CITY COUNCILMEMBER REPORT Meeting: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 Reporting Councilmember : Mayor Liang Chao Report Dates : 4/30/25 to 5/13/25 ● Last Activity Report in the May 6, 2025 Council Meeting Agenda Section 1: Announcement - Message from the Mayor : ❖ Mayor’s Initiatives: ➢ Cupertino Stories : You are welcome to email entries to [email protected]. ■ Thank you to Cupertino Science Technology University (CSTU) for managing the project.
They
have
developed
tools
to
convert
audio/video
stories
to
text.
■ The website will be redesigned soon to accept story submissions. ➢ Booth at the Festivals : Thank you for volunteers helping to support the Mayor’s Initiatives Booth at
April
5 Earth
Day
Festival
and
April
26 &
April
27 Cherry
Blossom
Festival.
➢ Dance in the Plaza: The first Dance in the Plaza was held on Saturday April 12 from 2:30-5:30pm .
Thank
you
for
Amazing
Taiwan
for
sponsoring
the
event.
We
had
a
lot
of
fun.
The
second
Dance
in
the
Plaza
will
be
held
in
June.
Date
to
be
announced
later.
➢ Volunteer Appreciation : The Mayor hosted an Appreciation Dinner for CERT, CARE, ARM volunteers
and
block
leaders
on
April
17 after
a
proclamation
was
presented
to
them
at
the
April
15 Council
Meeting.
About
50 people
attended.
Many
have
served
over
10,
20 years
and
some
even
served
30 years.
Thank
you
to
AlphaX
for
sponsoring
the
dinner.
➢ Tech Icon: Cupertino Stories of Entrepreneurship on Sunday June 1 4pm to 6pm at Community Hall. Register at https://www.techicon.org/register. We will hear the stories from two Cupertino entrepreneurs Arun Santhebennur, CEO & Co-Founder of Voicegain & Srini Dharmaji, Head of Product at Airtime. Arun is currently the CEO & Co-Founder of Voicegain and Srini is currently the
Head
of
Product
at
Airtime.
Amongst
them,
they’ve
founded
five
different
companies
in
the
technology
space.
➢ Community Multicultural Juried Art Show at the AAPI Multicultural Festival: The Cupertino Art Show will be held on Saturday May 24, from 12pm to 4pm in collaboration with the APPI Multicultural Festival. Submit your entries by May 18 at https://aapicommunityjuriedartshow.artcall.org/ (Call for Submission flyer) 1 ❖ Monthly Chat with Mayor Community Meetings: These meetings will be generally held on the second
Monday
at
5pm
each
month,
but
it
might
be
moved
to
other
Mondays
if
needed.
The
location
will
rotate
so
that
we
cover
different
businesses
each
month.
➢ The last Mayor’s Chat was held atLee’s Sandwiches on May 12th. We started at 4:30pm to meet local
businesses,
where
Daniel
Degu,
the
Economic
Development
Manager,
also
joined.
Then,
we
had
the
monthly
chat
in
a
packed
room
with
Acting
City
Manager
Tina
Kapoor..
➢ The next Monthly Chat with the Mayor will be held on Monday June 9th at 5pm. The location is to be
announced
later.
2 ❖ FY 2025-27 Work Program Prioritization : The staff has proposed a new process for Work Program Prioritization in an info memo. Check the Work Program page for updates. ➢ At the March 18 Council Meeting, the Council adopted a list of Work Program items for consideration for the FY 25-26 budget. ➢ The final decision will likely be made in April/May before the Council adopts the FY 25-26 budget in
June
2025.
❖ Process to Request Certificate of Recognition or Commendation: ➢ To ensure such requests are handled as smoothly and efficiently as possible, the City Manager’s Office
has
implemented
a
dedicated
process.
➢ We kindly ask that you complete the following form, which will allow Mayor Chao to present a certificate of recognition: https://cupertino.gov/councilmeetingrequest ❖ Proclamations at Council meetings : This year, I plan to follow a tradition upheld by some former Cupertino
mayors
and
other
mayors
in
recognizing
organizations
or
individuals
with
proclamations
during
Council
meetings.
My
goal
is
to
honor
those
who
have
made
consistent
and/or
significant
contributions
to
Cupertino,
with
an
emphasis
on
those
who
are
less
well-known.
If
you
have
any
suggestions,
please
feel
free
to
me
at
Proclamations for contributions will generally be presented at the second Council meeting of each month, while
the
first
meeting
will
continue
to
recognize
special
observances
(e.g.,
awareness
months
or
weeks)
as
before.
You
are
also
welcome
to
submit
suggestions
for
these
recognitions.
Section 2: Committee Assignment 2025-05-08 Santa Clara County Recycle and Waste Reduction Committee - Accepted an update on the budget since there is a reduction in the expected revenue. - Directed staff to explore adopting a Household Hazardous Waste Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Ordinance
to
address
the
increase
in
cost
for
jurisdictions
to
manage
hazardous
waste
generated
by
3 residents. - A draft ordinance will be considered for adoption by the County for adoption. Alameda County has
adopted
the
first
EPR
ordinance.
- State Bills related to EPR:
Section 3: Activities by Date (Date, Title, and Description): NOTE: ● This list does not include internal meetings with staff only, such as prep sessions or meetings with the City Manager. ● This list includes activities to “represent the community I am elected to serve”, “to respond to community needs and complaints,” and “to communicate policies and programs to residents,” among other responsibilities of a City Councilmember. ● Due to my work schedule, I have cut down on the event attendance for ceremonial purposes, especially those I have attended
almost
every
year
in
the
past.
Instead,
I
focus
more
of
my
time
on
constituent
services.
2025-05-01 Attended Award Ceremony for the 2025 Asian American Stories at HL Peninsula Restaurant
at
Milpitas
- The Silicon Valley Community Media have received over 90 one-minute stories to spotlight individuals who have made significant contributions to Asian American literature, film, art and culture. 2025-05-02 Attended the 2025 TiEcon Gala Dinner at Santa Clara Convention Center ● TiE was founded 33 years ago in Silicon Valley with members from all over the world. They foster 4 entrepreneurship by meaningful conversations and engagements throughout the year. The theme of the conference
this
year
was
AI
Verse:
Technology,
Industry,
Trends.
● The evening also features live band, songs and dancing. 2025-05-03 InAtalent Volunteer Appreciation at Community Hall - InAtalent in its 9th year is dedicated to enriching communities through the passion and talents
of
volunteers.
They
have
performed
at
senior
and
medical
centers
to
bring
joy
to
their
residents
and
patients.
They
have
sent
cards
and
donated
to
them.
- I and Councilmember Mohan handed out certificates from the City and also Presidential Volunteer
Awards
to
the
volunteers.
2025-05-04 Attended the fundraiser performance by Jazz bands from Be Natural Music at Dar
Restaurant
and
Bar,
Los
Gatos
- Be Natural Music began in Santa Cruz and has recently expanded with a new campus in Cupertino, near Blaney
and
Stevens
Creek.
The
school
offers
music
education
for
all
ages
and
proudly
supports
more
than
30 student-led
bands
in
the
Cupertino
area.
2025-05-04 Attended the Taiwan Hand Puppet Show at the Community Hall - An amazing performance by talented artists! Each hand puppet was handcrafted with delicate detail, bringing
every
character
to
life.
A
live
band
accompanied
the
show,
perfectly
syncing
music
with
the
puppets’
movements.
The
children
in
the
audience
laughed
with
delight
throughout
the
performance.
- After the show, a hands-on workshop invited kids to create their own hand puppets using plastic bottles and
fabric
scraps—an
inspiring
and
creative
experience
for
all!
2025-05-05 Attended CUSD’s Future Ready Learning Dinner and Discussion at the former Meyerholz Elementary
School
GLC
- The keynote speaker addressed the essential skills children will need in an age where AI is transforming every
aspect
of
our
lives.
The
speech
was
followed
by
small
group
discussions
focused
on
CUSD’s
goals
for
student
success.
2025-05-09 Attended 2025 West Valley College Scholarship Celebration, invited by the League of Women
Voters,
Southwest
Santa
Clara
Valley
- Many organizations that provide scholarship awards have the opportunity to meet with the recipients and share
their
life
experiences,
along
with
valuable
advice
for
their
academic
journey.he
League
of
Women
Voters
of
Southwest
Santa
Clara
Valley
offers
an
annual
scholarship
made
possible
through
a
generous
donation
from
a
late
member.
2025-05-09 Attended the Health Expo at the Cupertino Senior Center - The Health Expo was well attended, featuring a wide range of senior service providers. - Volunteers from the Cupertino Stories team hosted a booth to share information about the project and encourage
attendees
to
submit
their
own
stories.
2025-05-12 Monthly Chat with Mayor at the Lee’s Sandwiches - The pilot Business Corner kicked off at 4:30 PM, offering a chance to connect with local businesses. - At 5:30 PM, businesses were invited to give a 30-second pitch and share flyers or giveaways. Dr. Thai of Premier
Care
Dentistry
and
Annie
Le,
owner
of
Lee’s
Sandwiches,
shared
the
services
they
provide.
- Residents brought up a range of community concerns—from the 100-truck activity at Vallco to speeding on Prospect
Road.
We
encouraged
everyone
to
follow
up
by
sending
emails
or
submitting
Cupertino
311
tickets
so
we
can
address
these
issues
promptly.
5 Section 4: Information of Interest to My Constituents: (updated on 4/8) ● Builders’ Remedy (BR) Projects (Status of Projects) ★ BR Projects with incomplete application status ( pursuant to Government Code Section 65941.1.) ● 20739 Scofield (one block from Faria Elementary School, zoned R1-10): The project will replace one single-family home with 20-unit, 5 story, condominium
on
15,004
sqft
(0.34
acre)
lot
● Vista Heights (near entrance of Linda Vista Park) : The vacant site, zoned RHS, will build 33 units (8 condominiums and 25 single family homes on vacant
hillside
property
of
86.1 acres.
● Upland Way (11841 Upland Way, zoned RHS-70) : 6 single family homes, including 2 affordable units, on vacant hillside property of 1.56 acres with average
slopes
greater
than
30%
★ Other active BR projects: ○ Dividend Homes (20085 & 20111 Stevens Creek Blvd) , to the east of the Fire Station, on 2.6 acres, zoned R4 and commercial mixed use. The project will replace two existing office buildings
with
57 for-sale
townhomes.,
including
12 affordable
units.
○ Dividend Homes (20045 & 20065 Stevens Creek Blvd), to the east of the Fire Station, on 1.77 acres, zoned commercial mixed use. The project will replace existing office buildings with
32 for-sale
townhomes.,
including
6 affordable
units.
★ Relevant News on the determination of incompleteness for BR projects: ○ “Los Gatos Files Declaratory Relief Action to Resolve Land Use Uncertainty” (Press Release from the City of Los Gatos) ■ “That section [Gov. Code 65941.1] provides that applicants for land use approvals have
90 days
after
an
initial
180-day
deadline
to
submit
any
missing
information
needed
to
complete
a
formal
application
for
a
so-called
“builder’s
remedy”
housing
project.
That
section
further
stipulates
that
if
the
missing
information
is
not
submitted
“within
the
90-day
period,
then
the
preliminary
application
shall
expire
and
have
no
further
force
or
effect.”
■ “In an apparently conflicting reading, in letters dated August 30, 2024 and February
12,
2025,
the
California
Department
of
Housing
and
Community
Development
(HCD)
stated
its
view
that
there
is
not
just
one
90-day
period
but
that
successive
90-day
periods
can
run
indefinitely
.
By
filing
this
lawsuit,
the
Town
is
acting
in
good
faith
so
that
it
will
know
how
to
comply
with
the
law
and
ensure
it
can
continue
to
serve
its
residents
and
property
owners,
while
lawfully
processing
land
use
applications.”
★ Other docs: ○ The July 25, 2024 info memo, titled “Scofield Drive SB330 Preliminary Application pursuant to Builder’s Remedy”, has information about proposed BR projects and their review process. ● Other Residential Projects - complete applications submitted, not yet approved: ○ Pizza Hut/Staples/ Fontana's (20770, 20830, 20840, & 20850 Stevens Creek Blvd). adjacent to the Cupertino Crossroads Shopping Center): on 2.97 acres, zoned commercial mixed use. The project will
replace
existing
retail
stores
with
59 townhome
condominium
units
across
eight,
three-story
buildings
○ United Furniture (10065 & 10075 Stevens Creek Blvd, across from Vallco) , on 2.72 acres, zoned 6 commercial mixed use. The project will replace existing retail stores with 55 townhome condominium
units,
with
10 ADUs,
three-story
buildings
○ Stevens Office Center (20813, 20823, 20883 and 20807 Stevens Creek Blvd) , on 6.93 acres, zoned commercial mixed use. The project will replace two office buildings and one retail building with 122
for-sale
units
(66
small-lot
single
family
and
56 townhomes),
including
24 affordable
units
○ 20865 McClellan Rd: on 0.99 acres, zoned R3TH. The project will replace one single-family home with 27 townhomes, including 4 affordable units, in three-story buildings ○ Evulich Court (10857, 10867, 10877 & 10887 Linda Vista Dr): on 2.53 acres, zoned R3TH. The project will replace 4 single-family homes with 51 townhomes, including 11 affordable units ● Other Residential Projects - SB 330 preliminary application submitted, but not complete applications:
○ Wolfe Road Housing Project (10333 N. Wolfe Road) : 250-300 total units across the 5-acre property. It will be 100% rental apartments. The affordable housing will benefit those making 80% or
less
of
the
area
median
income
(AMI).
■ a full report on our Listening Phase at this link. ■ February 12 Community Co-Creation Event at Collins Elementary School ● Other Residential Projects - Revision of already approved projects: ○ Westport Senior Assisted Living Housing (revision submitted): The developer Related has submitted
a
revision
to
add
more
units,
reduce
retail
space,
remove
the
underground
garage
and
request
a
waiver
of
Parkland
dedication
Fee.
It
is
going
to
the
Planning
Commission
in
May
■ Previous approval in 2021 and 2024: Westport (21267 Stevens Creek Blvd) ○ Marina Plaza (10145 N. De Anza Blvd, 10118 Bandley Dr.), on 5.1 acres, zoned commercial and mixed use: The project will add more units, slightly reduce retail space, deliver over smaller for-sale
starter
homes
under
1500
sq.
ft.
and
an
outdoor
amphitheater.
■ Previous approval in 2022L Marina Plaza.
● License Plate Reader Camera - City-operated or personal ones ★ The Council has adopted the Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) Camera program (Resolution 24-094) in order to alert the police when a license plate with previous record is detected. Some cameras are placed at major roads entering Cupertnio. ★ The residents or businesses can connect your home or business surveillance camera with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office. The registration form is at the bottom of this page. Section 5: Information Access Useful to My Constituents (not updated):
1. Information Memo posted on the City website: City Council Informational Memos are now available on the City website. The information can be accessed from the City website at cupertino.org/memos and the City Council page. You can also find the page by entering search terms “info memos” at the top of the website. ★ Anyone may use the eNotification signup to receive informational memo updates by email.
★ The info memos are now hosted in the digital archive as all other city records. ★ Click “+” to zoom in. ★ On a laptop:
7 ○ To open the document as PDF, click on the Print icon and then click on “Download &
Print”.
The
downloaded
will
appear
in
a
new
tab
for
viewing.
○ This does not work on Safari browser on an iPhone. ★ To copy and paste text, you must open it as PDF and then copy & paste from there. New memos posted, since last report: ● No new info memos published since February 28 ● Recordings of Commission Meetings: Starting in June, commission meetings will be recorded for viewing later, although no teleconferencing
to
allow
remote
participation.
- Find the recordings here under each commission.
4. How to Search an agenda item: A community member showed me a way to search for items on the past city meetings: ● Go to this page: https://cupertino.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx ○ Make sure that “Calendar” is selected from the top row of tabs and the “List View” is
selected
from
the
bottom
row
of
tabs.
○ Enter the search term, such as “investment report”. Choose the year or select “All Years”
8