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HomeMy WebLinkAboutScene June 2023 - 06.01.2023 JUNE 2023SCENE A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE CITY OF CUPERTINO June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month Celebrating and Serving our LGBTQ+ Community PLUS: SHUTTLE EXPANSION: SILICON VALLEY HOPPER | NEW SINGLE-USE PLASTICS ORDINANCE | GET OUTDOORS FOR SUMMER FUN Register for Summer Fun! See what activities, summer camps, and classes the City has planned! CONTENTS FEATURES 3 National Night Out 2023 Get involved with your community to build camaraderie and make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. 4 Ride with Silicon Valley Hopper Via-Cupertino is expanding and is now Silicon Valley Hopper! Learn more about the changes and how you can ride farther in the City’s shuttle. IN S I D E 6 Improving the Lives of the Gender Expansive Community Read about how the Santa Clara County Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs supports our transgender community. 8 Single-Use Plastics Ordinance Read about the new ordinance that bans single-use plastic foodware for food businesses. 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 National Night Out is August 1! National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes public safety, community partnership, and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. In Cupertino, we look out for each other in a variety of ways from crime prevention to disaster preparedness and response. Together, we make our community safer. Thank you to everyone who participated in 2022! Events like these are a major step to create and sustain a sense of community, and knowing your neighbors is essential for disaster preparedness and public safety. National Night Out events were attended by representatives from Cupertino Office of Emergency Management, Santa Clara County Fire, and Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office—thank you for welcoming us into your communities. Want to join the fun? Register before July 14 using the QR Code below. The first 20 groups to register will receive a kit that will help spark conversations about safety. For more information, visit cupertino.org/nno or email Marta Drown at martad@cupertino.org Deputies and firefighters are on duty and may not be able to attend or may leave early to respond to a call. Learn more about National Night Out and register for an event! Cupertino Budget Update During the months of April and May, City staff took several initiatives to engage the community in various budget outreach events. These events were held at locations such as the local farmer’s markets, Cupertino festivals, and the Cupertino Library. The primary goal of these events was to educate the community on budget-related topics, including the City’s current budget challenges and expenditure- reduction strategies. On May 17, City staff presented the Proposed Budget document, providing the community with a detailed overview of the City’s financial plan for the upcoming fiscal year. Following this, on May 18, the City hosted a Budget Town Hall event, which provided an interactive platform for the community to participate in discussions and share their feedback on the proposed budget. These outreach efforts have been instrumental in building community awareness about the City’s budget challenges and its impact on essential services. Furthermore, they have provided an opportunity for the community to engage with City staff on the budget. The adoption of the FY 2023-24 Budget is scheduled for Tuesday, June 6. Learn more: cupertino.org/budgetforecast. 3 Ride Farther: Via-Cupertino is Expanding to Silicon Valley Hopper Beginning July, Cupertino’s popular app-based on-demand rideshare shuttle, Via-Cupertino, will be expanding into the City of Santa Clara sporting a new name and look! Silicon Valley Hopper is the newly expanded public transit rideshare that gets you to work, school, errands, and more—all at the tap of a button. The Cities of Cupertino and Santa Clara were the recipients of a $8,465,000 grant from the California State Transportation Agency, a collaborative effort that provides for a four-year continuation of the service, along with a significant expansion of the service area and a conversion to an all-electric fleet of vehicles. The expansion comes at a perfect time, as March 2023 monthly ridership levels reached 4,715 trips, the highest since the program began in October 2019. The expansion will occur in two phases— Phase 1 will include an 8.5 square mile portion of Santa Clara south of El Camino Real, increasing access to the South Bay’s transit hubs, including Caltrain, Amtrack, and VTA. Additionally, two Mountain View destinations, the Mountain View Caltrain station and El Camino Hospital, will be added in Phase 1. Phase 2, occurring in year four of the expansion, will expand Santa Clara’s service area to 15 square miles, northward to Highway 237, and include an increase in the number of fleet vehicles to better serve transit- dependent populations. The current fleet of vans will be replaced with Kia Nero Electric Vehicles. To celebrate the conversion to an all-electric vehicle fleet and the program expansion, Via along with Cupertino and Santa Clara staff tapped into the wealth of the creativity of the student population and held an art contest for ideas on a new look. Santa Clara and Cupertino students submitted original artwork on the themes of Community, Ease of Use, Transit and Mobility, and Public. Via designers took elements of the finalist designs to create new vehicle wraps, and a new name, Silicon Valley (SV) Hopper! Along with the new look comes a new app, now available on the Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store! Just search for “Silicon Valley Hopper”, download the app, and start riding! For those riders current using the existing Via app, don’t worry— you’ll still be able to continue to book rides as the new service rolls out. Fares for the new, expanded service will remain unchanged, at $3.50 for a one-way trip, with 50% discounts for seniors, students, low-income, and disabled populations, and weekly passes are also available! Wheelchair-accessible vehicles are available. Find more information about the program at svhopper.com. 4 SERVICE MAP Schedule: M-F: 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Sat: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. 5 Improving the Lives of the Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender Expansive Community As part of their mission to provide support for LGBTQ+ individuals and families throughout our neighborhoods, The Santa Clara County Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs invested in a needs assessment survey to learn about the experiences of the transgender, nonbinary, and gender expansive (TGNBGE) community and how to best serve them. This intergenerational community- based research study identifies social and health service gaps for local TGNBGE people and outlines community identified solutions to address such gaps due to anti-trans bias and stigma. Discrimination and Lack of Resources Respondents to the study reported an alarmingly high rate of discrimination, lack of resources, and lack of effectiveness. 80% of respondents experienced discrimination directly related to their gender identity while attempting to access local services, and 90% of respondents chose to go outside of Santa Clara County to find culturally sensitive and welcoming services. 50% TGNBGE K-12 students experienced discrimination or some form of harassment due to transphobia, and 36% of those students were forced to drop out or transfer schools. Additionally, 10% of college students also experienced discrimination due to transphobia. TGNBGE people also face disproportionate amounts of discrimination in the workplace, with the national unemployment rate for the TGNBGE workforce at 18% compared to the general unemployment rate at 5%, and 25% of those individuals had experienced gender-based discrimination by their employer. Recommendations The Santa Clara County Office of LGBTQ+ affairs considered recommendations to improve services for TGNBGE residents in Santa Clara County, including greater access to multilingual services, accessible housing services, and to establish a TGNBGE commission for more community mobilization and coalition building. Additionally, recommendations were made for more trainings, communications, resources, and events to foster the safety of TGNBGE students and workers. There is a need for more community-based research to look at how the above disparities impact specific populations within the TGNBGE community including different races, ethnicities, and those who are differently abled. The Santa Clara County Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs is committed to working towards eradicating transphobia altogether, and making Santa Clara County a safer and better place for TGNBGE people. You can read the assessment in full plus other research at lgbtq.sccgov.org/our-work/research. 6 Improved Streets are Safer Streets The City’s Transportation Division of the Public Works Department has been awarded a Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Grant in the amount of $3,205,620. This grant will be used to make safety improvements along 15 roadway corridors within the City of Cupertino. These corridors include segments of: De Anza Boulevard Homestead Road Wolfe Road Bollinger Road McClellan Road Bubb Road Mariani Avenue Mary Avenue Tantau Avenue Blaney Avenue Rainbow Drive Miller Avenue Stelling Road Valley Green Drive Calvert Drive The safety improvements include striping enhancements, high friction surface treatments, and radar speed feedback signs. These improvements are intended to reduce unsafe speed violations and rear-end collisions along the corridors. The grant funding covers 90% of the estimated total project cost of $3.56 million. Improvements are expected to be begin in 2025. Going Green in Cupertino Cupertino’s Sustainability Division has recently been awarded two grants totaling $110,000 from Silicon Valley Clean Energy. These grants will be used to increase the adoption of clean electric technologies in Cupertino, and help advance the carbon reduction goals set out in the Climate Action Plan. The first grant will support the implementation of clean energy provisions in the building code for new construction, while the second will be used to develop new and innovative ways to educate and engage with the community using technology- enhanced communication tools. As the City moves towards a carbon- neutral future by 2040, investments and innovation in clean technology are crucial. One of the key areas that need to be addressed is the replacement of fossil fuel appliances with clean and electric appliances in homes, businesses, and industries. And as the projects progress over the next year, more information will be posted on the Sustainability Division website, allowing you to keep track of the City’s progress in achieving a cleaner and more sustainable future. One of the exciting projects that will be supported by these grants is the development of a virtual reality tool to educate the public about modern clean electric appliances. The use of virtual reality is a new and exciting way to teach about the benefits of clean electric appliances and answer questions consumers may have about their cost, reliability, and everyday use. Research has shown that virtual reality environments can help consumers become more familiar with adopting new technologies like electric vehicles. The team is planning to get the virtual reality headsets developed and tested this year, and begin rolling them out for use at community events in the spring of 2024. More information on Silicon Valley Clean Energy’s progress report can be found at svcleanenergy.org. 7 Gearing Up to Go Plastic-Free: Project Foodware is Underway Cupertino’s new Single-Use Plastics Ordinance goes into effect on Wednesday, September 6, and outreach and education has begun for restaurants, cafés, and other food businesses. The new ordinance bans single-use plastic foodware (including compostable plastic) for most items, and instead requires food businesses to use reusable items for dine-in service and natural fiber-based compostable alternatives for take-out. The goal of the ordinance is to reduce plastic waste in the environment and reduce the use of minimally recyclable plastic items that people only use for a few minutes. Businesses were mailed a letter paired with a full-color reference sheet in English, Chinese, and Spanish to explain the requirements. The mailing will be followed up with phone calls and in-person visits to help spread the word and offer support, including mini-grants for those needing extra help to purchase reusables or buy compliant foodware. How does this change affect you? No more clear plastic cups or plastic utensils? Change can be tough, but customers can support our local businesses and our environment by encouraging these changes! Have leftover take-out food? When you’re done, the fiber-based containers, cups, and utensils can all go into Cupertino’s green carts and bins to be composted, along with any uneaten food (but pour out liquids first). If you have questions, a foodware “hotline” has been set up at (408) 777-1356, or email environmental@cupertino.org. RAINFALL DATA AND ITS EFFECTS ON WILDFIRE SEASON Across the Bay Area, reservoirs are filling back up to normal levels and lush, green grasses are blanketing hillsides. As of April 20, 2023, Cupertino has had 21.10 inches of rainfall this fiscal year. That is 152% of average to date. Thanks to healthy winter storms, Santa Clara County’s drought classification was changed in March from “Abnormally Dry” to “None.” This season’s rain was desperately needed to alleviate the drought, but it could add fuel to the fire. While heavy rains will reduce the probability of big fires in woody areas, they could create more fires in grasslands. Woody vegetation, in high-elevation forests and chaparral landscapes, can hold onto this moisture through the summer, especially if it’s supplemented by summer rains or snow melt. On the other hand, the now-abundant grasses also serve as potent wildfire fuel, leaving uncertainty about how wildfires will unfold in the coming months. You can prepare for future wildfires or rainstorms by visiting cupertino.org/emergency. 8 Summer is for Outdoor Spaces Nestled in the heart of the Monta Vista neighborhood is the Stevens Creek Corridor. Within this unique outdoor space, you will find the Stevens Creek Trail, Blackberry Farm Golf Course, and McClellan Ranch Preserve. These charming outdoor spaces are a must-visit for locals and visitors alike and will make you forget you are in the heart of Silicon Valley. The Blackberry Farm pools will beckon you to their shores on warm summer days. The clear blue water, and large grassy area make this a perfect place to cool off. Kids and adults alike will have a blast splashing around in the pools and then relaxing poolside. Blackberry Farm also features group picnic sites available to rent. These picnic sites can accommodate groups of fewer than 10 and up to 400—making them the perfect place for an outdoor family gathering or a large corporate lunch. In addition to the pools and picnic sites, you will find a playground, horseshoe courts, sand volleyball courts, and bocce ball courts. Also tucked away in the corridor, along the babbling Stevens Creek, is McClellan Ranch Preserve. This 18-acre natural preserve, originally a horse ranch, offers historic landmarks, an Environmental Education Center, trails, gardens, and more. Visitors can learn about native plants and wildlife at the Environmental Education Center, catch a Blacksmithing demonstration at the Baer’s Blacksmith Shop, or take a stroll along the Stevens Creek Trial — make sure to keep an eye out for the Black-tailed Deer, Brush Rabbits, Monarch Butterflies, and Hawks that call the corridor home. For those feeling a little more sporty, there’s Blackberry Farm Golf Course. This nine-hole facility with a par of 29 has seven par 3’s and two par 4’s. While you will need accuracy to score well here, with narrow tree-lined fairways and small greens, this golf course is perfect for beginners to advanced golfers. Whether you’re looking to cool off on a hot summer day, have a family gathering, go wildlife watching, or learn about Cupertino’s history, the Stevens Creek Corridor has something for everyone to enjoy. Plan your visit! For more information on these outdoor spaces, visit: Blackberry Farm—cupertino.org/blackerryfarm Blackberry Farm Golf Course—blackberryfarmgolfcourse.com McClellan Ranch Preserve—cupertino.org/mcclellanranch Thank You, Cupertino Volunteers! Last month, the City hosted the annual CREST Awards Ceremony to honor the volunteers who go the extra step for the community. This year the City recognized: You can watch a recording of the ceremony on the City’s YouTube channel: cupertino.org/youtube. CREST Awards nominations are being accepted year-round, and you can submit a nomination for the 2024 CREST Awards now. Award criteria and nomination requirements can be found on the online application form at cupertino.org/crest. Lifetime Achievement Jim Walker Organization of the Year Friends of the Cupertino Library Volunteer of the Year Fari Aberg Public Safety Champion Fari Aberg Rising Star Adhya Kasamsetty Cupertino Recognizes Extra Steps Taken 9 CALENDAR OF EVENTS PARKS AND RECREATION EVENTS Environmental Education Center Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. McClellan Ranch Preserve Stop by the Environmental Education Center on Saturdays between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and visit the City’s animal ambassadors, engage with preserve staff, learn about the local ecology, and participate in hands-on nature activities. Join-A-Ranger: Riparian Habitat and Native Plant Tour Saturday, June 10 1:30 to 3 p.m. McClellan Ranch Preserve Join a Park Ranger for a tour of the native trees and plants in our local riparian habitat. Register at reg4rec.org. Summer Concert Series— Cupertino Symphonic Band Thursday, June 15 6:30 to 8 p.m. Memorial Park Amphitheater Parent’s Night Out Saturday, June 17 6 to 10 p.m. Quinlan Community Center Need a babysitter for a night out? Let us watch the kids! Drop off your child for a night of games, crafts, movie (Wall-E), and pizza. This event is for ages 3 to 12. Register at reg4rec.org. Summer Concert Series—Cocktail Monkeys Thursday, June 22 6:30 to 8 p.m. Memorial Park Amphitheater Rock, Pop, Funk, and Disco. Cultures of the World Saturday, June 24 1 to 4 p.m. Quinlan Community Center Join the City for a journey around the world! Experience refreshments, music, art, crafts, and learn about other cultures. This event is for ages 4 to 12, and children must be accompanied by a parent. 10 Baer Blacksmith Shop Demonstration Saturday, June 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. Summer Concert Series—Snarky Cats Thursday, June 29 6:30 to 8 p.m. Memorial Park Amphitheater Rock and Roll party band. Parent’s Night Out Friday, June 30 6 to 10 p.m. Quinlan Community Center Need a babysitter for a night out? Let us watch the kids! Drop off your child for a night of games, crafts, movie (A Bug’s Life), and pizza. This event is for ages 3 to 12. Register at reg4rec.org. 50+ ACTIVITIES 50+ Pickleball Demo Monday, June 5, 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 7, 9 to 10 a.m. Cupertino Sports Center Curious about Pickleball, one of the fastest growing sports in America? Come learn the rules and how to play at these interactive demonstrations and see how you can join the fun too. Register at reg4rec.org. Luau and June Birthday Bash Wednesday, June 14, Noon Cupertino Senior Center Swing along with our No Hoaaloha Ho’okani Pila Hawaiian Band for our luau lunch! Enjoy teriyaki chicken, tropical fruit, sweet rolls, fried rice, and guava cake. Register at reg4rec.org. Independence Day Celebration and July Birthday Bash Wednesday, June 28, Noon Cupertino Senior Center Get patriotic and wear your red, white, and blue as we celebrate our nation’s birthday early! Our Rhythmaires Band will set the mood in performing American-themed music as you enjoy a BBQ burger with all the fixings. Register at reg4rec.org. 50+ Scene Visit Cupertino.org/senior and flip through the May/ June 50+ Scene to see what socials, events, and classes the Cupertino Senior Center has planned. 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.