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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-05-10 SSC MinutesCITY OF CHUTA VISTA REGULAR MEETING OF THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION Meeting Minutes May 10, 2021, 5:00 p.m. Virtual, Via Teleconference Present: Commissioner Baugh, Commissioner Guevara-Gluyas, Commissioner Richeson, Commissioner Rodriguez, Vice Chair Legaspi, Chair Mathias Absent: Commissioner Korgan Others Present Deputy City Attorney Silva, City Clerk Bigelow and Conservation Specialist Downs Pursuant to the Governor of the State of California's Executive Order N-29-20, and in the interest of public health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the Sustainability Commission and staff participated in this meeting via teleconference. All votes were taken by roll call. The agenda items were considered in the order presented, except for item 6. 1, which was removed from the agenda. 1. CALL TO ORDER A regular meeting of the Sustainability Commission of the City of Chula Vista was called to order at 5:06 p.m. via teleconference. 2. ROLL CALL Secretary Rodriguez called the roll. 3. CONSENT CALENDAR (Items 3.1-3.3) 1 Chair Matthias called for a two -minute pause to allow members of the public to submit any final electronic comments on the items on the consent calendar. Secretary Rodriguez announced four comments had been received in favor of item 3.1 Climate Equity Index Report. - Noah Harris - Carolyn Scofield - Ruth Jordan - Rita Clement Moved by Commissioner Richeson Seconded by Commissioner Guevara-Gluyas To approve the recommended actions on the below consent calendar items. The motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes (6): Commissioner Baugh, Commissioner Guevara-Gluyas, Commissioner Richeson, Commissioner Rodriguez, Vice Chair Legaspi, and Chair Mathias Carried (6 to 0) 3.1 APPROVAL OF REGULAR MEETING MINUTES of APRIL 12, 2021 3.2 WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS Commission excuse the absence 3.3 CLIMATE EQUITY INDEX REPORT Commission approve updated draft report and recommend to City Council 4. PUBLIC COMMENTS Chair Matthias called for a two -minute pause to allow members of the public to submit any final electronic comments. Secretary Rodriguez announced that no electronic comments had been received and no comments had been received via email. 5. PRESENTATIONS 5.1 CLARIFICATION ON CREATION AND DRAFTING OF SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEMS 2 Deputy City Attorney Silva presented on the Brown Act requirements of an agenda. The agenda provides a description of the activity taking place in twenty words or less to give the opportunity to the members of the public to participate or provide comments. The way an item is added to an agenda is by first the Chair, secondly the City Attorney or City Staff and finally by commission members. A commissioner would need to have an item approved for a future agenda by vote in a public meeting. He also shares with the commission that the city is now using a new system, eScribe to produce agendas. City Clerk Bigelow also clarified that staff recommendations are not part of agenda items but are provided to inform the public of possible actions that could be taken on agenda items. Chair Matthias called for a two -minute pause to allow members of the public to submit any final electronic comments. Secretary Rodriguez announced that no electronic comments had been received and not comments had been received via email. Hear the presentation and provide input. 5.2 ASSEMBLY BILL 881 Legislative Director of the Office of Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, Laurel Brodzinsky presented on Assembly Bill 881. She shared how historically diversion and recycling goals have been met by exporting our waste. Exporting to countries that do not have the infrastructure to properly manage waste and causing plastics exports to end up back in the environment. AB881 would classify exports as disposal instead of recycling unless it meets strict criteria in conformance with the international Basal Convention which would allow for exports of bales of polyethylene to count as recycling. Chair Matthias called for a two -minute pause to allow members of the public to submit any final electronic comments. Secretary Rodriguez announced that no electronic comments had been received and no comments had been received via email. Hear the presentation and provide input. 6. ACTION ITEMS 6.1 DISCUSSION AND ACTION ON THE PROPOSSED REVISIONS TO AMMEND CHULA VISTA MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTERS 2.32.060 "MEMBERSHIP" RELATED TO THE GOVERNANCE OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA'S SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION 3 This item was removed from the agenda per City Attorney Silva. 6.2 DISCUSSION AND VOTE ON A NEW MEMBER TO JOIN THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY DECLARATION SUBCOMMITTEE Environmental Sustainability Manager Wisniewski provide a quick update on the history of the item. The commission decided to form a two -person subcommittee which have meet over the past months. Currently there is only one member requiring a new member. Commissioner Legaspi volunteered to be the new subcommittee member. Chair Matthias called for a two -minute pause to allow members of the public to submit any final electronic comments. Secretary Rodriguez announced that no electronic comments had been received and no comments had been received via email. Moved by Commissioner Richeson Seconded by Commissioner Baugh Move to appoint Commissioner Legaspi to the Climate Emergency Declaration Subcommittee. Yes (6): Commissioner Baugh, Commissioner Guevara-Gluyas, Commissioner Richeson, Commissioner Rodriguez, Vice Chair Legaspi, and Chair Mathias Carried (6 to 0) OTHER BUSINESS 7. STAFF COMMENTS Environmental Sustainability Manger Wisniewski provided an update on the South Bay Earth Day at Home event. Conservation Specialist Downs provided an update on the Chula Vista Building Decarbonization working group. The group's recommendations were approved by City Council on 4/20/21 and the next steps were shared with the commission. Environmental Services Manager Medrano provided an update on where the plastics that are collected in Chula Vista being sent to. For the most part EDCO is the company that processes all our plastics and they have strong markets for these. 8. CHAIR'S COMMENTS CI There were none. 9. COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS Vice -Chair Legaspi shared he had his first meeting with Supervisor Nora Vargas, and they will have future meetings as she is very interested and engaged to the Sustainability Commission. Commissioner Richeson shared information from his recent Wildlife Advisory Group (WAG) meeting. The group discussed four items with Gaylord of the Pacific which is building the convention center. Commissioner Rodriguez shared she has now taken a permanent position with the Navy as an oceanographer, but she maintains her affiliation with UCSD's center for climate change impacts and adaptation. 10. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7.04 p.m. Minutes prepared by: Monica Rodriguez, Secretary