Steve Schmidt (StS), Sasha Zbrozek
(SZ), Aileen Lee (AL), April Anair (AN)
New Member: Vrinda Bhandarkar
Council Observer: Michelle Wu, George Tyson
Resident: Anand R
Guests: Bruce Karney (Mountain View), Andre Doorvoort (Cupertino)
2.Approval of Minutes
Committee voted unanimously to approve Minutes of July Meeting of EIC
3.Utility User Tax (UUT): Bruce Karney
Presentation: Bruce is a 40-yr resident of Mountain View and is Chair of Carbon Free Mountain
View initiative. Bruce made the case for LAH to consider charging Utlity User Tax on Natural Gas.
His presentation is attached.
Discussion:
Several Bay Area cities, including Portola Valley charge UUT. If LAH applied the same rate of
UUT as Portola Valley, it is estimated that the city can raise $1,575k / year in additional revenue.
The benefit of being able to use the same to partially fund the undergrounding project was
recognized. Bruce was questioned about the availability of evidence to show that UUT has
reduced the emission of GHG. The committee also acknowledged the need to understand the
impact of a potential UUT on residents in different economic segments.
Action:
StS to publish information on UUT across Utilities to EIC
SrS to include evaluation of UUT in September EIC Meeting Agenda
4. Undergrounding Power Cables Update
Project is considered to be done in two phases : Ice-Breaker and Ocean-Liner
i.Ice-Breaker project Engineering has commenced
ii.Up to 5000’ from the Fire station will be undergrounded
iii.Concern was expressed about using the location of Ice-Breaker project to be an
indicator of cost for the rest of the town. The terrain is particular harsh in the
Fire station area.
6.EIC Seminar
Not discussed
7.GHG Inventory : Next Steps
Awaiting update from city staff
8.Sustainability Management in Cupertino: Andre Doorvoort
Presentation: Andre presented Cupertino’s Climate Action Plan and its approach to
Environmental Initiatives (Presentation attached).
Discussion:
Contrasted with Los Altos Hills, Cupertino is staffed more heavily and has a blend of
residential and commercial stakeholders, which then influence the agenda and initiatives
differently.
Andre and their staff have offered their assistance and advice as needed by LAH.
Action: Review the relevance of Cupertino’s initiatives to LAH and add appropriately to 2020
EIC Agenda.
9.Topics of Interest / Open Discussion
10.Next EIC meeting:September 3, 2020
11.Adjournment