Larry Klein
Mayor
Richard Mehlinger
Vice Mayor
Alysa Cisneros
Councilmember
Murali Srinivasan
Councilmember
Linda Sell
Councilmember
Charlsie Chang
Councilmember
Eileen Le
Councilmember
September 14, 2026
T
he Honorable Gavin Newsom
Governor of California
1021 O Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, CA 95814
R
E: Assembly Bill 113 (Gabriel): Budget Act of 2026 – REQUEST FOR
SIGNATURE
D
ear Governor Newsom,
O
n behalf of the City of Sunnyvale, we respectfully request that you sign AB 113 into law. We are especially grateful that AB 113 includes funding for Sunnyvale’s critical fire apparatus project, which will provide $1 million in Proposition 4, Chapter 3 (W ildfire and Forest Resilience) funding to help the City’s Department of Public Safety purchase a much-needed ladder fire apparatus.
T
his investment is essential to maintaining effective emergency response capabilities, ensuring firefighter safety, and preserving operational readiness for complex incidents, including multi -story structure fires, technical rescues, and increasingly frequ ent wildland-urban interface fire events. Sunnyvale has enabled the development of multiple high-rise residential projects, making a reliable ladder apparatus particularly important to protecting our residents.
T
he apparatus will also strengthen regional emergency response capacity by supporting Sunnyvale’s mutual aid responsibilities and allowing the City to assist neighboring jurisdictions during large-scale emergencies. The City’s Department of Public Safety has an active apparatus build team in place, including subject matter experts, Fleet staff, and a manufacturer aligned on core specifications to ensure the vehicle is durable, maintainable, and cost-effective over its lifecycle.
T
he State’s $1 million investment also supports the City’s Council Policy 7.1.1, Long Range Goal XII, which calls for maintaining a diversified and stable revenue base that generates the resources necessary to sustain essential City services over the Long -Term Financial Plan. By leveraging state funding for this critical capital need, Sunnyvale can responsibly advance the timely replacement of essential public safety equipment while preserving local resources for other vital community services.
A
s climate change accelerates and wildfire risks grow more frequent and severe, Sunnyvale must be prepared to meet increasing emergency demands. The new ladder apparatus will provide an operationally ready resource for both local emergencies and Attachment 3
The Honorable Gavin Newsom, Governor
September 14, 2026
regional mutual aid responses. Without this investment, the City would be forced to continue relying on aging and increasingly unreliable equipment that could fail during an emergency, potentially putting lives at risk.
The City appreciates the Legislature’s recognition of this critical public safety need and the inclusion of this project in AB 113. The funding represents a prudent and impactful investment that will directly support the timely replacement of critical fire infrastructure, protect firefighters and residents, and strengthen emergency response throughout the region.
For these reasons, the City of Sunnyvale respectfully requests that you sign AB 113 into law. We greatly appreciate your consideration and your continued commitment to protecting California’s communities and residents. Please do not hesitate to contact me or Matthew Paulin, Finance Director at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Larry Klein
Mayor
Cc: Assembly Member Patrick Ahrens
City Council
Tim Kirby, City Manager
Sarah Johnson-Rios, Assistant City Manager
Matthew Paulin, Finance Director
Attachment 3