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Wednesday, December 10, 2025 |
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Hello Neighbors,
I am so glad I was able to see some of you at the Holiday Tree Lighting last week. It was great to gather and light up Cupertino. In this edition, you’ll also find highlights of the City’s recent recognition from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for our smooth, well-maintained streets, an achievement we can all take pride in. With winter weather upon us, we’ve included helpful reminders and resources to help you stay safe and prepared. You’ll also find the recorded video from our Coyote Community Meeting, aimed with tips and advice for how to help residents safely coexist with our local wildlife.
As the holiday season settles in, I find myself reflecting with gratitude on our community and the meaningful work we do together. I am proud of the work staff have accomplished over the past six months. Thank you for being part of it.
Lastly, I encourage you all to Shop Local this holiday season and support our local businesses.
Thank you for your continued engagement and partnership. I wish you and your loved ones a warm, joyful, and peaceful holiday season.
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Warm Regards,
 Tina Kapoor
City Manager
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Mayor and Vice Mayor Election
The City of Cupertino invites the community to attend the annual selection of the Mayor and Vice Mayor and the official Swearing-In Ceremony on Thursday, December 11, 2025. Doors will open with refreshments at 5 p.m., followed by the Special City Council Meeting at 6 p.m. The event will be held at Cupertino Community Hall, 10350 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, CA 95014.
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Fire Wise Cupertino
Fire Wise Cupertino will host its first presentation on Saturday, December 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Cupertino Library (Room 201). Cal Fire Battalion Chief Brian Olson will explain how Cal Fire Hazard Maps are created and their insurance and financial impacts on West Cupertino residents, including HOAs, homeowners, and senior living communities. A panel of experienced speakers will also share practical insights on post-disaster recovery.
Discover actionable steps to prepare before wildfires strike and how to respond when they do. Don’t miss this chance to learn, connect, and take action for a safer community.
Learn more at sccl.org/events.
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StanfordNext: Upcoming Community Open Houses
Stanford University is developing StanfordNext, a long-term land use plan that will guide future academic, housing, transportation, sustainability, and infrastructure needs within existing campus lands. The plan aims to support the university’s mission while aligning with regional priorities, and community input will play a central role.
Open House Dates
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Saturday, December 13: 1 to 4 p.m.
These first engagement sessions will introduce the goals, core elements, and guiding principles of StanfordNext, as well as the timeline leading to a new General Use Permit application to Santa Clara County. Leadership will be on hand to answer questions and gather feedback. Both sessions feature identical content; drop-ins welcome. Light refreshments provided, and children are welcome. For more information, visit: https://next.stanford.edu/engage-us
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Women in Business Symposium Luncheon
The City of Cupertino, in partnership with the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce, is excited to host the upcoming Cupertino Businesswomen's Networking Luncheon on Thursday, December 18, at 11:30 a.m. at the Community Hall. This event provides an excellent opportunity to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, exchange ideas, and learn about AI as well as techniques for mastering your elevator pitch. Priority registration will be given to Cupertino businesswomen, and we encourage early registration to ensure your spot. To RSVP, please visit the City of Cupertino's website.
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Dolly Parton Imagination Library
Cozy up for story time with your kids this winter and ignite a love of reading with free books from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. This program provides a new age-appropriate book each month to children ages 0-5 across Santa Clara County. Previous wintertime reads include “The Snowy Day”, “Llama Llama Red Pajama”, and “Rabbits Snow Dance”. Books and registration forms are available in English as well as bilingual English/Spanish versions. To sign-up for the program visit: sccld.org/imaginationlibrary.
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City of Cupertino Holiday Events
Celebrate the holidays with Cupertino Parks and Recreation!
Enjoy festive, family-friendly events this December, from the Community Tree Lighting and Breakfast with Santa to Signing Santa and Santa Visits, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
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City of Cupertino Holiday Closures
Cupertino City Hall will be closed from Wednesday, December 24, to Thursday, January 1 in observance of the holiday season. Regular business hours will resume on Friday, January 2, 2026.
For the 2025-2026 schedule, see the full list of the City’s holiday closures.
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Valley Water's Water 101 Academy
Want to become a leader on local water issues, learn about water projects in Santa Clara County, or network with other community leaders?
Join Valley Water's Water 101 Academy, a free and unique leadership program that educates and empowers community members to become leaders on local water issues! Upon completion of the Water 101 Academy, you will become a member of a diverse network of leaders and advocates who serve as community Water Ambassadors. You can apply on the Valley Water website, valleywater.org/water101. The deadline to apply is Friday, January 9, 2026.
For questions, please email WaterAmbassadorProgram@valleywater.org or call their hotline at (408) 630-2723.
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Dine Local This Holiday Season
This holiday season, let’s spread joy right here at home. Cupertino local eateries are at the heart of what makes our community vibrant. City Council recently proclaimed November 29 as Small Business Saturday in Cupertino, and in that spirit, we invite you to savor the festive treats, warm meals, and unique dining experiences waiting just around the corner.
To celebrate, visit cupertino.gov/holidaydining2025 to explore the full list of participating eateries that joined this year’s newest Shop Local initiatives: Dine Out for the 4th of July and Restaurant Week in October. Let’s dine locally, support our community, and make this holiday season bright for all.
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Cupertino Business Outreach Program
On Thursday, December 4, staff visited local businesses at the Marketplace Shopping Center as part of the City’s Cupertino Business Outreach Program (CBOP). During the visit, staff connected with several businesses - such as Beard Papa's, Yogurt Land, and CTBC Bank - and shared information about the newly launched Cupertino Business Resource Hub: cupertino.gov/bizresources.
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New Business Coming Soon: NaiSnow
A new Chinese-based tea shop and bakery named NaiSnow will be coming to Cupertino in 2026. NaiSnow will locate at 19600 Vallco Parkway at the Nineteen800 Shopping Center. The business was recently featured in the Silicon Valley Business Journal. Read the full SVBJ article, "Chinese tea chain NaiSnow plans second US location in Cupertino".
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El Camino Health Building Updates
El Camino Health submitted a building permit application to renovate their 20,545-square-foot office building located at 19400 Stevens Creek Boulevard. The project valuation listed on their application is $3.5 million, and the business purchased the vacant property this summer for $10.4 million.
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American Enterprise Project at Cupertino High School Finishes with Permitting Video
Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) students from Cupertino High School completed their school project on identifying potential improvements to the City’s permitting process by creating a two-part video: Part 1, demonstrating how to submit a building permit application, and Part 2, showing how to submit building permit plans. Earlier in June 2025, their project placed third nationally at the 2025 National Leadership Conference. Throughout the project, City staff—Economic Development Manager Daniel Degu and Building Official Sean Hatch—worked closely with the students, providing guidance and support.
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SR2S Receives $184,000 Grant for Education
We’re excited to announce that Cupertino Safe Routes to School has received a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to enhance our Bicycle and Pedestrian Education Program for a second year! The grant, which provides funding through September 2026, will promote safe practices and important education for pedestrians and bicyclists in Cupertino schools ages K-8.
Grant funds will continue to support various activities focused on bicycle and pedestrian safety:
- Pedestrian training courses that educate youth on safe walking behaviors
- Bicycle training courses that educate youth on safe riding behaviors
- Helmet fitting inspections and distribution of helmets to children in need
- Community and school education presentations
This grant is funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. We are very grateful and excited to work with OTS another year.
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Unscheduled Vacancy on Public Safety Commission
The Public Safety Commission has an unscheduled vacancy, and Cupertino residents are encouraged to apply for the open seat. A special vacancy notice advertising the open seat has been posted to the City website, and applications will be accepted and the seat will remain open until Council appoints to fill the vacancy. For more details and to apply, visit cupertino.gov/vacancies.
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December Mayor Chat
Mayor Chao hosted her Monthly Chat at Azuma Japanese Cuisine on Monday, December 8. Residents had the opportunity to connect with the Mayor, share local concerns, ask questions, and receive updates on City planning and governance.
Thank you to everyone who participated in these Monthly Chats with Mayor Chao throughout the year, and engaged with the community while also supporting local businesses.
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Coyote Community Meeting
On Monday, December 1, the City of Cupertino, the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Santa Clara County Mosquito and Vector Control District, and the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District held a Community Meeting on Coyotes for residents to hear from experts on local coyote behavior.
Watch the recording on the City’s YouTube channel.
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Community Tree Lighting
More than 600 community members helped the city kick off the holiday season this past weekend! On Friday, December 5, a festive crowd joined Santa at the Quinlan Community Center for the Community Tree Lighting. After the tree was lit, attendees enjoyed photos with Santa, festive activities, treats, and the snowball room. The following morning, Saturday, December 6, families joined the City for Breakfast with Santa—featuring crafts, letters to Santa, a warm pancake breakfast and a special take home photo to remember the morning.
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2025 STAR Awards
Last week, City Manager Tina Kapoor and Parks and Recreation Director Rachelle Sander attended the 2025 STAR Awards hosted by the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce at the Juniper Hotel. The event recognized local businesses and community members and provided an opportunity to connect with attendees and support the Chamber’s annual celebration.
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Aloha! Celebrating the Holidays in Hawaii
Last week, the Cupertino Senior Center welcomed more than 100 guests to its annual Holidays in Hawaii celebration. The Lei Nani Hula Dancers entertained attendees with traditional and holiday-inspired dances, while the Pila Ho Okani Band provided live music. Festive refreshments were also part of the celebration, adding to the holiday cheer.
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City Manager’s Office Recognition
At the Tuesday, December 2 meeting, City Council issued a proclamation recognizing the work of the City Manager’s Office, which serves as the organizational and operational center of City government, providing leadership, strategic direction, and administrative management to ensure that City services are delivered efficiently, responsibly, and in alignment with community priorities.
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City Manager Reports Posted Online
All City Manager Reports are posted with the Council agenda and can be found online at cupertino.gov/citycouncil.
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Subscribe to Other City Newsletters
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Sheriff's Spotlight
Sign up for the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff monthly newsletter!
Weekly Crime Reports
Check out all of the City's weekly crime reports at cupertino.gov/crimesummaries.
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