CC 05-03-2022 Item No. 25 Written CommunicationsCC 05-03-2022
Item No. 25
Consideration of
Municipal Code
amendments, and
codify the Economic
Development
Committee
Written
Communications
From:Peggy Griffin
To:City Council
Cc:City Clerk
Subject:2022-05-03 CC Mtg Agenda Item #25 Codify Econ Dev Committee
Date:Saturday, April 30, 2022 8:57:32 PM
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Dear City Council and Staff,
I’d like to thank the Council and Staff for finally making the Economic Development Committee an
official committee. As an official committee, the public can expect regular agendas posted and
meeting minutes along with agenda item materials to review.
I’d like to emphasize that as stated on the Staff Report Page 1 of 4, under “Powers and Functions”,
that the Econ Dev Committee “SHALL be to serve in an advisory capacity to the City Council…” NOT
the Chamber! It is not intended to be a forum for the Chamber to quietly influence the City Staff
policy and direction!
I have 2 suggestions:
SUGGESTION #1 - Change the membership list to be
2 City Council members
4 Cupertino business representatives, and state “ideally each from different sectors such as
Technology, Retail, Hospitality/Tourism, Restaurant or Entertainment. Also, a mixture from
big and small businesses.”
1 Cupertino resident, ideally business owner
Q: Does their business need to be in Cupertino?
This would give some selection flexibility yet give a preference for membership diversity across
sectors. Please note that “Retail” and “Restaurant” are different!
Also, although it is important for the city and the Chamber to have a good working relationship, the
Chamber should not have a specific voting seat reserved for them. It is likely that several of the
business representatives will be Chamber members anyway but it should not be required. It is also
likely that a Chamber representative will attend these meetings anyway and speak on items of
interest. They should not have a designated seat. They are a lobbying group.
SUGGESTION #2 - Specify who is the City Staff liaison for this committee
Economic Development Manager
This clarifies who the city contact point would be for this committee.
In the future, if the committee has time, it would be wonderful if they could look into:
1. Look at all the Neighborhood Commercial Centers. Some are very successful and others
struggle.
a. Why? Is there a combination of stores that make it work?
b. Is there a manager that works well?
c. Is it the leasing agreements?
d. Provide a list or referrals for struggling centers.
2. Mixed use does not work in Cupertino
a. Why?
b. Is the size of the retail spaces the problem? If so, what min/max sizes are needed?
What features are needed to entice businesses to lease?
c. What size is needed for a grocery store? For a clothing store? Shoe store? Etc
d. What DOES work? Is it retail surrounded by housing but not mixed into it?
3. Audit what businesses we have in Cupertino?
a. What do we need and where?
b. Why do we have so many banks? There’s no sales tax.
Thank you,
Peggy Griffin