City of Sunnyvale  
Meeting Minutes  
Heritage Preservation Commission  
Wednesday, August 6, 2025  
7:00 PM  
Online and Redwood Conference Room,  
City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale,  
CA 94086  
Public Participation  
7 P.M. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING  
CALL TO ORDER  
SALUTE TO THE FLAG  
Vice Chair Sofaer led the salute to the flag.  
ROLL CALL  
Present: 5 -  
Absent: 2 -  
Vice Chair Aaron Sofaer  
Commissioner William Garrett  
Commissioner Charles McManis  
Commissioner Ashmita Rajkumar  
Commissioner Pamela Sharma  
Chair Sue-Ellen Johnson  
Commissioner Parthiv Rawal  
PRESENTATION  
1.  
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Training  
25-0801  
Senior Assistant City Attorney Sandy Lee presented a training of the California  
Environmental Quality Act in regards to historic preservation.  
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS  
None  
CONSENT CALENDAR  
Approve the Draft Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes  
of June 4, 2025  
2.  
25-0799  
Recording Clerk Joey Mariano noted a correction to the title to reflect the June 4,  
2025 Meeting Minutes. Commissioner McManis motioned and Commissioner  
Garrett seconded to approve the Draft Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting  
Minutes of June 4, 2025, as submitted.  
Yes: 4 -  
Vice Chair Sofaer  
Commissioner Garrett  
Commissioner McManis  
Commissioner Sharma  
No: 0  
Absent: 2 -  
Chair Johnson  
Commissioner Rawal  
Abstain: 1 - Commissioner Rajkumar  
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS  
Selection of Chair  
3.  
25-0797  
Vice Chair Sofaer asked the Commission for any nominations.  
Commissioner Garrett and Vice Chair Sofaer stated that they would like to serve as  
the Chair.  
Councilmember Liaison Mayor Klein suggested that the nominees may speak of  
their advocacy as to why they would be a good candidate to serve as the Chair to  
the Commission.  
Vice Chair Sofaer spoke on her behalf of running a meeting efficiently.  
Commissioner Garrett spoke of his background as an attorney and is pursuing a  
degree in Urban Planning.  
Vice Chair withdrew her nomination.  
Commissioner Sharma noted that she feels that they would both do a great job to  
serve as the Chair.  
There were no speakers to this item.  
MOTION:  
Vice Chair Sofaer made a motion and Commissioner Sharma seconded to select  
Commissioner Garrett to serve as Chair.  
The motion carried by the following vote:  
Yes: 5 -  
Vice Chair Sofaer  
Commissioner Garrett  
Commissioner McManis  
Commissioner Rajkumar  
Commissioner Sharma  
No: 0  
Absent: 2 -  
Chair Johnson  
Commissioner Rawal  
Selection of Vice Chair  
4.  
25-0798  
Vice Chair Sofaer asked the Commission for any nominations to serve as the Vice  
Chair.  
Commissioner McManis and Commissioner Sharma stated that they would like to  
serve as Vice Chair.  
Vice Chair asked the nominees to advocate for themselves as to why they would  
like to serve as the Vie Chair.  
Commissioner McManis noted that he has served in the Commission for a year and  
he feels he has an understanding of the Commission and his professional  
background as a manager, vice president, and a Chief Operating Officer.  
Commissioner Sharma noted that she has previously served as Chair to this  
Commission and has had professional managerial experience and leadership  
experiences in clubs.  
There were no speakers to this item.  
Mayor Klein discussed some options to decide on how to move forward with voting  
for the two nominees and Vice Chair Sofaer decided to take a poll, as follows:  
Commissioner Sharma voted for herself.  
Commissioner McManis voted for himself.  
Commission Rajkumar voted for Commissioner Sharma.  
Vice Chair Sofaer voted for Commissioner Sharma.  
Commissioner Garrett voted for Commissioner Sharma.  
MOTION:  
Vice Chair Sofaer made a motion and Commissioner Rajkumar seconded for  
Commissioner Sharma to serve as the Vice Chair.  
The motion carried as follows:  
Yes: 5 -  
Vice Chair Sofaer  
Commissioner Garrett  
Commissioner McManis  
Commissioner Rajkumar  
Commissioner Sharma  
No: 0  
Absent: 2 -  
Chair Johnson  
Commissioner Rawal  
STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES  
None  
NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS  
-Commissioner Comments  
Commissioner Sharma thanked Chair Johnson and Vice Chair Sofaer for serving as  
Chair.  
-Staff Comments  
Senior Planner Momoko Ishijima thanked previous Chair Johnson and Vice Chair  
Sofaer for serving and congratulated the new chair and vice chair, Chair Garrett and  
Vice Chair Sharma.  
Ms. Ishijima noted a study item of the Historical Context Statement Update, with the  
consultants as ARG, who will be presenting a report for the Commission's input.  
Ms. Ishijima noted former Murphy's Law Tavern on Murphy Avenue has submitted a  
Landmark Alteration Permit application for a new tenant for a facade update and  
other architectural updates.  
Ms. Ishijima discussed the Technological Innovations Study Issue went through a  
contract extension and the Commission will be reviewing a report in the near future.  
INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS  
Mayor Klein stated that he is happy to be the Commission's new Councilmember  
Liaison and noted the upcoming Chair and Vice Chair training.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Vice Chair Sofaer adjourned the meeting at 8:33 PM.  
Public Participation Options  
In person public comment:  
Online participation:  
Online public comment:  
Written public comment:  
Public review of items:  
Planning a presentation for a Heritage Preservation Commission meeting?  
Planning to provide materials to the Commission?  
Language Access and Translation  
Translation Link: https://bit.ly/HCQX-0562  
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