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HomeMy WebLinkAboutScene December 2023 - 12.01.2023 DECEMBER 2023 - MARCH 2024SCENE A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE CITY OF CUPERTINO Embracing the Past and Envisioning the Future Commemorating the Resilient Spirit of Cupertino PLUS: PROPERLY DISPOSE YOUR HOLIDAY WASTE | SAVE MONEY ON LIFE-SAVING MEDICATIONS | NOW OPEN NEW BUSINESSES CONTENTS FEATURES 4 A Look Back at 2023 Take a moment to look back at some of the highlights from the City of Cupertino throughout the year. 7 Save Money on Life- Saving Medications Find out if you qualify to receive about $200 a month to help offset the costs for medications through the County’s MedAssist program. IN S I D E 9 New SV Hopper Expansion Ride farther with Cupertino’s shuttle service, Silicon Valley Hopper, which is now expanding into Santa Clara. 6 New Organic Waste Requirements Read about California’s Short Lived Climate Pollutant Strategy and why you should be sorting your food scraps in your green bin. 10 Calendar of Events Find upcoming holiday events, classes, and more! 12 Directory and Contacts Keep this list of the most useful contacts for the City of Cupertino. Questions or comments about The Scene? Contact staff at scene@cupertino.org. We Want Your Feedback! As the Cupertino Scene reduced the frequency of publication from a monthly to a quarterly newsletter, we want to make sure that we are including the stories you most want to see. Please send us your feedback and tell us what you enjoy most from the Scene, what news is most helpful to you, and what additional stories from Cupertino you would like to see in future editions! Email communication@cupertino.gov. JUNE 20 2 3 SCENE A MONT H L Y P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E C I T Y O F C U P E R T I N O June is L G B T Q + P r i d e M o n t h Celebrat i n g a n d S e r v i n g our LGBT Q + C o m m u n i t y PLUS: SHUTTLE E X P A N S I O N : SILICON V A L L E Y H O P P E R | NEW SINGLE- U S E PLASTICS O R D I N A N C E | GET OU T D O O R S F O R SUMMER F U N MAY 2023SCENE A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE CITY OF CUPERTINO Connecting the World through Public Works Learn about National Public Works Week PLUS: RECOGNIZED AT SMART 50 AWARDS | JOIN THE SILICON VALLEY PEDAL POWER CHALLENGE | STAY CONNECTED THROUGH BLOCK LEADERS JULY 2 0 2 3 SCEN E A MO N T H L Y P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E C I T Y O F C U P E R T I N O Activit i e s , A m e n i t i e s , and A d v e n t u r e Get O u t d o o r s f o r P a r k s and R e c r e a t i o n M o n t h PLUS: MEM O R I A L P A R K W I N S PROJE C T O F T H E Y E A R NEW A M E N I T I E S AT W I L S O N P A R K | R E G I S T E R F O R CITYW I D E G A R A G E S A L E 2 Typically, a butterfly is not the first thing that comes to mind when we think about the City, yet the life cycle of a butterfly provides a strong analogy to what the new year brings. Over the past several months, we have faced unprecedented challenges that have necessitated a thorough reevaluation of our financial landscape. This year’s budget has not been what we are accustomed to, which includes a structural deficit, meaning our ongoing expenses exceed ongoing revenue into the 10-Year forecast and this is anticipated to have service level impacts. Through its transformation, the butterfly becomes a testament to the caterpillar’s perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity. Similarly, while the City’s budget situation for this year and beyond may feel uncertain, it presents an opportunity for transformation and innovation. To deal with a significant reduction in sales tax revenue, the City must be nimble and adapt to change. In the face of these challenges, I firmly believe that the best for Cupertino is yet to come, and that the commitment of the City’s residents, City Council, and employees will create a new and different Cupertino. I am ever hopeful as we look to the new year that we will seize the opportunity to embrace transformative change while remembering the spirit that defines our community – one of compassion, cooperation, and shared purpose. In these difficult times, it is crucial that we come together as a community. Our strength lies in our unity, and I am confident that by working together, we can overcome the challenges that lie ahead. Together, we can find innovative solutions, support one another, and emerge from this stronger than ever before. Pamela Wu City Manager A Message from the City Manager The City of Cupertino recognizes the dedication of its staff, and their skills and passion that make the City function. Join us in expressing our gratitude for the years of service and invaluable contributions from the remarkable individuals that help shape Cupertino. Manuel Barragan – 50 years Paul Tognetti – 25 years Quinton Adams – 25 years Laura Miyakawa – 20 years Nidhi Mathur – 20 years Andrew Schmitt – 15 years Arnold Hom – 15 years Domingo Santos – 15 years Frank Villa – 15 years John Ramos – 15 years Jonathan Williams – 15 years Julia Kinst – 15 years Tiffanie Cardenas – 15 years Teri Gerhardt – 15 years Crystina Gomez – 10 years Ika Pauli – 10 years Jason Bisley – 10 years John Stiehr – 10 years Kristina Alfaro – 10 years Paul O’Sullivan – 10 years Paul Sapudar – 10 years Recognizing Employee Milestone Years of Service Recognizing Employee Milestone Years of Service 3 Looking Back at 2023 While 2023 may have brought unprecedented challenges, the resilient spirit of the City of Cupertino continued to shine bright throughout the year. As we look back on the past year, we are grateful to the Cupertino community for their unwavering determination, passion, and dedication to unity. Take a look at some of the highlights throughout the year while we eagerly look forward to what the new year has to hold. Cupertino Spelling Bee – January 21 The Cupertino Spelling Bee returned in-person for 2nd and 5th graders in its fourth iteration, organized by Parks and Recreation and the Cupertino Youth Activity Board. Over 35 students battled in a fierce competition to be the best speller. You can watch the video on the City’s YouTube at cupertino.org/ youtube. Regnart Creek Trail Ribbon Cutting – March 18 The highly anticipated Regnart Creek Trail, that connects a variety of popular destinations in Cupertino, opened to the public with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Cupertino City Councilmembers, City staff, and many community members came out to celebrate the opening of the trail. <hack> Cupertino – April 15 to 16 Parks and Recreation and the Cupertino Youth Activity Board hosted its annual overnight hackathon for 13 to 18-year-old coders, returning to the in-person event for the first time since 2019 at the Quinlan Community Center. More than 90 teens worked through the night to code a service or tool related to the theme, “Community”, submitting a total of 28 projects. Earth and Arbor Day – April 22 Cupertino and neighboring communities celebrated our shared Earth at the City’s 15th annual Earth and Arbor Day Festival. Nearly 1000 tabling partners, 110 volunteers, 88 performers, and seven sponsors participated in the festival. Hundreds of attendees gathered in perfect weather to learn about climate change, take part in activities, enjoy live performances on a solar-powered stage, indulge in food trucks, and enjoy the day. 4 CREST Awards 2023 – May 25 Cupertino held its annual awards ceremony, “Cupertino Recognizes Extra Steps Taken” or CREST Awards, to honor the outstanding contributions of Cupertino community members. The 2023 CREST Awards winners are as follows: Lifetime Achievement – Jim Walker, Organization of the Year – Friends of the Cupertino Library, Volunteer of the Year – Fari Aberg, Public Safety Champion of the Year – Fari Aberg, Rising Star – Adhya Kasamsetty. You can watch a recording of the event on the City’s YouTube. National Night Out – August 1 National Night Out (NNO) is an event that promotes community, neighborhood camaraderie, and enhances the relationship between neighbors and public safety agencies. Coordinated by the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), 25 Cupertino residents, including Block Leaders and Neighborhood Watch volunteers, hosted events throughout the City and engaged with the Sheriff’s Office, Fire Department, Cupertino OEM, and other agencies. Cybersecurity Public Education – September 16 The City’s Technology, Information, and Communications Commission hosted a two-part Cybersecurity Public Education event at Community Hall. First, a panel discussion was held with Cybersecurity experts from public and private sectors. Following the panel discussion, five teams of Cupertino high school students presented their cybersecurity projects to the expert panelists, and each team won prizes for their innovative presentations. 10th Anniversary Fall Bike Fest – September 30 Cupertino’s Public Works Department through the Safe Routes to School program, with the help of 100 volunteers, hosted the City’s 10th Annual Fall Bike Fest. This family- friendly event encourages the community to discover the benefits of biking, provides education on how to stay safe, and fosters joy through 28 fun bike-related activities— including upcycled “bike part jewelery,” bike-powered spin art, and a sledgehammer contest. Small Business Saturday – November 25 Celebrating small businesses and their impact on the local economy, Small Business Saturday serves as an excellent reminder for each one of us to support our local small businesses while kicking off the holiday shopping season. Find local businesses near you on the searchable map at cupertino.org/businessmap. 5 Disposing Your Holiday Household Hazardous Waste With the holiday season upon us, more household hazardous waste (HHW) may be generated than usual. Use our resources below to safely dispose of common holiday hazardous waste. Holiday String Lights String lights are e-waste that should not go into the trash or recycling cart. Find the disposal option that works for you: 1. Mail them in to the Christmas Light Source recycling program, which donates all proceeds to Toys for Tots, and receive a discount code to purchase new lights. Visit christmas-light-source. com/pages/christmas-lights-recycling-program. 2. Green Citizen drop off, search for a location near you: greencitizen.com/free-electronics- recycling-drop-off/. 3. Check with your local hardware store. Electronic-Greeting Cards: Singing cards contain batteries that are hazardous when put in the trash or recycling. Lithium batteries (button batteries) can spark and cause a fire, no matter their size! Rethink your cards this year and switch to e-cards or recycled paper cards. If you received a singing card, remove the battery from the card, wrap in tape, and drop off wherever batteries are accepted. Electronic Toys: When those old electronic toys are at the end of their life, find E-waste recyclers near you at www2. calrecycle.ca.gov/electronics/eRecycle. For all HHW, you can also dispose of it safely by making a free drop off appointment at hhw.org or call (408) 299-7300. There will also be two nearby events in January 2024 where you can drop off HHW: Saturday, January 13 in Sunnyvale and Saturday, January 27 in Santa Clara. View hhw.org more information. Put Food Scraps Into Your Green Bin: Not Just a Good Idea, It’s the Law! Organic material accounts for more than half of the material in Califorina’s waste stream. What is organic material? It’s yard trimmings, food scraps, and food-soiled paper. When organic material decomposes in the landfill, it emits greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Reducing the amount of organic material sent to landfill is part of California’s Short Lived Climate Pollutant Strategy (SB 1383). Everyone should put organic material in the green organics cart or bin. These materials are collected by your garbage hauler, Recology, and turned into nutrient-rich compost. Why not put food scraps down the garbage disposal? Per the EPA’s new wasted food scale, sending food scraps down the drain is to be avoided– not to mention it can cost a lot of money to fix clogged-up pipes and broken garbage disposals. If you haven’t already received a kitchen pail to help collect food scraps, visit cupertino.org/ compost. It’s easy to compost in Cupertino, follow these three steps. 1. Collect food scraps from your kitchen container. 2. Empty the contents of the container into your organics cart. 3. Set out your organics cart for weekly pick-up. Starting in January 2024, the State of California’s regulations require Cupertino to enforce correct sorting requirements. Continuing to sort incorrectly after outreach, education, and warnings could result in citation. To check how residents and businesses are doing with their sorting, City staff will be doing audits of bins and carts by walking around and “flipping lids” to take a quick look—don’t be alarmed if you see us looking in your carts, we’re here to help! Scan the QR code to learn more. 6 Save Money on Life-Saving Medications G et cash back on life-saving medications through the County of Santa Clara Health System’s MedAssist Program! You can get about $200 through a monthly grant deposited directly to you to help offset the costs if you have a valid prescription for one of these medications: • Diabetes medications • Asthma inhalers • Epinephrine auto-injectors (EpiPens) These grant payments are need-based and intended to promote the general welfare by improving the health of residents who cannot otherwise afford prescription medication. In-person application assistance is available. Call (408) 970- 2001 to make an appointment. Business hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. located at Santa Clara Valley Health, 777 Turner Drive Suite 330, San Jose CA 95128. For more information, visit getmedassist.com. 988: The New National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 988 is the new National Suicide Hotline if you or a loved one is experiencing distress, thoughts of suicide, or just need to talk. Those calling from area codes 408, 650, or 669 will be routed to the Santa Clara County Crisis and Suicide Prevention Lifeline (CSPL), a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline. The SCC Public Health Department also provides information about Suicide and Gun Safety. Read more at bit.ly/3SHUJiI. For more information about 988 and suicide prevention, visit scchope.org. For more resources, visit the City’s mental health page at cupertino.org/ mentalhealth. Would You Like to Serve on a City Commission? The City’s commissions serve as advisory bodies to the City Council by considering public input and providing recommendations to the Council. Cupertino residents are encouraged to apply for positions on City commissions that will have vacancies in January 2024. Commissions with upcoming vacancies include: Audit Committee, Housing Commission (Community Member and Business Representative), Parks and Recreation Commission, Public Safety Commission, Sustainability Commission (Community Member, Business Representative and Educational Representative), and Technology Information and Communications Commission. The City is also recruiting to appoint a representative to the Sourcewise Advisory Council. Sourcewise is a non- profit organization designated by the State of California as the Area Agency on Aging in Santa Clara County. The application deadline is 4:30 p.m. on Friday, January 5, 2024. Council will conduct interviews and make appointments in late January. Applications can be submitted via the Online Commission Application at cupertino.org/vacancies. For more details, please see the website or call the City Clerk’s office at (408) 777-3223. 7 Welcoming New BusinessesStarting January 1, 2024, minimum wage in Cupertino will be increasing to $17.75 per hour. This incremental increase ensures cost of living doesn’t outpace the earning ability of individuals. This measure also combats the added inflationary cost currently burdening families. The change will cover employees performing two or more hours of work per week in Cupertino. Employees are entitled to these rights regardless of their immigration status. All employers located within Cupertino are mandated to post the official notice in the workplace informing employees of the rate and their rights. Businesses must also document all hours worked and keep records for four years. For more information, please visit cupertino.org/ minimumwage. New Minimum Wage in the New Year Enjoy great food, drink, and conversation at one of the following new restaurants now open in Cupertino. • Babo Boba Cafe (19960 Homestead Road) • Berraco Coffee (19110 Stevens Creek Boulevard) • Chicha San Chen (20688 Stevens Creek Boulevard) • Horizon Bakery (19929 Stevens Creek Boulevard) • Koi Palace Contempo (19369 Stevens Creek Boulevard) • Local Cafe (20956 Homestead Road, Suite H) • Marugame Udon (20682 Stevens Creek Boulevard) • Neighborhood Kitchen (19052 Stevens Creek Boulevard) • Taiwanese Bistro (10700 South De Anza Boulevard) • Wei’s Fish (10520 South De Anza Boulevard) • Wow Tea Drink (19505 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Suite 102) • YGF Malatang Noodles & Pots (19672 Stevens Creek Boulevard) Note: Restaurants listed above were approved to open for business between January and October 2023. City of Cupertino Holiday Closures Cupertino City Offices such as City Hall, Quinlan Community Center, and the Senior Center will be closed and nonoperational from Monday, December 25, 2023 through Tuesday, January 2, 2024 and will reopen Wednesday, January 3, 2024. Additional closure information: • Blackberry Farm Golf Course: Closed on Monday, December 25. • Sheriff’s Office: Closed Monday, December 25 and Monday, January 1, 2024. For emergencies, call 9-1-1. For non-emergency officer assistance, call (408) 299-2311. • Parking regulations for street sweeping will not be enforced Monday, December 18 through Tuesday, January 2, 2024. Additional holiday closures in 2024: • January 15, 2024 – Martin Luther King Day • February 10, 2024 - Lunar New Year • February 19, 2024 – President’s Day 8 The New Silicon Valley Hopper Shuttle Silicon Valley (SV) Hopper, the popular Via-Cupertino on-demand shuttle service, now offers trips to the City of Santa Clara! As of Monday, November 20, riders can travel from Cupertino to popular destinations in Santa Clara, such as Valley Fair, Santa Clara University, and Santa Clara Town Center. The Santa Clara expansion will occur in two phases. Phase 1 includes an 8.5 square mile area south of El Camino Real, and Phase 2 will expand the service area beyond Levi’s Stadium while increasing the number of fleet vehicles. In addition to expanded coverage, Cupertino has upgraded to an environmentally friendly fleet, transitioning to all-electric Kia Niro vehicles. As part of the expansion, earlier this year, Cupertino and Santa Clara held an art contest to receive ideas on a new look and name for Via-Cupertino. Santa Clara and Cupertino students submitted original artwork based on the themes of Community, Ease of Use, Transit and Mobility, and Public. Via designers used elements of the winning designs to create new vehicle wraps and rebrand the service Silicon Valley (SV) Hopper! Along with the new look comes a new app, now available on Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store! Just search for “Silicon Valley Hopper,” download the app, and start riding! Fares for the expanded service will remain unchanged, at $3.50 for a one-way trip and 50% discounts for seniors, students, low-income individuals, and disabled riders! Wheelchair-accessible vehicles are also available. SV Hopper is planning to introduce several promotional offers to celebrate the launch of the new service area. For more information on SV Hopper and its expansion into Santa Clara, please visit the SV Hopper website at svhopper.com. 9 CALENDAR OF EVENTS PARKS AND RECREATION EVENTS The Winter Recreation Schedule is Here! Winter classes and activities start on Tuesday, January 2. Find an activity today! See the winter recreation schedule at cupertino.org/recreation. Environmental Education Center Saturdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Environmental Education Center (EEC) at McClellan Ranch Preserve is open every Saturday for community members to explore the wonders of the natural world. Learn about native plants and animals, meet the EEC’s animal ambassadors, start a nature journal, or use our art supplies and unleash your creativity. Winter 50+ Scene The winter 50+ Scene is now available at cupertino. org/senior. Flip through and see what socials, events, and classes the Cupertino Senior Center has planned. Tree Lighting Friday, December 1 6 p.m. Quinlan Community Center Kick off the holiday season at the City’s annual Community Tree Lighting! Experience the moment when the tree comes alive with hundreds of twinkling lights, filling the air with a magical glow. 10 Breakfast with Santa Saturday, December 2 8:30 to 11:15 a.m. Quinlan Community Center You and your family are invited to a breakfast celebration with Santa! The elves will be cooking up some delicious North Pole Pancakes, and Santa will be posing for pictures. Then, join the elves in the workshop for holiday crafts. Three seatings available: 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 10:30 a.m. Register at reg4rec.org. Glow Night Golf Friday, December 8 at 5 p.m. Blackberry Farm Golf Course Join the City for a fun evening of night golf with a shotgun start at Blackberry Farm. All levels welcome! Register at reg4rec.org. Signing Santa Saturday, December 9 2 to 4 p.m. Quinlan Community Center Deaf and hard of hearing children, along with their families, are invited to spend time with a Santa who understands sign language! Santa only communicates using sign language, but an interpreter will be on-site to help translate for friends and family. Register at reg4rec.org. Baer Blacksmith Shop Demonstrations December 23, January 27, and February 24 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. McClellan Ranch Preserve Come to the restored Baer Blacksmith Shop and learn about early Cupertino history and the craft of blacksmithing. The forge will be fired up for blacksmithing demonstrations. Preschool Open House Tuesday, January 16 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, January 20 from 10 a.m. to noon Quinlan Community Center Tour the Cupertino Preschool’s indoor and outdoor spaces, ask questions, connect with the teachers and administrators, and learn about the City’s preschool program. Cupertino Spelling Bee Saturday, January 20 1 to 5:30 p.m. Is your 2 to 5 grader the next Cupertino Spelling Bee champion? Register at reg4rec.org. Sweetheart Social Saturday, February 10 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Quinlan Community Center Join the City for a Valentine’s Day themed event for families, including music, crafts, snacks, photos, and games. Register at reg4rec.org. Shredding and Environmental Recycling Event Saturday, January 20 8 a.m. to noon De Anza College, Parking Lot A Recycle old electronics, donate clothes, or shred your confidential documents. Visit cupertino.org/ enrivonmentalday. Shredding and Environment Recycling Event 11 CUPERTINO SCENE Cupertino City Hall 10300 Torre Avenue Cupertino, CA 95014 PRSRT-STD U.S. Postage PAID Cupertino, CA Permit No. 239 *******ECRWSSEDDM******* POSTAL CUSTOMER City Directory City of Cupertino Department Phone / Email Building Department ...................................(408) 777-3228 Building@Cupertino.org Business License ...........................................(408) 777-3221 BL@Cupertino.org City Clerk ......................................................(408) 777-3223 CityClerk@Cupertino.org City Manager ..............................................(408) 777-3212 Manager@Cupertino.org Code Enforcement .....................................(408) 777-3182 Code@Cupertino.org Planning Department .................................(408) 777-3308 Planning@Cupertino.org Recreation ...................................................(408) 777-3120 Recreation@Cupertino.org Senior Center ...............................................(408) 777-3150 Senior_Center@Cupertino.org Sports Center ...............................................(408) 777-3160 Recreation@Cupertino.org Street Light Maint. .......................................(408) 777-3342 StreetDivision@Cupertino.org Street Sweeping ..........................................(408) 777-3269 Engineering@Cupertino.org Tree Maint. ...................................................(408) 777-3410 Engineering@Cupertino.org Other Agencies Organization Phone Number Animal Control ........................................................(408) 794-7297 AT&T ..........................................................................(800) 331-0500 California Water Service .........................................(650) 917-0152 Chamber of Commerce ........................................(408) 252-7054 Comcast ..................................................................(800) 945-2288 Cupertino Library .....................................................(408) 540-3947 Cupertino Sanitary District ......................................(408) 253-7071 Cupertino Union School District .............................(408) 252-3000 Fremont Union High School District .......................(408) 522-2200 Hazardous Waste Drop-off .....................................(408) 299-7300 PG&E .........................................................................(800) 743-5000 Project Sentinel (Landlord/Tenant Issues) .............(408) 720-9888 Recology (Garbage & Recycling) ........................(408) 725-4020 San Jose Water Company .....................................(408) 279-7900 Santa Clara Registrar of Voters ..............................(408) 299-6863 VTA (Transportation Authority) ...............................(408) 321-2300 Vector Control, Santa Clara County ....................(408) 918-4770 First Responders Emergency Calls ...................................911 or (408) 299-3233 (Police, Fire, Medical) Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office ..............(408) 299-2311 (Non-Emergency) Santa Clara County Fire Department ...........(408) 378-4010 (Non-Emergency) Need to report an issue or have a City-related question? Visit: cupertino.org/cupertino311 or call (408) 777-3200. The Cupertino Scene is printed on post-consumer waste recycled paper with soy ink. The newsletter is produced by a certified Bay Area Green Business and is recyclable. For information on becoming a certified Green Business, visit cupertino.org/GreenBiz.