Cupertino Housing Element Update
The Cupertino City Council approved the Housing Element Sites Inventory at its regular meeting on Tuesday, August 30, following a special meeting on Monday, August 29. The Sites Inventory is the list of properties identified for new housing during the upcoming eight-year Housing Element planning period of 2023 to 2031. During their consideration of the item, the Council made several changes to the Sites Inventory as recommended by the City’s Planning and Housing Commissions. These changes are noted on the Housing Sites Inventory posted on Housing Element webpage at engagecupertino.org.
Now that the Council has taken action on the Sites Inventory, the City can begin its environmental review, or California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), process for the Housing Element Update. The environmental review process is expected to take approximately nine months to complete.
The Community Engagement Plan - Strategic Advisory Committee met on Friday, September 16 and will next meet on Friday, October 28 at 11 a.m. Details for this meeting will be available here. Also, on the evening of Monday, September 26, a virtual community meeting on the Housing Element Update, focusing on Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) objectives, will be held. View details for this meeting here. 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, click here.
Work Ongoing for City Medians
During the month of August, the City's staff in the Medians Maintenance group within the Trees and Right of Way Division of the Public Works Department broke ground on a median renovation project on Stevens Creek Boulevard west of Stelling Road. This project was part of a decade-long objective to install waterwise plants and trees, as well as improve irrigation systems throughout the City’s medians. This median will be completed with the same treatment as other medians that were previously reconstructed on Miller Avenue and nearly all locations along Stevens Creek Boulevard east of Stelling Road.
To date, all plumbing and electrical underground utility work has been installed. In addition, the materials for the new split rail fence have been ordered. A smart irrigation controller will be reinstalled to regulate the irrigation use to ensure that water use is minimized. This will help with the City’s ongoing water conservation efforts. A variety of new vegetation, including pollinator-friendly vegetation and plants native to California will complement the existing Southern Live Oak trees, which have been retained on site. This project is on schedule for completion later this fall.
In addition to the previous project, a median on Stevens Creek Boulevard between De Anza Boulevard and Torre Avenue is on track for completion this fiscal year. The existing mound causes some site obstructions for vehicles turning left into the Cali Mill Plaza parking lot, which creates water runoff into the vehicle travel way. In the coming months, a contractor will remove the existing earthen mound and perform rough grading under the top of the existing curb. By removing the mound, irrigation water will be kept on site and out of the storm drain system, and it will also aesthetically match other medians along Stevens Creek Boulevard. This is the last median mound needing removal along Stevens Creek Boulevard. City staff will install the same waterwise infrastructure and appropriate plantings similar to many of the other renovated sites on Stevens Creek Boulevard, which help beautify the City and save water. Completion of this project is expected in early spring 2023.
These projects are funded from the department's Operating Budget as special projects and are completed with a combination of in-house and contract resources under the leadership of the team at the City's Service Center.
Revitalize Memorial Park
Join in the effort to revitalize Memorial Park! The City is developing a plan for Memorial Park to best meet the future recreation, community gathering, event, and green space needs of Cupertino.
Visit our booth during the Silicon Valley Day 'n Night Fun Fest at Memorial Park on September 24 to engage with the project team, provide feedback about park usage and preferences, and help shape experiences for future park visitors.
In addition, the community is invited to participate in a community feedback survey online. Find more on the project website at Memorial Park Specific Plan.
Reimagine an All-Inclusive Playground
Get involved with the new reimagined playground at Jollyman Park. The project will replace outdated play equipment with a unique all-inclusive playground, designed to be a place for everyone to come together. The project will support recreation and social interaction for people with autism, sensory challenges, cognitive, developmental, and physical disabilities, including those without special needs. In the new space, community members will be able to engage in all types of play, community gatherings, and intergenerational activities. The primary goal will be to provide a space for residents of all ages and abilities to connect, create, and strengthen the City of Cupertino's community.
The final design proposal is posted at engagecupertino.org/jollyman. Join the City for the last virtual community meeting on October 5 at 6 p.m. to learn how your input shaped the final design for a new all-inclusive playground at Jollyman Park. This meeting will discuss the final design, play features, and the project team will share the project's next steps.
To learn more about the project, visit engagecupertino.org/jollyman.
ARK Open Houses
Throughout September, when National Preparedness Month is observed every year, the City of Cupertino's Office of Emergency Management offered many ways for residents to build our community resilience, get involved, and prepared for emergencies.
Every weekend, the City's Citizen Corps hosted two ARK open houses in a different part of the City to promote community engagement in neighborhood preparedness. The open houses were intended to engage and share information with the community on ARKs and the community’s role of being able to take care of themselves, their families, and neighborhood.
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 shared information about the ARKs located throughout the City. Residents who attended the ARK Open House events received a Cupertino bag with preparedness materials. City staff utilized each open house to train volunteers on submitting post-incident damage reports.
The community is encouraged to remain connected by signing up for AlertSCC notifications and alerts, listening to Radio Cupertino 1670 AM, and reporting their status after an emergency.
Public Works Grant Funding Applications Submitted
As part of its continuing effort to improve traffic safety, the City's Public Works Department has recently submitted four State and Federal grant applications intended to fund multiple roadway safety projects throughout the City of Cupertino.
Three of the applications, projects totaling $10 million, were submitted for the State’s Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and, if successful, will fund projects and improvements identified in the City’s new Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP). These improvements include upgrading traffic signal hardware, installing speed warning signs, upgrading pedestrian crossings, installing pavement friction, and installing protected bike lanes. These improvements are located throughout the City at high accident intersections and along high accident corridors.
The fourth grant application was submitted for the Federal Safe Streets and Roads For All (SS4A) program. The SS4A would fund $360,000 related to traffic analysis, community outreach, and design, which would finalize and implement the recommendations for safety improvements along Bollinger Road, as identified in the City’s 2021 Bollinger Road Corridor Safety Study.
Application results are generally released several months following application submittal and the City Council will have the opportunity to approve receipt of the grant funds prior to implementation of the projects.
Historic Heat Wave and Electricity Demand
On Tuesday, September 6, California was deep in a historic heat wave that baked our City along with the entire west coast. As residents set their air conditioning and fans to cool down, electricity demand began soaring. The State electric grid saw a peak demand of 52,061 megawatts, which breaks the all-time demand high that was set in 2006.
Businesses, individuals, and governments were asked by the electric grid operator, California Independent System Operator (CAISO), to conserve electricity during the most critical part of the day. The response from the public was a success, and rolling blackouts were narrowly averted. Public agencies like the City of Cupertino and businesses reduced their load and activated backup generators as requested by the State. CAISO is extending thanks to the thousands of residents who turned down lights and electric appliances during this time. Your actions made a big difference for the whole Statewide system.
The Cupertino Climate Action Plan 2.0, which was adopted by City Council in August, recognizes that extreme heat emergencies will continue to test our aging infrastructure. The plan charts a path for Cupertino residents and businesses to make use of new technology in ways that can improve our resiliency and reduce our carbon emissions. Read the plan at cupertino.org/sustainability.
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