City of Sunnyvale  
Meeting Minutes  
City Council  
Tuesday, April 4, 2023  
5:45 PM  
Online and Bay Conference Room  
(Room 145), City Hall,  
456 W. Olive Ave.,  
Sunnyvale, CA 94086  
Special Meeting: Closed Session - 5:45 PM | Regular Meeting - 7 PM  
5:45 P.M. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING (Closed Session)  
Call to Order  
Vice Mayor Din called the meeting to order at 5:45 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  
Public Comment  
Public Comment opened at 5:47 p.m.  
No speakers.  
Public Comment closed at 5:47 p.m.  
Convene to Closed Session  
Convened to Closed Session in the Council Conference Room.  
A
B
23-0499  
23-0474  
Closed Session Held Pursuant to California Government Code  
Section 54956.9 (d) (1): CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL  
COUNSEL-EXISTING LITIGATION; Name of case: In re  
National Prescription Opiate Litigation, Northern District of  
Ohio, Case No. 1:17-MD-2804 (National Opioid litigation  
involving Teva, Allergan, CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart)  
Closed Session Held Pursuant to California Government Code  
Section 54957.6:  
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS  
Agency designated representatives: Tina Murphy, Director of  
Human Resources  
Employee organization: Sunnyvale Managers Association  
(SMA)  
Adjourn Special Meeting  
Vice Mayor Din adjourned the meeting at 6:49 p.m.  
7 P.M. COUNCIL MEETING  
CALL TO ORDER  
Mayor Klein called the meeting to order at 7:00 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  
CLOSED SESSION REPORT  
Vice Mayor Din reported that Council met in Closed Session Held Pursuant to  
California Government Code Section 54956.9 (d) (1): Conference with Legal  
Counsel Existing Litigation; Name of case: In re National Prescription Opiate  
Litigation, Northern District of Ohio, Case No. 1:17MD2804 (National Opioid  
litigation involving Teva, Allergan, CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart); Council voted to  
authorize the City Attorney to opt in to National Prescription Opiate Litigation,  
Northern District of Ohio, Case No. 1:17MD2804 (National Opioid litigation involving  
Teva, Allergan, CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart), with a vote of 6 - 1, Councilmember  
Melton voting no.  
Vice Mayor Din reported that Council met in Closed Session Held Pursuant to  
California Government Code Section 54957.6: Conference with Labor Negotiators  
Agency designated representatives: Tina Murphy, Director of Human Resources  
Employee organization: Sunnyvale Managers Association (SMA); nothing to report.  
SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY  
C
23-0365  
Recognition of Green Businesses  
Mayor Klein spoke in recognition of green businesses and honored the following  
guests:  
- Robert Bonderer, Director of Environmental Health & Safety, JSR Mirco  
- Dr. Jennifer Chiang, DDS  
- Director of Library & Recreation Services Michelle Perera  
- Chongyan Zhong, Owner, The Cotton and Silk  
D
23-0366  
Poetry Month  
Mayor Klein spoke in recognition of Poetry Month.  
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS  
Vice Mayor Din announced the current Board and Commission recruitment openings  
and the upcoming Drive Electric event.  
Lena Masoumi shared their school research project on the complicated relationship  
between homelessness, mental illness and drug addiction.  
Andrea Wald shared a message on the negative environment affects of artificial turf  
and safety of participants using artificial turf for recreation.  
Angela Roche, Livable Sunnyvale, provided a presentation supporting the Village  
Center Vision as originally intended in the Village Center Master Plan.  
Chuck Fraleigh, Livable Sunnyvale, provided a presentation supporting Village  
Center development but highlighted the insufficient proposals currently being  
planned in Sunnyvale.  
Julia Liu, Livable Sunnyvale, provided a presentation to why the current Sunnyvale  
Village Center developments fall short to the Village Center Vision’s ideals.  
Rita Welsh, Livable Sunnyvale, communicated the need for more diverse Village  
Center developments that provide more retail businesses.  
Agnes Veith, Livable Sunnyvale, shared their concerns to how the current Village  
Center developments are not offering adequate retail spaces.  
CONSENT CALENDAR  
Public Comment opened at 7:30 p.m.  
No speakers.  
Public Comment closed at 7:30 p.m.  
Mayor Klein pulled agenda item 1.F for separate consideration.  
Vice Mayor Din moved and Councilmember Mehlinger seconded the motion to  
approve agenda items 1.A through 1.E.  
The motion carried by the following vote:  
Yes: 7 -  
Mayor Klein  
Vice Mayor Din  
Councilmember Melton  
Councilmember Cisneros  
Councilmember Mehlinger  
Councilmember Srinivasan  
Councilmember Sell  
No: 0  
1.A  
23-0266  
Approve the List(s) of Claims and Bills Approved for Payment  
by the City Manager  
Approve the list(s) of claims and bills.  
1.B  
23-0039  
Accept Pavement Management Technical Assistance Program  
Round 24 Grant Funds from the Metropolitan Transportation  
Commission to Complete a Citywide Pavement Condition  
Assessment to Qualify for Regional Discretionary Funds and  
Approve Budget Modification No. 14 in the amount of $18,300  
Accept Pavement Management Technical Assistance Program Round 24 Grant  
Funds from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to complete a Citywide  
Pavement Condition Assessment to qualify for Regional Discretionary Funds and  
approve Budget Modification No. 14 in the amount of $18,300.  
1.C  
23-0168  
Approve the Downtown Sunnyvale Business Improvement  
District (BID) Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2022/23 and Adopt  
Resolution of Intention to Levy and Collect an Annual  
Assessment to Reauthorize the BID for Fiscal Year 2023/24  
Approve the Fiscal Year 2022/23 BID Annual Report, adopt a Resolution of Intention  
to Levy and Collect an Assessment and reauthorize the Business Improvement  
District for Fiscal Year 2023/24, and schedule the public hearing for May 2, 2023.  
1.D  
23-0486  
Ratify Appointment of Councilmember Murali Srinivasan as  
Councilmember Russ Melton’s Proxy to the Santa Clara  
County Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC)  
Ratify the appointment of Councilmember Murali Srinivasan to Seat 07A as  
Councilmember Russ Melton’s proxy to the Santa Clara County Airport Land Use  
Commission.  
1.E  
23-0491  
Adopt Ordinance No. 3212-23 Amending Various Sections of  
Title 16 (Buildings and Construction) and Title 19 (Zoning) of  
the Sunnyvale Municipal Code Related to the Board of  
Building Code Appeals and the Chief Building Official  
Adopt Ordinance No. 3212-23 amending various Sections of Title 16 (Buildings and  
Construction) and Title 19 (Zoning) of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code related to the  
Board of Building Code Appeals and the Chief Building Official.  
1.F  
23-0501  
Adopt a Resolution Ratifying the City Manager's Proclamation  
of a Local Emergency Regarding the March 2023 Winter  
Storms and Find that the Action is Exempt from California  
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA  
Guidelines Sections 15269 and 15378(b)  
Public Comment opened at 7:35 p.m.  
No speakers.  
Public Comment closed at 7:35 p.m.  
MOTION: Vice Mayor Din moved and Councilmember Mehlinger seconded the  
motion to item 1.F: Adopt a Resolution ratifying the City Manager's Proclamation of  
a Local Emergency Regarding the March 2023 Winter Storms and find that the  
Action is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to  
CEQA Guidelines Sections 15269 and 15378(b).  
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  
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS  
2
23-0308  
Award of Contract to Hazen and Sawyer for the Water  
Pollution Control Plant Master Plan Update and Cogeneration  
Upgrade Design (F23-001)  
Director of Public Works Chip Taylor and Director of Environmental Services  
Ramana Chinnakotla provided the staff report and presentation.  
Public Hearing opened at 8:27 p.m.  
Steve Scandalis shared their suggestions for alternative methods that could  
potentially be more cost-effective.  
Public Hearing closed at 8:30 p.m.  
MOTION: Councilmember Melton moved and Vice Mayor Din seconded the motion  
to approve Alternative 1: Take the following actions:  
- Award a contract to Hazen and Sawyer for Water Pollution Control Plant Master  
Plan Update and Cogeneration Upgrade Design in substantially the same form as  
Attachment 1 to the report in an amount not-to-exceed $7,401,597;  
- Authorize the City Manager to execute the contract when all the necessary  
conditions have been met;  
- Approve a 10% contingency in the amount of $740,160; and  
- Authorize the City to amend the contract annually after the first three years to  
increase rates as follows: 3.75% to non-senior staff and 2% for senior staff, subject  
to available budget and if pricing and services remain acceptable to the City.  
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  
3
23-0493  
Consider Reinstating the Pilot of the Process for City Council  
Colleague Memorandums to Propose new Agenda Items  
Previously Included in Council Policy 7.3.19 (Council  
Meetings)  
City Clerk David Carnahan provided the staff report.  
Public Hearing opened at 9:35 p.m.  
Martin Pyne shared their thoughts on how the public can provide feedback in a  
Colleague Memorandums process.  
Stephen Meier spoke to how the City Council can use the Colleague Memorandums  
to more effectively agenize new items.  
Public Hearing closed at 9:40 p.m.  
MOTION: Councilmember Mehlinger moved and Councilmember Cisneros  
seconded the motion to approve Alternative 1: Amend Council Policy 7.3.19  
(Council Meetings) to reinstate the pilot process for City Council Colleague  
Memorandums to propose new agenda items, with the following provisions:  
- Include language prominently stating where Colleague Memorandums are to be  
submitted;  
- Include that Colleague Memorandums are not to be shared with Councilmembers  
outside of the group of Councilmembers who authored a specific Memorandum;  
- A January 31, 2024 sunset;  
- No definitive timeline to when Colleague Memorandums will appear on a Council  
meeting agenda;  
- Requirement for the City Manager to review and approve the Colleague  
Memorandums consistent with this policy and the Ralph M. Brown Act (open  
meetings law) or provide feedback to the authors.  
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Vice Mayor Din offered a friendly amendment to place  
the approval of a permanent process for City Council Colleague Memorandums to  
be added on the consent calendar after the Jan. 31, 2024, sunset of the pilot  
program. Councilmember Mehlinger declined to accept the friendly amendment.  
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  
Councilmember Mehlinger provided a presentation on the Program Strategy Goals  
developed at the Caltrain Local Policymakers Group.  
NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS  
-Council  
Councilmember Melton shared their experience and what their learned from the  
National League of Cities Congressional City Conference in Washington D.C. He  
also commented on the successful opening of the new City Hall building.  
Councilmember Srinivasan shared their experience and what their learned from the  
National League of Cities Congressional City Conference in Washington D.C.  
Councilmember Sell shared their experience and what their learned from the  
National League of Cities Congressional City Conference in Washington D.C.  
Councilmember Cisneros proposed a study issue to determine the cost and  
feasibility of requiring structural retrofitting of existing seismically-vulnerable  
buildings within a specific time frame. Mayor Klein, Vice Mayor Din, and  
Councilmembers Melton, Mehlinger, Srinivasan and Sell co-sponsored the study  
issue.  
Mayor Klein spoke regarding Councilmember Melton, Srinivasan and Sell's  
attendance at the National League of Cities Congressional City Conference and the  
successful community engagement, planning and building of the new City Hall.  
-City Manager  
City Manager Kent Steffens shared thanks to City Council for attending the new city  
hall ribbon cutting and to the City Clerk’s office and IT department for their  
successful efforts in organizing the city council meetings during the move transition.  
INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS  
23-0292  
23-0294  
23-0295  
23-0490  
Tentative Council Meeting Agenda Calendar  
Board/Commission Meeting Minutes  
Information/Action Items  
Mayoral Announcement of Mayor-Appointed Ad Hoc Advisory  
Committee on Potential HomeKey Application (Information  
Only)  
ADJOURNMENT  
Mayor Klein adjourned the meeting at 10:19 p.m.