REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Planned Study Issue Work for Continuing and 2024 Council-Ranked Study Issues (Information Only)
Report
BACKGROUND
At its Study Issues/Budget Proposals Workshop on February 15, 2024, Council reviewed and prioritized the proposed 2024 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 planned work on continuing and new study issues, and estimated start and completion timelines.
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 7.3.26 Study Issues Process
Council Policy 7.1.7 Budget Proposal Process
Council Policy 7.3.1 Legislative Management- Goals and Policies
Policy 7.3A.1: 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 15, 2024 Study Issues/Budget Proposals Workshop, Council reviewed 40 Study Issues to rank and prioritize for the 2024 Work Plan. Twenty-two (22) Study Issues were ranked by Council for City Manager assessment and consideration. The remaining 18 were dropped from consideration or deferred for consideration in a future year.
Since the February 15 Workshop, staff has assessed its ability to undertake Council’s prioritized issues, taking into consideration available financial resources and departmental workloads, including capacity for maintaining core service delivery, advancing existing study issues, and beginning new study.
Recommended Study Issues
As outlined in Attachment 1, the City Manager has determined that the organization can begin work on 12 of the 22 Council-ranked study issues in 2024, in addition to continuing work on 25 continuing study issues from prior years.
Ten of the 12 recommended new study issues will require funding to be appropriated as part of the FY 2024/25 budget development process, and work would begin on those in the latter half of 2024 if funded. These 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 2024/25 Recommended Budget.
|
Study Issue Number |
Title |
Cost |
|
CDD 24-01 |
Determine Cost and Feasibility of Requiring Structural Retrofitting of Existing Seismically‐Vulnerable Buildings within a Specific Time Frame |
$125,000 |
|
CDD 24-03 |
Establishment of a Sanctioned Encampment for Unhoused Individuals in Sunnyvale |
$40,000 |
|
DPS 24-02 |
Evaluate Municipal Code 10.16.120 (Use of Streets or Public Parking Facilities for Storage of Vehicles Prohibited) and Modernize Parking Requirements and Restrictions |
$50,000 |
|
DPW 20-11 |
Evaluate Feasibility of Dog Off‐leash Hours in Select Sunnyvale Park(s) |
$75,000 |
|
DPW 24-08 |
Explore the Feasibility of Converting the PG&E Lots Facing Ramona Avenue, Lois Avenue, and/or Dona Avenue into an Open Green Space Linear Park for the Community |
$100,000 |
|
DPW 24-09 |
Improving Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Near Intersections and Crosswalks at Fremont High School and at Homestead High School and Other Innovative Traffic Improvements (Revised title and scope) |
$100,000 |
|
ESD 24-01 |
Evaluate the Use of Artificial Turf versus Living Groundcover |
$100,000 |
|
LRS 24-01 |
Examine the Permanent Closure of the Interior Levee Trails Surrounding Sunnyvale’s Wastewater Treatment Ponds for Public Recreation |
$5,000 |
|
LRS 24-02 |
Benchmark Sunnyvale Public Library Collections and Budget to Understand the Effect of the Cost of Digital Materials and the Addition of New Branch Library |
$20,000 |
|
OCM 24-02 |
Evaluate the City of Sunnyvale Study Issues Process |
$75,000 |
|
Total Cost |
|
$690,000 |
Two of the 12 recommended study issues do not require funding. These are:
|
Study Issue Number |
Title |
|
CDD 23-02 |
Consider General Plan Land Use Designation Amendments and Rezoning for 26 Legal Non‐ Conforming Single‐ and Two‐Family Dwellings |
|
DPS 24-04 |
Explore the Creation of a Disability Awareness Program |
The updated Work Plan will include a total of 37 continuing and new Study Issues if all are funded. Every effort will be made to keep study issues on track to meet the estimated timelines. The City’s Study Issues/Budget Proposals webpage will be updated throughout the year with any changes to dates or completion status (Attachment 2).
At the February 15 Workshop, Council supported limiting the scope of Study Issue DPW 24-09, Improving Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Near Intersections and Crosswalks at Fremont High School and at Homestead High School and Other Innovative Traffic Improvements, to evaluate the potential of implementing a pedestrian scramble only during school peak hours at the signalized intersection of Sunnyvale-Saratoga Road/Fremont Avenue and No Right Turn on Red for all approaches at the signalized intersection of Homestead Road/Kennewick Drive. The updated study issue paper is attached (Attachment 3).
Council also supported modifying the title of Study Issue DPS 24-04, Explore the Creation of a Special Needs Awareness Program, to Disability Awareness Program (Attachment 4).
Study Issues Below the Line
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 Issues/Budget Proposals Workshop. This year ten study issues were identified as “below the line” due to limitations in staff capacity. Additional information is provided below:
|
Study Issue Number |
Title |
Council Rank |
|
CDD 22-05 |
Consider Modifications to the Sunnyvale Municipal Code Related to Undergrounding Utilities |
5 |
|
CDD 24-02 |
Explore the Creation of a Dark Sky Ordinance for Single‐Family Dwellings |
4 |
|
CDD 24-04 |
Peery Park Specific Plan Amendment (area east of Mathilda Avenue) |
6 |
|
DPS 24-01 |
Evaluate an Ordinance or Resolution Allowing Traffic Enforcement on Private Roadways in the Moffett Park Specific Plan Area |
3 |
|
DPW 24-02 |
Complete Streets Redesign of Fair Oaks Avenue |
4 |
|
DPW 24-03 |
Create a Council Policy Framework to Establish a Process for Evaluating Requests for City to Take Over Private Infrastructure Based on Potential Offers of Dedication in the Moffett Park Specific Plan Area |
8 |
|
DPW 24-04 |
Evaluate Late Night Lights at Public Parks |
6 |
|
DPW 24-07 |
Explore the Benefits and Costs of Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) to Establish the Terms and Conditions of Employment for Specific City Construction Projects |
7 |
|
DPW 24-11 |
Sunnyvale Gateway Program |
5 |
|
ESD 22-02 |
Promotion and Assessment of Sustainable Landscaping Strategies |
2 |
For CDD 22-05, CDD 24-02, and CDD 24-04, staff in the Community Development Department are working on a large number of studies issues already in the queue along with completion of several grant supported studies that respond to recent state housing laws. There are also a sizable number of action items from the Housing Element of the General Plan that need to be completed or at least started this year. The three study issues that are above the line this year coincidentally fall into each of the three divisions of the department (Housing, Planning and Building) and use up the capacity of each of the divisions for additional studies.
For DPS 24-01, Public Safety Staff within the Division of Police Services are committed to providing operational services daily. This includes response and oversight of all patrol related calls for service within the city as well as Traffic Enforcement, SWAT response, and Communications. Staff from the same Bureau (Police Services) will be committing resources next year to work on the two above the line study issues (DPS 24-02, if funded, and DPS 24-04).
For DPW 24-02, DPW 24-03, DPW 24-04, DPW 24-07, and DPW 24-11, staff in the Public Works Department are working on nine continuing study issues and multiple capital projects, including ones that are time sensitive due to grant requirements, looking for additional grant funding opportunities, working with developers on transportation studies and specific area plans, and conducting citizen requested transportation studies. Staff is also working on several development projects as well as identifying and addressing new processes relating to legislative requirements (e.g., SB-9, SB-330, MRP 3.0). Adding to this workload staff is also participating in the citywide effort to upgrade the City’s Energov permitting system.
For ESD 22-02, staff in the Sustainability Division are fully engaged in developing the Next Game Plan and will be focused on implementing the new moves next fiscal year. The same team is leading the work on the Climate Budgeting study issue which was approved last year and work on that study issue is still underway. In addition, Sustainability staff will be working on the one new above the line study issue (ESD 24-01), if funded.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council meeting agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board at City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Public Library and in the Department of Public Safety Lobby. In addition, the agenda and this report are available at the NOVA Workforce Services 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.
Staff
Prepared by: Michelle Zahraie, Senior Management Analyst
Reviewed by: Sarah Johnson-Rios, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Kent Steffens, City Manager
ATTACHMENT
1. Planned Presentation Dates for 2024 Council-ranked Study Issues and Continuing Issues
2. Study Issues/Budget Proposals Webpage
3. Revised Study Issue Paper DPW 24-09
4. Revised Study Issue Paper DPS 24-04