1 CITY COUNCIL ACTIVITY REPORT
Meeting: Tuesday, November 7, 2023
Reporting Councilmember: Councilmember J.R. Fruen
Report Activity Dates: 10/10/23 to 10/31/23
Event Date, Title, and Description:
Event 1. October 11, 2023 – Blackberry Farm Briefing – I received a background briefing from staff on the proposed options for Blackberry Farm Golf Course. The item was heard at the October 17, 2023, city council meeting.
Event 2. October 11, 2023 – Housing Element Briefing – I received a background briefing from staff regarding progress on the Housing Element, sites added to the inventory, policies proposed for inclusion, and expected timelines on environmental review and community engagement.
Event 3. October 12, 2023 – VTA Policy Advisory Committee Meeting – I attended this meeting in my capacity as Cupertino’s representative to the Committee. The meeting consisted almost exclusively of informational items. Those interested in climate change-related transportation policy will find the agenda packet
especially interesting as VTA kicks off an
update to its Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.
Event 4. October 14, 2023 – Diwali Festival – Together with other local elected officials, I attended the annual Diwali Festival hosted by the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce at Memorial Park. The event was well-attended and drew festival-goers from around the South Bay.
Event 5. October 15, 2023 – Bathukamma Festival – I joined Mayor Wei and Vice-Mayor Mohan at the Telangana Cultural Association’s annual Bathukamma Festival (the “Festival of Flowers”). Historically, this event has been held in Cupertino for this Cupertino-based organization. This year’s event was held at Ponderosa Elementary School in Sunnyvale.
2 Event 6. October 19, 2023 – Cupertino Public Safety Forum – This year’s forum featured the various public agencies, city departments, and volunteer organizations that work to keep Cupertino safe. This year’s forum focused especially on cybersecurity risks and featured presentations from local students on cybersecurity awareness and from the Fire District on text access to 911.
Event 7. October 19, 2023 – Cupertino Historical Society Fundraiser – Together with numerous local officials and members of the Historical Society, I attended this regular fundraiser to benefit the Historical Society hosted in tandem with the Chamber of Commerce at the Cupertino Hotel.
Event 8. October 20, 2023 – City of Cupertino – CUSD Strategic Partnership Meeting – Historically, the City of Cupertino and the Cupertino Union School District have held two-by- two meetings to coordinate strategically on issues of common interest. This was the first such meeting in well over a year. I attended in my capacity as the council-appointed representative to this committee. City Manager Wu and I shared about the city’s budget focus and Housing Element opportunities. CUSD Trustees Liu and Madhathil together with Superintendent Yao shared their historical perspective on these meetings and noted the District’s ongoing analysis of certain of their District-owned sites. Of particular note were the disused Montebello school site inherited by the District upon the dissolution of the Montebello School District, and the Finch Avenue parcel located at the edge of Sedgwick Elementary School. The parties took the opportunity to discuss the conditional use permit process for the Tessellations School presently leasing Regnart Elementary, and the District’s move of its primary office from leased space at Mary Avenue to Meyerholz Elementary School in neighboring San Jose, Council District 1.
Event 9. October 25, 2023 – Santa Clara Valley Water Commission – I attended this meeting in my capacity as Cupertino’s representative on the Water Commission. The meeting featured helpful updates on several of the Water District’s initiatives, including rebate programs available for residents and businesses. The Commission also chose a new Vice-Chair. On my nomination and motion, the Commission unanimously elected San Jose Councilmember Domingo Candelas, who has a unique depth of knowledge on water policy from previous positions working for the Water District and in the office of former state Senator Jim Beall, who now sits on the Water Board.
Event 10. October 27, 2023 – Grand Opening of the Roy Rocklin Science Center – At the invitation of the Fremont Union High School District, I attended the grand opening and dedication of the Roy Rocklin Science Center on the campus of Lynbrook High School. Trustee Rocklin was previously a science teacher at Lynbrook before taking retirement and serving on the governing board of trustees of the District. Staff, officials, and members of Trustee Rocklin’s 3 spoke movingly of his contributions to the school and the district. The new building features a number of state-of-the art science lab facilities that will aid student learning from now into the future. As a Lynbrook alum, this was an especially meaningful event.
Event 11. October 28, 2023 – Greeting for Cupertino-Hsinchu Sister City Association student delegation – Together with Mayor Wei and Councilmember Moore, I attended a greeting reception for this year’s student delegation from Hsinchu, Taiwan. The students remain in Cupertino and its environs for the duration of the week. Homestead High School is this year’s host high school.
Event 12. October 28, 2023 – Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute Public Officials Fall Lunch Forum – At the invitation of Dr. Michael Chang, I attended this annual lunch forum to discuss issues facing South Bay elected and appointed officials. The discussion focused primarily on basic needs issues, especially the challenge of unsheltered homelessness.
Event 13. October 31, 2023 – Cupertino-Hsinchu Sister City Association Delegation Tour and Lunch – At the invitation of the CHSCA, I attended a reception and tour for officials from Hsinchu and the sister city association. This event included a ceremonial receipt of art gifts produced by Hsinchu students to the Library and was followed by a lunch reception at Golden Palace Chinese Restaurant on South De Anza Boulevard.