City Council

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes City Council Tuesday, March 18, 2025 4:30 PM Online and Council Chambers, City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086 Special Joint Closed Session Meeting of City Council and Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency - 4:30 PM | Special Meeting: Study Session - 5:30 PM | Regular Meeting - 7 PM Public Participation and Access 4:30 P.M. SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (Closed Session) Call to Order Vice Mayor/Agency Vice Chair Sell called the meeting to order at 4:31 p.m. Roll Call Present: 7 - Mayor/Agency Chair Klein Vice Mayor/Agency Vice Chair Sell Councilmember/Agency Member Cisneros Councilmember/Agency Member Mehlinger Councilmember/Agency Member Chang Councilmember/Agency Member Le Absent: 1 - Councilmember/Agency Member Srinivasan Councilmember/Agency Member Srinivasan's absence is excused. Public Comment Public Comment opened at 4:34 p.m. No speakers. Public Comment closed at 4:34 p.m. Convene to Closed Session Council convened to Closed Session in the Council Conference Room at 4:36 p.m. A 25-0195 Closed Session Held Pursuant to California Government Code City of Sunnyvale Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2025 Section 54956.8: CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS Transfer of 3 Parking Garages, 225 S Taaffe St, APNs 209-34-024 and 209-34-025; 325 S Taaffe St, APN 209-34-021; and 330 S Murphy Av, APN 209-35-014; from RDA Successor Agency to the City of Sunnyvale. Agency Negotiators: Tim Kirby, City Manager; Rebecca Moon, City Attorney; Negotiating Parties: Santa Clara County Counsel on Behalf the Redevelopment Dissolution Countywide Oversight Board of Santa Clara County. Under Negotiation: Terms of Compensation Agreement with Santa Clara County Taxing Entities Adjourn Special Meeting Vice Mayor/Agency Vice Chair Sell adjourned the meeting at 5:29 p.m. 5:30 P.M. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING (Study Session) Call to Order Vice Mayor Sell called the meeting to order at 5:33 p.m. Roll Call Present: 6 - Mayor Larry Klein Vice Mayor Linda Sell Councilmember Alysa Cisneros Councilmember Richard Mehlinger Councilmember Charlsie Chang Councilmember Eileen Le Absent: 1 - Councilmember Murali Srinivasan Councilmember Srinivasan's absence is excused. Study Session B 25-0082 Sunnyvale Clean Water Project (SCWP) Update Public Works Director Chip Taylor, Assistant City Engineer Marlon Quiambao, Environmental Services Director Ramana Chinnakotla and Assistant Finance Director Dennis Jaw provided the staff report and presentation. Public Comment opened at 6:38 p.m. City of Sunnyvale Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2025 No speakers. Public Comment closed at 6:38 p.m. Adjourn Special Meeting Vice Mayor Sell adjourned the meeting at 6:39 p.m. 7 P.M. COUNCIL MEETING CALL TO ORDER Mayor Klein called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Mayor Klein led the salute to the United States flag. ROLL CALL Present: 6 - Mayor Larry Klein Vice Mayor Linda Sell Councilmember Alysa Cisneros Councilmember Richard Mehlinger Councilmember Charlsie Chang Councilmember Eileen Le Absent: 1 - Councilmember Murali Srinivasan Councilmember Srinivasan's absence is excused. CLOSED SESSION REPORT Vice Mayor Sell reported that Council met in Closed Session Held Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54956.8: CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS Transfer of 3 Parking Garages, 225 S Taaffe St, APNs 20934024 and 20934025; 325 S Taaffe St, APN 20934021; and 330 S Murphy Av, APN 20935014; from RDA Successor Agency to the City of Sunnyvale. Agency Negotiators: Tim Kirby, City Manager; Rebecca Moon, City Attorney; Negotiating Parties: Santa Clara County Counsel on Behalf the Redevelopment Dissolution Countywide Oversight Board of Santa Clara County. Under Negotiation: Terms of Compensation Agreement with Santa Clara County Taxing Entities; nothing to report. SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY City of Sunnyvale Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2025 C 25-0400 Women’s History Month Mayor Klein spoke in honor of Women’s History Month. Sally Dupray spoke in recognition of Women’s History Month. D 25-0401 American Red Cross Month Mayor Klein spoke in honor of American Red Cross Month. E 25-0036 Ceremonial Oath of Office for Board and Commission Member Agenda item not heard by Council. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Vice Mayor Sell announced an upcoming Sustainability Speaker Series event and Earth Day Festival. Dr. Omar Torres, President, De Anza College, shared the De Anza College annual report and an update on De Anza College. Ada Kuhn voiced their support for improving bicycle infrastructure safety. Robert Schwiesow communicated their safety concerns with the speeding traffic on Aster Avenue. Daniel Oneil communicated their safety concerns with bright headlights on vehicles. Gregory Dibb provided a presentation in support of improving turf fields and providing additional artificial field options. Cortney Jansen voiced their concerns with artificial turf fields. Peggy Shen Brewster shared their concerns with the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) employee strike and its impact on students' commuting to school. CONSENT CALENDAR Public Comment opened at 7:41 p.m. No speakers. Public Comment closed at 7:41 p.m. MOTION: Councilmember Mehlinger moved and Vice Mayor Sell seconded the City of Sunnyvale Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2025 motion to approve agenda items 1.A through 1.I. The motion carried with the following vote: Yes: 6 - Mayor Klein Vice Mayor Sell Councilmember Cisneros Councilmember Mehlinger Councilmember Chang Councilmember Le No: 0 Absent: 1 - Councilmember Srinivasan 1.A 25-0320 Approve the List(s) of Claims and Bills Approved for Payment by the City Manager Approve the list(s) of claims and bills. 1.B 25-0007 Approve Budget Modification No. 17 to Appropriate $880,000 in Federal Funding for the Pedestrian and Safe Routes to School Improvements in SNAIL and Braly Corners Neighborhoods Project and Authorize the City Manager to Execute any Related Grant Documents Approve Budget Modification No. 17 to appropriate $880,000 in Federal Funding for the Pedestrian and Safe Routes to School Improvements in SNAIL and Braly Corners Neighborhoods Project and authorize the City Manager to execute any related grant documents. 1.C 25-0055 Approve Budget Modification No. 14 to Appropriate California Library Connect Grant Funds in the Amount of $135,977 to Fund Network Equipment Upgrades at the Sunnyvale Public Library Approve Budget Modification No. 14 to appropriate California Library Connect Grant funds in the amount of $135,977 to Project 836720-CENIC Network Equipment Upgrades at the Sunnyvale Public Library. 1.D 25-0361 Award of Contract to Karbonous, Inc. in the Amount of $308,865.55 for the Repair of Dual Media Filters at the Water Pollution Control Plant (F24-228) and Find the Action Exempt Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(b) City of Sunnyvale Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2025 Take the following actions: - Award a Maintenance and Repair Contract to Karbonous, Inc. in the amount of $308,865.55 to provide repair services for one Water Pollution Control Plant dual media filter in substantially the same form as Attachment 2 to the report; - Authorize the City Manager to execute the contract when all the necessary conditions have been met; - Approve a 10% contingency in the amount not to exceed $30,886.00; - Authorize the City Manager to execute an amendment to the contract to increase maximum compensation up to the not-to-exceed contingency amount if needed, subject to available budgeted funding; and - Find the above actions categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(b). 1.E 25-0279 Receive and File the City of Sunnyvale Investment Report for Fourth Quarter 2024 Receive and file the City of Sunnyvale Investment Report for Fourth Quarter 2024. 1.F 25-0291 Adopt a Resolution Authorizing Annual Display of the Transgender Pride Flag from March 24 to March 31, the Official Transgender Day of Visibility Adopt a Resolution authorizing the annual display of the Transgender flag from March 24 to March 31, the official Transgender Day of Visibility. 1.G 25-0286 Approve Local Area Subsequent Designation and Local Board Recertification Application for Program Year 2025 to 2027 for NOVA Workforce Development Area Approve Local Area Subsequent Designation and Local Board Recertification application for Program Year 2025 to 2027 for the NOVA Workforce Development Area. 1.H 25-0283 Approve Local Plan for NOVA and Regional Plan for Bay-Peninsula Regional Planning Unit Approve the Local Plan for NOVA and the Regional Plan for the Bay-Peninsula Regional Planning Unit. 1.I 25-0398 Ratify Cities Association of Santa Clara County Appointments of Councilmember Richard Mehlinger to the Santa Clara County Airport Land Use Commission and Councilmember Murali Srinivasan to the Santa Clara County Emergency Operational Area Council City of Sunnyvale Page 6 City Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2025 Ratify the Cities Association of Santa Clara County Appointments of Councilmember Richard Mehlinger to the Santa Clara County Airport Land Use Commission and Councilmember Murali Srinivasan to the Santa Clara County Emergency Operational Area Council. PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS 3 25-0397 Proposed Project: Introduce an Ordinance to Amend Chapter 19.67 (Inclusionary Below Market Rate Ownership Housing Program) and Chapter 19.77 (Inclusionary Below Market Rate Rental Housing) of Title 19 (Zoning) of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code to Modify Requirements for Qualified Retail Preservation Projects, Adopt a Resolution to Establish a Retail Preservation Incentive Program for Certain Village Center Sites and Find that the Proposed Actions are Consistent with the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Land Use and Transportation Element (LUTE) and do not Require Additional Environmental Review Pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15162. Location: Citywide Village Center Sites File #: PLNG-2025-0001 General Plan Land Use: VMU (Village Center Mixed Use) Project Planner: Trudi Ryan, (408) 730-7435, tryan@sunnyvale.ca.gov Community Development Director Trudi Ryan provided the staff report and presentation. Public Hearing opened at 8:27 p.m. Lenora Erblich spoke to their concerns with village center sites being built without retail businesses. Saifullah Memon voiced their concerns with potentially losing retail businesses at the Fair Oaks Plaza Nitesh Bhatter shared their concerns with the planned reduction of retail business at Fair Oaks Plaza. Himanshu Sethi communicated their concerns with the potential loss of retail businesses at Fair Oaks Plaza. City of Sunnyvale Page 7 City Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2025 Deanna Gonzales spoke to their concerns with the potential loss of retail businesses at Fair Oaks Plaza. Chetan voiced their concerns with plans to redeveloped Fair Oaks Plaza without retail businesses. Chuck Fraleigh shared their support for the proposed staff recommendation that balances new housing while encouraging retail. Zainab Memon communicated their concerns with the potential loss of retail businesses at Fair Oaks Plaza. Zubin spoke to their concerns with the potential loss of retail businesses at Fair Oaks Plaza. Christina O’Guinn voiced their concerns with Fair Oaks Plaza being redeveloped without retail businesses. Rose Gregorio shared their concerns with the planned reduction of retail business at the village center site at Fair Oaks Plaza. Mari communicated their concerns with the potential loss of retail businesses at Fair Oaks Plaza. Gail spoke to the need to address all village centers with similar policy proposals that protect retail businesses. Cortney Jansen spoke to their concerns regarding the loss of retail businesses at village center sites. Peggy Shen Brewster spoke in support of the staff recommendation and to their concerns regarding the loss of retail businesses at village center sites. Valerie Suarez shared their concerns with the planned reduction of retail business at the village center site at Fair Oaks Plaza. Ashish Thussu communicated their concerns with the potential loss of retail businesses at Fair Oaks Plaza. Apra Pandey voiced their concerns with Fair Oaks Plaza being redeveloped without retail businesses. City of Sunnyvale Page 8 City Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2025 Leah Groppo spoke to their concerns with the potential loss of retail businesses at Fair Oaks Plaza. Mohi shared their concerns with the planned reduction of retail business at the village center site at Fair Oaks Plaza. Public Hearing closed at 9:19 p.m. MOTION: Councilmember Mehlinger moved and Councilmember Cisneros seconded the motion to approve Alternative 1: Introduce an Ordinance to amend Chapter 19.67 (Inclusionary Below Market Rate Ownership Housing Program) and Chapter 19.77 (Inclusionary Below Market Rate Rental Housing) of Title 19 (Zoning) of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code relating to modified requirements for qualifying retail preservation projects in Attachment 2 to the report, Adopt a Resolution (Attachment 3 to the report), and find that the Actions are consistent with the certified Land Use and Transportation Element (LUTE) Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and no further environmental review is required under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines 15162. City Clerk David Carnahan read the ordinance title for the record. The motion carried with the following vote: Yes: 6 - Mayor Klein Vice Mayor Sell Councilmember Cisneros Councilmember Mehlinger Councilmember Chang Councilmember Le No: 0 Absent: 1 - Councilmember Srinivasan City Council took a recess at 9:55 p.m. and returned at 10:03 p.m. with Mayor Klein, Vice Mayor Sell, and Councilmembers Cisneros, Mehlinger, Chang and Le. 4 25-0221 Notification of Committee Resignation, Appoint Applicant to the Charter Review Committee (CRC) or Provide Alternate Direction Regarding CRC Vacancy City Manager Tim Kirby and City Clerk David Carnahan provided the staff report. City of Sunnyvale Page 9 City Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2025 Public Hearing opened at 10:06 p.m. Zach Kaufman spoke in support of appointing Stephen Scandalis to the Charter Review Committee. Martin Pyne provided additional information on the current progress of the Charter Review Committee. Gail shared their support for not appointing a new member to the Charter Review Committee. Public Hearing closed at 10:11 p.m. MOTION: Councilmember Mehlinger moved and Councilmember Cisneros seconded the motion to approve alternative 4: Take no action and leave this seat vacant. The motion carried with the following vote: Yes: 6 - Mayor Klein Vice Mayor Sell Councilmember Cisneros Councilmember Mehlinger Councilmember Chang Councilmember Le No: 0 Absent: 1 - Councilmember Srinivasan 2 25-0013 Approve the 2024 Housing Element Annual Progress Report Housing Specialist Ryan Dyson provided the staff report and presentation. Public Hearing opened at 10:38 p.m. No speakers. Public Hearing closed at 10:38 p.m. MOTION: Vice Mayor Sell moved and Councilmember Cisneros seconded the motion to approve Alternative 1: Approve the 2024 Housing Element Annual Progress Report and direct staff to submit it to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research and the California Department of Housing and Community Development. City of Sunnyvale Page 10 City Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2025 The motion carried with the following vote: Yes: 6 - Mayor Klein Vice Mayor Sell Councilmember Cisneros Councilmember Mehlinger Councilmember Chang Councilmember Le No: 0 Absent: 1 - Councilmember Srinivasan 5 25-0396 Approve a Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of Sunnyvale and the Public Safety Officers Association; Adopt a Resolution Amending the City's Salary Resolution to Update Certain Benefits and the Salary Schedule for Pay Plan Category C (Employees Represented by the Public Safety Officers Association); and Adopt a Resolution for Paying and Reporting the Value of Employer Paid Member Contributions to the California Public Employees' Retirement System for Employees of the Public Safety Officers Association Human Resources Director Tina Murphy provided the staff report. Public Hearing opened at 10:49 p.m. No speakers. Public Hearing closed at 10:49 p.m. MOTION: Vice Mayor Sell moved and Councilmember Chang seconded the motion to approve Alternative 1: Authorize the City Manager to execute the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Sunnyvale and the Public Safety Officers Association; Adopt a Resolution amending the City's Salary to update certain benefits and the Salary Schedule for Pay Plan Category C (Employees Represented by the Public Safety Officers Association); and Adopt a Resolution for paying and reporting the value of employer paid member contributions to the California Public Employees' Retirement System for employees of the Public Safety Officers Association. The motion carried with the following vote: City of Sunnyvale Page 11 City Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2025 Yes: 6 - Mayor Klein Vice Mayor Sell Councilmember Cisneros Councilmember Mehlinger Councilmember Chang Councilmember Le No: 0 Absent: 1 - Councilmember Srinivasan COUNCILMEMBERS REPORTS ON ACTIVITIES FROM INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS Vice Mayor Sell commented on the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) employee strike. Councilmember Chang reported on a recent City Association Legislative Action Committee meeting. Mayor Klein reported on a recent Silicon Valley Clean Energy committee meeting. Councilmember Mehlinger expressed interest in more details about the recent City Association Legislative Action Committee meeting. NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS -Council Councilmember Le offered their concerns with the ongoing Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) employee strike impacting residents and students. Vice Mayor Sell shared their experience attending the National League of Cities conference in Washington D.C. Councilmember Mehlinger offered their concerns with the ongoing VTA employee strike impacting residents and students. Mayor Klein offered their concerns with the ongoing VTA employee strike impacting residents and students. -City Manager None. INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS City of Sunnyvale Page 12 City Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2025 25-0193 Tentative Council Meeting Agenda Calendar 25-0155 Board/Commission Meeting Minutes 25-0175 Information/Action Items 25-0399 Council Advocacy Letters ADJOURNMENT Mayor Klein adjourned the meeting at 11:03 p.m. City of Sunnyvale Page 13