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August 25, 2022

In This Issue

COVID-19 News and Updates

COVID-19 Testing Available in Cupertino

COVID-19 testing will be available at Creekside Park, 10455 Miller Avenue, on the following days:

• Monday, September 5 (Labor Day)
• Monday, September 19

Appointments are available to everyone and can be made from 9:30 a.m. through 3:45 p.m. Access the appointment site at sccfreetest.org or directly at https://scl.fulgentgenetics.com/appointment.

The County of Santa Clara's health officials continue to remind residents and visitors to be mindful that the COVID-19 virus is still spreading, and that risk to health from the pandemic continues.

View more information on COVID-19, vaccines, and data on the County website at covid19.sccgov.org.

General City News and Updates

Cupertino Housing Element Update

The Cupertino City Council met on Tuesday, August 16 to discuss the Housing Element Sites Inventory. This was the Council’s first consideration of the Sites Inventory, which is the list of properties identified for new housing during the upcoming eight-year planning period of 2023 to 2031. The Council will meet again to discuss the Sites Inventory on Monday, August 29 with a potential continuation to Tuesday, August 30 if additional time is needed.

The next Community Engagement Plan - Strategic Advisory Committee meeting will be held virtually on Friday, September 16 at 11 a.m. Details for this meeting will be available here. Also, on the evening of Tuesday, September 27 a virtual community meeting on the Housing Element Update, focusing on Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) objectives, will be held. This will be the third in a series of AFFH-focused community meetings that began in May.

This 6th Cycle Housing Element Update is required by State law and covers the planning period of 2023 to 2031. The Housing Element is part of Cupertino's General Plan and identifies policies and programs intended to meet the housing needs of the City's current and future residents at all income levels. State law requires that all city and county Housing Elements be updated every eight years.

Comments and input from the community are vital to achieve a successful Housing Element Update, and participation in public meetings and the community engagement process is strongly encouraged. To find details about the Housing Element Update and to stay informed, sign up for future notifications online at engagecupertino.org/housingelement.

Upcoming Below Market Rate (BMR) Virtual Workshop

On September 19, Rise Housing Solutions will host the annual City of Cupertino Below Market Rate (BMR) Virtual Workshop. Members of the public are invited to join for an overview of the City’s BMR Ownership and Rental programs, how to join the 2023 waitlist, requirements of the program, eligibility process, and real time Q&A.

The virtual workshop will be held on Monday, September 19 from 6 to 7 p.m. You are not required to RSVP and can join by clicking here. If you are unable to attend, the recording will be available online here.

The 2023 waitlist and application period will be open from October 1 through 31. Attendance at the workshop is not required to apply for the 2023 waitlist. During the application period, applications will be accepted online (recommended) at the link below or you may contact Rise Housing Solutions to receive a paper copy. You can also learn more about the BMR Program by clicking the link below.

View the flyer by clicking the attachments link below. For more information, contact Rise Housing at cupertino@risehousing.com, visit risehousing.com, or call (415) 301-5448.

Safe Routes to School Gears Up for New School Year

Public schooling has resumed in Cupertino, and the City of Cupertino's Transportation Division and Safe Routes to School staff, in partnership with the Cupertino Union and Fremont Union High School Districts, have been busy taking steps to ensure the City’s transportation network is well-prepared for a seamless transition to the beginning of the new school year.

While the beginning of a new school year always brings challenges, this year is particularly challenging as the City and school districts have been working to address the potential impacts of new bell schedules, as well as the closure of two local elementary schools, Meyerholz and Regnart, that will result in a redistribution and increase of student attendance at several schools.

To prepare for these changes, City staff has been working towards implementing the following improvements:

• new Suggested Routes to School maps for Lincoln and Eaton Elementary Schools due to Regnart and Meyerholz closures
• improvement of drop-off zones on Fort Baker Drive and Hyannisport Drive to accommodate increased traffic
• staggering school start times in the tri-school area to distribute and lessen student drop-off traffic impacts
• updated and extended work hours for the crossing guards on Hyannisport Drive to cover the new bell schedules
• agreement between Lincoln Elementary and Monta Vista High Schools to use the high school cell phone parking lot for a park-and-walk to Lincoln Elementary
• separated bikeway on Bubb Road in front of Kennedy Middle School
• evaluation of possible pedestrian scramble phase for the traffic signal at McClellan Road and Bubb Road

Additionally, City-wide school-related traffic improvements and educational programs have been completed or are in progress, including:

• bollards in front of Homestead High School to separate the bike lane and prevent hazardous vehicle movements
• refreshed crosswalk paint and refilled pedestrian crossing flags
• new crosswalk from Varian Park to Stevens Creek Elementary School
• new student drop-off procedures and maps at seven schools
• five Middle School Bike Skills Clinics held during summer
• Kinder Parade at Faria Elementary School held to teach new families good commute habits
• traffic safety tips sent out via school districts, Sheriff’s Department, and Safe Routes to School newsletter

More information about Cupertino’s Safe Routes to School Program, including how to become involved, can be found at cupertino.org/saferoutes.

The City's Safe Routes to School staff will continue to monitor traffic conditions as the school year begins, and implement adjustments or changes as needed to ensure a smooth and safe school commute.

Free Feminine Hygiene Product Dispensers Installed

A total of 18 new dispensers have been installed at women’s or gender-neutral restrooms.

Currently, all of the following sites have the dispensers installed:

One of the restroom facilities at Memorial Park is currently being renovated and will be equipped with a dispenser upon completion of the project.

Since the products are being supplied for free, residents and visitors are requested to take only the products that are needed. If the inventory is out of stock and needs to be refilled, submit a request through the City’s 311 system at cupertino.org/311.

Help Fight Climate Change by Joining GreenBlocks

GreenBlocks is a new program to help you, your friends, and your neighbors learn how to take action, reduce your carbon footprint, prepare for emergencies, and build a stronger sense of community. Together, you will learn more about topics such as neighborhood resiliency and the connections to climate change and sustainability to help you take steps to a more sustainable future.

This program is designed as a series of nine one-hour classes that you and your team can progress through at your own pace, based on your group's availability. No previous knowledge of sustainability or emergency preparedness is required.

For more information about starting a GreenBlock, email martad@cupertino.org or call (408) 777-3408.

National Preparedness Month: Are You Ready?

Emergency preparedness is a team sport, and community members are starting players. This September, the City of Cupertino's Office of Emergency Management looks to build our community resilience during National Preparedness Month. Taking the time to prepare with our neighbors may help us save lives and recover quickly when disaster strikes. Plan ahead to take care of yourself, your family, and your community.

The City's Office of Emergency Management offers many ways for residents to get involved and prepared for emergencies.

CERT Academy

In the event of an area-wide disaster, critical infrastructure and emergency services will be impacted. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Academy trains residents to prepare for and respond to life-threatening events in their community. CERT members can mobilize neighborhood resources, deliver immediate assistance to victims, organize emergency communications, and provide support to first responders.

The City of Cupertino has its own organized CERT program, open to individuals who live or work within Cupertino. The City's Office of Emergency Management, in partnership with the Santa Clara County Fire Department, offers the CERT Hybrid Academy to train residents on disaster preparedness skills. Participants will learn disaster preparedness, disaster medical operations, disaster psychology, fire suppression, light search and rescue, and terrorism awareness.

This CERT Hybrid Academy is for those who live or work in Cupertino. To register for the CERT Hybrid Academy Training, click here.

Participants must attend all training classes (online and in person) to receive a CERT Certificate of Completion. In addition, all participants are required to adhere to any current Santa Clara County Public Health Orders.

Find the training schedule, information on fees, and details about the academy in the attachments link below. For questions or more information, email cert@sccfd.org, or call Gracie Hernandez at (408) 341-4425.

ARK Open Houses

ARKs serve as supply caches for community emergency response, and central gathering locations for volunteers to support the City in an emergency. During National Preparedness Month, volunteers from the Cupertino Citizen Corps will be sharing information about the ARKs located throughout the City.

Each weekend in September, Citizen Corps will host two ARK open houses in a different part of the City to promote community engagement in neighborhood preparedness. Cupertino City staff and Citizen Corps volunteers will provide tours and general preparedness tips for the communities surrounding each of the ARKs. Members of the community are invited to tour an ARK and see firsthand how your role as a resident is needed to help yourself and the City after an emergency.

• Saturday, September 3, 8:30 to 10 a.m.
  Monta Vista ARK, 22620 Stevens Creek Boulevard
• Saturday, September 3, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  DeAnza ARK, 21250 Stevens Creek Boulevard
• Saturday, September 10, 8:30 to 10 a.m.
  Lawson ARK, 10401 Vista Drive
• Saturday, September 10, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  Creekside ARK, 10445 Miller Avenue
• Saturday, September 17, 8:30 to 10 a.m.
  Garden Gate ARK, 10500 Ann Arbor Avenue
• Saturday, September 17, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  Regnart ARK, 1180 Yorkshire Drive

Personal, Family, and Neighborhood Preparedness

Cupertino's Office of Emergency Management is presenting a series of trainings specifically for your family and neighborhood.

This series has two parts, in which the recommended order is Personal Preparedness, then Family and Neighborhood Preparedness training.

1. Personal Preparedness: what you and everyone in your family needs to know in case of an emergency, the City's role, your role, communication plan, how to get help, first aid, supplies, and more.
   • October 10 - 7 to 8 p.m.
   • November 8 - 7 to 8 p.m.
   • December 9 - 7 to 8 p.m.
2. Family and Neighborhood Preparedness: what your family needs to have in place to have a better outcome after an emergency, and what your neighborhood can do together to check on each other, manage small events before they become too big to handle (fire, gas, electrical), get resources, information, and how to take care of each other until help arrives.
   • October 21 - 7 to 8 p.m.
   • November 17 - 7 to 8 p.m.
   • December 14 - 7 to 8 p.m.

Register now at Cupertino Office of Emergency Management Events | Eventbrite.

Notable City Events

Register to Sell at Annual Citywide Garage Sale

Cupertino's 17th annual Garage Sale weekend will happen on September 17 and 18. Register now to participate and sell your unwanted stuff from your own home or yard.

Every year, over 200 households participate by hosting their own garage sale on this weekend, attracting thousands of shoppers from all over the Bay Area.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to clear out your unwanted items and earn some extra cash. Register by Monday, September 5 to have your sale advertised on a Citywide map and published on the City's website.

Register today at cupertino.org/garagesale.

Apply Now for the 2022 Artist Awards

Every year, the City of Cupertino and the Cupertino Arts and Culture Commission choose a Distinguished Artist, Emerging Artist, and Young Artist to recognize. This award is presented to deserving artists in recognition of local talent in visual, verbal, and performing arts while preserving and advancing the arts for the benefit of the citizens of Cupertino.

Winners receive public recognition and a cash reward. Apply at cupertino.org/artawards.

City Communications Regarding COVID-19

Cupertino City Hall reopened to the public on Monday, April 11. City services offered in-person include Building, Business License, Finance, Planning, Public Works, and other services. Many virtual tools and online assistance remain available at cupertino.org/online-services.

For more information about the City's reopening, visit cupertino.org/reopening.

The County of Santa Clara Public Health Department no longer requires indoor masking; however, the Santa Clara County Public Health Department and the California Department of Public Health strongly recommend that the public continue to wear masks in all indoor public spaces.

City Hall Contact Information

*Please note some lines may be unattended from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Any non-urgent service requests for trees, roadways, sidewalks, trash, or parks can be submitted at cupertino.org/311. For urgent requests after hours, contact Santa Clara County Communications at (408) 299-2507.

Upcoming Agenda Items and Law Enforcement

View attachments here, which include the City Council agenda forecast through September 20 and the Sheriff’s weekly reports for August 8 – August 21.

cupertino.org