City of Sunnyvale
Meeting Minutes
City Council
4:30 PM Online and Council Chambers, City Hall,
456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Special Meeting: Closed Session - 4:30 PM | Special Meeting: Study Session - 5:30 PM | Regular Meeting - 7 PM
Public Participation and Access
4:30 P.M. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING (Closed Session)
Call to Order
Vice Mayor Sell called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.
Roll Call
Mayor Larry Klein
Vice Mayor Linda Sell
Councilmember Alysa Cisneros
Councilmember Murali Srinivasan
Councilmember Charlsie Chang
Councilmember Eileen Le
Present: 6 -
Councilmember Richard MehlingerAbsent: 1 -
Councilmember Cisneros participated remotely in the meeting under the “Just Cause” provision of California Government Code Section 54953(j)(2).
Public Comment
Public Comment opened at 4:32 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Comment closed at 4:32 p.m.
Convene to Closed Session
Council convened to Closed Session at 4:35 p.m.
A 25-0262 Closed Session Held Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54956.9:
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-EXISTING
March 25, 2025City Council Meeting Minutes
(PENDING) LITIGATION
(Paragraph (1) of Subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9)
Name of Case: Phillips, Andrew v. City of Sunnyvale (Workers Compensation Appeal Board Case No. ADJ18778964,
ADJ18778979)
B 25-0266 Closed Session Held Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54956.9:
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-EXISTING
LITIGATION
(Paragraph (1) of Subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9)
Name of Case: Aycock, Stephen v. City of Sunnyvale
(Workers Compensation Claim No. 61442)
C 25-0278 Closed Session Held Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54956.9:
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-EXISTING
LITIGATION
(Paragraph (1) of Subdivision (d) of Section 54956.
Name of Case: Locke, Ron v. City of Sunnyvale (Workers
Compensation Claim No. 623552)
Adjourn Special Meeting
Vice Mayor Sell adjourned the meeting at 5:20 p.m.
5:30 P.M. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING (Study Session)
Call to Order
Vice Mayor Sell called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
Roll Call
Mayor Larry Klein
Vice Mayor Linda Sell
Councilmember Alysa Cisneros
Councilmember Murali Srinivasan
Councilmember Charlsie Chang
Councilmember Eileen Le
Present: 6 -
Councilmember Richard MehlingerAbsent: 1 -
Councilmember Cisneros participated remotely in the meeting under the “Just
March 25, 2025City Council Meeting Minutes
Cause” provision of California Government Code Section 54953(j)(2).
Councilmember Mehlinger arrived at 5:40 p.m.
Study Session
D 25-0026 Special Events
Library and Recreation Services Director Michelle Perera provided the staff report and presentation.
Public Comment opened at 6:50 p.m.
Prakash Giri proposed Council consider additional cost saving measures and grant funding for special events.
Kristina Kawczynski, Sunnyvale Downtown Association, spoke in support of the proposed changes and offered additional changes to consider.
Kathryn Filley, Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce, voiced their support of the proposed changes and offered additional changes to consider.
Public Comment closed at 6:57 p.m.
Adjourn Special Meeting
Vice Mayor Sell adjourned the meeting at 7:12 p.m.
7 P.M. COUNCIL MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Klein called the meeting to order at 7:12 p.m.
SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Mayor Klein led the salute to the United States flag.
ROLL CALL
March 25, 2025City Council Meeting Minutes
Mayor Larry Klein
Vice Mayor Linda Sell
Councilmember Alysa Cisneros
Councilmember Richard Mehlinger
Councilmember Murali Srinivasan
Councilmember Charlsie Chang
Councilmember Eileen Le
Present: 7 -
Councilmember Cisneros participated remotely in the meeting under the “Just Cause” provision of California Government Code Section 54953(j)(2).
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Vice Mayor Sell reported that Council met in Closed Session Held Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54956.9: CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL EXISTING(PENDING) LITIGATION (Paragraph (1) of Subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9) Name of Case: Phillips, Andrew v. City of Sunnyvale (Workers Compensation Appeal Board Case No. ADJ18778964, ADJ18778979); nothing to report.
Vice Mayor Sell reported that Council met in Closed Session Held Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54956.9: CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL EXISTING LITIGATION (Paragraph (1) of Subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9) Name of Case: Aycock, Stephen v. City of Sunnyvale (Workers Compensation Claim No. 61442); nothing to report.
Vice Mayor Sell reported that Council met in Closed Session Held Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54956.9: CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL EXISTING LITIGATION (Paragraph (1) of Subdivision (d) of Section 54956. Name of Case: Locke, Ron v. City of Sunnyvale (Workers Compensation Claim No. 623552); nothing to report.
SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY
E 25-0448 International Transgender Day of Visibility
Sera Fernando, Manager, Santa Clara County Office of LGBTQ Affairs, spoke in honor of International Transgender Day of Visibility.
Mayor Klein spoke in honor of International Transgender Day of Visibility.
F 25-0449 Arbor Day
March 25, 2025City Council Meeting Minutes
Parks and Golf Superintendent Jim Stark spoke in honor of Arbor Day.
Mayor Klein spoke in honor of Arbor Day.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Councilmember Cisneros announced the upcoming Earth Day Festival, Board and Commission recruitment and the transgender flag raising.
Andrea Wald communicated their support for the use of natural grass on fields rather than synthetic turf.
Denise Elbert voiced their support for natural grass fields and using the organic regenerative management method.
Theresa Frank spoke in support for using the organic regenerative management method on natural grass fields.
Kristel Wickham proposed Sunnyvale test using the organic regenerative management method on a select number of grass fields.
Cortney Jansen shared their appreciation for the Sun Flair sculpture installations in Sunnyvale parks.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Public Comment opened at 7:41 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Comment closed at 7:41 p.m.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Sell moved and Councilmember Mehlinger seconded the motion to approve agenda items 1.A through 1.E.
The motion carried with the following vote:
Yes: Mayor Klein
Vice Mayor Sell
Councilmember Cisneros
Councilmember Mehlinger
Councilmember Srinivasan
Councilmember Chang
Councilmember Le
7 -
No: 0
March 25, 2025City Council Meeting Minutes
1.A 25-0242 Approve City Council Meeting Minutes of February 13, 2025 (Study Issues/Budget Proposals Workshop)
Approve the City Council Meeting Minutes of February 13, 2025 as submitted.
1.B 25-0072 Approve City Council Meeting Minutes of February 25, 2025 Approve the City Council Meeting Minutes of February 25, 2025 as submitted.
1.C 25-0321 Approve the List(s) of Claims and Bills Approved for Payment by the City Manager
Approve the list(s) of claims and bills.
1.D 25-0102 Approve the Reinstatement and First Amendment to the Agreement Between the City and the Cupertino Union School District Pertaining to the Use, Maintenance, and Improvement of Certain Open Space Areas and Buildings at Multiple Sites Within the Cupertino Union School District
Approve the Reinstatement and First Amendment to the Agreement between the City and the Cupertino Union School District pertaining to the Use, Maintenance, and Improvement of Certain Open Space Areas and Buildings at Multiple Sites within the District in substantially the same form as Attachment 1 to this report.
1.E 25-0504 Adopt Ordinance No. 3239-25 to Amend Chapter 19.67 (Inclusionary Below Market Rate Ownership Housing
Program) and Chapter 19.77 (Inclusionary Below Market Rate Rental Housing) of Title 19 (Zoning) of the Sunnyvale
Municipal Code Relating to Modified Requirements for
Qualifying Retail Preservation Projects
Adopt Ordinance No. 3239-25 to amend Chapter 19.67 (Inclusionary Below Market Rate Ownership Housing Program) and Chapter 19.77 (Inclusionary Below Market Rate Rental Housing) of Title 19 (Zoning) of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code relating to modified requirements for qualifying retail preservation projects.
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
2 25-0354 Proposed Project: Introduce an Ordinance to:
Amend Title 19 (Zoning) of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code to Repeal and Re-adopt Chapter 19.79 (Accessory Dwelling
Units), Amend Related Definitions in Chapter 19.12
(Definitions) and Other Sections of Title 19 Pertaining to Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Regulations.
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File #: PLNG-2024-0544
Environmental Review: The action is exempt pursuant to
Public Resources Code Section 21080.17 and California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section
15061(b)(3).
Project Planner: Aastha Vashist, (408) 730-7458,
[email protected]
Senior Planner Aastha Vashist provided the staff report and presentation.
Public Hearing opened at 8:06 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Hearing closed at 8:06 p.m.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Sell moved and Councilmember Mehlinger seconded the motion to approve Alternative 1: Introduce an Ordinance (Attachment 2 to the report) amending Title 19 (Zoning) of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code on Accessory Dwelling Units and find that this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Public Resources Codes Sections 21080.17 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
City Clerk David Carnahan read the ordinance title for the record.
The motion carried with the following vote:
Yes: Mayor Klein
Vice Mayor Sell
Councilmember Cisneros
Councilmember Mehlinger
Councilmember Srinivasan
Councilmember Chang
Councilmember Le
7 -
No: 0
City Council took a recess at 8:13 p.m. and returned at 8:20 p.m. with Mayor Klein, Vice Mayor Sell and Councilmembers Mehlinger, Srinivasan, Change and Le present in the Council Chambers and Councilmember Cisneros present via teleconference.
3 25-0394 Appeal of a Decision by the Planning Commission Denying a Variance to Legalize an Existing 112-square-foot Detached
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Accessory Structure in the Rear Yard of a Single-Family Property with a Reduced 2-foot 5-inch Side Setback where 4 Feet Minimum is Required, and a Reduced 2-foot 2-inch Rear Yard Setback where 10 Feet Minimum is Required
Location: 160 S. Pastoria Ave. (APN: 165-15-007)
File #: PLNG-2023-0642
Zoning: R-2 (Low Medium Density Residential)
Applicant / Owner: Scott McClennan (applicant) / Tracy and Scott McClennan (owner)
Environmental Review: Class 3 Categorical Exemption
relieves this project from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) provisions.
Project Planner: Wendy Lao, 408-730-7408,
[email protected]
Associate Planner Wendy Lao provided the staff report and presentation.
Public Hearing opened at 8:38 p.m.
Scott McClennan Applicant/Appellant provided a presentation in support of their appeal and answered Council’s proposed questions.
Nathan Iglesias shared their support for granting the appeal of the applicant.
Duli Mao spoke in opposition of granting the appeal and establishing a precedent.
Stephen Meier voiced their support for granting the appeal of the applicant.
Scott McClennan Applicant/Appellant shared their responses to the public comments and Council questions.
Public Hearing closed at 9:18 p.m.
MOTION: Councilmember Srinivasan moved and Councilmember Mehlinger seconded the motion to approve Alternative 1: Deny the appeal and uphold the Planning Commission's decision to deny the Variance for the accessory structure based on the recommended Findings for Denial in Attachment 2 to the report.
The motion carried with the following vote:
March 25, 2025City Council Meeting Minutes
Yes: Mayor Klein
Vice Mayor Sell
Councilmember Cisneros
Councilmember Mehlinger
Councilmember Srinivasan
Councilmember Chang
Councilmember Le
7 -
No: 0
COUNCILMEMBERS REPORTS ON ACTIVITIES FROM INTERGOVERNMENTAL
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
Councilmember Mehlinger reported on a recent Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) meeting.
Councilmember Srinivasan reported their at the League of California Cities' Planning Commissioners Academy.
Vice Mayor Sell reported on the Valley Transportation Authority's (VTA) employment agreement offer to the union workers on a labor strike.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS
-Council
Councilmember Chang shared their appreciation for the improved City Council name plates
Councilmember Le shared their concerns with the ongoing Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) worker strike.
-City Manager
None.
INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS
25-0265 Tentative Council Meeting Agenda Calendar
25-0287 Information/Action Items
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Klein adjourned the meeting at 9:43 p.m.