City of Sunnyvale  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
Housing and Human Services  
Commission  
Tuesday, September 19, 2023  
7:00 PM  
Online and Bay Conference Room,  
City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave.,  
Sunnyvale, CA 94086  
CALL TO ORDER  
Chair Stetson called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.  
SALUTE TO THE FLAG  
Chair Stetson led the salute to the flag.  
ROLL CALL  
Present: 5 -  
Commissioner Elinor Stetson  
Vice Chair Leesa Riviere  
Chair Scott Duncan  
Commissioner Ken Hiremath  
Commissioner Elizabeth Steward  
Commissioner Jim Davis  
Commissioner Helen Lei  
Absent: 2 -  
Commissioner Helen Lei (absent)  
Commissioner Jim Davis (absent)  
Council Liaison Richard Mehlinger (present)  
Chair Stetson welcomed the new Council Liaison.  
Council Liaison Richard Mehlinger introduced himself and shared that he represents  
District 5. He noted that he will be the Housing and Human Services Commission  
(HHSC) Council Liaison thru Dec. 2023. He added that was very impressed with the  
work and recommendations by HHSC. He wishes to be seen as a resource and will  
simply observe.  
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS  
Stacy - Spoke in support of services for Sunnyvale's unhoused and the desire to  
start a program similar to Hotel de Zink in Palo Alto. She also noted that Helping  
Hands Silicon Valley does a great job at providing a lot of support for the unhoused.  
Rose Gregorio - Retired Nurse and has been a volunteer since 2012. She started  
volunteering at shelters before COVID. Now, as a Helping Hands volunteer, she  
focuses on providing essential needs to the many unhoused individuals in  
encampments. This is the worst that she has ever experienced. It's been hard to  
watch them get displaced over and over.  
Alpana Agarwal, Founder of Helping Hands of Silicon Valley. Helping Hands started  
operating during COVID. In addition to providing basic necessities, Helping Hands is  
an advocate for the unhoused and is asking that Sunnyvale help with affordable  
housing, cooling and warming centers, etc.  
CONSENT CALENDAR  
1.A  
23-0802  
Approve the Housing and Human Services Commission  
Meeting Minutes of June 28, 2023  
Chair Stetson asked if anyone wished to discuss the item on the Consent Calendar.  
No members of the public wished to speak.  
Chair Stetson asked for a motion or any additional discussion on the Consent  
Calendar.  
MOTION: Commissioner Duncan moved and Vice Chair Riviere seconded the  
motion to Approve the Housing and Human Services Commission Meeting Minutes  
of June 28, 2023, as submitted.  
The motion carried by the following vote:  
Yes: 4 -  
Commissioner Stetson  
Vice Chair Riviere  
Chair Duncan  
Commissioner Steward  
No: 0  
Absent: 2 -  
Commissioner Davis  
Commissioner Lei  
Abstain: 1 - Commissioner Hiremath  
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS  
2
23-0822  
Review of 2022/23 Consolidated Annual Performance  
Evaluation Report (CAPER)  
Housing Programs Analyst Leif Christiansen provided the staff report and answered  
questions from the commissioners.  
Chair Stetson opened the public hearing at 7:19 p.m.  
Marie Bernard, Sunnyvale Community Services Executive Director, gave a short  
report on the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance program that was mentioned in the  
CAPER and thanked the Commissioners for their continued support.  
Chair Stetson closed the public hearing at 7:22 p.m.  
Chair Stetson asked for a motion or any additional discussion.  
MOTION: Commissioner Hiremath moved and Commissioner Duncan seconded the  
motion to approve Alternative 1: Approve the draft CAPER as presented in  
Attachment 1 of the staff report.  
The motion carried by the following vote:  
Yes: 5 -  
Commissioner Stetson  
Vice Chair Riviere  
Chair Duncan  
Commissioner Hiremath  
Commissioner Steward  
No: 0  
Absent: 2 -  
Commissioner Davis  
Commissioner Lei  
3
23-0801  
Election of Chair and Vice Chair for FY 2023/24  
Chair Stetson asked for nominations for Chair for FY 2023/24.  
Commissioner Hiremath nominated Commissioner Duncan to serve as Chair.  
Commissioner Duncan accepted the nomination. There were no other nominations  
for Chair.  
Chair Stetson asked for nominations for Vice Chair for FY 2023/24.  
Commissioner Duncan nominated Commissioner Riviere to continue as Vice Chair.  
Commissioner Riviere accepted the nomination. There were no other nominations  
for Vice Chair.  
Chair Duncan and Vice Chair Riviere were elected by acclamation.  
STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES  
23-0803  
Consideration of Potential Study Issues  
None.  
STANDING ITEM: HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE  
23-0804  
Housing Element Update  
Affordable Housing Manager Ernie Defrenchi gave a update on the progress being  
made to address the comments from HCD and get the Housing Element certified  
and adopted by yearend.  
NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS  
-Commissioner Comments  
None.  
-Staff Comments  
None.  
INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS  
23-0805  
Housing and Human Services Commission Proposed Study  
Issues, Calendar Year: 2024  
ADJOURNMENT  
Chair Stetson adjourned the meeting at 7:49 p.m.