HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 12-02-2025 Item No. 2 Darrel Lum Proclamation_Desk ItemCITY MANAGER’S OFFICE
CITY HALL
10300 TORRE AVENUE • CUPERTINO, CA 95014-3255
TELEPHONE: (408) 777-3212
CUPERTINO.GOV
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DESK ITEM
Meeting: December 2, 2025
Agenda Item #2
Subject
Proclamation recognizing Dr. Darrel Lum for His Exemplary Contributions to
Grassroots Democracy and Civic Engagement
Recommended Action
Present proclamation recognizing Dr. Darrel Lum for His Exemplary Contributions to
Grassroots Democracy and Civic Engagement
Background:
A revised proclamation has been issued. The revised version replaces the previous draft
and is included as Attachment B.
Attachments Provided with Original Staff Report:
A – Proclamation
Attachments Provided with Desk Item:
B – Revised Proclamation
Proclamation
WHEREAS, Dr. Darrel Lum, a longtime Cupertino resident and beloved local dentist, moved
to Cupertino in the mid-1970s and opened his dental practice on Pacifica Drive
near City Hall, where he served generations of Cupertino families with kindness,
professionalism, and integrity; and
WHEREAS, Beyond his professional excellence, Dr. Lum devoted his life to civic engagement
and grassroots democracy, and
WHEREAS, As Cupertino experienced rapid growth in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Dr.
Lum became a leading voice for citizen participation in local government,
working tirelessly to expand public notifications, transparency, and community
awareness of proposed developments and planning decisions; and
WHEREAS, His dental office became an informal civic classroom, where city plans and project
maps adorned the walls and where countless residents—including future
community leaders—first learned about the General Plan, the Planning
Commission process, and how to engage meaningfully in city decision-making;
and
WHEREAS, Dr. Lum was instrumental in fostering grassroots organizations, encouraging
residents to study issues, attend public meetings, and advocate respectfully for
policies that reflected the community’s voice; and
WHEREAS, Together with his wife, Cherryl, Dr. Lum worked persistently to place
referendums and initiatives on the ballot, empowering Cupertino voters to
directly shape the city’s future; and
WHEREAS, For more than 25 years, Dr. Lum’s research, public testimony, and advocacy were
characterized by depth, precision, and respect for differing views, and;
WHEREAS, Though Dr. Lum passed away in early 2024, his legacy lives on in the vibrant
civic spirit of Cupertino, in the generations of residents he mentored, and in the
enduring principle that government functions best when citizens are informed
and engaged.
THEREFORE, I, Mayor Liang Chao, and the Cupertino City Council do hereby recognize Dr.
Darrel Lum for his exemplary contributions to Cupertino and declare him
Champion of Grassroots Democracy and Civic Engagement
And encourage all residents to honor his remarkable life, his commitment to democracy at the grassroots level,
and his lasting contributions to the civic fabric of Cupertino.
IN WITNESS THEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the City of Cupertino to be
affixed this Tuesday, December 2, 2025.
_______________________
The Honorable Liang Chao
Mayor, City of Cupertino