City of Sunnyvale  
Meeting Minutes  
Housing and Human Services  
Commission  
Wednesday, July 23, 2025  
7:00 PM  
Online and Redwood Conference Room,  
City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale,  
CA 94086  
CALL TO ORDER  
Chair Duncan called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  
SALUTE TO THE FLAG  
Chair Duncan led the salute to the United States flag.  
ROLL CALL  
Affordable Housing Manager, Ernie DeFrenchi, welcomed newly appointed  
Commissioner Rao Shen to the Commission.  
Present: 6 -  
Chair Scott Duncan  
Vice Chair Carol Weiss  
Commissioner Morgan Friedlander  
Commissioner Leesa Riviere  
Commissioner Rao Shen  
Commissioner Elizabeth Steward  
Absent: 1 - Commissioner Jim Davis  
Commissioner Davis' absence is unexcused.  
Council Liaison Sell (present)  
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS  
None.  
CONSENT CALENDAR  
Staff announced that the consent calendar included approval of the minutes from  
May 28 and June 25, 2025, due to a date error in the June agenda.  
Chair Duncan opened and closed the public hearing at 7:04 p.m.  
MOTION: Commissioner Riviere moved and Vice Chair Weiss seconded the motion  
to approve Items 1.A through 1.B.  
The motion carried with the following vote:  
Yes: 6 -  
Chair Duncan  
Vice Chair Weiss  
Commissioner Friedlander  
Commissioner Riviere  
Commissioner Shen  
Commissioner Steward  
No: 0  
Absent: 1 - Commissioner Davis  
1.A  
1.B  
25-0809  
Approve the Housing and Human Services Commission  
Meeting Minutes of May 28, 2025  
25-0810  
Approve the Housing and Human Services Commission  
Meeting Minutes of June 25, 2025  
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS  
2
25-0662  
Consider Approval of Fifth Substantial Amendment to the  
2019/20 HUD Annual Action Plan to Allocate Remaining  
COVID-19 CARES Funds (CDBG-CV)  
Housing Programs Analyst, Matt Hazel, provided the staff report and presentation.  
The amendment reallocates approximately $185,000 in remaining CDBG-CV  
(CARES Act) funds, with $150,000 for public services (food assistance) and about  
$35,000 for administration. It is required due to budget changes exceeding 30%,  
triggering a 30-day public comment period (open through August 14, 2025) and City  
Council approval.  
The only application for the public services funds was from Sunnyvale Community  
Services (SCS) for their food assistance program, which will use the funds for food  
purchases and partial salary for a program manager. It reflects funding decisions  
already made and approved in previous meetings.  
Commissioner Steward inquired about the status of the Dignity on Wheels (DoW)  
program. Staff clarified that while the COVID-related program ended, the Dignity on  
Wheels program continues to operate in partnership with the City.  
After a lengthy discussion and clarifying questions, Chair Duncan opened the public  
hearing at 7:18 p.m.  
Marie Bernard, Executive Director of SCS, spoke in support of the amendment,  
highlighting the increased need for food assistance and the impact of rising food  
costs and reduced contributions from partner organizations.  
Chair Duncan closed the public hearing at 7:24 p.m.  
Chair Duncan asked for a motion or advocacy from the commissioners.  
MOTION: Vice Chair Weiss moved and Commissioner Steward seconded the  
motion to approve Alternative 1: Approve the Fifth Substantial Amendment to the FY  
2019/20 Action Plan as shown in Attachment 3 of the staff report  
The motion carried by the following vote:  
Yes: 6 -  
Chair Duncan  
Vice Chair Weiss  
Commissioner Friedlander  
Commissioner Riviere  
Commissioner Shen  
Commissioner Steward  
No: 0  
Absent: 1 - Commissioner Davis  
3
25-0811  
Selection of Chair and Vice Chair for FY 2025/26  
Affordable Housing Manager, Ernie DeFrenchi, reviewed the process for nominating  
and electing officers.  
Chair Duncan opened and closed the public hearing at 7:27 p.m.  
Selection of Chair  
Vice Chair Weiss nominated Chair Duncan, who declined.  
Chair Duncan nominated Commissioner Friedlander, who accepted.  
Recording Officer, Janelle Resuello, took a roll call vote.  
All five commissioners voted yes, with Commissioner Davis absent.  
Commissioner Friedlander was elected Chair for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.  
Selection of Vice Chair  
Vice Chair Weiss nominated Commissioner Steward, who declined.  
Chair Duncan nominated Commissioner Riviere, who accepted.  
Recording Officer, Janelle Resuello, took a roll call vote.  
All five commissioners voted yes, with Commissioner Davis absent.  
Commissioner Riviere was elected Vice Chair for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.  
STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES  
NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS  
-Commissioner Comments  
- Commissioners discussed the level of detail to be included in future meeting  
minutes, especially in cases of non-unanimous votes. Staff indicated a willingness  
to incorporate more descriptive summaries of discussion and rationale for votes  
when appropriate, within feasible staff capacity.  
- Commissioner Steward requested updates on the Safe Parking Program and  
Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI). Staff responded with status and plans for future  
updates.  
-Staff Comments  
- The August 27, 2025, meeting is canceled; the October meeting may be  
rescheduled (staff will follow up by email).  
- Commissioners will receive a Housing and Human Services Commission survey in  
the coming weeks.  
- Staff provided an update on Section 8 voucher funding and the City’s monitoring of  
potential federal cuts.  
- Updates were provided on the Safe Parking Capital Grants Program (to open in  
mid-August) and ongoing efforts to identify land and funding for safe parking and  
tiny home projects.  
- An information-only report on Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) will be presented to  
Council in November, with continued efforts to secure funding.  
INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS  
25-0812  
Housing and Human Services Commission Proposed Study  
Issues, Calendar Year: 2026  
ADJOURNMENT  
Chair Duncan adjourned the meeting at 7:48 p.m.