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Home My WebLink About2024-09-09 SSC Agenda PacketDate: Monday, September 9, 2024 Time: 5:00 p.m. Location: City Hall, Bldg. C, Conference Room B-111 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, CA Sustainability Commission Regular Meeting Public Comments: Public comments may be submitted to the Sustainability Commission in the following ways: •In-Person comments during the meeting. Join us for the Sustainability Commission meeting at the time and location specified on this agenda to make your comments. Each person will be allotted three (3) minutes to address the Board. •Submit an eComment. Visit www.chulavistaca.gov/boardmeetings, locate this meeting and click on the comment bubble icon. Click on the item you wish to comment on, and then click on "Leave Comment." •Email comments. Submit comments via email to SSC@chulavistaca.gov. The commenting period will close at noon on the day of the meeting. All comments will be made available to the Board and the public. Accessibility: Individuals with disabilities are invited to request modifications or accommodations in order to access and/or participate in a Sustainability Commission meeting by contacting the Office of the Economic Development at SSC@chulavistaca.gov (California Relay Service is available for the hearing impaired by dialing 711) at least forty-eight hours in advance of the meeting. City of Chula Vista Sustainability Commission Page 2 of 3 September 9, 2024 Agenda 1.CALL TO ORDER 2.ROLL CALL Commissioners Alatorre, Buquiran, Costello, Guevara-Gluyas, Knox, Salazar, Sharkey, and Chair Korgan 3.PUBLIC COMMENTS Persons may address the Commission on any subject matter within the Commission’s jurisdiction that is not listed as an item on the agenda. State law generally prohibits the Commission from discussing or taking action on any issue not included on the agenda, but, if appropriate, the Commission may schedule the topic for future discussion or refer the matter to staff. If you wish to speak on any item, please fill out a "Request to Speak" form and submit it to the Secretary prior to the meeting or submit an electronic comment per the instructions on page one of this agenda. 4.PRESENTATIONS The following item(s) will be presentations given to the Commission. Action on these item(s) is typically limited to the Commission receiving the presentation and providing direction or feedback to staff, as appropriate. 4.1 Introduction of New Commissioner Dr. Eleuterio Buquiran 4.2 Edible Food Rescue Efforts in Chula Vista in Compliance with Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383 Lara, Chapter 395, Statues of 2016) Presenter: Dave DiDonato, Recycling Specialist 5.ACTION ITEMS The Item(s) listed in this section of the agenda will be considered individually by the Commission and are expected to elicit discussion and deliberation. If you wish to speak on any item, please fill out a "Request to Speak" form and submit it to the Secretary prior to the meeting or submit an electronic comment per the instructions on page one of this agenda. 5.1 Approval of Meeting Minutes of July 8, 2024 Recommended Action: Commission review and approve meeting minutes 5.2 Elect New Vice-Chair for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Recommended Action: Commission elect new Vice-Chair for fiscal year 2024-2025 5.3 Commission Draft Memo on Artificial Turf Policy Recommendations Presenters: Commissioner Salazar and Sharkey Recommended Action: Review draft memo, provide recommendations as appropriate and foward to City Council City of Chula Vista Sustainability Commission Page 3 of 3 September 9, 2024 Agenda OTHER BUSINESS 6.STAFF COMMENTS 7.CHAIR'S COMMENTS 8.COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS 9.ADJOURNMENT to the regular meeting on October 14, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Materials provided to the Sustainability Commission related to any open-session item on this agenda are available for public review by contacting the Economic Development Department at SSC@chulavistaca.gov. Edible Food Recovery Progress SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 1.Reduce organic waste disposal 75% by 2025 2.Rescue at least 20% of currently disposed edible food by 2025 SB 1383 and Food Recovery Prior to SB1383 Requirements 2018: Convened South Bay Food Recovery Group 2015-16: REACH (CHIP) increasing access to healthy foods and increasing opportunities for physical activity. April 2016: NRDC “Save the Food” AD campaign Rescue at least 20% of currently disposed edible food by 2025. SB 1383 and Food Recovery •Jurisdictions must establish food recovery programs and strengthen their existing food recovery networks •Commercial food generators must arrange to recover the maximum amount of their edible food that would otherwise go to landfills •Foo d Recovery Organizations (FRO’s) and services (FRS’s) that participate in SB 1383 must maintain records Jurisdictions must establish food recovery programs and strengthen their existing food recovery networks •Provide education and outreach to tier one and tier two commercial edible food generators (2/1/22) •Assess food recovery capacity and plan for additional capacity if needed •Inspect T1 & T2 commercial edible food generators -Established contract for food recovery -Maintaining records •Post (FRO) contact information on website for generators •FRO’s & FRS’s that participate in SB 1383 must maintain records SB 1383 and Food Recovery Jurisdictions must establish food recovery programs and strengthen their existing food recovery networks •Provide education and outreach to tier one and tier two commercial edible food generators (2/1/22) -Contracted with Ekolojic Consulting Identify and educate all T1 (60) and T2 (45) CEFG’s Identify and educate all FRO’s (7) and FRS’s (1) Provide additional FW education to T1 & T2 CEFG’s SB 1383 and Food Recovery Jurisdictions must establish food recovery programs and strengthen their existing food recovery networks •Assess food recovery capacity and plan for additional capacity if needed -Two separate assessments 2020 (Baseline) 2024 Ekolojic assistance SB 1383 and Food Recovery -CV County CalRecycle -County has sufficient capacity •Inspect T1 & T2 commercial edible food generators -Established contract for food recovery -Maintaining records a. Name of FRO/FRS b. Frequency c. Type d. Amount SB 1383 and Food Recovery Jurisdictions must establish food recovery programs and strengthen their existing food recovery networks •Provide education and outreach to tier one and tier two commercial edible food generators (2/1/22) •Assess food recovery capacity and plan for additional capacity if needed •Inspect T1 & T2 commercial edible food generators -Established contract for food recovery -Maintaining records •Post (FRO) contact information on website for generators •FRO’s & FRS’s that participate in SB 1383 must maintain records Jurisdictions must establish food recovery programs and strengthen their existing food recovery networks SB 1383 and Food Recovery FRO’s and FRS’s in Chula Vista Questions? David DiDonato, Recycling Specialist II Environmental Services ddidonato@chulavistaca.gov 1 REGULAR MEETING OF THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION Meeting Minutes July 8, 2024, 5:00 p.m. City Hall, Bldg. C, Conference Room B-111 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, CA Present: Raymundo Alatorre, John Knox, Chair Korgan, Hayley Salazar, Jeanine Sharkey Absent: Commissioner Guevara-Gluyas Also Present: Abigail Costello, Environmental Sustainability Manager Wisniewski, Environmental Services Manager Medrano Others Present Deputy City Manager Courtney Chase _____________________________________________________________________ 1.CALL TO ORDER A regular meeting of the Sustainability Commission of the City of Chula Vista was called to order at 5:07 p.m. in Conference Room B-111 located in City Hall, 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista California. 2.ROLL CALL Environmental Services Manager Medrano called the roll. 3.PUBLIC COMMENTS No public comments submitted 4.PRESENTATIONS DR A F T 2 4.1 Keeping Chula Vista Safe, Clean and Well-Maintained, A Status Update on Measure P Deputy City Manager Chase shared a status update on Measure P. The measure is 1/2 cent sales tax on retail sales that was voter approved on November 2, 2016 for a ten-year period which is set to expire in 2027. Chase shared some of the approved expenditure plan priorities, 42% were city infrastructure projects, 37% public safety projects and 21% public facility renovations. The sales tax revenues were originally estimated to generate $16 million per year but in 2023 revenue estimates are projected to generate >$25 million per year. The measure is overseen by the Measure P Citizens' Oversight Committee which is comprised of nine at- large members. The focus of the committee is to review and report on city compliance with the provisions of the measure. A ballot measure was approved by Council to renew this source of funding for an additional 10 years at the current rate without raising taxes. Chase concluded by going over the ballot measure planning and answering question from the commission. 5.ACTION ITEMS 5.1 Approval of Meeting Minutes of May 13, 2024 Moved by Raymundo Alatorre Seconded by John Knox Motion to approve the meeting minutes of May 13, 2024 Yes (5): Raymundo Alatorre, John Knox, Chair Korgan, Hayley Salazar, and Jeanine Sharkey Result:Carried (5 to 0) 5.2 Chula Vista's Single-Use Plastics Ban Draft Environmental Services Manager Medrano went over the requested and approved changes from the original single-use plastic ban draft. He shared that he reached out to the Surfrider Foundation, but no real direction was provided as for the single-use plastic definition. Public comment submitted by resident Matthias Moved by Chair Korgan Seconded by Hayley Salazar DR A F T 3 Motion to approve the draft updates Yes (5): Raymundo Alatorre, John Knox, Chair Korgan, Hayley Salazar, and Jeanine Sharkey Result:Carried (5 to 0) 5.3 Policy Recommendation on the Use of Artificial Turf Public comment submitted by resident Matthias Moved by Jeanine Sharkey Seconded by Hayley Salazar Motion to elect Commissioner Salazar and Sharkey to draft memo on artificial turf policy Yes (5): Raymundo Alatorre, John Knox, Chair Korgan, Hayley Salazar, and Jeanine Sharkey Result:Carried (5 to 0) 5.4 Elect New Chair and Vice Chair for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Moved by Chair Korgan Seconded by John Knox Motion to elect Chair Korgan to continue serving as Chair and elect a Vice-Chair next meeting Yes (5): Raymundo Alatorre, John Knox, Chair Korgan, Hayley Salazar, and Jeanine Sharkey Result:Carried (5 to 0) OTHER BUSINESS 6.STAFF COMMENTS Environmental Services Manager Medrano shared information on the Beautify event Environmental Sustainability Manager Wisniewski shared information on the $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy DR A F T 4 7.CHAIR'S COMMENTS Chair Korgan spoke on Measure P 8.COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS 9.ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:15 p.m. Minutes prepared by: Monica Rodriguez, Secretary _________________________ Monica Rodriguez, Secretary DR A F T August 5, 2024 Dear Honorable Mayor and Council: The City of Chula Vista’s Sustainability Commission would respectiully like to bring your attentfon to the use of artfficial turf throughout the City of Chula Vista. Artfficial turf is being marketed as a panacea to issues concerning the residentfal landscape, mainly by reducing reliance on irrigatfon water in a tfme of drought. Facts that fail to be mentfoned are its contributfon to local temperature rise, increasing pollutfon in the form of microplastfcs, and habitat loss. As a petrochemical product, artfficial turf is derived from oil. The heat it generates is detrimental on a widespread scale, as well as to the health of our community. Studies show the temperature of artfficial turf can be around 50˚ F hotter than natural grass and can be 70˚ F hotter than air temperatures.1 Artfficial turf causes the temperature to rise even at the residentfal scale, and this increase necessitates the use of even more water to keep adjacent trees and plants alive. Assuming artfficial turf requires no irrigatfon, reduces water availability to nearby existfng shade providing trees, negatfvely affectfng them and further reducing the shade, and again increasing temperatures. With increased temperatures comes a heavier reliance and strain on air conditfoning, electricity, and the electric grid. Artfficial turf is made using a variety of plastfcs which when combined look like natural grass. It’s usually a mixture of nylon, polypropylene, and polyethylene, with crumb rubber making the plastfc “grasses” stand vertfcally. Crumb rubber is typically derived from used tfres and is a source of pollutfon in the form of microplastfcs, also known as PFAS, or forever chemicals, which according to the Environmental Protectfon Agency have been “linked to cancers, impacts to the liver and heart, and immune and developmental damage to infants and children.”2 At a tfme when we are becoming more informed on the unknown detriment of microplastfcs in our environment, it seems contradictory that we should allow untold amounts to be actfvely put in residentfal, school, and storefront gardens just for aesthetfc convenience. Additfonally, because artfficial turf has a 10 – 15-year lifespan, and is not recyclable and does not fully biodegrade, it will ultfmately take up space in our Otay landfill and potentfally reduce its life expectancy. Bees, butterflies, moths, and other insects and animals provide pollinatfon across the globe in additfon to other ecosystem services. As Chula Vista is becoming increasingly urbanized, the City is losing acres of open space to development and housing. This reduces habitat opportunitfes for pollinators that we rely on. Recent focus on the Monarch butterfly and increased awareness of bee decline has made more people aware of the fragility of natural systems. Dedicatfng land to artfficial turf which provides negatfve environmental support to pollinators suggests this product has a greater value than the myriad services nature provides. During the 2015 drought, Governor Brown signed a law prohibitfng citfes from preventfng homeowners from installing low water landscapes, and this included artfficial turf. However, in October 2023, Governor Newsom amended that law so it only applies to “living plant material”, specifically excluding artfficial turf.3 Senator Ben Allen who authored the bill said “Emerging research is making it clear that artfficial turf poses an environmental threat due to its lack of recyclability and presence of toxins such as lead and PFAS.”4 Since that tfme, the city of Millbrae in San Mateo County has already prohibited the use of artfficial turf,5 and San Marino in LA County has reportedly begun taking steps to follow suit. On an even larger scale, just last year the European Union banned the sale of items that add microplastfcs, thereby banning artfficial turf made with crumb rubber due to concerns on the “potentfal effects of human exposure.”6 It is in our City’s best interest to recognize that artfficial turf is inconsistent with our immediate and long- term Climate Actfon Plan goals. The aesthetfc benefits of artfficial turf should not be prioritfzed over temperature rise, plastfc pollutfon, or habitat loss. On behalf of the Sustainability Commission, we would like the opportunity to address City Council directly with a presentatfon at your earliest convenience. Sincerely, Jeanine Sharkey, Sustainability Commissioner, City of Chula Vista Hayley Salazar, Sustainability Commissioner, City of Chula Vista ____________________________________________________ 1. Abraham, J. (2019). Heat risks associated with synthetic athletic fields. International Journal of Hyperthermia, 36(1), 515–516. https://doi.org/10.1080/02656736.2019.1605096 2. EPA Press Office. (2024, April 19). Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes Critical Rule to Clean up PFAS Contamination to Protect Public Health. EPA. https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden- harris-administration-finalizes-critical-rule-clean-pfas-contamination-protect 3. Allen, B. (2023, October 10). California Legislative Information, SB-676 Local ordinances and regulations: drought-tolerant landscaping. Bill Text - SB-676 Local ordinances and regulations: drought-tolerant landscaping. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB676 4. Calmatters: Once hailed as a drought fix, California moves to restrict synthetic turf over health concerns. Senator Ben Allen. (2023, October 18). https://sd24.senate.ca.gov/news/media/calmatters-once-hailed-drought-fix-california-moves- restrict-synthetic-turf-over-health 5. Prohibition of artificial turf. Prohibition of Artificial Turf | Millbrae, CA. (2023, October 24). https://www.ci.millbrae.ca.us/276/Prohibition-of-Artificial-Turf 6. Zuccaro, P., Thompson, D. C., de Boer, J., Llompart, M., Watterson, A., Bilott, R., Birnbaum, L. S., & Vasiliou, V. (2024, February 1). The European Union Ban on Microplastics Includes Artificial Turf Crumb Rubber Infill: Other Nations Should Follow Suit. ACS Publications, Environmental Science and Technology. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.4c00047