City of Sunnyvale  
Meeting Minutes  
City Council  
Thursday, February 16, 2023  
8:30 AM  
Online and Council Chambers, City Hall,  
456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086  
(607 All America Way for map directions)  
Special Meeting: Study Issues/Budget Proposals Workshop - 8:30 AM  
CALL TO ORDER  
Pursuant to Government Code Subdivision 54953(e), Councilmembers had the  
opportunity to participate in the meeting telephonically; pursuant to state law, the  
City Council made the necessary findings by adopting Resolution No. 1089-21,  
reaffirmed on February 7, 2023.  
Mayor Klein called the meeting to order at 8:33 a.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 8:35 p.m.  
John Patton, Sunnyvale Urban Forests Advocates, voiced support for study issue  
DPW 22-04- Street Tree Repopulation with an Equity Lens.  
Peggy Brewster, Sunnyvale for Equity and Education, spoke in support for ranking  
study issue DPW 23-06- Evaluate Range of Options for Shuttle Service and  
Alternative Transportation Options for Fremont and Homestead High School  
Students Who Live in North Sunnyvale at the top of the priority list.  
Bridget Watson communicated support for study issues DPW 23-05- Vision Zero  
Redesign of Borregas Ave and DPW 23-06.  
Eric Krock provided a presentation opposing study issue DPW 23-04- Explore the  
Feasibility of Converting the PG&E Lot Between Lois Avenue and Ramona Avenue  
into a Public Fenced Dog Park.  
Rebecca Ham shared concerns regarding study issue DPW 23-04.  
Kevin Jackson, Bike Sunnyvale, voiced support for study issue DPW 23-08- Define  
Metrics that the City Will Use to Evaluate the City's Progress on Bicycle and  
Pedestrian Infrastructure for Future Reporting.  
Andy Yang, Bike Sunnyvale and Walt’s Cycle, spoke in support of study issue DPW  
23-08.  
Jim Davis communicated support for Council prioritizing study issues CDD 23-01-  
Consider Increasing Inclusionary Housing Requirements to 20% in New Residential  
Development and CDD 23-03- Review and Potentially Update the Housing In Lieu  
Fees for Rental and Ownership Housing.  
Marie Bernard, Sunnyvale Community Services, spoke in support of study issue  
OCM 23-01- Review and Potentially Update the Housing In-Lieu Fees for Rental  
and Ownership Housing.  
Graham Clark, Superintendent, Fremont Union High School District (FUHSD),  
communicated FUHSD's position on study issue DPW 23-06.  
Mark Hlady, Bike Sunnyvale, voiced support for study issue DPW 21-01- Bike  
Lanes on Hollenbeck Avenue between El Camino Real and Homestead Road.  
Angela Rausch communicated support for study issue CDD 23-05- Evaluate  
Existing and Potential Emergency Housing and Shelter Opportunities for Families  
with Minor Children Experiencing Homelessness and to expand the scope of OCM  
23-01.  
Leia Mehlman, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Chair, communicated  
the Commission's recommendations on study issues DPW 23-01- Analyze the  
Addition of a Second Southbound Right Turn Lane at the Bernardo Avenue and  
Fremont Avenue Intersection, DPW 23-02- Develop a Safe Routes to Parks Master  
Plan, and FIN 21-01- Explore a General Election Ballot Measure to Fund Bicycle  
and Pedestrian Infrastructure Projects.  
Mathew Reed, Policy Director, SV@Home, communicated their opposition to study  
issues CDD 23-01 and CDD 23-03.  
Martin Pyne, Planning Commission Chair, communicated the Commission's study  
issue rankings for CDD 23-02- Consider General Land Plan Use Designation  
Amendments and Rezoning for 22 Legal Non-Conforming Single- and Two-Family  
Dwellings, CDD 23-01, CDD 23-03, CDD 23-05, and CDD 23-04- Explore  
Expanding Sunnyvale Municipal Code 19.52 (Art in Private Development) to Include  
a Public Art Requirement for High Density Residential Developments (Including  
Affordable Housing).  
Marie Perkins spoke in opposition to study issue DPW 23-04.  
Lauren Ledbetter, Sunnyvale for Equity and Education, voiced support for study  
issue DPW 23-06 and communicated modifications to be included in the study  
issue.  
Stephen Meier spoke in support for prioritizing study issues DPW 23-08, DPW  
23-06, and raised concerns with the golf study issue.  
Kristel Wickham communicated support for study issues ESD 23-01- Climate  
Budgeting, DPW 22-04, ESD 17-01- Eliminate the Use of Chemical Pesticides on  
City Owned or Leased Property, DPW 23-07- Evaluate the Feasibility of an  
Ordinance to Ban the Use of Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers and Other Small  
Two-Stroke Motors Within the City Limits of Sunnyvale, ESD 22-02- Promotion and  
Assessment of Sustainable Landscaping Strategies, DPW 21-01, DPW 23-06, and  
DPW 22-01- Fleet Planning for Electric Vehicle Transition.  
Pramod spoke in opposition to study issue DPW 23-04.  
Public Comment closed at 9:23 a.m.  
INTRODUCTION BY THE CITY MANAGER  
City Manager Kent Steffens provided an overview and update on the status of prior  
year study issues.  
FISCAL OUTLOOK PRESENTATION  
Finance Director Tim Kirby and Budget Manager Felicia Silva presented the fiscal  
outlook.  
Council took a recess at 10:48 a.m. and reconvened at 10:57 a.m. with all  
Councilmembers present in the Council Chambers.  
OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY ISSUES/BUDGET PROPOSALS PROCESS  
Senior Management Analyst Michelle Zahraie provided an overview of the process  
for ranking of study issues.  
REVIEW, DISCUSSION AND PRIORITY SETTING: STUDY ISSUES/BUDGET  
PROPOSALS  
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER  
MOTION: Councilmember Melton moved and Vice Mayor Din seconded the motion  
to defer Study Issue OCM 21-04 - Establishing Local Rules for City Council  
Campaign Contributions That Would Differ from the Requirements of AB 571.  
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  
Council ranked Study Issue OCM 23-01 and the ranking sheets were collected and  
tallied.  
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT  
MOTION: Councilmember Mehlinger moved and Vice Mayor Din seconded the  
motion to modify Study Issue CDD 23-02- Consider General Plan Land Use  
Designation Amendments and Rezoning for 22 Legal Non-Conforming Single- and  
Two-Family Dwellings to include the homes on North Pastoria Avenue in the Peery  
Park Area and to update the study issue title accordingly.  
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  
MOTION: Councilmember Mehlinger moved and Councilmember Cisneros  
seconded the motion to modify Study Issue CDD 19-04- Update to the Historical  
Context Statement to Include Historical Contributions Made by Asian Americans and  
Other Minority Groups to remove the language in the title: “Asian Americans and  
Other.”  
The motion failed with the following vote:  
Yes: 2 -  
Councilmember Srinivasan  
Councilmember Sell  
No: 5 -  
Mayor Klein  
Vice Mayor Din  
Councilmember Melton  
Councilmember Cisneros  
Councilmember Mehlinger  
MOTION: Councilmember Mehlinger moved and Councilmember Melton seconded  
the motion to drop Study Issue CDD 23-04- Explore Expanding Sunnyvale Municipal  
Code Chapter 19.52 (Art in Private Development) to Include a Public Art  
Requirement for High Density Residential Developments (Including Affordable  
Housing).  
The motion failed with the following vote:  
Yes: 3 -  
Councilmember Melton  
Councilmember Cisneros  
Councilmember Mehlinger  
No: 4 -  
Mayor Klein  
Vice Mayor Din  
Councilmember Srinivasan  
Councilmember Sell  
MOTION: Councilmember Mehlinger moved and Councilmember Melton seconded  
the motion to defer Study Issue CDD 23-04- Explore Expanding Sunnyvale  
Municipal Code Chapter 19.52 (Art in Private Development) to Include a Public Art  
Requirement for High Density Residential Developments (Including Affordable  
Housing).  
The motion carried with the following vote:  
Yes: 6 -  
Mayor Klein  
Councilmember Melton  
Councilmember Cisneros  
Councilmember Mehlinger  
Councilmember Srinivasan  
Councilmember Sell  
No: 1 - Vice Mayor Din  
MOTION: Councilmember Mehlinger moved and Councilmember Cisneros  
seconded the motion to defer Study Issue CDD 19-06- Programs to Encourage  
Visitation to Heritage and Landmark Resources.  
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  
MOTION: Councilmember Mehlinger moved and Vice Mayor Din seconded the  
motion to defer Study Issue CDD 18-02- Update and Review of the Heritage  
Resource Inventory.  
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  
MOTION: Councilmember Cisneros moved and Vice Mayor Din seconded the  
motion to combine Study Issue CDD 23-03- Review and Potentially Update the  
Housing In-Lieu Fees for Rental and Ownership Housing into CDD 23-01- Consider  
Increasing Inclusionary Housing Requirements to 20% in New Residential  
Development.  
The motion carried with the following vote:  
Yes: 5 -  
Mayor Klein  
Vice Mayor Din  
Councilmember Cisneros  
Councilmember Mehlinger  
Councilmember Srinivasan  
No: 2 -  
Councilmember Melton  
Councilmember Sell  
Council ranked Study Issues CDD 19-04, CDD 22-05- Consider Modifications to the  
Sunnyvale Municipal Code Related to Undergrounding Utilities, CDD 23-01, CDD  
23-02, CDD 23-05- Evaluate Existing and Potential Emergency Housing and Shelter  
Opportunities for Families with Minor Children Experiencing Homelessness and the  
ranking sheets were collected and tallied.  
Council took a recess at 12:17 p.m. and reconvened at 12:55 p.m. with all  
Councilmembers present in the Council Chambers.  
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT  
MOTION: Councilmember Melton moved and Vice Mayor Din seconded the motion  
to modify Study Issue DPW 23-06- Evaluate Range of Options for Shuttle Service  
and Alternative Transportation Options for Fremont and Homestead High School  
Students Who Live in North Sunnyvale to add MacDonald High School and Wilcox  
High School.  
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Councilmember Mehlinger offered a friendly amendment  
to have the study issue begin with public outreach with an emphasis to contact  
Spanish speakers within the community for input and return with the results within a  
year of the study beginning.  
After discussion, Councilmember Mehlinger withdrew the friendly amendment.  
The motion failed with the following vote:  
Yes: 2 -  
No: 5 -  
Vice Mayor Din  
Councilmember Melton  
Mayor Klein  
Councilmember Cisneros  
Councilmember Mehlinger  
Councilmember Srinivasan  
Councilmember Sell  
MOTION: Councilmember Melton moved and Mayor Klein seconded the motion to  
drop Study Issue DPW 21-01- Bike Lanes on Hollenbeck Avenue between El  
Camino Real and Homestead Road.  
The motion failed with the following vote:  
Yes: 1 - Councilmember Melton  
No: 6 -  
Mayor Klein  
Vice Mayor Din  
Councilmember Cisneros  
Councilmember Mehlinger  
Councilmember Srinivasan  
Councilmember Sell  
MOTION: Councilmember Mehlinger moved and Councilmember Sell seconded the  
motion to drop Study Issue DPW 23-01- Analyze the Addition of a Second  
Southbound Right Turn Lane at the Bernardo Avenue and Fremont Avenue  
Intersection.  
The motion carried with the following vote:  
Yes: 6 -  
Mayor Klein  
Vice Mayor Din  
Councilmember Cisneros  
Councilmember Mehlinger  
Councilmember Srinivasan  
Councilmember Sell  
No: 1 - Councilmember Melton  
MOTION: Councilmember Sell moved and Councilmember Melton seconded the  
motion to drop Study Issue DPW 23-04- Explore the Feasibility of Converting the  
PG&E Lot Between Lois Avenue and Ramona Avenue into a Public Fenced Dog  
Park.  
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  
MOTION: Councilmember Srinivasan moved and Councilmember Melton seconded  
the motion to drop Study Issue DPW 22-01- Fleet Planning for Electric Vehicle  
Transition.  
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  
MOTION: Councilmember Mehlinger moved and Councilmember Melton seconded  
the motion to drop Study Issue DPW 22-07- Evaluate a Range of Options for On  
Demand Shuttle Service Including Technology Options, Availability of Electric  
Shuttles, and Potential Funding Sources.  
The motion carried with the following vote:  
Yes: 5 -  
Councilmember Melton  
Councilmember Cisneros  
Councilmember Mehlinger  
Councilmember Srinivasan  
Councilmember Sell  
No: 2 -  
Mayor Klein  
Vice Mayor Din  
MOTION: Councilmember Mehlinger moved and Councilmember Sell seconded the  
motion to drop Study Issue DPW 20-11- Evaluate Feasibility of Dog Off-leash Hours  
in Select Sunnyvale Park(s).  
The motion failed with the following vote:  
Yes: 1 - Councilmember Mehlinger  
No: 6 -  
Mayor Klein  
Vice Mayor Din  
Councilmember Melton  
Councilmember Cisneros  
Councilmember Srinivasan  
Councilmember Sell  
MOTION: Councilmember Cisneros moved and Councilmember Melton seconded  
the motion to drop Study Issue DPW 23-02- Develop a Safe Routes to Parks Master  
Plan.  
The motion carried with the following vote:  
Yes: 5 -  
Mayor Klein  
Councilmember Melton  
Councilmember Cisneros  
Councilmember Srinivasan  
Councilmember Sell  
No: 2 -  
Vice Mayor Din  
Councilmember Mehlinger  
MOTION: Vice Mayor Din moved and Councilmember Mehlinger seconded the  
motion to defer Study Issue DPW 20-13- Lighting of Current and Future City Owned  
Dog Parks.  
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  
MOTION: Vice Mayor Din moved and Councilmember Mehlinger seconded the  
motion to defer Study Issue DPW 20-11- Evaluate Feasibility of Dog Off-leash  
Hours in Select Sunnyvale Park(s).  
The motion carried with the following vote:  
Yes: 6 -  
Mayor Klein  
Vice Mayor Din  
Councilmember Cisneros  
Councilmember Mehlinger  
Councilmember Srinivasan  
Councilmember Sell  
No: 1 - Councilmember Melton  
MOTION: Councilmember Mehlinger moved and Mayor Klein seconded the motion  
to defer Study Issue DPW 23-05- Vision Zero Redesign of Borregas Ave.  
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  
MOTION: Councilmember Mehlinger moved and Councilmember Melton seconded  
the motion to defer Study Issue DPW 20-03- Waste Reduction Initiative in  
Sunnyvale Parks.  
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  
Council ranked Study Issues DPW 21-01, DPW 22-03- Research Possible Causes  
of & Potential Mitigation Measures for Nuisance Bird Populations in Sunnyvale  
Public Spaces, DPW 22-04- Street Tree Repopulation with an Equity Lens, DPW  
22-08- Define Metrics that the City Will Use to Evaluate the City's Progress on  
Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure for Future Reporting, DPW 23-06, DPW  
23-07- Evaluate the Feasibility of an Ordinance to Ban the Use of Gas-Powered  
Leaf Blowers and Other Small TwoStroke Motors Within the  
City Limits of Sunnyvale, DPW 23-08- Define Metrics that the City Will Use to  
Evaluate the City's Progress on Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure for Future  
Reporting and the ranking sheets were collected and tallied.  
Department of Public Works (DPW) Tiebreaker:  
Management Analyst Michelle Zahraie reported a tie exists between DPW 21-01-  
Bike Lanes on Hollenbeck Avenue between El Camino Real and Homestead Road  
and DPW 22-03- Research Possible Causes of and Potential Mitigation Measures  
for Nuisance Bird Populations in Sunnyvale Public Spaces.  
MOTION: Councilmember Melton moved and Councilmember Cisneros seconded  
the motion to rank Study Issue DPW 22-03 above DPW 21-01.  
The motion carried with the following vote:  
Yes: 4 -  
Vice Mayor Din  
Councilmember Melton  
Councilmember Cisneros  
Councilmember Srinivasan  
No: 3 -  
Mayor Klein  
Councilmember Mehlinger  
Councilmember Sell  
Council took a recess at 3:23 p.m. and reconvened at 3:31 p.m. with all  
Councilmembers present in the Council Chambers.  
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT  
MOTION: Vice Mayor Din moved and Councilmember Mehlinger seconded the  
motion to drop Study Issue ESD 23-02- Improving Community Awareness of Indoor  
Air Quality for Climate Resiliency and Public Health.  
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  
Council ranked Study Issues ESD 17-01- Eliminate the Use of Chemical Pesticides  
on City Owned or Leased Property, ESD 22-02- Promotion and Assessment of  
Sustainable Landscaping Strategies, ESD 23-01- Climate Budgeting, and the  
ranking sheets were collected and tallied.  
LIBRARY AND RECREATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT  
Council ranked Study Issue LRS 20-03- Assessment of Needs for Additional  
Outdoor Sports Programs and Facilities and the ranking sheets were collected and  
tallied.  
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT  
Council ranked Study Issues ITD 23-01- Access Sunnyvale Customer Relationship  
Management System Upgrade to include access designed for Mobile Apps and ITD  
23-02- Evaluate the Development of a Single Mobile Application (Sunnyvale App)  
for All of the Functions of the Current City of Sunnyvale Mobile Applications and the  
ranking sheets were collected and tallied.  
FINANCE DEPARTMENT  
MOTION: Councilmember Mehlinger moved and Vice Mayor Din seconded the  
motion to drop Study Issue FIN 22-01- Explore a General Election Ballot Measure to  
Fund Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure Projects.  
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  
BUDGET PROPOSALS  
MOTION: Vice Mayor Din moved and Councilmember Melton seconded the motion  
to refer Budget Proposal 2023-01: Increase the Tree Pruning Contract to Resolve  
the Two-Year Backlog Over the Next Two Fiscal Years.  
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  
MOTION: Councilmember Melton moved and Councilmember Mehlinger seconded  
the motion to refer Budget Proposal 2023-03: Increased Service Levels for  
Neighborhood Preservation to Enforce the City's Short-Term Rental Ordinance.  
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  
MOTION: Councilmember Mehlinger moved and Vice Mayor Din seconded the  
motion to refer Budget Proposal 2023-02: Bicycle and Pedestrian Collision  
Investigation Pilot Program.  
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  
AVAILABILITY OF RANKING/NEXT STEPS  
Senior Management Analyst Michelle Zahraie provided closing remarks and  
reported the Study Issues ranking results would be made available on the City  
website.  
CLOSING REMARKS  
City Manager Kent Steffens and Mayor Klein provided closing remarks.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Mayor Klein adjourned the meeting at 4:30 p.m.