CUPERTINO FACTS

Author: Cupertino Facts

  • Cupertino Council Majority Opposes Measure A Sales Tax Hike

    Cupertino Council Majority Opposes Measure A Sales Tax Hike

    On October 13th, the Cupertino City Council voted 3-2 to oppose the Measure A sales tax increase. Mayor Liang Chao, Vice Mayor Kitty Moore, and Councilmember Ray Wang voted to send a letter opposing Measure A, and Councilmembers Fruen and Mohan voted against the letter.

    Councilmember Ray Wang speaks at a No on Measure A rally. 
    Photo credit: Equal Rights for All PAC

    Background

    Measure A proposes to raise sales taxes 0.625% for 5 years to offset federal Medicaid (Medi-Cal) cuts. Medi-Cal is the largest funding source for Santa Clara Valley hospitals and clinics.

    If passed, Measure A would increase the countywide (and Cupertino) sales tax from 9.125% to 9.75% total. However, cities like San Jose and Milpitas would end up with a 10% sales tax, because they currently have a 9.375% tax rate. Measure A is anticipated to raise $330 million per year, which is just 1/3 of the $1 billion per year in lost revenue from H.R. 1.

    Growing Cost Burden

    Vice Mayor Moore shared that over the past decade, Santa Clara County spending on healthcare has burgeoned to over half of the county’s total budget, while spending on public safety, children, seniors, and families, and housing and land use has fallen. By comparison, healthcare spending in Los Angeles County, San Mateo County, San Diego County, and Alameda County hovers at around 25% of overall budget.

    Councilmember Ray Wang holds a Master’s Degree in Hospital Administration and a Master’s in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University. Wang, whose studies included hospital finance and management, took issue with the financial unsustainability of the situation. “There are no budget cuts proposed, and we continue to have a situation where costs go up,” said Wang during the meeting. 

    Calling for Accountable Healthcare Solutions

    “Sales taxes are among the most regressive forms of revenue, disproportionately affecting low-income households, working families, and seniors on fixed incomes,” stated Mayor Chao via the opposition letter. “At a time when many residents are already struggling with high costs of living, an additional tax would deepen financial strain. Moreover, because Measure A is structured as a general tax, the revenues are not dedicated specifically to healthcare services.”

    In an online statement, Mayor Chao said that a tax is not the only answer. “Another alternative is a healthcare district, like the El Camino Hospital District, which has operated successfully with an elected board, annual audits, and local accountability,” said Chao.

    Concerns Over Political Influence

    Council’s decision to oppose Measure A was driven in part by a desire for representation. After speaking with many council members and mayors privately, Chao found that “they actually did not support Measure A. But none of them are willing to speak up against the county supervisors. I found it really appalling that all of us who are elected… who understand how things work and who are here to represent our city are afraid to speak up.”

    Whether you agree or disagree, we highly encourage you to cast your vote in the upcoming November 4th elections. Read the full Measure A ballot language, arguments for, against, and rebuttals, here.

    Don’t Forget to Vote by November 4th, 2025

    Cupertino Mail-In Ballot Drop Off Locations:
    Cupertino City Hall
    Outside Drop Box
    10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, CA 95014

    De Anza College
    RSS Building @ Parking Lot A1
    21250 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Cupertino, CA 95014

    Quinlan Community Center
    Outside Drop Box
    10185 North Stelling Road, Cupertino, CA 95014

    In-Person Voting in Cupertino:
    Seven Springs Club House
    21125 Seven Springs Pkwy, Cupertino, CA 95014
    November 1 – November 3: 9am – 5pm
    November 4 ELECTION DAY: 7am – 8pm

    Additional vote center locatons, drop off boxes and vote tracking can be found at the Registrar’s website.

  • Foothill-De Anza Community College to Evict McClellan Terrace Renters for Student Housing

    Foothill-De Anza Community College to Evict McClellan Terrace Renters for Student Housing

    For over two hours, the May 6, 2025 Cupertino City Council meeting was filled with heated debate. The point of contention: would Council issue a moratorium on the Foothill-De Anza Community College District (FHDA) Board decision to turn 94 homes at the McClellan Terrace apartments into student housing?

    Both sides presented their case during public comments. The FHDA Board, students, and staff argued that they needed student housing, and that McClellan Terrace was the right place for that housing. Meanwhile, the apartment’s existing tenants and Cupertino residents pointed out that student housing should be built on campus without evicting people, many of whom are families with school-aged children. They also felt that this was a misuse of bond funds. Three Bay Area community colleges are using state funds to build on-campus housing, rather than solely using bond funds that could be used to improve educational facilities.

    What is a Moratorium?

    According to Cupertino’s City Attorney Floy Andrews, under government code, an urgency moratorium allows a city to stop a change in land use that may conflict with its zoning or general plan. A moratorium requires a super-majority to pass, or 4 out of 5 votes. If passed, it would allow 45 days for Cupertino to study mechanisms to retain multifamily housing and encourage new student housing construction. The city can also extend an urgency ordinance for another 10 months and 15 days if it determines a need to change zoning. 

    “The college district’s board voted just yesterday to end due diligence on the purchase of McClellan Terrace apartments. They decided to proceed with the purchase of the apartments and they retained relocation services for the displacement of the current residents,” stated Attorney Andrews. “It’s an urgent issue for the city because this plan is happening, and the city has policies encouraging the retention of multifamily housing supported by its general plan.”

    Opposition to Evicting Local Families

    Cupertino residents, Mayor Liang Chao, Vice Mayor Kitty Moore, and Councilmember Ray Wang all spoke out strongly against the McClellan Terrace evictions. Wang asked, “Are we as a city saying it’s okay to ignore our 90 resident families and relocate them for students and staff housing? Are housing advocates really supporting the displacement of 67 kids in the district?”

    “Many of the kids at McClellan Terrace end up being De Anza students as well. I was one of them,” said Pranath, a 20-year McClellan Terrace resident, during public comments. “We should look at alternatives that don’t displace dozens of families and students.”

    Anisha, whose family moved to McClellan Terrace 20 years ago, stated, “I went to Lincoln, Kennedy, and Monta Vista walking from home for 13 years. My family wouldn’t have been able to afford to have us go to these exceptional schools if it weren’t for this apartment complex.”

    Even an editorial in the De Anza Community College newspaper, La Voz, expressed trepidations about the purchase, stating, “Buying out the apartment complex displaces existing residents, many of whom are children who attend nearby K-12 schools. McClellan Terrace offers affordable units in an area of skyrocketing housing costs, and many community members have voiced fears about being priced out of local options and being forced to move, uprooting their lives.”

    Student Housing Options Abound

    There are viable options to build student housing without evicting renters. “De Anza College sits on 112 acres in the heart of Cupertino. The district could carve out a portion of the campus for housing,” stated a San Jose Spotlight editorial published shortly after the meeting. “A number of school districts are considering this approach for teacher housing. Why not do it for student housing, a standard practice at four-year colleges?” 

    In addition to on-campus housing, the FHDA Board had the option of partnering with the Marina Plaza developers on student housing, but failed to do so. Cupertino hotels have also shown willingness to help provide student housing. “The Cupertino Hotel is offering extended stay for students that’s available immediately,” stated Chao. “The FHDA college district can also consider buying Aloft [Hotel], which was constructed in 2012.” In San José, the under-utilized Signia by Hilton hotel (previously Fairmont Hotel) was recently converted into 700 units of undergraduate student housing.

    Taxpayer Dollars In Question

    The McClellan Terrace purchase is funded by Measure G. This measure, which passed by 59%, was written as a bond to “upgrade facilities preparing students/veterans for university transfer/careers like healthcare, nursing, technology, engineering/ sciences; upgrade/repair aging classrooms, labs for science, technology, engineering/math-related fields of instruction; acquire, construct, repair facilities, equipment/sites.” It created $898 million in bonds “levying 1.6 cents/$100 assessed valuation ($48,000,000 annually) while bonds are outstanding.”1

    “If you read the ballot measure language, it doesn’t talk about acquiring properties off-campus. When you read about all the different facilities improvements, you have to find a buried line in there that would ostensibly allow them to be purchasing [property] and evicting our residents,” said Vice Mayor Moore during the meeting. “I feel for the individuals who voted for this, including myself, unaware that we were going to be evicting our fellow residents.”

    In written communications, Mayor Chao also expressed dismay that the FHDA Board was spending so much to acquire an old building with existing tenants. Nearby communities are building new housing for less. She cited San Mateo County Community College District’s brand-new housing for approximately 316 students. It will leverage $56 million in state grant funding while using just $10 million of its own funds.2 

    Conversely, the FHDA board will spend $95M of local taxpayer funds on purchasing McClellan Terrace to evict existing residents. This includes $66.7M to purchase and $28.2M to renovate the 50-year-old building3. Cupertino resident Rhoda Fry added, “In 2022, Prometheus bought the property for $52 million. Under AB1482, they were not allowed to evict residents and replace them with younger residents. But that is exactly what FHDA intends to do. Prometheus discovered that they bought a lemon. They are now in court over it, while they intend to sell to FHDA for $67 million.”

    Councilmember Fruen expressed opposition to the moratorium. He stated that he did not agree with some of the facts in the recitals. “I don’t really see how it’s possible for us to substantiate this on an urgency basis,” said Fruen. It did not seem likely that Mayor Chao would get the required 4-to-1 super-majority vote. As such, she chose not to proceed with a moratorium.

    Instead, Chao, Moore, and Wang voted to approve a resolution encouraging the construction of new student housing, and preserving multi-family housing by discouraging its conversion to student housing. Fruen and Mohan voted no, which is consistent with their track record of aligning with outside interests over resident interests.

    FHDA Creating False Hope

    FHDA sought to alleviate the concerns of Board Members, Bond Oversight Committee Members, and the community. In a memo, it assured them that residents will receive relocation help. It also said that they are in discussions with the local school districts to address K-12 student concerns. However, there are no other large apartment complexes in the Lincoln Elementary, Kennedy Middle and Monta Vista High School attendance area. Worse, there are only a handful of two bed – two bath apartments of comparable size and rent within Cupertino. Consequently, McClellan Terrace residents, which include nurses and public-school teachers, will find a similar home that is walkable to the tri-school area. 

    The College District can still pull out of the sale. We first covered McClellan Terrace in March 2025, when dozens of concerned residents showed up to protest their potential eviction.

    References

    1 – Foothill-De Anza Community College District. “Resolution of the Board of Trustees of Foothill-De Anza Community College District Ordering an Election, and Specifications of the Election Order.” https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/fhda/Board.nsf/files/BJ52PW03336F/$file/Resolution_No_2019-36_Ordering_Election.pdf. November 25, 2019. Accessed June 20, 2025.

    2 – San Mateo County Community College District. “Update on Districtwide Student Housing at College of San Mateo.” https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/smccd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CREQBU6881EC. August 9, 2023. Accessed June 23, 2025.

    3 – Foothill-De Anza Community College District. “Student Housing Project Update.”  https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/fhda/Board.nsf/files/DENM9G5A260E/$file/2025-03-10%20FHDA%20Housing%20Update.pdf. March 10, 2025. Accessed June 20, 2025.

  • Council Restores 2025 Fourth Of July Fireworks in Cupertino

    Council Restores 2025 Fourth Of July Fireworks in Cupertino

    This year, Independence Day fireworks are back in Cupertino! The event historically drew over 12,000 attendees annually, but was cancelled in 2023 by the previous council. After his election in 2024, Councilmember R “Ray” Wang partnered with Vice Mayor Kitty Moore to restore the beloved Fourth of July Fireworks in Cupertino. The two formed a subcommittee to explore all available options. 

    The biggest challenge in restoring the event was identifying a safe location for the fireworks to be launched. Councilmember Wang reached out to Sand Hill Corporation’s Reed Moulds, who graciously submitted a proposal for fireworks at The Rise. The subcommittee also found a receptive partner in Cupertino Union School District’s (CUSD) Superintendent Stacy Yao, who submitted a proposal for fireworks at Hyde Middle School. 

    After months of conversations and planning, the City Council voted to partner with CUSD to host the July 4th fireworks. With just two months to plan and obtain permits, staff agreed that it would be easier to go with a known venue. They have since worked rapidly to bring an amazing set of programs for the community. Here are the details: 

    2025 July 4th Fireworks

    Time: 9:30 P.M.

    Designated viewing locations:

    • Creekside Park
    • Sedgwick Elementary School
    • Miller Avenue near Bollinger Road

    Please note that pets and barbecuing are not permitted at the viewing locations. The fireworks will launch from Hyde Middle School, which will be closed to the public during that time. 

    Other July 4th events include:

    • Pancake Breakfast: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Quinlan Community Center
      Cupertino Room (10185 North Stelling Road, Cupertino)
    • Flag Raising Ceremony: 10:00 a.m., Veterans Memorial in Memorial Park
    • Children’s Parade: after the Flag Raising in Memorial Park. Show off your patriotic spirit — decorate your bikes, scooters, strollers, wagons, or outfits in red, white, and blue and be part of this festive tradition! Open to kids, families, and even pets

    Dine Out for the 4th

    This 4th of July, the City of Cupertino is also promoting our excellent multicultural cuisine which brings visitors from across the Bay Area for fresh dining experiences. Take a hop around the globe through regional cuisines, whether experienced foodie, busy parents needing a night off cooking, or epicurious visitor.

    Councilmember Wang is spearheading “Dine Out for the 4th”, encouraging everyone to support Cupertino restaurants over the holidays. Many restaurants will be open throughout the July 4th weekend, ready to welcome patrons during the festivities with some offering special incentives. 

    Dining out in Cupertino both supports our local businesses and contributes to our sales taxes, which are needed for City services. To enjoy the Cupertino cuisine scene: a full list of establishments open for business will be available soon here.

    These events are made possible by Cupertino’s strong partnership with CUSD, the West Valley Sheriff’s office, and Santa Clara County Fire Department. Special recognition goes to Tina Kapoor, Interim City Manager, Rachelle Sander, Director of Parks and Recreation, Daniel Degu, Economic Development Manager, and many members of the City staff for making this event possible.

  • New All-Inclusive Playground Opens at Jollyman Park

    New All-Inclusive Playground Opens at Jollyman Park

    Excitement ran high on Friday, June 13th as Cupertino celebrated the opening of its first all-inclusive playground at Jollyman Park. Children clustered around the playground’s gates, eagerly waiting to enter. The new playground is entirely unique and custom-designed, incorporating extensive community feedback.

    New Jollyman All-Inclusive Playground on opening day, June 13th, 2025

    What Does it Mean to be All-Inclusive?

    According to the playground’s design firm, MIG, the playground offers “something for everyone,” regardless of age, race, gender, ability, or background. For example, there are four different types of swings, a chalk art wall for drawing, and vine-covered nature retreats for anyone needing a break from the action. The project draws from Cupertino’s art in-lieu fees to fund a kaleidoscope feature. This provides a play opportunity that is less physical and more imaginative. The renovation also adds new accessible restrooms, which is a major improvement as the existing restrooms are much further away from the playgrounds. 

    History of All-Inclusive Playground at Jollyman

    The playground’s completion caps off a multi-year effort stemming back to the 2018 Council, which included Mayor Liang Chao and her continued efforts to ensure a fiscally-responsible and successful project. The initiative began with an all-inclusive playground feasibility study to identify the playground’s location. Jollyman was considered to have the most optimal combination of factors for an inclusive playground, including existing shade trees, proximity to a parking lot, and a relatively quiet location. Memorial Park was a close runner-up. However, it was eventually ruled out because it is home to many large events, which would make parking a challenge, as well as create noise issues for visitors that are sensitive to louder noise.

    Cupertino received a $1.4M grant from the Santa Clara County All-Inclusive Playground Grant (AIPG) program, $1M from state grants, and $25,000 from PG&E to help fund the playground. In order to receive the AIPG grant, the playground must be ADA accessible, and meet the needs of those with autism, sensory, visual, or auditory challenges, and cognitive, developmental, or physical disabilities. 

    all-inclusive playground at jollyman
    Mayor Liang Chao speaking at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

    Over 200 community members attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, including Cupertino staff, City Council, City Commissions, District Director Victoria Low from Patrick Ahrens’ office, and local residents. At Mayor Chao’s invitation, the community also enjoyed live music from the Dream Achievers Band from Friends of Children with Special Needs.

    Learn more at Cupertino.gov.

  • McClellan Terrace Residents Upset Over Potential Eviction, Cupertino Council Moves to Evaluate Options

    McClellan Terrace Residents Upset Over Potential Eviction, Cupertino Council Moves to Evaluate Options

    On Wednesday, April 2nd, residents gathered at Cupertino Community Hall to protest potential eviction from their homes. The Foothill-De Anza College District is entering a contract to purchase the 94-unit McClellan Terrace apartments on 7954 McClellan Rd. But this will displace the apartment’s existing residents and numerous families with school-age children, whose units will be provided to students attending the community college.

    Residents are now upset at the prospect of being evicted not only from their homes, but also having to leave the CUSD/FUHSD school district and the City of Cupertino. Neighbors are worried that the loss of sixty-seven K-12 students will exacerbate the decline in public school enrollment, leading to more school closures.

    In 2020, voters passed a Foothill-De Anza College District bond including projects to “plan, construct, acquire or contribute to affordable employee and student housing units.” The College District’s consultant recommended purchasing the off-campus McClellan Terrace apartments, but failed to disclose that the apartments are heavily populated by local K-12 school district families, and that these apartments are more affordable than others in our community. McClellan Terrace is one of very few apartments within a half-mile of Lincoln Elementary School, Kennedy Junior High, and Monta Vista High School. 

    Per county records, Prometheus purchased the property in 2022 and is assessed at $52M. The College District would purchase the property for $67M and make it ready for approximately 332 students for an additional $28M, for a total of $95M; the deal would not be finalized until at least July. 

    Via CBS news, McClellan Terrace resident Rachel Green said she did not receive any “official correspondence from the property management company.” The only information she and neighbors had was via news reporting. “All the communication we see online is that we have to be out by the summer,” said Green.

    The new resident-focused Council majority acted with expedience to address the situation. During the April 2nd meeting, Mayor Chao proposed a special session to study the city’s position on the conversion of multifamily housing to student housing, evaluate existing bills on student housing, and compare with other jurisdictions. This motion was approved unanimously by the City Council. Vice Mayor Kitty Moore emphasized the time-sensitivity of the discussion, since the purchase is already under process. Councilmember Ray Wang added, “I think it’d be prudent to let the College District know that we’re heading in this direction so that whoever’s in escrow knows this could be an issue.”

    Residents wishing to express feedback should attend the next College District Board Meeting, held at 6:00 P.M. on Monday, April 7, 2025 in the District Office Building (D700) at Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills. They can also email the College District Chancellor’s office and the District Board at Carla Maitland [email protected].

    Additional information:

    Fox 2 coverage of the April 2nd resident protest at Cupertino Community Hall:

    KPIX CBS News Bay Area Coverage of the McClellan Terrace Purchase:

    Coverage on Sing Tao Daily

    For more information, refer to the March 10 Foothill/De Anza College Board Meeting:


    – Agenda and documents https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/fhda/Board.nsf/Public
    – Meeting on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/live/XorJDacQ6Vs

  • City Council Prioritizes Economic Growth, Fiscal Sustainability, and More in 2025-27 Cupertino City Work Program

    City Council Prioritizes Economic Growth, Fiscal Sustainability, and More in 2025-27 Cupertino City Work Program

    In the March 18th City Council meeting, Mayor Liang Chao, Vice Mayor Kitty Moore, and Councilmember Ray Wang voted to approve the 2025-27 Cupertino City Work Program, which seeks to improve economic growth, fiscal sustainability, and public health and quality of life in Cupertino. Councilmembers Fruen and Mohan voted against the 2025-27 City Work Program.

    The new initiatives are summarized below (view the full list here):

    • Economic Development for Retail and Small Businesses: Streamline permitting for small businesses, explore options to retain and recruit businesses, explore themed events like restaurant weeks and festivals, explore creation of a small business council, restore the Economic Development Committee, and explore a Grants Analyst position.
    • Permit Streamlining and Simplification for Small Home Upgrades: This will be a suite of improvements to (1) improve access to, and (2) speed the processing of permits for small home upgrades to enhance compliance and improve efficiency. This includes setting SLA’s, customer service KPI’s, and internal staff expertise to reduce consulting expenses.
    • Financial, Investment, and Cashflow Policy Review: Review and assess the City’s investment policy and best practices. Establish a cashflow management policy with the goal to reduce the total percentage in cash from 20% to 2% and to reduce the total percentage in cash and cash-equivalent to at most 10%, on par with other cities.
    • Defensible Impact Fee Nexus Study for Traffic Impact Fee, Retail Impact Fee, BMR Impact Fee, and Parkland Impact Fee: Review impact fees and other means of offsetting conversion of commercial land uses to residential to ensure impact fees are defensible against legal challenges.
    • Enhance Senior Services: Utilizing survey results conducted in 2022 and 2023, consider consultant services similar to Palo Alto or Saratoga Senior Center to enhance services, while reducing cost to the city.
    • City Hall Retrofit and City Hall Annex Renovation including the EOC: Implement the previously approved 2022 Council plan with EOC migration funds
    • Planning for Optimal Use of City Properties: Future planning strategies for Stocklmeir house/ garages, Blech House, Blue Pheasant, McClellan Barn, and the house at the entrance of Blackberry Farm, with a goal of judicial use of city-owned properties. Investigate potential purchase of CUSD Finch/Phil property.
    • Emergency Operations Readiness: Review fire, earthquake tornado, active shooter, Tsunami, hazardous transport accident policies. Ensure EOC is active and functioning with a permanent position, not a consultant.
    • 5G Ordinance: Prepare an ordinance to regulate small cellular facilities in the public right of way.
    • Unhoused Policies: Determine best practices for limited-budget smaller cities to manage the unhoused. Review RV practices in surrounding cities for impacts and potential adoption. Review transitional housing outcomes in surrounding cities. Policies to include nimble contingency plans.
    • Water Conservation Policies: Reduce irrigation while increasing pollinator-supporting vegetation (turf conversion). Optimize irrigation systems including CUSD use agreement sites.
    • Urban Forest Program: Create an Urban Forest Master Plan that includes an updated and expanded tree list which will increase the number of trees, enhance the City’ s tree canopy, and promote landscaping throughout the City
    • Add notifications for SB 330 and other projects during the application and approval process: Consider a community meeting requirement for any major project application, especially those requiring a general plan amendment, as some other cities have adopted. Consider increasing notification radius from 300 feet to 500 (or 1,000) feet for any project application, especially those requiring a general plan amendment. Improve notification methods for SB 330 preliminary applications, streamlined projects not requiring planning/council approval, and other projects

    While many of the items reflect the fresh perspective of the new Council majority, the plan also continues several work program items from the prior council, including bicycle facilities, preserving and developing BMR housing, and the Vision Zero plan to reduce fatalities and severe injuries on roadways by 2040.

    Once approved, staff determines the resources needed to accomplish each Work Program item, and requests them during the Budget Adoption process. Via the staff report, the 2025-27 Cupertino City Work Program “will officially launch in July at the start of the new fiscal year.” Projects in the City Work Program are expected to consume about 10% of City staff time. The remainder of their time is largely devoted to day-to-day operations.

    Read more about Cupertino’s City Work Program here: https://www.cupertino.gov/Your-City/City-Council/City-Work-Program

  • Councilmember Sheila Mohan’s Luxury Ritz-Carlton Hotel Stay Raises Questions

    Councilmember Sheila Mohan’s Luxury Ritz-Carlton Hotel Stay Raises Questions

    An unusual expense is raising questions amongst Cupertino’s City Councilmembers and residents. Last year, while Cupertino was struggling with a fiscal deficit, City Manager Pamela Wu and current Councilmember Sheila Mohan (former Mayor) used city funds to cover luxury hotel stays at The Ritz Carlton in Bangalore (Bengaluru), India.

    Mohan and Wu had been visiting Bhubaneswar, Cupertino’s Sister City in India. But oddly, according to publicly released expense receipts, both flew into a different city, Bangalore and stayed at the Ritz-Carlton for multiple nights on the city’s dime. Afterwards, the pair proceeded to the Sister City, Bhubaneswar for another four nights.

    Ritz-Carlton hotel receipt, available via Public Records Request

    What Cupertino-related business could justify the expense of staying in Bangalore? Bangalore is Mohan’s hometown, but it is over 800 miles away from the Sister City, Bhubaneswar.

    Distance between Bhubaneswar and Bengaluru (Bangalore), India

    During the April 2nd City Council meeting, the Bhubaneswar Sister City organization made a presentation covering its partnership with Cupertino to date. None of the activities for Mohan’s visit were located in Bangalore.

    During the March 18th City Council meeting, Mayor Liang Chao raised concerns over the fact that the trip and its over $6,000 in associated expenses (across Sheila Mohan and Pamela Wu) were never approved by council. Cupertino’s Sister Cities policy clearly defines a City-supported delegation as one that includes students. Committees with only adults or fewer than 4 students must be “considered” by Council. However, the most recent trip did not bring any student delegates to Bhubaneswar.

    The goal of the Sister City program is to foster educational, technical, economic and cultural exchange between Cupertino and its Sister Cities. Why were city funds used for activities unrelated to Cupertino, without Council approval, and in conflict with city policies? The challenges are significant when some are attacked by special interests, while others are able to coast through with egregious improprieties such as luxury travel on the taxpayers’ dime.

    Sheila Mohan’s tenure as Mayor ended with more than one decision lacking in transparency and proper protocols. In addition to the unexplained luxury trip expense, the regular City Council meeting scheduled for November 4th—just two days before Mohan and Wu’s trip—was apparently unlawfully canceled without Council approval. According to the Cupertino Municipal Code, any cancellation of a regular Cupertino City Council meeting requires a majority vote from the Council.

    As written in the law, there is agendized public business at every regular Cupertino City Council meeting. The right of the public to speak at any regular public meeting regarding any concern within the purview of the City Council is specified in our Municipal Code (“Every agenda for regular meetings of the City Council shall provide an opportunity for members of the public to address the council on any item of interest to the public that is within the city’s jurisdiction.” Cupertino Municipal Code 2.08.105.A).

    As such, the City Manager cannot decide by herself to cancel regular Council meetings. The right of the public to speak applies to every agenda for regular meetings of the City Council. Then-Mayor Mohan, the City Manager’s international luxury travel partner during this time, allowing the City Manager to cancel a regular meeting would be clear-cut “Councilmanic interference.” We were unable to locate any public process or rationale behind the cancellation, which created more than a month-long gap between regular meetings and supplanted the work of the public, during which time both the City Manager and Mohan were enjoying a taxpayer-funded stay at the Ritz Carlton in Mohan’s hometown.

    In contrast, the connections between integrity and efficacy are clear, and are demonstrated with our current Mayor, Dr. Liang Chao, who is in her seventh year on City Council. Since beginning her term as Mayor, Chao has made strong efforts that are foundational to increasing and restoring transparency, public awareness, and ensuring a healthy and vibrant democracy in Cupertino. In addition to ensuring that public issues are heard rather than canceled, with respect to this issue, Chao has called for clarifications to the Sister Cities policy to ensure the City’s funds are properly used in the future.

    Photo credit: Marriott International

  • New Creekside Park Playground Now Open

    New Creekside Park Playground Now Open

    A newly-built playground is open for play at Creekside Park. The renovation was initiated four years ago, in 2020. Via the City of Cupertino website, construction was scheduled to begin in June 2022. However, the playground appears to have undergone renovation much later, in 2024.

    The new playground brings a much-needed revitalization to Creekside Park, which is home to both a weekly farmers market and many sports and recreational activities. Below are photos and videos of the new playground:

  • Memorial Park: Field of Dreams?

    Memorial Park: Field of Dreams?

    On April 3rd, 2024, the Cupertino City Council approved a plan to renovate Memorial Park. The plan promises a plethora of amenities for the community to enjoy, from an all-inclusive playground to eight new pickleball courts. The only catch? An $84M price tag, which remains entirely unfunded and does not have a timeline.

    Potential Tax Increases to Pay for Park

    Currently, Cupertino does not have any funds available for the $84M Memorial Park Plan. To address this, staff proposes splitting the construction costs into six phases, over an indefinite time frame. While building the park in phases might make the costs more digestible for a city in a budget deficit, it actually increases the overall cost of the project. According to the Memorial Park Specific Plan, “Though the possibility exists that the cost of construction could come down, it is expected that costs will increase based on inflation rates and other market conditions.”

    In order to fund the project, staff is exploring:

    • Community Facilities District (CFD) special tax district: This would be an additional tax on property owners in a defined area. “The tax continues until bonds are paid off and then reduced to maintain investment.”
    • Parcel taxes, Special Assessment taxes, leveraging local sales tax measures, and other special tax initiatives
    • Grant funding
    • Partnering with local companies, sports leagues, and organizations to obtain sponsorships and naming rights

    Background

    Memorial Park was built in the mid-1970s, and at 22 acres, is the largest park in Cupertino. In 2020, Cupertino first presented its Parks & Recreation Master Plan to better serve the community. The plan included the goal of making Memorial Park more of a “community hub.” 

    Memorial Park Gazebo

    In July 2022, City staff hired Gates and Associates to create a renovation plan for Memorial Park. They gathered community feedback, and found that the most-liked features of Memorial Park were its walking paths, natural areas with trees, and festival and event space. The most-desired features were:

    • Better park and facility access: This includes bike lane connectivity, pedestrian paths, more parking, inclusiveness, and mobility
    • More nature experiences: Survey results revealed more tree shade is the #1 most-desired feature in the category of nature. Results showed that participants view “Memorial Park as a Natural Site and Park, and want this scenario further emphasized in the future.”
    • More opportunities for extraordinary play: Survey results showed a strong desire for playgrounds to be renovated and expanded, with water play as the highest-rated play amenity

    Gates then presented design concepts that entirely reimagined Memorial Park (save for a few key features like the historic Veterans Memorial and gazebo). These plans were brought to Council in June 2023 (read our prior article for background). 

    Conflicting Interests

    Throughout the years of Memorial Park discussions, one thing has become clear: satisfying all stakeholders is a very difficult task. The June 2023 meeting was dominated by dozens of Softball and Dog Off Leash Area (DOLA) supporters protesting the elimination of the softball field. With the softball field secured in the latest plans, this group is now largely silent. 

    Meanwhile, a new group has emerged: pickleball players. Pickleball supporters filled the meeting hall on April 3rd, serving snacks and passing out supporter pins in the lobby. Via public comment, about half of the local Pickleball Whatsapp group lives outside of Cupertino. The diverse crowd came from far and wide to attend the Cupertino City Council Meeting, ranging from Marin and the North Bay to Union City in the East Bay. Many of the comments expressed passion for the health benefits of pickleball. Several also lobbied to ask for the pickleball courts to be expedited into an earlier phase of construction. 

    Part of the allure of Cupertino’s pickleball courts is that they are free. Many neighboring cities, including Sunnyvale, Saratoga, Santa Clara, and Mountain View, charge for reservation of their courts. Residents receive lower rates, while non-residents receive higher rates.

    Cupertino residents questioned why noisy pickleball courts would be located next to homes. One major concern was noise from the pickleball courts. Staff measured the noise level of pickleball at about 50 decibels, which is the same noise level as the street. However, pickleball noise is sharper than traffic noise, occurring when the ball hits the paddle.

    Residents also expressed concern about the loss of open space at Memorial Park. Some proposed converting existing tennis courts to pickleball courts to preserve the existing green space.

    Moving Forward

    Councilmember Liang Chao proposed a friendly amendment for staff to explore reducing the cost of the Memorial Park plan. However, Mayor Sheila Mohan rejected the amendment, stating, “We’re talking about big numbers here. And we have not identified… the funding sources for this entire conceptual plan. So I don’t think the time for talking money [is now].”

    Staff also agreed to explore alternate locations for the pickleball courts. “I’m very concerned about the individuals who are going to be living near where these courts are going to be,” stated Councilmember Moore. Considering that nearby De Anza College has a large number of tennis courts that can potentially be re-striped to pickleball courts, as well as parking space, Memorial Park is not the only feasible location for pickleball courts.

    Given that the city cannot even afford to maintain pavement quality, sidewalk quality, or street trees for its residents, it is unclear how the $84M Memorial Park plan will ever receive sufficient funding to reach fruition. 

  • Resident Uncovers $100K Cupertino Accounting Error

    Resident Uncovers $100K Cupertino Accounting Error

    After discovering over $100,000 in funds designated for affordable housing instead went to pay off a YIMBY lawsuit, San José Spotlight reports that Cupertino is “scrambling fix what city officials are calling an ‘accounting error.’” As the City continues to struggle with its budget deficit and residents endure budget cuts, the latest error drew more questions about its fiscal management.

    YIMBY Law, one of the two litigants in the lawsuit questioned Cupertino’s motives in its misallocation of funds. “They’re saying it’s an error, so I think we have to pretend that we believe that,” stated YIMBY Law’s Sonja Trauss. “There’s another reality where it wasn’t an error at all and Cupertino looks even worse.”1

    Resident Discovers Alleged Error
    The issue first came to light at the February 21 City Council meeting, when resident Rhoda Fry spotted errors in the Accounts Payable Report which had been approved by three levels of City staff. Fry said, “developers are paying these mitigation fees in good faith that these will go toward below market rate housing, not to pay for frivolous lawsuits.” It was thanks to Councilmember Kitty Moore that Fry found the error; in 2021 Moore requested that the specific paying fund be listed in the Accounts Payable Report.2

    Councilmember Liang Chao pulled the Accounts Payable item from the Consent Calendar. City Attorney Jensen tried to shut down discussion by claiming that it was an administrative issue while City Manager Wu added that it was a waste of time to discuss it. Their comments angered residents who hadn’t originally intended to speak on this item, resident Lisa Warren chided “you should be very happy you have people that care.”

    Although City staff admitted that affordable-housing money was misallocated, Councilmember Hung Wei persisted in assuming that the City has “checks and balances in place.” Councilmember Kitty Moore requested that any adjustments to the BMR Fund make their way into the City’s annual Development Mitigation Fee Report under State Law AB 1600.

    More Concerns about the Affordable Housing Fund
    Since the article was published, other questionable withdrawals from the fund have been discovered such as subscriptions to the San Jose Mercury News, memberships to organizations, airfare, and hotel stays. Furthermore, the use of the fund has been surprisingly inefficient. Nearly half of the fund’s 2023 expenses of $769K went to pay for “Staff and Administration.”

    The San Jose Spotlight Article closed with a quote from Councilmember Moore, who previously served on the City’s Audit Committee, “We are the stewards of the city’s public funds and must demonstrate we are prudent, responsible and accountable.”

    Sources

    1 – Freimarck, A. (2024, March 29). Cupertino spent affordable housing funds on lawsuit. San José Spotlight. https://sanjosespotlight.com/cupertino-spent-affordable-housing-funds-on-lawsuit/ 

    2 – Cupertino Development Fee Impact Reports: https://www.cupertino.org/our-city/departments/finance/budget-reports