City of Sunnyvale
Meeting Minutes
City Council
5:00 PM Online and Council Chambers, City Hall,
456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Special Meeting: Study Session - 5 PM | Regular Meeting - 7 PM 5 P.M. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING (Study Session)
Call to Order
Vice Mayor Din called the meeting to order at 5:01 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 -
Study Session
A 23-0890 Review of Legislative Advocacy Policies and Process Senior Management Analyst Michelle Zahraie provided the staff report and presentation.
Public Comment opened at 6:04 p.m.
Martin Pyne shared their thoughts on the legislative advocacy policies and how California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) needs to be modernized.
Stephen Meier communicated the need for the City's legislative advocacy policies process to include public input.
Public Comment closed at 6:09 p.m.
B 23-0886 Overview of Draft Housing Element Modifications
September 26, 2023City Council Meeting Minutes
Housing Specialist Ryan Dyson provided the staff report and presentation.
Public Comment opened at 6:28 p.m.
Martin Pyne provided comments on the staff presentation and the importance to attaining an approved Housing Element.
Ali Sapirman, Housing Action Coalition, shared their concerns regarding the effect park dedication fees have on housing production.
Chuck Fraleigh voiced concerns regarding the specifics of park dedication fees.
Jordan Grimes, South Bay Resilience Manager, Greenbelt Alliance, shared concerns regarding the park dedication fee and how it hinders affordable housing efforts.
Rene Baez, Field Representative, NorCal Carpenters Union, advocated for Sunnyvale adopting language into the Housing Element that supports local hire of contractors and union labor.
Public Comment closed at 6:41 p.m.
Adjourn Special Meeting
Vice Mayor Din adjourned the meeting at 7:09 p.m.
7 P.M. COUNCIL MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Klein called the meeting to order at 7:19 p.m.
SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Mayor Klein led the salute to the United States flag.
ROLL CALL
September 26, 2023City Council Meeting Minutes
Mayor Larry Klein
Vice Mayor Omar Din
Councilmember Russ Melton
Councilmember Alysa Cisneros
Councilmember Richard Mehlinger
Councilmember Murali Srinivasan
Councilmember Linda Sell
Present: 7 -
SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY
C 23-0385 Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Mayor Klein and Ruth Darlene, Founder/Executive Director, WomanSV, spoke in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
D 23-0383 Active Aging Week
Mayor Klein spoke in honor of Active Aging Week.
E 23-0384 Arts and Humanities Month
Mayor Klein spoke in honor of Arts and Humanities Month.
F 23-0843 Indigenous People’s Day
Mayor Klein and Julie Dominquez, Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, spoke in honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day.
Joey Lopez provided a traditional prayer in honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day.
G 23-0889 Recognition of Outgoing Assistant City Manager Mayor Klein and City Manager Kent Steffens spoke in recognition of outgoing Assistant City Manager Teri Silva.
Assistant City Manager Teri Silva shared words regarding her career in public service.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Councilmember Srinivasan announced details of the current recruitment for various Boards and Commissions.
Carol Weiss, Sunnyvale Citizens for Sensible Gun Measures, spoke in favor for an ordinance to be agenized at a future meeting that would require liability insurance
September 26, 2023City Council Meeting Minutes
for gun owners.
Tony Spitaleri, Sunnyvale Citizens for Sensible Gun Measures, communicated their support for Sunnyvale adopting an ordinance to require liability insurance for gun owners.
Richard Parenteau, Sunnyvale Citizens for Sensible Gun Measures, shared their support for Sunnyvale adopting an ordinance to require liability insurance for gun owners.
Mike Serrone, Sunnyvale Citizens for Sensible Gun Measures, spoke in support of Sunnyvale adopting an ordinance to require liability insurance for gun owners.
Tia Anderson shared their concerns with the lack of staffing and financial difficulties at Sunnyvale HomeFirst.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Public Comment opened at 8:00 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Comment closed at 8:00 p.m.
Councilmember Cisneros requested item 1.D be pulled from the Consent Calendar.
Councilmember Melton requested item 1.G be pulled from the Consent Calendar.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Din moved and Councilmember Cisneros seconded the motion to approve agenda items 1.A through 1.C, 1.E. through 1.F., and 1.H through
1.I.
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
September 26, 2023City Council Meeting Minutes
1.A 23-0834 Approve City Council Meeting Minutes of September 12, 2023 Approve the City Council Meeting Minutes of September 12, 2023 as submitted.
1.B 23-0277 Approve the List(s) of Claims and Bills Approved for Payment by the City Manager
Approve the list(s) of claims and bills.
1.C 23-0787 Approve Budget Modification No. 4 to Appropriate $158,000 in 2010 Measure B Vehicle Registration Fee Countywide
Program funds from the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to Project 831590 - Intelligent Transportation Systems
Approve Budget Modification No. 4 to appropriate $158,000 in 2010 Measure B Vehicle Registration Fee Countywide Program funds from the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 1 to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Funding Agreement (Attachment 2 to the report) and all grant-related documents.
1.D 23-0851 Approve an Agreement in the amount of $407,430 with HomeFirst Services of Santa Clara County for Case
Management Services and Shelter Beds for the Unhoused
Population in Sunnyvale
Public Comment opened at 8:50 p.m.
Liz Steward spoke in support for financial assistance to the unhoused populations but shared concerns with HomeFirst shelter services.
Rose Gregorio shared the negative experiences they have heard regarding HomeFirst shelter services and recommends partnering with other organizations.
Godzilla communicated the need for Sunnyvale to discontinue their partnership with HomeFirst services and seek new partnerships.
Public Comment closed at 9:00 p.m.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Din moved and Councilmember Melton seconded the motion to approve the following actions:
September 26, 2023City Council Meeting Minutes
- Authorize the City Manager to execute an Agreement in substantially the same format as Attachment 1 to the report in the amount of $407,430 with HomeFirst Services of Santa Clara County for case management services and shelter beds for the unhoused population in Sunnyvale; and
- Delegate authority to the City Manager to extend the agreement for two additional one-year periods if pricing and services remain acceptable to the City and subject to available budget.
The motion failed with the following vote:
Yes: Mayor Klein
Vice Mayor Din
Councilmember Melton
3 -
No: Councilmember Cisneros
Councilmember Mehlinger
Councilmember Srinivasan
Councilmember Sell
4 -
MOTION: Councilmember Cisneros moved and Vice Mayor Din seconded the motion to direct staff to:
- Bring this contract with HomeFirst back at a later date after gathering information about the usage of the five beds reserved at the HomeFirst shelter located in San Jose including how many days they are occupied, whether there is continuity of services while in the shelter and after they leave it, and to provide information on more comprehensive performance metrics for any service provider we go with for this for these services; and
- Bring a range of potential alternate uses of the $102,000 to provide services to the unsheltered and chronically unhoused in the Sunnyvale community.
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Councilmember Sell offered a friendly amendment to extend the current contract with HomeFirst for six (6) months. Councilmember Cisneros and Vice Mayor Din accepted the friendly amendment.
The motion as amended carried with the following vote:
September 26, 2023City Council Meeting Minutes
Yes: Mayor Klein
Vice Mayor Din
Councilmember Melton
Councilmember Cisneros
Councilmember Mehlinger
Councilmember Srinivasan
Councilmember Sell
7 -
No: 0
City Council took a recess at 9:44 p.m. and returned at 9:50 p.m. with all Councilmembers present.
1.E 23-0888 Adopt a Resolution Amending the Classification Plan and Salary Resolution to Update the Schedule of Pay to Change the Classification Title of Job Seeker Services Manager (Grant Funded) to Senior Manager of Workforce Development (Grant Funded), Increase Salaries for the Classifications of
Neighborhood Preservation Specialist and Senior
Neighborhood Preservation Specialist, and Make
Corresponding Changes in the Schedule of Pay
Adopt a Resolution amending the Classification Plan and Salary Resolution to update the Schedule of Pay to change the classification title of Job Seeker Services Manager (Grant Funded) to Senior Manager of Workforce Development (Grant Funded), increase salaries for the classifications of Neighborhood Preservation Specialist and Senior Neighborhood Preservation Specialist, and make corresponding changes in the Schedule of Pay.
1.F 23-0853 Adopt Resolutions Amending the City’s Contribution for CalPERS Medical Insurance for Management, Sunnyvale
Employees’ Association/International Federation of
Professional and Technical Engineers Local 21 (SEA/IFPTE Local 21), Confidential, and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Employees and Annuitants (Retirees)
Adopt two resolutions: (1) Setting the employer’s contribution under the Public Employees’ Medical and Hospital Care Act (“PEMHCA”) for 2024; and (2) Amending the City’s Salary Resolution to modify the City’s contribution for medical insurance for Management, SEA/IFPTE Local 21, Confidential, and SEIU employees and
September 26, 2023City Council Meeting Minutes
annuitants (Retirees).
1.G 23-0762 Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Sunnyvale Acknowledging Receipt of a Report from the Department of Public Safety Regarding Annual Fire and Life Safety
Inspections Pursuant to Sections 13146.2 through 13146.4 of the California Health and Safety Code
Public Comment opened at 9:56 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Comment closed at 9:56 p.m.
MOTION: Councilmember Melton moved and Vice Mayor Din second the motion to adopt a Resolution acknowledging receipt of a report from the Department of Public Safety regarding annual Fire and Life Safety Inspections pursuant to Sections 13146.2 through 13146.4 of the California Health and Safety Code.
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
1.H 23-0933 Adopt a Resolution Amending Resolution Number 712-15, the Executive Mortgage Assistance Policy for the Provision of Housing Assistance to Newly Appointed Charter Officers and Department Directors (the “Executive Mortgage Assistance Program”) to Update the Index Used to set the Interest Rate on New Mortgages.
Adopt a Resolution amending Resolution Number 712-15, the Executive Mortgage Assistance Policy for the provision of housing assistance to newly appointed Charter Officers and Department Directors (the “Executive Mortgage Assistance Program”) to update the index used to set the interest rate on new mortgages.
1.I 23-0781 Adopt Ordinance No. 3220-23 Amending Section 1.04.010 (Violation-Misdemeanor or Infraction) of Chapter 1.04 (General
September 26, 2023City Council Meeting Minutes
Penalty) of Title 1 (General Provisions), Repealing Chapter
16.62 (Prevention of Flood Damage) and Adding Chapter
16.62 (Floodplain Management) of Title 16 (Building and Construction) of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code
Adopt Ordinance No. 3220-23 amending Section 1.04.010 (Violation-Misdemeanor or Infraction) of Chapter 1.04 (General Penalty) of Title 1 (General Provisions), repealing Chapter 16.62 (Prevention of Flood Damage) and adding Chapter 16.62 (Floodplain Management) of Title 16 (Building and Construction) of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code.
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
2 23-0931 Approve a $4 million Contribution to Sunnyvale Community Services (“SCS”) and Authorize the City Manager to Execute and Administer an Equity Sharing Agreement Giving the City an Equity Share in Property Owned by SCS Located at 1160 Kern Avenue in Proportion to the $4 Million City Contribution Deputy City Manager Connie Verceles provided the staff report.
Public Hearing opened at 10:25 p.m.
Marie Bernard, Executive Director, Sunnyvale Community Services (SCS), spoke to the positive impact this equity sharing agreement will have for Sunnyvale Community Services.
Shane Jacksteit, Certified Financial Planner, SCS, communicated support for approving the agreement and shared the larger impact the new SCS building has had on their services and the growing needs in the community.
Godzilla communicated their support for assisting SCS and for Council approving the equity sharing agreement.
Public Hearing closed at 10:40 p.m.
MOTION: Councilmember Srinivasan moved and Councilmember Melton seconded the motion to approve Alternative 1: Approve a $4 million contribution to Sunnyvale Community Services (“SCS”) and authorize the City Manager to execute and administer an Equity Sharing Agreement giving the City an equity share in property owned by SCS located at 1160 Kern Avenue in proportion to the $4 Million City
September 26, 2023City Council Meeting Minutes
contribution in substantially the same form as Attachment 1 to the report.
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
None.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS
-Council
Mayor Klein shared their experience attending the League of California Cities Annual Conference and Expo and the Sunnyvale State of the City Councilmember Cisneros shared their experience attending the State of the City.
Councilmember Melton shared their experience attending the Alameda County Sheriff Recruit Training graduation for new Public Safety Officers.
Councilmember Mehlinger reported their experience attending the State of the City .
Councilmember Mehlinger requested a report to Council in nine to twelve months on the Artificial Intelligence (AI) translation services the City uses for public meetings.
Councilmember Srinivasan communicated their experience attending the League of California Cities Conference.
Councilmember Sell shared their experience attending the State of the City and the Alameda County Sheriff Recruit Training graduation.
-City Manager
September 26, 2023City Council Meeting Minutes
None.
INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS
23-0836 Tentative Council Meeting Agenda Calendar
23-0866 Board/Commission Meeting Minutes
23-0870 Information/Action Items
23-0930 Council Advocacy Letters
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Klein adjourned the meeting at 11:11 p.m.