07.24.12 Commission on the Environment Agenda

CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO

COMMISSION ON THE ENVIRONMENT

NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA

TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012, 5:00 P.M.

CITY HALL, ROOM 416

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102

 

COMMISSION MEMBERS:  Commissioners Matt Tuchow (President), Ruth Gravanis (Vice-President), Angelo King, Alan Mok, Heather Stephenson, Johanna Wald

 

ORDER OF BUSINESS

 

Public comment will be taken before the Commission takes action on any item.

 

1. Call to Order and Roll Call.

 

2. Approval of Minutes of the May 22, 2012 Commission on the Environment Meeting. (Explanatory Document: May 22, 2012 Draft Minutes) (Discussion and Action)

 

3. Public Comments:  Members of the public may address the Commission on matters that are within the Commission’s jurisdiction and are not on today’s agenda.

 

4. Discussion on San Francisco's Being Named Cleantech Capital of North America by the Cleantech Group.  (Explanatory Documents:  Press Release, SF Cleantech Capital of North America Presentation, and Cleantech Office of Economic and Workforce Development Presentation) Sponsor:  Commissioner Matt Tuchow; Speakers:  Todd Rufo, Deputy Director, Office of Economic and Workforce Development and Sara Strope, Cleantech Group (Informational Report and Discussion)

 

5. Review and Approval of Draft Resolution No. File 2012-04-COE approving Department of the Environment Funding Recommendations for 2012-13 Zero Waste Grants. (Explanatory Documents: Zero Waste Program Funding Recommendations for 2012-13 Grant Awards and Draft Resolution File 2012-04-COE) Sponsor:  David Assmann, Deputy Director; Speakers:  Kevin Drew, Residential Zero Waste and Special Projects Coordinator and Alexa Kielty, Residential Zero Waste and Special Projects Assistant (10 minutes) (Discussion and Action)

 

6. New Environment Staff Introductions and Program Update. Staff Speakers:  Donald Oliveira, Outreach Program Manager and EnvironmentNow Staff (15 minutes) (Informational Presentation and Discussion)

 

7. Department of the Environment’s Website Redesign Update.  (Explanatory Document:  Website Presentation) Sponsor: Melanie Nutter, Director;  Staff Speakers: Zoey Kroll, Internet Communications Manager and Jesse Woltjer, Internet Communications Coordinator Assistant (10 minutes) (Informational Report and Discussion)

 

8. Update on the Commission on the Environment’s Annual Retreat on August 23, 2012.  Sponsor and Speaker:  Melanie Nutter, Director (Discussion)

 

9. Operations Committee Report. (Information and Discussion)

Chair’s Report:   Highlights of the July 18, 2012 meeting.

 

10. Policy Committee Report. (Information and Discussion)

Chairs Report:  Highlights of the June 11 and July 9, 2012 meetings and review of the agenda for the August 13, 2012 meeting to be held at City Hall, Room 421.

 

11. Commission Secretary’s Report. (Explanatory Document: Commission Secretary’s Report) (Information and Discussion)

         Monica Fish, Commission Secretary

• Communications and Correspondence
• Update on City Legislation

12. Director’s Report. (Explanatory Document:  Director's Report) Updates on Department of the Environment administrative and programmatic operations relating to Budget Planning, Strategic Planning, Clean Air/Transportation, Climate, Energy, Public Outreach and Education, Environmental Justice, Habitat Restoration, Green Building, Zero Waste, Toxics Reduction, and Urban Forestry. (Explanatory Document: Director’s Report) (Information and Discussion)

 

13. Announcements.  (Information and Discussion)

 

14. President’s Announcements.  (Information and Discussion)

 

15. New Business/Future Agenda Items. (Information, Discussion and Possible Action)

 

16. Public Comments:  Members of the public may address the Commission on matters that are within the Commission’s jurisdiction and are not on today’s agenda.

 

17. Adjournment.

 

Monica Fish, Commission Secretary; TEL:  (415) 355-3709; FAX: (415) 554-6393

 

 ** Copies of explanatory documents are available at (1) the Commission’s office, 11 Grove Street, San Francisco, California between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., (2) on the Commission’s website http://www.sfenvironment.org/commission/agendas; (3) upon request to the Commission Secretary, at telephone number 415-355-3709, or via e-mail at [email protected] within three business days of a meeting. If any materials related to an item on this agenda have been distributed to the Commission after distribution of the agenda packet, those materials are available for public inspection at the Department of the Environment, 11 Grove Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 during normal office hours or will be made available on the Commission’s website http://www.sfenvironment.org/commission/agendas as attachments to the agenda or meeting minutes.

 

Important Information

 

The ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers and similar sound-producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting.  Please be advised that the Chair may order the removal from the meeting room of any person(s) responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager, or other similar sound-producing electronic devices.

 

NOTE: Persons unable to attend the meeting may submit to the Commission on the Environment, by the time the proceedings begin, written comments regarding the agenda items above. These comments will be made a part of the official public record and shall be brought to the attention of the Commission on the Environment members. Any written comments should be sent to: Commission Secretary of the Environment, 11 Grove Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 by 5:00 p.m. on the day prior to the hearing.  Comments that cannot be delivered to the Commission Secretary by that time may be taken directly to the hearing at the location above.  When bringing handouts to meetings, please photocopy on both sides of the paper and try to use post-consumer recycled or tree-free paper.  Also, please bring sufficient copies of handouts for the Commission, the Commission Secretary and the public.

Public Comment

At this time, members of the public may address the Commission on items of interest that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Commission but are not on today’s agenda.  Public comment will be taken following each agendized item.  Each member of the public may address the Commission for up to three minutes, unless otherwise announced by the President. If it is demonstrated that the comments by the public will exceed 15 minutes, the President may continue Public Comment to another time during the meeting.

 

The Brown Act forbids the Commission from taking action or discussing any item or issue not appearing on the posted agenda.  This rule applies to issues raised in public comment as well.   In response to public comment, not on an agendized item, the Commission is limited to:

1. Briefly responding to statements made or questions posed by members of the public, or
2. Request staff to report back on a matter at a subsequent meeting, or
3. Directing staff to place the item or issue on a future agenda (Government Code Section 54954.2(a).)

 

Disability Access

The Commission on the Environment meeting will be held at City Hall, Room 416 in the Civic Center Area.  The Commission meeting room is wheelchair accessible.  The closest accessible BART station is the Civic Center Station at United Nations Plaza and Market Street.  Accessible MUNI lines serving this location are: #71 Haight/Noriega and the F Line to Market and Van Ness and the Metro Stations at Van Ness and Market and at Civic Center.  For information about MUNI accessible services call (415) 923-6142.  There is accessible curbside parking adjacent to City Hall on Grove Street and Van Ness Avenue and in the vicinity of the Veterans Building at 401 Van Ness Avenue adjacent to Davies Hall and the War Memorial Complex.

 

In order to assist the City's efforts to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illnesses, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical based products.  Please help the City accommodate these individuals.  Individuals with chemical sensitivity or related disabilities should call the Mayor’s Office on Disability at (415) 554-6789 or (415) 554-6799 (TTY) for additional information.

 

The following services are available on request 48 hours prior to the meeting; except for Monday meetings, for which the deadline shall be 4:00 p.m. of the last business day of the preceding week:  For American sign language interpreters or the use of a reader during a meeting, a sound enhancement system, and/or alternative formats of the agenda and minutes, please contact Monica Fish at (415) 355-3709 to make arrangements for the accommodation.  Late requests will be honored, if possible.

 

Know your Rights under the Sunshine Ordinance

(Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code)

 

Government’s duty is to serve the public, reaching its decisions in full view of the public.  Commissions, boards, councils, and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people’s business.  This ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people and that City operations are open to the people’s review.  For more information on your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance or to report a violation of the ordinance, contact the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, Sunshine Task Force Administrator, City Hall, Room 409, One Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA  94102-4683 at Phone No.: (415) 554-7724; Fax No.: (415) 554-7854; E-mail: [email protected].  Copies of the Sunshine Ordinance can be obtained from the Clerk of the Sunshine Task Force, the San Francisco Public Library and on the City’s website at www.sfgov.org.

 

Lobbyist Registration and Reporting Requirements

Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance [SF Campaign & Governmental Conduct Code §2.100, et. seq] to register and report lobbying activity.  For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the Ethics Commission at: 25 Van Ness Avenue, 2^nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94102; telephone (415) 252-3100, fax (415) 252-3112, web site at www.sfgov.org/ethics.

 

Posted:  July 17, 2012