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HomeMy WebLinkAboutScene March 2017 - 03.01.2017SCENEThe Cupertino A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE CITY OF CUPERTINO MARCH 2017 PLUS SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING FIND OUT WHY Page 4 HOP ON OVER TO THE BIG BUNNY FUN RUN IN APRIL Page 5 NOW YOU CAN GET IN THE CUPERTI-KNOW Page 9 Power Up Clean Energy Is Coming To Cupertino Page 6 & ARBOR Valet bike parking will be provided by the Silicon Valley Bike Coalition Learn more at www.cupertino.org/earthday You’re Invited! FREE Admission! Saturday, April 22nd 11am-3pm Civic Center Plaza Between City Hall & Cupertino Library Pedal 4 the Planet Bike Ride Electric Vehicle Demo FREE Yoga ECO-‰lm series Art & Innovation Exhibit Tree Walk Arts & Crafts Food Trucks Live Performances Local Organizations AND MORE! DAY Artwork created by students of The Cupertino community de- cided long ago that ensuring a sustainable future and creating a healthy place to live, work, and play was important and should be a priority for the City. That’s why the Cupertino City Council adopted a Climate Ac- tion Plan in 2015. The plan defines strategies to improve Cupertino’s already high quality of life by re- ducing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as providing energy, water, fuel, and cost savings for the City, its residents, and business owners. The goal is to reduce the City’s greenhouse gas emissions to 15% below its 2010 baseline by 2020, and see a 49% reduction by 2035. As a community, we’re convinced that global climate change is real, and the City is dedicated to being a better steward of our planet. Cupertino has proven this by being the first City to take action to es- tablish and join Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE), bringing a commu- nity choice energy option to Cu- pertino residents and businesses in April 2017. This will provide cleaner and greener electricity. However, the City is not alone in this endeavor. This is a regional ef- fort among 10 other South Bay cit- ies and the County of Santa Clara. To further prove itself as a local leader in the environmental are- na, Cupertino enrolled its munic- ipal electricity accounts in SVCE’s GreenPrime option. This means that the energy used by City build- ings is 100% greenhouse-gas free and from 100% renewable energy sources. This will go a long way in helping the City meet its target goals set forth in the Climate Action Plan. Below is a list of other sustainability practices the City has taken on: Clean Fleet: 15% of Cupertino’s vehicle fleet is using clean fuels, including two all-electric vehicles and a number of plug-in hybrids. Safe Routes to School Program: This program improves the health and well-being of our children by increasing the number of students who walk or bike to school. It also helps create a safer environment for Cupertino students and families traveling to and from school ac- tivities, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Green Business Program: This award-winning program helps lo- cal businesses through green busi- ness certification so they can con- serve water and energy, reduce pollution and waste, and cut costs. For more information on the City’s sustainability efforts, visit www.cupertino.org/green. David Brandt City Manager MANAGING THE MESSAGE Page 3 CONTENTS FEATURES 12 The Scene Answers Check out the Scene’s new Q&A section on the back page.6 Balance of Power Learn all about the options offered by Silicon Valley Clean Energy. IN S I D E 8 Slowing Down Our hectic lives may be harming those around us. 5 Bunny Hop The Big Bunny 5K/Fun Run is coming back in April. Hop on over.11 Community Calendar Find out what’s happening in Cupertino during the month of March. 4 Unusual Activity Keep these tips in mind if you spot something strange in your neighborhood. Questions or comments about The Scene? Contact staff at scene@cupertino.org. Page 4 Every. MINUTE. COUNTS. See something / say something One of the greatest assets of any law enforcement agency is its community members, and that’s no different in Cupertino. Residents know their streets and neighbors better than anyone else, making them the best at spotting unusual activity that may be associated with crime. Individuals who immediately re- port suspicious behavior or observations can help the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office stop and catch criminals. And every minute counts. People have expressed their difficulty in deciding whether or not they should call 911. It’s better to be overly suspicious and call in activities that turn out to be nothing than let potential crimes go unreported. WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR? Below is a short list of activities to report to 911: I. An unusual vehicle or person passing through your neighborhood more than once II. A solicitor without a permit from the City III. Someone going home to home, looking in through windows, or inspecting the backyard IV. People entering a neighbor’s house while it is unoccupied V. An unfamiliar car parked on your street with someone inside VI. A slow moving vehicle REPORTING SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY BE A GOOD WITNESS Know your location and the location of the sus- picious activity. Addresses and cross streets are very important. Always allow the dispatcher to ask questions before hanging up. Explain what’s happening and why the activity is suspicious. Give as much detail as possible. SEE A VEHICLE If there’s a vehicle involved, remember the ac- ronym “CLAMMS.” The C = color of car, L = license plate number, A = additional distin- guishing features (stickers or body damage), M = make (Ford, BMW, Honda), M = model (2-door, 4-door, truck, SUV), S = state of license plate if not from California. CALL IT IN Always report suspicious activity. Call 911 or the Sheriff’s Office non-emergency number at (408) 299-2311. Page 5 When did the Big Bunny 5K begin? Jeff: The Big Bunny 5K can be traced back to the 1970s when it was start- ed by the Cupertino Jaycees. The Cupertino Jaycees was the local chapter of Junior Chamber Interna- tional, a non-profit organization of young active citizens who engaged in the community. The 5K began as a celebration of the start of spring, as well as being a fundraiser and training event for the group. When they were no longer able to produce the Big Bunny 5K, the City of Cupertino took over its management. It has been a staple City event ever since, celebrating our positive, healthy, and connect- ed community. Who can participate in the event? Jeff: The Big Bunny 5K is for anyone and everyone. People may hear 5K and think it’s out of reach for them, but no matter your current fitness level, completing a 5K is both do- able and fun. In past years, we’ve seen a 104-year- old great grandmother walking with four generations by her side, a new- born being pushed by his mom, and a husband and wife who were start- ing a weight loss journey together. We want everyone to feel includ- ed, accepted, and encouraged to achieve their goals, and there is no better place for that than the Big Bunny 5K. Does the 5K support any charities? Jeff: Yes! The event supports the work of Charity: Water, a non-prof- it organization whose mission is to bring clean and safe drinking water to people in developing countries. 663 million people in the world live without clean water. That’s twice the population of the United States. The majority live in isolated areas and spend hours every day walking to collect water for their families. Our work with Charity: Water began as part of the Cupertino Recreation and Community Services 50th an- niversary in 2012. The Big Bunny 5K was tasked with marking the cele- bration in a unique way. Instead of creating a giveaway, we wanted to use our resources to help others. Proper hydration is one of the most important factors to running a suc- cessful 5K. With so many people in the world lacking this basic re- source, we wanted water to be our focus. Since 2012, we have been able to raise over $20,000. A full list of the projects we have supported can be found at www.bigbunny5k. com. What’s the story behind the Fun Run? Jeff: The Kids Fun Run was started as an experiment after our team witnessed one 3-year-old’s disap- pointment at the 2009 Big Bunny 5K. Right before the start of the race, we noticed a mom and dad near the starting line comforting their son, who was in tears. He was so disap- pointed that he could not run like the rest of his family, instead hav- ing to sit in a stroller for the race. His parents told him that the 5K was too long, but that he could run around on the grass when they got back. That scene sparked an idea that led to the Kids Fun Run. We created a kid-sized course around the Library field. Like the adults, kids receive a T-shirt, race bib, and finisher medal, but run a course sized for them. We anticipated 20 kids for the first Kids Fun Run, but had 80 sign-ups. The Kids Fun Run has grown every year and now caps off at 200 young, en- thusiastic participants. What is your favorite part of the Big Bunny 5K? Jeff: For me, the best part of the Big Bunny 5k is when I have a small moment to just watch all of the par- ticipants. I love to see the diversity of our community, the community spirit where everyone is cheering for their competitors, and seeing young and old laughing and smiling with each other. But, most of all, I love the look on someone’s face when they realize they just accomplished something they once thought was impossible. __________________________________ The Big Bunny 5K and Kids Fun Run is back on Saturday, April 15 at the Cupertino Civic Center, 10300 Torre Avenue. To register, or for more info, visit www.bigbunny5k.com. A HISTORY OF THE BIG BUNNY 5K From The Memoirs of Recreation Coordinator Jeff Ordway Given a Choice For the first time, residents and businesses in Cupertino will have more than one choice of electricity provider. Silicon Valley Clean Energy, a new non-profit, public agency, will begin serving customers in April 2017. SVCE is chartered to source renewable and 100% carbon-free electricity at competitive prices. Page 7 Cupertino residents will now, for the first time, have a choice in their electricity provider. And the environ- mental and economic impacts will be significant. When fully operational at the end of this year, Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE), a nonprofit public agency, will enable Cupertino to make an immediate and dramatic reduction in community-wide carbon emis- sions and save money for electricity customers at the same time. How does it work? SVCE will pool electricity demand across homes and businesses in twelve participating communities. In addition to Cupertino, these include Campbell, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Mor- gan Hill, Mountain View, Saratoga, Sunnyvale, and the County of Santa Clara. SVCE then buys electricity from re- newable and carbon-free energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hy- dropower. PG&E will continue to be an essen- tial partner. As before, PG&E will de- liver the electricity over existing infra- structure, maintain the power lines, sends bills, and provide customer service. (See image above.) When does it start? Customers in Cupertino, and other participating communities, will be automatically enrolled in SVCE’s standard product called GreenStart. Enrollment will occur over a six- month period in three phases. Post- card notifications were mailed in January to the first set of custom- ers who will receive electricity from SVCE beginning in April. All customers will receive two noti- fications before they are enrolled and two notifications after enroll- ment. If you haven’t received a no- tification in the mail yet, it probably means your address will be enrolled in the second or third phase. How much does it cost? The approved rates for GreenStart, SVCE’s standard program, are 1% less than PG&E’s rates for residential and commercial customers. GreenStart offers 100% carbon-free electricity from 50% renewable sources, such as solar and wind, and 50% from hydroelectric power. In comparison, PG&E’s current electric service is approximately 60% car- bon-free, including 30% renewable sources. As noted, all customers are automatically enrolled in this ser- vice–so you don’t have to do any- thing to get cleaner electricity at a lower cost! Customers can also upgrade to GreenPrime, SVCE’s premium ser- vice, offering 100% renewable (and 100% carbon-free) electricity at a rate just $0.008 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) more than GreenStart. For a typical residential customer, this adds up to about $4 to $6 per month to their electric bill. Customers do have the choice to opt-out and remain with PG&E. How about rooftop solar customers? Customers with solar at their home or business can take advantage of SVCE’s Net Energy Metering (NEM) program. SVCE’s NEM program of- fers full retail value for surplus gen- eration, with credit roll over and monthly billing. When a credit bal- ance exceeds $100 at the end of April each year, the credit is auto- matically paid to the customer up to $5,000. What about customers enrolled in the CARE, FERA or Medical Baseline? Customers enrolled in discount rate programs such as CARE, FERA and Medical Baseline will remain in these programs as Silicon Valley Clean En- ergy customers, and will be provid- ed with the same discount. What makes SVCE different? Silicon Valley Clean Energy brings choice and competition into the power marketplace where it didn’t previously exist. SVCE is a Community Choice Aggre- gator, also known locally as Commu- nity Choice Energy (CCE). Enabled through state legislation (AB 117) in 2002, communities choosing to par- ticipate form a Joint Powers Author- ity to pool electricity demand, and buy power with the community’s in- terests in mind. SVCE is locally run, managed by a 12-member Board of Directors com- prised of elected officials from each of the participating communities. 2017 marks the beginning of a new clean power future for Cupertino! How can I get more information? Visit www.SVCleanEnergy.org or call (844) 474-SVCE. ___________________________________ Sustainability Manager Misty Mersich contributed to this article. Page 8 Living in Cupertino can be hectic. No matter how someone spends their day here in the heart of Silicon Valley, there are inevitably instances filled with stress and time constraints on our way to that next “thing.” Whether it’s making it on time for a board meeting after dropping your child off at school, getting home in time to cook dinner, or simply oversleeping one morning before class … we’ve all experienced instances of rush. What we may not realize is that our stress, our rush, our refusal to slow down directly affects the environment around us and most often times in a negative way. One Cupertino resident became the victim of one of these “instances of rush” when she was hit by a car on her way to work. Lopa Bhagat, an Instruc- tional Assistant at Sedgwick Elemen- tary School, was on her regular morn- ing walk toward campus when she was struck in a crosswalk by a vehicle. Lopa, a pedestrian in this situation, was careful to stop the car coming from her left side but did not consider a driv- er striking her from behind. She was hit, fell to the ground, and was left dazed. Lopa’s story is not unlike many others who choose to traverse part of their day on foot. Our fast-paced commu- nity can quickly evolve from exciting to dangerous when we neglect to consider how our hasty commute af- fects those around us. Experiences like Lopa’s are important reminders of life’s big picture and that no rush is worth jeopardizing the health and safety of our community. The City of Cupertino’s Safe Routes to School Program hopes that Lopa’s sto- ry will lead to increased driver aware- ness for pedestrians’ wellbeing. _____________________________________ Safe Routes to School Community Coordinator Chelsea Biklen contributed to this article. SCENE: Can you de- scribe the incident? LOPA: It was a Wednesday around 9 a.m., if I’m not wrong. I had just finished walking across one portion of the crosswalk when I began walking the rest of the “L” shape. I notified the driver to my left but did not think about the driver behind me. I just kept on walking and the next thing I know I got hit. I was just in shock and thought to myself, “What hap- pened here?” SCENE: Were You hurt? LOPA: Luckily I fell with all my body weight on my left side and I didn’t hit my head. I was able to get up and sit on the pavement. One of my colleagues took me to the office. The fire department came to take my vitals and I was mostly fine. My elbow was bleeding and my knee was really bad. I cannot kneel down. SCENE: How did the entire experience make you feel? Lopa: I was in so much shock that day. I’m just happy and lucky that I came out with minor inju- ries; that I didn’t hit my head. But I am not crossing at that crosswalk anymore. I cannot cross that crosswalk anymore. SCENE: Do you have anything you’d like to say to school com- mute drivers? LOPA: Just slow down. And even if you do slow down, pay more attention to people who are walking. Sometimes if there are children, they don’t think about it and just go. So be more aware of your surroundings when you are driv- ing around schools and stop for children and pedestrians. You should always stop for them. Instances of Rush A Lesson In Slowing Down ‘I WAS IN SO MUCH SHOCK THAT DAY. I’M JUST HAPPY AND LUCKY THAT I CAME OUT WITH MINOR INJURIES.’ A pedestrian, an accident, and a piece of advice Interview with Lopa Bhagat Page 9 What’s going on around town? GET IN THE CUPERTI- know “SAVE THE FOOD”Join the City of CupertinoHelp reduce food waste 40% of food goes to waste each year in America www.savethefood.com BACK IN STOCK!Reusable Produce BagsLeave the plastic bags at the supermarket Pick one up at City Hall, 10300 Torre Avenue One per family, per visit Cupertino Preschool Enroll your 3 to 5 year old in the Tiny Tot or Super Tot programs Encourage your child’s social development through group activities and play www.cupertino.org/preschool Cherry Blossom Festival April 29 & 30, 10 am - 5 pm Memorial Park 10185 N. Stelling Road Free Parking at DeAnza College www.cupertinotoyokawa.org Page 10 COMMUNITY CALENDAR © English/Mandarin Bilingual Storytime Mondays, March 6, April 3 and May 1, 11:15 a.m. Cupertino Library Story Room Join the Cupertino Library for stories, songs, fingerplays and a craft for chil- dren ages 2 - 5. Storytime will be con- ducted in English and Mandarin. © Game Day at the Library Thursday, March 23, 4:00 p.m. Cupertino Library Story Room 3rd-8th graders! Do you like playing board games and card games? Want to try out some new ones? Join the Cupertino Library for Game Day in the Story Room for an hour of play. We provide the games, you bring the fun. Silicon Valley Reads Teen Writing Workshop with Author Paul Volponi Wednesday, March 8, 7 – 8:30 p.m. Teen Group Study Room (2nd floor – Cupertino Library) This interactive workshop will be a unique opportunity for teen writers to ask questions, get feedback and learn from a world-renowned, bestselling author. This program is open to every- one ages 13 to 19. Online registration is required and opens on Wednesday, March 1st at 1:00 p.m. © <Hack> Cupertino Saturday, April 8 - Sunday, April 9 Quinlan Community Center, 10185 N. Stelling Road On April 8 and 9 the Teen Commission together with Cupertino Recreation is hosting <hack> Cupertino, an over- night hackathon designed to solve a problem presented on the day of the event. For registration and updates, please visit cupertino.org/teens. Silicon Valley Reads: Trust & Justice A Panel Discussion Sunday, March 12, 2:00 PM Cupertino Community Hall, 10300 Torre Avenue Co-sponsored by Commonwealth Club Silicon Valley and League of Women Voters Southwest-Santa Clara Valley In this panel discussion, three local po- lice chiefs will discuss how local police departments are using procedural justice to build trust with the commu- nity to ensure individuals are being treated fairly and without bias. © IRC Free Citizenship Workshop Wednesday, March 8, 5-8 pm Cupertino Library Story Room This workshop is designed to deter- mine if you are eligible to become a U.S. citizen, help you complete and file your citizenship application (N-400) and submit USCIS fee and language waivers, if applicable. Service is first come, first serve. Register by calling (408) 277-0255 ext. 17, 18 or 21 or email sanjoseimmigration@rescue.org. © Big Bunny Fun Run Saturday, April 15, 7 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Civic Center Plaza, 10300 Torre Ave. Show your support for creating a pos- itive, healthy, connected community at the annual Big Bunny 5K. Whether you’re a competitive runner, active walker, or just looking for a fun activity to do with your friends and family, any- one can participate in the 5K. © Earth Day and Arbor Festival Saturday, April 22, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Civic Center Plaza (Next to the Library) Cupertino’s Annual Earth Day & Arbor Day Festival is an interactive com- munity event that invites community members of all ages to learn about environmental issues and solutions in a family-friendly, interactive atmo- sphere. © Cherry Blossom Festival Saturday & Sunday April 29 to 30, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Memorial Park, 10185 N Stelling Road The event offers a wide selection of Japanese food and beverages, enter- tainment, demonstrations, cultural ex- hibits, art, crafts and clothing for sale. All-day entertainment takes place in the Amphitheatre. Events / Socials Lunch with Friends Thursday, March 8 & 22, 11:45 a.m. Join the Senior Center for lunch! Pre-registration is required, and a veg- etarian option is available when regis- tering. Member fee is $6, senior guests add $5 day pass. March 8 – Bacon, Spinach, and Swiss Cheese Bread Pudding, green salad, and dessert. March 15 – Beef Stroganoff over egg noodles, green salad, and dessert. © St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon and March Birthday Bash Wednesday, March 15, 12 p.m. Join us for the Irish tradition of St. Pat- rick’s Day featuring Irish entertainment plus a full meal of corned beef and cabbage, carrots, potatoes, tossed salad, and hot Bushmill sundaes for dessert. Members $12, senior guests add $5 day pass. © Bingo Spring Lunch Friday, March 31, 12 p.m. Gear up for an afternoon of bingo and join us for a delicious lunch featuring ribs, coleslaw, potato salad, garlic bread and a scrumptious dessert. Cards are sold separately $4-$7. Lunch for members is $10, senior guests add $5 day pass. Sign up at the front desk, space is limited. Classes / Presentations Bridge Coaching Thursdays, 2 - 4 p.m. Join a few of the senior center’s expe- rienced bridge players for a coaching session. Coaches will be available on Thursdays from 2-4pm. Prior bridge ex- perience is required. © Age Well Drive Smart Wednesday, March 29, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. By the California Highway Patrol Topics covered: myths about older drivers, compensating for age-related changes, rules of the road, safe driving tips. Members free, senior guest pay $5 day pass. Please sign up in the lobby. CHILDREN & FAMILIES SENIOR CENTER PROGRAMS FOR TEENS FAMILY-FRIENDLY Page 11 Social Services Volunteer Nurse – Blood Pressure Checks Monday, March 13, 27, 1:30-2:30pm Tuesday, March 7, 21, 12:15-1:15pm Health Insurance Counseling (HICAP) Monday, March 13, 27, 1 - 3 p.m. Consultation on Medicare and health insurance. Please call (408) 777-3150. @ Housing Monday, March 6, 20, -1:30 - 3:30 p.m. A list of housing resources and con- tact information are provided to help you independently search for housing. Make an appointment (408) 777-3150 . Senior Adult Legal Aid (SALA) Friday, March 3, 10, 17, 10:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Provides free assistance to seniors for basic legal matters in public benefits, long-term care, elder abuse, housing, consumer issues, incapacity planning, probate alternative, and simple wills. Must be 60 or older and live in Santa Clara County. Call (408) 777-3150. Drop-in Consultation with Case Man- ager Wednesdays 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. A case manager is available to discuss community resources, benefits, and care options during the drop-in hours and by appointment. Caregiver Support Group Thursday, March 9, 3 - 4:30 p.m. Provides a safe place for family care- givers to share their experiences and challenges. Join our circle of support. Senior Center Travel Sunday Brunch with Attitude, $129 Sunday, March 12 Monet and Bouquets, $109 Thursday, March 16 Take Flight, $108 Wednesday, March 22 San Francisco Flower & Garden Show, $59 Friday, April 7 From Farm to Table at Pie Ranch, $126 Thursday, April 13 Cupertino City Council Meeting Tuesday, January 24, 2017 Present: All, Absent: None Directed staff t have conference with legal counsel- existing litigation (paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of gov’t code section 54956.9). Name of case: Alice Palmer V. City of Cuper- tino, et al., Santa Clara County Superior Court Case No. 16 CV301228 (Sinks recused) @ Gave direction to staff for conference with legal counsel- existing litigation (paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of gov’t code section 54956.9); name of case: committee supporting Cupertino citizen’s sensible growth initiative, et al. V. City of Cupertino, et al., Santa Clara county superior court case no. 16 cv296322; court of appeal, sixth appellate district, case no. H043940 (Scharf recused) @ Gave direction to staff for conference with real property negotiators pursuant to govern- ment code section 54956.8. Properties: APN 375-21-001, Lawrence expressway at Mitty Avenue and APN 381-19-015, Lawrence ex- pressway at Doyle Road. Agency negotiators: Jaqui Guzman. Negotiating parties: San Jose water company; county roads and airports; city of San Jose. Under negotiation: price and terms of payment @ Received Fine Arts Commission presentation of the young artist award to three Cupertino elementary school students @ Received presentation from the fine arts com- mission of completed 2016 work plan items @ Approved the December 20 council minutes @ Adopted Resolution No. 17-001 accepting ac- counts payable for the period ending Novem- ber 11, 2016 @ Adopted Resolution No. 17-002 accepting ac- counts payable for the period ending Novem- ber 18, 2016 @ Adopted Resolution No. 17-003 accepting ac- counts payable for the period ending Novem- ber 23, 2016 @ Accepted Annual Report from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016 @ Approved council committee appointments Adopted resolution no. 17-004 supporting the prohibition of industrial clear-cut logging in the forests of California @ Directed staff to send letters of support for SB 1 and AB 1 from the city manager @ Authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute a consultant services agreement for preparation of the citywide parks, open space and recreation master plan for a fee not to exceed $210,000 and authorized a con- tingency allowance anticipated to be $40,000 and subject to approval of the City Manager @ 1. Authorized the City Manager to execute an amendment to the current janitorial services contract to provide for increased contractor compensation due to the adoption of City’s minimum wage ordinance (ordinance no. 2151); and 2. Adopted Resolution No. 17-005 amending approved FY 16/17 operating bud- get by an additional amount of $35,000 for janitorial services @ Recommended approval to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control of the application for alcohol beverage license for Gogigo, INC (DBA Gogigo Korean BBQ), 10815 n. Wolfe Road, Bldg A Suite A3 @ Authorized the city manager to award and execute a contract with JJR Construction, Inc., in the amount of $233,100 and approved a construction contingency of $11,900, for a total of $235,000 @ Received the Lehigh Cement Plant noise monitoring report and authorized the may- or to send a letter to the County Supervisor and the department of planning requesting a review of the complaints and the hearing, and to characterize the noise from particular points in the facility during normal operations (maintenance period is over); and bring the item back for further discussion @ Received report from Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) regarding next program @ Council highlighted the activities of their com- mittees and various community events COUNCIL ACTIONS @ 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 The Cupertino Scene is printed on 40% 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 www.cupertino.org/GreenBiz. Q&A The Scene Answers Have questions for staff? Send them to scene@cupertino.org or call (408) 777-3212. Question: What should I do if I notice a clogged storm drain on a street or see pollutants around it? Answer: Great question! And thank you for paying attention to such an important issue. The storm drain you see in streets and parking lots were designed to protect the city from flooding during heavy rains by channeling water directly into nearby creeks. That means that any litter, oil, or other mate- rial in the street could easily be washed into a nearby drain and ultimately into the creek. The City began installing screens inside storm drains to prevent disposable cups, cigarette butts, and other litter from reaching our creeks Storm water that flows directly to our local creeks is considered polluted if it contains anything other than rain water. Pollut- ants include mud, leaves, silt, litter, chlorinated pool and spa water, grease, oil, landscaping material, pesticides, fertilizers, sand, wash water, biodegradable soap, automotive fluids, paint, food waste and more. To protect fish and wildlife, and maintain a healthy and beautiful community to live in, the City of Cupertino works dili- gently to prevent litter and pollutants from entering our storm drainage system. Here’s how you can help. Call the City at (408) 777-3354 or (408) 777-3269 or email environmental@cupertino.org if you notice: • Anyone dumping, sweeping, hosing, or blowing anything into a street or a storm drain inlet. • Someone overwatering their yard and the excess is reaching the storm drain (water can contain pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, chlorine, and pet waste) • An unusual smell near a storm drain, or trash or other material blocking or clogging a storm drain • Damaged drainage grates or litter screens After hours, call (408) 299-2507 (Santa Clara County Communications will notify the City’s on-call staff). Cheri Donnelly is the Environmental Programs Manager in Public Works. She is responsible for planning, organizing, and supervising the waste reduction, recycling, and creek and Bay protection programs.