LRC 07-18-2022 Item No. 2. Funding Request Process_Written CommunicationsLRC 07-18-2022
Item No. 2
Funding Request Process
Written Communications
From:Liang Chao
To:City Clerk
Cc:Astrid Robles
Subject:Fw: Request Letters
Date:Sunday, July 17, 2022 7:39:39 PM
Attachments:Cupertino Budget Request 2022 - Improve Fiber Network.pdf
Cupertino Budget Request 2022 - McClellan Road Bridge.pdf
Assemblymember Evan Low Letter of Support Jollyman Park.pdf
Please enter this into the written communication for the 7/18 LRC meeting for agenda item #2
funding request process.
See attached for the three buget request letters from the City of Cupertino to Assembly
Member Evan Low: $9M for fiber network, $7.5M for McClellan Road Bridge, and $1M for all-
inclusive playground at Jollyman Park.
Liang Chao
Vice Mayor
City Council
LiangChao@cupertino.org
408-777-3192
From: Ahrens, Patrick <Patrick.Ahrens@asm.ca.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2022 3:12 PM
To: Liang Chao <LiangChao@cupertino.org>
Subject: Request Letters
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Hi Liang,
Per your request, please see attached!
Thanks,
Patrick
Patrick Ahrens (He/Him/His)
District Director
Office of Assemblymember Evan Low
20111 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 220
Cupertino, California 95014
P: (408) 446-2810 | F: (408) 446-2815
March 17, 2022
The Honorable Evan Low
California State Assemblymember, 28th District
Member 10th and O Street Offices, Suite 6110
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Budget Request to Improve the Connectivity and Resiliency of Cupertino’s Fiber Network
- $9 Million
Dear Assemblymember Low,
I am writing to respectfully request your assistance in securing a one-time budget allocation of
$9 million to support the City of Cupertino’s efforts to improve the connectivity and resiliency of
the City’s fiber network that was built in 2008.
This funding would allow connection of additional buildings and major traffic signals, enable
public Wi-Fi, create necessary redundancy for core paths to critical facilities, and connect
additional emergency sites such as the City’s ARKs, fire stations, and mass care and shelter sites.
Improving the City’s fiber network will help to address communications resiliency for the City
and the public especially during emergency events. The vulnerability of commercial
communication networks has been highlighted during events such as public safety power
shutoffs (PSPS). The COVID-19 pandemic has also underscored the criticality of broadband.
While broadband is an option for all residents, the City could expand its fiber network to create
an additional safety net of broadband.
In addition, a connected and resilient fiber network provides the underpinning of future Smart
City infrastructure. While many of these services require wireless connectivity, fiber will be
necessary as the backbone to connect the wireless components, as well as to connect to the cloud
and back-office components.
Sincerely,
Jim Throop
City Manager
City of Cupertino
March 17, 2022
The Honorable Evan Low
California State Assemblymember, 28th District
Member 10th and O Street Offices, Suite 6110
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: Budget Request to Reconstruct McClellan Road Bridge - $7.5 Million
Dear Assemblymember Low:
I am writing to respectfully request your assistance in securing a one-time budget allocation of
$7.5 million to support the City of Cupertino’s efforts to reconstruct the McClellan Road Bridge
(Bridge) over Stevens Creek, to enhance public safety and resiliency in the event of an emergency.
The Bridge was constructed in 1920 (over 100 years ago), has a very low sufficiency rating (46.5),
has numerous deficiencies as stated in the latest Caltrans bridge inspection report, and is nearing
the end of its useful life.
The Bridge is situated along one of Cupertino’s main collector streets and is one of only three
east-west connections over Stevens Creek within the City’s jurisdiction. The nearest east-west
connection is the Stevens Creek Boulevard bridge, which is situated approximately one mile to
the north, was also constructed in 1920’s, and is also in need of replacement. The City is currently
attempting to acquire funding from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to replace the
Stevens Creek Boulevard bridge.
Due to the age of this infrastructure, its importance for connectivity within the City, concerns
over recent bridge collapses (notably the bridge collapse in Pittsburgh, PA), and the
environmental sensitivity of Stevens Creek due to it hosting population of the federally
threatened steelhead, the City would like to acquire funding to replace the bridge before a
catastrophe strikes.
The USGS currently predicts a more than 50% chance of a magnitude 7 earthquake in the next 30
years. For comparison, the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake was measured at magnitude 6.9, and
caused widespread damage throughout the Bay Area. Since the Bridge was constructed in 1920,
many years prior to the current building codes that govern structures and seismic design, the City
is concerned the bridge would not withstand a major event. The loss of the Bridge during a
catastrophe would restrict and limit emergency access within the City, eliminate one potential
evacuation route for residents in the area, and would cause significant environmental damage to
the sensitive Stevens Creek habitat.
As mentioned above, the replacement of this bridge is a high priority to ensure public safety,
emergency access, environmental conservation, and community resiliency in the face of a
catastrophic event. The City of Cupertino appreciates your consideration of a one-time budget
appropriation of $7.5 million to facilitate the replacement of the McClellan Road Bridge. Thank
you for your time and attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Jim Throop
City Manager
City of Cupertino
April 20, 2022
The Honorable Evan Low
Assemblymember, 28th District
State Capitol, Room 4126
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: Support for All-Inclusive Playground at Jollyman Park, Cupertino, CA
Dear Assemblymember Low:
I am writing to respectfully request your assistance in securing a one-time budget
allocation of $1 million to support the City of Cupertino’s efforts to construct an all-
inclusive playground at Jollyman Public Park, to enhance inclusivity for individuals of
all ages and abilities. The playground will support recreation and social interaction for
people with autism, sensory challenges, cognitive, developmental, and physical
disabilities, as well as those without special needs.
Cupertino is a community committed to inclusivity yet lacks playground resources for
those with disabilities. Jollyman Park is situated in an ideal location to provide access in
direct proximity to residents in Cupertino, San Jose, Sunnyvale, and
Saratoga. Additionally, inclusive playgrounds are often destinations for those who use
and need them, and Jollyman Park has convenient access from Highway 85 and
Interstate 280 that can make it a regional destination. The City of Cupertino has
allocated $1.2 M to the project, and the project is also partially funded through a grant
from Santa Clara County, demonstrating solid multi-jurisdictional support. The
addition of State funding will guarantee full construction of the project and demonstrate
a collaborative partnership of success by local, County, and State governments.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Chad Mosley
Assistant Director of Public Works/City Engineer
cc: Jim Throop, Cupertino City Manager
Evelyn Moran, CIP Project Manager
From:Liang Chao
To:City Clerk
Cc:Astrid Robles
Subject:Written Communication for the 7/18 LRC meeting - memos about district budget requests
Date:Sunday, July 17, 2022 7:34:31 PM
Attachments:Ltr to Senators 2022-23 Budget Requests.pdf
Asm Memo on Budget Letters 2022 (1).pdf
See attached for memos about district budget requests for both the Senator and the Assembly.
Liang Chao
Vice Mayor
City Council
LiangChao@cupertino.org
408-777-3192
From: Sreekrishnan, Tara <Tara.Sreekrishnan@sen.ca.gov>
Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2022 12:03 PM
To: Liang Chao
Subject: Re: Request Letters
Hello!
We actually haven't been sending out a notice to different agencies/cities that there is a
funding opportunity. But agencies, of course, do reach out to us.
Also, we aren't allowed to submit District Budget Requests each year; it is only when the
budget allows, like this year and last year with the surplus. The process changes each year. I
am happy to chat with you further over the phone about this in case you are interested?
I thought you would find interesting the attached two memos with more information about
the District Budget Requests for the Senate and Assembly.
Here is more information about Senator Cortese's approved District Budget Requests for this
year's budget: https://sd15.senate.ca.gov/news/senator-cortese-secures-local-investments-
state-budget-14-million
Thank you,
Tara
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
JIM NIELSEN, VICE CHAIR
ANNA M. CABALLERO
DAVE CORTESE
BRIAN DAHLE
MARIA ELENA DURAZO
SUSAN TALAMANTES EGGMAN
SHANNON GROVE
SYDNEY KAMLAGER
JOHN LAIRD
MIKE MCGUIRE
MELISSA A. MELENDEZ
DAVE MIN
JOSH NEWMAN
ROSILICIE OCHOA BOGH
DR. RICHARD PAN
RICHARD D. ROTH
HENRY I. STERN
BOB WIECKOWSKI
CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE
COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND FISCAL REVIEW
LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING – ROOM 502
SACRAMENTO, CA 95814
Nancy Skinner, Chair
STAFF DIRECTOR
JOE STEPHENSHAW
DEPUTY STAFF DIRECTOR
ELISA WYNNE
CONSULTANTS
NORA BRACKBILL
CHRISTOPHER FRANCIS
JAMES HACKER
ANITA LEE
SCOTT OGUS
RENITA POLK
JOANNE ROY
YONG SALAS
COMMITTEE SECRETARY
SANDY PEREZ
COMMITTEE ASSISTANT
SAMUEL LANCHESTER
(916) 651-4103
FAX (916) 668-7004
February 11, 2022
Dear Senate Offices:
As we begin our review of the Governor’s 2022-23 Budget proposal and identifying Senate
budget priorities, I write now to alert your office to the process we will follow for members to
submit district specific budget requests, as well as input on statewide priorities.
This year, we anticipate constraints on budget hearings and other processes, so we are
asking Senators with district specific budget requests to submit a letter to the Committee by
April 15, 2022.
We ask that, for these district specific priorities, Senators prepare a single letter (as described
below) describing no more than four district requests, and listing those requests in priority
order. Additionally, the Committee asks that Member letters be submitted in electronic format.
Committee staff will summarize all letters received and brief the Chair, Subcommittee Chairs
and Pro Tem. Only letters on letterhead from a current Senator will be considered. No
“California Legislature” sign-on letters or letters from external parties will be included in the
summary. While the Committee will accept letters after April 15, any letter received after that
date cannot be assured to be included in the summary provided to the Chairs and Pro Tem.
In preparing the single letter that includes no more than four district requests listed in priority
order you should also include background that provides the specific information outlined in
Attachment I. Additionally, keep in mind that district specific priorities should be one -time in
nature and should not require any statutory changes.
Lastly, Senators and official caucuses may submit letters on statewide priorities. While these
requests are not limited to four, keep in mind that the ability to include costly, ongoing
statewide requests is limited.
2
Please note limitations on Subcommittee hearing logistics means that Member and advocate
presentations in Subcommittee may not be possible this year.
To submit a letter and accompanying documents, please send electronic copies to
Sandy Perez (Sandy.Perez@sen.ca.gov), Joe Stephenshaw
(Joe.Stephenshaw@sen.ca.gov), Chris Woods (Christopher.Woods@sen.ca.gov), and the
appropriate Budget Committee Consultant.
If you have any questions about Member letters, please contact Joe Stephenshaw by email
or at (916) 651-4103.
Thank you for your attention.
Nancy Skinner
Chair, Senate Budget & Fiscal Review Committee
Attachment I
For the district specific budget requests that you submit, please include a separate
attachment for each containing the following information:
Name (Senator, Senate Committee, or official Caucus)
Staff contact
Title of the proposal
Dollar amount of the proposal for the 2022-23 fiscal year
Dollar amount ongoing (if any)
Source of funds (General Fund, Proposition 98, Special Fund)
Related policy bill(s)
Entity to receive the funds (e.g.: city, county, school district, non-profit, state agency)
Name and contact information of a representative for the entity to receive the funds
No more than a 250-word proposal summary
To: Members of the Assembly
From: Phil Ting, Chair
Date: January 27, 2022
Re: 2022 Budget Letters
Last year, the Assembly Budget Committee received over 1,000 priority letters from Members for
various budget priorities, which shaped the over 350 items that were included in the 2021 budget.
Learning from that experience, the committee plans a more structured approach this year for both
statewide budget policy letters and district budget requests.
Statewide Budget Policy Letters
Budget subcommittees discuss statewide policy proposals, as well as oversight of the executive
departments’ administration of statewide programs. Letters from Assemblymembers, caucuses,
and other Assembly committees on these topics shape the discussion and priorities of the budget
subcommittees. Such letters typically should be addressed to the appropriate subcommittee chair.
The committee also tracks these letters for the Speaker and the Chair of the Budget Committee.
The Budget Committee does not track, forward, or process letters that are not on an
Assemblymember’s letterhead, including letters on generic “California Legislature” or Senate
office letterhead, even if signed by an Assemblymember. The committee, however, does accept
letters on the letterhead of an established legislative caucus.
Statewide budget policy letters are welcomed by subcommittees prior to April 1, 2022.
District Budget Requests
The Budget Committee will ask each Assemblymember to submit a letter by April 29, 2022
to articulate their district priorities. In this April letter, Members will be asked to identify and
prioritize a limited number of one-time requests, typically district-specific projects. These requests
do not necessarily need to be in the district but should have no ongoing expectation of state
support. Any request to provide funding to a non-governmental entity will need to have a financial
intermediary, typically a local government, to oversee the expenditure. Requests in the district -
specific process cannot include trailer bills or funding for a bill in the policy process.
In February, the committee will provide offices with more specific instructions and a template for
this purpose. These instructions will be informed by revenue and expenditures trends over the
next two months, which will help shape expectations for the scope of district requests.
Logistics and Questions
Marco Rodriguez at Marco.Rodriguez@asm.ca.gov will be tracking letters for the Committee.
Please ensure he is copied on any letter you send to make sure your request is not misplaced
and that your letter includes a contact for your office. If you have any questions regarding letters
or this process, please contact Christian Griffith at Christian.Griffith@asm.ca.gov.
From:Liang Chao
To:City Clerk
Cc:Astrid Robles
Subject:Written Communication for 7/18 LRC meeting - City"s request letter to Cortese"s office
Date:Sunday, July 17, 2022 7:29:32 PM
Attachments:Cortese letter 5-11-22_encrypted_.pdf
Please enter this as written communication to the 7/18 LRC meeting.
Thanks.
Liang Chao
Vice Mayor
City Council
LiangChao@cupertino.org
408-777-3192
From: Sreekrishnan, Tara <Tara.Sreekrishnan@sen.ca.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, July 5, 2022 12:34 PM
To: Liang Chao <LiangChao@cupertino.org>
Subject: Re: Request Letters
Hello Vice Mayor Chao,
I have confirmed that the attached is the only budget request letter we have received from
the City of Cupertino (we had a meeting with City staff and explained that this came in after
our deadline).
Thank you,
Tara
Liang
Liang Chao
Vice Mayor
City Council
LiangChao@cupertino.org
408-777-3192
From: Sreekrishnan, Tara <Tara.Sreekrishnan@sen.ca.gov>
Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2022 12:03 PM
To: Liang Chao
Subject: Re: Request Letters
Hello!
We actually haven't been sending out a notice to different agencies/cities that there is a
funding opportunity. But agencies, of course, do reach out to us.
Also, we aren't allowed to submit District Budget Requests each year; it is only when the
budget allows, like this year and last year with the surplus. The process changes each year. I
am happy to chat with you further over the phone about this in case you are interested?
I thought you would find interesting the attached two memos with more information about
the District Budget Requests for the Senate and Assembly.
Here is more information about Senator Cortese's approved District Budget Requests for this
year's budget: https://sd15.senate.ca.gov/news/senator-cortese-secures-local-investments-
state-budget-14-million
Thank you,
Tara
From: Liang Chao <LiangChao@cupertino.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2022 9:50:02 AM
To: Sreekrishnan, Tara
Subject: Re: Request Letters
Thanks, much!
For my understanding of the process, your office will normally send a letter to each city for
funding requests with a deadline, right?
Could you send me the letter from your office too so I know what such a letter says?
Thanks.
Liang
Liang Chao
Vice Mayor
City Council
LiangChao@cupertino.org
408-777-3192
From: Sreekrishnan, Tara <Tara.Sreekrishnan@sen.ca.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2022 11:59 PM
To: Liang Chao
Subject: Re: Request Letters
Hello Councilmember Chao,
How are you?
I am out of the office tomorrow and Friday, so I will get back to you next week after doing a
full review, but here is one letter attached. I believe this may be the only request our Office
received, but let me check further. I will note that the attached request was submitted after
our District Budget Request deadline and thus we could not submit it as one of our District
Budget Requests.
Thank you,
Tara
From: Liang Chao <LiangChao@cupertino.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2022 11:11 PM
To: Sreekrishnan, Tara
Subject: Fwd: Request Letters
Tara,
We are trying to find out what funding requests the City of Cupertino has sent to our
legislators this year and in the past three years.
Enclosed is three funding requests from Cupertino to the Assembly Member Evan Low, for
your reference.
Thanks,
Liang
Liang Chao
Vice Mayor
City Council
LiangChao@cupertino.org
408-777-3192
May 11, 2022
The Honorable Dave Cortese
1021 O Street
Suite 6640
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Funding request for Via-Cupertino micro-transit service expansion to serve the cities
of Cupertino, Santa Clara, and San José
Dear Senator Cortese,
Thank you for your tireless service for our community, and your continued commitment
to social justice and climate change leadership. On April 28, 2022, the Senate unveiled the
second phase of the Senate Budget Plan: Putting Wealth to Work, with a proposed budget
for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 that includes an updated surplus of $68 billion. With this
surplus, California seeks to support those who need it most, in large part by improving
transportation options and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and by prioritizing
important projects that can be implemented with one-time investments, rather than
ongoing state spending.
The City of Cupertino seeks to expand transit options for the South Bay community in a
safe, affordable, and efficient manner and simultaneously reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and congestion within the region.
The Via-Cupertino (www.cupertino.org/shuttle) service is an on-demand transit program
that launched in 2019 and provides shared rides anywhere in Cupertino and beyond. The
service also serves the Sunnyvale Caltrain station, Rancho San Antonio Open Space
preserve, and Kaiser Permanente in Santa Clara. The program is funded entirely by the
City of Cupertino and riders pay a low fare of $4, with a $2 discounted fare available for
seniors, students, low-income and disabled riders. This service has helped to move over
18,000 individuals, most of whom were traveling to Sunnyvale Caltrain. The majority
responded in surveys that they would have driven alone if not for Via-Cupertino’s service.
The survey also showed that most passengers were not using public transit before riding
Via-Cupertino.
There is an opportunity now to expand the service into San José and Santa Clara. This
larger zone will bring even more connections for commuters, disadvantaged populations,
and new rail connections such as Amtrak, and ACE (Altamont Corridor Express) train.
Mountain View Caltrain will be added to the network as well. On behalf of the City of
Cupertino, I am writing to request a $2.6 million state budget appropriation to enable the
expansion and electrification of Via-Cupertino. This one-time $2.6M investment would
increase the Via-Cupertino service boundary from 12 square miles to a regional service
of 29 square miles and, as a result, would make the Via-Cupertino service available to
an additional 100,000 residents, helping to ensure that California’s priority populations
have access to affordable public transit, while progressing towards a zero emissions future
and improving safety. If the appropriation is granted, the funds would enable the
replacement of all existing vehicles with electric vehicles, it would support the continued
operation in Cupertino and allow for targeted expansions into areas currently unserved
with a focus on expanding in disadvantaged communities.
As Cupertino’s local State Assemblymember, we respectfully request your support for the
City’s request to receive one-time funding from the budget to help make it feasible for the
City of Cupertino to expand equitable transit access and economic resilience for our
communities, all whilst reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and reducing mobile
emissions.
We would welcome the opportunity to meet directly with you or your staff to discuss the
project and its funding in more detail. Please contact me at chrisc@cupertino.org or (408)
777-3174. Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to hearing back from
you.
Sincerely,
Chris Corrao
Senior Transit & Transportation Planner
City of Cupertino
chrisc@cupertino.org, (323) 208-1131