CC 01-13-2026
#2
Study session for Potential
November 2026 Parkland
Ballot Measure
Written Communications
From: Jennifer Griffin
To: City Clerk
Cc: [email protected]; City Council
Subject: Fwd: Cupertino Parkland and Open Space Protection Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2026 11:34:57 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear City Clerk:
Please include the following comments as public input for Item Number 2 Study Session at the Cupertino City Council meeting on Jan. 13, 2026.
Thank you.
Jennifer Griffin
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Cuperyino Parkland and Open Space Protection
From: Jennifer Griffin <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 11:30 AM
To: [email protected]
CC: [email protected],[email protected]
Dear City Council:
(Please include this as public input for Item Number 2 Study Session at the Cupertino City Council meeting
on January 13, 2026.)
In regards to Item Number 2- Study Session (Cupertino City Council meeting on January 13, 2026), I
think having protections for Cupertino Parklands and Open Spaces from being rezoned is very important. Parkland and Open Space are precious resources for Cupertino and once lost are gone forever. Having a required vote of the public before Parkland and Open Space are rezoned
is a very good idea.
Please do all you can to protect our Cupertino Parklands and Open Spaces. This is land generations
to come will cherish and enjoy.
Thank you very much.
Best regards,
Jennifer Griffin
From: Andrea Grindeland
To: Public Comments
Subject: Agenda Item 2, yes on parkland protection measure Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2026 10:03:23 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear City Council,
I am a resident of Cupertino and I support a ballot measure to protect our City's park land.
Thank you,
Andrea Grindeland
Sent from my iPhone
From: Peggy Griffin
To: Public Comments
Subject: 2026-01-13 City Council Special Meeting-AGENDA ITEM #2 - Parkland Ballot Measure - YES! Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2026 5:19:10 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
PLEASE INCLUDE THIS EMAIL AS PART OF THE WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE ABOVE AGENDA ITEM.
Dear Mayor Moore, Vice Mayor Chao, and Councilmembers,
I support the idea of having a ballot measure to protect our park lands and open spaces.
As our city
grows it has and will become denser but state laws undermine setting aside park land for our new residents.
So, what we have now will become more and more precious.
Once it is gone, it will not be
replaced.
Thank you for thinking ahead.
Please keep the measure simple so it is easy to understand but protects this valuable resource for our future generations.
Sincerely,
Peggy Griffin
CC 01-13-2026
#3
Study session
regarding Various
Revenue Tax
Options
Written Communications
From: Rhoda Fry
To: Public Comments; City Clerk; Cupertino City Manager"s Office; City Council Subject: City Council 1/13/2026 Tax Revenue Options
Date: Monday, January 12, 2026 7:19:09 PM
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Hi City Council,
Regarding Tax Revenue Options.
First of all, I don’t think that a sales-tax measure will work.
That’s what was decided last time and I figure that you’re putting this item on the agenda so that you can close out the issue and say that you left no stone unturned.
I do hope that you are not paying the consultant to come back and do a presentation on this.
One thing that bothered me then, and I presented on it and might have even written in, is that a revised biz license tax similar to that of other cities was NOT considered. Perhaps this is because at the time, we did not want to bite the hand that fed us with the Apple deal.
As an example, take a look at what Mountain View is doing here:
https://library.municode.com/ca/mountain_view/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIITHCO_CH18LI Here’s an excerpt:
Number of Employees Authorized Maximum Business Registration and License Tax 1 $75
2—25 $75 + $5/employee for each employee over 1
26—50 $195 + $10/employee for each employee over 25
51—500 $445 + $75/employee for each employee over 50 employees 501—1,000 $34,195 + $100/employee for each employee over 500 employees 1,001—5,000 $84,195 + $125/employee for each employee over 1,000 5,001+ $584,195 + $150/employee for each employee over 5,000 Sunnyvale also has a biz license tax based on headcount found here:
https://www.sunnyvale.ca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/6290/638992541898770000 Here is Campbell:
https://www.campbellca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/24474/Business-License-Fees---Effective-July-3-2025 etc…
I hope that you can direct City Staff to further consider a business license tax increase since other cities are doing it and we won’t be chasing businesses away. We need to do something to make up for the abysmal lack of sales-tax-revenue.
Thanks,
Rhoda Fry
From: Peggy Griffin
To: Public Comments
Subject: 2026-01-13 City Council Meeting-AGENDA ITEM 3-Tax Revenue Options Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2026 5:41:19 PM
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PLEASE INCLUDE THIS EMAIL AS PART OF THE WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE ABOVE AGENDA ITEM.
Dear Mayor Moore, Vice Mayor Chao, and Councilmembers,
Before thinking about raising taxes, please find out where all the money has gone and where the city can plug the holes.
People are struggling just to keep up now.
Many fear they may loose their jobs or
a family member or friend may loose their job making it even more difficult to survive and stay in our homes.
People will not approve a tax increase if they feel public money is currently being wasted.
I don’t know what kind of financial audit is needed to go through, department by department, and identify where money can be saved-an outside person who can review finances quickly.
I’m sure
each department and our finance department would welcome getting help identifying costs that could be eliminated without laying off.
Using the County Sheriffs
If this new County Sheriff’s contract is increased significantly, how is this justified? Is there a breakdown?
We just approved the license plate readers and they are being used to help them.
Why don’t we get a
cost break?
Are there things the city can do to reduce this contract? Are we subsidizing other areas unnecessarily?
Solicit ideas from the public!
I’ve heard these ideas:
Claudio Bono spoke at the last tax revenue options meeting about the hotels being willing to increase the TOT by 1-2%.
Is this still an option?
Business tax? Do other cities do it? How would it impact our small businesses that are struggling as it is?
Lifetime Tennis costs too much and there are other options.
Other ideas
Sincerely,
Peggy Griffin
CC 01-13-2026
#4
Study session for
updates to
Commission &
Committees
Written Communications
From: Peggy Griffin
To: Public Comments
Cc: City Clerk
Subject: 2026-01-13 City Council Meeting - AGENDA ITEM 4 Updates to Commissions and Committee Guidelines Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2026 3:50:04 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
PLEASE INCLUDE THIS EMAIL AS PART OF THE WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE ABOVE AGENDA ITEM.
Dear Mayor Moore, Vice Mayor Chao, and Councilmembers,
I am in agreement on the changes to the commissions and committee guidelines. #1 – Nepotism Restrictions
Please update!
Include other advisory bodies but be sure to list them specifically and also define “other advisory bodies” in case new advisory bodies are created.
#2 – Vacancies and Appointing Alternates
Please update!
Appointing an alternate makes so much sense!
It allows more people to potentially participate.
It
also gives the alternate some experience and helps ensure a quorum. #3 – Attendance Requirements
Please update!
Please update attendance requirements for regular and special meetings. #4 – Commissioner Autonomy
Please update!
The right of anyone to speak, representing themselves only, should be allowed.
They should remain
respectful.
#5 – Differences between a Committee and a Commission
Please update!
Knowing the differences would be helpful.
Also, please ADD
A. Who has the right to cancel a meeting – the chair or staff? Be explicit.
B. Who sets the agenda.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Peggy Griffin