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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09 - September 25, 2026 - Mayor and Commission Chairs Meeting on July 15, 2026 CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE CITY HALL 10300 TORRE AVENUE • CUPERTINO, CA 95014-3255 TELEPHONE: (408) 777-3200 CUPERTINO.GOV CITY COUNCIL INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM Date: September 25, 2026 To: Cupertino City Council From: Tina Kapoor, City Manager Re: Mayor and Commission Chairs Meeting on July 15, 2026 Background On July 15, 2026, Mayor Kitty Moore convened the fourth Mayor and Commission Chairs Meeting of the year at the Quinlan Community Center. All Commission Chairs were present, with the exception of the Teen Commission Chair. The meeting was structured differently from prior sessions, as its primary focus was to review nominations and select recipients of the 2026 Cupertino Community Service Awards (CREST Awards). Public Information Officer Sam LoCurto facilitated the CREST Awards selection process. Commissioners were provided with nomination materials in advance, and the meeting included discussion and voting across four award categories: Hometown Hero, recognizing an exceptional individual who demonstrates outstanding dedication to public service, community impact, or volunteerism; Organization of the Year, recognizing a nonprofit organization that has made a meaningful difference in the Cupertino community through volunteer service or by championing public safety or sustainability; Lifetime Achievement, recognizing a community member who has volunteered in Cupertino for ten or more years; and Rising Star of the Year, recognizing an individual who has volunteered in Cupertino for three years or less and demonstrates an ongoing commitment to the future of the Cupertino community. Prior to the voting process, staff clarified the eligibility requirements for each award category. Self-nominations and nominations that did not meet the applicable volunteer-service duration requirements were removed from consideration. Following discussion and deliberation, the recipients of the 2026 CREST Awards were selected. This year’s honorees are Janet Anvick as Hometown Hero; SunflowerMagic as Organization of the Year; Bruce Parsons for Lifetime Achievement; and Shivika Biswari and Sarah Wang as Rising CITY OF CUPERTINO Star Award recipients. The honorees will be formally recognized at the 2026 Cupertino Community Service Awards on October 28, 2026, where their service and contributions to the Cupertino community will be celebrated. The meeting provided an opportunity for Commission Chairs to collaborate with Mayor Kitty Moore in selecting honorees whose service and contributions reflect the values of the Cupertino community. Each commission’s three summary bullet points are attached for the City Council’s reference. Looking ahead, at the next Mayor and Commission Chairs Meeting, Mayor Kitty Moore and Commission Chairs will review the CREST Awards eligibility categories and criteria in advance of next year’s nomination process. Sustainability Impact No sustainability impact. Fiscal Impact No fiscal impact. City Work Program (CWP) Item/Description None Council Goal: Public Engagement and Transparency TBD Item: No California Environmental Quality Act The information in this report is not related to a “project” subject to CEQA _____________________________________ Prepared by: Serena Tu, Executive Assistant to the City Manager/Council Reviewed by: Kirsten Squarcia, Deputy City Manager Approved for Submission by: Tina Kapoor, City Manager Attachments: A – July 15, 2026 – Mayor and Commission Chairs Meeting Summary Bullet Points ATTACHMENT A 2026 Mayor and Commission Chairs Meeting Quinlan Community Center, Social Room 10185 N Stelling Rd, Cupertino, CA 95014 MEETING AGENDA Wednesday, July 15, 2026 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM 5:00 PM – 5:10 PM Welcome and Introductions Mayor Moore 5:10 PM – 6:20 PM CREST Voting All 6:20 PM – 6:30 PM Closing Remarks Mayor Moore ffl CITY OF Iii CUPERTINO ATTACHMENT A AGENDA ITEMS Please use this space to include up to three summary bullets highlighting key activities from each commission. AUDIT COMMITTEE Chair: Eno Schmidt (ESchmidt@cupertino.gov) Vice Chair: Hanyan Wu (HWu@cupertino.gov) • Internal Audit – Governance Oversight: Although the Committee has not met since its May report, it continues to provide governance oversight of the City's Internal Audit Program, provided by Baker Tilly. Internal Audit provides objective assurance and advisory services regarding risks, internal controls, compliance, operational effectiveness, and best practices in accordance with recognized professional standards. • FY 2025-26 Internal Audit Program – Key Areas of Work: During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2026, the Internal Audit Program completed or advanced four key areas of work: Council-Wide Policy Review Inventory; City-Wide Internal Control Review; Investment/Cash Flow Policy Review and Recommendations; and Ongoing Internal Audit Services, including recommendation validation, Audit Committee support, and oversight of the Fraud, Waste and Abuse Hotline. • Audit Reports & Transparency: Internal Audit reports, recommendations, and project information are available on the City's website, with additional reports and project updates posted as work is completed. This reflects the Committee's commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement in financial management and governance. City of Cupertino Internal Audit Reports and Projects: Internal Audit Reports and Projects ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION Chair: David Wang (dwang@cupertino.gov) Vice Chair: Gurmeet Lamba (glamba@cupertino.gov) • No updates. ATTACHMENT A BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN COMMISSION Chair: Gerhard Eschelbeck (GEschelbeck@cupertino.gov) Vice Chair: Munisekaran Madhdhipatla (MMadhdhipatla@cupertino.gov) • Cupertino Active Transportation Plan – Receive Update and Recommend City Council Adopt the Cupertino Active Transportation Plan. • Bicycle Facilities Improvements – Receive Update and Provide Direction for Bicycle Facilities Improvements Work Plan Item. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Chair: Jane Lin (JLin@cupertino.gov) Vice Chair: Selina Kaing (SKaing@cupertino.gov) • Next EDC meeting is on Thursday, July 30th at 1PM. No additional updates. HOUSING COMMISSION Chair: Usha Narayan (UNarayan@cupertino.gov) Vice Chair: Jasmin Jose (JJose@cupertino.gov) • On May 28, 2026 the Housing Commission held a regular meeting where they approved the City’s draft 2026-2027 Annual Action Plan for submission to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. • During the May meeting, the Commission also conducted a study session to discuss strategies to identify additional Housing Element sites for affordable housing and boost production of low and very-low income housing units. • On June 4, 2026, the Chair of the Housing Commission formally requested via letter that the City Council add the study and potential implementation of anti- displacement programs and tenant protection policies (recommended by the Housing Commission during a December 8, 2025 study session and required by Housing Element Strategy HE-3.3.6) as an ongoing City Work Plan item. ATTACHMENT A LIBRARY COMMISSION Chair: Minna Xu (mxu@cupertino.gov) Vice Chair: Chandra Sakthivel (csakthivel@cupertino.gov) • Poet Laureate Event Update. • Santa Clara County Library District Story Walk Project Location review submitted by our sub-committee and sent to Parks and Recreation Commission. • Library Aquarium Refresh Project Update – for details on the current status of the aquarium, please visit the Cupertino Library Foundation website at cupertinolibraryfoundation.org/aquarium. PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Chair: Gopal Kumarappan (gkumarappan@cupertino.gov) Vice Chair: Sheela Sreekanth (ssreekanth@cupertino.gov) • The Library Commission unanimously recommended the Santa Clara County Library District's StoryWalk Initiative for City Council consideration. Staff identified Wilson Park, Jollyman Park, and Varian Park as potential locations, and the Parks and Recreation Commission subsequently ranked the sites, identifying Wilson Park as the preferred location, followed by Jollyman Park and Varian Park. The recommendation was based on accessibility, family use, pathway suitability, and community impact. This innovative partnership will promote literacy, outdoor recreation, and celebrate Cupertino's cultural diversity through year-round StoryWalk installations—all fully funded and maintained by the Library District at no cost to the City. • The Commission received a presentation from Grassroots Ecology highlighting its continued partnership with the City to restore native habitats, expand environmental education, engage volunteers, and enhance biodiversity throughout Cupertino's parks. The presentation reinforced the importance of community stewardship in preserving and enriching our natural spaces. • Our Fourth of July Celebration was another tremendous success, bringing together thousands of residents for the pancake breakfast, flag-raising ceremony, children's parade, Fire Peach concert, Blackberry Farm Pool Day, and evening ATTACHMENT A fireworks—thanks to the outstanding efforts of City staff and volunteers. Staff also shared an exciting lineup of summer events, including the Summer Concert Series (June 11–August 20), Cupertino Campout (July 18–19), Shakespeare in the Park (July 25–26 & August 1–2, 8–9), and Movies in the Park (August 7–28), continuing to activate our parks and strengthen community connections throughout the summer. PLANNING COMMISSION Chair: Tracy Kosolcharoen (Tkosolcharoen@cupertino.gov) Vice Chair: Steven Scharf (SScharf@cupertino.gov) • Housing Element Update study session: Commissioners expressed varying perspectives, with many emphasizing the importance of preserving existing retail uses, avoiding upzoning properties that abut or are located within established single-family neighborhoods, and focusing new housing opportunities along commercial corridors. Some commissioners supported the adaptive reuse of underutilized office space for housing, while others called for a more comprehensive planning approach that would concentrate higher-density housing near retail centers to help sustain and enhance commercial activity. • CIP discussions: Planning Commission discussed the 2026-27 CIP twice, first for conformance with general plan, and then next for providing input on the CIP items. The conversation focused on pickleball, and concerns around ensuring that the neighbors are protected from noise. PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION Chair: Sidharth Rajaram (SRajaram@cupertino.gov) Vice Chair: Ravi Kiran Singh Sapaharam (RSapaharam@cupertino.gov) • No updates. SUSTAINBILITY COMMISSION Chair: Alexander Fung (afung@cupertino.gov) ATTACHMENT A Vice Chair: Jack Carter (JCarter@cupertino.gov) • May Special Meeting: Held a special commission meeting to replace one of the commissioners following her resignation from the waste diversion education training subcommittee. • July Meeting: The main action item centers around identifying opportunities to engage with local contractors, realtors, HOAs, and labor organizations to further the City's climate goals. • Representative to Economic Development Committee: The Commission reappointed Commissioner Carter to serve as the Sustainability Commission representative on the Economic Development Committee. TEEN COMMISSION Chair: Anushree Misra (AMisra@cupertino.gov) Vice Chair: Harly Liu • Teen Commission received a presentation on summer events. • Teen Commission reviewed and gave feedback on the 2026 Teen Resource Fair. • Teen Commission reviewed and gave feedback on the 25/26 Recreation Event Volunteers Program. • Teen Commission reviewed and gave feedback on the 25/26 and 26/27 proposed teen events run by the Youth Activity Board. • Teen Commission reviewed and gave feedback on the 25/26 Teen Commission speaking opportunities. TECHNOLOGY, INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION COMMISSION Chair: Prabir Mohanty (pmohanty@cupertino.gov) Vice Chair: Sudeep Kumar (SudKumar@cupertino.gov) • No updates.