Good evening,
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2025
It is a pleasure to share recent highlights and upcoming events to the community and City Council in my City Manager Report.
Updates and Announcements
4th of July Celebration
The ceremony featured remarks from the Mayor of Cupertino and the participation of the entire City Council, who helped honor the occasion and reflect on the meaning of Independence Day.
Councilmembers continued to take part in the day’s events, joining the community for the parade and enjoying the full lineup of festivities, including live music from the Billy Martini Band, lawn games, kids activities, and more. After sunset, the celebration concluded with a dazzling fireworks display that lit up the night sky. We’re grateful to our incredible community, volunteers, partners, sponsors, and hardworking City staff who made it all possible. Special thank-you to School of Rock for sponsoring this year’s celebration!
A big red, white, and thank
you to everyone who joined
us for Cupertino’s Fourth of
July Celebration! From
morning pancakes to fireworks
lighting up the night sky, it was
a day to remember.
The festivities began with a
delicious pancake breakfast
hosted by the Optimist Club of
Cupertino, followed by a
formal flag-raising ceremony
at Memorial Park.
TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2025
I am pleased to announce that as of July 1, Kirsten Squarcia will be serving as Interim Deputy City Manager. In this role, Kirsten will oversee the City Manager’s Office divisions and provide support to me and the City as a whole, while continuing to lead City Clerk operations. Her extensive experience and strong familiarity with the City and its operations will help ensure a smooth transition and continued alignment across departments.
Interim Deputy City Manager
A recent Mass Transit Magazine article places Cupertino at the top of the list for innovative microtransit funding strategies in 2025. The article outlines creative approaches including public- private partnerships, employer-based contributions, mobility-as-a-service subscriptions, and targeted use of federal grants. These creative strategies are helping agencies bridge the gap between traditional transit infrastructure and modern mobility needs—especially for first/last-mile connections and underserved communities. You can find more information here: Creative Ways to Fund On-Demand Public Transportation and Microtransit in 2025 .
Cupertino Highlighted as a Shining Example for Microtransit Strategy
311 Case Management Updates
Staff has implemented key enhancements to Cupertino’s 311 service request system based on feedback and in an effort to improve transparency, consistency, and responsiveness. Notable updates include accurate status tracking to avoid premature closures, clearer explanations when requests are closed, and personalized responses with staff contact information. Together, these improvements aim to provide a more user-friendly and accountable experience for our community.
CREST Awards Nominations Now Open!
I’m excited to share that nominations are now open for the upcoming Cupertino Community Service Awards: Celebrating 70 Years of Cupertino. This year’s evet on Wednesday, October 29 will honor CREST Award recipients, recognize our dedicated Commissioners, and celebrate the City’s 70 anniversary. The City will begin public promotion of the CREST Awards this week with the nomination period running through early September. Please help us share the nomination form widely cupertino.gov/crest.
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SV Hopper is making local travel easier this summer with two special promotions. Throughout July, riders can enjoy free Caltrain rides every Saturday to and from stations served by SV Hopper, including Mountain View, Sunnyvale, and Santa Clara. In addition, from July through August, SV Hopper is offering free local trips to select destinations in Cupertino and Santa Clara.
These stops include the Cupertino Sports Center, Cupertino Library, Main Street Cupertino, Homestead Square, Santa Clara Central Park, and the Santa Clara Youth and Teen Center.
Funded by the state’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) and the Bay Area Air District’s Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA), SV Hopper continues to support clean and sustainable transportation options in the region. For more information, visit the SV Hopper webpage.
Ride Free with SV Hopper This Summer
TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2025
Mayor Chao will host its regular Mayor and Commission Chair Meeting at Quinlan Community Center on July 16th, bringing together the Mayor and chairs of the city’s commissions. This meeting provides an opportunity to discuss city priorities, share updates, and coordinate efforts across the groups.
Mayor and Commission Chair Meeting
Upcoming Events
The Cupertino City Council will conduct interviews on Wednesday, July 16, to fill vacancies with the Housing Commission and the Public Safety Commission. The interviews will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will take place at Cupertino Community Hall, located at 10350 Torre Avenue.
Commission Interviews
Mayor Chao will be hosting her Monthly Chat at La Pizzeria on Monday, July 14th. We look forward to using this opportunity to discuss local concerns with Cupertino residents and provide updates on city planning and governance. For more information on monthly chats, visit the Monthly Mayor Chat webpage .
Mayors Monthly Chat at La Pizzeria
The application period for the Economic Development Committee has been extended.
Applications will remain open until all positions are filled, and the City Council is expected to conduct interviews for this committee in September. For more information or to apply, please visit the City of Cupertino’s official website.
Economic Development Committee Recruitment Extended
Coyote Safety Awareness
Following recent regional reports, public attention has been drawn to increased coyote activity in Bay Area parks and neighborhoods. The article emphasizes the importance of public education and inter-agency coordination to address safety concerns, particularly during pup- rearing season when sightings and encounters may rise. Cupertino continues to monitor local conditions and encourages residents to remain aware of their surroundings when enjoying parks or open spaces. For more information and safety tips, you can read the full Mercury article here .
CREST Awards Nominations Now Open!
I’m excited to share that nominations are now open for the upcoming Cupertino Community Service Awards: Celebrating 70 Years of Cupertino. This year’s evet on Wednesday, October 29 will honor CREST Award recipients, recognize our dedicated Commissioners, and celebrate the City’s 70 anniversary. The City will begin public promotion of the CREST Awards this week with the nomination period running through early September. Please help us share the nomination form widely cupertino.gov/crest.
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TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2025
Tina Kapoor
INTERIM CITY MANAGER
WARM REGARDS,
We are starting with Step 1 and will be communicating these updates widely to the public ahead of implementation to provide notice to players. I hope that these improvements will continue to enhance the experience for the pickleball players while minimizing the auditory impacts to the nearby neighbors.
City Manager’s Operational Plan for Pickleball
In response to continuing concerns about the high noise level with pickleball, staff has developed an operational plan, to mitigate the noise levels, while allowing pickleball lovers to continue enjoying their favorite sport. This plan includes three steps:
1.Fence Augmentation and Signage/ Quiet Pickleball Hours
2.Noise-Barrier (Wall)
3.Quiet Pickleball Mandate
On Thursday July 31, Santa Clara County Supervisor, Margaret Abe-Koga invites residents to an important community meeting to discuss the current status of the Lehigh/Heidelberg Cement Plant and Permanente Quarry. The meeting will provide updates, share key information, and offer residents an opportunity to ask questions and voice their concerns. This meeting will begin at 6:30pm at the Quinlan Community Center.
Lehigh Townhall Meeting