APPROVED MINUTES
CUPERTINO CITY COUNCIL
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
SPECIAL MEETING
At 5:00 p.m., Mayor Liang Chao called the Special City Council Meeting to order in the City Hall Conference Room C, 10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, CA 95014.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Liang Chao, Vice Mayor Kitty Moore, and Councilmembers J.R. Fruen, Sheila Mohan, and Ray Wang. Absent: None.
CLOSED SESSION
In open session prior to closed session, Mayor Chao opened the public comment period regarding the items on the agenda. The following members of the public requested to speak.
Pamela Hershey (Item 2)
Peggy Griffin (Items 1 and 2) (submitted written comments) Jean Bedord (Item 2)
Planning Commissioner Santosh Rao (representing self) (Item 1)
Mayor Chao closed the public comment period.
1. Subject: Public employee performance evaluation; Title: City Manager; California Government Code Section 54954.5(e) and 54957(b).
Written communications for this item included emails to the Council.
Council conducted the closed session regarding the performance evaluation for the City Manager.
2. Subject: Conference with legal counsel-anticipated litigation; California Government Code Sections 54954.5(c) and 54956.9(e)(1): (4 cases).
City Council April 2, 2025 Minutes
Council conducted the closed session regarding anticipated litigation.
At 6:46 p.m., Mayor Chao recessed the meeting.
At 6:53 p.m., Mayor Chao reconvened the Special City Council Meeting in open session and led the Pledge of Allegiance in the Cupertino Community Hall Council Chamber, 10350 Torre Avenue and via teleconference.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Liang Chao, Vice Mayor Kitty Moore, and Councilmembers J.R. Fruen, Sheila Mohan, and Ray Wang. Absent: None.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Floy Andrews conducted the open session report regarding the closed session held at 5:00 p.m. There was no reportable action.
CEREMONIAL ITEMS
3. Subject: Recognition of April as Fair Housing Month
Recommended Action: Present proclamation recognizing April as Fair Housing Month
Written communications for this item included a presentation.
Grace Garcia and Adrian Solis, Fair Housing Outreach Coordinators with Project Sentinel, gave a presentation and received the proclamation.
Mayor Chao presented the proclamation recognizing April as Fair Housing Month.
4. Subject: Recognition of April as Donate Life Month
Recommended Action: Present proclamation recognizing April as Donate Life Month
Hoa Ha Community, Engagement Specialist with Donor Network West, made comments and received the proclamation.
Mayor Chao presented the proclamation recognizing April as Donate Life Month.
5. Subject: Recognition of April 1 as Odisha Day in the City of Cupertino Recommended Action: Present proclamation recognizing April 1 as Odisha Day in the City Council April 2, 2025 Minutes
City of Cupertino
Written communications for this item included a presentation.
Mahesh Pakala, Co-Founder and Executive Board Member , and Reena Rao, Co-Founder and President, of the Cupertino -Bhubaneswar Sister City Initiative gave a presentation and received the proclamation.
Mayor Chao presented the proclamation recognizing April 1 as Odisha Day in the City of Cupertino.
POSTPONEMENTS AND ORDERS OF THE DAY
6. Subject: Updates to the Policies and Guidelines on Sister Cities, Friendship Cities, and International Delegations pertaining to international travel Recommended Action: Postponement of the Sister City policy update to the April 15, 2025 Council meeting.
MOTION: Chao moved and Moore seconded to postpone the Sister City policy update to a date to be determined. The motion passed with the following vote: Ayes: Chao, Moore, Fruen, Mohan, and Wang. Noes: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Written communications for this item included emails to the Council.
The following members of the public spoke:
Lee Lambert, representing Foothill -De Anza Community College District, discussed the Foothill-De Anza Community College District’s purchase of McClellan Terrace.
Sayon Biswas, Rosemary Biswas, Jaya Praveena, Devender, Abmisheh Gupta, Jaya Gupta, Mithun D, and Sean Lyn, representing Save McClellan Tenants, discussed the Foothill-De Anza Community College District’s purchase of McClellan Terrace. (Submitted written comments).
Planning Commissioner Santosh Rao (representing self) discussed the Foothill- De Anza Community College District’s purchase of McClellan Terrace.
Rhoda Fry discussed the Foothill-De Anza Community College District’s purchase of McClellan Terrace.
City Council April 2, 2025 Minutes
Citizen discussed the performance evaluation for City Manager Pamela Wu.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Chao opened the public comment period and, seeing no one, closed the public comment period.
MOTION: Chao moved and Fruen seconded to approve the items on the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion passed with the following vote: Ayes: Chao, Moore, Fruen, Mohan, and Wang. Noes: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.
7. Subject: Approval of March 18, 2025 City Council minutes Recommended Action: Approve the March 18, 2025 City Council minutes
PUBLIC HEARINGS – None
ACTION CALENDAR
8. Subject: Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among West Valley Cities (Cupertino, Campbell, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, and Town of Los Gatos) for a feasibility study to evaluate the potential of any temporary housing or emergency shelter.
Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to execute the MOU for the West Valley Cities Shelter Feasibility Study.
Written communications for this item included a n amended staff presentation and a supplemental report with staff responses to councilmember questions and emails to the Council.
Senior Housing Planner Nicky Vu gave a presentation.
Councilmembers asked questions and made comments.
Mayor Chao opened the public comment period and the following people spoke.
Jennifer Griffin
Peggy Griffin
Planning Commissioner Santosh Rao (representing self)
Mayor Chao closed the public comment period.
Councilmembers asked questions and made comments.
City Council April 2, 2025 Minutes
MOTION: Mohan moved and Wang seconded to authorize the City Manager to execute the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the West Valley Cities Shelter Feasibility Study. The motion passed with the following vote: Ayes: Chao, Moore, Fruen, and Mohan. Noes: Wang. Abstain: None. Absent: None.
At 8:33 p.m., Mayor Chao recessed the meeting. The meeting reconvened at 8:41 p.m. with all Councilmembers present.
9. Subject: Consider the adoption of a City Council Special Project Policy Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 25-022 approving the City Council Special Project Policy
Written communications for this item included a supplemental report with staff responses to councilmember questions and emails to the Council.
Director of Administrative Services Kristina Alfaro gave a verbal presentation.
Mayor Chao opened the public comment period and the following people spoke.
Rhoda Fry
Jennifer Griffin
San R
Mayor Chao closed the public comment period.
Councilmembers asked questions and made comments.
MOTION: Moore moved and Fruen seconded to adopt Resolution No. 25-022 approving the City Council Special Project Policy. The motion passed with the following vote: Ayes:
Chao, Moore, Fruen, Mohan, and Wang. Noes: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.
10. Subject: Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Capital Improvement Programs and Five-year Plan Recommended Action: Receive presentation and provide input on the development of the proposed Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Capital Improvement Programs and Five-year Plan Written communications for this item included a staff presentation and emails to the Council.
Director of Public Works Chad Mosley and Capital Improvement Programs Manager Susan Michael gave a presentation.
City Council April 2, 2025 Minutes
Councilmembers asked questions and made comments.
Mayor Chao opened the public comment period and the following people spoke.
Peggy Griffin
Jean Bedord
Jennifer Griffin
Lisa
Darcy Paul
San R
Mayor Chao closed the public comment period.
MOTION: Chao moved and Moore seconded to approve the $2 million funding for the three projects proposed by staff, including the following input:
• City Hall Annex to move forward with $8 million allocation • City Hall renovation to come back in October/November, including financing options, cost-benefit analysis
• Potential items to consider for removal or reduction in scope – based on Council input at the meeting or later
• Capital budget format goes to Audit Committee for consideration FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Wang made a friendly amendment to add a date for when Council will propose the items to be considered for removal. (Chao and Moore accepted the friendly amendment).
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Chao made a friendly amendment to move forward with 100% design for the City Hall Annex. (Moore accepted the friendly amendment).
Final amended motion
MOTION: Chao moved and Moore seconded to approve the $2 million funding for the three projects proposed by staff, including the following input:
• City Hall Annex to move forward with 100% design
• City Hall renovation to come back in October/November, including financing options, cost-benefit analysis
• Potential items to consider for removal or reduction in scope – based on Council input at the meeting or later – to come back in May
• Capital budget format goes to Audit Committee for consideration The amended motion passed with the following vote: Ayes: Chao, Moore, Mohan, and Wang. Noes: Fruen. Abstain: None. Absent: None.
MOTION: Moore moved and Wan g seconded to suspend the rule prohibiting Council from considering another agenda item after 10:30 p.m., in order to hear Future Agenda City Council April 2, 2025 Minutes
Items.
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Moore made a friendly amendment to also extend the meeting to 11:15 p.m. (Wang accepted the friendly amendment).
The amended motion passed with the following vote: Ayes: Chao, Moore, Fruen, Mohan, and Wang. Noes: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR – None
CITY MANAGER REPORT – None
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - CONTINUED – None
COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS
11. Subject: Councilmember Reports
Councilmembers reported on their various committees and events as provided in the published agenda.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
MOTION: Chao moved and Moore seconded to add the following item to a future agenda:
A study session on the multifamily apartment conversion to student housing issue, and whether the City can do it; include existing proposed bills on student housing and comparisons to municipal codes on student housing in other jurisdictions, such as San Francisco and Berkeley; and consider a potential ordinance for student housing, so the City has control of its us e and impact. The motion passed with the following vote: Ayes: Chao, Moore, Fruen, Mohan, and Wang. Noes: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.
ADJOURNMENT
At 11:06 p.m., Mayor Chao adjourned the Special City Council Meeting in memory of Ty Bloomquist, a dedicated Maintenance Lead Worker who faithfully served the City since 2000, leaving a lasting impact on our community through his hard work and commitment.
Minutes prepared by:
Kirsten Squarcia, City Clerk