PSC 07-10-2025 Agenda PacketCITY OF CUPERTINO
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION
AGENDA
10185 North Stelling Road, Quinlan Conference Room
Thursday, July 10, 2025
6:00 PM
Members of the public wishing to observe the meeting may do so in one of the following
ways:
1) Attend in person at Quinlan Community Center, 10185 North Stelling Road
2) The meeting will also be streamed live on and online at
https://youtube.com/@cupertinocitycommission
Members of the public wishing to comment on an item on the agenda may do so in the
following ways:
1) Appear in person at Quinlan Community Center.
2) E-mail comments by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 10 to the legislative body at
publicsafetycommission@cupertino.gov. These e-mail comments will also be posted to the
City’s website after the meeting.
Oral public comments may be made during the public comment period for each agenda
item.
Members of the audience who address the legislative body are requested to complete a
Speaker Card and identify themselves. Completion of Speaker Cards and identifying
yourself is voluntary and not required to attend the meeting or provide comments .
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1.Subject: May 8, 2025 Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes
Recommended Action: Review and approve the May 8, 2025 Public Safety Commission
meeting minutes.
A - Draft Minutes
POSTPONEMENTS
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
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Public Safety Commission Agenda July 10, 2025
This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons wishing to address the Commission on any matter
within the jurisdiction of the Commission and not on the agenda. Speakers are limited to three (3)
minutes. In most cases, State law will prohibit the Commission from making any decisions with respect
to a matter not on the agenda.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
OLD BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
2.Subject: Study Session on a state law mandated update to the Health and Safety
Element. (Application No(s): GPA-2025-001; Applicant(s): City of Cupertino; Location:
citywide)
Recommended Action: That the Public Safety Commission receive the report and
provide input on the recommended policy areas and/or programs in the Health and
Safety Element.
Staff Report
1. Memo from Placeworks dated June 24, 2025
3.Subject: Public Safety Subcommittee Update
Recommended Action: Receive an update from the Public Safety subcommittee.
4.Subject: Presentation on the Block Leader Program
Recommended Action: Receive a presentation from Staff Liaison on the Block Leader
Program.
REPORTS/UPDATES
5.Subject: Monthly Update Reports
Recommended Action: Receive Monthly Update Reports from:
-Santa Clara County Fire District
-Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office
STAFF AND COMMISSION REPORTS
FUTURE AGENDA SETTING
ADJOURNMENT
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), anyone who is planning to attend this
meeting who is visually or hearing impaired or has any disability that needs special assistance should
call the City Clerk's Office at 408-777-3223, at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting to arrange for
assistance. In addition, upon request in advance by a person with a disability, meeting agendas and
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Public Safety Commission Agenda July 10, 2025
writings distributed for the meeting that are public records will be made available in the appropriate
alternative format.
Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the members after publication of the agenda will
be made available for public inspection. Please contact the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall located at
10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, California 95014, during normal business hours.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please be advised that pursuant to Cupertino Municipal Code section
2.08.100 written communications sent to the City Council, Commissioners or staff concerning a matter
on the agenda are included as supplemental material to the agendized item. These written
communications are accessible to the public through the City website and kept in packet archives. Do
not include any personal or private information in written communications to the City that you do not
wish to make public, as written communications are considered public records and will be made
publicly available on the City website.
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CITY OF CUPERTINO
Agenda Item
25-14105 Agenda Date: 7/10/2025
Agenda #: 1.
Subject: May 8, 2025 Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes
Review and approve the May 8, 2025 Public Safety Commission meeting minutes.
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CITY OF CUPERTINO
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION
10185 N Stelling Rd, Quinlan Conference Room
Thursday, May 8, 2025
6:00 PM
DRAFT MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Das called the Public Safety Commission meeting to order at 6:07 p.m. in the
Quinlan Community Center Conference Room, 10185 N Stelling Rd.
ROLL CALL
Commissioners present: Nirmalendu Das, Sidharth Rajaram, Sashikala Begur, Ravi
Kiran Singh Sapaharam
Commissioners absent: None
City/County Staff present: Marta Drown, Jessica Suntay, West Valley Patrol Division
Lieutenant Shawn Flores, Assistant Fire Chief Hector
Estrada
Guest Speakers: None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Subject: March 13, 2025 Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes
Recommended Action: Review and approve the March 13, 2025 Public Safety
Commission meeting minutes.
Vice Chair Rajaram motioned to approve the March 13, 2025 Public Safety Commission
meeting minutes as submitted. Commissioner Sapaharam seconded. Motion carried
unanimously.
POSTPONEMENTS
None
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Sonali Padgaonkar, Cupertino resident, discussed the Block Leader Program.
Marc Majewski, Cupertino resident, discussed the Public Safety Commission vacancy.
Sudeep Kumar, Cupertino resident, discussed a cross Cupertino Commission working
group.
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Action Items
Marta Drown, Block Leader Coordinator, to report back on:
• Policy requiring 80% of residents to sign a petition in order to install a
Neighborhood Watch sign
• Status of ALPRs
• Data trend of solved burglary cases
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None
OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
2. Subject: Presentation on the Neighborhood Watch Program
Recommended Action: Receive a presentation from the Sheriff's Office on the
Neighborhood Watch Program.
Lieutenant Shawn Flores and Block Leader Coordinator Drown, presented on the
Neighborhood Watch Program.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions and made comments.
Chair Das opened public comment and the following people spoke on the item.
Sonali Padgaonkar, Cupertino resident
Sudeep Kumar, Cupertino resident
Chair Das closed public comment.
3. Subject: Commissioner discussion on proposals to combat public safety concerns such
as theft, burglaries, vandalism, and threats
Recommended Action: Discuss proposals to combat public safety concerns such as
theft, burglaries, vandalism, and threats.
Chair Das proposed forming a Public Safety subcommittee.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions and made comments.
Chair Das opened public comment and the following person spoke on the item.
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Sudeep Kumar, Cupertino resident
Chair Das closed public comment.
Commissioner Begur motioned to create a Public Safety subcommittee lasting two
months, comprising Vice Chair Rajaram and Commissioner Begur for the purpose of
investigating the needs of the Sheriff’s Office and examining bottlenecks. Commissioner
Sapaharam seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
REPORTS/UPDATES
4. Subject: Monthly Update Reports
Recommended Action: Receive Monthly Update Reports from:
- Santa Clara County Fire District
o Reported as submitted.
- Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office
o Reported as submitted.
Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office reported before the Santa Clara County Fire District.
Chair Das opened public comment and the following person spoke on the item.
Marc Majewski, Cupertino resident
Chair Das closed public comment.
Action Items
Block Leader Coordinator Drown to report back on:
• Resident resources after a theft has occurred
• Invite Commission to upcoming Wildfire Workshops hosted by Santa Clara Fire
District
STAFF AND COMMISSION REPORTS
Block Leader Coordinator Drown presented the staff update as submitted.
Vice Chair Rajaram reported on the Public Safety Fair.
FUTURE AGENDA SETTING
Chair Das requested a Public Safety subcommittee report.
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Chair Das requested a presentation on the Block Leader Program.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Das adjourned the meeting at 9:03 p.m. to the July 10, 2025 meeting at 6:00 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted by,
Marta Drown, Block Leader Coordinator
Parks and Recreation Department
Minutes approved at the _____ regular meeting
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CITY OF CUPERTINO
Agenda Item
25-14106 Agenda Date: 7/10/2025
Agenda #: 2.
Subject:Study Session on a state law mandated update to the Health and Safety Element.
(Application No(s): GPA-2025-001; Applicant(s): City of Cupertino; Location: citywide)
That the Public Safety Commission receive the report and provide input on the recommended policy
areas and/or programs in the Health and Safety Element.
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PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION STAFF REPORT
Meeting: July 10, 2025
Subject
Study Session on a state law mandated update to the Health and Safety Element.
(Application No(s): GPA-2025-001; Applicant(s): City of Cupertino; Location: citywide)
Recommended Action
That the Public Safety Commission receive the report and provide input on the
recommended policy areas and/or programs in the Health and Safety Element.
Discussion
Background:
State law requires cities to initiate an update to the Safety Element (called the Health and
Safety Element in the Cupertino General Plan) concurrently with an update to their
Housing Element. While the process was initiated at the same time as the update to the
2023-2021 Housing Element update, the timeline for update of the Health and Safety
Element has slipped for a variety of reasons, including, due to staff vacancies.
Analysis:
The City contracted with Placeworks, a planning consultancy firm, to assist with the
preparation of the statutorily required updates to the Health and Safety Element.
Placeworks staff has prepared a memo which outlines the topic areas for input from the
Planning Commission to incorporate into a public draft of the Health and Safety Element.
(See Attachment 1) This information will also be presented to the Planning Commission
for its input at its regular meeting on July 8, 2025.
It is anticipated that a draft Health and Safety Element will be presented for consideration
in late fall 2025.
Environmental Impacts
There are no environmental impacts from conducting this study session on a statutorily
required update to the City’s Health and Safety Element.
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Next Steps
The Public Safety Commission and public’s input will be considered in drafting the
Health and Safety Element, which will be presented for adoption by the Planning
Commission and City Council later this year.
_____________________________________
Prepared by: Piu Ghosh, Planning Manager
Reviewed and Approved for Submission by: Luke Connolly, Acting Director of
Community Development
Attachments:
1. Memo from Placeworks dated June 24, 2025
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MEMORANDUM
DATE June 24, 2025
TO Luke Connolly, Assistant Director of Community Development
Piu Ghosh, Planning Manager
FROM Tammy L. Seale, PlaceWorks, Principal
Jacqueline Protsman Rohr, PlaceWorks, Project Manager
Miles Barker, PlaceWorks, Associate
SUBJECT City of Cupertino Health and Safety Element Update - Policy Concepts Memo
Introduction
The Safety Element is one of the State mandated elements of a General Plan focusing on natural and human
caused hazards and the risks they cause to the community. The State requires cities to update Safety
Elements upon the revision of the Housing Element or Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, both of which were
adopted in 2024. The goal of the Safety Element is to protect the community, including residents,
businesses, infrastructure, and the environment, from natural disasters and other hazards by establishing
goals and policies that address potential hazards, evacuation, and emergency preparedness. This Health
and Safety Element Update includes revised background content, updated mapping of hazards, updated
policies and strategies to meet State law, a climate change vulnerability assessment, new adaptation and
resilience policies and strategies, and an evacuation-constrained residential parcel analysis.
This memorandum provides an overview of the California Government Code requirements for General Plan
Safety Elements, how the Cupertino Health and Safety Element will meet these requirements, and policy
concepts for your consideration.
Regulatory Framework
UPDATES TO SAFETY ELEMENT STATE LAW SINCE 2015
Since the previous Health and Safety Element was adopted in 2014, several new laws have come into effect.
These include:
• Senate Bill 1241: Expands requirements related to flood and wildfire hazards by mandating the
identification of responsible agencies and enhancing coordination efforts. It also emphasizes
minimizing risks to new development and essential facilities from wildfire and flooding.
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POLICY CONCEPTS
June 24, 2025 | Page 2
• Senate Bill 379: Requires the integration of climate change adaptation and resilience into the Safety
Element, including preparation of a vulnerability assessment and the development of goals,
policies, and implementation actions to improve community resilience.
• Senate Bill 2140: Allows for the incorporation of the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan into the Safety
Element, which can increase eligibility for State and federal disaster relief funding.
• Senate Bill 99: Requires identification of residential parcels in hazard zones with less than two
ingress/egress routes.
• Assembly Bill 747/1409: Requires the identification of evacuation route capacity, safety, and
viability and evacuation locations under a range of hazard scenarios.
UPDATING THE SAFETY ELEMENT TO MEET STATE LAW REQUIREMENTS
The California Government Code requires all local jurisdictions to update their Safety Element upon each
revision of the Housing Element or Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. This update ensures that the Health and
Safety Element meets current State law requirements and contains important components, such as climate
change adaptation and evacuation. The following sections of the Government Code require updates to the
existing Health and Safety Element to ensure continued consistency with regulatory requirements:
• Section 65302(g)(2) – Flood Hazards (SB 1241): The existing Health and Safety Element includes
limited flood-related policies. The update will revise and expand these policies, add new ones, and
include updated background information, such as recent flood mapping, past flooding events,
flood control agency roles, and vulnerable critical infrastructure. The Health and Safety Element
will also address flood resilience strategies for both existing and future development in flood-
prone areas.
• Section 65302(g)(3) – Fire Hazards (SB 1241): The existing Health and Safety Element has some
limited information about fire risk in Cupertino. The updated Health and Safety Element will
include revised mapping (including new Fire Hazard Severity Zone Local Responsibility Area and
State Responsibility Area maps), current wildfire conditions, responsible agencies, and policies to
protect new development and essential facilities from fire hazards.
• Section 65302(g)(4) – Climate Change Adaptation (SB 379): The updated Health and Safety
Element will incorporate a climate change vulnerability assessment, using the City’s existing
assessments and related documents. New goals, policies, and strategies focused on adaptation
will also be added to address climate change adaptation and resilience based on the findings of
the climate change vulnerability assessment.
• Section 65302(g)(5) – Evacuation Constraints (SB 99): The updated Element will identify residential
parcels in hazard-prone areas that lack two or more emergency egress routes. The Health and
Safety Element will include policies and strategies will be prepared to respond to the results of this
mapping effort.
• Section 65302(g)(15) – Evacuation Routes and Scenarios (AB 747): The updated Health and Safety
Element will include the identification of evacuation routes and locations capacity, safety, and
viability under a range of scenarios. The City will conduct an evacuation analysis, which will identify
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CITY OF CUPERTINO | HEALTH AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE
POLICY CONCEPTS
June 24, 2025 | Page 3
evacuation routes and locations, and information about their performance under different
emergency scenarios.
Policy Concepts
The following policy concepts are divided into the topics of the Health and Safety Element, including:
• Emergency preparedness and response
• Fire hazards
• Hazardous waste and materials
• Seismic and geologic hazards
• Flood and inundation hazards
• Climate change resilience
The policy concepts are based on the finding from the Vulnerability Assessment, findings from the
evacuation-constrained residential parcels mapping, State requirements and guidance, and mitigation
actions from the County’s Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, including Cupertino’s Annex. These
concepts will inform preparation of updated goals, policies, and actions in the Element. Policy concepts
with an asterisk (*) directly relate to new development, redevelopment, or existing development.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE
Existing
• Coordinate with regional and local agencies on regional hazard mitigation planning, monitoring,
and budgeting.
• Protect Cupertino from sea level rise through monitoring sea levels and updating flood insurance
rate maps.
• Continue crime prevention through awareness programs and building and site design.
Updated
• Continue to provide emergency communications, notices, and hazard
preparation/response/recovery materials, in multiple languages and formats appropriate for
people with access and functional needs.
Gaps and New Policy Concepts
• *Ensure new development and redevelopment comply with the most current version of the
California Building Standards Code and local ordinances.
• *Require new development to have at least two ingress and egress routes and explore secondary
means of access in evacuation constrained residential areas.
• *Require hillside development to provide and maintain adequate emergency access.
• Ensure adequate evacuation through maintaining potential evacuation routes and increased public
awareness.
• Ensure adequate response times for emergency services.
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CITY OF CUPERTINO | HEALTH AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE
POLICY CONCEPTS
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• Integrate the current County Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan by reference into the Health
and Safety Element.
• Maintain inter-jurisdictional cooperation and coordination with agencies.
• Work with Santa Clara County to provide alerts about emergency situations through early-warning
and notification systems in multiple languages and formats.
• Work with local agencies, volunteer groups, and community-based organizations to provide
resources and educational programs to help residents respond to hazardous events.
FIRE HAZARDS
Existing
• *Discourage the use of private security gates that act as a barrier to emergency response.
Updated
• *Require new development in High and Very High Fire Zones to comply with the California State
Minimum Fire Safe Regulations and other State laws for ignition-resistant materials, defensible
space, ingress and egress, emergency access, water supply for fire-flow, and fire protection plans.
• *Coordinate long term water supply for firefighting through water extension letters for new
development and working with water providers.
• *Require existing public and private roadways to comply with current fire safety regulations.
• Involve Santa Clara County Fire Department early in development projects to ensure modifications
as needed.
Gaps and New Policy Concepts
• *Avoid new residential development in high fire risk areas.
• Maintain adequate fire protection and enhance fire service capabilities through proactive
maintenance of fire equipment, development review processes, and training fire personnel.
• Prioritize vegetation management and fire risk reduction along roadways and in open space areas.
• Develop plans for rebuilding and redevelopment after a major fire that incorporate site
remediation, fire-wise design, and reduced future vulnerabilities.
• Offer educational materials, rebates, and incentives for property owners to retrofit their buildings
and properties to improve fire safety.
HAZARDOUS WASTE AND MATERIALS
Existing
• Coordinate enforcement of standards for containment, handling, and disposal of hazardous
materials in accordance with regulatory requirements to prevent spills, leaks, or illegal dumping.
• Provide educational resources to residents about the local sources of hazardous waste and
materials in the community.
• Support efforts to reduce the level of risk from toxic and hazardous materials in Cupertino through
regulations and educational efforts.
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CITY OF CUPERTINO | HEALTH AND SAFETY ELEMENT UPDATE
POLICY CONCEPTS
June 24, 2025 | Page 5
Updated
• *Require environmental site assessments and mitigation for development near hazardous waste
and materials sites.
Gaps and New Policy Concepts
• Continue to require radiofrequency studies for wireless developments and address public concerns
about radiofrequency exposure and transparency.
SEISMIC AND GEOLOGIC HAZARDS
Existing
• *Require geologic and seismic hazard assessments for development in mapped fault, landslide, and
liquefaction zones.
• Increase public awareness of seismic and geologic risks and preparedness.
• Encourage retrofits to existing buildings that improve resiliency to geologic and seismic hazards.
• Maintain and share up-to-date seismic and geologic hazard data.
Updated
None
Gaps and New Policy Concepts
• *Limit hillside grading on steep slopes to minimize landslide and erosion risks.
FLOOD AND INUNDATION HAZARDS
Existing
• Coordinate dam-related evacuation plans and notification systems and ensure that Cupertino is
prepared to respond to a potential dam failure.
• Maintain the structural and operational integrity of essential public facilities and services during
flooding.
Updated
• *Allow existing non-residential uses in floodplains.
• *Limit new development in 100-year floodplains and regulatory floodways and encourage open
space/recreation uses in these areas.
Gaps and New Policy Concepts
• Maintain effective stormwater drainage systems through site design, infrastructure design, and
retrofit existing systems.
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POLICY CONCEPTS
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CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENCE
Existing
None
Updated
None
Gaps and New Policy Concepts
• *Work with property owners and new developments to enhance shading through the installation
of shade structures and green infrastructure in public and private spaces.
• *Encourage new developments and existing property owners to incorporate sustainable features
into their facilities, landscapes, and structures.
• Integrate extreme heat as a significant hazard of concern into emergency preparedness and
response.
• Work with water providers to implement water conservation measures.
• Increase the resiliency of City-owned structures to severe weather events.
• Establish community resilience centers communitywide, outside of hazard zones, ensuring
adequate transit services to these facilities.
• Use green infrastructure and nature-based solutions, wherever feasible, to absorb the impacts of
hazards.
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CITY OF CUPERTINO
Agenda Item
25-14107 Agenda Date: 7/10/2025
Agenda #: 3.
Subject: Public Safety Subcommittee Update
Receive an update from the Public Safety subcommittee.
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CITY OF CUPERTINO
Agenda Item
25-14108 Agenda Date: 7/10/2025
Agenda #: 4.
Subject: Presentation on the Block Leader Program
Receive a presentation from Staff Liaison on the Block Leader Program.
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CITY OF CUPERTINO
Agenda Item
25-14109 Agenda Date: 7/10/2025
Agenda #: 5.
Subject: Monthly Update Reports
Receive Monthly Update Reports from:
-Santa Clara County Fire District
-Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office
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