City of Sunnyvale
Meeting Minutes
City Council
5:45 PM Online and Bay Conference Room
(Room 145), City Hall,
456 W. Olive Ave.,
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Special Meeting: Closed Session - 5:45 PM | Regular Meeting - 7 PM 5:45 P.M. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING (Closed Session)
Call to Order
Vice Mayor Din called the meeting to order at 5:45 p.m.
Roll Call
Mayor Larry Klein
Vice Mayor Omar Din
Councilmember Russ Melton
Councilmember Alysa Cisneros
Councilmember Richard Mehlinger
Councilmember Murali Srinivasan
Councilmember Linda Sell
Present: 7 -
Public Comment
Public Comment opened at 5:47 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Comment closed at 5:47 p.m.
Convene to Closed Session
Convened to Closed Session in the Council Conference Room.
A 23-0499 Closed Session Held Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54956.9 (d) (1): CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL
COUNSEL-EXISTING LITIGATION; Name of case: In re
National Prescription Opiate Litigation, Northern District of Ohio, Case No. 1:17-MD-2804 (National Opioid litigation involving Teva, Allergan, CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart)
B 23-0474 Closed Session Held Pursuant to California Government Code
April 4, 2023City Council Meeting Minutes
Section 54957.6:
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Agency designated representatives: Tina Murphy, Director of Human Resources
Employee organization: Sunnyvale Managers Association
(SMA)
Adjourn Special Meeting
Vice Mayor Din adjourned the meeting at 6:49 p.m.
7 P.M. COUNCIL MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Klein called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Mayor Klein led the salute to the United States flag.
ROLL CALL
Mayor Larry Klein
Vice Mayor Omar Din
Councilmember Russ Melton
Councilmember Alysa Cisneros
Councilmember Richard Mehlinger
Councilmember Murali Srinivasan
Councilmember Linda Sell
Present: 7 -
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Vice Mayor Din reported that Council met in Closed Session Held Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54956.9 (d) (1): Conference with Legal Counsel Existing Litigation; Name of case: In re National Prescription Opiate Litigation, Northern District of Ohio, Case No. 1:17MD2804 (National Opioid litigation involving Teva, Allergan, CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart); Council voted to authorize the City Attorney to opt in to National Prescription Opiate Litigation, Northern District of Ohio, Case No. 1:17MD2804 (National Opioid litigation involving Teva, Allergan, CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart), with a vote of 6 - 1, Councilmember Melton voting no.
Vice Mayor Din reported that Council met in Closed Session Held Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54957.6: Conference with Labor Negotiators
April 4, 2023City Council Meeting Minutes
Agency designated representatives: Tina Murphy, Director of Human Resources Employee organization: Sunnyvale Managers Association (SMA); nothing to report.
SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY
C 23-0365 Recognition of Green Businesses
Mayor Klein spoke in recognition of green businesses and honored the following guests:
- Robert Bonderer, Director of Environmental Health & Safety, JSR Mirco - Dr. Jennifer Chiang, DDS
- Director of Library & Recreation Services Michelle Perera - Chongyan Zhong, Owner, The Cotton and Silk
D 23-0366 Poetry Month
Mayor Klein spoke in recognition of Poetry Month.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Vice Mayor Din announced the current Board and Commission recruitment openings and the upcoming Drive Electric event.
Lena Masoumi shared their school research project on the complicated relationship between homelessness, mental illness and drug addiction.
Andrea Wald shared a message on the negative environment affects of artificial turf and safety of participants using artificial turf for recreation.
Angela Roche, Livable Sunnyvale, provided a presentation supporting the Village Center Vision as originally intended in the Village Center Master Plan.
Chuck Fraleigh, Livable Sunnyvale, provided a presentation supporting Village Center development but highlighted the insufficient proposals currently being planned in Sunnyvale.
Julia Liu, Livable Sunnyvale, provided a presentation to why the current Sunnyvale Village Center developments fall short to the Village Center Vision’s ideals.
April 4, 2023City Council Meeting Minutes
Rita Welsh, Livable Sunnyvale, communicated the need for more diverse Village Center developments that provide more retail businesses.
Agnes Veith, Livable Sunnyvale, shared their concerns to how the current Village Center developments are not offering adequate retail spaces.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Public Comment opened at 7:30 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Comment closed at 7:30 p.m.
Mayor Klein pulled agenda item 1.F for separate consideration.
Vice Mayor Din moved and Councilmember Mehlinger seconded the motion to approve agenda items 1.A through 1.E.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes: Mayor Klein
Vice Mayor Din
Councilmember Melton
Councilmember Cisneros
Councilmember Mehlinger
Councilmember Srinivasan
Councilmember Sell
7 -
No: 0
1.A 23-0266 Approve the List(s) of Claims and Bills Approved for Payment by the City Manager
Approve the list(s) of claims and bills.
1.B 23-0039 Accept Pavement Management Technical Assistance Program Round 24 Grant Funds from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to Complete a Citywide Pavement Condition
Assessment to Qualify for Regional Discretionary Funds and Approve Budget Modification No. 14 in the amount of $18,300 Accept Pavement Management Technical Assistance Program Round 24 Grant Funds from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to complete a Citywide
April 4, 2023City Council Meeting Minutes
Pavement Condition Assessment to qualify for Regional Discretionary Funds and approve Budget Modification No. 14 in the amount of $18,300.
1.C 23-0168 Approve the Downtown Sunnyvale Business Improvement District (BID) Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2022/23 and Adopt Resolution of Intention to Levy and Collect an Annual
Assessment to Reauthorize the BID for Fiscal Year 2023/24 Approve the Fiscal Year 2022/23 BID Annual Report, adopt a Resolution of Intention to Levy and Collect an Assessment and reauthorize the Business Improvement District for Fiscal Year 2023/24, and schedule the public hearing for May 2, 2023.
1.D 23-0486 Ratify Appointment of Councilmember Murali Srinivasan as Councilmember Russ Melton’s Proxy to the Santa Clara
County Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC)
Ratify the appointment of Councilmember Murali Srinivasan to Seat 07A as Councilmember Russ Melton’s proxy to the Santa Clara County Airport Land Use Commission.
1.E 23-0491 Adopt Ordinance No. 3212-23 Amending Various Sections of Title 16 (Buildings and Construction) and Title 19 (Zoning) of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code Related to the Board of
Building Code Appeals and the Chief Building Official
Adopt Ordinance No. 3212-23 amending various Sections of Title 16 (Buildings and Construction) and Title 19 (Zoning) of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code related to the Board of Building Code Appeals and the Chief Building Official.
1.F 23-0501 Adopt a Resolution Ratifying the City Manager's Proclamation of a Local Emergency Regarding the March 2023 Winter
Storms and Find that the Action is Exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA
Guidelines Sections 15269 and 15378(b)
Public Comment opened at 7:35 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Comment closed at 7:35 p.m.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Din moved and Councilmember Mehlinger seconded the motion to item 1.F: Adopt a Resolution ratifying the City Manager's Proclamation of a Local Emergency Regarding the March 2023 Winter Storms and find that the Action is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to
April 4, 2023City Council Meeting Minutes
CEQA Guidelines Sections 15269 and 15378(b).
The motion carried with the following vote:
Yes: Mayor Klein
Vice Mayor Din
Councilmember Melton
Councilmember Cisneros
Councilmember Mehlinger
Councilmember Srinivasan
Councilmember Sell
7 -
No: 0
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
2 23-0308 Award of Contract to Hazen and Sawyer for the Water Pollution Control Plant Master Plan Update and Cogeneration Upgrade Design (F23-001)
Director of Public Works Chip Taylor and Director of Environmental Services Ramana Chinnakotla provided the staff report and presentation.
Public Hearing opened at 8:27 p.m.
Steve Scandalis shared their suggestions for alternative methods that could potentially be more cost-effective.
Public Hearing closed at 8:30 p.m.
MOTION: Councilmember Melton moved and Vice Mayor Din seconded the motion to approve Alternative 1: Take the following actions:
- Award a contract to Hazen and Sawyer for Water Pollution Control Plant Master Plan Update and Cogeneration Upgrade Design in substantially the same form as Attachment 1 to the report in an amount not-to-exceed $7,401,597; - Authorize the City Manager to execute the contract when all the necessary conditions have been met;
- Approve a 10% contingency in the amount of $740,160; and - Authorize the City to amend the contract annually after the first three years to increase rates as follows: 3.75% to non-senior staff and 2% for senior staff, subject to available budget and if pricing and services remain acceptable to the City.
April 4, 2023City Council Meeting Minutes
The motion carried with the following vote:
Yes: Mayor Klein
Vice Mayor Din
Councilmember Melton
Councilmember Cisneros
Councilmember Mehlinger
Councilmember Srinivasan
Councilmember Sell
7 -
No: 0
3 23-0493 Consider Reinstating the Pilot of the Process for City Council Colleague Memorandums to Propose new Agenda Items
Previously Included in Council Policy 7.3.19 (Council
Meetings)
City Clerk David Carnahan provided the staff report.
Public Hearing opened at 9:35 p.m.
Martin Pyne shared their thoughts on how the public can provide feedback in a Colleague Memorandums process.
Stephen Meier spoke to how the City Council can use the Colleague Memorandums to more effectively agenize new items.
Public Hearing closed at 9:40 p.m.
MOTION: Councilmember Mehlinger moved and Councilmember Cisneros seconded the motion to approve Alternative 1: Amend Council Policy 7.3.19 (Council Meetings) to reinstate the pilot process for City Council Colleague Memorandums to propose new agenda items, with the following provisions:
- Include language prominently stating where Colleague Memorandums are to be submitted;
- Include that Colleague Memorandums are not to be shared with Councilmembers outside of the group of Councilmembers who authored a specific Memorandum; - A January 31, 2024 sunset;
- No definitive timeline to when Colleague Memorandums will appear on a Council meeting agenda;
- Requirement for the City Manager to review and approve the Colleague Memorandums consistent with this policy and the Ralph M. Brown Act (open
April 4, 2023City Council Meeting Minutes
meetings law) or provide feedback to the authors.
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Vice Mayor Din offered a friendly amendment to place the approval of a permanent process for City Council Colleague Memorandums to be added on the consent calendar after the Jan. 31, 2024, sunset of the pilot program. Councilmember Mehlinger declined to accept the friendly amendment.
The motion carried with the following vote:
Yes: Mayor Klein
Vice Mayor Din
Councilmember Melton
Councilmember Cisneros
Councilmember Mehlinger
Councilmember Srinivasan
Councilmember Sell
7 -
No: 0
COUNCILMEMBERS REPORTS ON ACTIVITIES FROM INTERGOVERNMENTAL
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
Councilmember Mehlinger provided a presentation on the Program Strategy Goals developed at the Caltrain Local Policymakers Group.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS
-Council
Councilmember Melton shared their experience and what their learned from the National League of Cities Congressional City Conference in Washington D.C. He also commented on the successful opening of the new City Hall building.
Councilmember Srinivasan shared their experience and what their learned from the National League of Cities Congressional City Conference in Washington D.C.
Councilmember Sell shared their experience and what their learned from the National League of Cities Congressional City Conference in Washington D.C.
Councilmember Cisneros proposed a study issue to determine the cost and feasibility of requiring structural retrofitting of existing seismically-vulnerable buildings within a specific time frame. Mayor Klein, Vice Mayor Din, and Councilmembers Melton, Mehlinger, Srinivasan and Sell co-sponsored the study issue.
April 4, 2023City Council Meeting Minutes
Mayor Klein spoke regarding Councilmember Melton, Srinivasan and Sell's attendance at the National League of Cities Congressional City Conference and the successful community engagement, planning and building of the new City Hall. -City Manager
City Manager Kent Steffens shared thanks to City Council for attending the new city hall ribbon cutting and to the City Clerk’s office and IT department for their successful efforts in organizing the city council meetings during the move transition.
INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS
23-0292 Tentative Council Meeting Agenda Calendar
23-0294 Board/Commission Meeting Minutes
23-0295 Information/Action Items
23-0490 Mayoral Announcement of Mayor-Appointed Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on Potential HomeKey Application (Information Only)
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Klein adjourned the meeting at 10:19 p.m.