March 2010 Sunnyvale Cool Green Letter, Part II

SunnyvaleCool Green E-Letter
Environmental News and Comment from SunnyvaleCool
March, 2010
Part II
 
 
City of Sunnyvale  launches Sustainable Sunnyvale Environmental E-Newsletter
 
The Sunnyvale municipal government recently launched the quarterly Sustainable Sunnyvale e-newsletter.  To keep up to date with the City's environmental efforts, sign up at:  http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?v=001HTk7N6nZumK610ouvUfH0Q%3D%3D  (Please note that Sustainable Sunnyvale is produced by the city government staff.  The Sunnyvale Cool Green Letter, which you are reading now, is a monthly effort of SunnyvaleCool, an all-volunteer group of Sunnyvale residents, organizing locally to protect environment for future generations.) Readers of this letter might also be interested in the City's Recycling and Solid Waste web-site at: recyclinginsunnyvale.com .
 
 
Sunnyvale's Urban Forest
 
Last Thursday, March 18, the City held a public meeting at Fair Oaks Park to discuss the creation of Sunnyvale's first Urban Forest Master Plan and introduce the consultants hired to assist with the plan.  The meeting was hosted by Leonard Dunn, Program Manager for Street Tree Services and Concrete Maintenance.  Seven residents attended. 
 
Leonard Dunn reminded us that the Tree/Sidewalk staff has been greatly reduced due to current and previous budget cuts. Therefore, rather than pruning city street trees on a 3, 4, or 5 year cycle, trees are currently pruned only when they are becoming a potential danger. 
 
Leonard also pointed out the advantages of forming a resident non-profit group as some surrounding cities have done to work to extend and protect our urban forest in Sunnyvale.  Such a group is often more successful than government agencies in getting grants approved.
 
The City of Sunnyvale has received a State grant to develop its first Urban Forest Master Plan. A consultant as been hired to help develop this plan. The consultants from Phytosphere ( http://phytosphere.com/CaUFC/Vision.html) began with an inventory of the tree population in Sunnyvale.  Some findings the consultants presented at the meeting: 

• Sunnyvale is home to a good diversity of trees.
• Between 11 and 12% of potential street-side planting sites are vacant.
• The City's street-side trees remove as much greenhouse gas pollution as is generated by the entire fleet of Sunnyvale's city government.
• Trees also retain storm water, absorb air pollution, and increase property values. These and other benefits result in a net benefit of $1.5 million after subtracting the cost of repairing damage trees cause to sidewalks.

Currently community outreach is underway to determine what the residents would like in our city's urban forest plan.
 
If you would like to be added to the City's Urban Forest outreach list, invited to the Trees google group or help with the Street Trees both at the City's Earth Day Celebration, please contact Leonard Dunn: LDunn@ci.sunnyvale
 
 
New Chamber of Commerce CEO arrives with green credentials
 
The recently- appointed CEO of the Chamber of  Commerce, Don Eagleston, "is an advocate of businesses that provide essential service to the community, as well as mixed-use developments designed to take advantage of livable-walkable communities, well-planned transit solutions and historic preservation...He is the only Chamber Chief Executive Officer to be certified in Environmental Planning and ecotourism." Full Chamber of Commerce press release:  http://www.svcoc.org/CEO%20release.doc  Sounds like a great match for Sunnyvale which strives to be a regional leader in Sustainability.
 
 
Help Sunnyvale be selected for Google's super-fast internet network
 
Log onto http://www.google.com/appserve/fiberrfi/public/options and tell Google why they should choose our fair city as the site of their ultra high speed broadband network. From the City's Press release: "The City of Sunnyvale has applied to be the city in which Google will build a new ultra-fast Internet service. According to Google, the fiber-optic system will operate at 1 gigabit per second, about 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to. The city that receives this network will gain not only a benefit to residents, but an attractive feature to businesses looking for computer connectivity." The City's press release continues: http://sunnyvale.ca.gov/News+Releases/2010+News+Releases/02+08+10.htm 
 
Selection for this network could be a huge boon for our city.  Why not take a few minutes to weigh in?

More Upcoming Events (and two previously listed)!

Anaerobic digestion presentation.  Wednesday, March 24, 7 PM at World Centric, 2121 Staunton Court in Palo Alto.  World Centric is located behind JJ&F Market.  Palo Alto is considering  anaerobic digestion to capture the energy in organic waste and convert it to electricity.  It is thought that processing city waste this way would save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, generate green electricity, and save money in Palo Alto.
 

Extreme Ice. Wednesday, March 24, 8 PM, KQED TV.  National Geographic photographer documents  the surprising pace of glacial melting. http://www.jamesbalog.com/pages/home.php  Also available on-line.
 
City of Sunnyvale Shredding Event: Saturday, March 27, 8 AM-11 PM, SMaRT station.  http://sunnyvale.ca.gov/Departments/Public+Works/Solid+Waste+and+Recycling/Shredding+Events.htm

 
2010 Earth Hour. 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 27. Last year, about 80 million North Americans and more than 300 cities took part in Earth Hour, turning-off  their lights for an hour to symbolize their support for the environment, energy conservation, and in recognition of climate change.  To learn more and sign up:  https://www.myearthhour.org/home
 
Brown Bag Workshop: Going Green (for Businesses).  Wednesday, April 7, noon-1:30 PM, Juniper Networks.  http://sunnyvale.ca.gov/NR/rdonlyres/34953A3A-5685-4C4D-9F84-239ED4D8B72C/0/SunnyvaleGreenBizFlyerv04.pdf   Beverages and dessert provided!  To register:  MLindemuth@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us  Sponsored by the Cities of Mountain View and Sunnyvale and hosted by Juniper Networks, a Green Certified Business.
 
San Francisco Green Festival, Saturday and Sunday, April 10 &11, Concourse Exhibition Center. Free to Global Exchange and Green America  (formerly Co-op America) members, students with ID, youth 18 and younger and volunteers. Others $15 for both days, $10 for one day http://www.greenfestivals.org/
 
Great American Litter Pick Ups. Saturday, April 17, 9 AM-noon.

• City of Sunnyvale sponsored:  Locations:  Columbia Neighborhood Center, Fair Oaks Park and Lakewood. Gloves, pick-up sticks, safety vests, and bags will be available for our volunteers. Also, in cooperation with Sunnyvale Parks staff, park maintenance and beautification activities needing volunteer help will occur at these locations on this date. http://sunnyvale.ca.gov/Departments/Public+Works/Water+Pollution+Control+Plant/news+and+events.htm For more information and to register for a location, please call the City of Sunnyvale's Environmental Outreach Division at (408) 730-7717, TDD (408) 730-7501 or e-mail wpcp@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us.   
• City of Mountain View/Friends of Stevens Creek Trail sponsored.  Meet at Whisman Park, 310 Easy Street, Mountain View, off Middlefield between 85 and Whisman. Dirty work: wear sturdy shoes, long sleeves/pants, and a hat for sun protection. Kids may do painting!  Food and refreshments provided.  Rain or shine.  Youths from 6018 welcome with responsible adult guardian.  Multiple youths okay with each adult guardian if adult agrees and signs waivers. RSVP requested for planning, but not required.  For more info:  650.903.6067, www.stevenscreektrail.org, ed@stevenscreektrail.org

City-wide Garage Sale.  Saturday, April 17, 9 AM-4 PM.  To be included in the newspaper ad or in outreach materials, please register by April 5:  http://ecityhall.sunnyvale.ca.gov/contact/pwgs.aspx
 
Charles Street Gardens Plant Sale and Open House. Charles Street Garden, 433 Charles Street, Saturday, April 17, 9 AM-3 PM. FREE class, "Planting Your Summer Garden," at  10:30 AM and 1 PM. http://www.charlesstreetgardens.org/ 
 
Earth Day Fest 2010 at Full Circle Farm. Sunday, April 18, 10 AM-2 PM, 1055 Dunford Way.  Kids activities, entertainment, presentations and demonstrations of eco-friendly products and programs, tours of the Farm, a petting zoo, guest speakers.  http://www.fullcirclesunnyvale.org/?p=989
 
City of Sunnyvale Earth Day Celebration. Saturday, April 24, 10 AM- 2 PM, Plaza del Sol. Entertainment by ZunZun (environmental education group), hands-on composting and bike safety demos, kids' parade of recycled-content costumes, display of the City's alternative fuel vehicles, generations fashion show, green business showcase, booths and displays, thermometer exchange, tree planting.  The Chamber of Commerce will join the City's Celebration this year. http://sunnyvale.ca.gov/Departments/Public+Works/Solid+Waste+and+Recycling/Earth+Day+Event.htm
 

 
Please consider inviting friends to these events.  And please feel free to forward this e-letter.