City of Sunnyvale
Meeting Minutes
City Council
5:30 PM Online and Council Chambers, City Hall,
456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Special Council Meeting: Study Session - 5:30 PM | Regular Meeting - 7 PM 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 Richard Mehlinger
Councilmember Murali Srinivasan
Councilmember Charlsie Chang
Councilmember Eileen Le
Present: 7 -
Study Session
A 25-0568 Evaluate the City of Sunnyvale Study Issues Process (Study Issue OCM 24-02)
City Manager Tim Kirby; Jan Perkins, Vice President, Raftelis; and Rebekka Hosken Senior Manager, Raftelis, provided the staff report and presentation.
Public Comment opened at 7:00 p.m.
David Kesting, Parks and Recreation Commission Chair, shared support for Board and Commission study issue initiation and input in the Study Issues process and the outcome of study issues they submitted.
Martin Pyne suggested Boards and Commissions could provide additional input during the budget development process.
Doug Kunz voiced support for aligning study issues with strategic priorities, for
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removing the option to defer study issues and for Option 2 for Boards and Commissions input with one study issue moving forward from each Board and Commission.
Cortney Jansen communicated support for continued Board and Commission initiation of study issues.
Stephen Meier shared support for earlier Council input on study issues and for addressing misalignment between staff and Council relating to traffic calming efforts.
Public Comment closed at 7:10 p.m.
Adjourn Special Meeting
Vice Mayor Sell adjourned the meeting at 7:13 p.m.
7 P.M. COUNCIL MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Klein called the meeting to order at 7:21 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 -
SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY
B 25-0480 Silicon Valley Pride & Bisexual Awareness Week Mayor Klein spoke in honor of Silicon Valley Pride & Bisexual Awareness Week.
Nicole Denson, Chief Executive Officer, Silicon Valley Pride and Councilmember Mehlinger provided remarks in recognition Silicon Valley Pride & Bisexual Awareness Week.
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C 25-0043 Ceremonial Oath of Office for Board and Commission Members
City Clerk David Carnahan administered the Ceremonial Oath of Office to appointed Commissioners.
D 25-0481 National Library Card Sign-up Month
Mayor Klein spoke in honor of National Library Card Signup Month.
Superintendent of Libraries Garrett Kuramoto spoke in recognition of National Library Card Signup Month.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Councilmember Mehlinger announced that Sunnyvale schools are back in session and the annual State of the City event.
Ranya Zhang shared a presentation regarding preparing council meeting minutes using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Harnyi Yaun continued the presentation.
Vincent continued the presentation.
Kabir Suiur continued the presentation.
Jon Blum, Sunnyvale Safe Streets, shared a presentation regarding removal of parking on Hollenbeck Avenue to allow for safer bicycle lanes.
Sharlene Liu, Sunnyvale Safe Streets, continued the presentation.
Tiffany Anderson, President, Sunnyvale Historical Society and Museum Association, shared details of an upcoming California Expedition following the path of the Stephens–Townsend–Murphy Party from Truckee, CA to Auburn, CA.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Public Comment opened at 8:06 p.m.
Zach Kaufman requested agenda item 1.G be pulled from the Consent Calendar.
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Public Comment closed at 8:06 p.m.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Sell moved and Councilmember Srinivasan seconded the motion to approve agenda items 1.A through 1.F.
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 25-0668 Approve City Council Meeting Minutes of July 29, 2025 Approve the City Council Meeting Minutes of July 29, 2025 as submitted.
1.B 25-0669 Approve City Council Meeting Minutes of August 4, 2025 (Board and Commission Interviews)
Approve the City Council Meeting Minutes of August 4, 2025 as submitted.
1.C 25-0660 Approve City Council Meeting Minutes of August 12, 2025 Approve the City Council Meeting Minutes of August 12, 2025 as submitted.
1.D 25-0331 Approve the List(s) of Claims and Bills Approved for Payment by the City Manager
Approve the list(s) of claims and bills.
1.E 25-0310 Accept Google LLC's Donation of Voluntary Bicycle and Pedestrian Facility Improvements on Borregas Avenue
Between Humboldt Court and Gibraltar Drive with an
Estimated Construction Cost of $1,550,000 and Find Action Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act
Accept Google LLC's donation of voluntary bicycle and pedestrian facility improvements on Borregas Avenue between Humboldt Court and Gibraltar Drive, with an estimated construction cost of $1,550,000, and find the action exempt from
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the California Environmental Quality Act.
1.F 25-0713 Adopt a Resolution Approving a Policy to Prioritize Water and Sewer Services for Affordable Housing Developments
Adopt a Resolution approving a policy to prioritize Water and Sewer Services for Affordable Housing Developments (Attachment 1 to the report).
1.G 25-0877 Adopt Ordinance No. 3244-25 to Amend Chapter 16.42 (Energy Code) and Chapter 16.43 (Green Building) of Title 16 (Buildings and Construction) of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code with Local Amendments to the 2022 California Building Energy Efficiency Standards and Green Building Standards Code to add Reach Code Provisions for Existing Single Family
Residential Remodels, Additions and Alterations, and to Make Related Findings
Public Comment opened at 8:07 p.m.
Zach Kaufman voiced concerns with the costs to residents with the Reach Code requirements.
Public Comment closed at 8:10 p.m.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Sell moved and Councilmember Mehlinger seconded the motion to adopt Ordinance No. 3244-25 to amend Chapter 16.42 (Energy Code) and Chapter 16.43 (Green Building) of Title 16 (Buildings and Construction) of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code with Local Amendments to the 2022 California Building Energy Efficiency Standards and Green Building Standards Code to add Reach Code Provisions for Existing Single Family Residential Remodels, Additions and Alterations, and to Make Related Findings.
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
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
2 25-0794 Approve the City of Sunnyvale’s 2025 Public Health Goal Report on Water Quality (2022 - 2024) and Direct Staff to File the Report with the California State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water
Assistant Environmental Services Direction Mansour Nasser provided the staff report.
Public Hearing opened at 8:29 p.m.
Stephen Meier voiced concerns with the credibility of the Environmental Services Department related to ongoing litigation related to the quality of water Sunnyvale discharges into the San Francisco Bay.
Public Hearing closed at 8:32 p.m.
MOTION: Councilmember Mehlinger moved and Vice Mayor Sell seconded the motion to approve Alternative 1: Approve the City of Sunnyvale’s 2025 Public Health Goal Report on Water Quality (2022-2024) and direct Staff to file the Report with the California State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water.
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
3 25-0767 Adopt a Resolution Amending the City’s Civil Service Rules and Regulations
Human Resources Director Tina Murphy provided the staff report and presentation.
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Public Hearing opened at 8:54 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Hearing closed at 8:54 p.m.
MOTION: Councilmember Mehlinger moved and Vice Mayor Sell seconded the motion to approve Alternative 1: Adopt a Resolution amending the Civil Service Rules and Regulations with the following modification,
- Add a prohibition against grandparent/grandchild relationships to Section 12.05 (Employment of Relatives).
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
4 25-0828 Introduce an Ordinance Declaring the Need for the Sunnyvale Industrial Development Authority, Declaring that the Sunnyvale Industrial Development Authority Shall Function, and Finding that the Action is Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act
Finance Director Matt Paulin provided the staff report.
Public Hearing opened at 8:59 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Hearing closed at 8:59 p.m.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Sell moved and Councilmember Mehlinger seconded the motion to introduce an Ordinance declaring the need for the Sunnyvale Industrial Development Authority, declaring that the Sunnyvale Industrial Development Authority shall function, and finding that the Action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act.
Deputy City Clerk Daniel Byars read the ordinance title for the record.
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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 25-0843 Appeal of Commission Separation and Consideration of Reinstatement to the Housing and Human Services
Commission
City Clerk David Carnahan provided the staff report and presentation.
Public Hearing opened at 9:12 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Hearing closed at 9:12 p.m.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Sell moved and Councilmember Cisneros seconded the motion to approve Alternative 1: Accept the appeal and reinstate Leesa Riviere to the Housing and Human Services Commission to the term ending June 30, 2029.
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
COUNCILMEMBERS REPORTS ON ACTIVITIES FROM INTERGOVERNMENTAL
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
Councilmember Le reported discussion of micro transit grants at a recent Valley Transportation Authority Policy Advisory Committee meeting.
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Vice Mayor Sell reported on micro transit grants issued by Valley Transportation Authority.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS
-Council
Councilmember Srinivasan shared details of the upcoming Sunnyvale Heritage Day event.
-City Manager
City Manager Tim Kirby shared details of the upcoming State of the City event and public comment period.
INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS
25-0743 Tentative Council Meeting Agenda Calendar
25-0744 Board/Commission Meeting Minutes
25-0745 New Study Issues and Budget Proposals Sponsored by Council
25-0227 Boards and Commissions Semi-Annual Attendance Report, January to June 2025 (Information Only)
25-0888 Council Advocacy Letters
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Klein adjourned the meeting at 9:23 p.m.