City of Sunnyvale
Meeting Minutes - Draft
City Council
11:00 AM Online and Bay Conference Room, City
Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA
94086
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Special Meeting: Budget Workshop - 11 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Klein called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m.
ROLL CALL
Mayor Larry Klein
Vice Mayor Richard Mehlinger
Councilmember Alysa Cisneros
Councilmember Murali Srinivasan
Councilmember Linda Sell
Councilmember Charlsie Chang
Councilmember Eileen Le
Present: 7 -
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING
BUDGET WORKSHOP
Public Comment opened at 11:03 a.m.
Zachary Kaufman provided a presentation of their concerns regarding unfunded pension liabilities.
Tara Martin-Milius spoke in support of the Sunnyvale budget process and for the City’s support of local nonprofits.
Teresa Law, Sunken Gardens Ladies Golf Club, provided a presentation advocating for a reduced green rate for seniors or clubs at Sunken Gardens golf course.
Sharlene Liu, spoke in support of Council Priority Project DPS 2026 ‑13 -
Reinventing and Revitalizing Sunnyvale’s Safe Routes to School Program, and highlighted additional considerations to be evaluated.
Jeff Nabhan, Sustainability Commission Chair, shared the Sustainability
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May 19, 2026City Council Meeting Minutes - Draft
Commission's budget recommendations.
Johnathan Blum voiced their support for Council Priority Project DPS 2026-13 and highlighted additional considerations to be evaluated.
Kevin Jackson, Sunnyvale Safe Streets, communicated their support for Council Priority Project DPS 2026-13 and highlighted additional considerations to be evaluated.
Kristal Wickham shared their support for the Sustainability Commission's budget recommendation and Council Priority Project DPS 2026-13.
Public Comment closed at 11:21 a.m.
WORKSHOP
A 26-0011 Budget Workshop
City Manager Tim Kirby provided an overview of the budget and presented the budget message.
Finance Director Matthew Paulin provided the budget report and overview presentation.
Budget Manager Kurtis Mock provided the General Fund presentation.
Budget Manager Kurtis Mock continued the presentation of the remaining Budget Funds.
Council took a recess at 12:53 p.m. and reconvened at 1:28 p.m. with all Councilmembers present.
Office of the City Manager
Assistant City Manager Sarah Johnson-Rios provided the Office of the City Manager presentation.
Office of the City Attorney
City Attorney Rebecca Moon provided the Office of the City Attorney presentation.
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Information Technology Department
Information Technology Director/Chief Information Officer Kathleen Boutté Foster-Gee provided the Information Technology Department presentation.
Human Resources Department
Human Resources Director Heather Ruiz provided the Human Resources Department presentation.
Finance Department
Assistant Finance Director Dennis Jaw provided the Finance Department presentation.
Public Works Department
Interim Public Works Director Ramana Chinnakotla provided the Public Works Department presentation.
Council took a recess at 3:24 p.m. and reconvened at 3:35 p.m. with Mayor Klein, Vice Mayor Mehlinger, and Councilmembers Cisneros, Srinivasan, Sell and Chang present.
NOVA Workforce Services Department
NOVA Workforce Services Director Marlena Sessions provided the NOVA Workforce Services Department presentation.
Councilmember Le rejoined the meeting at 3:43 p.m.
Community Development Department
Community Development Director Trudi Ryan provided the Community Development Department presentation.
Library and Recreation Services Department
Library and Recreation Services Director Michelle Perera provided the Library and
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Recreation Services Department presentation.
Public Safety Department
Public Safety Chief Daniel Pistor provided the Public Safety Department presentation.
Environmental Services Department
Interim Environmental Services Director Mansour Nasser provided the Environmental Services Department presentation.
Budget Supplements
MOTION: Vice Mayor Mehlinger moved and Mayor Klien seconded the motion to accept the staff recommended budget with following modifications:
- Add the following Workload Indicators/Performance Indicators - Department of Public Works:
- Number of quick build projects completed;
- Miles of bicycle lanes added by class;
- Number of red curbs painted;
- Department of Public Safety:
- Include as a follow-up total overtime hours vs scheduled hours, with cost;* - Environmental Services Department:
- Number of bulky item pickups per year for Single Family Homes; - Number of bulky item pickups per year for Multi-Family Homes; - For Council Priority Projects, approve staff recommendations with following modifications:
- OCM 2026-1 – Support Neighborhood-Serving Retail in Sunnyvale:
- Combine Phases 1 and 2;
- Schedule a study session with initial analysis and options for service level increase by March;
- Include community input;
- DPW 2026-4 – Clearing the Sidewalk Maintenance Backlog:
- No modifications, include in the budget;
- LRS 2026-11 – Expand the Roles of Age-Friendly, Accessibility, and Teen Staff Advisory Committees:
- No modifications, include in the budget;
- DPS 2026-13 – Reinventing and Revitalizing Sunnyvale’s Safe Routes to
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School Program
- Set a goal of including 100% of public schools;
- Schedule a City Council study session within one year to consider metrics, goals, service levels, potential improvements, and discussion of what would be required to include private schools;
- CDD 2026-14 – Public Sector Workforce Housing Feasibility Study - Return with follow-up regarding Consulting with the school districts and special districts to see if any are interested in partnering or leading this effort; - Report back to City Council within one year;
- CDD 2026-16 – Re-evaluate Nonresidential Sign Code Standards for Improvements and Compliance with the First Amendment
- Explicitly include examination of temporary signage types and sizes; - OCM 2026-18 – Formal Analysis for Creation of a Food Co-Op, State-Sponsored Market or Commissary
- Return to Council with options:
- Consider preparing a short white paper and information session on food co-ops in California and the San Francisco Bay Area;
- Look at doing a one-time grant if there are interested community groups; - Be ready to take advantage if Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens’ Food Co-Op bill is signed.
- CDD 2026-22 – Streamlining the Permitting Process
- No modifications, include in the budget.
*City Manager Tim Kirby advised this is a follow up item that will be included with budget adoption - it was removed from the restated motion.
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Vice Mayor Mehlinger offered a friendly amendment to add, “LRS 2026-6 – Establish a Community Funding Program for Sunnyvale Nonprofits: No modifications, include in the budget to the motion. Mayor Klien accepted the friendly amendment.
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Councilmember Chang offered a friendly amendment to replace, “be ready to take advantage if Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens’ Food Co-Op bill is signed” with “monitor Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens’ Food Co-Op bill.” Vice Mayor Mehlinger and Mayor Klein accepted the friendly amendment.
MOTION AS AMENDED RESTATED: Vice Mayor Mehlinger moved and Mayor Klien seconded the motion to accept the staff recommended budget with following modifications:
- Add the following Workload Indicators/Performance Indicators
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- Department of Public Works:
- Number of quick build projects completed;
- Miles of bicycle lanes added by class;
- Number of red curbs painted;
- Environmental Services Department:
- Number of bulky item pickups per year for Single Family Homes; - Number of bulky item pickups per year for Multi-Family Homes; - For Council Priority Projects, approve staff recommendations with following modifications:
- OCM 2026-1 – Support Neighborhood-Serving Retail in Sunnyvale:
- Combine Phases 1 and 2;
- Schedule a study session with initial analysis and options for service level increase by March;
- Include community input;
- DPW 2026-4 – Clearing the Sidewalk Maintenance Backlog:
- No modifications, include in the budget;
- LRS 2026-6 – Establish a Community Funding Program for Sunnyvale Nonprofits:
- No modifications, include in the budget;
- LRS 2026-11 – Expand the Roles of Age-Friendly, Accessibility, and Teen Staff Advisory Committees:
- No modifications, include in the budget;
- DPS 2026-13 – Reinventing and Revitalizing Sunnyvale’s Safe Routes to School Program
- Set a goal of including 100% of public schools;
- Schedule a City Council study session within one year to consider metrics, goals, service levels, potential improvements, and discussion of what would be required to include private schools;
- CDD 2026-14 – Public Sector Workforce Housing Feasibility Study - Return with follow-up regarding Consulting with the school districts and special districts to see if any are interested in partnering or leading this effort; - Consult with the school districts and special districts to see if any are interested in partnering or leading this effort;
- Report back to City Council within one year;
- CDD 2026-16 – Re-evaluate Nonresidential Sign Code Standards for Improvements and Compliance with the First Amendment
- Explicitly include examination of temporary signage types and sizes; - OCM 2026-18 – Formal Analysis for Creation of a Food Co-Op, State-Sponsored Market or Commissary
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- Return to Council with options:
- Consider preparing a short white paper and information session on food co-ops in California and the San Francisco Bay Area;
- Look at doing a one-time grant if there are interested community groups; - Monitor Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens’ Food Co-Op bill; and - CDD 2026-22 – Streamlining the Permitting Process
- No modifications, include in the budget.
The motion as amended carried with the following vote:
Yes: Mayor Klein
Vice Mayor Mehlinger
Councilmember Cisneros
Councilmember Srinivasan
Councilmember Sell
Councilmember Chang
Councilmember Le
7 -
No: 0
SUMMARY AND CONCLUDING REMARKS
City Manager Tim Kirby and Mayor Klein provided closing remarks.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Klein adjourned the meeting at 6:22 p.m.
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