Larry Klein
Mayor
Linda Sell
Vice Mayor
Alysa Cisneros
Councilmember
Richard Mehlinger
Councilmember
Murali Srinivasan
Councilmember
Charlsie Chang
Councilmember
Eileen Le
Councilmember
February 24, 2025
The Honorable Patrick J. Ahrens
California State Assembly
1021 O Street, Suite 6110
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: 2025-2026 State Budget Proposal from the City of Sunnyvale
Dear Assembly Member Ahrens:
On behalf of the City of Sunnyvale, we want to express our deep gratitude and appreciation for your past efforts supporting our City, our small businesses, and region.
We are excited to partner with you in your new capacity and look forward to many successes.
As the State Legislature begins the 2025 Budget process, we understand the current fiscal landscape is uncertain with the potential for a surplus. If the opportunity arises for district requests to be included in the Legislature’s budget, we respectfully request a budget commitment to the City of Sunnyvale for one or more of the projects outlined below. We have provided detailed information on the projects, and they are ready to move forward once funding is available. Your support with these initiatives will enable us to continue these important efforts and contribute positive impacts for the City of Sunnyvale and the State of California.
1. Installation of Microgrid for Fire Station 2
Funding Request: $3,500,000
Total Project Cost: $3,500,000
This Project would install a microgrid system at Fire Station 2. The microgrid system would include the addition of a roof-mounted photovoltaic (PV) solar array, battery energy storage system (BESS), and microgrid system to generate electricity and any excess electricity would be stored in the BESS for consumption in nonproduction hours. Any excess electricity would be transferred to the power grid. In situations where the solar array is not producing enough energy to support Fire Station 2, the BESS would provide power to the building with stored electricity. If the battery is depleted and the solar array is not producing enough electricity, Fire Station 2 would Attachment 1
The Honorable Patrick J. Ahrens
February 24, 2025
draw power from the grid. During a power outage, the PV and BESS could provide power to Fire Station 2 and support critical emergency response functions. If PG&E electrical grid is down, PV is not producing power, and BESS has been depleted of stored electricity, the building would be powered via an emergency generator. This funding would allow the City to construct a microgrid system as part of the City’s project to rebuild Fire Station 2, which is largely funded using City funds.
2. Rebuild Fire Station 2
Funding Request: $5,000,000
Total Project Cost: $40,700,000
California faces a growing threat from fires. In 2020, five of the largest fires in our state’s history burned at the same time. They destroyed thousands of buildings and forced hundreds of thousands of evacuations. Our firefighters are on the frontlines, called to emergencies locally and statewide. They need modern facilities and robust training to be effective first responders. For them to better prepare for and respond to emergencies, we need to rebuild the old and out-of-date stations. Of the six fire stations in Sunnyvale, a recent study indicated that Fire Station 2 is in critical need for replacement. Fire Station 2 is one of only two facilities to offer numerous required training courses for firefighters countywide, including a 17-week Joint Fire Academy.
Many of these firefighters deploy statewide in mutual aid incidents. The Station also hosts emergency preparedness training for community volunteers and annual in-service training for Sunnyvale’s public safety officers. Rebuilding the Station would allow us to meet the high local and regional training demand in a modern sustainable, all-electric (no natural gas) facility. The remainder of this project is largely funded using City funds, and this contribution would allow the project to move forward expeditiously.
3. Sunnyvale-Saratoga Class IIB Buffered Bicycle Lanes
Funding Request: $2,500,000
Total Project Cost: $2,500,000
The project would upgrade the existing Class II bicycle lane on both sides of the road to Class IIB buffered bicycle lanes on Sunnyvale Saratoga Road. This project would include pavement treatment to modify the existing roadway striping and narrow the existing travel lanes to add a striped buffer to provide a physical separation between the bicycle lane and vehicular travel lane. This improvement would provide additional safety for bicyclists with the increased separation from vehicular traffic on this major north-south corridor in the City of Sunnyvale.
Attachment 1
The Honorable Patrick J. Ahrens
February 24, 2025
4. Replace Mobile Emergency Operations Center (MEOC)
Funding Request: $1,500,000
Total Project Cost: $1,500,000
A Mobile Emergency Operations Center (MEOC) enhances the City's ability to maintain continuity of operations in the event of a major emergency or natural disaster.
The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety (DPS) is a unique agency in the Bay Area.
Sunnyvale DPS is the only fully integrated Police, Fire, and EMS provider in the region. Maintaining a Mobile Emergency Operations Center allows for command, control, and communications at the scene of critical incidents, natural disasters, community events and search operations. The MEOC is outfitted with a mobile communications center, with capability to sustain operations in the event our dispatch center is disabled or inoperable. Additionally, it can be deployed as a regional asset in event of a major disaster. This funding will aid in the purchase of a replacement vehicle, as the current MEOC is at the end of its useful life.
5. Iris Avenue Green Storm Water Infrastructure and Safe Routes to School and Green Streets
Funding Request: $2,100,000
Total Project Cost: $2,100,00 (construction, design with local funding) Iris Avenue is a two-lane residential collector street that connects major roadways such as Fair Oaks Avenue and Wolfe Road. There are two elementary schools (Braly and Ponderosa Elementary Schools) and two neighborhood parks (Braly and Ponderosa Parks) accessed via Iris Avenue. This project would construct intersection corner bulb- outs, ADA curb ramps and green stormwater improvements to improve visibility of pedestrians and bicyclists, reduce travel speeds in the vicinity of the schools and parks, reduce pedestrian crossing distances, provide elements to reduce turning traffic speeds, and treat surface stormwater run-off for improved environmental benefits. These improvements were identified in the City’s Active Transportation Plan. Design costs will be paid for from local funding sources.
Thank you for considering our request for assistance to protect our environment, our community, and our residents. Your financial assistance will help the City of Sunnyvale continue the Statewide environmental actions and keep Californians safe. Please do not hesitate to contact me or Michelle Zahraie, Sr. Management Analyst at [email protected], if you have any questions.
Attachment 1
The Honorable Patrick J. Ahrens
February 24, 2025
Sincerely,
Larry Klein
Mayor
cc: City Council
Tim Kirby, City Manager
Sarah Johnson-Rios, Assistant City Manager
Attachment 1