City of Sunnyvale

Meeting Minutes - Final

Housing and Human Services

Commission

Monday, November 24, 2025

7:00 PM

Online and Redwood Conference Room

140, City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave.,

Sunnyvale, CA 94086

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Friedlander called the special meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

SALUTE TO THE FLAG

Chair Friedlander led the salute to the United States flag.

ROLL CALL

Present: 5 -

Absent: 2 -

Chair Morgan Friedlander

Vice Chair Leesa Riviere

Commissioner Scott Duncan

Commissioner Rao Shen

Commissioner Commissioner Steward

Commissioner Jim Davis

Commissioner Carol Weiss

Commissioner Weiss and Commissioner Davis’ absence is excused.

Council Liaison Sell (present)

ORAL COMMUNICATIONS

None.

CONSENT CALENDAR

Chair Friedlander opened and closed the public hearing at 7:04 p.m.

MOTION: Commissioner Duncan moved and Vice Chair Riviere seconded the

motion to approve the Consent Calendar.

The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 5 -

Chair Friedlander

Vice Chair Riviere

Commissioner Duncan

Commissioner Shen

Commissioner Steward

No: 0

Absent: 2 -

Commissioner Davis

Commissioner Weiss

1.A

25-1080

Approve the Housing and Human Services Commission

Meeting Minutes of October 22, 2025

PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS

25-1081

Approve the Draft 2026 Housing and Human Services

Commission Annual Work Plan

Housing Officer, Amanda Sztoltz, provided the staff report and presentation. Ms.

Szoltz presented the Annual Draft Work Plan, noting recurring agenda items and

several meetings listed as “To be determined (TBD),” which may be canceled if no

agenda items are identified.

Chair Friedlander opened and closed the public hearing at 7:08 p.m.

Chair Friedlander asked for a motion or advocacy from the commissioners.

MOTION: Commissioner Steward moved and Vice Chair Riviere seconded the

motion to approve the Draft 2026 Housing and Human Services Commission Annual

Work Plan.

The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 5 -

Chair Friedlander

Vice Chair Riviere

Commissioner Duncan

Commissioner Shen

Commissioner Steward

No: 0

Absent: 2 -

Commissioner Davis

Commissioner Weiss

25-1067

Discussion and Possible Recommendation of One Council

Priority Project Idea to the City Council

Housing Officer, Amanda Szoltz, provided an overview of the newly adopted Council

Priority Projects process, which replaces the former study issue process. The

process allows each board or commission to forward one idea annually for Council

consideration, without staff reports or rankings, to reduce staff workload and

improve efficiency.

Commissioners discussed potential ideas for consideration, including:

- Establishment of a citywide rental registry or database to improve tenant

awareness of rights, landlord compliance with tenant protection ordinances,

prevention of displacement, and enumeration of the City’s rental housing stock.

- Storage options for individuals experiencing homelessness.

- Shelter models, including non-congregate shelter programs, safe parking, and

partnerships with faith-based organizations, volunteers, and educational institutions.

Housing Officer, Amanda Sztoltz, provided background on prior studies, feasibility

considerations, costs, and current homelessness-related programs.

Chair Friedlander opened the public hearing 8:07 p.m.

Sunnyvale Community Services Executive Director, Marie Bernard, spoke in support

of a rental registry/database as a homelessness prevention tool and emphasized

the importance of tenant education, service coordination, and preparation for

increasing community need.

Chair Friedlander closed the public hearing at 8:11 p.m.

Commissioners and staff provided additional clarifications and reflections related to

the Council Priority Projects discussion, including:

- The importance of focusing proposals on a clearly defined core concept suitable

for Council consideration.

- Recognition that the rental registry/database concept could serve as a

homelessness prevention and tenant education tool.

-Clarification that prior and ongoing programs addressing homelessness, warming

centers, and shelter options should be considered to avoid duplication of efforts.

After a lengthy discussion, Chair Friedlander asked for a motion or advocacy from

his colleagues.

MOTION: Commissioner Duncan moved and Vice Chair Rivere seconded the

motion to recommend one Council Strategic Priority Project Idea:

Proposal for a study of accessible rental registry, modeled on resources available in

other cities

a. to support tenants to better understand their rights.

b. to support landlord compliance and education to better understand their

obligations.

c. for the City to better enumerate on its rental stock.

The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 5 -

Chair Friedlander

Vice Chair Riviere

Commissioner Duncan

Commissioner Shen

Commissioner Steward

No: 0

Absent: 2 -

Commissioner Davis

Commissioner Weiss

NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS

-Commissioner Comments

Commissioner Steward asked procedural questions regarding the Dec. 2 joint

meeting with the City Council, including whether the Commission would be voting or

providing public comment only.

-Staff Comments

Amanda Sztoltz, Housing Officer, made the following announcements:

- confirmed details about the Dec. 2 meeting, Commissioners will be seated on the

dais and the item will be a formal public hearing, during which both the Commission

and City Council will be asked to consider approval of the homelessness strategy.

- introduced Jocelyn Vidales, the City’s new housing specialist, noting she will be

working on homelessness-related efforts, including safe parking, and will present to

the Commission in the future.

- provided advance notice of a special meeting on January 6, 2026, during which

the Commission will consider a substantial amendment to the HUD Action Plan to

close out the WorkFirst program and review federally funded RFPs for approval.

ADJOURNMENT