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HomeMy WebLinkAboutScene October 2017 - 10.01.2017The Cupertino A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE CITY OF CUPERTINO OCTOBER 2017 CUPERTINO Cupertino is proud to provide residents with improved access to reporting issues throughout our community Page 6 PLUS IMPROVEMENTS COMING TO CUPERTINO Page 4 RECEIVE REBATE FOR REUSING YOUR WATER Page 5 GET IN THE CUPERTI-KNOW THIS OCTOBER Page 9 NIL Collecting August 1- October 13 Please donate your gently used jewelry, craft items, and knick-knacks to our Hidden Treasures fund raising event scheduled for Thursday, October 26. We will start collecting these items in August.The proceeds will benefit our Case Management Program for at -risk seniors and the Stay Active Fund to provide assistance and offset the cost for senior center membership and classes. Thank you for your continued support. Accepting Antiques • Artwork • Baskets • Craft Supplies • Dolls Fine Clothing • Fine China • Fine & Costume Jewelry Frames • Glassware/Crystal • Hand Knits Kitchenwares/Housewares • Knick Knack • Purses/Shawls Seasonal/Holiday Decor • Toys • NOT Accepting (2� Art Paint Supplies • Chemicals or hazardous waste Computers • Electronics - Clocks, Radios, Games Exercise Equipment • Fictional Hard Back Books Furniture • Large Items/Appliances Musical Instruments • Patio Furniture • Shoes MAKE DONATIONS AT SENIOR CENTER FRONT DESK Cupertino Senior Center 21251 Stevens Creek Blvd. Cupertino, CA 95014 Phone: (408) 777-3150 1 www.cupertino.org/senior I've heard it said that you can nev- er truly be ready for an emergen- cy. There's just too much unpre- dictability when it comes to natural disasters like earthquakes, disease outbreaks, fires, and flooding. ity-of-life issues, the City of Cuperti- no believes that it owes its residents the assurance that the City is pre- pared for any future disasters. In truth, it's not "if" any of these po- and compassionate employees like Ken who ensure that our resi- dents are cared for during times of need. tential disasters will happen, but : The City is in the process of hiring "when." a full-time Emergency Services Coordinator. This person will add The City of Cupertino is lucky another layer of coordination and enough to have its own Office of communication internally among Emergency Services. This division is the City, public, and outside emer- tasked with overseeing the City's gency service providers. Citizens Corps Program, keeping in contact with other emergency I also want to take this time to thank providers, and ensuring the City is : all of our volunteers who take part prepared to respond to an emer- : in our Citizen Corps, which includes gency both big and small. Cupertino Amateur Radio Emer- gency Service (CARES), Cupertino But that doesn't mean you don't try.: When the severe heatwave hit the Emergency Response Team (CERT), Bay Area a few weeks back, our : and Medical Reserve Corps. Local governments are primarily emergency services team, and focused on meeting the commu- : particularly Citizen Corps Coordi- : They do a wonderful service for our nity's immediate needs. It may be : nator Ken Ericksen, assessed our : community and ask for nothing in a pothole that needs to be paved residents' needs due to the ex- return. If you would like to join them, over, a city tree that needs to be tremely hot weather conditions.: visit www.cupertino.org/volunteer. trimmed, or trash that has to be They coordinated the opening of picked up. These requests can be : City facilities as cooling centers submitted through the City's "Cu- : that would have otherwise been : David Brandt pertino 311" service -request sys- : unavailable to those needing a re- : City Manager tem. (Learn more on Pages 6-7.) spite from the heat. Although these are important qual- : It is dedicated, knowledgeable, CONTENTS FEATURES LU n V) Z Observe and Report Questions & Answers Cupertino has an upgraded online Where do your property tax dollars service -request tool. 121 go and how are they spent? ........................................................................................................................ 4 I Gardens, Drains, & Turf Q I Treading Water The City's Public Works staff is overseeing Q Make sure you're covered if a flood quite a few infrastructure improvements. ever occurs in your neighborhood. 5 I Laundry to Landscape 101 Community Calendar Learn how you can reuse your water Find out what's happening in and help the environment. Cupertino in October. Questions or comments about The Scene? Contact staff at scene@cupertino.org. Page 3 CITY OF CUPERTINO CAPITOL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ENHANCING THE COMMUNITY CITY HALL TURF REDUCTION Where: Cupertino City Hall, 10300 Torre Avenue Status: Plantings complete The purpose of this project was to replace the grass turf at Cupertino City Hall with drought -tolerant plants. Conventional turf requires regular watering throughout the year and especially during the warm, dry summer months. Having less grass will save water and money. This project also serves as a demonstration garden which res- idents can refer to and emulate when converting their own lawn areas to more water -conserving landscaping. STORM DRAIN IMPROVEMENTS Where: Foothill Boulevard and Cupertino Road Status: Construction to begin in October 2017 The storm drain improvements include the construction of a parallel drainage system to provide additional ca- pacity to carry storm water into the nearby creek. The ex- isting drainage system that serves the area has flooded during heavy rains in the past. The new system will help alleviate flooding on private property. COMMUNITY GARDEN IMPROVEMENTS Where: McClellan Ranch Preserve Status: Currently underway The purpose of this project is to develop a plan for im- proving the community garden. The process will include input from the gardening community. Considerations will include plot layout, garden paths and accessibility to and within the garden, perimeter fencing, and irriga- tion system. Expected changes include new fencing, up- graded irrigation system, and consistent plot sizes. More Information: www.cupertino.org/publicworks Page 4 � LAUNDRY TO LANDSCAPE QUESTIONS ANSWERED For starters, what is Laundry to Landscape? It is a system that directs graywater from the washing machine to your landscape. According to inventor, Art Ludwig, it is the simplest, least expensive, lowest effort way to effectively get the most graywater out of your home and into your landscape. Which leads us to our next question... 13 Is it safe to use graywater? Yes, if you follow practical guidelines for constructing, using and maintaining your graywater system. This includes designing the system to minimize contact with humans or pets, avoiding contaminated water from toilets, kitchen sinks, and diaper washing, and ensuring adequate separation from groundwater resources. So then... 2 What is graywater? Graywater is water from showers, bath tubs, washing machines, and bathroom sinks. It is water that may contain some soap and detergents but is clean enough to water plants. Now I know what you may be thinking... How can I use graywater? Graywater is dispersed below the landscape surface in mulch basins to irrigate plants and trees in your yard. It is also possible for graywater to be applied at the surface if at least two inches of mulch, rock, soil, or a solid shield covers the water and there is no ponding or runoff. MW You mentioned a rebate. Why yes we did! The City of Cupertino in partnership with Santa Clara Valley Water District are piloting this partnership to further incentivize and encourage Laundry to Landscape systems in Cupertino. Single-family residential sites in Cupertino are eligible to qualify for a $400 rebate. Laundry to Landscape systems conserve water, reduce water sent to treatment plants, provide more nutrient rich water for plants, and they reduce reliance on potable water supplies. To see if you are eligible visit http://valleywater.org/GraywaterRebate.aspx. Page 5 CUPERTINO 311 SIMPLIFYING CITIZE tNGAGEMENT .w_ `h: •Hr r� - - r Real-time Updates - Simple Reporting - Access Anywhere Learn more on the next page Page 6 [IM mawii LN There's an app for that Residents can report quality -of -life issues through the online service -request tool `Cupertino 31 1 ' ........................................................................................................................................................................ . In an effort to continually improve its service to the community, the City of Cupertino is proud to announce the unveiling of an upgraded online service -request tool "Cupertino 311." Cupertino 311 replaces Access Cupertino as its online communication portal allowing residents to report qual- ity -of -life and non -emergency issues to the City at any time of the day with pictures, video, and descriptions. The City has partnered with CitySourced, an award -win- ning Los Angeles -based technology company, to man- age the upgrade. Cupertino 311 still gives residents the opportunity to report potholes that need to be filled, trees that need to be trimmed, trash that needs to be picked up, and graffiti that needs to be removed, among many other issues. However, the upgraded tool also allows for greater transparency, accountability, and efficiency: 1. The public can now view issues reported to the City and read staff's responses. (Sensi- tive matters will continue to remain private.) quests on a map and either add a new request by location or comment on an existing issue. 3. The system now has a more powerful management system that allows the City to route citizen requests directly to the staff tasked with fixing the problem. 4. CitySourced technology integrates directly into Cupertino's asset management system, giv- ing staff the ability to seamlessly move submit- ted requests to assigned workers in the field. Cupertino residents expect an efficient and responsive city government that works for them every single day. Many believe local government should listen carefully, respond quickly, and get the job done when issues arise throughout the community. The new Cupertino 311 app will help ensure that Cupertino continues to have a high quality -of -life that residents have come to know and ex- pect. Requests for service can be made at www.cupertino. org/cupertino3l 1. The free mobile application can be downloaded in the Apple iTunes and Android stores. Geographic Information System (GIS) Manager Teri Ger- 2. The new system allows a user to see existing re- hardt contributed to this article. Page 7 DON'T BE A DRAIN ON YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY How we can work together to protect Cupertino from flooding The City's storm drainage system is composed of street gutters, storm drain inlets, and pipes that connect Flood of Information the inlets to local creeks. This system drains street runoff into the creeks and : channels on the valley floor. For the past several years California has experienced extreme weather Residents can assist the City and help patterns. A five-year drought was followed by an intense rainy season. protect their immediate neighborhood : from localized flooding by sweeping The upcoming rainy season has not yet been forecast as an exception- : gutters regularly, placing swept ma - ally wet season, but any rain event has the potential to cause flooding to : terial in the garbage, and checking creeks, ditches, and neighborhood streets and properties. that nearby storm drain grates are not covered with leaves or litter. As the rainy season begins, residents should be sure that they're prepared for these possibilities. Standard homeowner's insurance policies do not cov- : Residents should abide by street er losses caused by floods or mudslides, but property owners can purchase : sweeping/no parking signs to allow the flood insurance. Visit FloodSmart.gov, or call the Cupertino Public Works : City to keep the gutters clean and the Department at (408) 777-3354 to better understand your flooding risks. : storm drain system flowing. Flooding, as with all natural disasters, is a hazard to people and property.: In the fall, before the rains begin, City Prepare for emergencies by creating a family disaster plan that includes a maintenance crews vacuum out city designated place where you can meet after an evacuation order is issued. storm drain inlets, and check for any : evidence of hazardous materials in The following services can help residents prepare for potential flooding: : the drains. This cleaning prevents any illegally dumped materials that may 1. Residents can pick up sandbags at various Santa Clara Valley Water : be sitting in the inlets from washing into District sites located throughout Santa Clara County, including the City : our creeks with the first rains. Maintenance Yard at 10555 Mary Avenue. Check www.valleywater.org/ services/sandbagsites.aspx for information on sandbag locations. It is illegal to dump anything into a creek or a storm drain. Residents can 2. The Public Works Department possesses elevation certificates for many report dumping incidents to the City buildings located in the floodplain. : by calling (408) 777-3269 during busi- ness hours and 911 after hours and on 3. Contact the Cupertino Building Department to get a permit before you : weekends. build. Check out the pamphlet "What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor," available at the Building Department Counter, or download it Please notify the City if you observe at www.cslb.ca.gov/About_Us/Library/Guides_ And Publications/ :excess debris and trash in streams and ditches at (408) 777-3354 or 4. City staff can assist with onsite flooding and drainage issues, and can : www.cupertino.or/environmental. provide practical drainage information by calling (408) 777-3354. : Requests for service can be submitted 5. More information about flood preparedness is available at : at www.cupertino.org/cupertino3l 1. www.cupertino.org/emergency. City Engineer Chad Mosley and the 6. Additional flood protection information and assistance can be obtained Federal Emergency Management on the FEMA website at www.fema.gov. : Agency contributed to this article. GET IN THE CUPERTI- know What's going on around town? ENVIRONMENTAL DAY & SHRED -IT EVENT Recycle e-waste, shred confidential docs Oct. 14, 9 am - 1 pm www.cupertino.org/ environmentalday DISCOVER SCOTLAN D 10 Days / April 29 - May 8 Free Presentation at the Cupertino Senior Center October 18 / 12 p.m. Fall Bike Festival Join a bike rodeo and tour Cupertino on a guided bike ride Otober 21 / 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Cupertino City Hall 10300 Torre Avenue OF Enrichment Classes @ FIVE SCHOOLS Drawing, Sculpting, Basketball, Communication, Debate, Chess Grades K - 5 Sign Up @ www.reg4rec.org October Food Feature Wednesday, October 18, 4:30 p.m. Cupertino Teen Center, 21111 Stevens Creek Boulevard The Cupertino Teen Center will feature treats from CREAM in October! Don't miss out on getting your free treat. First come first serve, while supplies last. Environmental Day & Shred It Event Saturday, Oct. 14, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Recycle your electronic and universal waste and shred confidential docu- ments at the De Anza College Parking Lot A. Learn more at www.cupertino. org/environmentalday. Understanding California's Whales: A Hidden Treasures Sale SCVAS Speaker Series Presentation Thursday, Oct. 26, 9:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 18, 7:30 p.m. Cupertino Senior Center, 21251 Ste- Cubberdly Community Center, Room vens Creek Boulevard H 1, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto Attend the annual fundraiser for the Join Ted Cheeseman, Co-founder and Cupertino Senior Center! It's the per - CEO of HappyWhales.com, to learn fect opportunity to shop for those one - more about whales and their recov- of -a -kind holiday gifts with the added ery over the past few generations.: benefit of supporting a worthy cause. This lecture will explore the dynamics of whales in our marine ecosystem as learned through photographic ID and Last Chance for Free Bulk Compost citizen science. This talk is part of a Saturday, Oct. 28, 8:00 a.m.-12 p.m monthly Speaker Series sponsored by 12100 Stevens Canyon Road the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Soci- The compost site will be closing from ety. Visit www.scvas.org. October - March for the rainy months © in order to comply with state stormwa- Wildlife & Harvest Day ter requirements. Saturday, Oct. 21, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Blackberry Farm, 21979 San Fernando Backyard Composting Class Avenue Saturday, Oct. 28 10:00 a.m.-12 p.m. The City of Cupertino along with two Environmental Education Center, dozen environmental organizations will : 22221 McClellan Road provide live -animal demonstrations, Learn to transform your leaves, grass, educational presentations, free hands- : and food scraps into rich compost for on activities, nestbox and bird feeder : your garden. Register at www.ucanr. For more information on library pro- grams, visit the Events section of the Cupertino Library's website at www. sccl.org/cupertino. CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS Children's Garden at Cupertino Library Tuesday, October 10, 3:30 p.m. Cupertino Library Courtyard Children are welcome to help get the libraries Children's Garden ready to sleep during the winter. We will be planting cover crops, so be ready to get your hands dirty! Halloween Magic Show and Costume Parade at Cupertino Library Saturday, October 28, 10:15 a.m. Cupertino Community Hall Children are invited to join the library for a fun Halloween magic show. A costume parade following the show, so please wear your costume! construction, face painting, and more! edu/compost. ADULT PROGRAMS © © Ramayana: A Talk with the Directors Fall Bike Festival Better Cupertino Forum Saturday, October 7, 1 1:00 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m.. Sunday, Oct. 29, 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Cupertino Community Hall Cupertino Safe Routes 2 School and Community Hall, 10350 Torre Avenue Hear the San Francisco Shakespeare the Bicycle Pedestrian Commission will Better Cupertino will host a forum on Festival Director and Production Di - host the 4th annual Fall Family Bike Fest growth and planning in the Bay Area, rectors talk about this month's City of featuring the Pedal 4 the Planet Family new transportation ideas, and the fu- : Cupertino youth performance of the Bike Ride (Fall Edition). Lure role of mixed -use. Ramayana. Page 10 Cupertino Library Diwali Music and Dance Showcase Saturday, October 7, 1:30 p.m. Cupertino Community Hall Enjoy the rich heritage of India brought to you through music and dance. Per- formers include students from local music and dance schools and local professionals. Friends of the Cupertino Library Used Book Sale Saturday, Oct. 14, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15, 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. Cupertino Community Hall Do something nice for yourself and something great for the library! Come to the Friends of the Cupertino Library's Used Book Sale to browse gently read titles, including fiction, non-fiction and Be Ready: Disaster Preparedness Express Yourself with iPad Art children's books. Wednesday, October 18, 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 1 1 - November 1, © The Santa Clara County Fire Depart- : 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Bo Ai Choir at Cupertino Library ment will train you to prepare for haz- : Explore some of the most popular Saturday, October 21, 4:00 p.m. ards by teaching you how to make apps for digital sketching, watercol- Cupertino Community Hall an individualized plan, put together a or, oil painting, and collages. Bring Enjoy a performance by Bo Ai Choir disaster supplies kit, and be informed a fully -charged iPad and know your featuring show tunes and a combina- before and during a disaster. Sign up iTunes/Apple ID and password. (Some Lion of traditional American and Chi- : in advance. apps may have a small fee). Fee $38. nese songs. © CLASSES & PRESENTATIONS SOCIAL SERVICES Pampa Dance Academy New Flex Drop -in Passes Housing Saturday, October 28, 4:00 p.m. Now introducing Flex passes for select Monday, Oct. 2, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Cupertino Community Hall fitness classes if space is available. A list of housing resources and contact Enjoy traditional Indian dancing and Members can purchase Flex passes information are provided to help you music by beautifully costumed danc- at the front desk for $6 each. Look for : search for housing. Call (408) 777-3150 ers from the Pampa Dance Academy.: the Flex pass logo on select classes.: to make an appointment. SENIOR CENTER Flex passes are non-refundable. Note:: classes may be cancelled if minimum Health Insurance Counseling (HICAP) For more info on the Senior Center, or : registration is not met. Members only. October 9 & 23, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m to sign up for classes or events, visit © Consultation on Medicare and health www.cuperHno.org/seniors or stop by Tai Chi - Qigong insurance. Appointments: 408.777.3150. 21251 Stevens Creek Boulevard. Saturday, September 16 - November 18, 8:45 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. Senior Adult Legal Aid (SALA) EVENTS & SOCIALS A system of gentle exercises to rejuve- : Fri., Oct. 6, 13, 20, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monthly Movie nate joints, increase flexibility, strength- : Provides free assistance to elders for Wed., Oct. 4, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. en ligaments and tendons. Instructor basic legal matters in public benefits, This month's mvie us Going in Style Anya Kroth. Member fee $40. No class long-term care, elder abuse, housing, (2017). Members are free, senior guests 9/30, 11 /11. consumer issues, incapacity plan - pay $5 day pass. © ning, probate alternative, and simple © VIVAsia Lotus and Chair Lotus wills. Must be 60 or older and live in Oktobertest Birthday Bash Saturday, Sept. 23 -Nov. 18, 10:00 a.m. Santa Clara County. Please call (408) Wednesday, October 11, 12:00 p.m. - 1 1:00 a.m. & 1 1:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. 777.3150 to make an appointment. Engage in the timeless European tra- VivAsia Lotus is a fun low impact aer- dition of Oktoberfest. Members with obic dance program that focuses on Caregiver Support Group October birthdays will be honored.: the active older adult population and Thursday, Oct. 12, 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Pre -registration is required for the combines a variety of dance move- : Provides a safe place for family caregiv- event. Members $12, senior guests ments, music, and props from different : ers to share their experiences and chal- add $5 day pass. Asian cultures. Members fee $25. lenges. Join our circle of support. Page 1 1 PRSRT-STD U.S. Postage PAID Cupertino, CA Permit No. 239 *******ECRWSSEDDM******* POSTAL CUSTOMER A)THE SCENE ANSWER-S......................................................................................................................................... Have questions for staff? Send them to scene@cupertino.org or call (408) 777-3212. Question: I just recently paid my property tax bill. It made me start wondering how those tax dollars are divvied up and what City services receive those dollars? Answer: Property tax allocations are different for every city in the county. In Cupertino, the City has estimated $20.8 million in Property Tax revenue for Fiscal Year 2018 (July 2017 - June 2018). The City of Cupertino receives 6.44 cents on the dollar when it comes to property tax distribution. The City estimates that $323 million in property taxes will be collected in Cupertino. The City will receive approximately $20.8 million out of the $323 million mentioned above. Santa Clara County will receive the largest allocation at $111.4 million, followed by the Cupertino Union Elementary School District at $80.1 million and Fremont Union High School District at $53.9 million. The rest of the property tax distribution goes to the Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund ($25.1 million), Foot- hill -De Anza Community College District ($20.7 million), Santa Clara Valley Water District ($5.5 million), Midpenin- sula Open Space District ($4.8 million), and Bay Area Air Quality Management District ($600,000). The City of Cupertino's portion of Property Tax dollars help pay for City services. For instance, assume your home value is $1.8 million (median home value in Cupertino) and you pay 1% or $18,000 annually in property taxes. The City receives 6.44 cents on the dollar or $1,160 and spends those dollars on the services. The largest portion ($436) is spent on Public Works. This is followed by Law Enforcement services at $234, which are provided by the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department through a contract with the City. The rest is spent on services provided by Administra- tive Services ($162), Non -Departmental ($94), Community Development ($93), Administration ($73), Innovation and Technology ($32), Recreation Services ($28), and Council and Commissions ($8). Kristina Alfaro is the City of Cupertino's Administrative Services Director and oversees the City's Administrative Services Department, which includes the Finance and Human Resources divisions. 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. M CUPERTINO GREEN