Cupertino City Council
September 4, 2024

CITYCOUNCILMEMBERREPORT*Meeting:Wednesday,September4th,2024 +forthe“CouncilmemberReports”agendaitemunderthe“COUNCILREPORTS”section ReportingCouncilmember: CouncilmemberLiangChao
ReportDates: 6/26/24to8/26/24
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. 2024-06-30Visit toSpecial OlympicsGamesat CupertinoHigh- Theweekendgameshave650Special Olympicsathletes, 200coaches, andover1,000volunteers- Manyparticipantswhoareseniorshavebeenparticipatingsincetheirteenageyears.- Thereareall kindsof sportsfromwalkingtorunningtoall kindsof fieldsports.- Thedemonstrationgamesaddnewcategories, suchasBocceBalls.. 2024-07-04FourthofJulyFlagRaisingandParadeat Memorial Park- The flagraisingceremonywas well aendedbyfamiliesasusual, withflagraisingperformedbyaScout troop.- TherewerenocostumesforCouncilmembers, but westill hadafunChildren’sParadearoundtheMemorial Park. 1 2024-07-13 The unveilingof the “ThankYou, America” Monument at VietnameseHeritageGardeninSanJose, honoringthe veterans of theU.S. andtheRepublicofVietnamandtheAllieswhofought toprotect thefreedomofSouthVietnam- “Cityofficials allocated$150,000 duringthe2023-24budget toprepareforthestatue’sinstallationand begin work on grading, drainage, creating a definedwalkingpath, tree planting, installingbenches, irrigation and vegetation. But plans for the monument date back to 2011 whencommunity leaders began discussing ideas for a memorial to honor American and SouthVietnamesesoldierswhofought intheVietnamWar.”(SanJoseSpotlight) 2024-07-16 Followuptothe concernabout deadline for ACFR: The amendedstaffreport onACFRforthe July 16 Council Meeting confirmedthat the concerns brought upbycommunitymembers aboutlate submial were valid. The CityStaffhadconfirmedthat theFU2023-24ACFRisonscheduletobesubmiedontime.- “Additionally, thereweretwoquestionsposedbytheCityCouncil relatingtothe“legaldeadline”requirementsandthestatusof theFY2023-24audit. InCalifornia, thereisno“legal deadline”fortheACFR. However, theGFOA’sCertificateof Achievement forExcellenceinFinancial ReportingdeadlineisDecember31followingtheendof aJune30fiscal yearunlessanextensionisfiled, whichtheCityhassubmied. TheCity’sdebtcovenantsrequireadraft byMarch31, andtheCityhasbeenworkingcloselywithitsconsultant toensurecompliance. Lastly, theFY2023-24audit isonscheduletobecompleted and presented to the Audit Commiee in a special meetinginDecember” (fromtheJuly16staffreport)- Inthe last Council Report, I sharedthat Cupertino hasbeensubmiingACFRlateforthepast 10years, while other cities submiedtheir ACFRs byDecemberof eachyear. I wouldlikethankthecommunity members who keep bringing upthe issue so that the citycantake steps to improveourfinancial reporting. 2024-07-17 Update from the City Emergency Manager Tom Chin about encampments, in light ofrecent SupremeCourt decisionontheissueandtheinquiriesfromresidents- “...inlightoftherecentSupremeCourtdecisioninCityofGrantsPassv.Johnson,U.S.SupremeCourtCaseNo.23-175.ThisdecisionoverturnedtheNinthCircuitCourtofAppealsrulinginMartinv.CityofBoise.ThisdecisionprovidestheCitymoreflexibilitytoaddressencampmentsinviolationofspecificlocalandstateordinances,regardlessoftheavailabilityofshelterspace.However,theCityshouldcontinuetoseekefficientandeffective solutionsto addressencampmentsin ourcommunitywhilemaintainingthehealthandsafetyofallresidentsandbusinesses.”(fromtheUpdate) 2024-07-18 interviewwith Harker student on a research project on Asian women, why theyrunforpublicofficeandthechallengestheyfacewhenrunningandwhileservingaselectedofficials. 2024-07-25TaichungCityDelegationVisit- The delegation’s visit to the Cityof Cupertino was at 3:30pm. I was not able to aendsince it is2 the middle of the day. Andinthe past, it was usuallythe Mayor or ViceMayorwhogreetedthedeletion, not thefull Council.- I aendedthe Meet andGreet at the Chicha SanChenTea House at 4:30pminstead. It wasgreattoheartheinteractionbetweenreportersandtheViceMayorof TaichungCity.- “This citygovernment vowstoconstruct 10,000Social HousingUnitsinthenext 8yearstosupply affordable housing units” (source) Taichung City Vice Mayor saidthat there is a6-year limit for residencywith50%rent reductioninthe first year andthe rent subsidiesreduce everyyear to support citizens to transitionto market-rate housingwhile buildinguptheirsavings.- Besides Bubba tea drinks, Chicha SanChenTea House also offersfreeteemakingdemonstrationhourlytoshowcaseTaiwan’steaculture. 2024-07-25Memoon“ScofieldDriveSB330PreliminaryApplicationpursuant toBuilder’sRemedy”wasposted(ThememowasrequestedbytheCouncil at theJuly2Council meetingafterhearingpublicconcernsontheproject)- Thememoprovidesthelegal requirementsandthecity’sresponsibilitiesforSB330applicationsandforBuilders’ Remedy.- It alsoincludesalist of eight SB330applicationsreceivedsofar. Fourof themareutilizingtheBuilders’ Remedy(BR) provisionsof HAA".- Thestaffwill createawebpagesoontoprovideupdatesontheseprojects. 2024-07-28Residentsrequestedtonot shutdownFarmers’ Market at DeAnzaCollegeorfindanotherlocationfortheWest Coast Farmers’ Market- Sampleemailsfromresidents- Email fromtheWest Coast Farmers’ Market Operator: “West Coast FarmersMarket Associationhasnowcollectedmorethan5,000signaturesinsupport of ourSundayMarket …SecondlyIhaveaskedforaStreet ClosureonTorreAve. I’mwantingtoworkwiththeCityandhaveyourCouncil hit. Homerun. YourResidentsareaskingwhydidStaffPresent suchBogusExpenseswhentheCreekSideParkisbeingrentedout for$1.00ayear! WithyourpermissionI will puttogetherthebest aendedandlovedCommunityServiceMarket Cupertinohaseverseen. Irequest ameetingwithCityStaffandtobeaddedtoyourCouncil Meetingagenda.”- Support leerfromWest ValleyCommunityServices: “Tounderscoretheimpact of WCFMA,overthetwo-yearperiodfromJune1, 2022, toMay31, 2024, themarket hasdonatednearly245,000poundsof produce, includingbakedgoods. Thisremarkablecontributionhighlightsthemarket’sroleincombatingfoodinsecuritywithinourcommunity.” 2024-07-29Residentsnearthe10231AdrianaAvenueexpressedconcernsabout thesitethat hasbeenrezonedintheHousingElement- Sampleemailsfromtheresidents- Staffresponsetomyquestions 3 2024-08-16Spoketoresidentswhoareconcernedabout thelanereductiononDeAnzaBlvdduetotheconstructionofBufferedBikeLanes- Email fromresident: “I ama35-yearresident of CupertinolivingonRodriguesAve. ArecentnewsarticleonSanJoseSpotlight brought tomyaentionaveryconcerningchangetoDeAnzaBlvdslatedforconstructionlaterthismonth. I amaskingthat youpleasepostponethisprojectuntil CityCouncil hashadachancetofurtherstudyitsimpact onall residentsandlocalbusinesses.”- TheresidentemailedtheCityManagerandtheCityAorneytostatethattheprojectapprovalprocessisinappropriate:“ThisCIPwasoriginallyapprovedbyCityCouncilintheFY2022-2023budgetonJune9,2022,withabudgetmodificationandcontractawardedonApril16,2024.Inbothinstances,whenStaffpresentedthisprojecttoCityCouncilforbudgetapproval,therewasspecificallynomentionoflanereductionsthatwouldoccuronDeAnzaBlvdtoaccommodatethebufferedbikelanes.ThiswasablatantomissionofakeyelementtothisprojectthatwouldhavelikelychangedorgarnishedadditionaldiscussionfromCityCouncilontheproject'smerits.”- 2024-08-18Aendedameetinghostedbythedeveloperofthe20739ScofieldDrive, whereaBuilder’sRemedy/SB330pre-applicationhasbeenfiledtobuild23unitsonanR1lot.- AccordingtoCupertinoPropertyInformation), thesitehas0.19acreandthecurrentlyalloweddensityis1-5units/acre, (accordingtoCupertinoPropertyInformation)- Thedeveloperexpressedawillingnesstoreducetheunitsto8-10unitsif possible. But someneighborswishit remainedanR1siteorduplexwithupto4units.- About 20-30residentsaendedthemeeting. Themainconcernsaretrafficsafetyforstudentsgoingtoschool at FariaElementarySchool, whichisanalternativeprogram, wheremost studentsdonot liveintheneighborhood. Anotherconcernisareductioninpropertyvaluewhensuchmultifamilyprojectsappearinaneighborhood. 2024-08-21AendedCupertinoSanitaryDistrict Meetingat therequest ofaresident whoisconcernedabout arequest fromtheRise(formerlyVallco) toreducethesewagefeesfrom$21Maminimalpayment bythreateningalawsuit- Oneresident wrote“First andforemost, yourothercustomersmust not subsidizethisproject. …TheVallcoownershavejust negotiatedaway$77Mof theover$120MinCity-feesfortheirRiseproject andnowthey'relookingtoreducetheirsewer-systemfeesof anestimated$21M. Whatwill benext?Weneedtomakesurethat theypaytheirfairshare. Singlefamilyhomesarealreadypayingover$700annuallyinpropertytaxestotheCupertinoSanitaryDistrict. If Vallco'scostsarehigherthanthefeesthey'repaying, ourtaxeswill goup.”- TheleerfromVPO(VallcoPropertyOwners) totheSanitaryDistrict states: “Despitethislimitedscopeof theproposedhorizontal work, theDistrict hasrecentlyindicatedthisworkwill triggertherequirement topaythefull SewerDevelopment andTreatment Plant CapacityFees(referred4 toasthe“Fees”here) requiredfortheen Ɵ reproject. Weunderstandthat theFeesareestimatedtototal $21.6million(whichassumestheinitial phaseof theproject’sretail component will be100%madeupof restaurant uses). …Tothat end, VPOproposestoprovide$1,000,000totheDistrict asagoodfaithdeposit at theƟ meof issuanceof themainpermit forthehorizontal work.”- Mycomment at theSanitaryDistrict meeting: “All that meansisjust that anyrule/policythatappliestoall developersshouldbeappliedtoall developers. Thosewhohavethepowertolitigateshouldnot begivenanyleewaythat otherdevelopersdonot get.I haveheardfromotherdevelopersthat SanitaryDistrict isverystrict inapplyingtheadoptedpoliciesandensuringfull sewagefeesarepaidaheadof timebeforeanyhorizontal constructioncanstart, not just beforepermitsarepulledBeforeyougiveintothedemandof onedeveloper, pleaseconsiderwhetherthesamerelaxedruleswouldbeappliedtoall otherprojects?”(fromtheComment) 2024-08-22UnhousedUpdatefromCupertinoEmergencyManagerTomChinoncleanupofencampment- “TheCityof Cupertinoconductedacoordinatedencampment resolutionat SaichWaynearTarget onAugust 19, 2024. …TheCitypostedanoticetovacatethreebusinessdaysinadvanceatthelocation. Thenoticeinformedtheindividual that anyabandonedpersonal propertywouldbecollectedandstoredforupto90dayswithinstructionstoretrievetheitems.”(FromtheUpdate)- “Inlight of therecent SupremeCourt decisioninGrantsPassv. Johnson, theCitywill evaluatethelegal andpractical optionsforaddressingtheencampment incoordinationwiththeCountyandadjacent jurisdictions. Pleasenotethat continuousremoval of encampmentswill incuradditional expensesforsafehandling, debrisremoval, andstorageof itemsof apparent value.TheCitywill continuetomonitorthesituationandrespondtoanyhealthandsafetyissuesthatmayarise.”(fromtheUpdate) 2024-08-22Commentedat theCUSDBoardMeetingfortheoptionsonFinchPropertytoclarifythattheroleofParklandImpact FundversustheGeneral Fund, at therequest ofcommunitymembers- At theannual updateof propertiesownedbyCUSD(presentation), thedistrict hasinvitedaconsultant topresent optionsfor theFinchproperty, thesitenext toSedgwickElementarySchool,formerlycalledSedgwickExpansionsite, whichCUSDpurchasedin2015.- 1.5acresandzonedLowDensity1-5units/acre- Amongthe4optionsproposed, thesecondoptioniscityacquisitionwiththestatement“CUSDstaff informedCityhasnofunding”. But theCouncil hasnever discussedthisoption.- I wrotetotheCUSDBoard(email) toclarifythat theParklandImpact Feesarepaidbyeachdevelopment project, whichisdifferent fromtheGeneral Fund. ThereiscertainlyenoughfundingfromtheParklandImpact Feesof approved, not built andfutureprojectsplannedintheHousingElement. TheCouncil decideshowtospendthefunding.- ThePresentationincludesproformaanalysisof thecost of construction, optionstodevelopasresidential projects(toexchangewithfor-profit developers) or workforcehousing, andthepotential incomegeneratedor subsidiesrequiredfor theseoptions.5 2024-08-24KidsFunFestival at Memorial Park, hostedbycommunityorganizationsofTaiwaneseAmericans- It isgreat toseetheKidsFunFestival returntoCupertinoaftertheyheldit at TECOinMilpitas,whichI alsoaended.- Thereareboothsfrom10different nations, includingIsrael, Iran, Japan. Indiaandsomesmallercountries, suchasCambodia, Lao, andUzbekistan.- Ourfriendlyfiremenmadeastopwithfiretruck, inadditiontomanyotherfunactivitiesforkids. 2024-08-25interviewwithMontaVistaHighstudent ontheRise(formerlyVallco) project fortheirstudent magazineEl Estoque- OfficeSpace: I sharedthat theproject has2millionsquarefeet of officespace, whichwouldlikelyaccommodate10,000workers, withtheindustrystandardof 200sq. ft. perworker. Evenwith50peopleperbusload, that wouldmean200busloadof peoplewhowill commutetothesitedaily,sinceusuallynomorethan5%workerslivewithinwalkingdistanceof theirjobs.- Thestudent iscurioushowtall TheRisewill be. I sharedthat theVallcoShoppingMall hadaheight limit of 45-60feet before, but the2014CityCouncil (with4:1vote) removedthat heightlimit whentheygaveawaythe2millionsq.ft. officespace. Theyhadachancetorestoretheheight limit inNovember2017whenSB35wassignedintolawandwill beenactedinJan. 12018,but themajorityof the2017Council (with3:2vote) refusedtorestoreheight limit orremovetheofficeallocation. TheseirresponsibledecisionsbythesepreviousCityCouncilmembershaveresultedinaSB35project withalargeamount of officespacetoworsenthehousingcrisis, withnoheight limit.- BuildingHeight: SincetheSB35project anditsrevisionwouldnot needtheCouncil approval, IhadtolookupthePlanSet of theNov. 2013revisiontofindout thebuildingheight. Thetallestbuildingwill be18storiestall withaheight of 409feet. Myemail responseincludedscreenshotsfromtheNov. 2013PlanSet. 6 - Greenspace: Thestudent mentionedthat othersourcestoldherthat TheRisegavethecity10acresof greenspaceintheSettlement Agreement. I didnot thinkthat informationwasaccurate.Thus, I sharedtheinformationwithscreenshotsfromtheNov. 2013PlanSet andtheSelementAgreement toshowthat theSelement didnot offerthecityanyadditional greenspacethenproposed. Thetotal “publicopenspace”(not parklandnorgreenspace) is7.48acres, whichconsist of small piecesof openspacehereandthere.- “Cityagreesthat basedontheProject programasapproved, theProject yieldsaparklanddemandof 9.61acres, ascalculatedbasedontheCity’srequirement of threeacresof parkper1,000residentsandtheaveragehouseholdsizeof 1.8personpermultifamilyunit."(FromtheSelement Agreement) Out of the7.38acres, about 3.5acresseemtobeparkorturfedarea.- Theso-called“benefitspayments”mentionedintheSettlement Agreement doesnot coverthefull amount of ParklandImpact Feesthat VPO(VallcoPropertyOwner) shouldhavepaidthecity, asanyotherdeveloper, if theydidnot threatenthecitywithalawsuit toforcethecitytosele. -
7 2024-08-26Agendarequest deniedforforthediscusslanereductionfortheDeAnzaBufferedBikeLaneproject- Multipleresidentshavewrienintorequest theCouncil discussthelanereductionfortheDeAnzaBufferedBikeLaneproject- Aresident haswrientopoint out that theproject descriptionpresentedtotheCouncil whentheyapprovedit didnot mentionanythingabout thelanereduction. Thisisachangeof scopefortheproject.- Toensurethat thecommunityunderstandtherationaleforthelanereductionandtoensuretheCouncil understandtheproject beingimplemented, I haverequestedtheitemtobeplacedontheSeptember4thCouncil agendasincetheagendaispreylight next week. Sincetheproject isgoingtobeconstructedsoon, wecannot wait until thequarterlyreviewof TBDagendarequests.Thus, I madetherequest directlytotheMayor, whoreplied“Staffwill bedistributing aninformational memoontheDeAnzadesign thisweek.” Section2: CommieeAssignment
2024-08-21AendedHistoricSocietyBoardMeetingasanalternateforCouncilmemberHungWei- I suggestedideasonhowtocollaboratewiththecitytoincreasevisibilityforevents.

Section3: OtherInformationofInterest toMyConstituents:

1. Recordingsof CommissionMeetings: Startingin June,commissionmeetingswillberecordedforviewinglater,althoughnoteleconferencingtoallowremoteparticipation.- Findtherecordingshereundereachcommission.

2. SB330PreliminaryApplicationandBuilders’RemedyProjects- An infomemois publishedon July25: “ScofieldDrive SB330PreliminaryApplicationpursuanttoBuilder’sRemedy”wasposted(ThememowasrequestedbytheCouncilattheJuly2 Councilmeetingafterhearingpublicconcernsontheproject)- ThememoalsoincludesalistofeightSB330applicationsreceivedsofar.FourofthemareutilizingtheBuilders’Remedy(BR)provisionsofHAA".Herearetheirdescriptions. 8 9

3. HousingElementUpdate:- Highlights of the HE: 4,588unitsarerequiredfortheHE, but thecurrent HEhasplanned5,881units, about 28%morethanrequired. (May14AgendaItem1, Minutes)- Bynot counting1,500 units inalreadyapprovedprojects andunderestimatingtherealistic capacityfor mixeduse projects (countingonly70%), Cupertinoupzonedmorepropertiesthanrequiredtomeet theRHNArequirements.- The density (units/acre) of many sites will increase from 20 units/acre to 50-65units/acreandsomewill increaseto65-80units/acre.- Some R1 lots in residential neighborhoods are upzoned to R3-THdesignationtoallow5-10units/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)- BrokenHEProcesssofar….- 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.- Latest: The ordinance to upzone properties is adopted at the July 2 Council meeting(AgendaItem7, Minutes) 10 - The staff recommendation already meets all legal standards and HCD’srequirements, but Cupertino adopted an ordinance to upzone thes HEsites plusunnecessary provisions proposedbyCouncilmembers FruenandWei to relax thezoningstandards.- Chao moved and Moore seconded to approve the staff recommendedactionwithminor adjustments. Themotiondidnot pass. CouncilmembersFruenandWei proposedseveral significant revisions torelax thezoningstandards after the public comment closed, which increased allowedfloor-area-ratio, increased allowed lot coverage, reduced parkingstandards. reduced setback and given the staff authority to make morechanges to increase “flexibility”. The Council voted3-2 to pass the muchrelaxedzoningstandards.- Next Step: 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” 11 (LastActivityReportintheJuly2,2024CouncilMeetingAgenda.) 12