REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Study Issue Presentation Dates for Recommended Studies in 2021 (Information Only)
Report
BACKGROUND
At its Study/Budget Issues Workshop on February 25, 2021, Council reviewed and prioritized the proposed 2021 Study Issues. Upon establishing the inventory of study issues, the next step in the process is for the City Manager to assess the organization’s capacity to undertake the Council prioritized study issues, evaluate their connection to the Council policy priorities and operational initiatives, and balance the study issues with the delivery of core services. This report presents the start date and tentative Council presentation dates for items recommended for study in 2021.
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 7.3.26 Study Issues Process
Council Policy 7.1.7 Budget Issues Process
Council Policy 7.3.1 Legislative Management- Goals and Policies
Policy A1: Utilize the General Plan as the City’s principal long-range planning tool; utilize the Resource Allocation Plan and Program Outcome Statements as the City’s principal mid-range planning tool; and utilize the Council Study Calendar as the City’s principal short-range planning tool.
DISCUSSION
At the February 25 Study/Budget Issues Workshop, Council reviewed 28 Study Issues to rank and prioritize for the 2021 Work Plan. Thirteen Study Issues were ranked by Council for City Manager assessment and consideration.
Since the February 25 workshop, staff has assessed its ability to undertake Council’s prioritized issues, taking into consideration departmental workloads and available resources. Attached are the presentation dates for the 2021 Council-ranked Study Issues (Attachment 1). Study Issues not undertaken for study are considered “below the line” and are considered deferred and brought back to Council for consideration at the following year’s Study/Budget Issues Workshop. This year four study issues were identified as “below the line,” and nine recommended for study, along with the 17 continuing study issues from the 2020 Work Plan. The 2021 Work Plan will therefore include a total of 26 Study Issues. Every effort will be made to keep study and budget issues on track to meet the identified calendar. The City’s Study/Budget Issues webpage will be updated throughout the year with any changes to dates or completion status (Attachment 2).
Study Issues Below the Line
The four Study Issues identified as “below the line” are considered deferred and will return to Council for consideration at the following year’s Study/Budget Issues Workshop for the following reasons.
|
Study Issue Number |
Title |
Council Rank |
|
CDD 21-01 |
Consider Allowing Expansions/Modifications for Existing Legal Non-Conforming Single-Family Uses in Non-Residential Zoning Districts |
2 |
|
CDD 19-04 |
Update to the Historical Context Statement to Include Historical Contributions Made by Asian Americans and Other Minority Groups |
3 |
|
DPW 20-13 |
Lighting of Current and Future City Owned Dog Parks |
3 |
|
DPW 21-05 |
Pedestrian Improvements on Marion Way between Norman Drive and Oriole Avenue |
4 |
For CDD 21-01 and CDD 19-04, CDD staff has limited capacity to take on new policy related items based on current workload. All three of the Council ranked CDD Study Issues would be led by the Planning division with Housing staff providing support on the number one ranked study issue. About 10% of the CDD budget is General Fund (in Planning) and is reserved for policy-based activities including area plans, general plan updates, intergovernmental review of projects and laws proposed in or by other agencies, and study issues. The current policy workload in Planning includes:
• Updates to three large area plans (Lawrence Station, El Camino Real, and Moffett Park)
• Two continuing study issues (Update to the Heritage Resource Inventory to Include Potential Resources associated with Technological Innovation and Updates to the Single-Family Home Design Techniques Document)
• Follow-up actions as directed by Council on former study issues and policy actions (Heritage Plaque program, update to Green Building program with future phases of the Reach Codes)
• Three grant funded policy items that respond to state mandates (Master Plans for Village Centers, Landscape Design Standards, Objective Citywide Guidelines)
• Update of two General Plan Elements (Noise and Air Quality, identified in the 2017 Land Use and Transportation Element--LUTE as action items following LUTE adoption) and the addition of Environmental Justice Policies (required by State Law)
• Working with the Building Division to Promote ADUs (from Housing Strategy)
• Responding to requests for General Plan Amendment initiations from property owners and developers from around the City.
Housing staff are working on the Tier 1 action items from the 2020 Housing Strategy (Mobile Home Park MOU, Increase Ownership Inclusionary Percentage, Evaluation of a Right to Lease Ordinance [also a continuing study issue] and will start on Tier 2 in late 2021, plus the Housing staff is starting the 2 year process to update the Housing Element (a state mandated activity).
For DPW 20-13 and DPW 21-05, DPW staff is currently working on a number of capital projects and study issues within the Parks and Open Space Division. Currently, four parks' related study issues are in process and there isn't the capacity to begin work on another one at this time. Also, the Transportation Division has several study issues in process and have applied for a grant for another study issue related to mobility around the Caltrain Station, which limits their capacity to perform another study issue at this time. Staff has also submitted a grant application for a quick build improvement to provide pedestrian accommodations on Marion Way between Norman Drive and Oriole Avenue, which will improve pedestrian connectivity in a shorter timeframe.
The Public Works Transportation Division also continues to work on major projects including Caltrain Grade Separations and the Mary Avenue Extension. Work will also commence in 2021 on large grant funded projects for two segments of the Stevens Creek Trail and the Bernardo Avenue bike/pedestrian undercrossing of Caltrain.
Study Issues to Consider During the Budget Process
The seven Study Issues noted below require funding and, consistent with past practice, will be considered within the context of the City’s overall fiscal condition as Budget Supplements to be considered further in the City Manager’s FY 2021/22 Recommended Budget.
|
Study Issue Number |
Title |
Cost |
|
CDD 21-02 |
Review and Potentially Update Commercial Housing Mitigation Fees |
$60,000 |
|
ESD 17-01 |
Eliminate the Use of Chemical Pesticides on City Owned or Leased Property |
$100,000 |
|
FIN 21-01 |
Explore a 2022 General Election Ballot Measure to Modify Real Property Tax |
$50,000 |
|
ITD 20-01 |
Establish a Formal Smart Cities Initiative and Potential Program |
$125,000 |
|
LRS 20-03 |
Assessment of Needs for Additional/Expanded Outdoor Sports Programs and Facilities |
$65,000 |
|
DPW 21-03 |
Pedestrian and Bicycle Facility Installation on Tasman Drive from Fair Oaks Avenue to Lawrence Expressway |
$200,000 |
|
DPW 21-04 |
Complete Missing Gaps of Sidewalk on East Side of Poplar Avenue between El Camino Real and Peterson Middle School |
$75,000 |
|
Total Cost |
|
$675,000 |
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall, Sunnyvale Public Library and Department of Public Safety. In addition, the agenda and report are available at the Office of the City Manager and on the City's website.
Staff
Prepared by: Michelle Zahraie, Management Analyst
Reviewed by: Teri Silva, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Kent Steffens, City Manager
ATTACHMENT
1. Presentation Dates for 2021 Council-ranked Study Issues
2. Study/Budget Issues Webpage