Form Name:
Unique ID:
Boards and Commissions Applicat ion
1448672559
Applicant Information
Name
Are you a Sunnyvale resident?
How long have you lived in
Sunnyvale?
Zohar Shvarzberg
Yes
10 Months
Zohar Shvarzberg
--4/6/26
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on 4/6/26
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Description Area Residence Notice:Unless otherwise noted , your principal place of residence must be in Sunnyvale . You must live in Sunnyvale at the time of appo intment and at all times during serv ice on a board or comm ission.
Current Main Residence
Email
Phone
Description Area Employment NoticeCity of Sunnyvale emp loyees may not serve on a board or comm ission.
I am a current City of Sunnyvale No
employee.
Have you ever served on a City of No
Sunnyvale board or commission?
Have you attended a meeting of No
the City Council, or a board or
commission?
Have you attended meetings of No
the board(s) or commission(s) for
which you are applying?
Board or Commission Selection
First Choice Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commis sion Applicant Qualifications
What motivated you to apply for
this board or commission?
As a Sunnyvale resident with a professional background in architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning, I see the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission as an
opportunity to apply my experience to enhance safety and improve the pedestrian and bicyclist experience throughout the city, while preserving the qualities that make Sunnyvale's streets enjoyable and functional. As a parent whose children walk and bike to school, I regularly think about ways to improve walkability and reduce traffic collisions. My community and volunteer initiatives in walkability, and public transportation and my municipal work have given me practical experience that I hope to bring to the commission in support of these goals.
What skills or attributes can you
bring to this board or
commission?
I bring practical knowledge, dedication, and a strong sense of responsibility, grounded in my professional experience in architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning, along with community involvement and collaboration with municipal authorities. Having been part of city decision-making processes, I know how to translate complex ideas into actionable steps. With over two decades of experience, I combine creativity and outside-the-box thinking with practical solutions, approach challenges seriously, and am committed to continuous learning, enabling me to effectively contribute to the commission's work.
The primary role of a board or
commission member is to provide
advice to City Council on policy
issues that are within the scope
of the board or commission. What
steps would you take to
effectively exercise this specific
board or commission role?
In this role, I would draw on my background in architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning, while staying closely connected to Sunnyvale residents. I would review proposed projects and existing plans, walk the streets, and speak with community members to understand their experiences and
concerns. Using these insights, I would offer practical recommendations to the City Council, ensuring that the
perspectives of pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users are considered. My aim would be to translate professional knowledge and community input into actionable steps that improve street safety, accessibility, and connectivity, supporting Sunnyvale's goals for active transportation and a Vision Zero approach.
Zohar Shvarzberg
Education – List college degrees,
majors and any relevant training
or experience that demonstrates
your ability to effectively serve
on this board or commission.
My academic and professional background combines architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning, with a focus on the built environment, the spaces between buildings, and how people move through and relate to them.
I hold a Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) in Architecture and Town Planning (2006), with honors, and a Master's degree in Landscape Architecture (2023), summa cum laude, both from the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology. I have been a licensed architect in Israel since 2011.
My work as an architect has included planning and designing streets, roads, and public spaces, integrating transportation systems into the built environment, and overseeing commercial and residential developments. Most recently, I served as an urban planner in a municipal planning department in a city of approximately 110,000 residents, where I coordinated citywide development plans, master plans, public space projects, and large-scale ecological and landscape initiatives. This role involved coordinating and collaborating with decision-makers, developers, residents, city departments, and regional authorities, while considering how planning decisions affect walkability, safety, and connectivity across the city.
Zohar Shvarzberg
Describe your involvement in
community activities, volunteer
and civic organizations.
I have been actively engaged in improving urban life and sustainable transportation in the city where I previously lived, and I am eager to bring this experience and contribute to similar initiatives in Sunnyvale.
I initiated a grassroots group of residents focused on promoting effective, high-quality urbanism and public transportation in my previous city. I identified active residents through social media, connected with them, and organized group meetings and action plans. As part of this effort, I helped raise public awareness through media outreach, engaged with municipal decision-makers and nonprofit organizations, and advocated for public
transportation in Israel's parliament. We built a network of active community members working to advance walkability, pedestrian safety, and sustainable transportation.
I am also a member of a volunteer urban forest advocates group, dedicated to maintaining a green, shaded urban environment by protecting the urban forest from tree removal, preserving the health of existing trees, and promoting new plantings. I contributed by providing professional expertise based on my experience, participating in advocacy efforts to preserve significant mature trees, and supporting initiatives that promote a healthy, shaded, and pedestrian and bicycle-friendly environment.
In Sunnyvale, I participated in the East Channel Trail community survey, reviewing and providing feedback on proposed routes and crossings. I also took part in the East Channel Greenway walking workshop, offering comments on the proposed segment between Duane Avenue and Blythe Avenue. During the workshop, I
conducted a mindful walkthrough of this segment, observing details from a pedestrian's perspective and suggesting planning ideas for a user experience, emphasizing urban nature, safety, and wellbeing, drawing on my professional and community experience.
Description Area The City has a Code of Ethics and Conduct for Elected and Appointed Officials and an Attendance Policy (7.2.19), 2 G (II) that appointed members are required to follow.
Do you have any concerns related
to the above code and policy?
No
Are you willing to accept a
temporary appointment for the
remainder of an unexpired term?
Yes
Zohar Shvarzberg
Board or Commission-Specific Questions
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission
Category One: I am a bicyclist or
pedestrian residing in Sunnyvale.
Yes
Like many Santa Clara County
cities, Sunnyvale is faced with
problems stemming from traffic
congestion and air pollution.
Suggest ways the City can
improve facilities for bicyclists
and pedestrians. Also, how might
the City improve education and
safety programs for motorists,
bicyclists and pedestrians?
I believe the City of Sunnyvale can make meaningful
improvements for bicyclists and pedestrians, while reducing congestion and air pollution, by investing in clear, well-designed infrastructure. This includes highly visible crosswalk striping, continuous green bike lanes, pedestrian signals that clearly indicate when it is safe to cross (with a walking symbol and countdown), and pedestrian refuge islands, along with repairing and completing sidewalks and improving street lighting. The City can further enhance connectivity and comfort by activating creek trails as shaded walking and cycling routes, integrating green infrastructure such as rain gardens, and implementing a comprehensive urban forest strategy to expand shade. Additional improvements could include covered bus stops with real-time arrival information, a municipal bike-share program, and everyday street amenities such as benches, shaded seating areas, drinking fountains, bike racks, and mobile device charging stations, all of which support safer, more accessible, and more appealing alternatives to driving.
Education is essential to building a safe and aware transportation culture. The City could offer community-based programs such as guided walking groups in parks, stroller walks for new parents, and bicycle safety classes at community centers. Organizing "Jane's Walks", community-led walking tours inspired by Jane Jacobs and held in cities worldwide, can further raise awareness of the built environment and safety. These initiatives can help residents better understand their shared responsibility and support safer, more thoughtful use of the city's public spaces.
Description Area View the Active Transportation Plan
Have you read the Active
Transportation Plan?
Yes
Zohar Shvarzberg
What are your thoughts on the
Active Transportation Plan?
Sunnyvale's Active Transportation Plan highlights a strong existing foundation for walking and bicycling in Sunnyvale, with clear potential for further improvement and modal shift. What stood out to me is that while most commuters still drive alone (around 72%), a significant share - about 28% - already use alternative modes. This indicates an important base to build on in expanding active transportation. The bicycle network provides good citywide connectivity, linking residential areas with employment, services, and open spaces, though continued improvements in safety and continuity could further support higher usage. On the pedestrian side, sidewalk coverage offers a solid baseline for walkability, with opportunities to strengthen walkability and urban connectivity. I was particularly interested in the plan's emphasis on Safe Routes to School and its collaborative approach with the public, alongside detailed assessment of conditions around each school, evaluation and prioritization of interventions, and implementation of engineering solutions to create safer environments for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Description Area View the Vision Zero Plan
Have you read the Vision Zero
Plan?
Yes
What are your thoughts on the
Vision Zero Plan?
The Sunnyvale Vision Zero Plan sets a goal of reducing fatal and severe injury collisions by 50% by 2029. I strongly connect with the shift from "accidents" to "collisions." These events are not inevitable, they have identifiable causes and can be prevented.
The plan notes that bicyclists and pedestrians involved in collisions in Sunnyvale are 13 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than drivers. This underscores the need to prioritize their safety and to address speed as a central factor - reducing vehicle speeds in urban areas is one of the most effective ways to prevent severe outcomes. The plan's focus on high-injury corridors and its data-driven approach, combining engineering, education, and enforcement, are practical and necessary steps to reduce collisions.
Your Agreement
Zohar Shvarzberg
Description Area IMPORTANT NOTICE – READ BEFORE SIGNING:By selecting both “Yes” and “Submit Form” below I am adding my digital signature to this application. I am also agreeing with the following statements:All statements I have made on this application are true and correct.I authorize the City of Sunnyvale (City) to investigate the accuracy of this information.I release the City from all claims and liabilities arising from such investigation.I acknowledge that any false statement on this application will be grounds for the City to deny my appointment. A false statement discovered later, will be grounds to dismiss me from my appointment at any time.I acknowledge that any false statement on this application could lead to criminal charges. Charges could fall under California Penal Code, Section 115 or other applicable law.
I agree Yes
Your full name Zohar Shvarzberg
Date Apr 06, 2026
Zohar Shvarzberg