CC 04-02-2025 Item No. 10. CIP FY25-26 and 5-Year Plan_Written Communications (updated 4-1-25)1
Lauren Sapudar
From:fiw325@comcast.net
Sent:Tuesday, April 1, 2025 2:12 PM
To:Chad Mosley; RaychellS@cupertino.org; City Council; City Clerk; Pamela Wu
Subject:Urgent Request to Exclude Cupertino Sports Center from PV/EV Project and Reassess
Overall Viability
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.
Dear City Clerk,
Please include the below in written communications for agenda item 12 (Photovoltaic Systems CIP)
for the 12/03/24 city council meeting. Thank you.
Subject: Urgent Request to Exclude Cupertino Sports Center from PV/EV Project and Reassess
Overall Viability
Dear Mayor Mohan, Cupertino City Council Members, City Manager Wu, Director Sander
and Director Mosley,
I am writing to express my concerns regarding the proposed photovoltaic (PV) and EV charging
systems at the Cupertino Sports Center (CSC), which is currently part of the Capital Improvement
Program (CIP) Photovoltaic Systems Design and Installation Project. I respectfully request that CSC
be removed from the list of selected sites for this project and that the entire PV/EV project be
reconsidered.
There are significant concerns regarding the viability and benefit of the project, given the current and
likely future federal funding situation. With the expected change in federal administration, the Inflation
Reduction Act (IRA) program, which this project relies on for federal grant funding, may soon be
terminated. Given that grants under this program are only disbursed upon project completion, the City
would need to spend $11 million before seeing any reimbursement, which creates a substantial
financial risk. It is highly probable that by the time these funds could be approved, the federal
program will no longer be available, leaving the City without the expected funding.
Additionally, the benefits of the Net Energy Metering (NEM) 2.0 program will only apply if all three
selected sites are operational by April 2026. PG&E must approve permits for these sites before this
deadline to secure the more favorable NEM 2.0 rates, which offer significantly greater savings than
NEM 3.0. Given the complexity and risks involved in achieving this timeline, I urge the Council to
seriously consider the financial implications of moving forward. If this deadline is missed, the reduced
compensation under NEM 3.0 combined with the likely end of IRA funding would diminish the value of
the project.
Furthermore, I urge the City to remove the Cupertino Sports Center from consideration as a PV/EV
site for the following reasons:
2
1. Limited Parking Availability: The parking situation at CSC is already constrained, especially
during peak hours, and the addition of EV charging stations could attract non-regular users,
further exacerbating the parking problem for CSC members.
2. Tennis Court Impact: The proposed carports for the PV systems would need to include
lighting for safety, but these lights would cause glare that would negatively impact tennis
players on the nearby courts. Despite suggestions to use screens, the height of the carports
and short fencing on the west end would prevent full mitigation of this issue. This is
unacceptable for the tennis-playing community.
3. Tree Removal: The proposed project would require the removal of trees in the designated PV
area, which we strongly oppose. These trees are part of the natural beauty of CSC, and their
removal would detract from the center’s environment.
4. Disruption to CSC usage: Past public works maintenance at the CSC has resulted in
closure of the facility due to liability reasons as stated by city staff. We CSC users want to see
zero disruption and no closure of CSC for this project. We strongly oppose the PV/EV project
at CSC and ask that the CSC site be kindly removed from consideration.
5. SV Hopper parking at CSC: Lastly, I understand that the staff report suggests converting
the CSC parking back area into a designated parking lot for the Silicon Valley Hopper, utilizing
the EV charging stations. As CSC members, we are strongly against this proposal. Parking is
already scarce, and turning the lot into a hub for non-member vehicle parking would severely
impact CSC users' access, especially during busy times.
Given these concerns, I respectfully request that the Council NOT approve the PV and EV
systems at Cupertino Sports Center and consider rejecting the entire PV project. The financial
risks, combined with the reduced benefit if the project timeline slips beyond April 2026, and the
likelihood of federal grant funding disappearing, make this project imprudent. Please prioritize the
needs of Cupertino residents and the long-term financial health of our city.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Fumiko Iwamura
3
Lauren Sapudar
From:Ravi Kiran Singh Sapaharam <ravikiransingh@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, April 1, 2025 2:08 PM
To:Chad Mosley; City Council; Pamela Wu; City Clerk
Subject:Concerns Over Unfunded EV and Solar Projects
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organizaƟon. Do not click links or open aƩachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear City Clerk,
Please include this in wriƩen communicaƟons for the upcoming city council meeƟng.
- - -
Subject: Concerns Over Unfunded EV and Solar Projects
Dear Mayor Chao and Council Members,
I am concerned about the proposed EV charging and solar PV projects lacking grant funding. Spending $7.2 million
without external support is fiscally irresponsible. I urge you to defund these projects, except the SVCE grant-funded
Service Center EVCS expansion, to ensure responsible budgeƟng.
Sincerely,
Ravi Kiran Singh
Resident of CuperƟno
Sources
[1] CuperƟno invests in solar panels for greener government buildings ...
hƩps://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=hƩps%3a%2f%2flocalnewsmaƩers.org%2f2025%2f02%2f16%2fcuperƟno-invests-
in-solar-panels-for-greener-government-buildings-amid-funding-
concerns%2f&c=E,1,Fle8KL9g8f4u2Bxpxjy61anJeMRDlwLPY5g9InZxIxOzLAPywfXYirYLpVhH9HhnTgr6dsPHyD690gsJ8Xl4EJ
ah5vq9UQkdBv-ĩg-ZhqxR&typo=1
[2] [PDF] CC 02-19-2025 - CITY OF CUPERTINO - Calendar
hƩps://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=hƩps%3a%2f%2fcuperƟno.legistar.com%2fView.ashx%3fM%3dE2%26ID%3d1266
553%26GUID%3d35029DA8-C9D3-42C9-893B-AA025CD62A30%26G%3d74359C04-A5F0-4CB2-A97A-
0032996BB90E&c=E,1,gIH3fCR3qg_xz75LJ_KyGk3e4jp59TnJSHzOrzKosXViFzptEYdFOuhOGo_X4hs9EtNnix4q5-
L2J7NoCl2y3xOqgZDtjRYGIskw1auDiARlBKQ,&typo=1
[3] CuperƟno Union School District Announces Solar and EV Charging ...
hƩps://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=hƩps%3a%2f%2felectrifynews.com%2fnews%2fev-chargers%2fcuperƟno-union-
school-district-announces-solar-and-ev-charging-with-
engie%2f&c=E,1,YUbge_qrlRtOQPJg66P5fWdFwJHwhkoD9wpOWf4OMY9Sz0Z8NshyZYsPhCL14UU4mUhxtAj3KSTNkhZw2
6HGZCtDTU9PH-kp39oQbF_F6q9rqłQ_8P1M8D6&typo=1
[4] Express your opinion - CuperƟno MaƩers
hƩps://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=hƩps%3a%2f%2fcuperƟnomaƩers.org%2fexpress-your-opinion%2f&c=E,1,M6-
lsJahaaEZmnJKVLOruqm2MaFwjzFHpiPtUxF3NRkARXmSrcMUtS1IBvdGVv0FDWl_6BMxIvk3mIK5uhQNTxOcup2lP0iEg_aG
LFIporDA5hoLsBCon5T-&typo=1
4
[5] CuperƟno Union School District Announces Solar and EV Charging ...
hƩps://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=hƩps%3a%2f%2fwww.engie-na.com%2fcuperƟno-union-school-
district%2f&c=E,1,PxCfOqoARJYDOIxECq6zOPLkPhX-sCWY1_Qi34cWT7P9Tp6YErWRo3dVGuw-
6_zq3UIQqŅU0AxWvxDKWIW1EC_BeeHiH4v_kd93HS5hykiJDbo,&typo=1
[6] Public Comments on the City Council Agenda CuperƟno CA
hƩps://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=hƩps%3a%2f%2fwww.cuperƟno.gov%2fYour-City%2fCity-Council%2fPublic-
Comments-on-the-City-Council-Agenda&c=E,1,G2UwcU2Cja3Z9QYW9gsIvmFEPzdJZMIUd-WO94rdTkprufTt3-
qaVKxBYTaTjTogzHXwistmqM2TdAAXiwpfFqujpJphbcmƟybnmZMjtrlY7SzjTg,,&typo=1
[7] CuperƟno Union School District Announces Solar and EV
hƩps://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=hƩps%3a%2f%2fwww.globenewswire.com%2fnews-
release%2f2024%2f02%2f07%2f2825362%2f0%2fen%2fCuperƟno-Union-School-District-Announces-Solar-and-EV-
Charging-StaƟons-Districtwide-in-CollaboraƟon-with-
ENGIE.html&c=E,1,qPspFxMNSjfdOb1WqPSeuhvX_VFmfsh_QqQtW1aYUƞcCZbgXO__-
WTTIP1oQS5zji5BcOiuXULM_sYMPmp3f5eEyMyzYbPpw4raC1dChcmxdQ,,&typo=1
[8] Liang-Fang "Liang" Chao - City of CuperƟno
hƩps://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=hƩps%3a%2f%2fwww.cuperƟno.gov%2fYour-City%2fCity-Council%2fMayor-Liang-
Fang-Liang-Chao&c=E,1,m8MI3c_FmWhUmru4mZiyYPUKH5azm1zhih4CU_HPy-
cfPwvhgD9KX7j4jeIq3Ei1qOuAemDAZ7QlFTie4a0y4ELAD_4LVdqxhqrod4GZUxxHkUf9cghfJQ,,&typo=1
5
Lauren Sapudar
From:Nita Rajput & Ravi Sapaharam <nita.ravi.family@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, April 1, 2025 2:10 PM
To:Chad Mosley; City Council; Pamela Wu; City Clerk
Subject:Defund EV and Solar Projects
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organizaƟon. Do not click links or open aƩachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear City Clerk,
Please include this in wriƩen communicaƟons for the upcoming city council meeƟng.
- - -
Subject: Concerns Over Unfunded EV and Solar Projects
Dear Mayor Chao and Council Members,
I am concerned about the proposed EV charging and solar PV projects lacking grant funding. Spending $7.2 million
without external support is fiscally irresponsible. I urge you to defund these projects, except the SVCE grant-funded
Service Center EVCS expansion, to ensure responsible budgeƟng.
Sincerely,
Nita
Resident of CuperƟno
6
Lauren Sapudar
From:fiw325@comcast.net
Sent:Tuesday, April 1, 2025 1:52 PM
To:City Clerk; City Council; Rachelle Sander; ChaddM@cupertino.org; Susan Michael
Subject:Urgent Request to Exclude Cupertino Sports Center from PV/EV Project and Reassess
Overall Viability
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.
Dear City Clerk,
Please include the below in written communications for agenda item 12 (Photovoltaic Systems CIP)
for the 12/03/24 city council meeting. Thank you.
Subject: Urgent Request to Exclude Cupertino Sports Center from PV/EV Project and Reassess
Overall Viability
Dear Mayor Mohan, Cupertino City Council Members, City Manager Wu, Director Sander
and Director Mosley,
I am writing to express my concerns regarding the proposed photovoltaic (PV) and EV charging
systems at the Cupertino Sports Center (CSC), which is currently part of the Capital Improvement
Program (CIP) Photovoltaic Systems Design and Installation Project. I respectfully request that CSC
be removed from the list of selected sites for this project and that the entire PV/EV project be
reconsidered.
There are significant concerns regarding the viability and benefit of the project, given the current and
likely future federal funding situation. With the expected change in federal administration, the Inflation
Reduction Act (IRA) program, which this project relies on for federal grant funding, may soon be
terminated. Given that grants under this program are only disbursed upon project completion, the City
would need to spend $11 million before seeing any reimbursement, which creates a substantial
financial risk. It is highly probable that by the time these funds could be approved, the federal
program will no longer be available, leaving the City without the expected funding.
Additionally, the benefits of the Net Energy Metering (NEM) 2.0 program will only apply if all three
selected sites are operational by April 2026. PG&E must approve permits for these sites before this
deadline to secure the more favorable NEM 2.0 rates, which offer significantly greater savings than
NEM 3.0. Given the complexity and risks involved in achieving this timeline, I urge the Council to
seriously consider the financial implications of moving forward. If this deadline is missed, the reduced
compensation under NEM 3.0 combined with the likely end of IRA funding would diminish the value of
the project.
Furthermore, I urge the City to remove the Cupertino Sports Center from consideration as a PV/EV
site for the following reasons:
7
1. Limited Parking Availability: The parking situation at CSC is already constrained, especially
during peak hours, and the addition of EV charging stations could attract non-regular users,
further exacerbating the parking problem for CSC members.
2. Tennis Court Impact: The proposed carports for the PV systems would need to include
lighting for safety, but these lights would cause glare that would negatively impact tennis
players on the nearby courts. Despite suggestions to use screens, the height of the carports
and short fencing on the west end would prevent full mitigation of this issue. This is
unacceptable for the tennis-playing community.
3. Tree Removal: The proposed project would require the removal of trees in the designated PV
area, which we strongly oppose. These trees are part of the natural beauty of CSC, and their
removal would detract from the center’s environment.
4. Disruption to CSC usage: Past public works maintenance at the CSC has resulted in
closure of the facility due to liability reasons as stated by city staff. We CSC users want to see
zero disruption and no closure of CSC for this project. We strongly oppose the PV/EV project
at CSC and ask that the CSC site be kindly removed from consideration.
5. SV Hopper parking at CSC: Lastly, I understand that the staff report suggests converting
the CSC parking back area into a designated parking lot for the Silicon Valley Hopper, utilizing
the EV charging stations. As CSC members, we are strongly against this proposal. Parking is
already scarce, and turning the lot into a hub for non-member vehicle parking would severely
impact CSC users' access, especially during busy times.
Given these concerns, I respectfully request that the Council NOT approve the PV and EV
systems at Cupertino Sports Center and consider rejecting the entire PV project. The financial
risks, combined with the reduced benefit if the project timeline slips beyond April 2026, and the
likelihood of federal grant funding disappearing, make this project imprudent. Please prioritize the
needs of Cupertino residents and the long-term financial health of our city.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Fumiko Iwamura
8
Lauren Sapudar
From:dmcao46@gmail.com
Sent:Tuesday, April 1, 2025 1:26 PM
To:City Clerk
Subject:Cupertino Sports Center parking space is very limited; cancel EV/Solar Panel Project at
CSC. No Hopper fleet parking at CSC!!!
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.
Dear City Clerk,
Please include the below in written communications for the upcoming city council meeting.
Mayor Liang Chao and Cupertino City Council
City of Cupertino
10300 Torre Avenue
Cupertino, CA 95014
Subject: Cupertino Sports Center Parking Is Limited—Cancel EV and Solar Panel Project at
CSC. No Hopper fleet parking at CSC.
Dear Mayor Chao and Council Members,
I am writing to request the immediate cancellation of the solar panel and EV parking project at
Cupertino Sports Center (CSC). The CSC parking lot is already heavily utilized, with members
frequently struggling to find parking during peak hours. The introduction of a Hopper EV fleet and its
drivers' personal vehicles would further strain an already limited resource, creating unnecessary
congestion and inconvenience for existing users.
The Sports Center serves a large number of residents and Lifetime Fitness members, with many
users depending on the already constrained parking lot. League matches bring in visiting teams,
further increasing demand at specific times. There is no available space to dedicate parking to a
Hopper fleet, nor should CSC members and guests have to compete with commercial vehicle storage
for parking access.
Given these factors, I strongly urge the city to cancel this project at CSC at the earliest opportunity.
Additionally, I request that the parking lot be restricted to Sports Center and Lifetime at CSC users,
with exceptions only for visiting league teams during scheduled matches. Protecting parking access
for legitimate users should remain the city’s priority.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I appreciate your commitment to ensuring city resources
are used effectively and look forward to your prompt action to keep CSC parking accessible for those
who need it.
Sincerely,
Dongmei Cao
10
Lauren Sapudar
From:Santosh Rao <santo_a_rao@yahoo.com>
Sent:Tuesday, April 1, 2025 12:46 PM
To:City Council; City Clerk; Chad Mosley; Susan Michael; Rachelle Sander; Alex Corbalis,
CPRP; Jenny Koverman; Colleen Ferris
Subject:Cupertino Sports Center Parking Is Limited—Cancel EV and Solar Panel Project at CSC.
No Hopper fleet parking at CSC.
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.
Dear City Clerk,
Please include the below in written communications for the upcoming city council meeting.
Mayor Liang Chao and Cupertino City Council
City of Cupertino
10300 Torre Avenue
Cupertino, CA 95014
Subject: Cupertino Sports Center Parking Is Limited—Cancel EV and Solar Panel Project at CSC. No Hopper fleet
parking at CSC.
Dear Mayor Chao and Council Members,
I am writing to request the immediate cancellation of the solar panel and EV parking project at Cupertino Sports
Center (CSC). The CSC parking lot is already heavily utilized, with members frequently struggling to find parking during
peak hours. The introduction of a Hopper EV fleet and its drivers' personal vehicles would further strain an already
limited resource, creating unnecessary congestion and inconvenience for existing users.
The Sports Center serves a large number of residents and Lifetime Fitness members, with many users depending on the
already constrained parking lot. League matches bring in visiting teams, further increasing demand at specific times.
There is no available space to dedicate parking to a Hopper fleet, nor should CSC members and guests have to compete
with commercial vehicle storage for parking access.
Given these factors, I strongly urge the city to cancel this project at CSC at the earliest opportunity. Additionally, I
request that the parking lot be restricted to Sports Center and Lifetime at CSC users, with exceptions only for visiting
league teams during scheduled matches. Protecting parking access for legitimate users should remain the city’s
priority.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I appreciate your commitment to ensuring city resources are used effectively
and look forward to your prompt action to keep CSC parking accessible for those who need it.
Sincerely,
San Rao (Cupertino resident and CSC daily user)
11
Lauren Sapudar
From:Santosh Rao <santo_a_rao@yahoo.com>
Sent:Tuesday, April 1, 2025 11:45 AM
To:City Council; City Clerk; Chad Mosley; Susan Michael; Cupertino City Manager's Office;
Kristina Alfaro
Subject:Urgent Request to Defund Unfunded EV and Solar PV Projects
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.
Dear City Clerk,
Would you please include the below in written communications for the upcoming city council meeting.
[Writing on behalf of myself only, as a Cupertino resident]
Subject: Urgent Request to Defund Unfunded EV and Solar PV Projects
Dear Mayor Chao and Cupertino City Council Members,
I would like to bring your attention to the table of EV charging and solar PV panel CIP projects. Unlike
previous CIP sections in the appendix document, this table does NOT specify any grant funding
coverage.
There is NO grant funding any more for these. Public Works acknowledges further below in the
appendix that in the current administration macro environment NO grant funding is available. I had
clearly called this out to you at the time this item was approved previously that grant funding was not
coming. I urge you to immediately defund these projects now. Please do NOT pay for even a day more of
consultant costs on this project.
12
13
I strongly urge you to defund all of these projects, with the sole exception of the SVCE grant-funded
Service Center EVCS expansion.
Please cancel the solar PV projects immediately. Please also cancel the Silicon Valley Hopper EV parking
project.
Spending $7 million on unfunded and prohibitively expensive solar PV installations for the benefit of only
a small subset of Cupertino residents is fiscally irresponsible. The vast majority of Cupertino residents
still rely on gasoline-powered vehicles. I urge you to act now to cancel and defund $7.2 million in
unnecessary expenditures on these projects.
Sincerely,
San Rao (Cupertino resident and voter)
1
Lauren Sapudar
From:Peggy Griffin <griffin@compuserve.com>
Sent:Monday, March 31, 2025 3:45 PM
To:City Council; Susan Michael
Cc:City Clerk
Subject:2025-04-02 City Council Meeting-Agenda ITEM 10 - CIP
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.
PLEASE INCLUDE THIS EMAIL AS PART OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE ABOVE MEETING AGENDA ITEM.
Dear Mayor Chao, Vice Mayor Moore, Councilmembers and Sta,
Q: Would you please include a copy of these 2 documents for reference as supplemental materials:
2022 Facility Condition Assessment (FCA) reports
2017/2018 Comprehensive Facility Condition and Use Assessment
The Sta Report and attachments are very thorough and cover a lot of material/CIP projects. Thank you for this
information.
CONCERNS:
1. Grants and their impact on our city’s priorities
a. Manipulating our city’s priorities - We need grants to help subsidize projects so that our tax dollars
go further BUT when these grants impact our priorities and our staing we should look closely
before accepting them or even starting to look for them!
b. Sta time –
i. Our sta time is valuable and it needs to be spent on priority projects on the 1-year and 5-
year CIP projects, not items on the other lists (master plan lists).
ii. It takes a considerable amount of time to research, find and fill out a grant application.
Sometimes, there are several applications or hoops to jump through in order to win a grant.
c. Grants that change CIP priorities need to be brought to Council before any resources are allocated
towards it. An item on a master plan is not a CIP project until it is approved by Council.
2. City Hall and City Hall Annex
a. Get the requirements (minimum, preferred, tradeos)
b. Decide which option
c. Fund them both
d. Don’t start anything new until these are done.
e. It’s our entire city’s health and safety at stake. Prioritize it. Allocate the funds for both sta and
project.
Silicon Valley Hopper EV Parking – REMOVE IT!
Reference: Att B, Page 34
This project plans to park the Hopper vehicles at the Sports Center overnight!
This will take away valuable parking from the users of the Sports Center.
2
The Hopper drivers drive their own cars to the location, park them then pick up a Hopper car to drive. This
results in one or more spaces taken ALL DAY and NIGHT between either a Hopper vehicle or a driver’s
vehicle.
The Hopper services hours mean Hopper vehicles will be using valuable parking spaces ALL DAY on
Sundays, from 5pm onwards on Saturdays and from 7pm onward on weekdays. These are popular times at
the Sports Center.
Were the Sports Center members notified of this possibility?
This has no grants. Stop it now.
Bollinger Road Corridor Study – REMOVE IT
Reference: Att B, Page 25
In Attachment B Page 25, the 5-year Funding Total is $4M! Right now, nothing has been spent on this project from
the Total Funding amount. Yes, there was a 2020 Feasibility Study which was done during COVID which impacted
traic significantly and now changes have been made to De Anza Blvd which may have impa cted Bollinger. Don’t
start a new project!
Sincerely,
Peggy Griin