CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE
CITY HALL
10300 TORRE AVENUE • CUPERTINO, CA 95014-3255
TELEPHONE: (408) 777-3212
CUPERTINO.GOV
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Date: May 5, 2026
Subject
Authorization for the Mayor to Sign Multi-Jurisdictional Letter Regarding State Housing Legislation as updated by the Council Ad Hoc Subcommittee.
Recommended Action
Authorize the Mayor to sign a joint letter from various cities within the County to Speaker Robert Rivas expressing concerns regarding the volume and implementation of recent state housing and land use legislation.
Background
Mayor Mark Turner from the City of Morgan Hill has prepared a letter addressed to the Speaker of the California State Assembly requesting a two-year pause to allow for evaluation of recently adopted laws, identification of potential conflicts or redundancies, and assessment of outcomes and impacts. Mayor Turner requested that the Mayors from cities within Santa Clara County sign the letter to create a joint letter from neighboring jurisdictions to express shared concerns regarding the implementation of state housing mandates. The City Council considered signing this letter at the April 7 meeting and instead established an ad-hoc subcommittee, including Councilmember J.R. Fruen and Mayor Kitty Moore, to revise the letter in order to take a more strategic approach towards state housing legislation. The ad hoc committee worked together to draft the letter included with this staff report as Attachment A.
Reasons for Recommendation and Available Options
The proposed letter respectfully requests that state leadership consider limiting new legislation requiring local implementation, reducing associated costs, and undertaking a comprehensive review of recent housing laws to evaluate effectiveness and identify opportunities for refinement. It outlines key concerns regarding the burden of implementing numerous new mandates, including increased costs, staff capacity constraints, and the need to continually revise local policies and planning documents. It also highlights delays in state guidance and potential conflicts between state requirements and local conditions.
Authorizing the Mayor to transmit this letter would allow various cities to formally communicate their position and advocate for a more coordinated and sustainable approach to
housing policy. If approved, the draft letter (Attachment A) will be updated to list the City of Cupertino as an additional signer with the City logo added to the letter along with the other cities in agreement.
Sustainability Impact
No sustainability impact.
Fiscal Impact
No fiscal impact.
City Work Program (CWP) Item/Description
None
Council Goal
Public Engagement and Transparency
California Environmental Quality Act
No California Environmental Quality Act impact.
_____________________________________
Prepared by: Astrid Robles, Senior Management Analyst Reviewed by: Kirsten Squarcia, Deputy City Manager
Approved for Submission by: Tina Kapoor, City Manager
Attachments:
A – Revised Letter from Mayor Turner to Speaker Rivas