City of Sunnyvale  
Meeting Minutes  
City Council  
Tuesday, September 26, 2023  
5:00 PM  
Online and Council Chambers, City Hall,  
456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086  
Special Meeting: Study Session - 5 PM | Regular Meeting - 7 PM  
5 P.M. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING (Study Session)  
Call to Order  
Vice Mayor Din called the meeting to order at 5:01 p.m.  
Roll Call  
Present: 7 -  
Mayor Larry Klein  
Vice Mayor Omar Din  
Councilmember Russ Melton  
Councilmember Alysa Cisneros  
Councilmember Richard Mehlinger  
Councilmember Murali Srinivasan  
Councilmember Linda Sell  
Study Session  
A
23-0890  
Review of Legislative Advocacy Policies and Process  
Senior Management Analyst Michelle Zahraie provided the staff report and  
presentation.  
Public Comment opened at 6:04 p.m.  
Martin Pyne shared their thoughts on the legislative advocacy policies and how  
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) needs to be modernized.  
Stephen Meier communicated the need for the City's legislative advocacy policies  
process to include public input.  
Public Comment closed at 6:09 p.m.  
B
23-0886  
Overview of Draft Housing Element Modifications  
Housing Specialist Ryan Dyson provided the staff report and presentation.  
Public Comment opened at 6:28 p.m.  
Martin Pyne provided comments on the staff presentation and the importance to  
attaining an approved Housing Element.  
Ali Sapirman, Housing Action Coalition, shared their concerns regarding the effect  
park dedication fees have on housing production.  
Chuck Fraleigh voiced concerns regarding the specifics of park dedication fees.  
Jordan Grimes, South Bay Resilience Manager, Greenbelt Alliance, shared  
concerns regarding the park dedication fee and how it hinders affordable housing  
efforts.  
Rene Baez, Field Representative, NorCal Carpenters Union, advocated for  
Sunnyvale adopting language into the Housing Element that supports local hire of  
contractors and union labor.  
Public Comment closed at 6:41 p.m.  
Adjourn Special Meeting  
Vice Mayor Din adjourned the meeting at 7:09 p.m.  
7 P.M. COUNCIL MEETING  
CALL TO ORDER  
Mayor Klein called the meeting to order at 7:19 p.m.  
SALUTE TO THE FLAG  
Mayor Klein led the salute to the United States flag.  
ROLL CALL  
Present: 7 -  
Mayor Larry Klein  
Vice Mayor Omar Din  
Councilmember Russ Melton  
Councilmember Alysa Cisneros  
Councilmember Richard Mehlinger  
Councilmember Murali Srinivasan  
Councilmember Linda Sell  
SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY  
C
23-0385  
Domestic Violence Awareness Month  
Mayor Klein and Ruth Darlene, Founder/Executive Director, WomanSV, spoke in  
honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  
D
23-0383  
Active Aging Week  
Mayor Klein spoke in honor of Active Aging Week.  
E
23-0384  
Arts and Humanities Month  
Mayor Klein spoke in honor of Arts and Humanities Month.  
F
23-0843  
Indigenous People’s Day  
Mayor Klein and Julie Dominquez, Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, spoke in honor of  
Indigenous Peoples' Day.  
Joey Lopez provided a traditional prayer in honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day.  
G
23-0889  
Recognition of Outgoing Assistant City Manager  
Mayor Klein and City Manager Kent Steffens spoke in recognition of outgoing  
Assistant City Manager Teri Silva.  
Assistant City Manager Teri Silva shared words regarding her career in public  
service.  
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS  
Councilmember Srinivasan announced details of the current recruitment for various  
Boards and Commissions.  
Carol Weiss, Sunnyvale Citizens for Sensible Gun Measures, spoke in favor for an  
ordinance to be agenized at a future meeting that would require liability insurance  
for gun owners.  
Tony Spitaleri, Sunnyvale Citizens for Sensible Gun Measures, communicated their  
support for Sunnyvale adopting an ordinance to require liability insurance for gun  
owners.  
Richard Parenteau, Sunnyvale Citizens for Sensible Gun Measures, shared their  
support for Sunnyvale adopting an ordinance to require liability insurance for gun  
owners.  
Mike Serrone, Sunnyvale Citizens for Sensible Gun Measures, spoke in support of  
Sunnyvale adopting an ordinance to require liability insurance for gun owners.  
Tia Anderson shared their concerns with the lack of staffing and financial difficulties  
at Sunnyvale HomeFirst.  
CONSENT CALENDAR  
Public Comment opened at 8:00 p.m.  
No speakers.  
Public Comment closed at 8:00 p.m.  
Councilmember Cisneros requested item 1.D be pulled from the Consent Calendar.  
Councilmember Melton requested item 1.G be pulled from the Consent Calendar.  
MOTION: Vice Mayor Din moved and Councilmember Cisneros seconded the  
motion to approve agenda items 1.A through 1.C, 1.E. through 1.F., and 1.H through  
1.I.  
The motion carried with the following vote:  
Yes: 7 -  
Mayor Klein  
Vice Mayor Din  
Councilmember Melton  
Councilmember Cisneros  
Councilmember Mehlinger  
Councilmember Srinivasan  
Councilmember Sell  
No: 0  
1.A  
Approve the City Council Meeting Minutes of September 12, 2023 as submitted.  
23-0834  
Approve City Council Meeting Minutes of September 12, 2023  
1.B  
23-0277  
Approve the List(s) of Claims and Bills Approved for Payment  
by the City Manager  
Approve the list(s) of claims and bills.  
1.C  
23-0787  
Approve Budget Modification No. 4 to Appropriate $158,000 in  
2010 Measure B Vehicle Registration Fee Countywide  
Program funds from the Santa Clara Valley Transportation  
Authority to Project 831590 - Intelligent Transportation  
Systems  
Approve Budget Modification No. 4 to appropriate $158,000 in 2010 Measure B  
Vehicle Registration Fee Countywide Program funds from the Santa Clara Valley  
Transportation Authority and authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No.  
1 to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Funding Agreement  
(Attachment 2 to the report) and all grant-related documents.  
1.D  
23-0851  
Approve an Agreement in the amount of $407,430 with  
HomeFirst Services of Santa Clara County for Case  
Management Services and Shelter Beds for the Unhoused  
Population in Sunnyvale  
Public Comment opened at 8:50 p.m.  
Liz Steward spoke in support for financial assistance to the unhoused populations  
but shared concerns with HomeFirst shelter services.  
Rose Gregorio shared the negative experiences they have heard regarding  
HomeFirst shelter services and recommends partnering with other organizations.  
Godzilla communicated the need for Sunnyvale to discontinue their partnership with  
HomeFirst services and seek new partnerships.  
Public Comment closed at 9:00 p.m.  
MOTION: Vice Mayor Din moved and Councilmember Melton seconded the motion  
to approve the following actions:  
- Authorize the City Manager to execute an Agreement in substantially the same  
format as Attachment 1 to the report in the amount of $407,430 with HomeFirst  
Services of Santa Clara County for case management services and shelter beds for  
the unhoused population in Sunnyvale; and  
- Delegate authority to the City Manager to extend the agreement for two additional  
one-year periods if pricing and services remain acceptable to the City and subject to  
available budget.  
The motion failed with the following vote:  
Yes: 3 -  
Mayor Klein  
Vice Mayor Din  
Councilmember Melton  
No: 4 -  
Councilmember Cisneros  
Councilmember Mehlinger  
Councilmember Srinivasan  
Councilmember Sell  
MOTION: Councilmember Cisneros moved and Vice Mayor Din seconded the  
motion to direct staff to:  
- Bring this contract with HomeFirst back at a later date after gathering information  
about the usage of the five beds reserved at the HomeFirst shelter located in San  
Jose including how many days they are occupied, whether there is continuity of  
services while in the shelter and after they leave it, and to provide information on  
more comprehensive performance metrics for any service provider we go with for  
this for these services; and  
- Bring a range of potential alternate uses of the $102,000 to provide services to the  
unsheltered and chronically unhoused in the Sunnyvale community.  
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Councilmember Sell offered a friendly amendment to  
extend the current contract with HomeFirst for six (6) months. Councilmember  
Cisneros and Vice Mayor Din accepted the friendly amendment.  
The motion as amended carried with the following vote:  
Yes: 7 -  
Mayor Klein  
Vice Mayor Din  
Councilmember Melton  
Councilmember Cisneros  
Councilmember Mehlinger  
Councilmember Srinivasan  
Councilmember Sell  
No: 0  
City Council took a recess at 9:44 p.m. and returned at 9:50 p.m. with all  
Councilmembers present.  
1.E  
23-0888  
Adopt a Resolution Amending the Classification Plan and  
Salary Resolution to Update the Schedule of Pay to Change  
the Classification Title of Job Seeker Services Manager (Grant  
Funded) to Senior Manager of Workforce Development (Grant  
Funded), Increase Salaries for the Classifications of  
Neighborhood Preservation Specialist and Senior  
Neighborhood Preservation Specialist, and Make  
Corresponding Changes in the Schedule of Pay  
Adopt a Resolution amending the Classification Plan and Salary Resolution to  
update the Schedule of Pay to change the classification title of Job Seeker Services  
Manager (Grant Funded) to Senior Manager of Workforce Development (Grant  
Funded), increase salaries for the classifications of Neighborhood Preservation  
Specialist and Senior Neighborhood Preservation Specialist, and make  
corresponding changes in the Schedule of Pay.  
1.F  
23-0853  
Adopt Resolutions Amending the City’s Contribution for  
CalPERS Medical Insurance for Management, Sunnyvale  
Employees’ Association/International Federation of  
Professional and Technical Engineers Local 21 (SEA/IFPTE  
Local 21), Confidential, and Service Employees International  
Union (SEIU) Employees and Annuitants (Retirees)  
Adopt two resolutions: (1) Setting the employer’s contribution under the Public  
Employees’ Medical and Hospital Care Act (“PEMHCA”) for 2024; and (2) Amending  
the City’s Salary Resolution to modify the City’s contribution for medical insurance  
for Management, SEA/IFPTE Local 21, Confidential, and SEIU employees and  
annuitants (Retirees).  
1.G  
23-0762  
Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Sunnyvale  
Acknowledging Receipt of a Report from the Department of  
Public Safety Regarding Annual Fire and Life Safety  
Inspections Pursuant to Sections 13146.2 through 13146.4 of  
the California Health and Safety Code  
Public Comment opened at 9:56 p.m.  
No speakers.  
Public Comment closed at 9:56 p.m.  
MOTION: Councilmember Melton moved and Vice Mayor Din second the motion to  
adopt a Resolution acknowledging receipt of a report from the Department of Public  
Safety regarding annual Fire and Life Safety Inspections pursuant to Sections  
13146.2 through 13146.4 of the California Health and Safety Code.  
The motion carried with the following vote:  
Yes: 7 -  
Mayor Klein  
Vice Mayor Din  
Councilmember Melton  
Councilmember Cisneros  
Councilmember Mehlinger  
Councilmember Srinivasan  
Councilmember Sell  
No: 0  
1.H  
23-0933  
Adopt a Resolution Amending Resolution Number 712-15, the  
Executive Mortgage Assistance Policy for the Provision of  
Housing Assistance to Newly Appointed Charter Officers and  
Department Directors (the “Executive Mortgage Assistance  
Program”) to Update the Index Used to set the Interest Rate on  
New Mortgages.  
Adopt a Resolution amending Resolution Number 712-15, the Executive Mortgage  
Assistance Policy for the provision of housing assistance to newly appointed  
Charter Officers and Department Directors (the “Executive Mortgage Assistance  
Program”) to update the index used to set the interest rate on new mortgages.  
1.I  
23-0781  
Adopt Ordinance No. 3220-23 Amending Section 1.04.010  
(Violation-Misdemeanor or Infraction) of Chapter 1.04 (General  
Penalty) of Title 1 (General Provisions), Repealing Chapter  
16.62 (Prevention of Flood Damage) and Adding Chapter  
16.62 (Floodplain Management) of Title 16 (Building and  
Construction) of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code  
Adopt Ordinance No. 3220-23 amending Section 1.04.010 (Violation-Misdemeanor  
or Infraction) of Chapter 1.04 (General Penalty) of Title 1 (General Provisions),  
repealing Chapter 16.62 (Prevention of Flood Damage) and adding Chapter 16.62  
(Floodplain Management) of Title 16 (Building and Construction) of the Sunnyvale  
Municipal Code.  
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS  
2
23-0931  
Approve a $4 million Contribution to Sunnyvale Community  
Services (“SCS”) and Authorize the City Manager to Execute  
and Administer an Equity Sharing Agreement Giving the City  
an Equity Share in Property Owned by SCS Located at 1160  
Kern Avenue in Proportion to the $4 Million City Contribution  
Deputy City Manager Connie Verceles provided the staff report.  
Public Hearing opened at 10:25 p.m.  
Marie Bernard, Executive Director, Sunnyvale Community Services (SCS), spoke to  
the positive impact this equity sharing agreement will have for Sunnyvale  
Community Services.  
Shane Jacksteit, Certified Financial Planner, SCS, communicated support for  
approving the agreement and shared the larger impact the new SCS building has  
had on their services and the growing needs in the community.  
Godzilla communicated their support for assisting SCS and for Council approving  
the equity sharing agreement.  
Public Hearing closed at 10:40 p.m.  
MOTION: Councilmember Srinivasan moved and Councilmember Melton seconded  
the motion to approve Alternative 1: Approve a $4 million contribution to Sunnyvale  
Community Services (“SCS”) and authorize the City Manager to execute and  
administer an Equity Sharing Agreement giving the City an equity share in property  
owned by SCS located at 1160 Kern Avenue in proportion to the $4 Million City  
contribution in substantially the same form as Attachment 1 to the report.  
The motion carried with the following vote:  
Yes: 7 -  
Mayor Klein  
Vice Mayor Din  
Councilmember Melton  
Councilmember Cisneros  
Councilmember Mehlinger  
Councilmember Srinivasan  
Councilmember Sell  
No: 0  
COUNCILMEMBERS REPORTS ON ACTIVITIES FROM INTERGOVERNMENTAL  
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS  
None.  
NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS  
-Council  
Mayor Klein shared their experience attending the League of California Cities  
Annual Conference and Expo and the Sunnyvale State of the City  
Councilmember Cisneros shared their experience attending the State of the City.  
Councilmember Melton shared their experience attending the Alameda County  
Sheriff Recruit Training graduation for new Public Safety Officers.  
Councilmember Mehlinger reported their experience attending the State of the City .  
Councilmember Mehlinger requested a report to Council in nine to twelve months on  
the Artificial Intelligence (AI) translation services the City uses for public meetings.  
Councilmember Srinivasan communicated their experience attending the League of  
California Cities Conference.  
Councilmember Sell shared their experience attending the State of the City and the  
Alameda County Sheriff Recruit Training graduation.  
-City Manager  
None.  
INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS  
23-0836  
23-0866  
23-0870  
Tentative Council Meeting Agenda Calendar  
Board/Commission Meeting Minutes  
Information/Action Items  
23-0930  
Council Advocacy Letters  
ADJOURNMENT  
Mayor Klein adjourned the meeting at 11:11 p.m.