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HomeMy WebLinkAboutScene February 2023 - 02.01.2023 Cupertino Recognizes Extra Steps Taken FEBRUARY 2023SCENE A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE CITY OF CUPERTINO Nominations Open for 2023 CREST Awards Celebrating Outstanding Volunteers in the Community PLUS: STUDENTS! HELP DESIGN NEW EXPANDED SHUTTLE | BE PREPARED FOR WINTER WEATHER | HELP REVITALIZE MEMORIAL PARK Morning Chat with Cupertino Mayor Grab your mug and a free coffee or tea on the Mayor, and get ready to talk about the issues that matter most to you. Residents, business owners, and community members are invited to these casual meetings where they can discuss any topic they want with one of Cupertino’s decision makers. Morning Chat will take place on the first Tuesday of the month from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at Holder’s Country Inn, located 10088 North Wolfe Road starting this Tuesday, February 7. CONTENTS FEATURES 5 Get Involved with Earth and Arbor Day 2023 Help make Earth and Arbor Day possible! The City needs volunteers, tabling partners, sponsors, and performers. 6 Help Design Via-Cupertino Students, help rename and design vehicle artwork for Cupertino’s expanded shuttle service! IN S I D E 8 Celebrating Our Libraries February is Library Lover’s Month, and what better way to observe than celebrate our libraries, recently ranked #2 in the country! 9 Help Revitalize Memorial Park Learn how you can get involved and share your ideas on how to improve Memorial Park. 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. 2 Share Input on Cupertino’s New Website Design A brand new Cupertino website is in the works to make it easier to find the information you need. We want your feedback! The City is looking for input on how you are using the municipal website. Please take a few minutes to fill out our survey below to assist us in gathering ways that we can make the experience better for you. Take the survey at cupertino.org/websitesurvey. 2023 Cupertino State of the City You are invited to the 2023 Cupertino State of the City featuring leaders from various agencies around Cupertino. The event is free and open to the public. Learn about the current state of affairs in Cupertino and hear what is planned for the year ahead. The event will be held on Wednesday, February 15 with a reception starting at 5:30 p.m. at Quinlan Community Center, 10185 North Stelling Road. 3 Get Cupertino Updates Right to Your Inbox Make sure you never miss an update from the City and get the latest news on all the topics that are important you. GovDelivery, the City’s robust email subscription service, allows you to password protect your subscriptions and preferences, change your email address, or remove yourself at any time by changing your subscription preferences. All you need to log in is your email address. Simply enter your email address, select the topics you want to be notified about, verify your email, and you’re done! You’ll immediately receive any updates about the topics you’ve selected to your inbox. Be sure to add cupertino@public.govdelivery.com to your contacts to ensure emails don’t go to your junk folder. Stay up to date and informed on all the important news in Cupertino— sign up for email notifications at cupertino.org/enotification. 2023CREST AWARDS Do you know someone who should be recognized for their efforts in volunteering, sustainability, or public safety? For more than 30 years, the City of Cupertino has recognized its outstanding community members with an awards program. Hundreds of residents and community organizations have been honored with the award, now known as the CREST (Cupertino Recognizes Extra Steps Taken) Awards. For the past four years, the City has presented awards in six categories to better reflect the Cupertino community. The categories are: •Lifetime Achievement Award (Volunteer) – Recognizes a member of the community who has volunteered in the City of Cupertino for 10+ years. •Volunteer of the Year – Recognizes individuals who have made a difference to the Cupertino community through volunteer service. •Organization of the Year – Recognizes organizations that have made a difference to the Cupertino community through volunteer service. •Rising Star Award (Volunteer) – Recognizes an individual who has volunteered in Cupertino for three or less years but shows a continued commitment to the future of the Cupertino community. •Public Safety Champion of the Year – Recognizes an individual or group that has made an outstanding contribution to the safety of Cupertino. •Sustainability Champion of the Year – Recognizes a person or group committed to maintaining a sustainable and healthy place to live, work, and play in Cupertino. Award criteria and nomination requirements are on the application form, which can be found at the link at the bottom of the page. The nomination form is now 100% online to make it easier and more convenient for the public to nominate their candidate. Please be as detailed as possible. Nominations are due by Sunday, March 12 at cupertino.org/crest. Cupertino Recognizes Extra Steps Taken 4 Join the Earth and Arbor Day Festival Saturday, April 22 | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Cupertino Library Field Cupertino’s Earth and Arbor Day Festival invites community members of all ages to learn about environmental issues and solutions in a family-friendly atmosphere. Consistently attracting thousands of attendees and dozens of partner organizations, the Festival features hands-on activities, live entertainment, and delicious food served by local food trucks. Help support our community’s sustainability efforts by tabling, volunteering, sponsoring, or performing at this one- of-a-kind regional event. Volunteers Individuals who are 14 years or older can gain volunteer experience by joining the setup, breakdown, or interactive activities lead by the City. Multiple shifts are available. Apply to be a Lead Volunteer by February 13. Tabling Partners We are looking for businesses, non-profits, or individuals to share information, host activities, or sell products or services that inspire environmental protection and stewardship. Now is your opportunity to reach the community. Tabling partner sign-up closes March 19. Sponsors Go the extra mile and boost your business name. Three levels of sponsorships are available. Sponsors will have their company logo recognized on the City’s social media channels, promotional materials, and have an opportunity to speak at the festival. Performers Musicians, dancers, singers, and speakers can apply to perform on the main solar stage. Performer applications can be found on the website and are due March 13. Sign up today at cupertino.org/earthday. 5 Student artwork here! Design Vehicle Artwork and Suggest a New Name for Cupertino’s Expanded Shuttle Service Via-Cupertino Student Art Contest The City of Cupertino’s Transportation Division is looking for creative middle and high school students to help rename our community shuttle and redesign the artwork displayed on the vehicles! Via-Cupertino is an on-demand community shuttle that serves all of Cupertino and connects to Sunnyvale’s Caltrain station. Via-Cupertino will be expanding into Santa Clara and transitioning to an all-electric fleet in the spring. We’re looking for a new name and fresh new vehicle artwork which reflects both communities, while being relevant if the program expands into other nearby communities in the future. The name and design should convey the following themes: Community, Ease of use, Transit and Mobility, and Public. The new name and graphics should shout, “This shuttle is for everyone, please ride!” Students will be able to see the winning artwork on the community shuttle for years to come! Submission Deadline: Sunday, February 26 Winner Announcement: Early March, 2023 Learn more and download the application in the “Via Student Contest” section here: cupertino.org/shuttle Send any questions to Chris Corrao: chrisc@cupertino.org Previous Via Van Designs 6 Preparing for Winter Storms Throughout the month of January, Cupertino experienced severe weather conditions including heavy rains, high winds, and cold temperatures. The City coordinated to prepare for the inclement weather, and staff worked to resolve issues including debris in roadways, downed trees, and stormwater ponding. Advance preparation goes a long way to minimizing the impacts from large storms. Cupertino fared well due to proactive storm drain and tree maintenance. The City also provided the following services: •Public Works filled and distributed approximately 900 sandbags to the community. Sandbags will remain available at the Service Center. • Public Works responded to service requests late into the evening on Wednesday, January 11 and early morning of Thursday, January 12. Public Works staff will continue to assess City infrastructure in anticipation of more winter weather. •The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) continues updating the Current Incidents page as the event progresses. Find the page at cupertino.org/emergency. • OEM conducted public safety information outreach through the Citizen Corps and Block Leader programs. Responses from volunteers indicated that public safety information reached approximately 4,400 residents. Recurring winter weather serves as a reminder to prepare for everyday emergencies. Make the necessary plans to protect your family and property from flooding, high winds, and possible power outages. •Start with an emergency plan: choose a safe place to meet, learn evacuation routes, and establish an out-of-town contact. •Report street flooding or blocked storm drains to the City through 3-1-1 cupertino.org/311. •Keep rain gutters and drainage channels free of debris. •If the emergency requires specific action, the City of Cupertino will use AlertSCC to share life safety information. Sign up for the free “Alert SCC” Santa Clara County emergency alert system at alertscc.org. •Prepare for power outages by keeping supplies on hand that will keep you and your family safe without electricity. Consider helping your community stay connected and prepared by volunteering with the Cupertino Citizen Corps or Neighborhood Block Leader Programs. You can help our community stay safe and connected. Learn more at cupertino.org/emergency. Rainwater Harvesting and Capture Systems Did you know your front yard can play an important role in protecting our clean creeks? Capturing and storing rainwater reduces the need for irrigation with precious drinking water. Using permeable pavement, rain gardens, swales, or dry creek beds, you’ll help reduce peak runoff during rain events, allowing the soil to soak up rainfall and give soil microbes a chance to filter some of the pollutants. These features may also add a unique, creative look to your landscape. Or, with proper permitting, rainwater can be captured and used indoors for flushing toilets or even washing your clothes. Rebates: In addition to the thousands of dollars available to help convert your grass to drought-tolerant gardens, residents and business owners are eligible for the Rainwater Capture Rebate through Valley Water’s Landscape Rebate Program. •Receive a rebate up to $35 per qualifying rain barrel installed to collect rainwater from existing downspouts. •Receive a rebate of $0.50 per gallon for diverting existing downspouts to qualifying cisterns. •Receive a rebate of $1 per square foot of roof area diverted (up to $300 per site) into an installed rain garden to collect roof water runoff. Learn more at valleywater.org/ rebates. 7 We Love Libraries February is National Library Lover’s Month, and there’s no better way to observe than celebrating our own Cupertino Library, one of the seven libraries that’s part of the Santa Clara County Library District (SCCLD). At the end of last year, SCCLD was given a 5-star rating and named a Star Library for the fifteenth straight year by the Library Journal. Among the 5,359 public libraries reviewed, the 2022 Index of Public Library Service also ranks SCCLD #2 in the U.S. for library systems with budgets of more than $30 million, moving SCCLD from #5 in 2021 to #2 in 2022. Additionally, the Cupertino Library is the #1 most frequented library in SCCLD, with the highest number of visitors and book checkouts. Congratulations to SCCLD for being recognized for all their hard work in providing excellent library services to our community! Save Energy in Your Home Borrow a Free DIY Toolkit Energy efficient homes save up to 40% more energy than standard homes. Upgrading your home can start with a few easy steps. Through your local library, Silicon Valley Energy Watch is providing Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Home Energy Saving Toolkits stocked with supplies and measuring devices. You can check out the toolkit just like a book through your closest library, including the Cupertino Library. What you get to keep: • LED light bulbs • Low-flow faucet aerators • A low-flow showerhead • Outlet gaskets • Weatherstripping • Water leak detection tablets What you can use and then return: • A Kill-A-Watt® Meter to measure the energy use of appliances and equipment • A thermal detector to check for heat loss through windows, vents, and doors • A special thermometer to help set refrigerators and freezers to appropriate temperatures • A water flow rate bag to measure the true rate of flow from faucets and showerheads Reserve the toolkit online on the library’s website at sccld.org. 8 Memorial Park The City of Cupertino is developing a plan to revitalize Memorial Park and determine how to best meet the future recreation, community gathering, event, education, and natural habitat or green space needs of Cupertino. Input collected during community engagement activities in Fall 2022 informed the creation of three potential design concepts for Memorial Park, highlighting various opportunities that the community desires. Feedback on these concepts will influence the development of the community-preferred park design that will shape experiences for future park visitors. Review the Design Concepts and Share Your Ideas • Take the survey and vote for your choice online at the website below, open through Sunday, February 22 • Visit the Open House at Memorial Park, 21121 Stevens Creek Boulevard on Saturday, February 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. • Join the Community Webinar at the link below on Thursday, February 9 at 7 p.m. Learn more about upcoming engagement opportunities and take the online survey at engagecupertino.org/memorial-park- specific-plan. Dog Off Leash Area Trial Now Open It’s time to unleash the fun! Take your furry friend out to play and socialize with other dogs at one of Cupertino’s Dog Off Leash Areas (DOLA). The DOLA trial period is now open and will run until March 1 in two locations–one at Monta Vista Park, 22601 Voss Avenue, and another at Linda Vista Park, 11111 Linda Vista Drive. The Linda Vista Park DOLA trial is located on the large grass area in the lower section of the park and will be open daily for all dogs from 8 a.m. to noon, and for little or delicate dogs from 4 to 8 p.m. The Monta Vista Park DOLA trial is located on McKlintock Lane next to the tennis courts and will be open daily from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 4 to 8 p.m. Owners are responsible for their dogs. Please be respectful of other park users and follow the City’s rules for off-leash use. For more information, visit cupertino.org/dola. 9 CALENDAR OF EVENTS PARKS AND RECREATION EVENTS Baer Blacksmith Shop Demonstration Saturday, February 25 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Baer Blacksmith Shop at McClellan Ranch Preserve Learn about early Cupertino history and the craft of blacksmithing. The forge will be fired up and blacksmithing demonstrations are offered on these days. Wafu Ikebana 50th Anniversary Flower Show Saturday, March 4 and Sunday, March 5 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Quinlan Community Center Join this City-sponsored event where nearly 100 ikebana floral artists will be presenting the Wafu Ikebana 50th Anniversary Flower Show on March 4 and 5. The show’s theme, “Sounds of Spring” evokes pleasant memories along with the feelings of renewal and energy. More information at wafu-ikebana.org. Big Bunny 5K Saturday, April 8 5K begins at 8:30 a.m. Kids Fun Run begins at 9:30 a.m. Cupertino Civic Center Run, walk, or hop to the Big Bunny 5K and Kids Fun Run, this is an event you won’t want to miss. Everyone can participate, from competitive runners to first-time runners, walkers or hoppers. Kids aged seven and younger can participate in the Kids Fun Run and have a blast on a special course built just for them at the Kids Fun Run. This year’s event will take place on April 8 at the Cupertino Civic Center (10350 Torre Avenue). The 5K will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the Kids Fun Run will start at 9:30 a.m. Registration information available at cupertino.org/ bigbunny5k. Student Volunteer Organizations and Clubs Needed Cupertino Parks and Recreation needs your club or organization’s help. We would love to work with your service organization to help provide volunteers for our upcoming events. Events coming up are Big Bunny 5K, Cupertino Hackathon, and Fourth of July Celebration. Have your organization’s coordinator contact Robert Kaufman at robertk@cupertino.org. 10 Job Fair The City of Cupertino is looking for enthusiastic part-time employees to join our team! Stop by the Quinlan Community Center on Saturday, March 25 from 1 to 4 p.m. and learn about the fun summer jobs the City of Cupertino has to offer. Contact mariahg@cupertino.org for more information. SENIOR EVENTS Closing the Gap: An Intergenerational Mixer Monday, March 13 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cupertino Senior Center Join us for a fun, community-connecting experience bringing younger and older generations together. Workshops will focus on technology, dance and fitness, sports, and history. This event is open to high school-aged youth and older adults aged 50 and up. Lunch will be provided. This event is free but pre-registration is required. Register in person at the Cupertino Senior Center or by emailing senior_center@cupertino.org. 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.