MINUTES
SUNNYVALE CITY COUNCIL 
NOVEMBER 25, 2003

The City Council of the City of Sunnyvale met in regular session in the City Council Chambers, 456 West Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA at 7:35 p.m. with Mayor Miller presiding.

SALUTE TO THE FLAG

Congressman Michael Honda led the salute to the flag.

ROLL CALL

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Councilmember Fowler made the following announcements on behalf of the Council:

The City of Sunnyvale is currently recruiting for members on the following Boards and Commissions:

• Board of Building Code Appeals
• Heritage Preservation Commission
• Planning Commission

Eligible candidates must be a Sunnyvale resident and a registered voter.  An information meeting will be held on Monday, December 8, at 6:00 p.m. in the Sunnyvale City Hall West Conference Room.  The application deadline is December 26, 2003, at 5:00 p.m.  For an application or more information, please visit the Sunnyvale web site at www.sunnyvale.ca.gov, or call Donna Biles at  (408) 730-7595.

Santa Clara County residents can make a clean air choice this winter by switching from burning wood to using natural gas.  The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is offering rebates ranging from $300 to $500 to residents who switch from a wood burning appliance to a cleaner natural gas appliance.        The rebate offer is available only to residents of Santa Clara County and while supplies last.  For further information about the program, contact one of the participating dealers.          For an updated listing of participating dealers, visit www.sparetheair.org or call the Air District at  (415) 749-4791.

 The City of Sunnyvale and the Valley Transportation Authority will be holding a community meeting to present draft findings of a Mathilda Avenue/Route 237 Traffic Study. The meeting will be held December 4 at the University of California Santa Cruz Extension, 1180 Bordeaux Drive, in Sunnyvale, at 1:30 p.m.  For more information, call the Division of Transportation and Traffic at 730-7415.

Suzi Blackman, President and CEO of the Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce, announced on Wednesday, December 3, there will be a tree lighting ceremony on Murphy Avenue with festivities beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Leslie Lawton, President of Sunnyvale Community Services, announced an auction on December 4 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  For more information or to make a donation to the auction, call 738-0121 or visit their web site at  www.scvcommunityservices.org.

Thom Mayer, representing the Lakewood Village Association, announced a holiday parade on Saturday, December 6, at 11:00 a.m. beginning at Lakewood School.

CONSENT CALENDAR

Vice Mayor Risch moved, and Councilmember Howe seconded, to approve the Consent Calendar.  The motion carried unanimously.

Fiscal Items

Personnel Items

Other Items

CITIZENS TO BE HEARD

Elaine Alquist, a member of the public, thanked the Council and outgoing members for their service to the community and congratulated the incoming Councilmembers.

Thom Mayer, a member of the public, thanked the outgoing members of the Council for their service.  He asked that the Council work together for what is best for Sunnyvale.

Liz Kniss, County Supervisor, thanked the outgoing Councilmembers for their valuable service and expressed her admiration.

COUNCIL REORGANIZATION

Mayor Miller thanked Councilmember Walker for his service to Sunnyvale as a Councilmember and Planning Commissioner and presented him with a plaque of appreciation and a gold and diamond City lapel pin.

Councilmember Walker presented his outgoing gift as a donation to Sunnyvale Community Services which was received by Leslie Lawton, Board President, and Nancy Tivol, Executive Director.  Ms. Lawton presented Councilmember Walker with a plaque in recognition of his service.  Councilmember Walker expressed his thanks for the opportunity to serve and thanked his friends and family for their support and the City staff for their service.  He further thanked the citizens for their participation in the community and advocated for support for the new City Council.

Mayor Miller thanked Councilmember Valerio for his service as a Councilmember and his service on the VTA and Cal Tran Boards.  She presented him with a plaque of appreciation, a plaque commemorating his service as Mayor and Vice Mayor, and a gold and diamond City lapel pin.

Councilmember Valerio expressed his gratitude for his opportunity to serve the City and thanked the citizens, Bob and Margaret Lawson, Rick Kitson, Tom Lewcock, Robert LaSala, Valerie Armento, Carol Butler, Lenore Wilcox, Pat Dorsey and Heidi Kirk for their support.  He further expressed his thanks to City staff for their dedicated service and his Council colleagues for their support over the past eight years.  He thanked his mother, Beatrice Valerio, his family, and Tracy Dawson for their support.  He urged the new Council to focus on long term planning and asked for a commitment of support for the new Council.

Mayor Miller thanked Councilmember Vorreiter for her service as a Councilmember and her efforts on the Housing Trust Fund and presented her with a plaque of appreciation, a gold and diamond City lapel pin, and a clock.

Councilmember Vorreiter thanked her husband John for his support during the last eight years.  She stated some of the lessons she learned were you can have a win-win decision as with the protective ordinance for the Planned Parenthood Clinic.  She stated that Sunnyvale has a long way to go to before they are a community of cultural diversity and advocated the Council to move forward in that direction.  She recognized the City staff for their outstanding service and advocated for Council diversity but to speak as a single voice.  She stated it was an honor and privilege to serve the City of Sunnyvale.

Mayor Miller thanked Vice Mayor Risch for his service and noted that he donated his $383.43 gift back to the City.  She recognized his service on the Hetch Hetchy project as well as servicing as a Councilmember and Vice Mayor.  She presented him with a plaque of appreciation and a gold and diamond City lapel pin.

Vice Mayor Risch thanked all the people who have supported him over the last four years, the Council, and the City staff for their outstanding service. He thanked his wife, Yolanda, and his daughter Jennifer for their support.

Mayor Miller invited Janine Stanick, of Leadership Sunnyvale, and Councilmember-elect Dean Chu to the podium.  Ms. Stanick administered the oath of office. She was assisted by Councilmember Chu’s wife, Wilma, and his daughter, Liane.

Mayor Miller invited Congressman Michael Honda and Councilmember-elect Otto Lee to the podium.  Congressman Honda lauded outgoing Councilmembers for their service to Sunnyvale and administered the oath.  He was assisted by Councilmember Lee’s  parents.

Mayor Miller invited Ken Sauer and Councilmember-elect Ron Swegles to the podium.  Mr. Sauer administered the oath.  He was assisted by Councilmember Swegles’ wife, Gail.

Mayor Miller invited David Hamilton and Councilmember-elect Melinda Hamilton to the podium.  Mr. Hamilton administered the oath of office to his daughter.  He was assisted by Councilmember Hamilton’s husband, Olaf, and her mother, Judith.

Councilmember Chu thanked the citizens for their vote and support, the members of his campaign committee, his wife Wilma and the members of his family for their support.  He stated he wants to bring community and commerce together and pledged to work with the Council and City staff.

Mayor Miller announced that since a new Council had been seated, a retake of attendance was in order.

PRESENT:

Mayor Miller

Councilmember Fowler

Councilmember Howe

Councilmember Chu

Councilmemer Swegles

Councilmember Hamilton

Councilmember Lee

Councilmember Lee thanked his campaign team, his parents and family for their support.  He acknowledged the challenges ahead and committed to work together with the new Council.

Councilmember Swegles thanked the members of his campaign team, his wife, Gail, and the members his family for their support.  He pledged to work hard for Sunnyvale.

Councilmember Hamilton thanked all the volunteers who worked on her campaign and pledged to be the best she could be.

Interim City Clerk Cathleen McKay presented the staff report.

Mayor Miller opened nominations for the Office of Mayor.

Councilmember Chu nominated Councilmember Howe to serve as Mayor for 2003-2004.

Councilmember Howe was unanimously elected to the office of Mayor.

Mayor Howe asked that Stuart McGee be given the opportunity to speak.

Stuart McGee offered a brief prayer for the City Council.

Joyce Broderick administered the oath of office to Mayor Howe who was accompanied by his wife, Jodi.

Mayor Howe announced that since a new Mayor had been seated, a retake of attendance was in order:

PRESENT:

Mayor Howe

Councilmember Fowler

Councilmember Miller

Councilmember Chu

Councilmember Swegles

Councilmember Hamilton

Councilmember Lee

Mayor Howe thanked outgoing Mayor Miller for her service as Mayor and presented her with a plaque of the agenda of her first meeting as Mayor.

Former Mayor Miller stated it has been a challenging year with the worsening economic conditions of Silicon Valley and thanked the City staff for their efforts.  She reviewed some of the year’s accomplishments including the opening of the Multi Modal Station, bringing in $13,579,944 in grant money during the last six years, the opening of the Yahoo Spur Trail, the Skateboard Park and the new Senior Center.  She noted the Wall of Honor, the Bianchi Barn, and the $500,000 donation to the Housing Trust Fund.  She spoke to the “Five Cs” – Citizenship, Caring, Commerce, Collaboration and Community.  She wished the new Mayor success and promised to continue to keep the “Five Cs” alive in Sunnyvale.  She thanked the City staff and the employee associations, Councilmembers and the business community for their support.

Selection of Vice Mayor for 2003-2004

Councilmember Swegles nominated Councilmember Chu to serve as Vice Mayor for 2003-2004.

Councilmember Chu was unanimously elected Vice Mayor.

County Supervisor Liz Kniss noted the diversity of the new City Council and administered the oath of office to Vice Mayor Chu.

Vice Mayor Chu thanked the Council for allowing him to serve as Vice Mayor and pledged to work with the Council to move ahead.

Mayor Howe thanked his wife Jodi for her support as well as his family and friends.  He thanked the Sunnyvale Employees Coalition for the reception.  He recognized the outgoing Councilmembers and thanked them individually for their service and accomplishments.  He thanked the Council for their support and welcomed the new Councilmembers.  He stated his goals include helping the Council to build and reach a consensus and to improve the Council and staff relationships.

By unanimous consent, the City Council seating arrangements for 2003-2004 is as follows (from left to right): Councilmember Lee, Councilmember Fowler, Vice Mayor Chu, Mayor Howe, Councilmember Miller, Councilmember Hamilton, Councilmember Swegles.

NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS

COUNCIL

Mayor Howe announced a Special Closed Session on Monday, December 1, at 6:00 p.m. to discuss City Manager and City Attorney personnel.

Mayor Howe asked that the Council meet a half an hour earlier on December 2 before the scheduled Study Session to discuss new Council orientation.  The Council will be asked to prioritize various administrative Council details for future meetings which will include the agenda, scheduling of study sessions, calling special meetings, required signatures, proclamations, and other administrative items that the Council would like to prioritize.

Mayor Howe thanked everyone for attending and invited the public to Bamboo Gardens for refreshments.

STAFF

There were no comments.

ADJOURNMENT

Mayor Howe declared the meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Cathleen McKay, Interim City Clerk