Acting director reports Climate Action Month engagement, edible-food bill and $1.1M CalRecycle grant eligibility

Acting Director Tyrone Chu used the May 24 commission meeting to summarize Department of the Environment activity from March and April, including outreach metrics, policy updates, equity work and staffing changes.

Chu said the department’s Climate Action Month landing page catalogued 130 activities and ‘‘received 32,000 visitors,’’ an increase of about 15,000 from the prior year. The department also ran digital outreach that produced more than 34,000 clicks to event listings, hosted five live or virtual events with over 300 registered participants, held a youth day of service and ran a climate bike ride in Golden Gate Park. Chu added the department’s school outreach reached roughly 2,500 K–5 students and about 1,600 high-school students.

On policy, Chu reported that reporting deadlines for chicken, turkey and lamb under the department’s antibiotic-use-in-food-animal ordinance were postponed to May 31 while staff continue talks with the California Grocers Association. He said the department is advancing edible food recovery legislation that codifies enforcement consistent with state law (SB 1383) and that the Board of Supervisors committee review is scheduled with an anticipated June 14 Board hearing. Chu said adoption of the policy would also make the department eligible for a CalRecycle grant of $1,100,000 to support composting activities with Recreation & Parks, community gardens and schools.

Chu highlighted equity-focused work under Energy Access SF (a local partnership with PG&E) that reached 125 businesses and 200 residents in Bayview Hunters Point and that initial outreach in the Mission and Excelsior reached 233 residents and 27 businesses. He described a zero-waste rollout in the Westbrook Apartments (a 200-unit affordable housing site) and said the Green Business Program recognized 93 businesses this fiscal year, including targeted outreach to CBO partners to boost participation in underserved neighborhoods.

Chu also reported internal governance items: Form 700 filings were completed by designated staff, the department conducted behested-payment training, and staff are compiling questions for the City Attorney’s Office on contracting and grants. He announced several departures (Asia Meshack, Joseph Sweis, Suzanne Lisonbee, Jesse Choi) and introduced three new staff members: Augustina Mogetta (environmental outreach aide), Annie Wong (zero-waste assistant coordinator) and Stephanie Lee (climate program assistant coordinator).

A caller, David Pilfeld, urged the commission to strengthen oversight of contracts and grants and requested clearer dates and follow-up on Board of Supervisors file 22199 (the proposed ban on gas-powered landscaping equipment). Chu said more detailed updates would appear in written reports and the commission agreed to monitor the items on future agendas.

The director’s report concluded with commissioners asking for additional budget and staffing updates at future meetings.