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HomeMy WebLinkAboutScene September 2022 - 09.01.2022 PLUS: MEET THE NEW CITY MANAGER | COME RIDE AT THE FALL BIKE FEST | SELL AND BUY AT CITYWIDE GARAGE SALE Emergencies Happen: What Will You Do? Get Ready during National Emergency Preparedness Month SEPTEMBER 2022 A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE CITY OF CUPERTINO SCENE FEATURES 3 Get Ready for the 2022 Election Make sure you’re registered and know how to vote before the November 2022 General Election. 4 Be Ready for Emergencies September is National Emergency Preparedness Month. Learn how to be ready and get involved with your community. IN S I D E 8 In a Drought, You’ve Got to Help Out Cupertino’s water supply is in a state of emergency. Read how you can help conserve water and report water waste. 6 Housing and Human Services Read about some of the local organizations providing housing and human services to the community. 12 Directory and Contacts Keep this list of the most useful contacts for the City of Cupertino. 10 Calendar of Events Find upcoming events, classes, and more! Questions or comments about The Scene? Contact staff at scene@cupertino.org. CONTENTS Sign Up For ALERT SCC AlertSCC.org The official emergency alert warning system for the County of Santa Clara. Disasters Happen. Plan Now. Learn How. 2 Get Ready for the 2022 General Election The 2022 General Election is fast approaching! You can find updates including information about candidates, registering to vote, how to cast your ballot, important dates, and more at cupertino.org/election. • Make sure you are registered to vote. You can register or check your registration status at registertovote.ca.gov. • By Monday, October 10, the County of Santa Clara Registrar of Voters will begin mailing registered voters their mail-in ballot. If you prefer to vote in person, you can find an official Vote Center list and schedule at sccvote.sccgov.org/ vote-person. • Want to contribute further to your community? Help elections run smoothly by applying to work at a vote center. Election workers and volunteers are crucial to our democratic process. Learn more and apply at sccvote.sccgov.org/ get-involved/work-vote-center. On Tuesday, July 19 the Cupertino City Council unanimously appointed Pamela Wu as the new Cupertino City Manager. Her first day with the City was Monday, August 29. Wu brings more than 20 years of public sector experience to the City of Cupertino. She recently served as the City of San Bruno’s Community and Economic Development Director. In her role, Wu oversaw the Building, Planning, and Housing divisions. Prior to joining San Bruno, she worked at the City of Gilroy and the County of Santa Clara. Wu is a Lynbrook High School graduate who grew up in the Cupertino area and holds a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley. She is married with two grown children, who are both graduates of Fremont High School. “I’m grateful for the opportunity and the City Council’s confidence in me,” said Wu. “I’m also honored and look forward to leading the City and also to being part of the community.” City Council Appoints and Welcomes Pamela Wu as New City Manager 3 START HERE: TAKE THESE STEPS TO PLAN FOR EVACUATION... Emergency preparedness is a team sport, and the community are starting players. This September, we build our community resilience during National Preparedness Month. Taking the time to prepare with our neighbors may help us to save lives, and recover quickly when disaster strikes. Being ready is a shared responsibility. Plan ahead to take care of yourself and your community. Be Ready, Set, Go! In an emergency such as a wildfire, residents and visitors may need to evacuate. Be ready ahead of time. If you feel in danger, leave immediately. Do not wait to be told to evacuate! The City of Cupertino, together with our public safety partners from Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office and Santa Clara County Fire Department, works year-round to coordinate our efforts, but we need your help. For more information about what you can do, visit the City website at cupertino.org/our-city/emergency-preparedness. For information about preparing specifically for a wildfire, visit readyforwildfire.org. 1. Sign up for alerts at alertscc.org: If you do not sign up, you will not receive these important alerts. AlertSCC provides you with the right information at the right time and will help you make the right decisions to stay safe during an emergency or disaster. 2. Know Your Zone: Zonehaven provides specific, timely, and accurate information regarding evacuations. The City has integrated evacuation zones into the ServiceFinder at gis.cupertino.org/servicefinder/ 3. Know your neighbors, plan with your neighbors: Take the time to talk with your community about evacuation plans. Sharing information and resources beforehand can save time and lives in an evacuation. 4. Know these terms: Evacuation Order: There is an immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to leave immediately. The area under evacuation order is now lawfully closed to public access. Evacuation Warning: There is a potential threat to life or property. Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets or livestock should leave now. Shelter in Place: Go indoors. Shut and lock doors and windows. Prepare to stay until further notice from emergency personnel. Evacuation Order(s) Lifted: Evacuation orders in a specific area have been officially lifted. National Preparedness Month in Cupertino 4 Connect with Your Neighborhood by Volunteering Get Involved this September The City of Cupertino is working with our community to be ready for whatever comes our way. You can participate in National Preparedness Month by taking specific actions each week: • September 5 to 11: Get Ready with a Plan-create and personalize your family plan • September 12 to 18: Make a Kit-address your family’s specific needs • September 19 to 25: Get Informed, Stay Informed-sign up for text, email, and phone alerts at alertscc.org • September 26 to October 2: Prepare your Neighborhood-get to know and learn how to support each other For more information, visit ready.gov. Free Personal and Family Emergency Preparedness classes are available virtually on Wednesday, September 21. Visit cupertino.org/calendar and find the event to register. Visit an ARK Open House! ARKs serve as supply caches for community emergency response, and central gathering locations for volunteers to support the City in an emergency. Each weekend in September Citizen Corps will host two ARK open houses in a different part of the City to share information about the ARKs, and promote community engagement in neighborhood preparedness. See firsthand how your role as a resident Personal and neighborhood preparedness is key in being able to withstand any emergency that we may face. Volunteering with the City will help you plan to take care of yourself, your family, and your neighborhood. Programs include Block Leaders, Neighborhood Watch, and Cupertino Citizen Corps. Citizen Corps includes Cupertino Emergency Response Team (CERT), Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), and Cupertino Amateur Radio in Emergency Services (CARES). Each program has a different level of expectations and training requirements. Many residents are a member in all programs, but you may choose to focus your time in one or more areas: The Block Leader Program teaches residents how to get to know neighbors and organize activities so neighbors can more easily communicate. Block leaders receive updates on neighborhood activities and services and are vital links between the City and the neighborhoods. Neighborhood Watch is a crime prevention program that enlists the active participation of residents in cooperation with law enforcement to reduce crime in is needed to help yourself and the City after an emergency. To volunteer with the Citizen Corps, or to get more information about emergency preparedness, email oem@cupertino.org. • Saturday, September 3, 8:30 to 10 a.m. at Monta Vista ARK, 22620 Stevens Creek Boulevard • Saturday, September 3, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at DeAnza ARK, 21250 Stevens Creek Boulevard • Saturday, September 10, 8:30 to 10 a.m. at Lawson ARK, 10401 Vista Drive • Saturday, September 10, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Creekside ARK, 10445 Miller Avenue • Saturday, September 17, 8:30 to 10 a.m. at Garden Gate ARK, 10500 Ann Arbor Avenue • Saturday, September 17, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Regnart ARK, 1180 Yorkshire Drive Monta Vista ARK their communities. Neighborhood Watch encourages neighbors getting to know each other and working together in a program of mutual assistance. The Cupertino Citizen Corps make a difference in our community with volunteers trained to support local emergency responders, provide disaster relief, and promote community safety. Be ready to respond to a disaster as part of Cupertino’s Citizen Corps team by joining the Cupertino Amateur Radio Emergency Service, Cupertino Emergency Response Team, or the Medical Reserve Corps. To volunteer or get more information, email oem@cupertino.org Rancho Rinconada Block Leader Meeting 5 z The City’s Housing and Human Services Grants Program provides funding to local agencies that serve low- and moderate-income households located within Cupertino. The Housing Division is responsible for the administration of the City’s Housing and Human Services Grants Program, which includes the City’s Below Market Rate (BMR) Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) Program, and General Fund Human Service Grants (HSG) Program, as well as the federally funded Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. In Fiscal Year 2022-2023, the City awarded $505,433 in grant funding to the following local agencies who will provide services at no cost to Cupertino residents. Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County – Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program The Ombudsman Program at Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County is the advocate for the most at-risk citizens in Cupertino and Santa Clara County – those who live in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. They advocate for the dignity, rights, and needs of seniors and disabled in those facilities. The main function of the Ombudsman Program is to investigate and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents related to issues of quality of care and abuse. Ombudsman protects and helps improve the quality of care and life for the most vulnerable of our senior and disabled population. The Ombudsman Program investigates elder abuse; resolves complaints; mediates conflicts; gives referrals to residents and their family, friends, and roommates; and more. All their services are free to residents, their family, and friends. For more information, visit cathorliccharitiesscc.org. Live Oak Adult Day Services – Senior Adult Day Care and Caregiver Respite Live Oak Adult Day Services is a nonprofit organization that has been serving seniors in Cupertino for 19 years on the campus of St. Jude’s Episcopal Church. Live Oak’s mission is twofold: to enhance the lives of seniors who are unable to live independently and to provide respite for their caregivers. Live Oak Provides a specialized day program for elderly, dependent adults aged 60 years or over who suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, and other conditions. Their program runs Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The program includes daily exercise, nutritious meals, socialization activities, music, art, and cognitive stimulation. Their hope is that the program instills a sense of purpose and dignity in seniors, and allows them to age-in-place. For more information, contact Lisa Lenoci, Program Director or Ann Peterson, Executive Director at (408) 973-0905, or visit liveoakadultdaycare.org. City of Cupertino Housing and Human Services Grants Program 2022-2023 6 z Project Sentinel – Fair Housing, Tenant-Landlord Counseling, and Dispute Resolution Services Having a challenge with your landlord or tenant? Project Sentinel can help! Their Dispute Resolution Program helps to resolve disputes and provides helpful information regarding evictions, deposits, repairs, rent increases, nonpayment of rent, and other housing issues. When you call Project Sentinel, a housing counselor will help answer your questions. Comprehensive services include counseling and information on rights and responsibilities of all parties, resource referrals, and conciliation and mediation. Their Fair Housing Center can also assist to address housing discrimination and enforce protections under the law. All services are free and confidential. For more information, call (800) 339-6043 or visit housing.org. Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley (RTSV) – Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Program RTSV is the only organization in Santa Clara County that provides critical repairs at no cost to low-income homeowners and nonprofit facilities by leveraging volunteer labor. RTSV serves homeowners who cannot afford to make repairs or modifications to their homes, and whose independence and safety are jeopardized by the condition of their home. RTSV could not provide life- changing repairs for low-income neighbors without the generous support of their sponsors. For more information on applying for repairs, volunteer opportunities, or supporting their work, call (408) 578- 9519, visit rtsv.org, or email info@rtsv.org. West Valley Community Services (WVCS) – Community Access to Resources & Education (CARE), and Haven to Home Programs The CARE program seeks to ensure that households living in poverty have easy access to public benefits, supportive services, and education resources that help families build financial and household stability. CARE achieves this goal by providing case management, benefits assistance, financial education and coaching, free income tax preparation assistance, and workshops and clinics. In addition, clients can also participate in a host of supportive services offered by WVCS, including access to the food pantry, emergency financial assistance to prevent homelessness, housing resources and referrals, and other resources. For more information contact Jhoana Diaz at (408) 956-6096 or jhoanad@ wvcommunityservices.org. The Haven to Home Supportive Services program offers resources to homeless individuals and families. Through case management, clients are able to utilize services specifically tailored toward homeless needs. The program aims to help clients navigate the system of services and move towards stability and self- sufficiency. While working with a case manager, Haven to Home clients are eligible to receive bus passes, food, participate in special programs, and financial assistance when stable housing is found. For more information contact Elizabeth Olmos at (408) 618-6229 or elizabetho@wvcommunityservices.org. 7 In a Drought, You’ve Got to Help Out Drop and Go: Return Library Books with Ease Cupertino Library patrons now have a new and convenient way to drop off their books! The City has completed construction of a new book drop-off for the Cupertino Library located at the intersection of Torre Avenue and Town Center Lane, closest to the library. This new drive-through return allows patrons to drop off their library materials without parking or leaving their vehicle. The book return is now available to use with initial operating hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call the Cupertino Library at (408) 446-1677. Cupertino’s water supply is in a state of emergency with worsening drought conditions. California’s Water Authority, Valley Water, and your water providers are creating new protocols for residents and businesses. Although watering times and specific rules vary depending on where you live, here are some best practices for everyone to comply with local, regional, and state regulations: 1. Limit watering of lawns, landscape, and turf areas to no more than two days per week and no more than 15 minutes of watering per day per station or irrigation zone. a. Per California State law, Homeowner Association (HOA) and commercial properties must stop watering decorative turf and grass immediately. b. Do not water outside plants or landscaping within 48 hours after significant rainfall. 2. Continue watering trees with just enough water, avoid overwatering. 3. Adjust outdoor watering systems to avoid runoff onto non-landscaped areas including walkways, roads, parking lots, or structures. 4. Do not use water to clean driveways or sidewalks, instead use a broom. 5. Wash your car at a commercial facility that recirculates the water. 6. Do not use water in a water feature, except where the water is part of a recirculating system or needed to sustain aquatic life in lakes or ponds. 7. Check for hidden leaks by reading your water meter when all devices are off. 8. Fix leaks or broken plumbing features as soon as possible or within 72 hours after noticing issue. You can report wasted water to the City of Cupertino’s Code Enforcement or your water retailer. Water rates have changed to make water waste even more expensive for homeowners. Commercial properties may be subject to fines for watering non-fuctional turf grass. Converting your landscape to be drought tolerant is the best way to save water, and Cupertino has now made it easier than ever. In 2021, Cupertino’s City Council passed a resolution to waive some planning fees for large sites that want to remove their turf grass. To learn more, contact sustainability@cupertino.org. To learn more about drought conditions, resources for water savings, and how to report water waste, visit cupertino.org/drought. 8 Come Ride at the Fall Bike Fest Shop and Sell at Annual Citywide Garage Sale You are invited to find hidden treasures, help keep stuff out of the landfill, and meet your neighbors during this year’s Annual Garage Sale! On September 17 and 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., residents across Cupertino are selling items that need a new home. Over 200 households participate every year. You can search for bargains and find rare and unusual items throughout Cupertino. Common items sold at garage sales include used clothing, books, toys, household decorations, sports equipment, board games, furniture, and appliances. Go to cupertino.org/garagesale to access the online map and start shopping or register your sale. Printed maps will be available at Cupertino Library, Quinlan Community Center, and Cupertino Senior Center after September 13. There is still time to sell your stuff! Registration closes Monday, September 5. cupertino.org/garagesale Join us on Saturday, September 24 for the City’s annual Fall Bike Fest! This year, the festival is moving to a different but nearby location: Civic Center Plaza and Torre Avenue. The avenue will be closed to cars for the occasion to make way for the event. This new location is sure to provide a much more festive atmosphere! Activities: Cupertino Safe Routes to School is working with partners to bring bike education and fun to this event! Get your bike and helmet checked, decorate your bike, make a smoothie on the blender bike, create bike-themed art and poetry on flags and buttons, join a family bike ride, and kids - go through “Safe Moves City,” a mini bicycle course to learn to be a safe cyclist. Contests: You can win a prize (paid for by Santa Clara County’s 2016 Measure B funds) for several categories at this year’s event: youngest rider, oldest rider, biggest group (bring your friends to the festival!), most eye-catching group theme (PG-rated outfits only please; this is a family event!), and biggest bike capacity (can you beat the 12-grocery-bag record?). Rides: There will be two bike rides this year. A 2.5 mile ride will go through parks and include activity stops along the way. An 8 mile ride will highlight infrastructure projects the City is working on that will make Cupertino even more bike-friendly than it already is. Come have fun and learn! cupertino.org/bikefest FALL BIKE FEST Civic Center Plaza • 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 9 GENERAL Pooch Plunge Saturday, September 10 • 9 to 11:45 a.m. Blackberry Farm Don’t miss this once-a-year opportunity to let your pooch swim, splash, and plunge into the Blackberry Farm pools. Register at bit.ly/3ckV7QV. Join-A-Ranger: Wildlife Tracking Saturday, September 17 • 1 to 2:30 p.m McClellan Ranch Preserve Join the Park Rangers for a fun-filled wildlife tracking class. You’ll learn about species identification through their tracks and sign-tracking. Register at bit.ly/3zZMIe7. Environmental Education Center Open House Saturday, September 3, 10, 17, 24 • 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Environmental Education Center at McClellan Ranch Preserve Community members are invited to visit our animal ambassadors, engage with preserve staff, learn about the local ecology, and participate in hands-on nature activities. Baer Blacksmith Shop Demonstration Saturday, September 24 • 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Baer Blacksmith Shop at McClellan Ranch Preserve The restored Baer Blacksmith Shop is now up and running. Come and learn a bit about early Cupertino history and the craft of blacksmithing. CALENDAR OF EVENTS Bobateeno Saturday, September 17, from noon to 3 p.m. Cupertino Civic Center Plaza Bobateeno is back! Take a mental break, de-stress, and socialize with the Cupertino Youth Activity Board on Saturday, September 17, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Cupertino Civic Center. Connect with local mental health resources, participate in fun activities, and of course, enjoy some refreshing boba milk tea! Bobateeno is for students in the eighth through 12th-grade with a valid 2022-2023 school ID or transcript, which must be shown at check-in. Boba is limited, so head over to bit.ly/bobateeno2022 to register for one of our three boba waves and receive your complimentary drink on event day. Want to participate without the boba? No problem. Just register for our non-boba time to be allowed into the event premises. All attendees must register for the event and show proof of 2022-2023 student status at check-in. Fall Recreation Schedule Is Here! This fall, the City of Cupertino has many activities, camps, classes, and events planned for all ages, from youth to adults 50+. See what the City has planned at cupertino.org/recreation. TEENS 10 Hidden Treasures Fundraiser Returns On Thursday, October 27, the Cupertino Senior Center will host Hidden Treasures for the first time since 2019. Hidden Treasures provides the perfect opportunity to hunt for those one-of-a kind items from jewelry, home décor, kitchen appliances, gifts, and more. Proceeds from the event sale will go to the Cupertino Senior Center’s Stay Active Fund which promotes seniors to have an active lifestyle. Looking to donate items? Collection of gently used or like-new items for Hidden Treasures will continue until the beginning of October. A complete list of acceptable donations may be found at cupertino.org/hiddentreasures. This event would not be possible without the generous time commitment of volunteers. If you are interested in helping with preparations for the event, please email senior_center@cupertino.org or call the Senior Center front desk at (408) 777-3150. SENIOR For more information on the Cupertino Senior Center, or to sign up for classes or events, visit cupertino.org/senior or stop by the Senior Center at 21251 Stevens Creek Boulevard. Mid-Autumn Performance Celebration Wednesday, September 7 • 1 p.m. Celebrate the end of the autumn harvest and the rising of the full moon with live dance performances and singing. Open to the public; preregistration is required. 50+ Travel: Wines of the Santa Lucia Highlands Thursday, September 15 • 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Take a trip through the Santa Lucia Highlands at harvest time! Members pay $148. Go Go Biblio Thursday, September 22 • 10 a.m. to noon Cupertino Senior Center Cupertino Library’s Go Go Biblio electric mobile vehicle brings books and movies to you! Members free, non- members pay $5. Senior Advisory Council Meeting Thursday, September 22 • 2 to 3:15 p.m. Cupertino Senior Center Interested in contributing to expanding opportunities for seniors in our community? What programs and activities would you like to have? How can the contributions of seniors be more visible? Join leaders of social activities and volunteer groups working to create a friendly environment at our Center. Wildfire Preparedness: Ready, Set, Go Saturday, September 24 • 9:30 to 11 a.m. Online presentation Join Santa Clara County Fire Department in this webinar to learn how to reduce wildfire risk and better prepare your home, your family, and your neighborhood. Open to the public. BookBrowse Workshop Wednesday, September 28 • 10 to 11 a.m. Learn how you may receive the best hand-selected read-alike recommendations on thousands of contemporary fiction and nonfiction books and authors with additional information provided for you to decide which books are just right for you. Members free, non- members pay $5; preregistration is required. Ongoing Weekly Senior Programs Bingo Friday, at 1 p.m. Cupertino Senior Center Enjoy a fun afternoon playing Bingo at the Cupertino Senior Center! Bingo cards are $5 to $8, daubers are $2. Ping Pong Tuesday, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. • Friday, 1 to 4:30 p.m. Cupertino Senior Center Join weekly ping pong and exercise your hand eye coordination in this low impact sports social. Members free, non-members pay $5. 50+ Softball Thursday, Now to December 8 • 9 a.m. to noon Softball Field at Memorial Park Enjoy the sun and bring a friend to play or watch 50+ Softball! To play, member fee is $50 for the season. 50+ Bocce Ball Wednesday, Now to October 26 at 9 a.m. Bocce Ball Courts at Blackberry Farm Come enjoy the outdoors while playing bocce at Blackberry Farm Park alongside the Stevens Creek Trail. Free for members. 50+ Tennis Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Tennis Courts at Memorial Park Come play tennis with other members on courts 5 and 6 at Memorial Park! Free for members. 11 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. PRSRT-STD U.S. Postage PAID Cupertino, CA Permit No. 239 CUPERTINO SCENE Cupertino City Hall 10300 Torre Avenue Cupertino, CA 95014 *******ECRWSSEDDM******* POSTAL CUSTOMER 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 SeniorCntr@Cupertino.org Sports Center ...............................................(408) 777-3160 Recreation@Cupertino.org Street Light Maint. .......................................(408) 777-3342 StreetDivision@Cupertino.org Street Sweeping ..........................................(408) 777-3269 Public_Works@Cupertino.org Tree Maint. ...................................................(408) 777-3410 Public_Works@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. City Directory