From: Kiran V. Rohra <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2025 1:06 PM
To: Liang Chao <[email protected]>; Kitty Moore <[email protected]> Cc: Gian Martire <[email protected]>; Tina Kapoor <[email protected]>; Luke Connolly <[email protected]>; Benjamin Fu <[email protected]> Subject: Planning Commission meeting 9/23/25
Mayor Chao and Vice Mayor Moore,
Yesterday I attended the Planning Commission meeting representing the Arts and Culture Commision for the Agenda item #2
Subject: Presentation on the Arts & Culture Commission’s recommendation to the City Council on an Art-in-lieu fee policy. (Application No. MCA-2025-003; Applicant: City of Cupertino; Location: City-wide)
Recommended Action: Receive a presentation.
I would like to meet you to inform you of my observations and get your perspective.
Please let me know how I can set up a meeting with you both.
At yesterday's Planning Commission meeting:
1. The very process that the Arts and Culture commission had followed was being questioned. Every commission is expected to follow the due process with public engagement supported by staff, as we did in this case over several meetings. In my understanding that was not the purpose of the agenda to critique and propose actions that should have been taken by staff and the Arts and Culture Commission.
2. This item was assigned to the Arts and Culture commission and not the Planning Commission. Arts and Culture Commission had done their job and it was brought as "Receive a presentation' to the Planning Commission. The item was discussed as if the Planning Commission was asked to formulate the policy including them making a motion and taking a vote on the Art-in-Lieu policy. Ironically, without taking the very actions they talked about that the Arts and Culture Commission should have taken.
3. The Planning Commission's inputs is valuable on how Art-in-Lieu policy may relate to planning, such as questions related to implementing any eventual policy change, how that may affect the application process for developments. In my understanding this discussion and exchange of information between the two commissions is important and should continue.
The City staff have done an excellent work of research providing the Arts and Culture commission with Art-in-Lieu policies from neighboring comparable cities. Arts and Culture Commission with very competent and committed commissioners, has had meaningful discussions and given considerable attention to propose changes, keeping the interest and inputs of our community in the forefront.
We are answerable to the City Council and will be happy to answer and take guidance from you. Certainly, City Council does the review and final decision making when it is brought on the agenda.
Thanking you.
Kiran V. Rohra
Arts and Culture Commissioner Chair
[email protected]