On October 22, 2002, the City Council approved eleven goals for the Community Development Strategy. Based upon public testimony at the City Council meeting, staff is now recommending that a twelfth goal be approved.

Community Development in Sunnyvale is focused on the planning and management of the physical development and rebuilding of the community. The discretionary resources available to effect community development are limited, including staff resources in the Department of Community Development, federal Community Development Block Grants and Home Funds, Housing Mitigation Funds, Capital Improvement Program, and land use and building regulatory controls (zoning ordinance and building code). Staff has initiated preparation of a Community Development Strategy to determine the most effective investment of these limited resources over the next five years.

On October 8, 2002, staff presented to the City Council in Study Session its determination of critical community development issues and goals for Sunnyvale. On October 22, 3003, the City Council approved eleven goals for the Community Development Strategy as recommended by staff. At that time a citizen, Arthur Schwartz, testified before the Council and urged that an additional goal be considered dealing with the preservation of neighborhood character.

Attached to this report is a copy of Appendix B of the Community Development Strategy which demonstrates the relationship between the proposed Community Development Strategy goals and existing City policy as expressed through the goals and polices of the General Plan.

Staff concurs with the recommendation of Mr. Schwartz, and has drafted the following goal dealing with preservation of neighborhood character:

The Community Development Strategy was prepared by staff utilizing the existing budget of the Community Development Department. Therefore, there is no fiscal impact to prepare the Strategy. Implementation of the strategy will be through existing resources and outside funding, except for a proposed expansion of the Neighborhood Preservation Program at an annual cost of $278,000. The adoption of the goals has no direct fiscal impact.

This report was included in the publication and posting of the Council agenda on the City’s official bulletin board, and the City’s web page. This report is also available at the Sunnyvale Public Library and the City Clerk’s Office.

1. Amend the adopted goals on community development to include a goal on neighborhood preservation, as shown on the attached list of Goals for Community Development.
2. Do not amend the Goals for Community Development.

Staff recommends Alternative 1.

Prepared by:
Robert Paternoster
Director, Community Development

Approved by:
Robert S. LaSala
City Manager

Attachment:

A. Goals for Community Development
B. Relationship to General Plan Goals and Policies