Sunnyvale Works! – The Work is Underway

Sunnyvale Works! has become a mainstay of the City in the few short weeks since Mayor Spitaleri and City Manager Luebbers announced the accelerated public works programs. And true to expectations, The City is saving a significant amount of money by doing these jobs right now. As predicted, the bids received by the City were lower than our construction estimates and we have saved $2.4 million in just the first construction awards.

Here are the details. Improvements to the Sunnyvale and Arques avenues intersection, including ADA-compliant curb cuts and related traffic signal work was estimated at $480,000, but was awarded at $310,000. Pavement rehabilitation projects were estimated at $1.5 million, but were awarded at $1.2 million. And the Murphy Avenue utilities and streetscape, estimated at $5 million, was awarded for a bit less than $3.2 million – a savings of $1.9 million on this job alone.

Council is ready to award several new Sunnyvale Works! projects that City staff have fast-tracked. Watch for the Sunnyvale Works! signs on projects all over the City and when you see them, you’ll know those jobs are saving the City money while creating new job opportunities. Visit our special Web site at SunnyvaleWorks.inSunnyvale.com to see the list of projects awarded, their cost and future Sunnyvale Works! projects.

What is Sunnyvale Works!? Read the City’s news release that announced the program by clicking here.

It’s a Bird … It’s a plane … It’s an HVAC?

Work is continuing at a dizzying pace in the southeast portion of the Sunnyvale Town Center site as Target builds out their new store. There will be something of an industrial air show June 20, when a helicopter will be used to hoist heavy heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) units to the roof of the new store.

June 2 Council Meeting – Some Major Issues

We usually don’t use this space to talk about City Council meetings, since their agendas are readily available online at CouncilMeetings.inSunnyvale.com. But the June 2 meeting will have some important decisions. Following public hearings, Council is scheduled to adopt new water utility rates and the City’s new fee schedule. In addition, there will be a public hearing on the City’s proposed 2009/10 budget, which Council will adopt later this month. If you can’t make it to the meeting, you can always watch it live on KSUN-15 or on the Internet at Webcasting.inSunnyvale.com. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in Council Chamber, 456 W. Olive Ave.

Hands on the Arts – a Continuing Success Story

Hands on the Arts, Sunnyvale’s annual day-long kid-involved art extravaganza was a huge hit again this year, its 24th event. Close to 3,800 kids and their families attended this year, a whopping 23 percent increase over last year. Hundreds of volunteers make this event a success, and we could not put on this event without their support. So what do the kids do at this event? Most of the workshops enable a child to create an art project to take home in about 15 minutes. Projects ranged from decorating a container, creating a flower vase or creating a stuffed snake from an old necktie. In addition to creating art projects, often with materials readily available from home, the event also included performing-arts workshops teaching songs and dances that were presented in impromptu stage performances throughout the day.

High-Tech for Sunnyvale’s Seniors

Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, the Sunnyvale Senior Center Computer Lab has been updated with new technology. In April, City staff received a call from a community member who wanted to modernize the Senior Center’s computer lab. The individual donated five new Sony Desktop Computers (All-in-One Vaios), a new router and the latest version of Microsoft Office software. The new computers replaced five computers that operated on obsolete Pentium 3 Chips and were connected to bulky CRT Monitors. It is estimated the old machines were approximately seven years old, which in computer-years, are very old machines.

Volunteers Keep the City Functioning

A lot of people never think of volunteering to help the City. But, fortunately, a lot of others do. The 140 volunteers at the Senior Center alone recorded 13,746 volunteer hours, which is 64 percent of the total Citywide volunteer hours in FY 2007/08. According to the Independent Sector, the value of this volunteer service equates to $313,271.34. Most importantly, volunteers assist staff in developing personal relationships with customers, and allow staff to accomplish more than they could on their own. Are you interested in volunteer opportunities? Visit our Web site at Volunteering.inSunnyvale.com for more information.

Sunnyvale’s Innovative Programs Get Their Just Due

It seems like just business as usual to us now, but the E-OneStop service was pretty radical when it started. Sunnyvale originated the idea of a OneStop center, a single point of contact where the public could meet with planners, review designs, check zoning requirements, meet with a fire marshal … in general, take care of a lot of the detail work at one time in one location. The service was so successful that we created the electronic, online version, known as E-OneStop. That, too, has become a very popular resource. We now have been told that Professor Genie Stowers, Chair of San Francisco State University’s Department of Public Administration, is planning on using our E-OneStop center as an example of a successful and comprehensive government service. It will be detailed in a book about online services Stowers is writing.

There’s New Public Art in Sunnyvale!

One of the community benefits of Sunnyvale’s codes is that with certain types of development, an item of public art needs to be incorporated into the site design. We’re happy to announce a new piece of artwork was recently installed in the City through the Art in Private Development Program. “Hayden,” by Southern California sculptor Guy Dill, is an abstract bronze sculpture located at the main entrance of the Java Metro Center, 111 Java Drive at Borregas Avenue. “Hayden” is the 54th piece installed in the City as a result of the City’s Art in Private Development regulation.

Public Input Meetings for Murphy Tot Lot

The Parks Division will be hold public input meetings in the Murphy Park Recreation Building Wednesday, June 10, at 7 p.m.; Thursday, June 11, at 12:30 p.m.; and Saturday, June 13, at 12:30 p.m. to discuss the pending project to construct a tot lot playground at that location. The scope of work includes site preparation, drainage, playground equipment and ADA resilient surfacing. Murphy Park is one of only three City parks lacking a playground, and it is with great anticipation from the public and staff that the planning phase of a 1,750 square-foot tot lot is about to begin. Public input will be collected on the desired location of the play area within the park and preferred play equipment. Design and construction of the play area awaits final decision by Council.

And More Community Meetings of Note

Sunnyvale School District will be adding classrooms at San Miguel Elementary School, 777 San Miguel Ave. The added classrooms will have the effect of decreasing the amount of available open space. When such alterations to open space occur, the Department of Community Services implements several steps, including sending notices of neighborhood meetings to residents within 500 feet of the affected property, related neighborhood associations and City officials; hosting three neighborhood meetings to present the project and solicit input from the meeting attendees; and writing and presentation of reports to Council (RTCs). The neighborhood meetings for this project will take place at the Fair Oaks Park Recreation Building June 11 at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., and June 13 at 11 a.m.

An Old Set of Traffic Lights Is About to Give Its Last Red Light

Work has begun on a project to rebuild one of the oldest traffic signals in town, at the intersection of Washington and Pastoria avenues. Underground wiring and poles will be replaced; pole foundations were recently poured. This project will be coordinated with another project to repave this portion of Washington Avenue and upgrade drainage in the area.

Thanks for Reading CityLine

CityLine is published electronically by the Office of the City Manager and is designed to keep our community informed. We welcome your thoughts, comments and questions. You may e-mail them to CityLine@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us, or you may call the Communications Division at (408) 730-7535, TDD (408) 730-7501.

Town Center Redevelopment
While work is continuing on the new Target store – which has a planned opening in late fall 2009 – the Town Center redevelopment project has been idled. As widely reported in the news media, the developer, like many others, has been caught in the global economic meltdown and has been unable to secure the additional financing needed to complete the project. While the developer continues to seek the needed money, the City is doing what we can to assist. Recognizing the importance of the redevelopment to the City, when our staff and City Council were in Washington at the National League of Cities meetings, we took that opportunity to meet with our Washington representatives and ask for their assistance in trying to free up some money from the banks. We were generally encouraged by their responses and while there are limits to what the legislators can do, sometimes just letting others – like the banks – know how important a project is can help get the money flowing.

Sunnyvale Works! – The Work is About To Begin
Last month, Mayor Spitaleri and City Manger Gary Luebbers announced Sunnyvale Works!, a program that will jump-start some 40 capital improvement projects and get about $60 million of work going in the City. That provides opportunities for about 600 jobs related to the work, as companies who win the construction awards staff up to do the work. We’re at the point now when some of the initial contract bids are about to be opened, which is the next step in actually having construction workers out there digging in the dirt.

The Sunnyvale Works! program is receiving national attention. This week’s Nation’s Cities Weekly, the official newsletter from the National League of Cities, features a page-three article on Sunnyvale Works! If you would like to read the story, click here.

Some More Features of Sunnyvale Works!
Watch for the next CityLine. We are preparing a new program that will be part of Sunnyvale Works! designed to encourage project workers to shop in Sunnyvale. Every dollar spent on gas, in restaurants, or for other shopping brings sales tax revenues to the City. This part of Sunnyvale Works! is designed to return some additional money, in the form of that sales tax revenue, to the City.

Sunnyvale Works! information will be posted and updated on our Web site at SunnyvaleWorks.inSunnyvale.com. You can also read the City’s news release that announced the program by clicking here.

Borregas Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridges Are Open
Nearly 30 bicyclists rode across the new span over S.R. 237, breaking a ceremonial ribbon at the far end and officially opening the Borregas Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridges. The two spans are aligned with Borregas Avenue and cross S.R. 237 and U.S. 101, providing a much-needed corridor joining central Sunnyvale with Moffett Park, Caltrain and VTA Light Rail. Many of the cyclists who took part in the grand opening event work in Moffett Park and will use the bridges as part of their daily work commute.

Sunnyvale’s Innovative Programs Get Their Just Due
It seems like just business as usual to us now, but the E-OneStop service was pretty radical when it started. Sunnyvale originated the idea of a OneStop center, a single point of contact where the public could meet with planners, review designs, check zoning requirements, meet with a fire marshal … in general, take care of a lot of the detail work at one time in one location. The service was so successful that we created the electronic, online version, known as E-OneStop. That, too, has become a very popular resource. We now have been told that Professor Genie Stowers, Chair of San Francisco State University’s Department of Public Administration, is planning on using our E-OneStop center as an example of a successful and comprehensive government service. It will be detailed in a book about online services Stowers is writing.

Web Shortcut to Tree Information
We’ve recently added a new Web shortcut to make it easier to find information on the Web. Trees.inSunnyvale.com will take you to information about obtaining tree-removal permits and tree preservation requirements. We will also soon be adding additional links to Public Works information about street trees.

Spiffy New Newspaper Racks on Murphy Avenue
New newspaper racks are being installed around historic Murphy Avenue. Clusters of modular racks will replace the odd-ball collection of individual news racks that aren’t the most attractive part of the streetscape. The modular racks have been under discussion for some time now, and it’s good to see them finally taking their place.

Tennis Anyone?
In general, tennis courts must be rebuilt every 20-30 years, and in January 2009, City Council approved funds to rebuild seven of the 16 courts at the Las Palmas Tennis Center, which was originally constructed in 1976. Work on the seven courts in the worst condition began the week of April 27, and will be staged over a three-month period to accommodate the licensee’s programs and operations. If approved by City Council as part of its budget adoption this June, the remaining nine courts will be rebuilt over the next four fiscal years.

Getting to School is Becoming Safer
The City’s Safe Routes to School project is nearing completion. All facilities are installed, including three new lighted crosswalks, four speed radar signs, and a number of countdown pedestrian traffic signals.

Public Safety Dispatchers Honored
When there is a cry for help in our community, the voice that answers the cry and provides the help is usually a Department of Public Safety dispatcher. These unsung heroes have delivered babies by phone, helped frantic parents clear an obstruction from a child’s throat, juggled dispatching police, fire and medical help, all while taking down a suspect’s description and trying to keep the victim calm. It’s not easy, but our professional dispatchers manage to do it all every day, 24-hours a day. When you dial 9-1-1, you know your pleas will be heard.

Dispatchers Paola Dunson, Debbie Patterson and Jenny Wood were all cited for their outstanding service. In addition, Dunson was given the award for Emergency Medical Dispatcher of the year for her outstanding performance in dealing with a victim who had been stabbed. Even though this was an extremely volatile and emotional call, she was able to ascertain the suspect’s location, direct officers and emergency medical personnel to the scene, all the while calming and reassuring the victim, who was losing consciousness during the call. The outcome of Dunson’s efforts? The suspect was captured a few blocks away and the victim was able to fully recover.

Thanks for Reading CityLine
CityLine is published electronically by the Office of the City Manager and is designed to keep our community informed. We welcome your thoughts, comments and questions. You may e-mail them to CityLine@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us, or you may call the Communications Division at (408) 730-7535, TDD (408) 730-7501.

Sunnyvale Works! – A Bold Initiative by the City

Mayor Spitaleri and City Manger Gary Luebbers announced Sunnyvale Works! at a City Hall news conference Thursday, April 9. The program will put nearly $61 million in capital improvement projects into action on an accelerated basis, with the first of these starting in as soon as six weeks from now.
The concept behind the new program is to take City capital improvement funds that are currently programmed to be spent over the next half-dozen years or so, and push them into the current year. The funding for the program comes from dedicated City funds that cannot be used for any other purpose. The City dollars will be supplemented with grant and federal stimulus monies. About 30 projects have been identified that will fall into the Sunnyvale Works program.

Many reporters featured the story, including KCBS Radio, and the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, which not only featured the story on the front page of the April 10 edition, but also was mentioned as part of an editorial applauding stimulus efforts by the cities of Sunnyvale, San Jose and Fremont.

The two biggest advantages Sunnyvale Works! brings to our residents: more work can be done for less money because contractors are bidding  lower prices for work in the current economy, and the scope of work is likely to fund as many as 600 jobs with those companies that are awarded contracts in the Sunnyvale Works! program.

Sunnyvale Works! information will be posted and updated on our Web site at SunnyvaleWorks.inSunnyvale.com. You can also read the City’s news release that announced the program by clicking here.

Borregas Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridges Almost Ready to Open
The two new Borregas Bicycle/Pedestrian bridges will have a grand opening ceremony at 10:30 a.m., April 22. We couldn’t think of a better time than Earth Day to open these two important bicycle paths. One bridge spans busy State Route 237, the other crosses over the even-busier U.S. 101. These two freeways have historically created a roadblock for bicyclists and pedestrians. As more workers use bicycles to get to work every day, the freeways made it very inconvenient for bikes to ravel to Moffett Park businesses. The opening of the two bridges will eliminate the problem, making the trip easier and safer.

Draft Housing and Community Revitalization Sub-element Update Submitted to State
City staff and consultants delivered the Draft Housing and Community Revitalization Sub-element Update to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) on March 25. Public input received at various outreach meetings and during the joint study session with Council and both the Planning and Housing commissions was incorporated into the draft and was included in the appendix.  HCD has 60 days to review the draft and provide City staff with their questions and/or comments, prior to Planning Commission and Council review and consideration of its adoption as a General Plan Amendment.

The Draft Housing and Community Revitalization Sub-element Update is available online at HousingElement.inSunnyvale.com.

Cops. It’s Not Just a TV Show
Here’s another example of police work at its best by Sunnyvale officers. On March 17, Public Safety Officer Brain Gantt observed a suspicious vehicle in front of him being driven by known members of a local gang.  Using the in-car computer, he was able to quickly check the car and found it to be recently stolen out of Sunnyvale. When other officers were in position, he attempted a car stop, but a short pursuit ensued.

The officers were able to pursue the car and minimize the risk to the community by using their training and following the established policies and procures.  The pursuit lasted only a few minutes and ended when the vehicle spun out, stopped and the occupants fled.  They were quickly apprehended by our officers with the help of Santa Clara PD officers.

Subsequent investigation by our detectives revealed the suspects appear to be involved in a burglary/stolen vehicle ring.  Another stolen vehicle was recovered that night using information obtained from the suspects, and it is hoped more arrests will follow as the investigation progresses.

Attention Golfers: Sunken Gardens Tee Renovation is Underway
Work began March 30 on the Sunken Gardens Golf Course Tee Renovation project. While not nearly as extensive as last year’s renovation at Sunnyvale Golf Course, it will bring welcomed improvements to the playing conditions for our golfers at Sunken Gardens Golf Course.

Baseball and Softball Season Opens
“Play ball!” cried out the umpires Saturday, March 21, marking opening day for Little League baseball in Sunnyvale.  Our City is host to six youth baseball and softball leagues, including National, Southern, Metro and Serra Little Leagues, Lakewood Pony Baseball and Silicon Valley Girls Softball league.  More than 1,000 player participants enjoy the sports, supported by the hundreds of adult and youth volunteers who donate their time and talent to facilitate this great American pastime.

Repairs to Columbia Neighborhood Center Internal Gutters to Begin
The Columbia Neighborhood Center (CNC) gymnasium was recently closed due to significant water damage caused by a faulty internal gutter system.  Significant repairs are necessary, and include: new external gutter system to replace the internal system, replacement of the entire south interior wall and portions of the remaining walls, and complete floor replacement.

On April 1, sealed bids were publicly opened for the gutter repair work.  Six firms bid on the project.  The low bid was $57,000, well below the initial estimate of $90,000.

City Aggressively Protects Itself from Conficker Computer Threat
The City of Sunnyvale, like most businesses today, relies on its computers. The City’s Information Technology Department (ITD) worked long hours to protect the City against the Conficker computer threat. ITD established a new set of staff protocols that were implemented over the course of just a couple of days, including an inspection of every computer on the City’s network. This is, in fact, just the latest in a long history of potential computer attacks. Government servers have always been viewed a potential targets for hackers and worms, trojans and every virus on the Web. Because of ITD’s vigilance, City staff is able to continue to serve our community with fully operational computer systems.

Caltrain Needs Volunteers to Serve on the Citizens Advisory Committee
Caltrain is seeking applications for its Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) to represent Santa Clara, San Mateo and San Francisco counties. Applicants must reside in one of these counties. The nine-member CAC will serve in an advisory capacity to the board of directors, providing input on the needs of current and potential rail customers. The CAC meets at 6 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month in San Carlos, just one block from the San Carlos Caltrain Station.

An application may be downloaded from www.caltrain.com, or you may call (650) 508-6223. Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m., May 11. Read the Caltrain news release by clicking here. Download an application by clicking here.

They’re Baaaa-aaack! (The Sheep and Goats, That Is)
With grasses and shrubs already knee high, the first fire control grazing of the closed Sunnyvale Landfill got underway March 29 with the arrival of 700 hundred sheep. Grazing vendor Living Systems Land Management will have a 24-hour per day shepherd on site while the sheep are here, which is expected to be several weeks.  A second grazing, likely with goats, will happen later in the year, with exact timing dependent on plant growth and emergence of problem weeds, such as yellow star thistle. One big advantage of using sheep to control the grasses is that unlike the mechanical mowers the City used to use, there never has been an instance of a sheep starting a fire in the dry grass.

With Rainy Season Over, Street Slurry Seal Projects Can Get Started
Now that the rain has pretty much stopped, we can get on with the business of slurry sealing streets. A contract has already been awarded, and sealing will begin this week (April 13), weather permitting. The first week of slurry seal is traditionally scheduled for the week of spring break, and includes the streets scheduled which are adjacent to schools that are on break at that time.  We’ve notified residents of scheduled streets to alert them to the fact their street will be have work done on it this year. You can check the schedule online by simply visiting Streets.inSunnyvale.com.

And That’s the Problem: The Rainy Season is Over!
We will likely still get a bit more rain, but not nearly enough to make up for the overall shortage of water in the reservoirs. Sunnyvale supplies water to our residents from four sources: Santa Clara Valley Water District, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, our own wells and recycled water that is suitable for landscape irrigation, industrial and other non-potable uses. The Santa Clara Valley Water District has called for a 15 percent reduction in water use, and we strongly encourage our residents and businesses to do all they can to reduce water usage. It’s a matter of critical importance for all of us. For more information on conserving water, visit our Web site at SaveWater.inSunnyvale.com.

We’re Still Looking Too – Volunteer to Serve on a Board or Commission
We’re once again recruiting community members to serve on City boards and commissions. Board and commission members play an advisory role to City Council, assisting in the City’s decision-making process. For more information about vacancies, terms and to download an application, visit BoardsandCommissions.inSunnyvale.com.

Thanks for Reading CityLine
CityLine is published electronically by the Office of the City Manager and is designed to keep our community informed. We welcome your thoughts, comments and questions. You may e-mail them to CityLine@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us, or you may call the Communications Division at (408) 730-7535, TDD (408) 730-7501.

Sunnyvale’s Fiscal Health: The View From the Top
Sunnyvale City Manager Gary Luebbers will discuss the City’s current and future fiscal health with City Council at the April 7 Council meeting. Luebbers will discuss the current economy’s impact on Sunnyvale, today and in the future. Like most government agencies – and private businesses as well – revenues are far below expectations. In Sunnyvale, revenues are $12-plus million less than had been projected when the current budget was adopted in June 2008.

“We have an enormous challenge facing us,” Luebbers explained. “We are going to need to look at how we do business as a city, and make appropriate changes in the City’s business model to ensure we are positioned to continue serving our residents and businesses into the future.” Luebbers believes the upcoming changes are not only necessitated by the global financial meltdown, but that many of the changes would have come about under any circumstance as government evolves and considers more efficient methods of service delivery.

The issues Luebbers plans on discussing are important too all of us who live or work in Sunnyvale. If you can’t attend the 7 p.m. April 7 meeting, they try to either watch it on KSUN-15, the City’s Comcast cable government access television station, or on the Internet at Webcasting.inSunnyvale.com.

Did you feel the March 30 earthquake?
It wasn’t really big, by our standards, measuring a 4.4 on the Richter scale. It was centered near Morgan Hill, but was certainly felt in Sunnyvale. Use it as a reminder: it’s time to finally get involved in the City’s SNAP program and get prepared to help your neighbors and yourself in an emergency. More information is on the Web at SNAP.inSunnyvale.com.

You’re Invited to an Earth Day Community Conversation
Among other City events planned for this year’s Earth Day week, is a community conversation on climate change. Sunnyvale will host a panel of local and regional business leaders to discuss new and emerging green technologies, and how they may impact our community and the lives of our residents.  The panel will be facilitated by Craig Horne, CEO/Co-founder of EnerVault, a Sunnyvale start-up energy storage company. Panel participants are: Kevin Surace, President and CEO of Serious Materials, a green construction materials manufacturer also located in Sunnyvale; Anna Kunkel, Field Marketing Specialist for REC Solar, a solar energy systems distributor/installer; Bob MacDonald, CEO of Skyline Solar, a large-scale, solar photovoltaic power systems manufacturer/installer; and Lee Shankara Colin, Director of Marketing for Ethical Approach Electronic Vehicle Center, distributor of the “Zap” electric car.

Light refreshments will be served and community members will be able to browse tables featuring a variety of local green products and services.  This free event will be held at City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Earth Day, April 22.  The event is registered with the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives’ National Conversation on Climate Change at www.climateconversation.org,  and will be taped for future playback on KSUN-15.  Funding is provided by the City’s Bay Area Air Quality Management District grant on capacity-building for greenhouse gas reduction.

Be sure to take a look at Green.inSunnyvale.com to see what else is going on during Earth Day week, including an opportunity to trade an old mercury fever thermometer for a mercury-free model at no cost.

Fire Inspection Fee for Apartment Buildings
As part of the Annual Review of Fees and Charges for Fiscal Year 2008/2009, Public Safety adopted a fire inspection service fee for apartment buildings.  This fee is allowable under the California Fire Code.  The fee is tiered, based on the number of units in the building or complex, and ranges from $271 for 3 to 19 units, to $1,193 for an apartment building or complex with 300 or more units.

We anticipate that this will bring in more than $400,000 to the General Fund annually.  Although the Department of Public Safety has performed these state-mandated inspections for many years, the new fee was implemented to help the City with cost recovery.

An Unlikely Winner in City Cost-savings
A technology-centric organization like the Information Technology Department (ITD) is not the first place one normally thinks of when it comes to cost-savings. But following the city manager’s direction to look for savings wherever we can, ITD has, during the past couple of weeks, saved an additional $3,610 in recurring annual costs and $4,579 in one-time costs through active contract management.  The department’s year-to-date savings are now $32,347.

IT has also launched an effort to find less costly alternatives for outsourced printing and has met with recreation management and staff to discuss alternatives for upcoming print jobs.

More Third-graders Getting Library Cards
The Third Grade Library Card campaign, organized by Sunnyvale Public Library in conjunction with the Sunnyvale Elementary School District (SESD), is gaining momentum. Nearly 100 third graders have signed up for library cards and have received their special cardholders at the Library. More children are signing up each day in this concerted effort by the SESD and the Library to promote reading and Library resources.

Solar Roots Growing in Sunnyvale
Calisolar, currently headquartered in Sunnyvale, is planning to open a new manufacturing facility in Sunnyvale. Company representatives and the project architect have met with staff several times regarding this new facility. Building plan review has been completed and the architect is working to revise the plans. Calisolar is developing a new type of solar panel.

And Silicon Labs, headquartered in Austin, Tex., is planning to open a research and design development facility in Sunnyvale. The company is relocating from Mountain View (along with changing its name at the same time).  Silicon Labs specializes in the design, manufacturing and marketing of mixed-signal integrated circuits. They will occupy a vacant two-story building consisting of approximately 43,000 square feet.

Southbound U.S. 101 Freeway Ramp Metering to Begin
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Valley Transportation Authority, Caltrans and cities along U.S. 101 in Santa Clara County are cooperating to initiate ramp metering for the southbound direction of the freeway.  Implementation is scheduled for early May 2009.  It is anticipated that ramp metering will assist freeway efficiency, particularly in chronically-congested areas near Great America Parkway and into San Jose.  A memorandum of understanding has been prepared to assure local street traffic does not experience delays due to the operation of ramp metering, and equipment has been installed to prevent queuing onto City streets.

ChoiceCollect: What Size Container is Most Popular?
It turns out the mid-sized carts are the most popular … and they typically save money for the customer. Final numbers on the recent ChoiceCollect residential garbage customer cart selection are in.   Residents chose carts in these percentages: 35-gallon – 29 percent; 65-gallon – 52 percent; and 95-gallon – 19 percent.

As expected, the majority of residential customers selected the 65-gallon middle size. As nearly all of these customers previously had the more expensive unlimited service, the majority of customers found that the new system provided them with a reduced cost for refuse collection.

Relatively little use has been made of the tags for extra garbage, indicating that most of the time most customers are able to fit their garbage into the cart. This was, of course, a main goal of ChoiceCollect, and the resulting increase in collection efficiency made it possible to reduce the number of garbage routes from 10 to nine, with an overall reduction in residential garbage collection costs.

Sunnyvale and Cupertino: Working Together on Homestead Road
One of the more challenging streets in Sunnyvale to keep track of for maintenance is Homestead Road. From Lawrence Expressway on the east to Stevens Creek on the west, Homestead is, in places, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Cupertino and half Sunnyvale/half Cupertino.  The city limit between Sunnyvale and Cupertino is not a straight line.  We often receive complaints about portions of Homestead that are actually in Cupertino, though the boundary in that location is not obvious.  In these shared service areas it is helpful when both agencies can work together on a solution, so half the street is not repaired, leaving the other half to look in far inferior condition by comparison.  Unfortunately, it is usually difficult to coordinate the large expense for both sides due to differing priorities and budget limitations.

Cupertino Public Works has announced to our Public Works Department their intention to use economic stimulus funds to resurface a portion of Homestead shared with Sunnyvale.  The area they have identified is from Sunnyvale-Saratoga Road (DeAnza Boulevard) to Mary Avenue.  Approximately two-thirds of the surface of this section is within Cupertino.  The estimate of the cost for the portion within Sunnyvale is approximately $400,000.  While it would be possible for Cupertino to resurface their portion with no involvement from Sunnyvale, it makes sense to cooperate to provide a clean, complete project within the limits identified.  The Public Works and Finance departments have reviewed the project and found there is sufficient funding for Sunnyvale to participate.

An agreement will be required with Cupertino to include the entire roadway referenced in the project to be bid and constructed, and various details of lead agency, cost-sharing specifications, engineering, inspection, payment and necessary details. These will all be scheduled for Council approval as soon as possible.

Help Your City: Volunteer to Serve on a Board or Commission
We’re once again recruiting community members to serve on City boards and commissions. Board and commission members play an advisory role to City Council, assisting in the City’s decision-making process. For more information about vacancies, terms and to download an application, visit BoardsAndCommissions.inSunnyvale.com.

Thanks for Reading CityLine
CityLine is published electronically by the Office of the City Manager and is designed to keep our community informed. We welcome your thoughts, comments and questions. You may e-mail them to CityLine@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us, or you may call the Communications Division at (408) 730-7535, TDD (408) 730-7501.

New Directors to Library and NOVA
Two new directors have been named in the past week.

Lisa G. Rosenblum will join City Staff April 6, assuming direction of one of the busiest libraries in the state. Rosenblum comes to Sunnyvale from Hayward, where she has been director of library and neighborhood services. She is a lecturer at the San Jose State University’s School of Library and Information Science. Prior to coming to Hayward, Rosenblum was the supervising librarian at San Jose’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Main Library.

Our other new director is Kris Stadelman, who will start with the City April 20. Stadelman will head up NOVA, the North Valley Workforce Board. Stadelman has been serving as the CEO of the Workforce Development Council of Seattle – King County. She has an outstanding record of service and she and her organization have received numerous awards, including the 2008 U. S. Department of Labor’s Recognition of Excellence Award. NOVA is a nonprofit, federally-funded employment and training agency that provides workforce services to employers and job seekers alike. While NOVA represents a consortium of seven cities, Sunnyvale provides administrative support to the organization.

NOVA Receives Murphy Award
At a recent Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce annual awards dinner, NOVA was selected to receive this year’s Chairperson’s Award. Ms. Tammy Bigelow, formerly from Spansion, is the Chamber Board of Directors’ chairperson and the purpose of her selection of NOVA “was to recognize the business or person who had offered substantial assistance to the Chair during her term of office.” As recent news articles indicate, NOVA had many opportunities in 2008 to work with Bigelow and her company in addressing workforce challenges and potential solutions.

Developer Notifies Sunnyvale of Project Slowdown
The developers of the Town Center redevelopment project have notified the City of a construction slowdown as they seek another round of financing for the construction. The approximately $750 million redevelopment project is converting the shuttered indoor mall into a more traditional open-air downtown environment, encompassing retail shops, restaurants and a cineplex, along with commercial office space and nearly 300 homes. Since the developer took over the project, every construction milestone has been met, and it appears the next milestone – completion of retail shells – will be completed by the due date at the end of this month (March 31, 2009). The next scheduled milestone will not come due until the end of the year.

While the developer has already invested substantial equity in the project which is now approximately 40 percent complete, an additional loan is necessary to complete construction. While this in itself is not unusual, the unprecedented condition of the global financial markets is affecting the developer’s ability to gain a new loan. The developers will advise the City of the status of the negotiations in the next 60 to 90 days.

Neighborhood Enhancement Program Continues in Orchard Gardens
The focus of the most recent meeting in the Orchard Gardens Neighborhood Enhancement Program was crime prevention and public safety issues. DPS Neighborhood Resource Officer Jim Davis discussed issues Orchard Gardens residents have brought up, along with general crime prevention techniques. Neighborhood Preservation discussed junk, debris and trash control and upcoming community clean-up events. Previous neighborhood enhancement program meetings have focused on forming a neighborhood association, property maintenance priorities and common issues in the neighborhood such as transients, gangs, parking, speeding, traffic signal timing, loitering in the park and drugs/drunk in public.

How Busy is our Library?
The Library has been crowded with people checking out materials, using Internet access computers and attending a multitude of programs. During February, 69,924 people came to the Library, an average of 2,590 people per day. The average number of people in the Library per day during 2007/08 was 2,300. During the month of February 2009, an average of 7,373 books, DVDs and other Library materials were checked out per day; in February 2008, a total of 194,103 Library materials were checked out. This year in February, 199, 061 materials were checked out. In this year to date, 1,630,677 items have been checked out. During same time period in the last fiscal year, 1,528,707 materials circulated, 101,970 less items. Circulation of Library materials is trending toward 2.5 million items for this fiscal year, up from 2.3 million in 2007-2008.

Economic Stimulus and Sunnyvale
The historic $787 billion economic stimulus package will provide state and local governments with funding for education, healthcare, energy, infrastructure, law enforcement, transportation, and more. The measure includes more than 75 federal programs that will benefit local government. Some programs will provide funding directly to local governments, and others will require a grant competition for stimulus dollars. To help ensure Sunnyvale maximizes its opportunities under this program, the assistant city manager is coordinating the City’s efforts related to economic stimulus funding and the requirements for competing successfully for federal grants.

High Speed Rail
On March 24, The California High Speed Rail Authority will make a presentation to City Council and answer questions on the high speed rail project and current project efforts as they relate to Sunnyvale. This will be at a one-hour study session preceding the March 24 Council meeting. The Authority is currently in the process of scoping a project-specific environmental impact report/statement. Comments on the scope are due no later than April 6, 2009.

Traffic Lights in Stormy Weather
Stormy weather can cause traffic signal problems due to power supply issues, flooded equipment, and windblown signal devices. The recent storms tested Sunnyvale’s traffic signal equipment. Sunnyvale has equipped signals with battery back-up systems; as a result, no signal outages were reported during the weather. There was at least one wind-related problem reported, but on the whole, the signal system remained functioning normally. Sunnyvale has a rapid response policy to reports of traffic signal problems; if problems are observed, individuals can call the Department of Public Works City Hall contact point at (408) 730-7415 during normal business hours, or the Department of Public Safety dispatcher’s office at (408) 730-7180 during other times.

Thanks for Reading CityLine
CityLine is published electronically by the Office of the City Manager and is designed to keep our community informed. We welcome your thoughts, comments and questions. You may e-mail them to CityLine@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us, or you may call the Communications Division at (408) 730-7535, TDD (408) 730-7501.

Sunnyvale’s Department of Community Services
City’s Department of Parks and Recreation has changed its name to the Department of Community Services. The name is not just cosmetic, but in fact better reflects the department’s true services and values. Parks and Recreation engenders images of green fields, golf courses and summer softball. And those are part of what this department provides.

The Department of Community Services also is responsible for operating the Community Center, Senior Center and maintaining all City buildings, from the Library to fire stations to City Hall. Want to rent a ballroom for a wedding? The Department of Community Services will take care of you. The point is, this department provides services that go far beyond what its old name implies. It truly is interwoven into the fabric of our community.

And Now an Addition to the Department of Community Services
Since 1994, the City has operated Columbia Neighborhood Center in the northern part of the City. This center provides a wealth of services to the community, ranging from after-school programs to parenting classes to operating a health clinic. Because of the wide range of community services offered at CNC – and you can see where this is going – CNC operations have been moved from the Office of the City Manager into the Department of Community Services. This move does not herald a change in services, but in fact is strictly an internal change to the City’s reporting structure.

Registered Voters in Sunnyvale
According to the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, Sunnyvale is the city with the second-largest number of registered voters in the county. Following San Jose with 396, 928 voters, is Sunnyvale, with 56,587. The top five are rounded out with Santa Clara’s 46,814, Palo Alto’s 38,262 and Mountain View’s 33,774. Sunnyvale is the second-largest city in the county, and it’s good to see our voter registrations reflect that fact. Not registered yet? It’s easy. Get a registration form online at www.sccvote.org, or stop by the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall.

Planning and Zoning Customer Satisfaction
While the City’s business services have long been highly rated and we have earned a reputation of being very business-friendly, we don’t sit on our laurels. City planners not only continually strive to provide prompt, thorough services, but we also check with our customers to ensure we are meeting their needs. In our most recent survey, we sent out satisfaction rating cards to 670 of our customers. Of the cards that were returned, 92 percent stated City planning and zoning staff met or exceeded their expectations.

Comment Period Closes on Draft EIR for Palo Alto Medical Foundation Project
The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the Draft EIR on February 23 for the Palo Alto Medical Foundation project. Although many of the 24 speakers had submitted written comments, they wanted to make sure the Planning Commission was aware of their concerns about the project and potential environmental impacts. There were probably an additional 25 residents in attendance who did not speak. Of greatest concern appeared to be traffic-related issues, pedestrian safety and height of the parking structure and clinic office building. Planning and Traffic staff will meet with the EIR consultant to prepare the responses to comments, which will be included in the Final EIR, and will continue to meet regularly with residents and the applicant to discuss project issues and design options. The complexity of the comments on the Draft EIR will determine how much time is needed to prepare responses. Public hearings on the Final EIR and related project applications will be scheduled for the Planning Commission and City Council no sooner than April 2009.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Award
As City budgets become tighter, outside grant funding becomes even more important to the City. We are pleased to announce that we will be receiving two grants, totaling more than $800,000. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (economic stimulus funds), HUD notified the City on February 25 that we have been awarded the following:

• Recovery Act Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) – $332,405: Recipients shall give priority to projects that can award contracts based on bids within 120 days of the grant agreement. These funds would be in addition to the regular CDBG funds which the City receives annually (in an amount yet to be determined).

• Emergency Shelter Grant/Homelessness Prevention Fund – $508,191: This fund will provide financial assistance and services to prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless and help those who are experiencing homelessness to be quickly re-housed and stabilized.

In the next few months, staff will identify possible recipients and projects for these funds which could include a combination of human services and capital projects.

And NOVA Could See $3 Million
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, totaling almost $790 billion, contains funding for a broad range of job training. In addition, the bill contains revisions to the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance Act (TAA) that expands eligibility for this training resource beyond workers in manufacturing jobs to include the much-impacted service sector jobs that have also been lost to off-shoring, along with the public sector workforce. In addition, it increases the TAA training funds to states These appropriations should result in supplemental funding coming to NOVA of at least $3 million.

DPS Puts Critical Rescue Training to Good Use
At 4:11 p.m., February 22, DPS responded to Mathilda Avenue and Talisman Drive on a report of a vehicle collision with the driver trapped inside the vehicle. Officers found a vehicle had been traveling northbound Mathilda and lost control on the wet roadway, colliding into a cement light pole in the median. The light pole was sticking into the passenger compartment of the vehicle, trapping the driver inside. DPS rescuers utilized complex extrication techniques and tools including the “Jaws of Life” to extricate the driver, who suffered non-life threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital. Nine firefighters were involved in the extrication rescue. DPS prides itself in being a leader in the skills used for vehicle extrication and hosts a nationally-renowned annual vehicle extrication workshop which is attended by fire departments from all over the U.S.

Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) Receives Safety Award
The WPCP was awarded the Santa Clara Valley Section of the California Water Environment Association’s Plant Safety Award for 2008. With this local section award, the plant will now compete at the statewide level for the same honor – Plant Safety.

Murphy Streetscape and Utilities Project Moving Forward
The City received word from Caltrans approving the Murphy Avenue Streetscape and Utilities project plans. This Caltrans certification commits grant funds totaling $1.696 million from both the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Valley Transportation Authority. These grants fund a portion of the surface improvements; utilities improvements will be funded from the utility enterprise funds. The total project cost estimate is $7.1 million.

The project schedule has been modified to move construction into the winter months at the request of the downtown Sunnyvale businesses. Award of the construction contract is currently scheduled for June 2009, with construction not starting until after the summer music series in September 2009.

Thanks for Reading CityLine
CityLine is published electronically by the Office of the City Manager and is designed to keep our community informed. We welcome your thoughts, comments and questions. You may e-mail them to CityLine@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us, or you may call the Communications Division at (408) 730-7535, TDD (408) 730-7501.

The Downtown Parking Solution
We have received more than one letter asking about where to park while visiting downtown shops and restaurants. Free, on-street parking is available throughout downtown, but there are time limits imposed on parking. In response to requests from business owners, the parking restrictions – generally one, three or seven hours in length – are designed to keep enough parking available to provide space for shoppers to park.

If your visit to downtown will exceed the posted parking limit, you should consider using the new parking garage on the west (Mathilda Avenue) side of Macy’s. While there is a time limit for parking on the first two levels, the third level has no time limit and by parking there, you can spend as much time as you want in Sunnyvale’s shops and restaurants without a concern.

Town Center Redevelopment Project Activity
The second plan review for the 13-screen movie theater building has been completed. City staff met with the architect and developer to review outstanding issues and discuss the next steps needed to maintain the current schedule for construction to begin next month. Demolition of the Target building has been completed and soil excavation for the building foundation is proceeding.

Working With Neighboring Cities
During 2008, Council began an initiative to coordinate more closely with our neighboring cities – Santa Clara, Cupertino and Mountain View – on projects that may impact more than one city. One example of the issues that led to this approach is the egress from the new Kaiser Hospital in Santa Clara.

Grant Received for Lawrence Station Transit Village
VTA has awarded the City of Sunnyvale a $150,000 Community Design and Transportation (CDT) grant for the Lawrence Station Transit Village Study. Staff submitted the request in early January, indicating that the project was still in the feasibility analysis stage, and still subject to City Council review and approval. The project scored 91 of 100 points (the highest ranking of six projects submitted for this grant). The application included a letter of support from the City of Santa Clara, whose staff has been coordinating with Sunnyvale staff on the feasibility study. Staff will pursue other planning grants in the next few months; some of these applications may include joint grants for both cities. As a note, the City was also awarded a $150,000 CDT grant for El Camino Real Multi-modal Design Guidelines.

A number of across-the-border coordination and information meetings between staff and elected officials have already taken place. Most recently, Sunnyvale Planning and Transportation staff met with Santa Clara counterparts for an update on their General Plan update. Santa Clara staff will continue to keep Sunnyvale staff informed, and have invited comments on the draft concepts and policies. We anticipate providing Santa Clara with first round comments shortly. At that meeting, we also took the opportunity to advise Santa Clara of the upcoming “Coordinating Zoning for Projects Located near City Borders” study issue. Both cities’ staff have also been coordinating on a preliminary feasibility study for the Lawrence Station Transit Village Study.

Did You Know: Council, Board and Commission Members Get Ethics Training
While there is a state law that requires ethics training for all Councilmembers, the City goes beyond that mandate and requires ethics training for all board and commission members as well. The City coordinates the training program, which is required to be repeated every two years.

Federal Grant Funds Adult Library Programs for Baby Boomers
Through We’ve Only Just Begun, a federally-funded Library Services and Technology Act grant through the California State Library, Adult Services is offering programs targeted at Baby Boomer audiences. Brain Games Night brought more than 50 people into the Library to participate in mind-sharpening activities. A certified public accountant shared information on such issues as providing for aging parents, paying for college and managing your money, in his presentation The Sandwich Generation: a Dollars and Sense Workshop. The local P.G. Wodehouse Society entertained a large audience of fans by acting out scenes from some of Wodehouse’s books.

Quarterly Report to be Trimmed to Save Costs
Beginning with the spring edition (April 1) of Quarterly Report, we will reduce the size of our community newsletter from 16 pages to 12 pages. This reduction in size will net a printing and design savings of several thousand dollars a year. From an editorial standpoint, our intention is to eliminate the several pages of event calendars from the Quarterly Report by redirecting that information to the City’s online events calendar, which can be found at Events.inSunnyvale.com. This will enable us to continue to publish nearly the same amount of editorial content, minus the calendars.

Bay Trail Connecting Sunnyvale and Mountain View Soon to Open
A 2.4 mile section of the Bay Trail, connecting Sunnyvale with Mountain View, will soon be accessible to hikers and bikers. The project is part of the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project and has involved a partnership of varied agencies and parties including: San Francisco Bay Trail Project, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NASA Ames Research Center, 129th Air Rescue Wing of the California Air National Guard, California State Coastal Conservancy, Cargill Salt and the cities of Sunnyvale and Mountain View. The date for the opening ceremony has not, as yet, been determined.

Auto Theft Detection Goes High-tech
DPS is currently concentrating some effort in the detection of auto thefts Auto thefts are a consistent problem, and many of these are related to other crimes, including burglary and robbery. DPS recently received a grant for two license plate reader systems to be deployed in the field. These camera systems will be mounted on two patrol cars. The cameras constantly read vehicle license plates as the police units patrol the City, and compares them to a stolen vehicle database that is updated throughout the day. Several police departments in neighboring cities currently utilize this technology with great success.

It May be Raining, but Water Reserves are Still Very Low
In its January monthly report to customers, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission reports that while it has been very dry statewide, the Tuolumne River watershed has gotten more precipitation than just about everywhere else. Manual snow survey measurements made during the last week of January indicate that the snow pack is 73 percent of average February 1 conditions, and 46 percent of April 1 snow pack. Typical February 1 snow pack is 60 percent of April 1. These measurements indicate the mountain snow pack is less deep than the desired normal level. However, snow conditions in the Tuolumne are better than almost all other watersheds in the state. The forecast is for below-normal median conditions, due to the lack of mountain snow pack, early low-elevation melt due to warm weather in January, and below-average water-year precipitation.

This is obviously a serious condition, but the specific impact on the summer water supply will be affected significantly by what happens over the next three months. Last year, March, April and May were the driest such period on record in California. Significant snow pack and water supply typically arrive in spring storms. If the spring is wetter than normal, there is a chance of a decent water supply this summer.

The City of Sunnyvale relies on the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission for a large portion of City water. The City also purchases water from the Santa Clara Valley Water District, and we pump water from our own City wells.

Innovation Pays the City Dividends; Our Community Benefits
The City has recently begun receiving revenues from a federal tax credit based on Specialty Solid Waste’s use of compressed natural gas (CNG) as an alternative to diesel truck fuel. Under the terms of the refuse collection franchise, Specialty’s share of this tax credit is passed along to the City. This will return approximately $50,000 per year to the City’s refuse collection ratepayers. At the same time, the 30 CNG trucks in operation (soon to be 34 as more diesels are retired) provide quieter service and lower air emissions compared to diesels.

Cupertino Readies Opening of Mary Avenue Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge
The City of Cupertino will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of the newly-constructed Mary Avenue bicycle and pedestrian overpass. The ceremony has been scheduled for 3 p.m., April 30, and will take place at the south end of the bridge at Meteor and Mary avenues. The City of Sunnyvale contributed funding to this important link that crosses over I-280.

Thanks for Reading CityLine
CityLine is published electronically by the Office of the City Manager and is designed to keep our community informed. We welcome your thoughts, comments and questions. You may e-mail them to CityLine@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us, or you may call the Communications Division at (408) 730-7535, TDD (408) 730-7501.

Study Issues/Budget Issues Workshop
City Councilmembers spent most of Friday (January 23) in their annual Study Issues/Budget Issues Workshop. While the final study issues calendar won’t become final until next month, City Manager Gary Luebbers had some pretty straight talk on the current economic environment. His outlook is summarized in his memo to Council that preceded the workshop.

A key point in Luebbers’ memo is that, given the current bleak economic forecasts, staff “believes that General Fund revenue will now be at least $12 million lower than original projections.” Luebbers explained the change is primarily the result of a significant slowing of development-related revenues over the past two months, compounded by a 19 percent drop in Transient Occupancy Tax revenues for November 2008 as compared to November 2007.

News Media Views Recovered Stolen Property
Local reporters and TV cameras recently visited the Department of Public Safety to report on the recovery of some $20,000 in stolen flat-screen televisions, computers, jewelry and other items. The arrest of three suspects led DPS investigators to the loot, which is likely to solve a dozen residential burglaries in the southwest portion of Sunnyvale, plus four burglaries in Santa Clara and one in San Jose. The break in the cases came about because a resident was able to give DPS a physical description of a suspect seen at an interrupted burglary. Keen-eyed patrol officers who flooded the area looking for the suspect found him, which then led investigators to the other suspects.

The Sunnyvale Sun, Mercury News, Bay City News Service, KTVU-2, KNTV-11, KDTV-14, KTSF-26, KGO Radio and other media outlets covered the story.

FBI Report: Sunnyvale’s Crime Rate Drops Again
Sunnyvale’s Crime Summary Report for 2008 is based upon property and violent crimes reported to the FBI each year. The FBI crime data is the most reliable information available, and it is the data our Department of Public Safety (DPS) uses to measure the effectiveness of its efforts. It is important to remember that our crime counts (total number of crimes in each category) are very low, thus yielding large percentage changes with small actual increases or decreases in these numbers.

The City’s crime rate in 2007 was 2,062, and in 2008, the crime rate decreased to 2,037. Although there was an overall decrease compared to last year, we did experience increases in aggravated assaults and arsons. DPS is using crime analysis to determine why these crimes increased. In the mean time, DPS will continue to deploy officers who will focus on suppression and enforcement, while simultaneously the Crime Prevention component of DPS will continue their efforts in providing programs and public education.

Planning an Event in Sunnyvale? Check the Calendar!
Did you know the City maintains an online calendar of events? The purpose of the calendar is two-fold. First, it is a ready reference for times and locations for City meetings and events. But the calendar also serves a second purpose, one that is vital to event planners. If you are considering holding an event in the City, it is always wise to check the calendar to see if there are any City events scheduled for the same day and time as your proposed event.

You can easily check the events calendar by visiting Events.inSunnyvale.com. If your nonprofit organization is planning an event and would like to have it listed on the City’s events calendar, call (408) 720-7599, TDD (408) 730-7501, to check on listing guidelines and policies.

And Speaking of Community Events, Are You Planning One?
As a reminder, if you are planning any community event, from a simple block party to a major festival, the City requires that an application for the event be filed at least 60 days in advance of the event. This gives the City time to review the application and to coordinate it among the various City departments. While block parties and small events are simple matters, larger events may require submission of a traffic plan, safety plan or other documentation. For more information, visit EventApplication.inSunnyvale.com, or call (408) 730-7599, TDD (408) 730-7501.

Walkability Workshop – Saturday, March 7
Each year, the City of Sunnyvale hosts a workshop with the goal of engaging and educating our community. This year, we are working with the Office of County Supervisor Liz Kniss to produce a Walkability Workshop, facilitated by a trained walkability expert.

The purpose of the workshop is for residents to identify and express their walkability concerns during an interactive walk. Prior to walking the pre-determined route, there will be a participant briefing, including the types of issues of which to be aware during the walk. Residents will walk the route in groups and make note of their concerns along the way. Following the walk, lunch will be provided. During this working lunch, small and large group discussions will take place regarding possible solutions and actions strategies to address concerns.

The Walkability Workshop is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Saturday, March 7. For more information, visit Walkability.inSunnyvale.com, or call (408) 730-7472, TDD (408) 730-7501.

Sunnyvale Golf Course Finds Environmentally-Friendly Solution to Water Issue
For many years, groundwater has been seeping into the tunnel under Highway 237 at Sunnyvale Golf Course. This groundwater had to be pumped from the floor of the tunnel and allowed to drain up along State Route 237, otherwise the tunnel would become impassable in a matter of a few hours. As water has become a more critical resource in the past few years, Golf Operations staff saw this as a potential source of water to fill the canals and ponds on the back five holes of the golf course. This not only made sense from an economic standpoint, but also environmentally. In the previous fiscal year, the City spent approximately $5,000 to keep the pond on the 18th hole filled with water.

In the summer of 2008, Golf Operations staff added a pipeline from the tunnel across the 14th fairway to the pond on the 18th hole. We are now able to use this formerly wasted water to keep the ponds on the 16th and 18th holes filled, as well as the canals that connect these two lakes. This project came at a minimal initial cost of a few hundred dollars, and we have now eliminated approximately $5,000 per year in water costs.

From an environmental perspective, we created a suitable habitat for ducks and other waterfowl on the course. One of the goals of our participation in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses has been to try and enhance wildlife habitat on the golf course. This type of habitat can be particularly critical in urban areas such as Sunnyvale. While we believe there are other areas of the golf course that can be used to create excellent wildlife habitat in the future, these areas were of particular importance because they also provided a water source for the birds and other animals.

We Pause in Remembrance …
Tomorrow, Wednesday, January 28, marks the 47th anniversary of the line-of-duty death of Public Safety Officer Gary Larson. On Sunday evening, January 28, 1962, PSO Larson responded to a report of a liquor store robbery on Murphy Avenue and sighted possible suspects fleeing the scene. He pursued the suspects in his vehicle, then on foot into an open field on El Camino Real east of Henderson. A gun battle ensued between PSO Larson and the suspects, and PSO Larson was fatally wounded, becoming the City’s first public safety officer killed in the line of duty. Both suspects were taken into custody.

In keeping with City tradition, flags will be flown at half-staff January 28 in honor of PSO Larson.

Thanks for Reading CityLine
CityLine is published electronically by the Office of the City Manger and is designed to keep our community informed. We welcome your thoughts, comments and questions. You may e-mail them to CityLine@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us, or you may call the Communications Division at (408) 730-7535, TDD (408) 730-7501.

What Do You Do With Expired Medicines?
Now you can bring them to Department of Public Safety (DPS) Fire Stations. All six DPS stations will accept your pharmaceuticals for safe disposal. It is no longer acceptable to dump medicines down the toilet. Some drugs do not get filtered out and can harm the environment. But proper disposal through the fire stations ensures you will protect the environment.

The disposal program does not accept “sharps” (used needles and lancets) or illegal narcotics. To dispose of sharps, check out www.earth911.org for sharps disposal sites.

For more information, call (408) 730-7110, TDD (408) 730-7501, or visit MedDrop.inSunnyvale.com. You may also bring your pharmaceuticals to one of the following fire stations:

Station 1 – 171 N. Mathilda Ave. (at California Avenue)
Station 2 – 795 E. Arques Ave. (at Wolfe Road)
Station 3 – 910 Ticonderoga (at Mary Avenue)
Station 4 – 996 S. Wolfe Rd. (at Maria Lane)
Station 5 – 1120 Lockheed Way (at Mathilda Avenue)
Station 6 – 1282 N. Lawrence Station Rd. (near Elko and State Route 237)

City Council Selects New Vice Mayor
At their January 6 meeting, City Council selected Councilmember Christopher R. Moylan to serve as the City’s vice mayor. While the selection of mayor was recently changed to be a two-year term, the vice mayor still serves a one-year term and is selected by Council at their first meeting in January.

Council Appoints Dean J. Chu as Interim Councilmember
With Councilmember Otto Lee’s call up to active duty with a pending one-year deployment to Iraq, City Council was faced with the prospect of an empty seat until his return. While Councilmember Lee’s seat must be held for him until his return, Council did decide at their December 16 meeting that an interim appointment should be made to keep seven voting Councilmembers on the dais.

Former Councilmember Dean J. Chu was named by Council to fill Councilmember Lee’s seat until Councilmember Lee returns from active duty. Interim Councilmember Chu will take is seat on the dais beginning with the January 13 Council meeting.

Roadmap to Council Seating: Who’s Where?
Council has also rearranged their seating positions on the dais. If you attend Council meetings, or watch them on KSUN-15 or on a webcast, the new seating order, from left-to-right as viewed by the public, is: Councilmember David Whittum, Councilmember Ron Swegles, Vice Mayor Christopher R. Moylan, Mayor Anthony (Tony) Spitaleri, Interim Councilmember Dean J. Chu, Councilmember John Howe, and Councilmember Melinda Hamilton.

Study Issues and Budget Issues Workshop Coming Soon
January 23 is the date for the City’s Study Issues and Budget Issues Workshop. This all-day Council workshop will be the time when Councilmembers create a priority ranking for the scores of proposed study issues. Following the prioritized list, staff will determine how many of the study issues can be accommodated using existing resources, and these study issues will then get scheduled. Council will approve the final calendar of study issues at a later meeting.

KSUN-15 Programming Note
If you can’t make it to the Study Issues and Budget Issues Workshop, you do have other viewing options. The workshop will be broadcast live on both KSUN-15 and through a webcast at Webcasting.inSunnyvale.com. In addition, the workshop will be re-broadcast Sunday, January 25, Monday, January 26, Tuesday, January 27 and Saturday, January 31. All broadcasts will begin at 8:30 a.m.

Thanks for Reading CityLine
CityLine is published electronically by the Office of the City Manger and is designed to keep our community informed. We welcome your thoughts, comments and questions. You may e-mail them to CityLine@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us, or you may call the Communications Division at (408) 730-7535, TDD (408) 730-7501.

Councilmember Lee Called to Active Duty
Councilmember Otto Lee, who holds a commission in the Naval Reserve, has been called to active duty and is expected to spend a one-year tour of duty in Iraq. While Councilmember Lee will begin his active duty stint in late December, he is expected to participate in the January 6 Council meeting by phone. That is likely to be the last meeting he will be part of until his return in a year.

Councilmembers voted December 16 to name an interim Councilmember to fill the seat until Councilmember Lee returns. Under state law, the seat must be held until either the end of the term or the absent member returns, whichever occurs first. At the same meeting, Councilmembers voted to offer the interim seat to the candidate for Council who received the most votes without being seated in the November 2007 election.

Sunnyvale’s Budget Report: Good News and Bad News
The City’s Finance Department reported the final outcome of the Fiscal Year 2007/08 budget to Council December 16. The good news: the City finished the year right where the budget called for.

The bad news, however, was a forecast for our current FY 2008/09. It appears we will be down about $9 million from projected drops in sales tax revenues (primarily auto and high-tech sales), the Transient Occupancy Tax, also known as the “hotel tax,” lower revenues from developers and losses in interest from invested funds.

The City’s long-term Resource Allocation Plan, known as the 20-Year RAP, does provide the City a cushion of time in which to analyze what needs to be done to keep the City financially stable. The 20-Year Rap is not a reserve fund per se, but rather a fund specifically designed to be paid into during the good years, then drawn down to balance the budget in the leaner years. Last year the City was able to pay more than $5 million into the fund. For staff and Council, however, future budgeting, at least for the next few years, will be a challenge.

A More Aggressive Approach to Neighborhood Preservation
Council also requested staff to report back with a proposal that would, among other things, increase the size of administrative fines levied for code violations. Currently the first violation carries a $50 fine, escalating to $500 for the fifth and subsequent fines. Staff has proposed an increase to $100 for the first violation, $200 for the second violation occurring within 12 months and $500 for each additional violation within a 12 month period.

More Office Space?
Sand Hill Property Management has requested Council to allow them to explore expanding one of the buildings in the Town Center redevelopment project to permit additional office space. An unnamed prospective tenant is interested in occupying the building, but needs more space. Sand Hill is considering eliminating the second-floor retail space in that building and expanding it from three stories to five stories to accommodate the tenant. It should be noted that Council has taken no action that would permit the change in construction, but has only accepted the request for a specific plan amendment that could ultimately allow the change.

We Wish You Happy Holidays, With Some Reminders
We hope all our residents have an enjoyable holiday period and safe celebrations. Please use a designated driver and avoid driving impaired. Law enforcement agencies throughout the region have stepped up enforcement to take impaired drivers off the road and keep the rest of us safe.

And we hope we aren’t jumping the gun, but we do want to remind our residents who have holiday trees what they need to do to recycle the tree after the holidays. Read our news release for all the information you need.

City Staffing for the Holidays
City offices will be closed the day before Christmas and Christmas, then again the day before New Year’s day and on New Year’s Day. Between those days, City Hall will be open, but with reduced staffing. Please read our holiday news release to find out about other City facilities.

Thanks for Reading CityLine
CityLine is published electronically by the Office of the City Manger and is designed to keep our community informed. We welcome your thoughts, comments and questions. You may e-mail them to CityLine@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us, or you may call the Communications Division at (408) 730-7535, TDD (408) 730-7501.