Cupertino City Council
July 2, 2024

CITYCOUNCILMEMBERREPORT*Meeting:Tuesday,July2nd,2024
+forthe“CouncilmemberReports”agendaitemunderthe“COUNCILREPORTS”section ReportingCouncilmember: CouncilmemberLiangChao
ReportDates: 4/30/24to6/25/24
Section1: ActivitiesbyDate(Date, Title, andDescription):

NOTE:● This list does not include internal meetings with staff only, such as prep sessions or meetingswiththeCityManager.● This list includes activities to “represent the community I amelected to serve”, “to respondtocommunity needs and complaints,” and “to communicate policies and programs to residents,”amongotherresponsibilitiesof aCityCouncilmember.● Due to my work schedule, I have cut down on the event aendance for ceremonial purposes,especiallythose I haveaendedalmost everyyearinthepast. Instead, I focusmoreof mytimeonconstituent services. 2024-05-02ConstituentsproposetodesignatetheMaryAvenueBike/PedBridgeAreaasaParksoMuniCodeforparksapplytothearea.- A group of residents, representingHealth and Safety Advocates for the HHS Neighborhood(HSAHN), wrote to the Council with a detailed account of a public safety concern nearHomesteadHighandMaryAve. Bike/PedBridge.- They hope the rules for parks in Muni Code 13.04.130 applies to the area around Mary Ave.Bike/PedBridge. 1 - I thought therequest meritsseriousconsiderationandaskedsomefollowupquestionstothestaff.If applicable, this couldstrengthenpublic safetyforotherbikepaths, suchasRegnart CreekTrailandLindaVisaTrail. 2024-06-18Followuptoapublicconcernsonwhythecityhas$50Msiinginacashaccountnotearninganyinterest- TheFeb. 27responsefromtheCityManagerconfirmedthat theCitydoeshavearound$50Mincheckingaccount foroperational expensesformost of2023.- TheTreasurer’sQuarterlyInvestment Reportshavethebalanceincheckingaccount, LAIF(interest-earningcash-equivalent account forgovernment agency) orotherinvestment.- I didsomeresearchandherearemyfindings:- I lookedat theQ2reports, endingDecember31of eachyearandfoundthat Cupertinotypicallykeepsaround15-20%of thetotal portfoliointhecheckingaccount, since2016.Beforethat, wekept around2%inchecking.- I sampledafewcitiesaroundusfortheirFY2023-24Q2reports, Ifoundthat othercitieskeepabout $2-7M(0.25%to2%oftheentireportfolio) inthecheckingaccount.- Upcoming: At the June 18 Council meeting, the citystaffconfirmedthat theyare reviewingourInvestment Policy with Chandler Asset Management and they will bring an update to theCouncil laterthisyear. 2024-06-19Follow-uptopubliccommentonremoteaendanceofcommissionersfromthe6/18Councilmeeting.- The March 2023 memo from the City outlines the legal requirement under the Brown Act forteleconferencing.- There have beenthree Commissioners whoaendmeetingsremotelyandtheyhavefollowedthelegal requirementsasstated. 2024-06-19Follow-uptopubliccommentonvideo-on/offduringteleconferencingfromthe6/18Councilmeeting.- The City Staff confirmed that the video camera of a remote participant has to be turned on 2 whena member of theBrownAct bodyparticipatesduetoemergency. SeetheMarch2023memoformoredetails. 2024-06-20Follow-uptoapublicinquirywhetheritisreasonabletoselltheBryneAve.propertywithonlyoneofferafterlessthanoneweek.- ComparativeanalysisprovidedfromstaffaftertheCouncilmeeting. 2024-06-21Follow-uptoaconstituentwhohadwishedthatCupertinocouldworkwithBayAreaHousingCorporation(BAHC)todevelopmuch-neededmemorycareunitsfordevelopmentallydisabledindividualswhotendtodevelopAlseimersatamuchyoungerage.- Shepointedout that theywereabletoget about $3.5MfundingwithSanAndreasRegionalCenterfortheconstructionof the4memorycareunitsat theBryneAvePropertywithaone-dollar99-yearlease, sotheCitystill retainstheownershipof theproperty. But thefundingmight not beavailableafterthisyear.- Shefeelsthecitysendsout anRFPandnonprofitslikeBayAreaHousingCorporation(BAHC)spent quitealot of timetoput togetheraproposal. But thecitydidnot givetheproposal afairchanceforconsideration.- Unfortunately, todate, theCouncil hasnot receivedthesaidproposal fromBAHC. Wehaveonlyreceivedstaffrecommendationsbasedontheiroral descriptionof theseproposalsfortheBryneAve. property. 2022-06-21Followup to a constituent’sconcernfrom2024-04-06questioningwhyAnnualComprehensiveFinancialReport(ACFR)hasbeenfiledmanymonthslate.- I haveverifiedwithstaffthat Gov. Code40804requires“theannual report”, whichisACFR, tobefiledwithinsevenmonthsof thecloseof thefiscal year, whichisJune30. Thus, ACFRshouldhavebeenfinishedbeforeJan. 31at thelatest.- CupertinohasbeenfilingACFRaroundMarchsince2016. Forthefiscal yearendingJune30,2023, all citiesaroundus, except LosAltos, filedtheirACFRsbyDecember2023.- Update: TheACFRforFY2022-23(yearendingJune30, 2023) isontheAudit CommieeagendaonJune26andwill beontheCouncil agendaearlyJuly. Thenewauditorisgeinguptospeed.Theywill likelybeabletofinishtheACFRforFY2024-25within7months.

Section2: CommieeAssignmentNomeetingduringtheperiod
Section3: OtherInformationof Interest toMyConstituents:

1. Recordingsof CommissionMeetings: Startingin June,commissionmeetingswillberecordedforviewinglater,althoughnoteleconferencingtoallowremoteparticipation.- Findtherecordingshereundereachcommission.- 3 2. HousingElementUpdate:- Highlights: 4,588 units are required for the HE, but the current HE has planned 6,226units, about 36%morethanrequired.- Bynot counting1,500 units inalreadyapprovedprojects andunderestimatingtherealistic capacity for mixed use projects, Cupertinowill upzone more propertiesthanrequiredtomeet theRHNArequirements.- The density (units/acre) of many sites will increase from 20 units/acre to 50-65units/acreandsomewill increaseto65-80units/acre.- R1 corner lots will be allowed to develop with R2 standards to allow duplex,triplex or quadruplex. (Every R1 lot already allows up to 3 ADUs due to statelaws)- Current Progress:- Thefinal draft of theHousingElement andtheGeneral Planamendment areapprovedbythemajorityof theCouncil onMay14. Unfortunately, theenvironmental impact analysishasminimal information, eventhoughwearelookingat anunprecedentedgrowthratewithover6,200unitstobepermiedin8years.- Althoughthisisthefirst Council meetingwherethedraft HousingElement isontheagendafordiscussion, therewerenowrienanswersprovidedfromthestaff,asnormallyprovidedforotheritemsontheCouncil agenda. Giventhetimeconstraints, onlyafewquestionswerecoveredonthedais. Thus, manyquestionsfromthecommunityandthecouncil membersstill left unanswered:- Herearesomequestionssubmiedandsomewithanswers: 15morequestionswithout answers, questionsarecornerlotswithanswers,additional questionsfromthecommunitywithout answers.- Next Step: Thezoningordinancetorezonepropertieswill likelybeontheCityCouncilagendaonJuly2ndorasubsequent meetinginJuly.Afterthat, therewill bedesignstandardupdates, suchasR2standardsforthecornerlots.andotherordinancestoimplement thepoliciesoutlinedintheHousingElement.

3. InformationMemopostedontheCitywebsite:CityCouncil Informational MemosarenowavailableontheCitywebsite. TheinformationcanbeaccessedfromtheCitywebsiteat cupertino.org/memosandtheCityCouncilmemberspage. Youcanalsofindthepageviathe“Our City” banner andbyenteringsearchtermsinthe“SearchtheSite” boxat thetopof thewebsite. AnyonemayusetheeNotificationsignuptoreceiveinformational memoupdatesbyemail.4. HowtoSearchanagendaitem:Acommunitymembershowedmeawaytosearchforitemsonthepast citymeetings:● Gotothispage: hps://cupertino.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx○ Makesurethat “Calendar”isselectedfromthetoprowof tabsandthe“List View”isselectedfromtheboomrowof tabs.○ Enterthesearchterm, suchas“investment report”. Choosetheyearorselect “AllYears” 4 (LastActivityReportintheMay7,2024CouncilMeetingAgenda.) 5