HomeMy WebLinkAboutScene November 2020 - 11.01.2020 PLUS: RAINBOW CROSSWALK FOR LGBTQ+ INCLUSION | HOW TO SUPPORT
LOCAL BUSINESSES | #CUPERTINOCARES HOLIDAY LIGHT TOUR
Flu Season Is Here
Keep Yourself Safe
from Flu During the
COVID-19 Pandemic
NOVEMBER 2020
A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE CITY OF CUPERTINO
SCENE
2020 has truly been a tale of two
years. It’s gone so fast in many
ways, and so slow in many others.
And now here we are in November.
After Halloween kicks off the holiday
season, I always look forward to the
feeling of fall and winter.
But we’re also in the beginning of
the flu season. With the overlay of
the pandemic, as well as having
to move indoors because of the
weather, it’s important that we
continue to focus on our health.
And if we can learn something from
other countries, such as Australia
which had a record low flu season,
mitigation measures can help
prevent the spread of COVID-19
and influenza.
So maintain your regular healthcare
appointments, get your flu shot,
and continue to be vigilant about
handwashing, wearing face
coverings, and physical distancing.
This is all so we can safely enjoy
Thanksgiving events with our
immediate families, create new
traditions so we can still see and
talk with each other if we are
distant, and finally, give thanks for
how fortunate we are to have
such a great community of friends,
family, and neighbors.
I hope you enjoy this month’s
edition of The Scene.
Deborah Feng
City Manager
FEATURES
3 Painting the Town
Rainbow
Read about the recent approval of a
rainbow crosswalk coming to Cupertino
to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion.
4 Info-Teeno: Financial
Preparedness Webinars
Do your teens know how to manage their
money? If not, don’t worry. They can learn
about upcoming webinars to teach them
the basics of money.
IN
S
I
D
E
10 Virtual Holiday Events
See what the City has planned
for the holidays this December.
5 A Calming Approach
to Traffic Concerns
Learn about the Neighborhood Traffic Calming
Program to address local neighborhood traffic
safety issues.
12 Directory and Contacts
Keep this list of the most useful
contacts for the City of Cupertino.
8 Flu Season During the
COVID-19 Pandemic
It’s more important than ever to protect
yourself and your family from the flu and
other respiratory illnesses.
Questions or comments about The Scene? Contact staff at scene@cupertino.org.
TALE OF TWO YEARS
CONTENTS
2
On September 15, Council approved the installation of a rainbow-
colored crosswalk in Cupertino. The rainbow flag has been a symbol
for LGBTQ+ inclusion since 1978, and the first rainbow crosswalk in the
United States, located in West Hollywood, was created to celebrate
Pride Month in 2012. The City is installing the rainbow crosswalk to say
that everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, is
welcome in Cupertino.
After a discussion of various alternatives, Council approved a design
similar to one in Traverse City, Michigan (pictured), to be installed
on the east side of Finch Avenue across Stevens Creek Boulevard.
The design is a rainbow colored strip approximately 12 inches wide
installed across the street in advance of the crosswalk.
Additionally, Council unanimously agreed to form a task force
to explore further LGBTQ diversity options in the City and provide
recommendations and outreach support.
A new crosswalk will start construction soon and be completed
by the end of the year, as part of the Stevens Creek Boulevard
Protected Bike Lane Project. The rainbow-colored strip will be
added upon completion of the crosswalk.
A New Park on the Way!
City of Cupertino Acquires
Lawrence-Mitty Property
Walking on Sunshine
City Council Approves Rainbow Crosswalk
to Promote LGBTQ+ Inclusion
The City of Cupertino recently completed the
purchase of the Lawrence-Mitty property. The City
purchased the property to develop a neighborhood
park on the eastern side of Cupertino, as identified in
the City’s 2020 Parks and Recreation System Master
Plan. The property consists of approximately 7.8 acres
located between Lawrence Expressway, Interstate 280,
and Bollinger Road, with the Saratoga Creek Channel
running through the site along the western side.
Over a decade of efforts, people in and around
Cupertino worked hard to deliver meaningful park
space to the east side of the City. The City is deeply
grateful to all stakeholders whose dedication achieved
this, and we look forward to continue to work positively
with entire community to ensure more equitable
access to parks.
The County of Santa Clara has owned the Lawrence-
Mitty property since 1972 and historically has used the
site as a construction staging area. In 2007, the City of
Cupertino, in anticipation of one day purchasing the
land for a park area, pre-zoned the property as Parks
and Open Space via Ordinance No. 07-1998.
The City is purchasing the property from the County
of Santa Clara for $2.69 million. The funds being used
for the purchase, as well as for future development
of the property, were provided as part of the
Development Agreement between the City and
Apple for the Apple Park Campus project. Work will
begin on a Specific Plan that will be used to guide
the development of a park.
3
It’s More Important Than Ever to
Shop and Dine Local!
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on
individuals, families, organizations, and communities
around the world. It has had an especially devastating
effect on local businesses, which are incredibly vital
and unique to our Cupertino community. Some
businesses have been forced to temporarily close,
and many others have had to pivot and change their
operations with a reduced workforce. While it’s easy to
feel powerless at a time like this, there are actions we
can take to support our local businesses and strengthen
our community.
• Shop and Dine at Local Businesses (Safely) – Many
of the items you typically buy are available at local
stores and may be more readily available. Buy local
and support small business owners, the people who
live in your neighborhood and know your name.
Online purchases are a great way to support local
without leaving the comforts and safety of your
home! Many businesses have an option to purchase
goods or services through their website, Facebook,
via a phone call, or by email. While out in-person,
make sure to follow the current State and County
Health Orders at sccgov.org/cv19order and check
which Cupertino businesses are open at cupertino.
org/openforbusiness.
• Order Ahead for Takeout or Delivery – Most
restaurants offer curbside pickup or delivery options
that weren’t offered before. Now is the perfect
time to order from your favorite restaurant, or
to try someplace new! You can also make your
transactions easier and less stressful by placing
your order prior to arriving at the business. This will
lessen the risk for everyone involved. Credit, debit,
contactless cards, and options like Apple Pay or
Google Pay are great ways to eliminate touching
keypads or handling cash. Plus, these transactions
are usually faster, getting you in and out more
quickly. You can also purchase gift cards now to
use later. This will help bridge the cash-flow gap
for local businesses. Buy for a future date night or
family night, shopping spree, or lunch with friends!
• Use Social Media and Share Your Positive
Experiences – Follow, like, share, comment to
spread the news of your local businesses to your
friends and followers! Write positive reviews of your
favorite local businesses each week. Facebook,
Google, Yelp, and Nextdoor are all great ways to
share your experiences on social media.
• Be Understanding – We are all experiencing these
challenging and unpredictable times, including
local businesses that have had to change their
operations and hours of business. Be understanding
of these changes. Reach out to the business owners
or employees to ask how they are doing, or to simply
let them know you support their decisions. It means
a lot!
These simple changes can go a long way in helping
businesses improve cash flow, keep employees on
payroll, or just to feel connected with the Cupertino
community.
Info-Teeno: Financial Preparedness
Does your teen know how to manage money? Do
they understand credit, and what a credit score is?
Do they know how to plan and maintain a budget?
In this webinar series, “Money Management Skills
for Teens” presented by KeyPoint Credit Union,
teens can learn how to build a good foundation
for financial health.
The next session is Sunday, November 15 at 1 p.m.
and will focus on understanding credit. Teens will
learn about the components used to determine a
credit score, why credit matters, how to build good
credit, what your responsibility is, and how to protect
your credit.
The final session is Sunday, January 24, 2021 at 1 p.m.
and will teach teens how to make good money
decisions, and create a well thought out plan. They
will learn how to manage money, set goals, and make
good decisions to build a strong foundation for their
future health.
For more information, and to register, visit cupertino.
org/teens.
4
A Calming
Approach to
Traffic Concerns
Give Feedback
on Smoking Policies to
Reduce Secondhand Smoke
Speeding and cut-through traffic
on Cupertino’s residential roads can
adversely impact neighborhoods
and decrease the quality of life for
residents. These conditions can create
an unsafe environment for bicyclists
and pedestrians who frequent local
destinations such as schools and parks.
The City of Cupertino has recently
begun addressing neighborhood
traffic issues and traffic safety
through a community-based
Neighborhood Traffic Calming
Program (NTCP) commonly referred
to as Traffic Calming. Traffic Calming
is a form of managing traffic through
a combination of physical roadway
features that may alter driver behavior,
improve conditions for non-motorized
street users, and reduce the negative
effects of motor vehicle use.
The Neighborhood Traffic Calming
Program aims to establish a consistent
set of guidelines to provide residents
and property owners with a means
to obtain relief from traffic-related
concerns, namely speeding vehicles
and cut-through traffic on their
residential street. This is accomplished
through a multi-step process involving
an initial petition, a traffic survey,
neighborhood meetings, a postcard
survey, and the possible installation of
Traffic Calming measures.
For more information, and to review
the guidelines and fill out the petition
form, visit cupertino.org/ntcp.
Tobacco use remains the number one preventable cause
of death and disease in California, causing nearly 40,000
deaths in California every year. In Santa Clara County, one in
eight deaths annually is attributed to smoking-related illness or
diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, and respiratory diseases.
The U.S. Surgeon General has concluded that there is no safe
level of exposure to secondhand smoke and the California Air
Resources Board has classified secondhand smoke as a toxic air
contaminant.
Based on City Council direction at the September 15, study
session, the City is considering the following policies in order
to reduce secondhand smoke in Cupertino:
1. Smoke-free multi-unit housing (defined as two or more
attached residences that share a wall, floor, or ceiling,
which could include apartments, condominiums,
townhomes, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, attached
single-family homes, etc.)
2. Smoke-free entryways around the entrances of all locations
where smoking is prohibited, including businesses, offices,
grocery stores, restaurants, bars, places of worship, etc.
3. Smoke-free public events, such as farmers’ markets
and street fairs
4. Smoke-free service areas, such as ATMs, store lines,
bus stops or shelters
5. Smoke-free outdoor worksites, such as construction sites
These policies would demonstrate the City’s commitment to
protecting the health of its residents and would improve the
City’s performance on the County’s Healthy Cities Initiative
and the American Lung Association’s State of Tobacco
Control grade. The City is interested in gathering feedback by
conducting a virtual community meeting on Tuesday, November
10 at 11 a.m. and administering an online survey available
at opentownhall.com/9800 until Monday, November 23. To
register for the community teleconference meeting and for
more information, please visit the Cupertino Smoking policies
webpage at cupertino.org/smoking.
5
As we have seen from the recent California wildfires, an extreme dry season can create hazardous conditions.
The same can be said for an exceptionally wet season, which can cause flooding to creeks, ditches and even
to neighborhood streets and properties. As we begin this year’s rainy season and with much of the community
sheltering-in-place, residents should remain cognizant of any potential flood risks surrounding their property and
be prepared for flooding possibilities, especially those who reside in a FEMA designated Special Flood Hazard
Area (SFHA).
The following tips will help you plan, prepare,
and protect your family and home:
The following property protection advice and assistance
services are provided by the City of Cupertino to further
help residents prepare for potential flooding:
• Know your flood risk: Visit floodsmart.gov or valleywater.
org/floodready.
• Do you need flood insurance? There is a mandatory
flood insurance purchase requirement if you live in a
FEMA designated SFHA and have a federally insured
mortgage. For property owners who currently possess
flood insurance, be sure to inventory and photograph
your home’s contents and put important papers and
insurance policies in a safe place. Even if you don’t
live in an SFHA, you can get extra protection by
purchasing flood insurance. To find a local agent
call 1 (800) 427-4661.
• Contact the Cupertino Public Works Department at
(408) 777-3354 to check whether your house is in or out
of a FEMA designated SFHA, to get assistance with onsite
flooding and drainage issues or to schedule a site visit.
• City staff can provide FIRM information, a handout on
the mandatory flood insurance purchase requirement,
and maps showing floodways, problems not shown on
the FIRM, and historical flood information.
• City staff possess elevation certificates for many buildings
located in the floodplain and may have one on file for
your property.
• Protect your home from flood threats: Valley Water
offers free filled sandbags. Check valleywater.org/
floodready for locations.
• Visit the City Maintenance Yard located at 10555 Mary
Avenue to self-fill free empty bags and loose sand. Make
sure to bring a shovel, just in case.
• Build responsibly in floodplains: Construction within
SFHA zones has special requirements. Physical
alterations to buildings can be made to reduce
risks and flood insurance premiums, such as
elevating a structure.
• Contact the Cupertino Public Works Floodplain
Manager at (408) 777-3354 to ensure compliance
with special requirements.
• Contact the Cupertino Building Department at (408) 777-
3228 to get a permit before you build. Checkout “What
You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor”, which is
available to download at cslb.ca.gov/About_Us/Library/
Guides_And_Publications.
• Keep creeks clean and flowing: Healthy, flowing creeks
reduce flood risks by carrying storm water away from
homes. Report blockages and dumping in creeks
to Valley Water at (408) 630-2378 or 1(888) 510-5151
anytime.
• It is illegal to dump anything into a creek or a storm drain
in the City of Cupertino. Residents can report dumping
incidents to the City by calling (408) 777-3269 during
business hours and 911 after hours and on weekends.
• Turn around, don’t drown: Avoid floodwaters.
• Make a family emergency plan and a 3-day
emergency kit: Agree on a meeting spot and plan a
safe route to higher ground. Put an emergency kit with
tools and supplies, non-perishable food and water.
• Download disaster and emergency apps: Download
Santa Clara County’s emergency preparedness app
“ReadySCC” and the Red Cross Flood app on your
smartphone.
• Additional information on flood preparedness is available
on the Cupertino website at cupertino.org/emergency.
Get Ready for Rain and Prepare for Floods
6
How we can work together to protect Cupertino
from flooding:
• The City’s storm drainage system is composed of street
gutters, the storm drain inlets, and the pipes that connect
the inlets to local creeks. This system drains street runoff into the
creeks and channels on the valley floor.
• Residents can assist the City and help protect immediate
neighborhood from localized flooding by sweeping gutters
regularly, placing swept material in the garbage, and
checking that nearby storm drain grates are not covered
with leaves or litter. Residents should abide by street sweeping
and no parking signs to allow the City to keep the gutters
clean and the storm drain system flowing.
• In the fall, before the rains start, City maintenance crews
vacuum out City storm drain inlets, and check for any
evidence of hazardous materials in the drains. This cleaning
prevents any illegally dumped materials that may be sitting
in the inlets from washing into our creeks with the first rains.
The open space areas around
Cupertino support mountain lions,
also known as cougars or pumas.
These cats are generally secretive
and avoid people, but it is possible
you may see one while visiting
these areas. These large cats can
travel 10 to 12 miles a day and
may occasionally pass through
neighborhoods near open space
areas as they move from one part
of their range to another.
To stay safe in mountain lion areas:
• Do not hike or jog alone
• Avoid using trails between dusk
and dawn (the time when
mountain lions are most active)
• Keep children and pets close to
you while hiking
If you do encounter a mountain lion:
• Do not run
• Make eye contact and
slowly back away
• Try to appear as large as
possible by raising your arms
or stretching out your jacket
• Pick up children without
bending over or crouching
• Make loud noises
and throw objects
• Fight back if attacked
• If a mountain lion poses an
immediate threat, call 9-1-1
What Should You
Do if You See a
Mountain Lion?
7
While seasonal influenza (flu) viruses are detected
year-round, they are most common during the fall
and winter.
Flu is a contagious respiratory illness that infects the
nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. It can cause
mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death.
Flu is different from a cold, as it usually comes on
suddenly. People who have flu often feel symptoms
such as fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose,
head and body aches, and fatigue. Anyone can get
flu, and serious problems can happen at any age, but
people at higher risk of developing serious flu-related
complications include those 65 years and older, those
with chronic medical conditions, pregnant people, and
children younger than five years. Most experts believe
that flu viruses spread mainly by tiny droplets made
when people with flu cough, sneeze, or talk. Less often,
a person might get flu by touching a surface or object
that has flu virus on it, and then touching their own
mouth, nose, or eyes, similarly to the coronavirus that
causes COVID-19.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing the
spread of respiratory illnesses like flu is essential. This
fall it’s more important than ever, not only to reduce
your risk from flu, but also to help conserve healthcare
resources that may be scarce. This will reduce the
overall impact of respiratory illnesses in the community,
which lessens the burden on the healthcare system
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Flu and COVID-19 are both respiratory illnesses, though
they are caused by different viruses. Because some
symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may be
hard to tell the difference based on symptoms alone,
and testing may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis.
It’s also possible to have both at the same time.
To prevent the spread of flu, keep physically distant
from others, cover your mouth and nose, and continue
to wash your hands. The single best thing you can
do to protect yourself and your family from flu is by
getting a flu vaccine, which reduces the risk of getting
sick with the flu, hospitalization, or death. Annual flu
vaccination is recommended for everyone six months
of age and older.
Free flu shots are available every Saturday through
mid-December at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds
in San Jose from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The car entrance for
general parking is Gate D, 2542 Monterey Road, and
pedestrian entrance and disabled parking is Gate
B, 344 Tully Road. No appointment is needed, all are
welcome regardless of immigration status. For more
information, visit sccphd.org/flu.
To read more about flu, visit flu.gov.
Protect Yourself and
Your Family This Flu Season
8
The holidays will soon be upon us, and the City of Cupertino wants Cupertino
to shine bright throughout the month of December! The City is calling on you to
decorate your house or yard with extravagant holiday spirit.
To include your home on the Cupertino holiday light map, email your address to
cupertinocares@cupertino.org before November 30. This map will guide residents
through the neighborhoods of Cupertino as families have a wonderful time
driving around looking at the festive decorations.
With your help, we can make December the brightest month of the year!
BRIGHTBRIGHTShine BRIGHT Cupertino
9
Holiday Events
Zoom with Santa
December 4 to 5 and 18 to 19, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
$10 Residents / $12 Non-Residents
This year Santa visits will look a little different but feel just as special.
Instead of face to face visits, Santa will be coming to you live from the
North Pole. Register for a Zoom call and get the chance to chat with
Santa...virtually.
After registering, we will have a staff member contact you to collect
information about the children that will be on the call. We want to
ensure that this will be a call they won’t forget!
To book a Zoom call with Santa, visit bit.ly/zoomwithsanta.
Deck the Doors
“Deck the doors” with boughs of holly…. Fa la la la la, la la la la…
#CupertinoCares is hosting a door decorating contest, and we want
you to participate. How festive can you make the front door to your
home or an inside door in your office? Any door will do. We aren’t
picky!
Send a photo of your decked out holiday door to cupertinocares@
cupertino.org by December 16. Doors will be judged on creativity
and holiday spirit. Gift cards will be sent to the winners and will be
announced on Friday, December 18.
...’Tis the season to be jolly. Fa la la la la, la la la la.
The Santa Stop
December 11 to 12, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
December 13, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
$5 Residents / $6 Non-Residents
Santa is coming to Cupertino! For one weekend he’s leaving his post
at the North Pole to greet Cupertino families from a safe distance.
Participants will get to say hello to Santa as they drive-through
the Quinlan Community Center’s parking lot. Santa letters are
encouraged!
Drive-through sessions, set in specific 30-minute time slots between 5
p.m. to 7 p.m. December 11 to 12 and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on December
13. To do a drive-through, a ticket must be purchased in advance. All
registrants will receive candy canes and an ornament to help spread
holiday cheer!
To purchase a ticket, visit bit.ly/thesantastop.
10
Parks and Recreation
Recreation Activities
Toddler,Youth, Teen, Adult, Adult 50+, Virtual, In-Person, Sports,
STEM,Education, Art, E-Sports, Nature, and Much More.
Find an activity today!
cupertino.org/recschedule 11
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For information on becoming a certified Green Business, visit cupertino.org/GreenBiz.
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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 Organizations
Organization Phone Number
Animal Control ........................................................(408) 794-7297
California Water Service .........................................(650) 917-0152
Chamber of Commerce ........................................(408) 252-7054
Comcast ..................................................................(800) 945-2288
Cupertino Library .....................................................(408) 446-1667
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