REPORT TO HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Review Planning Program Budget and Fees for FY 2025/26
Report
REPORT IN BRIEF
Boards and Commissions are asked to provide comments to the City Council on the recommended City budget where it could affect the Commission’s work. Staff recommends that the Commission review the following sections of the FY 2025/26 Recommended Budget (see Attachments 1 and 2):
At a minimum, staff recommends the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) review the following sections:
• City Manager’s Budget Message: Volume I, pp. 5-10
• Community Development Department Overview: Volume I, pp. 159-176
• Project 834790 - Addition to the Heritage Resource Inventory of Sites Associated with Tech Innovation: Volume II, p. 512
• Project 836530 - Update Historical Context for Contributions by Asian Americans & other Minority Groups: Volume II, p. 530
(Refer to Attachment 1 for Volume I and Attachment 2 for Volume II)
Comments will be forwarded to the City Council for their consideration of the recommended budget adoption scheduled for June 17, 2025. The HPC's recommendation will take place after the annual Council public hearing on the budget on June 3, 2025, due to the timing of the budget release and regular HPC meeting schedule on the first Wednesday of the month.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The HPC’s recommendation on the budget is not subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is a fiscal or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes to the physical environment [CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4), (5)].
DISCUSSION
Sunnyvale’s budget process alternates each year between the operating budget and the projects budget. This year is focused on the projects budget.
Community Development Department (CDD) Overview
CDD is responsible for land use policy planning and development review to ensure compliance with the Sunnyvale Municipal Code and other government regulations related to the physical development of the City and welfare of community members. CDD is organized into four programs: Building Safety, Planning, Housing/Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), and Department Management. A list of CDD accomplishments for the previous FY 2024/25 are included on pages 162-164 of Attachment 1.
Work related to the HPC comes from the Planning Program. The Planning Program oversees policy planning and land use/development review, with the aim of improving the quality of life in the City through comprehensive and effective policy planning.
Below is the budget summary for the Planning Program. Staff recommends an increase of 7.4% from the current fiscal year (FY 2024/25) to the next fiscal year (FY 2025/26). The Land Use/Development Review budget is based on fees collected with applications. Permit activity has steadily increased since the last fiscal year and the types and complexity of permits has increased significantly due to recent state laws. The summary is as follows:
CDD Budget Summary
|
|
FY 2023/24 Actual |
FY 2024/25 Adopted |
FY 2025/26 Recommended |
FY 2025/26 Change |
|
Policy Planning |
$643,154 |
$792,716 |
$793,852 |
0.1% |
|
Land Development Review |
$3,031,984 |
$3,208,297 |
$3,504,138 |
9.2% |
|
Total |
$3,675,138 |
$4,001,013 |
$4,297,990 |
7.4% |
Public Hearing Applications
The Planning Division processes a variety of applications, including staff-level and public hearing applications. Public hearing applications are either referred to the Zoning Administrator for minor permits, Planning Commission on major permits, or the HPC for decisions on heritage resources. The public hearing applications for 2024/25 are expected to remain about the same from FY 2023/24 as shown below:
Public Hearing Application Reviewed
|
|
FY 2023/24 Actual |
FY 2024/25 Estimate |
FY 2024/25 Change |
|
Total Number of Public Hearing Applications Reviewed |
70 |
68 |
(3%) |
|
Zoning Administrator |
17 |
15 |
(11.7%) |
|
Planning Commission |
49 |
49 |
0% |
|
Heritage Preservation Commission |
4 |
4 |
0% |
Projects Budget
The HPC also advises the City Council on policy study issues. The recommended budget includes $75,000 in previous project funding for an HPC-related study issue (Project 834790) to update the Heritage Resource Inventory to include potential resources associated with technological innovation. The funds are used to contract with an historical consultant to assist staff in completing the study issue. Planning staff hours are covered within the normal operating budget. Kick-off of this study issue commenced in April 2024, a public review draft report was published in January 2025, and the project is anticipated to be completed in early 2026.
The recommended budget also includes $50,000 in project funding for an HPC-related study issue (Project 836530) to update the City’s Historical Context Statement for contributions by Asian Americans and other minority groups. The funds are being applied to hire a historical consultant and a Request for Proposals have been processed and the contract award is currently in process. Work is anticipated to later this year.
Study Issue Funding
At the February 13, 2025, Study Issues and Budget Proposals Workshop, the City Council ranked Study Issue CDD 25-04 (Expanding the Roles of the Heritage Preservation Commission) and CDD 18-02 (Update and Review of the Heritage Resource Inventory). Both projects were deferred and will return for consideration in 2026. An additional study issue has been initiated by the Office of the City Manager, OCM 25-01 (Explore Establishing a Japanese American Incarceration Memorial in Sunnyvale), which has been funded for $60,000 and may require input and review by HPC.
Public Hearing
The HPC has the option to make comments or make a motion on the budget, which will be provided to the City Council for the recommended budget adoption, scheduled for June 17, 2025.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the meeting agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board at City Hall. In addition, the agenda and this report are available at the City Hall reception desk located on the first floor of City Hall at 456 W. Olive Avenue (during normal business hours), and on the City's website.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Provide comments to the City Council or make a formal recommendation to the City Council on the FY 2025/26 Recommended Budget
Levine Act
LEVINE ACT
The Levine Act (Gov. Code Section 84308) prohibits city officials from participating in certain decisions regarding licenses, permits, and other entitlements for use if the official has received a campaign contribution of more than $500 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant in the previous 12 months. The Levine Act is intended to prevent financial influence on decisions that affect specific, identifiable persons or participants. For more information see the Fair Political Practices Commission website: www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to-play-limits-and-prohibitions.html
An “X” in the checklist below indicates that the action being considered falls under a Levine Act category or exemption:
SUBJECT TO THE LEVINE ACT
___ Land development entitlements
___ Other permit, license, or entitlement for use
___ Contract or franchise
EXEMPT FROM THE LEVINE ACT
___ Competitively bid contract*
___ Labor or personal employment contract
___ Contract under $50,000 or non-fiscal
___ Contract between public agencies
_X_ General policy and legislative actions
* "Competitively bid" means a contract that must be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
Prepared by: Momo Ishijima, Senior Planner
Reviewed by: George Schroeder, Principal Planner
Approved by: Shaunn Mendrin, Planning Officer
ATTACHMENTS
1. Link to FY 2025-2026 Recommended Budget Volume 1 - Summary and Operating Budget
2. Link to FY 2025-2026 Recommended Budget Volume 2 - Projects Budget