City of Sunnyvale  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
Human Relations Commission  
Thursday, December 12, 2024  
7:00 PM  
Online and Bay Conference Room (Room  
145), City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave.,  
Sunnyvale, CA 94086  
CALL TO ORDER  
Chair Syquia called the meeting to order at 7:20 p.m.  
SALUTE TO THE FLAG  
Chair Syquia led the salute to the United States flag.  
ROLL CALL  
Present: 4 -  
Chair Nenuca Syquia  
Vice Chair Venkata Siva Ramisetty  
Commissioner Esther Rosenfeld  
Commissioner Maria Paulina Zapata  
Absent: 1 - Commissioner Claudia Camacho  
Commissioner Camacho's absence is excused.  
Council Liaison Sell (present).  
STUDY SESSION  
A
24-0613  
Discussion and Consideration of Naming Ideas for New City  
Park at the Corn Palace Park Development  
Recreation Services Manager Tracey Gott provided the staff report and  
presentation.  
Commissioners shared their favorite names as follows:  
Chair Syquia: Manzanita and Acorn  
Vice Chair Ramisetty: Manzanita and Daisy  
Commissioner Zapata: Manzanita, Acorn, and Diversity  
Commissioner Rosenfeld: Manzanita and Acorn  
Public Comment opened at 7:27 p.m.  
No speakers.  
Public Comment closed at 7:27 p.m.  
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS  
None.  
CONSENT CALENDAR  
Public Comment opened at 7:30 p.m.  
No speakers.  
Public Comment closed at 7:30 p.m.  
Commissioner Rosenfeld moved to modify the November 14 meeting minutes to  
reflect the following under Under Non-Agenda Items & Comments section:  
“The event includes a multicultural panel that will address the raise in hatred  
against Jews and how to overcome it."  
Vice Chair Ramisetty seconded the motion.  
The motion carried with the following vote:  
Yes: 3 -  
No: 0  
Vice Chair Ramisetty  
Commissioner Rosenfeld  
Commissioner Zapata  
Absent: 1 - Commissioner Camacho  
Abstain: 1 - Chair Syquia  
1.A  
24-1147  
Approve the Human Relations Commission Meeting Minutes of  
November 14, 2024  
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS  
2
24-1210  
CONTINUED FROM NOVEMBER 14, 2024  
Sunnyvale’s Unhoused Services Presentation  
Homeless Services Manager Amanda Sztoltz's provided an overview of the  
Homeless Response System, the City's response efforts, and a session addressing  
questions and comments from the Commissioners.  
Chair Syquia proposed that, as part of future Human Relations Commission events,  
the Commission consider supporting the efforts coordinated by Leadership  
Sunnyvale in partnership with Downtown Streets Teams.  
Public Hearing opened at 8:06 p.m.  
No speakers.  
Public Hearing closed at 8:06 p.m.  
3
24-1146  
Annual Review of City Code of Ethics and Conduct for Elected  
and Appointed Officials and Opportunity to Recommend  
Changes to the City Council  
Equity, Access & Inclusion Manager Fernanda Perdomo Arciniegas commented on  
the annual review of the Code of Ethics and Conduct. Commissioners were  
provided an opportunity to review and make recommendations to Council. Staff  
makes no recommendation.  
Commissioner Rosenfeld suggested that the Code of Ethics should outline specific  
consequences for violations. They proposed a warning for the first violation, a  
suspension from the next meeting for a second violation, and removal from the City  
Council after a third violation.  
The Commission took a recess at 8:11 p.m. to allow Commissioners time to review  
the Code of Ethics.  
The Commission reconvened at 8:16 p.m. with all Commissioners present.  
Council Liaison Sell read Section C, Sanctions: Members' Behavior and Conduct,  
specifically the second paragraph of the Code of Ethics, which outlines the  
consequences for failing to adhere to proper conduct.  
Commissioner Rosenfeld raised concerns that the paragraph, as currently written,  
lacks enforceability and clear consequences. They stressed the importance of  
adopting a more explicit and direct approach, where specific actions (e.g., A) result  
in defined outcomes (e.g., B). They recommended changing the language in the  
Code from discretionary to mandatory. Additionally, they suggested that ideally the  
Code should be evaluated comprehensively and include a clear, graduated series of  
consequences.  
Public Hearing opened at 8:21 p.m.  
No speakers.  
Public Hearing closed at 8:21 p.m.  
Commissioner Rosenfeld moved to modify the Code of Ethics as follows:  
“City Councilmembers who intentionally and repeatedly do not follow proper  
conduct SHALL be reprimanded or formally censured by the Council, lose seniority  
and/or committee assignments (both internal and inter-governmental) and/or have  
official travel restricted. Serious infractions SHALL lead to other sanctions as  
deemed appropriate by Council.”  
Vice Chair Ramisetty seconded the motion.  
Council Liaison Sell, speaking in her personal capacity, expressed her support and  
gratitude to the Commissioners for their efforts.  
The motion carried by the following vote:  
Yes: 4 -  
Chair Syquia  
Vice Chair Ramisetty  
Commissioner Rosenfeld  
Commissioner Zapata  
No: 0  
Absent: 1 - Commissioner Camacho  
STANDING ITEMS: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES  
NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS  
-Commissioner Comments  
None.  
-Staff Comments  
None.  
INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS  
24-0911  
Annual Work Plan December 2024  
Equity, Access, and Inclusion Manager Fernanda Perdomo-Arciniegas informed the  
Commission that they should come prepared by reviewing the agenda packet, which  
will include study issues that require ranking, as well as a presentation on the Santa  
Clara Rapid Response Network.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Chair Syquia adjourned the meeting at 8:34 p.m.