City of Sunnyvale
Meeting Minutes
City Council
5:00 PM Online and Council Chambers, City Hall,
456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Special Meeting: Closed Session - 5 PM | Special Meeting: Study Session - 6 PM | Regular Meeting - 7 PM
5 P.M. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING (Closed Session)
Call to Order
Vice Mayor Sell called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
Roll Call
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 Le participated via teleconference pursuant to California Government Code Section 54953(b) from The Walper Hotel, 2nd Floor Lobby 20 Queen St S, Kitchener, ON N2G 1V6.
Public Comment
Public Comment opened at 5:02 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Comment closed at 5:02 p.m.
Convene to Closed Session
Council convened to Closed Session in the Council Conference Room at 5:03 p.m.
A 25-0631 Closed Session Held Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54956.9: CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL
COUNSEL-EXISTING LITIGATION (Section 54956.9(d)(1));
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Authorize filing or defending an appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court based on outcome in the District Court; Name of case:
San Francisco Baykeeper v. City of Sunnyvale, U.S. Dist. of California, Case No.: 5:20-CV-00824-EJD
Adjourn Special Meeting
Vice Mayor Sell adjourned the meeting at 5:56 p.m.
6 P.M. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING (Study Session)
Call to Order
Vice Mayor Sell called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
Roll Call
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 Le participated via teleconference pursuant to California Government Code Section 54953(b) from The Walper Hotel, 2nd Floor Lobby 20 Queen St S, Kitchener, ON N2G 1V6.
Study Session
B 25-0612 Climate Budgeting (Study Issue ESD 23-01)
Environmental Programs Manager Madeline Khair and Environmental Engineering Coordinator Christina Raby provided the staff report and presentation.
Public Comment opened at 6:59 p.m.
Kristal Wickham discussed how climate budgeting can make positive impacts on budget decisions
Afsaneh Jabbar shared their insights on making climate budgeting decisions and how manufactures will often include climate impacts of their products or
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construction.
Doug Kunz spoke in support of the proposed climate budgeting pilot modifications.
Public Comment closed at 7:05 p.m.
Adjourn Special Meeting
Vice Mayor Sell adjourned the meeting at 7:05 p.m.
7 P.M. COUNCIL MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Klein called the meeting to order at 7:11 p.m.
SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Mayor Klein led the salute to the United States flag.
ROLL CALL
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 Le participated via teleconference pursuant to California Government Code Section 54953(b) from The Walper Hotel, 2nd Floor Lobby 20 Queen St S, Kitchener, ON N2G 1V6.
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 LITIGATION (Section 54956.9(d)(1)); Authorize filing or defending an appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court based on outcome in the District Court; Name of case: San Francisco Baykeeper v. City of Sunnyvale, U.S. Dist. of California, Case No.: 5:20CV00824EJ; The City Council unanimously directed the City Attorney to file and/or defend an appeal to the Ninth Circuit based on the
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outcome of the case in the District Court.
SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY
C 25-0770 Ceremonial Oath of Office for and Recognition of Incoming Chief of Public Safety
Mayor Klein spoke in recognition of incoming Chief of Public Safety Daniel Pistor.
Chief of Public Safety Daniel Pistor shared words on their swearing in as Chief of Public Safety.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Councilmember Chang announced the Sunnyvale Technology Business Exposition (Tech. Expo.) and a Sunnyvale Goes Back to School notice.
Eric Krock voiced their advocacy for Sunnyvale adding cool roof coverings to its climate goal initiatives.
Zach Kaufman spoke to the discussions regarding the study issue addressing the modernization and expansion of public library services in Sunnyvale.
Michael Flores provided a presentation on the Tasman Drive bicycle and pedestrian improvements project and proposed alternative ways to increase accessible pathways.
Mike Serrone spoke in honor of Don Veith.
Luke Wu spoke to the Americans with Disabilities Act litigation their business faced and advocated for City Council to support Senate Bill 84 Disability access:
construction-related accessibility claims: notice of violation and opportunity to correct.
Arissa Cao advocated for City Council to support Senate Bill 84.
Gary Bailey voiced their concerns regarding fire danger along Stevens Creek.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Public Comment opened at 7:50 p.m.
Afsaneh Jabbar requested agenda items 1.B and 1.D be pulled from the Consent
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Calendar.
Public Comment closed at 7:50 p.m.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Sell moved and Councilmember Mehlinger seconded the motion to approve agenda items 1.A and 1.C.
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
1.A 25-0330 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 25-0742 Award of Contract to MCK Americas Inc. in the Amount of $6,570,795.85 for Construction Management Support Services for the Sunnyvale Cleanwater Center Project (F25-258)
Public Hearing opened at 7:53 p.m.
Afsaneh Jabbar discussed the contract details and questioned if the contract overlaps with current staffing duties.
Public Hearing closed at 7:55 p.m.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Sell moved and Councilmember Mehlinger seconded the motion to take the following actions:
- Award a contract to MCK Americas Inc. for Construction Management Support Services for Cleanwater Center in substantially the same form as Attachment 1 to the report in an amount not-to-exceed $6,570,795.85;
- Authorize the City Manager to execute the contract when all the necessary conditions have been met;
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- Approve a 10% contingency in the amount of $657,080; and - Authorize the City Manager to amend the contract annually through FY 2029/30, subject to budget availability, provided that total contract expenditures do not exceed the not-to-exceed amount of $7,227,875.85 and that pricing and services remain acceptable to the City.
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
1.C 25-0586 Adopt two Resolutions to Approve the 2025 Amendment to the Water Supply Agreement (WSA) Between the City and County of San Francisco (SFPUC) and the Wholesale Customers in Alameda, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties and to
Approve the Updated Tier 2 Drought Response
Implementation Plan
Adopt two resolutions:
(a) Authorizing the City Manager or his designee execute the 2025 Amended and Restated Water Supply Agreement Between the City and County of San Francisco and Wholesale Customers in Alameda County, San Mateo County, and Santa Clara County; and
(b) Approving an updated Tier 2 Drought Response Implementation Plan.
1.D 25-0587 Approve the Interagency Recycled Water Service Agreement with the City of Mountain View to Provide Recycled Water Service to the LinkedIn Campus in Mountain View
Public Hearing opened at 7:57 p.m.
Afsaneh Jabbar claimed Sunnyvale does not meet certain recycled water standards and questioned the costs associated with producing recycled water.
Public Hearing closed at 8:02 p.m.
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MOTION: Vice Mayor Sell moved and Councilmember Mehlinger seconded the motion to authorize the City Manager to execute the Interagency Recycled Water Service Agreement with the City of Mountain View to provide Recycled Water Service to the LinkedIn Campus in Mountain View.
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
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
2 25-0813 Consider Approval of Fifth Substantial Amendment to the 2019/20 HUD Annual Action Plan to Allocate Remaining
COVID-19 CARES Funds (CDBG-CV)
Housing Programs Analyst Matthew Hazel provided the staff report.
Public Hearing opened at 8:11 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Hearing closed at 8:11 p.m.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Sell moved and Councilmember Mehlinger seconded the motion to approve Alternative 1: Approve the Fifth Substantial Amendment to the FY 2019/20 Action Plan as shown in Attachment 3 of the report.
The motion carried with the following vote:
Yes: Mayor Klein
Vice Mayor Sell
Councilmember Cisneros
Councilmember Mehlinger
Councilmember Srinivasan
Councilmember Chang
Councilmember Le
7 -
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No: 0
3 25-0738 Authorize the City Manager to execute the Sunnyvale Materials Recovery and Transfer (SMaRT) Station® Merchant User
Agreement between City of Sunnyvale and City of Cupertino Solid Waste Programs Division Manager Shikha Gupta provided the staff report and presentation.
Public Hearing opened at 8:48 p.m.
Carole Sweeney questioned if this new agreement would increase vehicle traffic in the area.
Public Hearing closed at 8:50 p.m.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Sell moved and Councilmember Srinivasan seconded the motion to approve Alternative 1: Authorize the City Manager to execute the SMaRT Station® Merchant User Agreement between City of Sunnyvale and City of Cupertino in substantially the same form as in Attachment 3 to the report and determine that the action is consistent with the certified Environmental Impact Report for the SMaRT Station®.
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 8:56 p.m. and returned at 9:05 p.m. with all Councilmembers present; Councilmember Le participated via teleconference. 4 25-0762 Introduce an Ordinance Amending Chapters 16.42 (Energy Code) and 16.43 (Green Building) of Title 16 (Buildings and
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Construction) of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code with Local Amendments to the 2022 California Energy and Green Building Standards Codes to add Reach Code Provisions for Existing Single Family Residential Remodels, Additions and Alterations, and Find that the Action is Exempt from the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA
Guidelines Sections 15061, 15305 and 15308
Chief Building Official Suzanne Park provided the staff report.
Public Hearing opened at 9:50 p.m.
Eric Krock discussed their support for the ordinance and Reach Code provisions.
Zach Kaufman discussed situations where homeowners could be negatively impacted by these Reach Code provisions.
Nupur Hiremath, Silicon Valley Clean Energy, spoke in support of the Reach Code provisions and to Silicon Valley Clean Energy offered incentives.
Peri Plantenberg, Advisor, Youth Climate Action, voiced their support of the Reach Code provisions.
Allison, Youth Climate Action, communicated their support of the Reach Code provisions.
Kristel Wickham shared their support of the local amendments and Reach Code provisions.
Dashiell Leeds, Conservation Organizer, Sierra Club Loma Prieta, spoke in support of the local amendments and Reach Code provisions.
Doug Kunz voiced their support of the Reach Code provisions.
Katherine Park, Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action, communicate their support of the Reach Code provisions.
Steve Scandalis shared their concerns with the Reach Code provisions.
Public Hearing closed at 10:14 p.m.
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MOTION: Vice Mayor Sell moved and Councilmember Chang seconded the motion to:
- Approve Alternative 2: Introduce an Ordinance (Attachment 2 to this report) amending Chapters 16.42 (Energy Code) and 16.43 (Green Building) of Title 16 (Buildings and Construction) of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code with local amendments to the 2022 California Energy and Green Building Standards Codes requiring single family residential additions, remodels, and alterations to install electrical infrastructure addressing energy efficiency and readiness for a future all-electric residence and new heat pump air conditioning, resulting in greenhouse gas emissions reductions and increased energy efficiency; including the staff recommended language modification to the title of Section 16.42.040 as noted in the August 12th supplemental staff memo. And find the actions exempt from CEQA under CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061, 15305 and 15308.; and - Direct staff to establish an educational time period before the ordinance enforcement begins.
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
5 25-0042 Appoint Applicants to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission and the Human Relations Commission
City Clerk David Carnahan provided the staff report and presentation.
Public Hearing opened at 10:36 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Hearing closed at 10:36 p.m.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (one term to 6/30/2029 could be Category One or Category Two)
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Shandor Dektor (Category One - only preference)
Vote: 0-0-7 (Abstentions by all Councilmembers)
Yency Guio (Category One - only preference)
Vote: 0-0-7 (Abstentions by all Councilmembers)
Anubha Gupta (Category One - only preference)
Vote: 1-0-6 (Abstentions by Mayor Klein, Vice Mayor Sell and Councilmembers Cisneros, Srinivasan, Chang and Le)
Daniel Karpelevitch (Category One - only preference)
Vote: 3-0-4 (Abstentions by Councilmembers Mehlinger, Srinivasan, Chang and Le) Diyi Zhu (Category One - only preference)
Vote: 7-0-0
Diyi Zhu was appointed to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission to serve a term expiring 6/30/2029.
Human Relations Commission (one term to 6/30/2028 could be Category One or Category Two)
David Beaudoin (Category One - only preference)
Vote: 3-0-4 (Abstentions by Mayor Klein, Vice Mayor Sell and Councilmembers Cisneros and Srinivasan)
Pranjali Dani (Category One - only preference)
Vote: 2-0-5 (Abstentions by Vice Mayor Sell and Councilmembers Cisneros, Mehlinger, Chang and Le)
Betsy Gissell Ortega Florez (Category One - only preference) Vote: 0-0-7 (Abstentions by all Councilmembers)
Yael Grossman Levy (Category One - only preference)
Vote: 5-0-2 (Abstentions by Councilmember Mehlinger and Le) Yuriana Valencia (Category One - only preference)
Vote: 0-0-7 (Abstentions by all Councilmembers)
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Ariana Ziolkowski (Category One - only preference)
Vote: 5-0-2 (Abstentions by Councilmembers Srinivasan and Le) City Council took a recess at 10:54 p.m. and returned at 10:57 p.m. with all Councilmembers present; Councilmember Le participated via teleconference.
MOTION: Councilmember Mehlinger moved and Councilmember Cisneros seconded the motion to appoint Ariana Ziolkowski to the Human Relations Commission to serve a term expiring 6/30/2028.
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
Ariana Ziolkowski was appointed to the Human Relations Commission to serve a term expiring 6/30/2028.
COUNCILMEMBERS REPORTS ON ACTIVITIES FROM INTERGOVERNMENTAL
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
Councilmember Mehlinger reported on a recent Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) board meeting.
Councilmember Srinivasan reported on a National League of Cities Leadership meeting in Columbus, Ohio.
Vice Mayor Sell reported on a Valley Transportation Agency board meeting and on their vote to support Senate Bill 63- San Francisco Bay area: local revenue measure: transportation funding..
NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS
-Council
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Councilmember Mehlinger proposed a study issue on strengthening retail in Sunnyvale. Mayor Klein, Vice Mayor Sell, and Councilmembers Cisneros, Srinivasan and Le co-sponsored the study issue.
Councilmember Mehlinger proposed a budget proposal that would increase service levels in the office of Economic Development specifically pertaining to attracting and retaining resident and community serving businesses. Mayor Klein, Vice Mayor Sell, and Councilmembers Cisneros and Le co-sponsored the budget proposal.
Councilmember Mehlinger proposed a budget proposal to create a relocation assistance fund for Village Center small businesses. Mayor Klein, Vice Mayor Sell, and Councilmembers Cisneros, Srinivasan and Le co-sponsored the budget proposal.
Councilmember Srinivasan shared they hosted elementary school students on a Sunnyvale City Hall field trip.
Councilmember Le spoke to Sunnyvale School District opening a new building at Sunnyvale Middle School.
-City Manager
City Manager Tim Kirby spoke to the information only item regarding an update on 2025 Study Issues and the upcoming Sunnyvale Technology Business Exposition (Tech. Expo.).
INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS
25-0670 Tentative Council Meeting Agenda Calendar
25-0686 Board/Commission Meeting Minutes
25-0702 Information/Action Items
25-0751 New and Continuing 2025 Study Issues Status Update (Information Only)
25-0837 Council Advocacy Letters
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Klein adjourned the meeting in honor of Don Veith at 11:34 p.m.