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In This Issue
Get Vaccinated Against Flu and COVID-19
This holiday season, another surge in COVID infections, along with high levels of influenza (flu) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), are straining healthcare systems and impacting families.
Health officers from around the region and throughout the state are encouraging the public to take these easy steps to protect themselves and others from missing holiday moments and to ease the burden on local health systems.
Bay Area health officers recommend the following steps:
Get Vaccinated Against Flu and COVID
- The updated Omicron COVID booster, also known as the bivalent booster, targets the Omicron variant, as well as the original 2020 virus. The Omicron boosters are available for ages six months and older. These improved vaccines are the best protection against severe symptoms of COVID and hospitalization.
- Now is the time to get your flu shot. Your doctor can give you the flu shot and the Omicron COVID booster in the same visit. COVID shots are free and other recommended immunizations are widely available at low or no cost.
Stay Home if You Are Sick
- No matter which virus you have, if you are feeling sick the best way to keep from spreading it to others is to stay home until you have recovered. If you think it might be COVID, get tested.
- People who need urgent or emergency medical care, including testing or treatment for influenza or COVID, should seek it.
Wear a Mask in Indoor Public Places
- Masks can prevent transmission of COVID, flu, RSV, and other respiratory viruses all at once.
- Wearing a high-quality mask, such as a KN94, KN95 or N95, can prevent you from getting sick and missing out on life, work, school, and holiday parties. Masking is strongly recommended indoors in public settings to prevent the spread of viruses and reduce the risk of illness.
Get Tested Before an Indoor Gathering or if You Feel Sick
- Reduce the chances of infecting someone else with COVID by finding out if you have the virus before gathering with others. Remember, COVID symptoms may be mild or absent. Make sure to stock up on home test kits.
Get Treatment, if Needed
- Free treatments are available if you test positive for COVID. Free medication prevents hospitalization and is available to most adults and some teens with even mild symptoms.
- Talk to your doctor about treatment options or visit covid19.ca.gov/treatment or find a test to treat location near you: aspr.hhs.gov/TestToTreat. Treatments work best when started right after symptoms begin, and within 5 days of symptoms starting.
COVID-19 Testing Available in Santa Clara County
Widespread testing provides a more accurate picture of how many cases exist in our community and helps us understand how and where the virus is spreading. Testing helps identify people without symptoms who could be spreading COVID-19 so that they can stay away from work and public places until their infectious period is over.
Book an appointment or find more information at https://covid19.sccgov.org/covid-19-testing.
- All close contacts should be tested immediately if they develop symptoms.
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A non-household close contact(regardless of vaccination status) should test 3-5 days after last exposure to case.
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A household close contact(regardless of vaccination status) with ongoing exposure should be tested two times:
- 3-5 days after first exposure to case AND
- 5 days after case completes their isolation period
If you develop any COVID-19 symptoms, you must isolate and stay away from others, even if you are up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccination.
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City of Cupertino Holiday Closure
In observance of the winter holidays, Cupertino City Offices and facilities will be closed and nonoperational from Friday, December 23, 2022 through Monday, January 2, 2023 and will reopen on Tuesday, January 3, 2023.
Cupertino City facilities and services will operate as follows:
- Cupertino City Hall: Nonoperational from Friday, December 23, 2022 through Monday, January 2, 2023 and will provide services again Tuesday, January 3, 2023.
- Quinlan Community Center: Closed from Friday, December 23, 2022 to Monday, January 2, 2023 and will provide services again Tuesday, January 3, 2023.
- Senior Center: Closed from Friday, December 23, 2022 to Monday, January 2, 2023 and will provide services again Tuesday, January 3, 2023.
- Sports Center: Closed Saturday, December 24; Sunday, December 25; Saturday, December 31; and Sunday, January 1, 2022.
- Blackberry Farm Golf Course: Closed on Sunday, December 25.
- Sheriff’s Office: Closed Sunday, December 25, 2022 and Sunday, January 1, 2023. For emergencies, call 9-1-1. For nonemergency officer assistance, call (408) 299-2311.
- Parking regulations for street sweeping will not be enforced Monday, December 19, 2022 through Sunday, January 1, 2023.
- Cupertino Library: Will close early at 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 24, 2022 and Saturday, December 31, 2022. Closed on Sunday, December 25, 2022 and Sunday, January 1, 2023.
The City of Cupertino wishes everyone in our community a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season!
Draft Housing Element Available for Public Review
There is just one day left to provide your input on the Draft Housing Element Update and help shape the future of housing in Cupertino. The draft of the City of Cupertino's Housing Element Update is available for public review online and in person. The public comment period is closing on Friday, December 23.
View the Draft Housing Element online here. A physical copy is available for public review at City Hall, located at 10300 Torre Avenue in Cupertino. If you'd like to view the document in person, contact (408) 777-3308 to make an appointment.
Written comments on the Draft Housing Element must be submitted prior to the December 23 deadline. Comments can be submitted by:
- email: housing@cupertino.org; or
- in person; or
- mail:
Community Development Department
Attn: Luke Connolly, Acting Community Development Director
10300 Torre Avenue
Cupertino, CA 95014
The Housing Element is a State-required element of the City’s General Plan. The Housing Element must be updated every eight years and includes goals, objectives, policies, and implementation programs that address the maintenance, preservation, improvement, and development of housing within the City. In addition, the Housing Element Update identifies sites appropriate for the development of new housing that would be available to households at all levels of income.
The Housing Element Update also includes other amendments necessary to comply with recent changes in State law. Prior to the submittal of the Draft Housing Element to the California Department of Housing & Community Development (HCD) for their review and comment, the Draft Housing Element must be available for a 30-day public review and comment period. Following review of the Draft, the City will consider all comments received in the manner outlined below, including those from HCD staff, and will revise the Housing Element for consideration and final adoption by the City’s Planning Commission and City Council. Separate public notice for all future Commission and City Council meetings hearings will be provided at that time.
Apply to Serve on a City Commission
If you are interested in serving on a City commission, submit the application by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, January 6, 2023. Commissions that will have vacancies include the Bicycle Pedestrian Commission, Arts and Culture Commission, Housing Commission, Library Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning Commission, and Technology Information and Communications Commission.
Applications can be submitted via the Online Commission Application at cupertino.org/vacancies. For more details, please see the website or email the City Clerk’s office at cityclerk@cupertino.org.
Holiday Lights Waste Disposal
Don't throw out the holiday cheer this season! Broken holiday lights should be disposed of as electronic waste, not garbage or recycling.
Putting electronic waste in the garbage will increase toxicity in the landfill which hurts our environment. String lights in the recycling stream will tangle and break the sorting machines.
Residents have options for safe electronic waste disposal:
- drop off your broken lights at the household hazardous waste facility
- drop off your lights at Cupertino's next Environmental Recycling Day event on January 16, 2023
- call Recology to schedule a pick-up (two pick-ups per year at no additional cost)
Learn more at cupertino.org/hhw.
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Notable City Events
Tree Lighting
On Friday, December 2, the City's Parks and Recreation Department held the annual Tree Lighting event. This heartwarming event brought the community together to experience the joy and excitement of kicking off the holiday season.
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Santa arrived with a little help from Santa Clara County Fire Department, as he arrived on a fire truck just in time to help countdown to lighting the tree. The Homestead High School Choir serenaded the crowd with holiday favorites, and participants enjoyed hot chocolate, crafts, music, a movie, and a photo with Santa. "Thank you for hosting such a wonderful event for the community. Our kids thoroughly enjoyed the night," shared a parent. |
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A special thank you to Troop 688 and Monta Vista Octagon Club for volunteering to help make the event a success.
Breakfast with Santa
On Saturday, December 3, more than 300 participants enjoyed a morning of pancakes and holiday cheer at the City's annual Breakfast with Santa event.
The De Anza Optimist Club of Cupertino, along with 22 teen volunteers, supported City staff in providing a wonderful pancake breakfast, writing letters to Santa, and a variety of holiday-themed crafts for the community. In addition, the Tri-M Music Honor Society from Monta Vista High School provided live entertainment, singing holiday favorites. The event's highlight for many children and families was meeting and having their picture taken with Santa!
Signing Santa
On Saturday, December 10, the Cupertino Parks and Recreation Department hosted one of the City's special holiday events—Signing Santa!
 In its third year, this event provides an opportunity for deaf and hard-of-hearing children to communicate with Santa using ASL. In addition, an interpreter accompanied Santa so that he could communicate with all family members
More than 40 participants attended this year's event and enjoyed crafts, cookies, and quality time with Santa. Feedback the City received was overwhelmingly positive, with many parents expressing joy at seeing their children converse with Santa for the first time.
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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.
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.
The Scene
It's the end of another year, and there's no better way to embrace the holiday spirit than joining in the Cupertino festivities! Also, learn how to protect your package deliveries, unwrap the secrets of holiday waste sorting, and take part in the upcoming holiday events happening in Cupertino.
Download and read at cupertino.org/scene.
Law Enforcement Reports
View attachments here, which includes the Sheriff’s weekly report for December 5 – December 18.
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