CC 10-13-2025
Item No. 4
Accept Ad-Hoc
Legislative Review
Recommendation
regarding Measure A
Written Communications
From: Santosh Rao
To: City Clerk; City Council; Tina Kapoor
Subject: Please focus Council Agendas on Cupertino Resident Priorities rather than Sacramento bills Date: Monday, October 13, 2025 9:58:48 AM
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Dear City Clerk,
Would you please include the below in written communications for the upcoming 10/13/2025 city
council meeting.
[Writing on behalf of myself only as a Cupertino resident] Subject:
Request to Refocus Council Agendas on Cupertino Resident Priorities Dear Mayor Chao, Vice-Mayor Moore, Council Members, and Interim City Manager Kapoor, I am deeply concerned by the increasing amount of time being spent on discussions related to Sacramento legislation and state-level bills during Cupertino City Council meetings. While understanding the importance of regional coordination, these matters fall largely outside the city’s direct jurisdiction and immediate resident priorities.
Cupertino residents hold diverse political views on state and federal issues. However, council members were elected to represent residents on
local matters
— the issues that directly impact
daily life in our city. Time and attention should remain focused on addressing Cupertino’s pressing local challenges, not on adopting positions on Sacramento bills or engaging in political signaling unrelated to city governance.
I urge Interim City Manager Kapoor to exercise discretion in agenda setting and prioritize topics that directly affect Cupertino residents, rather than items that appear aimed at building political résumés or cultivating relationships with state-level politicians. Cupertino deserves a council focused squarely on improving our community, not on state politics.
To that end, please refrain from taking official positions on statewide measures such as Measure A or Proposition 50. These issues reflect diverse community opinions that should not be represented through a singular city position. The council’s role is to serve Cupertino residents and manage local governance, including density, safety, and fiscal discipline.
I respectfully remind you of several
immediate, high-priority local issues
that require
focused attention and action:
1. Senior Center Subsidies:
More than half of the Senior Center’s membership reportedly consists of non-residents. Please provide a transparent accounting of the per-member subsidy and take steps to ensure Cupertino residents receive enrollment priority and that general fund subsidies for non-residents are phased out.
2. Encampment on Bandley Drive (by Target):
The blocked sidewalk poses health,
safety, and hygiene risks. Please act promptly to clear the encampment and consider introducing a homeless ordinance aligned with the Governor’s directive to maintain clean and safe public spaces.
3. Lehigh Quarry Truck Traffic:
Coordinate with the County to enforce a conditional
use permit restricting quarry truck traffic to the hours between 6:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on weekdays. Additionally, install signage on Foothill Boulevard to prohibit heavy trucks outside of these hours.
4. Pickleball Noise Ordinance:
Adopt a balanced ordinance requiring quiet paddles,
designating Sundays and holidays as no-play days, and aligning play hours with the city’s noise ordinance (e.g., 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. on Saturdays).
5. Traffic Safety Cameras:
Where we could use your
engagement with state legislation is
to
please prioritize lobbying for Cupertino’s inclusion in AB 645
, enabling the
deployment of speeding cameras in Cupertino
as part of the state pilot program. We
need to deter bad drivers and need you to prioritize seeking grants and/or funding the installation of red light cameras and speeding cameras.
Thank you for your attention to these urgent, resident-centered concerns. Cupertino residents expect leadership that focuses on the issues that matter most within our city,
not in
Sacramento.
Thanks,
San
Rao (writing on behalf of myself only as a Cupertino resident) From: Kirsten Squarcia
To: Kitty Moore; Lauren Sapudar
Cc: Melissa Robertson
Subject: RE: Written Communications Item 4Measure A LRC Item Date: Tuesday, October 14, 2025 4:19:03 PM
Attachments: Pages from Measure A Comments.pdf
Thank you Vice Mayor, we will post with the other written communications for item 4.
Regards, Kirsten
Kirsten Squarcia
Interim Deputy City Manager/City Clerk
City Manager's Office
[email protected]
(408) 777-3225
From: Kitty Moore <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2025 3:55 PM
To: Kirsten Squarcia <[email protected]>; Lauren Sapudar <[email protected]> Subject: Written Communications Item 4Measure A LRC Item Hi,
Attached are the charts provided for Item 4 last evening.
Thank you,
Kitty Moore
Kitty Moore
Vice Mayor
City Council
[email protected]
(408) 777-1389
Notes:
• Finance and Government and the Hospital System spending increased • All other areas including Public Safety decreased as a percentage of the budget • The Board of Supervisors Approved purchasing 3 bankrupt hospitals • 3 of 4 county hospitals are in San Jose
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Finance and
Government
Public Safety and
Justice
Children,
Seniors, and
Families
Santa Clara
Valley Health and
Hospital System
Housing, Land
Use,
Environment, and
Transportation
Santa Clara County Changes to Spending by Policy
Area Category FY 2015 to FY 2025
Percentage of Total Budget FY 2015 Percentage of Total Budget FY 2015 What are the Policy Areas? • Finance and Government: This area encompasses general governmental functions like managing the overall budget, financial planning, and ensuring accountability. It also includes services related to elections, vital records, and property records management. • Public Safety and Justice: Funding in this area supports the local justice system, which includes the District Attorney, detention facilities for adults and youth, Sheriff's Department policing services, and probation. It also includes related services such as protective services, criminal justice programs, and diversion and re-entry services. • Children, Seniors, and Families: This policy area focuses on programs and services that enhance the well-being of children, seniors, and families. It includes initiatives such as Advocacy and Flexible Support Services for children affected by gender-based violence, the Amigos Motel Shelter Program for families experiencing homelessness, and the Rapid Rehousing Program to help families secure permanent housing. It also covers investments in juvenile services, child welfare, and homelessness prevention. • Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System: This area provides funding for the county's public healthcare system. It includes services offered by hospitals like O'Connor Hospital, Valley Medical Center, St. Louise Regional Hospital, and the recently acquired Regional Medical Center. A significant portion of its funding comes from federal and state programs like Medicare and Medicaid (distributed as Medi-Cal). • Housing, Land Use, Environment, and Transportation: This area covers long-range planning in land use, environment, and transportation. It includes oversight of the Housing Trust Fund and reviews budget recommendations for departments like Planning and Development, Office of Supportive Housing, Agriculture and Environmental Management, Vector Control District, Environmental Health, Parks and Recreation, and Roads and Airports. It also involves addressing community development needs through programs like CDBG and HOME funds, which focus on affordable housing and assistance to low-income households.
Healthcare expenditures comparison table for FY 2024–2025 County
FY 2024-25 Total All-Funds Budget (in Billions)
FY 2024-25 Healthcare Expenditures (in Billions) Approximate % of Total Expenditures Sources Santa Clara 13.7 7.5 55% County of Santa Clara FY 2025-26 Recommended Budget, Mercury News Report on Adopted Budget, County News Release on Adopted Budget Alameda 4.6 1.1825 25.80% Alameda County FY 2024-25 Final Budget Summary, Alameda County Press Release Los Angeles 48.7 12.5 25.70% LA County FY 2024-25 Budget overview San Mateo 5.25 1.3 25.50% San Mateo County FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget detail, Budget Proposal summary San Diego 8.6 2.2 25.60% County of San Diego FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget overview Note: Some total budget and healthcare expenditure figures were estimated or based on preliminary data, particularly for the counties with more complex reporting structures. For exact, detailed financial data, it is recommended to consult the full official budget documents available via the provided links.
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%
SantaClara
Alameda
LosAngeles
SanMateo
SanDiego
Healthcare Expenditures Comparison Table for FY 2024-2025, Healthcare as percentage of each County's Budget