Item No. 9 Written CommunicationsCC 12-20-2022
Written Communications
Item No.9
Consider appointment of
2023 Councilmember
Committee Assignments
From:Peggy Griffin
To:City Council
Cc:City Clerk
Subject:2022-12-20 CC Mtg Agenda Item 9 Committee Assignments
Date:Tuesday, December 20, 2022 3:26:53 PM
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Dear Mayor Wei and Council Members,
I realize there has been a “change in power” and that you are all chomping to get started but for the
good of our city and our region, I’m asking you to keep Council Member Moore on the Audit
Committee and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) PAC.
After the 2018 City Council election, when Rod Sinks found himself in the minority, the newly elected
Mayor Scharf and Council let Council Member Sinks keep 5 of his 6 previous committee
assignments. This was out of respect for him, a willingness to cooperate and to maintain consistency
for the betterment of Cupertino, not an individual’s desires.
AUDIT COMMITTEE:
The progress the Audit Committee has made in helping the City become compliant with its Monthly
Treasurer’s Report was due to Council member Moore. Once she found out the law required it, she
identified and notified the appropriate people. The city has been non-compliant for years and no
one did anything!
The City has had 14 years of embezzlement, verbal contracts with no deliverables, contract invoices
that exceed the authorized limits, etc. Many of these have been identified by Kitty because she
actually looks at the data and questions items that don’t make sense. She’s helped put committee
procedures in place that improve oversight by having the Audit Committee review Accounts
Payables and Monthly Treasurer’s Reports BEFORE they go to Council. This means experienced eyes
reviewing these documents which in the past were not looked at carefully because they were placed
on Consent on an often very loaded Council agenda. We need actual oversight – not rubber
stamped documents!
At a time when there have been high risks identified in the Finance Dept, we need to keep making
progress towards addressing these issues. Putting 2 new people (Vice Mayor Mohan and Council
member Fruen) will set back this progress due to a learning curve. Also, I believe there is a conflict
having Vice Mayor Mohan, an ex city finance employee, audit colleagues/workers. Also, she would
need to recuse herself from voting on issues/reports associated with these past problems. The
embezzlement is still an ongoing issue! The verbal contracts with the Chamber go way back.
VTA PAC:
Council member Moore is highly respected for her work on the VTA PAC. Seven people have left the
VTA PAC so it’s CRITICAL to keep knowledge and experience on the VTA PAC as new members
transition on.
Please put away your differences and let Council member Moore remain on the Audit Committee
and the VTA PAC. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Peggy Griffin
From:Liana Crabtree
To:Hung Wei; Sheila Mohan; Liang Chao; J.R Fruen; Kitty Moore
Cc:City Clerk
Subject:written communication, 12/20/2022 Council Meeting, Agenda Item 9, Consider the Appointment of 2023
Councilmember Committee Assignments
Date:Tuesday, December 20, 2022 4:06:35 PM
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Honorable Mayor Wei, Vice Mayor Mohan, Council Members Chao, Fruen, and Moore:
Please include this letter as written communication for the 12/20/2022 Council Meeting, Agenda Item 9, Consider
the Appointment of 2023 Councilmember Committee Assignments.
I am writing to request that Council Member Kitty Moore be reinstated as Cupertino’s representative to the VTA
Policy Advisory Committee (VTA PAC) for the current term.
Council Member Moore has served honorably as the Chair of the VTA PAC for the last 2 years. I have attended
some of the VTA PAC meetings during Council Member Moore’s tenure and have appreciated that meetings under
her lead run efficiently, that she demonstrates respect for the public, staff, and fellow committee members, and that
she encourages and allows adequate time for public comment for each agenda item.
The learning curve for anyone coming into a VTA leadership role is steep. In 2022-2023 VTA launches its Valley
Transportation Plan 2050 (VTA 2050) at a time when there is no plan to add BART or light rail service to
Cupertino. Cupertino’s western neighborhoods and schools are also underserved by transit or not served at all,
despite the fact that Cupertino is a major tax revenue generator for the County.
Cupertino needs a VTA PAC representative who is familiar with VTA service and operations and can advocate for
the needs of West Valley residents and commuters from Day 1.
Council Member Moore has the knowledge and wisdom to represent Cupertino effectively on the VTA PAC. Please
reinstate Council Member Moore to the VTA PAC for the term beginning in 2023.
Sincerely,
Liana Crabtree
Cupertino resident and public transit rider
From:Rhoda Fry
To:City Clerk; City Council
Subject:Public Comment Agenda #9 Committee Assignments
Date:Tuesday, December 20, 2022 4:02:15 PM
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Dear City Council,
I was very surprised to see the committee assignments. I would like to see greater continuity
provided on the committee assignments. Also, it is worrisome that some committees have no
council representatives. Because the VTA committee has had quite a bit of turnover, I would
recommend that Kitty remain as the representative rather than being assigned as an alternate.
There is no continuity on our audit committee that previously had Darcy and Kitty as
representatives. There should be at least one former representative on this committee with
someone who has previous experience. Please put Kitty on the audit committee. Similarly, Kitty and
Liang had been on the legislative committee and now neither are on this committee. Finally, when
will other important committees be assigned representatives? These include the Environmental
Review Committee (I am a former member). Kitty has done an excellent job there and should
remain. No one is assigned to economic development or fiscal strategic planning. I would have come
tonight, but I fell going up the stairs today (of all things), so I will not be in physical attendance and
likely not phone attendance. A bit shook up! Happy Holidays to y’all.
Warm Regards,
Rhoda Fry