PSC 03-14-2024
CUPERTINO PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, March 14, 2024 6:00 p.m.
City Hall, 10300 Torre Avenue
CALL TO ORDER
Acting Chair Bobby Toda called to order this meeting of the Cupertino Public Safety
Commission at 6:02 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, 2024.
ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present: Bobby Toda
Neal Evans
Sidharth Rajaram
Nirmalendu Das
Commissioners Absent: None
Staff Present: Lt. Jason Brown, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office
Tom Chin, Emergency Manager, City of Cupertino
Meredith Albert, Emergency Management Analyst, City of
Cupertino
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Subject: Minutes from January 11, 2024
Recommended Action: Approve minutes from January 11, 2024
Commissioner Das motioned to approve the minutes; Commissioner Rajaram seconded
the motion; Ayes: Das, Toda, Evans, Rajaram. Noes: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.
POSTPONEMENTS
None
ORAL COMMUNICATION
None
WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
None
OLD BUSINESS
2. Subject: Public Safety Forum
Recommended Action: Receive an updated report on the Public Safety Forum
Presenter: Tom Chin, Emergency Manager, City of Cupertino
The format for the 2024 Public Safety Forum, which will be held on October 17, 2024, was
discussed. Emergency Manager Chin reviewed the format of the annual Public Safety
forum for the benefit of new commissioners. Emergency Manager Chin suggested
changing from the presentation-style format to a town hall-style meeting with a panel
that includes the elected Sheriff, the appointed County Fire Chief, and the City Manager.
It was recommended that the Commission consider inviting a superintendent from a
local school district to participate. It was suggested that the public be asked to submit
questions before the meeting or during the meeting. Commissioners discussed
participation at past forums and talked about ways to encourage participation.
Commissioner Evans made a motion to receive the report. Commissioner Rajaram
seconded. Roll call vote. Ayes: Das, Evans, Rajaram and Toda. Noes: None. Abstain:
None. Absent: None.
NEW BUSINESS
3. Subject: Election of Public Safety Commission Chair and Vice Chair for calendar year
2024
Recommended Action: Elect Chair and Vice Chair for the term ending January 31, 2025
Presenter: Tom Chin
Commissioner Evans motioned to nominate Commissioner Toda to serve as the Public
Safety Commission Chair for the term ending January 31, 2025. Commissioner Das
seconded the motion.
Roll call vote. Ayes: Das, Evans, Rajaram and Toda. Noes: None. Abstain: None.
Absent: None.
Commissioner Rajaram motioned to nominate Commissioner Rajaram to serve as the
Public Safety Commission Vice Chair for the term ending January 31, 2025.
Commissioner Das seconded the motion.
Roll call vote. Ayes: Das, Evans, Rajaram and Toda. Noes: None. Abstain: None.
Absent: None.
4. Subject: Sheriff’s Office Teen Academy
Recommended Action: Receive a report by the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office
Liaison
Presenter: Lt. Jason Brown
The Sheriff’s Office Liaison reviewed the teen academy program run through the
Sheriff’s Office. Lt. Brown described public outreach efforts to share information about
the academy. Lt. Brown answered clarifying questions from commissioners.
Vice Chair Rajaram made a motion to receive the report on the Sheriff’s Office Teen
Academy for 2024 provided by Lt. Brown. Commissioner Evans seconded. Roll call
vote. Ayes: Das, Evans, Rajaram and Toda. Noes: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.
5. Subject: Report on the Office of Emergency Management Volunteer Programs
Recommended Action: Receive a report from the City of Cupertino on the Office of
Emergency Management (OEM) Volunteer activity, including REACH, Block Leaders,
Neighborhood Watch, and Cupertino Citizen Corps programs
Presenter: Meredith Albert, Emergency Management Analyst, City of Cupertino
Meredith Albert reviewed volunteer activity for 2023. Volunteer activity for all Office of
Emergency Management volunteer programs, including hours contributed by each
group of volunteers, numbers of volunteers participating, and a monthly overview of
participation. Meredith Albert answered clarifying questions from commissioners.
Commissioner Evans motioned to receive the report. Commissioner Das seconded the
motion. Roll call vote. Ayes: Das, Evans, Rajaram, and Toda. Noes: None. Abstain:
None. Absent: None.
STAFF AND COMMISSION REPORTS
6. Subject: Report by the Santa Clara County Fire Department
Recommended Action: Receive a report submitted the Santa Clara County Fire
Department
Presenter: Tom Chin, on behalf of the Santa Clara County Fire Department Liaison.
Tom Chin, City of Cupertino Liaison to the Public Safety Commission reviewed the
format of the Santa Clara County Fire Department report to familiarize new
commissioners with the report.
Commissioner Evans motioned to receive the report. Vice Chair Rajaram seconded the
motion. Roll call vote. Ayes: Das, Evans, Rajaram, and Toda. Noes: None. Abstain:
None. Absent: None.
7. Subject: Report by the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office
Recommended Action: Receive a report by the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office
Liaison
Presenter: Lt. Jason Brown
Lt. Brown reviewed crimes reported over the first two months of 2024. Lt. Brown
reviewed call volumes and response times. Lt. Brown answered clarifying questions
from commissioners.
Commissioner Evans motioned to receive the report. Vice Chair Rajaram seconded the
motion. Roll call vote. Ayes: Das, Evans, Rajaram, and Toda. Noes: None. Abstain:
None. Absent: None.
8. Subject: Report by the City of Cupertino Office of Emergency Management
Recommended Action: Receive a report by the City of Cupertino Office of Emergency
Management
Presenter: Meredith Albert, Emergency Management Analyst, City of Cupertino
Meredith Albert reviewed the Office of Emergency Management's current planning,
preparedness, training, and exercise efforts and answered clarifying questions.
Vice Chair Rajaram motioned to receive the report. Commissioner Das seconded the
motion. Roll call vote. Ayes: Das, Evans, Rajaram, and Toda. Noes: None. Abstain:
None. Absent: None.
9. Subject: Commissioner’s Reports
Recommended Action: Receive Commissioners' reports
The next Mayor’s meeting is scheduled for March 20th at 5:00 p.m. and will be held on Zoom.
The Chair or the Vice Chair will attend.
FUTURE AGENDA SETTING
None
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Toda adjourned the Public Safety Commission meeting at 7:58 p.m.
SUBMITTED BY:
Thomas Chin
Staff Liaison to the Public Safety Commission
Emergency Services Coordinator
City of Cupertino
Approval date
APPROVED BY:
Thomas Chin, Staff Liaison Date
May 9, 2024